Page 12 of Wedding for My Werewolf

A heavy perfume hit his nose before he reached the porch, and he sighed.

Lila lounged in one of his rocking chairs, long bare legs propped up on the porch railing. She was the highest-ranked female in the Pack and the most persistent of his admirers. Despite the weather, her coat was open to reveal a skin tight red dress. Objectively, she was a beautiful female, but absolutely nothing about her appealed to him.

“There you are,” she purred. “I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”

“It’s late, Lila.” He stepped past her to unlock the door. “Go home.”

She came up behind him and pressed herself against his back, her fingers sliding around to his stomach.

“Don’t be like that. When you become Alpha, you’ll need a strong alpha female, and we both know I’d be perfect for the role.”

Eric shrugged her off and pushed open the door. “Not interested. In either.”

“Is it because of that human girl?” she snapped. “The one staying with Garrick? She’s weak, Eric. You don’t need her.”

His wolf bristled at her dismissive tone.

“My personal life isn’t Pack business.”

“Everything about you is Pack business.” Lila blocked the doorway, her green eyes flashing. “Callan isn’t going to be Alpha forever.”

“I’m not taking over as Alpha.”

She waved his answer away impatiently.

“Of course you are, and you need to choose a mate soon. We can’t have our alpha running around alone, especially not pining after some human nobody.”

“Get out,” he growled.

“Fine.” Lila tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulders. “But this conversation isn’t over. The pack needs stability, Eric. And that means you need to stop fighting what’s expected of you.”

She sauntered off into the darkness, and he slammed the door hard enough to make the windows rattle. Why did no one believe he didn’t want to be Alpha? He had a town to protect. There wasn’t time for anything else.

He was still stewing about it the next morning as he patrolled Main Street, his wolf stirring restlessly under his skin. Pack politics. Lila. Marriage prospects. His mother’s meddling. The weight of their expectations pressed down on his shoulders.

He was staring out at the river when Flora popped up next to him. She was in bright blue today, covered with spangled snowflakes.

“Your mother called me this morning,” she said cheerfully. “Seems she’s got three more ‘suitable’ females lined up for you to meet.”

He clenched his jaw. “Not interested.”

“That’s what I told her.” Flora’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Though I might have mentioned you’ve been spending time with someone else.”

Oh, God. He closed his eyes in despair.

“Flora—”

“Don’t growl at me, boy.” She poked his chest painfully with a skinny little finger. “Let me tell you something—nothing gets rid of persistent mamas and desperate females faster than a taken male.”

“I’m not taken?—”

“Who said you were?” she asked innocently. “But if you happened to be seen around town with a certain new resident, well…” She shrugged. “Your mother might back off. The Pack too.”

He crossed his arms and glared at her.

“You’re interfering.”

“It’s what I do best.” Flora patted his arm. “Just think about it. A little white lie to buy you some peace and quiet? Might be worth it.”

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