Ellen didn't hear the rest. She racked her brain. That voice. Slowly, she turned. She tried to keep her head straight and her heart calm. Oh hell, there was no keeping her heart calm.
Blinking, she processed the wall of men until her eyes stopped on something unexpected.
Oh, God. Please tell her that West wasn't one of the alpha's inner circle.
Voices were raised, but she barely noticed the yelling ensued around her.
She couldn't stay away from him, even if this might be the last time she saw him. Certainly, he wouldn't survive if he were challenged by the pack?
No, he would. He was strong. Bigger than the rest.
Somehow she found herself in front of him, moving on instinct.
"West?"
His eyes smiled back at her. "Ellen?"
The room quieted.
"You two know each other?" her mother asked.
West's hand cupped her cheek.
"This is my mate."
She pulled away.
"Wait a minute." Ellen started to back up. Looking around, it occurred to her that the uproar had died. No one was threatening him. No one was puffing out their chests. No. No. No.
Just hell no.
She backed away, knowing the bar like the back of her hand. Her retreat stopped at the back door as she pushed it open. No. Nope. No.
No.
She couldn't breathe. The air. God. The air. It was super thick. Who had thickened the air? Was that a thing? Maybe her lungs had stopped working. Oh, God. Maybe she was hallucinating. Yes, it wasn't West inside. It was someone else and she just wanted to see him. So badly.
The door squealed open.
"Ellen?"
She spun on her heel.
"Why did you run away from me? You are the daughter of Bryant? Correct?" He wasn't asking. He knew she was.
"Yes. So?"
She watched as a grin appeared, so widespread over his lips he might split his face. "I'm Warren's son. I'm next in line. Don't you get it?"
Oh, she got it. She absolutely got it.
"Yeah. I got it. You cheated on me!"
He stepped back and held up his hands.
"I what?"
God. She was so angry. Her parents had known best. They had picked out the perfect mate for her. No. They weren't allowed to be right. She'd just claimed her own life for once, and now this. No. He was fucking perfect. God.
"You. You cheated on me, with me. Oh, my God. You were on your way here to break it off with me just to go meet me and run off."
Now he looked confused, but she was too damn annoyed with all of it. Maybe relieved, but that would come later after she was done being angry that all this stress was for nothing. What the hell. She let herself nearly scrape off her skin, probably get a damn ulcer, go through the panic of leaving her mom and dad, and for what? For it all to work out in the end?
Son. Of. A. Bitch. Fate sucked.
"I'm very confused. Aren't you happy?"
She bit back the shift. Her wolf wanted to jump out and go to him. Let him pet her until his heart was content. No. He didn't seem stressed at all. No. He needed to worry just a little here. He had it so damn easy.
"Oh, yeah. I'm happy that you didn't bother telling me who you were."
He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Like you told me?"
She threw her hands in the air. "Well. Why didn't you know my name? It's not like Ellen is a common name."
She sniffed the air. Fall scents or pumpkin and cider seemed to spill from every building and yet she could still smell him. His spicy, woodsy scent, and, oh God.
She clasped her legs together. "How are you horny right now? Seriously, West?"
He shrugged.
"You look hot when you're not looking like a tart. You looked hot dressed like one too. Can you wear that tonight when it's just us? This is much more appropriate for the meeting of the packs."
Ouch.
"That was Alice from Alice in Wonderland, you jerk. And you didn't complain last night. Tart. Ha. Whatever."
He smirked as he approached. "Yeah. That was last night. Before you were my mate. My forever. Now, I prefer I be the only one to know what a great ass you have." He reached around and slapped her butt.
"You're a real dick. God."
His eyebrows raised. "You wanna see it?"
"Ugh. You're cocky. How did I miss that?"
He reached for her and she allowed him to pull her in. No use fighting something she should find relieving.
"You're really him? The one I was supposed to mate? Like, we don't have to run off and live off the land or anything crazy?"
He shrugged. "If you want to, I guess we can as the honeymoon, but yes. I swear. I was on my way here to meet my intended mate. My father wouldn't let me off the hook. Wanted me to take leadership and ownership of my fuck-up."
Ellen narrowed her eyes. "And. Do you own up to it?"
His chest rumbled in laughter. "I don't fuck up."
She pushed at his chest. His hand closed over both of hers, holding her to him.
"Do you think I made a mistake?"
She thought for a moment. No. There was no mistake. Maybe they should just have been more trusting. No. She didn't like admitting her mom had done well by her. What was the point of attempting to be an adult when her parents still knew best?
"So. Uh. The sign out front? What happened to it? Did you go all primal on it when you told your parents or something?"
Huh? Oh. The sign.
"Ha. No. That was all my father when I said I'd found someone else."
He wrapped an arm around her.
"Sad. Guess you'll need to rename this place then."
What was he talking about now? Who cared what they named it once she was gone.
"What are you talking about. It's always been the Drunken Alien. It's sort of a Roswell thing."
He leaned closer to her. Oh, how she missed those lips.
"I'm told we get
