by Riley, Alexa
And there’s nothing I can do about it. Stone’s the alpha, and he put me here. I had nowhere else to go, and no one ever came to claim me. Four years and nothing. Rare my ass. The irony is, now that I’m being claimed, I want to run. The thought makes me want to laugh, but I don’t because I know it will turn into a sob, and the last thing I need right now is to cry in front to Trish.
She stops at the end of the bed and places her hands on her trim, lean hips. I wonder where her other half, Tamara, is. She’s the better half, but that’s not saying much. They are twins but though don’t look exactly alike, it’s pretty darn close.
I wish I could say they were ugly with warts and terrible style with frizzy hair. I wish they looked like what you picture when you think of an evil stepsister, but they’re not. Far from it. They both are well over six feet tall and all legs. Thin waists and blonde hair that falls in silky waves. Trish has big blue eyes framed by long lashes, as does Tamara, but hers are a deep green. They both look flawless and are always dressed like they’re ready to walk in a fashion show. If only some of their beauty would rub off on me. Even just a little something would make a difference. Stone always noticed them and never pushed them away or avoided them. He seemed to be that way with most of the pack. Always listening when people had concerns and trying to do what was best for everyone. Not me. I could barely get a word out sometimes, and I was pretty much told to move along or go talk to Gwen if I needed something.
I have no idea what makes my stepsisters so bitter, but they’re great at hiding it in public. They still come off bratty, but not like the total bitches they are when we’re at home and no one is looking. Not that anyone notices when it comes to me. The twins seem to have it all, but looking at Trish staring down at me now, you’d think I kicked her puppy.
“You’re opening that store tomorrow. You didn’t even work today,” she continues, like I skipped out or played hooky. It was my day off from the bakery. Not only that, I’d gotten all my chores plus a few extra finished before I left for Gwen’s today. I’ve been working at the bakery with my two stepsisters for a few weeks now, and she acts as if I was being lazy.
Ruby owned the place and Gwen helped her run it, but since both are knocked up with mates shoved up their asses, they needed some help. I’d volunteered, wanting to make some money in hopes of moving out of here. Then my sisters did, too, when Gwen happened to mention the alpha would be ever so grateful.
I wish I could eye roll their eagerness, but I was just as eager. How quickly things change.
“I’m not scheduled tomorrow,” I remind her, sitting up. I have two days off in a row.
“I don’t give a fuck. I have a date tonight, and I still need to get ready. And you’ll need to go in early because I didn’t have time to do the prep work for tomorrow. Did you wash my red sweater? I put it on top of the dryer. You better have washed it separately. The color runs and needs to be dried on tumble or it can shrink. If it shrinks, you’re buying me a new one. I swear.”
“It’s hanging up in your closet and is perfectly fine,” I say, cutting off her barrage of questions, which was making my head pound. I don’t care, I’ll take it.
I’m dreading when they find out about Stone wanting me to be his mate. The twins were devastated when they came of age a month back and nothing happened. They had both been sure one of them would be the alpha’s mate. I felt such utter relief when they both came back in floods of tears after seeing him.
I thought one of them might be his mate. Many were shocked Stone hadn’t found his mate already, and I’d been dreading the day. Wait until everyone finds out it’s the bear. I so don’t want to go into town tomorrow.
“Don’t forget you’re working for us in the morning. Wouldn’t want to let the human down, would you?” Trish scrunches her face like the word human has a bad taste. No, I wouldn’t want to let a very pregnant Ruby down and stress her out when I could just go in.
“I’ll go in,” I say, just wanting her to get out of my room. I doubt prep work was the only thing she skipped. I bet the place is a freaking mess. I’ll have to wake up super early. It’s not like I had plans tonight anyway, besides maybe crying myself to sleep.
“Don’t forget the trash,” Trish throws over her shoulder as she leaves my room.
I stand up and make my way over to the small circular window that overlooks the backyard. I stand there for a few moments, just looking out beyond the trees and clearing my mind. After a short time passes, I get a funny feeling, like someone is watching me.
Something moves inside me, like fur rubbing up against me from the inside. I close my eyes to see if I can feel it again, hoping that something is there. Maybe she’s finally waking up, but it’s gone just as fast as it came.
4
Stone
“I figured this is where I could find you.”
I turn around to see Dominic behind me, the look on his face somewhere along the lines of pity.
“I just wanted to make sure she got home okay.” I stood at the ridge line of the woods, watching until Winnie walked into the house. As soon as the door was closed behind her, I did a perimeter check of the house to make sure it was safe.
At one point I thought I caught the scent of something else, but then the wind changed and I missed it. I was turning to leave when Dominic called my name, so whatever it was, I must have imagined.
Walking past him, I don’t say anything else. What can I say? My mate doesn’t want me. I’ve let her down by trying to protect her.
“You know you can talk to me.” Dominic’s footsteps follow softly behind me as we make our way back to my house.
I give up trying to get away from him, and we fall into a comfortable silence on the walk back. I decided against driving, needing to be outside and not caged in my truck. Especially after waking up in a cell.
“I’ve failed her,” I finally admit after a few minutes have passed.
“No, you haven’t. You did what you thought was best. She needs time to understand what being mated means. We all know how she’s felt about you for so long. I think she feels as if you were backed into a corner and you had to choose her.”
Anger rushes through me, and I turn, pushing Dominic into a tree, my forearm on his throat. “I always wanted her,” I grit through my teeth.
Dom pulls against my arm, and after I see him start to turn blue, I let him go. “I’m sorry, brother. I’m not angry at you, I’m angry at the assumption that I was indifferent to Winnie, when all along I struggled daily not to take her as mine, even if we weren’t mated.”
Dominic leans over, putting his hands on his knees and coughing. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it. You sent her away and then kept her at arm’s length for the past four years.”
“I’m the leader of this pack. What was I supposed to do? I have to take care of everyone and everything. The safety and protection of this place falls on my shoulders.” I stand there with my hands stretched out, searching for a better solution. “What was I going to do? Run away with Winnie and leave everyone behind? Because that’s what I wanted to do. And what would have happened if I would have mated with someone else while I was on the run with her? Or she with someone else? Where would that have left us? I had no choice, Dom.”
Dominic stands up and looks me in the eye. He’s my best friend and my beta of the pack. If anyone can tell me what to do, it’s him.
“You have a choice now, Stone. If you want Winnie to be your mate, then you’ll have to work for it. She deserves to be chosen above everything, including the pack. Even if it was for her own protection, you need to make her see that and show her that you’re a good mate.”
I nod my head, understanding what he means. This won’t be a traditional mating, and I need to do whatever it takes to make her mine.
As I walk back to my house, I come up with a plan. I need to make it impossible for her to say no. And I need to make it clear that I choose her, not because I have to, but because I always wanted to.
>
* * *
I run my hand through the long hair on the top of my head, trying to push it out of my face. Squaring my shoulders, I give myself a little encouraging push and walk through the doors of the bakery.
It’s early, and the bakery hasn’t opened yet, but I saw Dom go by to check on Winnie this morning and he left the front door open for me.
Ruby’s Goodie Basket smells of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and my mate. She must have been the one doing the baking this morning, and both scents are making my mouth water.
The bell attached to the door jingles as I walk in, and I watch as Winnie comes out of the back room, still wearing her apron. “Sorry, we’re not open ye—”
She stops in her tracks when she sees me standing in the front of the store. I feel my cheeks heat a little as I stand there, holding a bouquet of wildflowers I picked for her.
“Good morning, Winnie.”
She blushes and looks away before her eyes come back to lock on mine. “Good morning, Alpha Stone. We’re not quite open yet. Can I help you with something?”
She nervously bites her bottom lip, and I have to keep my growl in check. She’s wearing an old, baggy, gray sweatshirt, a pair of baggy jeans, and a baby-blue apron over it. She’s got her chocolate-brown curls piled up on top of her head and a smudge of flour across her rosy cheek. All of her curves are hidden behind her clothes, but I still see the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I thought it the first time I saw her, even as a cub, that I’d never seen anything more perfect. Nothing changed as time went on. I just never allowed myself to look at her that way. I knew that if I went down that road, no good could come of it. But now that I know she’s mine, I’m looking my fill.
My eyes travel up and down her body, and I can see her hands move in front of her to fidget nervously.
“I picked these for you.” Her blush deepens, and she tucks her chin as she whispers her thanks. I walk over and stand just a few feet from her, holding them out until she nervously takes them from me. My fingers brush against hers, and I feel the charge between us. It takes everything in me not to pull her to me. I just allow that simple touch until she pulls back. “They’re from the meadow where I first saw you, the day Dominic found you. I go there sometimes and look at them, remembering that day and what it felt like the first time I held you.”
She looks up at me, smiling, and then leans back down to smell them. “Thank you, they’re beautiful,” she says, breathing in their scent.
“You smell much sweeter,” I say, reaching out the tip of my finger and tracing her rosy cheek. I can’t help myself, needing the slight contact. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
Her eyes pop up to mine, and she hesitates. She starts to look everywhere but at me, and I assume it’s to try to think of an excuse.
“Please, Winnie. I want to cook for you. Come to my house and let me take care of you. Just dinner.” I hold my breath, hoping for the best, and after a second she takes a deep breath.
“Okay.”
The word is barely a whisper, but it’s a step in the right direction.
I probably shouldn’t press my luck, but I want her to know that I choose her. That she’s the one I’ve always wanted, and she’s the one I’ve always watched.
I lean down and gently sweep my lips across her cheek to her ear. “Tonight, I want you to bring your camera and show me the pictures you took last week of the lake.” I feel her stiffen under me, and I smile. No one knows she takes pictures. It’s her hobby, but she doesn’t share it with anyone. I only know this because I know everything about Winnie.
“Stone,” she whispers.
I move my lips back across her cheek and to her mouth, barely grazing my lips against hers. It’s not a kiss, but a promise of what’s to come.
Pulling back, I touch her chin with my thumb before turning to walk out of the bakery. It aches to be separated from her, but knowing that she’ll be with me tonight makes it a little easier to bear.
Now all I have to do is learn how to cook.
5
Winnie
I watch as Stone retreats out the front door of the bakery, taking his delicious smell with him. My hand goes to the mate mark that seems to have its own pulse. When his lips grazed my chin, it was like my whole body came alive. I’ve smelt Stone a million times before, but something is different now. Maybe it was there yesterday but I was so angry and upset that I didn’t notice until I caught it today. Desire? Lust? Smells I’m not accustomed to. Even less so when they’re aimed at me. I’ve caught similar smells before when humans have come into the bakery, but it was always aimed at my sisters.
Not only was Stone’s scent different, but he seemed almost shy. The thought makes me want to laugh. Stone, who’s always so sure of himself as he issues commands, was shy. I bite my lip to keep the smile from spreading across my face.
I watch him through the front window as he almost collides with Trish. She runs her hands through her hair, which looks like it hasn’t been brushed. She doesn’t quite look her best at the moment from what I can make out, but I try to listen to what they’re saying. My hearing isn’t as great as wolves’ though, so I don’t catch it. I’m not sure if they have better hearing than me, or if I’ve lost too much contact with my bear.
Stone says something, and Trish reaches out to touch his arm at the same time his head turns towards me. His eyes lock with mine, but they snap away when Trish’s hand finally makes contact with his arm. I turn, not wanting to watch the rest of the exchange.
I know he’s alpha, and he has to be friendly with everyone, but I can’t help but remember all the times I’d try to talk to him and he’d always be too busy to listen. He always had the time for everyone, including my stepsisters.
Moments later, I hear front door open and I glance over my shoulder to see Trish stomping in, Stone no longer outside. The look in her eyes says it all. She knows. The question is, did Stone just tell her, or did she already know. I’m guessing she already knew. Why else would she be here when I was covering her shift to begin with?
“So it’s true!” she growls. She looks like she’s been out on an all-night bender at one of the local bars. Which is normal for her. Male shifter wolves can’t have sex before they find their mates because they can’t get hard. Female shifters don’t have that problem. I hear they can’t get off, so I don’t see why they bother, but that doesn't seem to stop my sisters from going down to the bars and getting it on with humans on a weekly basis. Trish once told me after she caught me making dreamy eyes at Stone last year that she slept with humans so that when she and Stone finally mated, she’d know how to please him. “You think you can have our alpha? You’re not even one of us.”
Another growl fills the room, making Trish’s eyes widen. It takes me half a second to realize the sound came from me.
Her shoulders square, and her eyes turn a darker blue as they narrow at me. I think I may have just bitten off more than I can chew. I haven’t shifted in years, and there’s no way I can take on a wolf shifter in human form. I don’t even know where that growl came from.
“Oh, yeah. The word’s out that the alpha mated, and not one of us seemed to have triggered it,” Trisha says, taking a step closer to me.
I am sick of not belonging and having my own little one-woman pity party. I decided that last night as I stared up at the ceiling. I want something for myself, and I am going to have it one way or another. Whether that’s with Stone or the Gray Ridge pack, I don’t know, but change is in the air, and I’m not going to take things lying down. I’m going into this new day head first. I’ll probably stumble, fall on my ass, and die of embarrassment, but at this point what does it matter? I’ve spent that last four years trying to fit in. Hell, I busted my ass trying to get any kind of approval from the makeshift parents I had, and that got me nowhere. It only left me in a pile of self-doubt with one too many kicks to my self-confidence, which I’m sure I’ll have to fight through for a long time.
I take a step towards Trish, thinking that no matter what, it’s time I stood up for myself and what I want.
The front door to the bakery opens again, pulling both our gazes to it. Gwen enters with X hot on her heels, taking in the scene. The scent of anger must fill the air because I see Gwen’s nostrils flare. X goes to grab her, probably to pull her behind him, but she bats away his hand and her growl fills the room, putting both mine and Trish’s to shame.
“You dare threaten our alpha’s mate?” It takes me a minute for Gwen’s words to register. They take the air right out of my lungs. It’s silly because I know Stone wants me to be his mate, but the reality of what that means comes crashing down on me in hard waves. Knowing what all this means makes it a little hard to breathe.
I reach out and grab the counter to steady myself. I can barely stand up to my bitch stepsisters and I am supposed to be the alpha female of the Gray Ridge pack? There’s nothing alpha about me.
Suddenly, I feel like something has been ripped from me. Jesus. One second I’m all I’m not your mate and I don’t want to be your mate! I’ve only pined to be yours for years! and now I’m all sad because I think I really can’t be his mate. My head feels like its spinning.
I look up to see Trish baring her neck to Gwen.
“Get out! And go wash last night’s stink off you.” Gwen’s words are hard and to be obeyed. I watch as Trish scurries back out of the bakery, and if she’d shifted, I have no doubt her tail would’ve been between her legs.
I take a deep breath, making my way out from behind the counter to sit in one of the chairs. Gwen comes to kneel in front of me, putting us at eye level…almost. I still have to look down at her just a little.