Page 20 of The Alpha's Envy

Less travel means less chance of finding your mate.

What Graham is doing to his pack is borderline cruel. I pray it’s a temporary measure, and that eventually, his wolves will be allowed to roam again in the hopes of finding their destined match.

I can tell Marie’s thoughts have drifted in the same direction.

“You know, I’ve been thinking…” Marie’s eyes twinkle with mischief that I now recognise as some scheme or hair-brained idea that I’m going to get dragged into. Suddenly, I’m nervous.

“That’s always dangerous.”

When Marie smiles at my comment instead of giving me a filthy look, I know I’m really in trouble.

“Maybe we should host a match-making festival, or join forces with all the packs in the region to arrange something. Maybe Graham will find his mate there and realise how wrong he is.”

I stare back at her. “Please no. Why us?”

She shrugs. “Why not us? It would be a good thing to do for the entire region, and a good way to strengthen relations among the packs.”

My mate has a point but it’s not something I want to entertain right now. Or maybe ever. I’d much prefer if another pack took on that headache.

“I hope he finds his fated mate, for his pack’s sake,” I say, loathing to wish any good luck on that man, but eager not to see his pack suffer for his erratic behaviour. “But I’m certainly not helping him. I’m not sure I could send anyone to live with him in good conscience.”

Marie nods against me, keeping her chin lowered, so I can’t see her expression. “He will find her. And I hope if he does, he treats her well.”

We both fall into solemn silence. The mate bondshouldtrump all else. It’s almost unheard of for mates to be a bad match, or to not do anything in their power to make each other happy.

Yet, if Graham is as warped as we suspect, the mate bond might not be enough to stop him acting against the best interests of those around them. And if he never leaves the territory… Well, the chances of him finding her are non-existent. If she were from his pack, he’d know by now.

“Let’s focus on tonight. It is a celebration after all.”

Marie deserves this after the ordeal with Graham. She deserves the beginning she should have had with parties and a big warm welcome, and I’m going to make sure she gets it.

“Just think, Marie, this is the first pack event we’re hosting together. Someday, we’ll be hosting something very similar, but we’ll be handing over the pack to one of our children. One of our many, many children.”

Turning Marie around to look at the beautiful ballroom, I know she can see all the events we’ll have here. Birthdays,mating ceremonies, alpha ceremonies. A lifetime of memories to come.

“I can’t wait,” I whisper. “I can’t wait to have our own little family together.”

Dipping my head, I nibble her neck, willing away my body's immediate reaction to the thought of getting Marie round with my pups.

“Alpha Jones,” Marie murmurs, arching her back to press her ass against my crotch and torture me some more. “I can’t wait for my heat. And all the practicing we’re going to do in the meantime.”

13

MARIE

"Luna, we have a situation at the hotel."

Michael appears in the doorway of my new office, his usual composure slightly ruffled. I've been here two weeks, and this is the first real test of my authority while Jonathan is away at a business meeting about expanding the spa facilities.

"What kind of situation?" Setting down the quarterly revenue reports I've been reviewing, I rise from behind my desk.

"Two of our younger pack members who are both working the front desk. One accused the other of deliberately sabotaging her client bookings to make her look bad because they’re both dating the same guy. It's getting heated and we have two guests but one room."

My heart pounds as I follow Michael down the hallway. I can handle this. I have to handle this. But what if I make the wrong call? What if the pack sees me as weak?

Slowly, I’ve been getting trained up on all aspects of the businesses under the pack’s control. Shadowing Jonathan has been fun, and I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve largely been taking aback seat. The hotel side of things is familiar to me, my own family having run a similar business, but not on this scale.

Grey Ridge is a successful pack, with multiple properties, and it’s very different when you’re supposed to be in charge.

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