Page 8 of Alpha Wolf’s Arranged Bride (Rose Hollow Wolves #1)

I’m still a bit shaky from dropping the coffee cup when I return to the table, and I let the conversation between Rex and Jarrod wash over me as I try to gather myself.

Let’s be honest—the cup wasn’t the problem. It was hearing Jarrod call Rex “Dad.”

I look up at my son, slowly letting my awareness of the atmosphere come back to me. I try to rationalize, even talk myself out of it, but the chemistry between them is clear to see.

I can feel it, too. The bond between them is strong. This is such a good thing, really—but how the hell am I supposed to tell them the truth?

My anxiety rises as I think even more about how uncomfortable that conversation is going to be, and all the lies and secrets that will be revealed.

In that throwdown, both Rex and I will have a lot to own up to. As much as I want to confront him, I’m not going to come out of this looking squeaky-clean, either.

When Jarrod asked about his father, I kept my answers as vague as possible. When kids started taunting him at school, telling him that his dad was a drifter and had abandoned him, I had to tell Jarrod at least part of the truth.

Yes, your dad left us. It sucks, I know—and I don’t even understand why he left. But I promise you, baby, I’m going to give you all the love you’ll ever need.

Those were the words I said when he asked me straight out if what the other kids said was true. It was only a couple of months ago when he turned five, and I realized he had to be told something. I couldn’t keep it from him forever.

I thought I had to shield him from the truth because he’s so young, but there’s a fine line between protecting your kid and lying to save your own pride.

Jarrod laughs suddenly, a real, full-bodied laugh that shakes his chest and makes his eyes water. Rex is laughing, too, and their expressions are almost identical.

I’ve never heard Jarrod laugh like that before.

I feel left out and so distanced from them both; I don’t know how to get back in. A sharp stab of resentment rises in me, and I don’t like it.

When I first walked into the kitchen, it almost felt like old times. Rex and I just slipped into that comfortable energy we always had, as if we were constantly in sync.

I want it back—I really do!

“Did you hear that, Mom?”

“What, sweetie?” I ask, coming back to the conversation with a hard shock.

“Dad said there’s an art class at school, and Mrs. Florence would be happy to have me in it!”

“That’s great, sweetheart,” I answer, still feeling extremely weird at the sound of the word “Dad.”

“We can stop in there today, if you like,” Rex says. “The town is putting together a little fair, just so they can show you what we do here. But we can swing by the school right after.”

“A fair?” Jarrod asks. “Like with stalls and games and stuff?”

“You got it, kiddo,” Rex replies, making a pistol motion. “All for you and your mom.”

“That sounds cool!” Jarrod says excitedly. “When can we go?”

“As soon as you’re ready,” Rex answers.

Jarrod hurries to finish his breakfast, then runs upstairs to get changed. Rex sits back in his chair a little, watching me as he finishes his coffee.

“He’s a great kid,” Rex says.

“Yes, he is,” I answer, trying to keep my voice calm.

Rex gives me a hard look, and I frown back at him. The longer the two of them spend together, the harder it will be to keep the truth from them—but I just can’t bring myself to tell them.

And how do I know I can trust Rex? He ran out on me once. He could do it again.

The fact that he’s an alpha now means he’s much more likely to stay put, but I don’t really know. He ran out on me without a single word five years ago when I thought we were so close that we shared a soul.

Maybe running out on a whole pack would be even easier than leaving a lover for a deadbeat like him.

“I’m really trying,” Rex says softly. His voice carries a lot of weight, as if he intended to say much more, but thought better of it at the last minute.

“I’m glad you two are getting along,” I answer, meaning it.

Rex smiles, hearing the honesty in my voice. “It’s not difficult,” he replies. “Jarrod really is special. I have no problem raising him as my own. I just want you to know that.”

I nod, not trusting my voice. I feel like screaming at him that he left me once and could do it again, but I’m too afraid of the storm those words will unleash.

And I’m still not done worrying about my uncle. He’s always been selfish and manipulative, but it’s gotten worse over the last year. He could still come for Jarrod, and I’m almost positive his talk of sacrifices isn’t an empty threat.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Rex says suddenly. “I’m not trying to intrude on his father’s territory or anything. I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

I look up with some concern and see Rex clearing the table with a defeated look on his face. I realize he must have seen my pensive expression and misinterpreted it.

I could try to clear the air, but what’s the point? That’s just going to lead down the twisty trail of all the other lies and secrets, and I’m not going there.

“Thanks,” I say, hoping that will close the discussion.

While Rex is stacking dishes, Jarrod comes back dressed in jeans and a shirt, ready to start the day.

“Will there be ice cream?” Jarrod asks, taking Rex’s hand as we walk towards the front door.

“You bet! And fried cakes, cotton candy, hot dogs—the whole deal.”

“Cool! Do you guys have these often?”

“About once a month,” Rex answers. “We have four guilds that run different sectors in town, and they are constantly competing for quality. They all like to show off, and the best way to do that is to give away a lot of samples.”

“Free ice cream,” Jarrod mutters as he gets into the car. “What a world. Are you sure we’re not dreaming, Mom?”

“I’m definitely not,” I mumble.

“What?” Jarrod asks.

“Nothing, honey. Just thinking out loud. It does seem like a dream come true.”

More like a waking nightmare, but okay.

“The townsfolk will be very keen to impress you,” Rex says to me. “After my father died and I came back to be alpha, everyone was happy to hear we already had a new luna.”

“When did your father die?” I ask, alarm bells going off in the back of my head.

“A few weeks ago,” Rex answers carefully.

“And where were you before that?”

The air in the car suddenly feels electrified, as if the slightest movement will cause it to crackle and boom with thunder.

“I had work.”

“Okay, but where? And what did you do?”

Tension in the car increases even further, and I can see Rex’s knuckles going white as he grips the steering wheel.

“I’m happy to go into the details,” he says, his tone implying the exact opposite. “But does it have to be right now?”

I look over at him, and he catches my eye with just a hint of desperation. His gaze flicks nervously to the back seat, and I sigh.

He’s right. We shouldn’t have that conversation in front of Jarrod.

“Okay,” I concede. “I would like to know more about what you do for work. It seems like as your wife, I should know that.”

“Well, now my entire job description is to run the town, be a husband… and a father.” He turns to give Jarrod a smile, and my son grins back, his face lighting up under Rex’s attention.

They really love each other, even if they don’t realize it yet. I wish I knew how to tell them…

As Rex parks the car, I go over a few ideas in my head and discard them all. There’s just no way to drop a bomb like this softly.

Maybe Rex is thinking the same thing about his story.

I push the thought away, knowing that feeling sympathy for Rex is a slippery slope. My attraction for him hasn’t waned even slightly, and I don’t want my body to make decisions my head will regret later.

Both Rex and I take Jarrod’s hands, and we walk up to the park on Main Street where the fair is being held. A few small stalls and games are being set up, and a whole army of kids charge around with the unruly energy of puppies on their first day out of the den.

“Can I go play, Mom? Dad?” Jarrod asks.

“Sure, sweetie,” I say, letting go of him. “Have fun.”

“You need me to introduce you?” Rex asks.

“No, I’m good!” Jarrod yells as he runs away.

I watch him join the group, and the way all the kids stop and welcome him makes my heart swell so much, I feel like it will burst. After a quick conversation, the kids pile onto the jumping castle, all of them giggling and screaming as they fall over each other.

He went from outcast to celebrity in one night. He was a bastard child of a single mother, and now he’s the alpha’s son.

“He looks like he’s getting along fine,” Rex remarks.

“Yeah, I’m happy for him. He had it pretty hard over at Eccles.”

“Oh?” Rex asks.

I turn slowly, looking right into his eyes with a cold glare. “Eccles are very traditional. Single mothers aren’t kindly looked upon. Especially when the deadbeat dad is a lying drifter who vanishes in the middle of the night.”

Rex’s face reddens a little, and I see his lips twist as he presses them together. There’s obviously something he wants to say, but he holds it in with extreme effort.

“Let’s check out the stalls,” he says, keeping his voice even with great effort.

I just nod, following behind him as he begins to greet people.

Within only a few minutes, I’m overwhelmed. People come swarming out of their stalls to greet me and offer samples of everything from food to jewelry. Rex has to keep moving me forward and pushing the crowd back so we can keep walking through the fair.

“Sorry,” he mutters as some of the crowd falls back. “I told you, they’re enthusiastic.”

“You weren’t wrong,” I reply, trying to get my breath back. “They’re such nice people, though.”

“They really are,” he says. “I actually kind of forgot. I’d been away from home for so long.”

There it is again! Where the fuck has he been?

Rex turns to me with a flash of worry in his eyes as he realizes what I just said, but before I can ask any questions, a pretty blond girl appears by his side and puts her arms around his neck.

What the fuck?

“Hey,” the girl says flippantly. “What are you doing with my man?”

I’m about to drop dead from shock when Rex groans and rolls his eyes. “Scarlett, I’d like you to meet my sister, Rebecca,” he says.

“That’s Bec,” she says, giggling as she holds out a hand for me to shake.

“When I said everyone in town was nice, I meant there was one exception,” Rex says, giving his sister a pained look.

“Oh, calm down,” Bec says, jostling my elbow. “I couldn’t resist. You guys looked so serious, I had to stir the pot a bit.”

You didn’t stir it, dear. You threw a live grenade into it!

“Yeah,” I answer, laughing softly. “That was funny. Please be less funny in the future.”

Bec laughs, giving my waist a squeeze.

“I like you,” she says. “We’ll catch up properly soon, when the menfolk aren’t around.”

“I’d like that,” I reply as Bec walks away, having the sudden realization that if anyone knows what Rex has been up to, it would be his sister.

“Sorry about that,” Rex sighs. “Let’s check out these craft stalls, then find Jarrod so we can get some ice cream?”

“Sounds good,” I say, following Rex up to the next stall. Just like before, we’re greeted with generosity and happy smiles, along with baskets of free samples.

I was brought up to believe Rose Hollow was a backward, uncivilized place—but it’s everything but that. Why didn’t my pack ever like these people?