Mated To The Wrong Alpha
Chapter 42

Standing in the parking lot watching the traffic go by, Ava gave a start of surprise when someone’s hand landed on her shoulder. Swinging around, her arm automatically rising in a defensive gesture, she laughed when she realized it was Seth. He’d always enjoyed sneaking up on her, supposedly proving his superiority through his stealth.

“Ha! Caught you off guard again, Ava!”

She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Seth, quit doing that. You know I don’t like it.” He grinned at her before enveloping her in a bear hug.

The hug lasted slightly longer than necessary and she extracted herself quickly, all too aware of how things could easily be misconstrued.

“Seth, I called you for an important reason. That wolf you were meeting with—the one who wants to start a new pack—what was his name?”

“You mean my new Alpha?” Seth seemed to swell with pride, forgetting the awkward moment that had just occurred. “His name’s Ryne. I’m going to be his Beta, and as soon as he finishes some personal business here, we’re heading out.”

She shut her eyes and g*****d. Trust Seth to get mixed up in something like this. As much as she hated to burst his bubble, she couldn’t let him go off with Ryne. It was too dangerous. Taking his hand, she led him to a nearby bench. “Seth, let’s sit down. I have something I have to tell you.”

After explaining what she knew about Ryne, Seth looked at her silently for a few minutes before speaking. “Ava, I know you mean well, but I’ve met Ryne. You haven’t. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt his pack. Yeah, I believe you about the challenge, but I think there must be more to it than you know. Something’s been left out of the story. And the other stuff—the traps and the shooting—there has to be an explanation. The Ryne I’ve talked to wouldn’t do that.”

“Maybe he’s putting on a really good act. The people in my new pack wouldn’t be attributing these things to Ryne without good cause. His scent was at the scenes, for heaven sake!”

Seth stared at the ground, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t know, Ava. My gut is telling me you’re wrong about him.”

She leaned towards him, placing her hand on his arm. “Please, Seth, think this over. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Standing in the parking lot watching the traffic go by, Ava gave a start of surprise when someone’s hand landed on her shoulder. Swinging around, her arm automatically rising in a defensive gesture, she laughed when she realized it was Seth. He’d always enjoyed sneaking up on her, supposedly proving his superiority through his stealth.

“Ha! Caught you off guard again, Ava!”

She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Seth, quit doing that. You know I don’t like it.” He grinned at her before enveloping her in a bear hug.

The hug lasted slightly longer than necessary and she extracted herself quickly, all too aware of how things could easily be misconstrued.

“Seth, I called you for an important reason. That wolf you were meeting with—the one who wants to start a new pack—what was his name?”

“You mean my new Alpha?” Seth seemed to swell with pride, forgetting the awkward moment that had just occurred. “His name’s Ryne. I’m going to be his Beta, and as soon as he finishes some personal business here, we’re heading out.”

She shut her eyes and g*****d. Trust Seth to get mixed up in something like this. As much as she hated to burst his bubble, she couldn’t let him go off with Ryne. It was too dangerous. Taking his hand, she led him to a nearby bench. “Seth, let’s sit down. I have something I have to tell you.”

After explaining what she knew about Ryne, Seth looked at her silently for a few minutes before speaking. “Ava, I know you mean well, but I’ve met Ryne. You haven’t. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt his pack. Yeah, I believe you about the challenge, but I think there must be more to it than you know. Something’s been left out of the story. And the other stuff—the traps and the shooting—there has to be an explanation. The Ryne I’ve talked to wouldn’t do that.”

“Maybe he’s putting on a really good act. The people in my new pack wouldn’t be attributing these things to Ryne without good cause. His scent was at the scenes, for heaven sake!”

Seth stared at the ground, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t know, Ava. My gut is telling me you’re wrong about him.”

She leaned towards him, placing her hand on his arm. “Please, Seth, think this over. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

He angled his head to look at her and she hoped he could see her sincere concern for his well-being. Finally, he sighed. “I’ll think it over, but that’s the most I can promise you.”

She’d hoped for more but knew from past experience that Seth wasn’t easily swayed. He’d need to mull the situation over on his own and come to his own conclusions. Hopefully, they would be the right ones. With a nod, she stood up and Seth walked her to her car.

“I hope I get to see you again some day.” He took her hands in his.

“You will, Seth. This isn’t goodbye. Our paths will cross again, I know.” She desperately hoped she was telling the truth. Seth had been a big part of her life and she was going to miss him.

He gave her hands another squeeze, but she wasn’t really aware of the pressure. A strange feeling was washing over her, as if someone was watching. Slowly she turned to look across the road towards the Grey Goose. Standing on the steps talking to Mr. Mancini, was Arthur.

Even from this distance, she could feel the anger radiating from him. It was as if his eyes were boring holes right through her and she gave a shudder of fear. Never had she thought she’d be on the receiving end of such wrath.

Sensing her distraction, Seth turned to see what had caught her attention. A low whistle escaped his lips. “Hey, Ava, isn’t that your Arthur?” She was only capable of giving a short nod. “He looks majorly pissed off.”

“He is. You’d better leave.” Not even looking at Seth, she shoved him away.

“Will you be all right? Maybe I should stay.”

“No!” She forced her gaze away from Arthur and looked at Seth’s worried face. “Leave.

Please. I’ll be okay.” She remembered how territorial Arthur had been the last time he’d met Seth.

She didn’t want the two of them ending up having a fight in the middle of town.

Reluctantly, Seth left. Ava kept half an eye on him to ensure he kept going, while trying to watch Arthur at the same time. Mr. Mancini was talking to him, but Arthur wasn’t listening. A cowardly part of her considered leaving, but she knew she’d have to face Arthur and explain at some point in time. She might as well get it over with now.

She didn’t have long to wait. Either the conversation ended abruptly, or Arthur just walked away for suddenly he was crossing the street towards her. Vaguely she was aware of Mr. Mancini shaking his head as he watched Arthur leave, giving a melodramatic shrug before going back inside, but mostly she focused on Arthur’s approach. His nostrils were flaring, no doubt picking up the scent of her pheromones wafting towards him on the gentle breeze that was meandering down the street. Oh great! That was going to set him off even more.

Her mouth felt dry and she was sure her knees were knocking. Licking her lips, she started to speak as soon as he reached her side. “Arthur, I can explain everything.”

“Explain? How can you begin to explain meeting with an unattached male?” His voice was so low and filled with anger that she could scarcely get her next words out.

“Seth’s not another male, he’s my friend.”

Arthur snorted. “I remember the kind of ‘friendship’ the two of you have.”

“No! It’s not like that anymore.”

“No? Then tell me, why have you been secretly contacting him?”

“I haven’t been secretly contacting him!”

“Of course, forgive me. He’s been contacting you.” She tried to protest, but Arthur continued speaking, his voice increasing in volume. “Don’t try and deny it. I heard him on the answering machine. Three times he’s called you!”

“What?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Next time you remind me to change the tape in the answering machine, make sure you’ve erased all the old messages first. I suppose you never thought I’d listen to it before throwing it out.”

She stared at him open-mouthed as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. Seth had only called once and Marla had taken the call. Except… Hadn’t Marla said that someone had phoned for her several times and she’d let the answering machine take the calls before finally deciding to pick up? It had completely slipped her mind until this very moment. That must be what Arthur was talking about. “Arthur, I can—”

“Explain? I’d like to see how.” Arthur looked around as if suddenly recalling that they were standing in the street and their raised voices were attracting attention. He grabbed her arm, opened her car door, and pushed her inside. “We’ll finish this at home and don’t try to run off with your friend. I’ll be following right behind.”

It took her a few tries to get the key in the ignition; she was so upset her hand was shaking. Arthur was really angry, and while she could see his point, he should have some faith in her. She’d done nothing to warrant such suspicion.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw that Arthur was driving about two car lengths behind her. Hopefully, he’d cool down on the way home and be willing to listen to reason. His background while growing up would make him more sensitive to the idea of infidelity. Marla had dropped him for Ryne, so possibly he was expecting the worst based on past experiences. He’d watched her with Seth and those phone messages were pretty incriminating, but at least there was nothing else. Unless he’d heard Rose’s rumour. But if he had, surely he would have mentioned it.

Unsure of what to think, she found herself becoming increasingly tense the closer she got to home. By the time she pulled into the driveway, she was a mess. Would Arthur be reasonable or angry? Had he heard the rumour or not? Would he listen to her explanation or continue to jump to conclusions based on his own past?

The more she thought, the more her agitation increased. Suddenly, she realized she was sweating. It was too hot in the car, the air stale, the space feeling claustrophobic. She unzipped her coat, while pushing the door open, welcoming the rush of cool air over her skin. As she went to get out, something jerked her back inside. Damn! She’d forgotten to take off her seatbelt. Fumbling, she worked the clasp, wanting to scream in frustration as the lock resisted her initial efforts. Finally free of the restraint mechanism, she slammed the car door shut and stomped towards the front porch.

The sound of Arthur pulling in behind her had her turning to look his way. Through the windshield, their eyes met and she could tell by the set of his face that he was still upset. The injustice of the situation struck her and she shot a glare at him, spun around and, with a flip of her ponytail, stalked inside.

He angled his head to look at her and she hoped he could see her sincere concern for his well-being. Finally, he sighed. “I’ll think it over, but that’s the most I can promise you.”

She’d hoped for more but knew from past experience that Seth wasn’t easily swayed. He’d need to mull the situation over on his own and come to his own conclusions. Hopefully, they would be the right ones. With a nod, she stood up and Seth walked her to her car.

“I hope I get to see you again some day.” He took her hands in his.

“You will, Seth. This isn’t goodbye. Our paths will cross again, I know.” She desperately hoped she was telling the truth. Seth had been a big part of her life and she was going to miss him.

He gave her hands another squeeze, but she wasn’t really aware of the pressure. A strange feeling was washing over her, as if someone was watching. Slowly she turned to look across the road towards the Grey Goose. Standing on the steps talking to Mr. Mancini, was Arthur.

Even from this distance, she could feel the anger radiating from him. It was as if his eyes were boring holes right through her and she gave a shudder of fear. Never had she thought she’d be on the receiving end of such wrath.

Sensing her distraction, Seth turned to see what had caught her attention. A low whistle escaped his lips. “Hey, Ava, isn’t that your Arthur?” She was only capable of giving a short nod. “He looks majorly pissed off.”

“He is. You’d better leave.” Not even looking at Seth, she shoved him away.

“Will you be all right? Maybe I should stay.”

“No!” She forced her gaze away from Arthur and looked at Seth’s worried face. “Leave.

Please. I’ll be okay.” She remembered how territorial Arthur had been the last time he’d met Seth.

She didn’t want the two of them ending up having a fight in the middle of town.

Reluctantly, Seth left. Ava kept half an eye on him to ensure he kept going, while trying to watch Arthur at the same time. Mr. Mancini was talking to him, but Arthur wasn’t listening. A cowardly part of her considered leaving, but she knew she’d have to face Arthur and explain at some point in time. She might as well get it over with now.

She didn’t have long to wait. Either the conversation ended abruptly, or Arthur just walked away for suddenly he was crossing the street towards her. Vaguely she was aware of Mr. Mancini shaking his head as he watched Arthur leave, giving a melodramatic shrug before going back inside, but mostly she focused on Arthur’s approach. His nostrils were flaring, no doubt picking up the scent of her pheromones wafting towards him on the gentle breeze that was meandering down the street. Oh great! That was going to set him off even more.

Her mouth felt dry and she was sure her knees were knocking. Licking her lips, she started to speak as soon as he reached her side. “Arthur, I can explain everything.”

“Explain? How can you begin to explain meeting with an unattached male?” His voice was so low and filled with anger that she could scarcely get her next words out.

“Seth’s not another male, he’s my friend.”

Arthur snorted. “I remember the kind of ‘friendship’ the two of you have.”

“No! It’s not like that anymore.”

“No? Then tell me, why have you been secretly contacting him?”

“I haven’t been secretly contacting him!”

“Of course, forgive me. He’s been contacting you.” She tried to protest, but Arthur continued speaking, his voice increasing in volume. “Don’t try and deny it. I heard him on the answering machine. Three times he’s called you!”

“What?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Next time you remind me to change the tape in the answering machine, make sure you’ve erased all the old messages first. I suppose you never thought I’d listen to it before throwing it out.”

She stared at him open-mouthed as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. Seth had only called once and Marla had taken the call. Except… Hadn’t Marla said that someone had phoned for her several times and she’d let the answering machine take the calls before finally deciding to pick up? It had completely slipped her mind until this very moment. That must be what Arthur was talking about. “Arthur, I can—”

“Explain? I’d like to see how.” Arthur looked around as if suddenly recalling that they were standing in the street and their raised voices were attracting attention. He grabbed her arm, opened her car door, and pushed her inside. “We’ll finish this at home and don’t try to run off with your friend. I’ll be following right behind.”

It took her a few tries to get the key in the ignition; she was so upset her hand was shaking. Arthur was really angry, and while she could see his point, he should have some faith in her. She’d done nothing to warrant such suspicion.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw that Arthur was driving about two car lengths behind her. Hopefully, he’d cool down on the way home and be willing to listen to reason. His background while growing up would make him more sensitive to the idea of infidelity. Marla had dropped him for Ryne, so possibly he was expecting the worst based on past experiences. He’d watched her with Seth and those phone messages were pretty incriminating, but at least there was nothing else. Unless he’d heard Rose’s rumour. But if he had, surely he would have mentioned it.

Unsure of what to think, she found herself becoming increasingly tense the closer she got to home. By the time she pulled into the driveway, she was a mess. Would Arthur be reasonable or angry? Had he heard the rumour or not? Would he listen to her explanation or continue to jump to conclusions based on his own past?

The more she thought, the more her agitation increased. Suddenly, she realized she was sweating. It was too hot in the car, the air stale, the space feeling claustrophobic. She unzipped her coat, while pushing the door open, welcoming the rush of cool air over her skin. As she went to get out, something jerked her back inside. Damn! She’d forgotten to take off her seatbelt. Fumbling, she worked the clasp, wanting to scream in frustration as the lock resisted her initial efforts. Finally free of the restraint mechanism, she slammed the car door shut and stomped towards the front porch.

The sound of Arthur pulling in behind her had her turning to look his way. Through the windshield, their eyes met and she could tell by the set of his face that he was still upset. The injustice of the situation struck her and she shot a glare at him, spun around and, with a flip of her ponytail, stalked inside.