Page 19 of My Ruthless Alpha (Alpha Outlaws Club #5)

The town was a bit busier than usual when Sydney and I decided to go out in the late afternoon on Friday, bringing Margo along.

We hit the downtown strip, meandering from store to store, where displays were out on the sidewalk, and the main doors were open during the nice weather. Margo happily walked along with us while she sipped a fresh lemonade she had wanted, letting the two of us browse.

It was nice to get out and see what else the pack grounds had in store. I still wasn’t used to seeing some of the others and processing that they were all in Beau’s pack as well, but they were all outwardly friendly to us, which was a big relief.

Some wolves didn’t always take well to a change in dynamics, especially not when a newcomer somehow ended up higher in the ranks than them. However, that didn’t seem to be the case with Beau’s followers.

It was easy to tell who one of them was, given how they seemed to recognize me and would make an effort to wave or at least smile in our direction. Luckily, I was starting to remember more and more of them, and it helped me feel a little better knowing I could greet them just as warmly.

The small town was genuinely nice, and it made my transition feel that much easier. Plus, it helped put Margo at ease since she was suddenly seeing so many new faces at once, and she was handling it better than I expected.

I knew she would likely miss some of the others from our old pack, but at the very least, she was adjusting well.

“I can’t believe how many cute shops are here,” Sydney said, grinning as she ran a hand along a rack of new clothes while the sun beat down on us. “The old pack had nothing once those few boutiques shut down…we always had to go somewhere else for clothes.”

I hummed, gazing at the various items that caught my attention. “Yeah, it was the worst. Nobody put the effort into making it any better. It was a shame.”

After a moment, Sydney took in a breath and held up a nice dress to look it over, and the sun nearly made her red hair look like it was on fire while she had it in two Dutch braids. “This is so nice!”

I couldn’t help but smile as she took everything in, looking like a kid on Christmas morning. Seeing her so bright and excited about something was nice, especially after everything. Plus, she always made our shopping trips more entertaining.

I was relieved more than anything that she was there to share that time with me and Margo, and I didn’t have to worry about where she was or what was going on in the pack. Instead, she was safe, nearby, and I could see her whenever I wanted.

While I looked around out front of the small boutique with various racks of clothing and shoes everywhere, keeping an eye on Margo, I couldn’t shake an odd feeling that scurried up my spine. It seemed to rest there as if someone was burning a hole through me with their eyes.

Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed a man standing not too far from us. His eyes darted down the moment I looked, and an odd sensation ran through me again.

He looked rougher than most of the locals, with a long, scruffy beard, dark eyes, and a rounder build. I knew he wasn’t a wolf from his scent alone, which disarmed me slightly.

While the man busied himself looking over a rack of books from the next shop, I couldn’t help but sneak more looks in his direction, and almost every time I did, I’d just catch his eyes leaving us.

I tried not to make it obvious that I was aware of his staring, but a moment later, Sydney’s voice broke my train of thought.

“What’s up? You seem tense.”

She looked at me curiously. As I looked more obviously toward the stranger, she tracked my gaze and seemed to pick up on what I was hinting at. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she gave me a nod in understanding.

Instinctively, I pulled Margo closer to my side.

“Let’s stay out in the open,” I said quietly, aware that more eyes on us would make anyone think twice before attempting to pull anything. “Just in case.”

She nodded again and remained more vigilant like myself.

Even if I was on edge, and the sudden change in our demeanors brought the mood down, I was relieved to know other pack members were nearby. The shop owner and a few others were doing some casual browsing of their own.

At the very least, we weren’t alone, and surely someone would see if anything were to happen.

Trying to act natural and continue with our day out despite the obvious eyes on us, Sydney and I were more purposeful about where we went, sure to stay within the line of sight of someone trustworthy.

“Is everything all right?”

The voice behind us half startled me, but I let go of a breath and turned to find that familiar face.

“Miles, hi,” I said, feeling more at ease knowing he was there too.

He nodded his acknowledgment with a hint of concern written on his features as he glanced between the three of us. “You guys seem put off by something…what’s going on?”

“We’re being watched,” I said quietly to him, gesturing vaguely toward the man. “Do you know who he is?”

Miles looked over, finding the man easily enough, who happened to busy himself with the books again. After a moment, he shook his head. “Nah, I’ve never seen him before. Is he giving you the creeps?”

“Yeah. He’s been watching for a bit now. He averts his eyes every time I look over but slowly moves whenever we do.”

Understanding, Miles stayed with us, looking more pointedly at the man as a silent warning. Then, as if taking the hint, the man walked away from the stand and disappeared somewhere else.

When he was gone, Sydney sighed. “Geez…wonder what that was about.”

Miles shrugged. “Who knows? He was definitely human…probably just some weirdo.”

“Thanks for backing us up,” I murmured, able to breathe a little easier. “I didn’t think he’d ever stop staring.

“No problem. I was nearby, killing time anyway. I’m hoping to catch Beau before he goes out with the guys tonight…maybe I can convince him to take me too,” Miles said excitedly with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

I chuckled at him. “Aren’t you a bit too young to be going to bars?”

He shrugged. “Maybe…but who said I needed to drink anyway? I can hang out just like them. It’s about time he let me tag along.”

Sydney continued looking around, more relaxed since the man was gone, and Margo trailed along right with her, holding her hand.

I pulled an amused grin. “Right. I’m not so sure Beau will go along with that one.”

“Oh, come on! I’ll convince him, you’ll see.”

“If you say so.”

Despite looking somewhat dismayed at the thought of his brother saying no to his request, Miles stayed around us a while longer, switching between browsing, chatting, and checking his phone. When Margo started getting restless, he kept her preoccupied, and I wasn’t going to complain about him spending time with his niece—especially not when it meant Sydney and I got a bit more shopping time out of it.

Finally, as the late afternoon inched closer to early evening, the four of us returned to the house and waited for our takeout to arrive.

We went ahead and ate, knowing that Beau and the others would likely grab something while they were out. Sitting at the table, Margo chattered on about everything and nothing while we all ate and listened intently.

But when the front door opened, Beau and Ethan strolled in, chatting together. Her face lit up, and she was quick to get up from her place before hurrying over to them.

They both chuckled at her slightly clumsy movements, and Beau was quick to pick her up and drown her in affection.

“I think someone missed you,” I hummed, getting up to rinse my plate off while he came over.

With a warm grin, Beau leaned in and pressed a kiss against my cheek. “And I missed you both. We just swung by here so I could get out of these clothes before we head out to the bar to meet with the other guys to talk things over. But if you prefer, I can stay, given everything going on.”

I shook my head dismissively. “Of course not. I know it's important, and I don’t want you to miss the meeting. We’ll probably watch a movie or something before Sydney goes for the night.”

Satisfied with the answer, he nodded. “All right. I’m sure the guys will be happy about that. Miles will be here, plus everyone in the pack knows to keep an eye out for anyone suspicious. If anything happens at all, try to text or call…and if not, the security cameras will send me alerts.”

“We should be fine, but I appreciate the precautions.”

He nodded. “Of course…I don’t like the thought of leaving right now, but the guys want to go over some plans to safeguard the packs. Plus, we’ve been seeing less on the gang front, so we’re taking that as a good sign. It’s better to plan and take action now while it's quiet.”

“So, you must be Sydney, then,” Ethan said as he walked further into the room, his sights set on her at the table. He gave her a once-over with an almost assessing gaze that made me look twice. “I’m Ethan.”

She smiled and nodded. “That’s me. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Mhm…” he murmured, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “So you’re the best friend who needed the big rescue, right?”

Seeming a bit confused by his demeanor, Sydney blinked back at him. “Yeah…Beau and Faye got me out of there.”

“Interesting. It’s a wonder nobody saw you fleeing with that hair of yours,” Ethan continued with a teasing lilt to his voice. “With it being so bright and all.”

“Damn…that’s a little harsh,” Miles interjected, lifting a brow in his direction, seemingly voicing what we were all thinking.

Ethan chuckled as Sydney’s face broke into a faint blush, and she obviously didn’t know what to say in return. It seemed he was enjoying teasing her.

But I knew that look. I had seen it enough times on her before. He was poking right at one of her insecurities, even if he was unaware.

“Not harsh…just an observation.”

Beau sighed. “Are you done?”

Ethan grinned at Sydney’s slight fluster, leaving her wordless still, and he took a step back as if realizing he wasn’t alone. He glanced at Beau. “Yeah, sure. I don’t think Red can take much more.”

I felt bad for Sydney in her current state, and I was about to say something when Miles piped up, putting on a pleading expression.

“Beau, can I go with you guys? I promise I’ll stay out of trouble.”

Beau huffed another breath and carefully put Margo down once she started squirming. “I already told you no. You’re underage, and you don’t need to be there.”

His disdain deepened, and his tone got progressively whinier, as if he wasn’t a shifter capable of severely maiming someone if he wanted to. “C’mon…please? I promise I won’t try to sneak drinks or anything. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

He looked at his younger brother with a pointed, unamused look. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to have to keep an eye on you the whole time. I’m going to have fun, not babysit my brother.”

Miles’ brows furrowed with his determination. “That’s not fair, and you know it.”

“No.”

With a groan, he rolled his eyes. “You’re a jerk, you know that?”

“You’re a jerk!” Margo repeated as she headed towards the living room.

Beau heaved out a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now look what you’ve done—Margo, don’t repeat that.”

She giggled, completely oblivious, as she went to play.

Ethan chuckled at Miles’ predicament through the slight chaos and ruffled his dark hair. “Just face it, kid. You’re not ready for the big leagues yet.”

The youngest Ellis brother grumbled to himself. “I’m not a kid.”

“You might as well be. Now quit complaining and help Faye clean up,” Beau told him, giving him that look of authority that even Miles couldn’t resist despite how much he likely wanted to.

Miles got up and did exactly that with another huff while Beau disappeared to get dressed. Ethan gave Sydney another indiscreet look, and she got up to join us in the kitchen to avoid his teasing.

I didn’t know what had gotten into Ethan, but I could tell it struck Sydney in a sore spot, and I could only hope he’d show her some mercy.