Mated To The Wrong Alpha
Chapter 41

Arthur didn’t come home that night. Ava’s sleep had been restless as she kept waking to check his side of the bed only to find cool sheets and a smooth pillow beside her. As a result, she started the day over-tired and with a sense of impending doom. She hoped another wave of desire wouldn’t hit her while she was at work. It would be rather difficult to explain why she was hiding in the meat freezer trying to cool down when it was barely above freezing outside.

She was also worried that she hadn’t yet told Arthur about her meeting with Seth, which increased the chances of him finding out from someone else. Nor had she talked to Rose. Checking her watch, she saw that there was still some time before she had to leave for work. She decided to stop by the infirmary to see Carrie and the baby first, then she’d go looking for Rose, Phoebe or Zoe and set them straight as to what had happened.

Just in case Arthur came home while she was gone, she wrote him a note and taped it to the mirror where he was sure to see it. ‘Dear Arthur, I need to see you and talk as soon as possible. It’s important.’ She hesitated over the signature. Should she just put ‘Ava’ or ‘love Ava’ or maybe some x’s and o’s for hugs and k****s? Deciding to go out on a limb, she penned ‘I love you, Ava’ and was surprised at how good it felt to write the words. Giving the note a k**s, she taped it to the mirror and went on her way.

The stop at the infirmary was fun. Carrie looked wonderful—if a little tired—and had a definite glow about her. The baby, John Jr. was adorable, and Ava found it hard to set him down. Sniffing, she inhaled the intriguing scent of new baby and marvelled at the strength of his tiny fingers as they clung to her own.

“Oh, Carrie, he’s perfect.” She smiled as she handed the baby back to his mother. Immediately her arms felt incredibly empty and she knew that if by chance she became pregnant, she would have no regrets.

She stayed and chatted for a while longer, before saying her goodbyes and promising to visit again later in the day. Her next stop was Rose’s house but no one was there. Darn, Rose! How dare she not be home? She was probably out there right this minute spreading rumours!

Stomping down the steps, she headed to the right in search of Phoebe or Zoe. Hopefully, they’d at least be home and she could nip the rumour mill in at least one spot.

She was so intent on her thoughts that she was surprised to find herself at Phoebe’s house so soon. Her quick rap on the door was answered immediately, though gaining entrance was another thing.

“Ava.” Phoebe greeted her coldly and made no move to let her in.

Deciding to assert her authority, she stepped forward, pushing the door open. “We need to talk.”

Phoebe looked startled and ready to protest, but then acquiesced.

Ava gave herself a mental pat on the back. Score one for her Alpha female authority!

Once inside, she quickly took stock of the house. It was a typical family home. From her position in the entryway, she could see into the kitchen where the children’s artwork was on the fridge. A family room to the side had toys and a few newspapers strewn about and a basket of laundry waiting to be folded on the sofa.

Gesturing awkwardly, Phoebe led her into the kitchen. Zoe was there and looked surprised when she realized who had been at the door. The atmosphere in the room immediately became thick and uncomfortable. Ava sat on the edge of the chair and cleared her throat. Deciding not to pussyfoot around the issue, she jumped right in.

“Okay, you two, I’m pretty sure I know why you were acting the way you were yesterday. It’s because of Rose, isn’t it?” She watched them shoot glances at each other but didn’t wait for a reply before continuing. “She told you that she saw me in town with another male and that she saw us hug and—”

“Don’t forget the part where you said you loved him.” Zoe interrupted spitefully.

“Right. I did say that. It’s all true. But what Rose didn’t know is that the male was Seth and he’s from my old pack. We grew up together and he’s like my brother, not a lover.”

“Oh!” The two ladies spoke in unison, an equally stunned look on each of their faces. The expressions then changed to embarrassment as they realized their mistake. It was almost comical how alike the two were. They then began to fall over themselves offering apologies and explanations.

“It’s just that we’re all so fond of Arthur and hate the idea of him being taken advantage of,” Phoebe explained.

“That’s right,” Zoe added. “Arthur doesn’t show his feelings, but we all wondered how hurt he really was when Marla dumped him for Ryne. We couldn’t bear the idea of it happening again. Mind you, it was a lucky escape in my estimation. You’re a much more suitable mate for Arthur than she ever was.”

Phoebe jumped in when Zoe stopped to catch her breath. “So when Rose told us about seeing you with another male, we wondered if you hadn’t really wanted to be with Arthur and had been putting on an act all along. It seemed possible that you might go back to an old lover. No offense intended, but it was an arranged mating after all.”

“I know what you mean. Don’t worry.” Ava was so relieved to finally be able to tell someone what had happened that she didn’t hold any hard feelings. It had looked pretty bad; her hugging another man and telling him she loved him. “At one time, Seth and I thought we had something between us, but then we realized it was just friendship. I’m happy with Arthur.” She hesitated, and then made herself say the words. “I… I love him.”

Both women squealed with delight and hugged her, exclaiming how they knew it was meant to be all along. Ava wasn’t so sure about that statement, but let it slide. She was coming to realize that the two sisters were very different from their mother. Both were flighty, but basically harmless. In the future, they’d be fun friends but not the type that she’d want to depend on in an emergency. Julia and Carrie were much more sensible.

Reassured that all was well with their Alpha and his mate, Zoe now wanted to hear the whole story about how Ava had grown up with Seth, and they spent some time discussing the young man and his future.

“I hope he’s making the right choice,” Ava confided. “It’s a big step, striking out on his own with another wolf he’s never met. Establishing a new pack won’t be easy.”

Phoebe frowned. “I wonder who it could be that he’s meeting. It must be someone who’s passing through. No one’s mentioned a new wolf in the area and we usually know right away.” “It couldn’t be Ryne, could it?” Zoe asked.

Ava felt the colour drain from her face. Ryne? He was responsible for shooting Thomas! She didn’t want Seth heading off with him. “I never thought of that. I’m going to try and get hold of Seth and warn him.” Automatically she reached for her cell phone but remembered she’d left it at home. She stood up quickly, almost tipping over her chair. “I’ve still got a few minutes before

I leave for work, I’ll call his home and see if he’s still there.”

She ran home and dialled the number with shaking fingers. “Hello? Sarah? Is Seth still there? … He isn’t? … Do you know where I can reach him? … He’s headed here? To Smythston? … Okay. Thanks.” Hanging up before Sarah could ask any questions, she tried Seth’s cell phone only to find that it wasn’t on. She checked her watch. Darn! It was time to leave for work. Maybe once her shift finished, she could try to find Seth, though she had no idea of where she’d look.

Her nerves were on edge the whole time she was working. Usually, the soothing ambiance of the restaurant made her feel calm and at ease throughout her shift. Soft music played in the background and numerous potted plants ensured the air was always fresh, while the burgundy and cream decor created a warm, hospitable atmosphere.

Today it was a totally different story. The smell of the food, the sounds from the kitchen, the murmuring of the patrons; everything seemed heightened and grated on her nerves. For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, she inhaled deeply, pasted a smile on her face, and tried to look patient while her customer dithered over the cream of tomato soup and grilled salmon, or quiche and a roll. It was all she could do not to scream at the woman to hurry and make up her mind. Was this what being in heat was supposed to be like? Or was it a combination of frustrated desire, lack of sleep and nerves about telling Arthur and finding Seth? It was with great relief that she hung up her apron at the end of her shift.

There was a small area near the rear of the restaurant, which housed the employee’s washroom, a place to hang coats and a few chairs for sitting. She plopped down and dug through her purse for her phone. First, she called home but Helen said Arthur had already left. She wondered if Arthur had gotten her message and if he’d noted the ‘love’ at the end or not. Would he see the significance of it? She hoped so.

Since he wasn’t home, she had a few minutes to try and find Seth and discover who he’d met with. If it was Ryne, she’d warn him about how dangerous the other man was. On the offchance that Seth had turned his cell phone on, she tried calling him again. It rang through and she gave a silent cheer. Something was finally going her way!

“Seth! Thank heaven I finally reached you … No, everything is fine, but I have to see you right away … Really? … Okay, I’ll be by my car in five minutes … It’s parked right across the road from the Grey Goose … Right. Bye.” She smiled as she hung up the phone. Seth was around the corner from her. She’d be able to warn him not to get involved with Ryne, and then be able to concentrate on tracking down Arthur so she could talk to him.

As she flipped her phone shut, she noticed that Mr. Mancini was standing in the doorway.

From the look on his face, he wasn’t happy.

“Er… Hello, Mr. Mancini. I was just talking to a friend.”

“So I heard.” He nodded towards the phone in her hand. “Might I remind you, Ava, that you are married?”

She forced herself not to roll her eyes and respond calmly. “Yes, I’m fully aware of that fact, Mr. Mancini. The call you heard, it isn’t what you think. Seth and I are old friends. We grew up together.” Mr. Mancini gave her a sceptical look and she opened her mouth to explain further, but the man was called to the kitchen and he left before she could say anything.

Exhaling gustily, she pulled on her coat. Why was everyone so quick to believe the worst of her? Just because she was talking to a man didn’t mean she was involved with him. What was it with the people in this town? Yes, they were all fond of Arthur, but why assume she was cheating?

So what if Marla had been two-timing him? That didn’t automatically mean that she was! Tomorrow, she’d deal with Mr. Mancini and make sure he understood how wrong he was. Right now, Seth was waiting for her.