Page 93 of The Alpha and the Baker
I was so focused that I hadn’t realized an entire hour had passed until more people started to filter into the event. I didn’t notice at first because I was loading up the kitchenette with everything Felicia told me to, but when I took a break to go to the bathroom, I realized the fold-out bleachers they’d set up in the activity area were nearly full.
Huh. Maybe the event was a bigger deal than I thought.
Or maybe our packs werewaymore competitive than the usual contestants at the bake-off. It really was too bad that we couldn’t interact with human events more often. I felt like it caused such an artificial and unnecessary rift between us Wild Folk and humans. While I understood there needed to be at least some distance to protect ourselves from being discovered, but did that really mean total social isolation from each other?
That was something I’d worry about when I had less cataclysmic things hanging over my head. Like, say, a certain bake-off.
“I’m sorry,mija, where did you say the water was?”
The loud, rather boisterous voice drew my attention, and I saw an elderly, tiny woman dressed in nearly all the colors of the rainbow half-shouting at one of the staff members. It didn’t come across as aggressive, but rather like she was somewhat deaf, not unlike Gammy McCallister.
“Uh, ma’am, there are fountains right in front of the bathroom.”
“Fountains?Those foul-tasting things? I could have sworn I was told there would be actual… Hmm, did I get confused?”
It didn’t take a detective to guess that the woman was from the Ramirez pack—I could smell her ancient wolf. Concern instantly lanced through me. Was she on her own in human territory? Not that I thought she was incapable, but it could be an awfully overwhelming assault on the senses for a shifter, even if those senses were worn from age.
“I know what you’re talking about,” I said, cutting over to them. The bathroom could wait. “I’m also thirsty. If you don’t mind, I’ll take you over to the water.”
She turned to me, and her eyebrows nearly rose to her hairline when she spotted me. “You know what I’m talking about, young man?” she murmured, and I was glad she didn’t go for my throat on sight and make a scene. Perhaps I shouldn’t have interfered, but how could I leave her on her own with a staff member who already seemed far too overwhelmed by the festivities of the day?
“I do.” I offered her my arm. “I’m happy to show you.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she took my arm. “By all means, lead the way.”
In truth, I had no clue where the water stations were, but Chris had brought a cooler full of ice, water, and electrolyte drinks in case the spring warmth turned into early summer heat. Loading her up with a couple of portable ways to refresh herself was better than making her stand in line for lukewarm water.
“I know who you are,” the woman said as we walked back over to the kitchenette area. That didn’t surprise me. I was the alpha of their rival pack, after all.
“I figured as much,” I answered simply. I figured it didn’t matter one way or the other.
“I have to say, you’re less of a bumpkin than I expected.”
“Uh, thank you?”
She tilted her head back and laughed as we approached the cooler. I grabbed her a few bottles to tide her over for at least a couple of hours. Downside of having an insane metabolism was that it required a little extra attention when it came to hydration, especially for the elderly.
“That lovely lady you’re dating is something special,” she said out of nowhere as I walked her back toward the bleachers. And while I couldn’t help but agree, I was kind of surprised to hear her say that.
“You met her?”
“Yes, at my great-niece’s quinceañera. It was a beautiful event. You should have seen it. Except, I’m sure some oflos joveneswould have torn you limb from limb for daring to appear on our lands.”
That sounded about right. “But you wouldn’t mind that I was there?” I countered with a wink. I didn’t know where I got the gall. The Ramirez pack took elder respectveryseriously, but maybe it was the over-the-top, ostentatious yet also poised comportment of the granny on my arm.
“Now I never said that. Your people have put an awful taste in my mouth, I’ll have you know. Your daddy did a lot to calmthings down, there isn’t any denying that, but the way I see it, none of ya have ever repaid the debt you’ve incurred.”
She had a point, the same one that I’d already thought to myself. “How do you think we should pay that back?”
“You expect a little old lady to know?” she quipped back in a way that told me that she was far from just a little old lady.
“I’ve always been told to respect the wisdom of my elders.”
“Yourelders. Not ours.”
“You don’t think that you have wisdom to impart to us—what did you call us? Bumpkins?”
“I suppose I did say that, didn’t I?”
