Page 18 of Bullied Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #2)

Even though I’m still a bit rattled by Lexa’s announcement and a bit anxious from the silent, tense ride in the car, by the time I walk into the rec hall, I’m calm, collected, and ready to throw down.

I’ve spent the last few years cleaning up Grandfather’s mess, and I won’t tolerate the elders attempting to get in my way anymore.

When I see Cade, he gives me a wave and a smile, but a slight narrowing of his eyes warns me of trouble. The only others at the table are Derrik, Jones, and Loretta.

I’m a little surprised she’s here to face off with me. I half expected her to go and wreck the informal meeting.

“Kit,” Loretta says, her voice as hard and cold as a blade made of ice. “I see you’ve finally joined us.”

“I’m not late,” I answer casually.

And even if I was, it’s not up to you to call me out.

“Come in,” Derrik says, gesturing to the paperwork laid out on the table.

“I need you to look at these arrangements. We’ve decided to go with a fairytale theme, an enchanted forest type of thing.

There will be fairy lights strung across the ceiling and wicker wreaths hung on the walls.

The decorations will lead right out through the back door, where we are going to have a dance floor ringed with magical accompaniments. ”

“It’s going to be wonderful,” Loretta says, smiling. “Soft, white light, elegant natural decorations, crisp white tablecloths. I’ve already ordered hundreds of white rosebuds for the centerpieces. They cost a small fortune, but every crystal vase will have an utterly perfect rose arrangement.”

I stay quiet but shoot a glance at Cade. He raises an eyebrow.

“White coats for the men,” Loretta continues dreamily. “I’ve got an ice blue dress being made, with a lace overlay studded in diamonds. I’m going to personally invite Regina Glass, an elder from Gryphon Eyrie. She’s going to be mad with envy—”

“Hmm,” I cut in, rubbing my chin. “I hope she likes corn dogs.”

Loretta goes dangerously silent, and it feels like everyone at the table steps back, leaving the older elder and me glaring at each other.

“You aren’t still on that nonsense,” she huffs. “This is a travesty. Your grandfather would be thrashing in his grave—”

“Probably a good thing he’s not in it, then,” I snap. “I wouldn’t want the undead anxiety to attract necromancers.”

Loretta pales, and she clenches her fists as she stares me down. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing,” she hisses, “but—”

“No, Loretta, I don’t think you realize what you are doing.”

Even though my voice is soft, it resonates through the hall. All the elders take another step back in response to the threat.

She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it again. Doubt is starting to cloud her eyes, and for the first time, she actually looks like she’s listening to me.

“This is nonsense,” she protests, her voice getting shrill. “You can’t possibly be considering cotton candy and bumper cars! Not for our annual event!”

“I’m not considering it,” I say, watching her face briefly relax with relief before I add, “I’ve already decided.”

She glares at me, and I glare right back. I’ve never stood directly against her like this before, but the time has come to put her in her place.

“Kit,” she says cajolingly. “You’re so very young. You must listen to me. The first families—”

“Will do whatever I say,” I cut her off smoothly. “Because they are loyal, and they pledged fealty to me, just like you did.”

Loretta opens her mouth again, but I slam my hands down on the table so hard that everybody jumps. Even Cade.

“I am going to say this very slowly so you don’t misunderstand me,” I say.

“Loretta, you have argued with me and opposed my orders since I became alpha. You have disrespected my mate. Now you think you can organize my event for me. This is your last warning. Either you help us organize the event the way I want, or you can leave the council—right now. If that is your choice, I want you to know that if I hear any word from you about me, my choices, or my mate, I will call the alpha’s challenge. ”

Her eyes widen, and I see a shudder run through her.

She’s scared of me. Good.

“Kit,” she says, “I understand, but—”

“Good,” I answer. “I’m glad you understand. Now, show me what you have here.”

The others pass the paperwork to me, and I spend a few minutes crossing out most of the orders on the invoices.

“Since Loretta is so keen to help, we can get her to cancel these,” I say, shuffling the paperwork into a big stack and handing it to her. “I’m going to give you guys some jobs relating to my new orders.”

I pull out my phone and see a text from Cass inviting me to a new group page. When I get into the site, there are comments from others as well as pictures and links for food, games, and stalls.

“Okay, guys, join this chat.” I text the link to everyone, hearing phones buzzing all around the table. Cade opens his immediately.

“Wow, a Ferris wheel,” he says. “I haven’t seen one of those in a while.”

“Looks like it’s going to cost a lot,” Derrik mutters.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I say. “It’s less than the rosebuds. This entire event is going to come in under budget.”

“Then we should still hold a formal ball,” Loretta says. “Maybe a smaller one, but—”

“Sorry, Loretta,” I answer. “Any excess funds have already been allocated.”

“To where?” she asks warily.

“We’re opening a soup kitchen and expanding the charity center in West End,” I say, looking up to see how she reacts.

Her face pales, and she seems to shiver all over as if she’s about to be sick. When she sees me looking, she looks down at the paperwork, clearing her throat.

“I better get started on this,” she mutters.

“Very good,” I say. “I like to see you taking some initiative.”

Loretta’s eyes flick back to me, just briefly shooting daggers before she slides her gaze away again.

I spend the next half hour going over things with Derrik and Jones, organizing invitations and security for the event.

When I talk about inviting first families from other packs and telling them it’s informal, Loretta pales again and has to leave the table.

She takes her paperwork with her, so I have to assume she’s canceling the orders.

The others get fully involved in the work, and I can see the old guys getting excited about the new plan. They both have grandkids now, and without Loretta looming over them, they readily admit they like the carnival much better than a formal ball.

After about half an hour of planning, I step back from the table, feeling satisfied about the progress we’ve made. The group chat has been updated with everyone’s work, and the event is almost fully planned.

“I’ve got things to attend to,” I say, stepping back from the table. “You guys are good here?”

“Yep,” Jones says. “I’m pairing up with Mabel to get a few of these things done. I think we’ll have it settled in a couple of days.”

“Good,” I reply.

Loretta comes in from the back garden, looking more like her usual bitchy self. She’s holding the stack of paper against her chest like she doesn’t want me to see it.

“All done, Loretta?” I ask.

She nods. “Yes. Of course, my alpha.”

“Okay. Cade, follow up on those canceled orders, won’t you? Make sure they’re finalized.”

“Will do,” Cade agrees, barely even looking up from his work.

“What?” Loretta splutters. “Why?”

“I just want to be thorough,” I say, smiling sweetly at her. “Trying to ease your workload.”

I look over at her, letting my eyes glow a little. I don’t trust her even slightly, and I want to make sure there are no mishaps with the money or any of the orders.

It would be just like her to have the formal decorations show up and spend the money on them, so I can’t afford to pay for the festival gear.

I don’t bother holding back a wide smile. If it came to that, I’d pay for it out of Grandfather’s money. Loretta, of all people, should know how rich we are. She was close to Grandfather for many years.

“I’m leaving this in your hands, Cade,” I state, moving away from the table. “I’m going to find Lexa.”

“All good,” Cade answers, waving me off.

I manage to walk calmly out of the hall, but once I’m through the doors, I can’t hold back my anxiety any longer. I start to jog, desperate to find Lexa.

I know she said that last night didn’t mean anything, and I’m trying to accept it, but I just don’t believe it.

I could feel her love for me… it was real.

As I enter the main street, I am reminded again of how I pledged my love to her and then took it back.

What she did to me today is nothing at all like what I did to her. There’s just no comparison.

Walking down the street, I don’t see any sign of her. I check out a couple of the shops, and the shop owners confirm that she’d been there and that delivery of her items is being organized.

I hope she had fun. She deserves a little spoiling.

I’m towards the end of town when I see her strolling into a side street. Not far behind her, a tall, wiry guy in beat-up clothes is going the same way.

Who is that person?

He’s unkempt and a little dirty, as well as wearing shabby clothes. I assume he has to be from the West End and might know Lexa.

It doesn’t necessarily mean anything that I don’t recognize him. I’ve never spent much time in the poorer section of town.

There aren’t any shops in that area, so I have to wonder what both of them are doing, going in that direction. Even from this distance, it looks like the guy is following Lexa.

Do they know each other? Is she going down there to—

I shove that thought out of my mind and start to jog. By the time I round the corner, both of them are gone. I can’t discern any particular male scent—the air coming from the street is too complex—but I can pick out Lexa’s scent. I follow it like a golden thread.

It only takes me a couple of minutes to track her back to the main street, and I don’t see the guy anywhere. Having him suddenly disappear disturbs me, because I’m pretty sure he was shadowing my mate.

Maybe he wasn’t. Don’t get paranoid.

That good sense doesn’t really sink in, and I start wondering if Lexa is pushing me away because she has someone else.

Then why did she marry me?

For the money, maybe, or the status. But that doesn’t make any sense. She’s never cared about those things.

It doesn’t mean she hasn’t had a lover. She’s so bold and confident, nothing like the girl I knew years ago.

I track Lexa to one of the big coffee shops and see her sitting outside. When I hurry over and tap her shoulder, she jumps so high in her seat that she almost knocks over her coffee.

“Hey!” I say placatingly. “Lexa, it’s me. Are you okay?”

“Yeah! Sorry. You surprised me.”

“Who else would it be?” I intended to make a joke, but my voice comes out a bit hard.

“I thought I saw… I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

“Okay,” I say cautiously. I sit down across from her and try to read her expression. “You sure you’re okay?” I ask again.

She nods, trying to smile but looking very uncomfortable. “Everything’s great. Don’t worry about a thing, okay, Kit?”

I smile, hoping it’s warm and sincere. “Okay, babe, I won’t,” I say as worry builds in my guts and bleeds through my limbs.

She smiles back, and the entire moment feels like a thin veneer that’s about to shatter, revealing the ugly truth underneath.