Page 27 of Her Arranged Alpha
After finishing my phone call, I changed into something nicer. I put on a summer dress and applied a little makeup. I pulled my hair back into a nice side pony and scanned myself. I looked good, and I wanted to make a good first impression.
I headed out, taking my car keys, and decided I should drive around a bit. I wanted to know the layout and where the popular places were. I quickly found out that Maddox’s territory in Honeycomb Valley was very new. Unlike Frank's town, which was historical, Maddox's was flashy and updated. It was bustling with what was hot and popular. I did find that there were numerous shops and restaurants.
I parked near a park and decided to go and meet some people. At least try.
I headed across the street, taking in the open signs and the busy sidewalk. I smiled as I walked, trying to look like I wasn't uncomfortable, even if I was.
Some people smiled back, others averted their eyes. I rubbed my hands together and paused in front of a store. It was a boutique with bright colors. I opened the door and stepped inside.
A small bell over the store rang, and a young lady behind the counter looked up. She was about five feet tall, with short brown bob-cut hair. She scanned me quickly; a smile was then plastered on her face. "You must be Maddox's wife."
My eyebrows went up. "I am... but...how did you know?"
She pointed towards the dress, which had been hanging in my closet. "Maddox purchased that last week. It looks nice on you."
I looked down at the dress, not realizing that Maddox had gone through the effort. I had brought some clothes with me when I moved, but not everything. I found the closet had some clothes, but I never thought about whose they were or why they were even there.
I couldn't help but blush. "It's a lovely dress."
"Looks good on you." She rounded the counter. "Jillian, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah, and you are?"
"Olivia. I own the store."
I took a quick look around, taking in the space. Their clothes were high fashion and bright. They were all beautiful, and everything had been carefully selected. Even the jewelry that was in cases looked nice.
"It's a lovely store."
"Aw, thank you, I work hard." She smiled as she looked around. "I try to pick pieces that I know will sell. So, how are you adjusting to town?"
I nodded. "It's very different from Frank's pack. His is historical while Maddox is…"
Olivia nodded her head. "Oh yeah, it's new. When Maddox came into position, he had a lot of work cut out for himself."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh?"
She nodded. "Yeah, the previously Alpha had attention on other things. His wife was unwell, and it affected the pack as a whole. Businesses were closing, and many buildings needed repairs. It used to be a lot like Frank's, but money can only go so far."
I nodded, taking that information in. "I didn't know that."
Olivia nodded. "If you're not from here, you wouldn't. So, what can I help you with?"
"Well, I honestly don't know what I would need. I was just trying to get out of the house and meet some people. Get to know the town."
Olivia smiled. "Well, I do have Maddox's card on file if you're feeling eager to spend."
My eyebrows raised. "What? Why?"
She shrugged. "He told me to put it on file just in case you came in."
I didn't know where I should feel special or insulted. Did he think I didn't have my own money?
"Well, I don't need to spend his money. I have my own." I looked around when I remembered that I actually needed to buy something. "Do you have pajamas?"
After shopping for about twenty minutes and agreeing to lunch with Olivia, I was heading into the next store. I stopped at nine places, finding that each of them was different. They had different aesthetics and music. Each place offered a different taste of clothes. There was a market filled with gifts and a large jewelry store.
It wasn't until I stepped into the flower shop that I took a deep breath and relaxed. A man stood behind the counter, his eyes snapping up at me. I instantly recognized who he was.
