“Let’s start with the fact that you and Wyatt get to run all around town picking up girls while the rest of us are stuck out here doing the hard work!” Delaney’s voice rose as she spoke. The rest of the pack sat in silent shock. Delaney may have been the highest-ranking female, but I was the Alpha, and no one raised their voice to me without being put in their place. A fact that several young wolves from my birth pack learned the hard way.
“Thank you for letting me know your concerns, Delaney,” I spoke quietly and glared at her, “I realize some of the pack has been doing more physical work than others.” I knew she wasn’t one of them. While Tegan worked hard around the house, and Ryker ran patrols with Wyatt and me, Delaney whined about the new house, the tiny town, and the lack of mountains. I watched as she shrank back at my implication.
“That is one of the things that will be discussed. Anyone else have concerns or issues we need to address?” I sat back and ate as I listened to Ryker bring the pack up to speed on his concerns about hikers. We discussed having signs posted for hikers to stick to the trails due to dangerous wildlife sightings. Wyatt was put in charge of dealing with park officials and making sure it was taken care of.
Tegan quietly asked about shopping duties and expenses. I immediately put her in charge of anything to do with the house. I hoped it would help to draw her out of her shell. I made sure the pack knew to deal with their own individual needs and not leave everything up to Tegan. I looked at Delaney when I said it, and I noticed her eyes narrowed slightly.
We discussed office work, and different means of income. Our main business would be survival training. We had excelled at it in Colorado, and there were enough forests in Michigan that I expected it to be an interest for tourists. We discussed Jarren and our new arrivals, and the need to get more houses built for pack members.
“Jarren hasn’t given me much information on the new wolves, just that they’re a family. I don’t expect them to be lone wolves, but I don’t want them treated differently either way,” I glanced only briefly at Wyatt who gave an almost imperceptible nod. “If that’s all, we need to get to work. Ryker, I’ll be out to run with you in a little while.” Ryker nodded and pushed away from the table. He tried to get Delaney’s attention, but she was already bee-lining it to me.
“Alex, you can’t avoid talking about this little human you found,” Delaney spat the word human as if it were disgusting to her. I looked up at her from my plate, a little surprised at her open hostility towards a human. “I don’t know why you went back to see her today. We are too busy for you be out rutting around with some no-body waitress.”
“Watch what you say Delaney,” I stood slowly, and then looked down at her. “I’m the Alpha here. I can decide what happens with Zee. You should be more worried about all that ‘work’ you’ve been doing. I suggest you go out running with Ryker and see what he might need your help with tonight. I have more important things to worry about than your jealousy.” By the time I was finished speaking she had bowed her head as far as she could. I heard her mumble her agreement before she rushed out the door after Ryker. I watched her go, worried that I hadn’t completely won that argument.
Chapter Five
Zee
I was nervously standing by my car at the bar. A part of me hoped he wouldn’t show up, but an even bigger part wanted to know what would happen between us if he did. It was that part that had said yes to the date. That part that had convinced me to not stand him up.
I glanced down at my outfit for the millionth time. Delilah had been ecstatic about the date and had spent hours the night before trying to find me something sexy to wear. I finally shoved her out of the room and settled on a pair of jeans and a pale pink tank top with a blue flannel shirt buttoned up over it. It was casual enough for a day date and perfect for the shifty weather in upstate Michigan. Since I wasn’t exactly sure what we would be doing I stuck with tennis shoes. And, despite Delilah’s best efforts at shoving a cute designer purse at me, so I could “pretend to try looking good”, I had brought my satchel with my sketch pad in it.
I glanced up at the sound of tires on gravel to see a navy extended cab truck pulling in. It looked like I would need a ladder to climb into it. Alex opened the door and jumped out easily. I doubted I would have looked that graceful. He strode over to where I stood by my faithful little four door. I watched his eyes rake over my outfit, and his lips quirk up when he took in my choice of clothing.
“Do you feel like doing some hiking?” he asked in place of greeting. I didn’t answer him right away as I took in his equally casual attire. His dark blue jeans were worn in places and rode low on his hips. He wore a plain black t-shirt just like the first night at the bar. I looked at his boots and I was glad I had opted for tennis shoes.
I looked up at his face and found him smirking at me. He raised his eyebrows and I remembered that he’d asked me a question. “Hiking? Any place in particular?” I asked, unsure how
