Page 26 of Opposites Attract
“Chase mated with Kimberly. He’ll be ready to take over as Alpha.” I gathered up my blanket from the chair and headed inside, closing the screen door behind me as I ran through the names I’d committed to learning over the past five years. We didn’t have much dealing with the packs east of the Rockies, butit was important to know some of the bigger players and their weaknesses.
“Unless Janice challenges legitimacy,” Ranger said. Silence stretched long enough for me to read between the lines.
“Guess we have ourselves a waiting game.” I sighed.
“Guess so.” The sandpaper sound of Ranger scratching his chin was so familiar it made me smile. “Let me know if you need anything, okay? Just because you’re mated, it doesn’t change your blood. You’re still my sister. And you’re still a McCaw.”
I closed my eyes, wishing I didn’t need to hear that as much as I did right now. My duty was to my pack, though. Because I was their Luna, whether they liked it or not. The tug in the middle of my chest grew stronger, reminding me that fate wanted me here for a reason. John needed me.
We need him too.
“I know.” I forced myself to stand up straight and fix my face. This was a challenge. I’d never shied away from one in my life. It was time to get back in the ring. “But I’m also an O’Neil.”
10
John
“How can you not know her favorite color?”
I stood in the main aisle of Kramer’s Grocery & Tackle Shop, cornered by a little pup who wouldn’t leave me alone. “It’s probably black.”
Black sounds like the right answer.My beast nodded.
“Probably…” Alice blew out her cheeks as she looked incredulously around the mostly empty shop. The bell chimed when her grandfather, Kramer, came back inside with a dolly of fruit crates.
“How do you not know your mate’s favorite color?” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “That’s the first question you’re supposed to ask.”
Because she doesn’t talk to me about anything personal.My wolf whined as I lifted the basket toward the candy shelf and tossed an array of chocolate bar options inside. “It’s none of your business, pup.”
“You’re wrong.” She followed on my heels as I headed for the meager selection of wine. “Fallon is my Luna. Her business is my business. Especially if you aren’t treating her right.”
I cursed myself for saying we’d had a fight. With the way the little pup blabbed, it’d be all over town by this afternoon. But I had a soft spot for curious kids. Danielle and Amber had gotten away with way too much as my nieces.
“I am treating her right.” I presented the basket of bribery, loaded with more than it was designed to carry.
Alice shook her head. “It needs to be more.”
“More what?” I arched a brow.
“More sorry!” The girl threw her hands in the air as if I, the Alpha and leader of this pack, was a complete idiot.
*
With my hands full of plastic bags, I jumped out of the truck onto the dirt road to the lakeside resort. I had a feeling she’d like it here. Her own little safe haven, especially when it was off-season and the pack stayed inland where the hunting was better and the air was less cold. Come summer, they’d all be out fishing and swimming and soaking up the sun. Fallon could have full range of the lodge then.
I tapped into our mental connection, not wanting to disturb her if she was sleeping. Her emotions washed over me. The anger. The loneliness. It squeezed at my heart.
My beast whined as I sat down on the front porch, putting the bags beside me.
“What’s your favorite type of candy?”I rested my arms on my knees and waited. Back at the show, I’d gone through so many questions and she never answered. But maybe, just maybe…
“Dark chocolate with salted caramel.”
My beast howled his triumph as I looked into the plastic bag. Hopefully milk chocolate with caramel filling was a close second. Otherwise, I’d have Kramer put an order in.
“What books do you like to read?”
I could sense her through our connection. Feel her little eye roll even as she grinned.“Serial killer rom-coms.”