Page 35 of Truth or Pack

“I did, now onto the craft store. I promise to be quick,” I said, pulling him this time. He chuckled but didn’t protest as we went from one store to the next.

True to my word I was in and out in ten minutes.

“Let’s head back and check on the others,” I said, my words cutting off as I spotted the little sweet shop boasting handmade candies and baked goods. “Actually, let's snag a treat.”

“Oh, absolutely,” he said. I had a feeling this beta was up for anything, but I hoped he wasn’t getting tired of me pulling him around.

My worries fell away as he helped me fill far too many boxes with a variety of sweets. The shop was just as cute as the rest of the town. It was one of those places you could tell the owner loved what they do.

The more time I spent in this town, the more I wanted to make my home by this lake.

“Why the frown?” Mathias asked as we started walking out. I hadn’t even realized I was frowning.

“Sorry, just thinking how much I liked this town and I hate that we’ll be leaving soon. I love how all the businesses are small and owned by people living their dreams. I want that, too. I love being on the water and having this sense of community I’ve never had… I just… I’m not ready to go back to reality.”

“If you want us to move here, I have a feeling none of us wouldn’t hesitate to make it happen,” he reassured me.

Though, that scared me, too. Was I even ready to talk about moving in? They’d made it clear that they didn’t want to part ways, but I hadn’t really thought about it.

Yet, when I pictured going back to my empty apartment, all I wanted to do was push it away.

They weren’t the pack I expected, or ever dreamed of wanting, yet I couldn’t imagine my life without them now.

Ididn't realize how much it hurt my heart to leave Taryn, even though we were working to help those that took damage from the storm.

Also, where were all these emotions coming from? I was always the stoic one and here I was having feelings? What the fuck was up with that?

"Earth to Holt," Ash's voice broke through my thoughts. The alpha looked amused at my distraction.

"What do you want?" I asked, keeping up my grumpy façade.

"We've passed a handful of stores that have broken windows and wood. I've asked you where do you want to start first and you kept walking," he said, stopping in his tracks and forcing me to.

Fuck. He was going to know something was up and I had to figure out how to save face.

"Maybe I haven't seen one that feels right to help. Did you stop to think about that?" I asked.

He gave me an eye roll in response. "She's safe with Mathias. We have to trust that he will protect her if needed."

"Mathias knows that I'll kick his ass if he doesn't," I said.

"Then you'll kick yourself for letting her go with him. I know you're a badass, Alpha. You don't have to tell me," Ash sighed. “Being agoodalpha means we trust them both.”

“I’m working on it,” I sighed.

He nodded once then glanced around at the broken wood and glass lining the sidewalk. “So, where to?”

I stopped in front of an antique store. It wasn't the type of place that I would normally go in, but there was something telling me that we were needed here.

I always went with my gut and it had never let me down, yet.

At least, I used to think that. I was questioning it more lately with the revelations Taryn gave us.

With a careful step, I moved past the doorway and the debris that littered the entrance and called out to see if anyone was here working. A distant voice called back from the back of the shop. I waved for Ash to follow me and we started our search for whoever was in here.

The destruction went all the way to the middle of the shop. It was sad to see so many relics ruined by mother nature that were kept safe for hundreds of years.

An older beta with a sweet smile greeted us as we got to the register area, her words bearing the weight of her sadness. "I'm sorry, boys. We are closed for clean up and repairs."

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