Page 12 of Alpha Bully

The Collinses’ stolen money burns in my pocket, but I look down at Harper and make a decision. I could never buy anything from the bakery, but I’m going to make sure she experiences it. Besides, I was a slave to the Collinses; they never gave me anything but pain and suffering for the work I did. The measly few hundred dollars I stole is pocket change compared to what they actually owe me for the work I did. It still doesn’t feel entirely right, but as Harper eyes the window display, I know I’m doing the right thing for her.

Taking her hand, I guide her into the shop and over to the counter. Thankfully, the bakery is quiet, and I don’t recognize the woman behind the counter. She gives me a slightly strange smile that makes me suspect she knows who I am but doesn’t say anything. I keep my focus on Harper and try to suppress my nerves. Harper appears oblivious to my inner turmoil as she scans the array of sweet treats before triumphantly pointing at a cream bun almost the size of her head.

“Tis one, please, Mama,” she says, and when I nod, she begins to jump up and down in excitement.

“Someone’s very excited.” The woman behind the counter smiles. “Anything for you?”

“Just a latte, please,” I reply, smiling back. Behind me, I hear the little bell ringing above the door as more customers pour into the bakery.

Harper bounds over to one of the small tables by the window, and as I turn to check her whereabouts, I notice several familiar faces. Two shewolves I went to high school with and a couple of older women. All of them have their eyes trained on Harper and me.

“Oh, my goddess. I can’t believe she’s actually showing her face,” one whispers loud enough for everyone to hear.

“It’s the child I feel sorry for. She looks so sweet, but imagine being tied tothatas a mother. No father. She has no chance,” another says, and that one stings more than anything.

The woman behind the counter hands me my latte and the bun on a plate. “Can I get it to go, please?” I ask apologetically, and she offers me a small smile of understanding before taking the bun and putting it in a bag. I take it gratefully and rush over to where Harper is sitting in the window.

“Come on, sweetheart, let’s go eat these in the park.” Harper is still at that age where she thinks everything is a good idea and happily gets up, eager to have her bun wherever we sit.

Turning toward the door, I see Anna and Samantha from school, obviously waiting to say something to me. I knew it was a possibility that I’d see someone I know, and Callum told me the pack was asking questions, so I thought I’d prepared myself. But as I watch their expressions dance between disgust and pity, I can’t help the nausea that begins to surface.

“Ava?” Anna says her tone light, her expression anything but. “And who is this?”

Harper waves at Anna, and her innocence makes my heart clench. “This is my daughter, Harper. We’re just on our way out.”

“Mmm.” Anna doesn’t move. Instead, she leans down to Harper. “On your way to meet your daddy?”

Harper just looks at me. We’ve never talked about her having a daddy, so she doesn’t look particularly confused; she just smiles uncertainly. I hold my head high as I look directly at Anna. “We’re just going to the park, do you mind?” I ask, indicating that they should move.

“You were right, no dad. How sad,” Samantha mutters. “How does that work, Ava? Who have you been living with, exactly?”

I can feel my face burning as everyone in the bakery’s eyes are focused on me. “That is none of your business. Now, let my daughter enjoy her treat in peace, please.”

I hate the slightly pleading tone that has entered my voice as I sayplease,but I just want to get Harper out of here. The woman behind the counter calls for the next customer, and I’d like to think she’s doing her best to break the tension, but Anna and Samantha don’t take the hint.

“Try not to be strange about it, Ava,” Anna says smoothly. “We’re just concerned and checking on you. No one knows where you’ve been orwhoyou’ve beenwith.There are all sorts of rogues out there.”

I straighten my spine and glare at her. “They have nothing to do with me or my daughter. Now move.”

Samantha chuckles as the bell rings behind them, and a few more people enter, further blocking our path. “Someone’s feeling brave because the alpha’s taken pity on them. Very odd, if you ask me—”

“Brave to be questioning the alpha so openly, if you ask me,” a familiar voice says from behind Anna. She spins around, and I see Sara standing by the door.

Sara was one of my few friends from high school, and I wasn’t entirely surprised to hear from Callum that she’s now mates with Charlie; I always suspected they had a soft spot for each other. I used to assume that’s why she was so nice to me. She must have thought, wrongly, that he cared.

Anna has the decency to look marginally humbled, glancing around and realizing she was indeed openly questioning the alpha. No one would care what she was saying about me, but Callum is a different matter.

I smile gratefully at Sara as I see my way out. “Hi, Sara. Harper and I were just on our way out.” No one stops me as I step forward, and Sara holds the door for me.

“I’ll walk with you,” she says, following us out of the bakery and crossing the road toward the park. We walk silently for a moment before she speaks up. “How are you, Ava? I wanted to stop by, but Charlie said we should wait until Callum said.”

I’m surprised they’d even thought about it. “Callum said you were with Charlie. I, um, wasn’t surprised,” I say.

She laughs. “Was I always that obvious?”

“Only to me,” I reply quietly. Glancing behind me, I check that no one has followed. “Thank you for your help back there. I don’t think they’ll follow now. You don’t have to stay.”

Sara looks awkward for a moment. “That’s not why I came with you. I wanted to see you.” Then, looking past me, she adds, “And meet—Harper, is it?”

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