Page 17 of Half Wolf Mate
Macy studied me keenly. For some reason, I felt as if she was testing me. “Um…right.”
After a beat of silence, she said, “I’ll leave you to it. Maybe we can talk about your waitressing experience after breakfast?”
Nodding enthusiastically, I told her, “Of course.”
Chapter 9 Sydney
I stood outside the open wrought-iron gates, staring at a property that was really just an expanse of woods. There wasn’t a building in sight, which had me confused. Violet said this was where I’d find the Alpha of the Moon Guardian Pack. I was no expert in how werewolves lived, but surely the pack didn’t live outdoors.
Pulling the piece of paper Violet had scribbled on from my back pocket, I checked the address again. I was in the right place. Clutching my backpack, which I’d been carting around everywhere, I advanced onto the property. I swept the place, looking for something to point me to where the pack was then I laughed at my foolishness. I doubted there would be a sign broadcasting that a werewolf pack lived in the area.
The road I followed wasn’t paved but seemed to have been created by tires and feet over time. I walked for about three minutes before I saw any sign of the property being a residence. I emerged into a clearing where there were individual houses scattered about. They weren’t too close together—just the right space to afford each home privacy.
“Wow,” I whispered, doing a three-sixty. So, this was how a pack lived. It was a small community. A family. I liked it. The thought of meeting the people my mother once considered a family sent excitement coursing through my veins. It was nice thinking that I didn’t have to be alone anymore. There was that strange sense of feeling safe and being where I belonged again, the same sensation I’d felt when I first met Cole.
My steps faltered. Did that mean he was here? It would make sense, considering he was a part of the pack. Despite the harsh way he’d dealt with me yesterday, I still felt an eagerness to see him. Perhaps our next interaction wouldn’t be so hostile.
I understood that he didn’t know me, and maybe he might be wary of strangers. Maybe all werewolves were cautious about outsiders. After much-needed sleep and a long hot shower, I felt much better and ready to meet my mother’s people.
It was almost four the time Violet told me to show up, but I didn’t see anyone. However, I got the eerie feeling that I was being watched. As I warily scanned the area, wondering what to do and where to go, someone finally appeared. A man walked down the steps of the biggest building that stood almost in the middle of the other structures. The closer the man came, I had to crane my neck to look at his face. His windblown, dark blond hair was almost shoulder length. He bore a striking resemblance to Violet. They even had identical green eyes.
This man’s eyes weren’t as twinkling and friendly as Violet’s, though. They were slashing, assessing, and cold. There was a cynical twist to his lips, and something about him told me he could be ruthless. When he was inches away from me, I wanted to take a step back out of sheer self-preservation, but I forced myself to stand my ground and square my shoulders.
“Who are you?” was the suspicious greeting I got. The impoliteness was unexpected.
“I’m Sydney. I’m here to see the…” Did I just come right out and say the Alpha? Or was I supposed to talk in code? These people seemed discreet. “I’m here to see your leader.”
“Our leader?” His gaze narrowed on me some more. I got the impression he was trying to see through me.
“Violet gave me this address and said I should come to see him.”
“Violet.” He sighed her name with impatience and shook his head. “Of course, she had something to do with this,” he mumbled. “What do you want?”
My eyes darted around. No way would I tell this strange, scowling man anything. Angling my chin upward, I said, “That’s for your leader to find out.” To hell with it. I needed to see the Alpha and fast. My life was on the line here. “Look, sir, I need to see the Alpha of this pack pronto. It’s a matter of grave importance, and I don’t wish to discuss it with just anyone.”
He arched an eyebrow and gave me a once-over. I swore one corner of his lips twitched, forming the beginning of a smile. But I blinked, and his expression was stony again. “Your backpack.” He held out a hand.
“What?”
“If you want to see the Alpha, I need to search your backpack.”
I snorted. “What are you, his bodyguard?”
“Something like that,” he said without inflection. His hand remained extended.
Sighing, I slipped off my bag and reluctantly handed it to him.
He glanced at me before opening it to look inside. My face burned because I had personal stuff in there—like my underwear. But if a rude bodyguard searching through my things was the price to pay for seeing the Alpha, so be it.
Tapping my foot, I glowered at Mr. Sourpuss while he dug into my belongings.
“What the hell is this?” he asked, his octave dropping to a menacing level.
My gaze snapped to his face. “What?”
Glaring daggers at me, he revealed the blade I’d taken—stolen, rather—from the hunter who tried to murder me in Nebraska. My eyes widened. “That’s not mine. Well, it’s in my bag, but—”
Never taking his eyes off me, the man called, “Alex!”