Page 205 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
“When you put it like that, I see what you’re saying.” It was rare enough to have a male alpha with that much control; a female alpha was unheard of.
I pushed the tissue box out of the way and scooted onto the desk. “Why hasn’t there been a female alpha yet? Was it because they weren’t allowed to commit to a challenge? Or hasn’t one succeeded yet?”
Tavi considered the questions. “I think ability has to be part of it. The Kings aren’t the only sexist community of wolves. Female wolves are definitely discouraged from competing so they can bear children. And the fact that, on average, male wolves are stronger than female wolves doesn’t help. But you’re already aware of that.”
“I am. I guess what I really wanted to know is whether there have beenanyfemale wolves who challenged a male for the position before I did it.”
“I don’t think so. Pretty sure you’re the first.”
“Huh. Okay.”
I wasn’t sure which gender I wanted. A girl might have to spend her entire life fighting just to be viewed as someone who could do more than work in the gardens and care for children. A boy would have it easier, but he would still have to prove to everyone that he was as strong—if not stronger—than his father. There were pros and cons, expectations and shortcomings, to either. I guess questioning ultimately had no effect on which gender I would have; nothing I said or did would change the baby’s gender.
“Oh, before we dig into more of this paperwork…Night and I were thinking we could have a little celebration tonight. You’re invited, and so is Dom.”
At Dom’s name, Tavi flushed and looked away from me, busying herself with the meeting book. “Yeah, I’ll be there,” she said. “Should I bring anything?”
I bit my lip to stop my smile, then hopped off the desk so I could sit in the office chair. “Just your beautiful self.”
She scoffed and moved into one of the chairs with the binder so she could continue reading. A few minutes passed. I should have started looking through the documents in front of me, but I was still watching Tavi. She pushed her long jet-black hair over her shoulder, braiding it so it would stay out of the way while she read.
She didn’t wear makeup or flowy skirts the way she used to, but she didn’t need to wear those things to be every bit as gorgeous and intelligent and important as she was before she was hurt. I didn’t know how to communicate all that to her without sounding like I was forcing it.
“Bryn,” she said.
I jerked in my chair. “Yes?”
“I think this ledger is missing a page. Do you have it in your stack?”
“Oh. I don’t know. Let me check.” It only took a few seconds to find the page she was looking for. “Thanks for your hard work,” I said as I handed her the paper. “I don’t know what I’d do without you at my side.”
Her eyebrows rose. I worried that my words had come out awkwardly, but then she smiled, and my fears dissipated.
“Same here, Bryn,” she said. “I’m glad I met you.”
I shared her smile. As she stapled the papers together, I turned to the pile of overdue complaints. Getting my work done would be easier with my best friend at my side.
Afew hours later, after the sun started to go down and the sky was the color of lavender and peach, Night and I finished our day. I had gone through more of the paperwork, and though I felt closer to understanding the state of the pack, there were still reams and reams to get through. When I got home, I changed into a sky-blue dress and arranged my hair into two long braids.
Night had spent the day training for the alpha challenge. When he walked through the front door, he was shirtless, with his chest and shoulders glistening with sweat and his shorts clinging to the powerful muscles of his legs.
The heady, masculine scent of him filled the living room, and it set me on fire. I was tempted to say we should forget the dinner so he could have his way with me on the couch. He smirked at me as he walked by. I was sure that my desires were written all over my face, but instead of indulging me, he gave me a long, sensuous kiss that blazed all the way down to my toes.
“Later, love,” he said, sealing his words with another quick kiss, and then headed upstairs to wash off.
When he got back downstairs, we talked about what I’d planned for dinner. I wanted to keep things simple, so we had pastawith a meat sauce, a fresh green salad, and garlic bread. Night handled the meat sauce while I took care of the salad and bread.
We used beef, beef bones, and a combination of fresh and dried herbs for the sauce. The scent of savory tomato sauce filled the cabin. Night’s knowledge of cooking surprised me. Beyond the occasional question about whether he was holding parsley or rosemary or if the heat was on too high, he handled himself well in the kitchen. Using the same meat cleaver, he easily cut through bones at one moment, then finely chopped herbs the next.
“Not bad,” I said after tasting the sauce that had simmered for forty-five minutes. “You really know what you’re doing, huh?”
“I ought to,” he replied with a grin. “You know my mother. You think she’d let me leave her house without knowing how to boil liquids?”
I giggled. “Fair point, but you should cut mesomeslack. I don’t think there are many alphas who know how to cook for themselves. Most of them would have their mates or lovers do it.” I slipped my arms around him from behind and pressed my cheek to his spine. His body was warm under his T-shirt. “You’re constantly surprising me.”
“I’m glad.” As he stirred the sauce with one hand, the fingers of his free hand caressed the back of my arm. “I’d hate to think you were getting bored with me.”
“Me? Bored with you?” I squeezed him tighter. “Never.”
