Page 40 of The Alpha Option
“Just making an observation.” Blue put aside his hammer then glanced at the finished boards under their feet. “Well done, if I do say so myself.”
“Your problem is not your building skills.”
“I have problems?” Blue pressed a finger to his cheek and considered. “Nope, don’t think I do.”
“Don’t tempt me.” Jace glanced back at the ladies again, unable to stop himself.
“I’m not the one tempting you,” Blue pointed out. He adjusted his position to stand at Jace’s side. “We need to do some planning. The pack coming here for a swim is a good thing. It lets everybody know Cassidy is supposed to be part of this. But you can’t hold off on challenging Del forever.”
“I know.”
Not only because it was wrong to keep Timberwolf Lodge and Cassidy in limbo but because Jace’s wolf was running low on tolerance. That balance needed to be adjusted, and soon.
“I think you should enjoy the party.” Blue said it like a statement of fact, and Jace gave him his full attention. “Just a hunch, but I think Wednesday is going to be important.”
Thank goodness for Omega super senses. “My wolf will appreciate being around the pack again. I’ve missed everybody,” Jace admitted.
“Of course you have. You’re a wolf. I know you’re not always the smartest wolf, but there’s even a place for brawny, powerful, lovable knuckleheads like you.”
Jace eyed his cousin. “Don’t know that I missed you that much, now that I think of it.”
Blue grinned, but then his expression grew serious. “I know there’s unfinished business between you and Del because of the Alpha thing, but what the hell’s going on with the way he’s acting toward the ladies?”
Jace had given it some thought. “Cassidy is powerful. Any Alpha-strength wolf will be attracted to that. Stephanie? I don’t know, but he’s definitely sniffing after her.”
“He sniffs any closer and I’ll plant my fist in his nose.” Blue picked up his hammer and spun it, balancing the ungainly object on one fingertip like a basketball player spinning a ball.
“Did I just hear my pacifist Omega cousin threaten the Alpha of the pack?”
Blue adjusted his grip on the hammer and glanced down his nose at Jace. “No wolf is truly a pacifist. And we’re talking about my mate, even if I’m not staking a claim right now. If Del makes one wrong move?”
He whirled like a streak of lightning, twisting on the spot, arm hurling forward. The hammer flew from his fingers, rotating over and over until it landed with aclunk, the claw end embedded an inch deep into the Adirondack chair by the fire.
Jace’s wolf heartily approved of the bloodthirsty sentiment. “I’ll be right there beside you if necessary.”
Blue pushed himself to vertical and gestured toward the land. “After you, Alpha.”
Jace paused at the chair to remove the hammer. It took a bit of wiggling to get it out, it had dug in so deep. Yep, it was always good to have people you knew and trusted on your side.
He stopped beside Cassidy. “Looking good.”
She stood, making everything inside him grow warm as she casually slipped an arm around his waist to step back and admire their handiwork. “I like the pop of colour. But thank you for the reminder that there may be a few more feet on the ground than I expected.”
Jace dropped his arm around her shoulders as they stood there, savouring the connection all the more because she had initiated it. “It’s going to be a good party. Thanks for inviting me.”
She twisted before pulling herself against him and wrapping her arms around his torso. “Del arranged it so he won’t be here. But that doesn’t make the problem go away, does it?”
He shook his head. “Blue was reminding me that there’ll be a moment of reckoning fairly soon. But not today. Not tomorrow. So let’s enjoy getting to know the pack a little better and letting Timberwolf Lodge see some action again.”
Wednesday dawned beautiful and clear.A perfect June day.
Cassidy stared out her bedroom window at the bright green forest and brilliant sunshine, wondering at the sensation welling up inside her.
Anticipation? Maybe something bigger, as if she were a flower poking its head up through the sun-warmed soil and about to bloom.
Stephanie shoved open the bedroom door and stuck her head in. “It’s party day, chica. I’ll make the waffles; you make the coffee.”
It felt very right to have the four of them in the kitchen, bustling about and making breakfast. It was odd to think it had been barely two weeks since they’d arrived at the lodge, but in that time, Stephanie and Blue had fallen into an amusing routine, chattering like magpies the entire time they worked to make breakfast.
