Page 24

It felt wrong to walk into Scott's coffee shop after I'd spent so long convinced he was the one who attacked Kiera, but it wasn't for a social visit. It was business, and pack business was always uncomfortable.

At least it was pleasant inside, smelling of cinnamon and roasted coffee beans. I plucked an enormous cinnamon roll from the display case, telling the confused barista to put it on Scott's tab.

I found the other two Alphas at a corner table, Scott wearing his usual shit-eating grin and Joe appearing almost completely bored. None of us wanted to be there, but pack alliances had to be maintained to work.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Scott drawled, making a face at my newly acquired cinnamon roll. "Did you pay for that?"

I just smirked at him and took a big bite.

Joe sighed.

"Whatever. Maybe we can talk about what's really important," Scott sighed. "And that's the apology that you owe me, Saltfang."

I scowled at the nickname. "Why do you even care? It was only a matter of time before I figured out it wasn't you."

Scott huffed, looking almost offended. "I care because I actually give a damn about this alliance, and I don't enjoy knowing that you think of me so poorly that you'd believe I'd take your Omega."

"You were just the obvious choice at the time."

Scott laughed. "Do you really believe that I have time to go kidnapping other Alphas' mates? I have enough to do with my own pack, and you should know better than anyone that a pack doesn't just run itself."

Joe grunted, apparently bored with this conversation. "Can we just move on already? We're all tired of this."

I sighed. Joe was right. "I just don't trust him. It's that simple."

"Well, would it strengthen your trust to know that I did a little digging, and I have concrete proof for you that it was Mason's hired hands that attacked you and Kiera that night at the lookout?"

I looked at Scott, startled. "Proof?"

Scott pulled a ziploc bag containing a blood-covered, cracked phone from his pocket and tossed it across the table. "Since you oh so kindly left my pack to deal with the warehouse cleanup after your daring rescue, I took the opportunity to swipe any valuables they were carrying. All the information is there, in the texts."

"Shit," I said simply, all of the fighting going out of me. "Can I give this to Nayeli? She's my tech guru."

"Have at it. But just know—I have nothing to do with anything negative that happened to Kiera. Full stop. And I want you to drop it."

I nodded. "It's dropped. But...that doesn't mean we're friends."

Joe snorted. "You two are impossible."

"Yeah, but that's what keeps this interesting." Scott quipped. "What's next on the agenda? Oh, that's right. I have more news to share with you two."

Joe sighed, long and hard. "Scott, what have you gotten tangled up in?”

"It's not what I've gotten myself into," Scott said, "It's what our new neighbors have gotten themselves into. There's a new pack in town, and they don't seem very friendly. They're taking over the area to the north, bordering my territory and Samson's, but it doesn't touch yours, Joe."

"Do you know who they are yet?" Joe asked, all business.

Scott shook his head. "No. They're a little more...secretive than the packs we're used to dealing with. Very closed lips. I don't like it, and I want to know if the three of us are on the same page."

I nodded. "We are. Do you know anything else about them?"

"Just that their Alpha is a strong one. I've never seen him myself, but I hear things." Scott looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's probably a good idea for us to approach him together when we finally meet."

Joe and I both nodded in agreement. It was a hard pill to swallow, especially for me. I liked to think of myself as a strong wolf and a stronger Alpha. I didn't need help or protection. I didn't want it. But Scott had a point.

"They're not exactly threatening us," Joe pointed out, "So we could probably go on with life as usual."

"But we shouldn't let our guards down." Scott leaned forward in his chair, looking between us both. "I mean, we shouldn't just sit around, waiting for an attack. I have a lot of unattached women in my pack, and I don't need strange wolves encroaching on my territory and trying to steal them away."

Last year, I would have nodded right along with Scott, but things had changed. "So train them to protect themselves."

Scott rolled his eyes. "Oh, great idea, Saltfang. I'll just go train them right now."

"I'm serious," I snapped. "Why not train them? Why should we be the only ones allowed to defend ourselves?"

Joe frowned at me. "We've never done it before, Samson. That's...not how things are done."

"Yeah, well, maybe things need to change." I glared at both of them. "Look. I'm not saying we change all at once. But if these strange wolves are going to be a threat, why not prepare? Why not help our women and our Omegas learn how to defend themselves, too?"

The other Alphas looked at each other, clearly unsure.

"Unity is going to be important going forward, and unity is about how we lead. We only grow stronger if our women are just as capable as our men." I sighed, leaning forward in my chair. “You still run your packs like they’re old-school. Hierarchy, dominance, always looking down on the weaker wolves, the women. That’s what I’m seeing. That’s how we’ve all been taught to lead. And yeah, maybe it worked in the past. Maybe it got us by. But it doesn’t work anymore. Not for me.”

Joe hummed thoughtfully. "I agree with you, Samson, but it's not that simple."

Scott leaned back in his chair, giving me a look. "You've changed, Sam. What happened to you?"

I looked between the two of them, shrugging. "Maybe I grew up. Maybe I got tired of being a jerk. But I know what I want for my pack, and I don't see the harm in trying to improve things."

They exchanged a look. "I'll consider it," Joe said finally, and Scott nodded.

"Yeah, let me mull it over."

"For the time being," Joe crossed his arms, looking us over. “Let’s focus on what we can do right now. We’ll keep an eye on the new pack and keep our alliances strong. We can observe how Samson changes his pack, and decide from there what is right for ours."

It was a small victory. I hadn't really started to change until I'd claimed my Omega, and maybe it wouldn't be clear to them until they did the same. But I would prove myself. My pack would grow strong and happy; the other Alphas would see it. They'd see that things could not only change but also change for the better.

***

That evening, Kiera finally made good on her demand to plan a date for us. Honestly, it sounded...boring as hell, but she was excited, and I was happy to humor her.

It turned out to be better than I had anticipated. Her hand was warm in mine as we strolled through the farmer's market, and her joy was infectious. She took me to every booth, pointing out her favorite produce, cheese, wine, and everything else under the sun.

She got giddy over a booth that sold homemade goat milk soaps and lotions, picking up bar after bar and smelling them.

"Do you smell that? It smells like vanilla!" She held up a small brown bar of soap to my nose. "I love vanilla."

I sniffed it dutifully, but it just smelled like soap to me. But I saw the way her face lit up when she smelled it, and I knew I'd buy it for her if it made her happy.

Once we'd acquired the bag of vanilla goat soap, she moved on to another booth, this one filled with handmade jewelry. The woman running it smiled warmly at Kiera. "Welcome, welcome. Looking for anything in particular?"

"Oh, no. Just browsing." Kiera picked up a silver pendant with a blue crystal set in the middle. "This is beautiful."

"You should get it." I put my hands on her hips, pulling her back against my chest. "It would look good on you."

Kiera leaned into me, letting me hold her. "It's pretty, but I don't really need it."

"Doesn't matter. I want you to have it." I took it from her hand, walking over to the merchant. "We'll take it."

The merchant smiled. "Excellent choice. Do you want a bag, sir?"

I nodded, handing the woman a few bills and taking the small brown paper bag from her. I turned back to Kiera, handing it to her. "It's yours."

Kiera looked at me with wonder in her eyes, and I had the briefest urge to just buy her the whole damned market, if it would make her keep looking at me like that.

We bought food for dinner, grass-fed steaks, a wooden puzzle for Kit, and two bottles of blackberry wine. Afterward, we walked along the beach, taking the long way back to the parking lot. The sun was setting, painting the world in burnt oranges, pinks, and reds.

"You know, this was perfect." Kiera squeezed my hand, smiling up at me. "Thank you for letting me take the wheel.”

"You're welcome." I put my arm around her shoulders, holding her close to me. "I've enjoyed it, too."

"I really love the necklace." She fingered the pendant, smiling. "You're so sweet for buying it for me."

I kissed the top of her head, grinning. "It's nothing."

She stopped suddenly, putting her hands on my chest. "It's not nothing. You're...so different from how I always thought you were. You're so kind to me, and I've never been treated like this before."

I leaned down to kiss her lips, loving the way she swayed into me. "I'm always going to take such good care of you, Kiera."

She shivered, a small smile curling her lips. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Good. But you have to be patient with me." I swept a thumb over her cheekbone. "I'm trying, but...you have to know that I don't usually do this. I don't let people in. I don't show weakness."

"I know. I'm just...really glad you're here. You're...I...." Kiera sucked in a breath, turning to me fully, "I love you, Samson."

The words sent a jolt through me, like electricity. I swept her into my arms, kissed her hard—I couldn't help it; the animal inside me needed to be close to her, to claim her. To claim her words and the love she'd given me.

"I love you too," I whispered against her lips, pressing my forehead against hers, "I love you so damn much, Kiera."

She laughed, her eyes alight with happiness. "I'm so glad to hear that."

"You're mine," I said, holding her tight, "You're my mate, and I'm never letting you go again."

She grinned. "I hope not. Kit would be pissed." Then, softer, she repeated, "I love you, Samson.

Her words, her touch, her mere presence...was as close to heaven as an asshole like me would ever get.