Page 3 of The Alpha's Temptation
“What do you want to do tomorrow?”she asks, picking at a splinter.“It’s my best friend’s eighteenth birthday, which means we have to do it up big.”
“I’m not sure,” I admit.
“No big plans?”she asks in surprise.
I shrug.The truth is, I’m hoping to run into Foster tomorrow, have him take one look at me, and profess his love.If that happens, my plans might change.My whole life would change.
“Come on!”Penny says.“What do you want to do?Anything at all.”
“We could go to the diner and get breakfast,” I suggest.
“Oh, yeah!We can split a stack of blueberry pancakes!”
“Then maybe we could do a movie and spa day here.”
“For sure!I’ll go to town tonight and get us some supplies.What snacks do you want?”
“The usual.Popcorn, Sour Patch Kids, and Pringles.”
“You got it!”She finishes her nails and leaps up from her bed.“Want to run to the store with me?”
“No, I should head home.”
She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug as I stand.“See you tomorrow, birthday girl!”
I smile and we walk out together, waving as we head in opposite directions.I walk home, admiring nature as I trudge along.Birds twitter above me, and crickets chirp as the sun sets.
I wonder if any of the animals around me are shifters as my house comes into view.
The place is dark and silent.My parents passed away.My dad died last year, and my mom a few months ago.I’ve been alone ever since.I hate to say it, but it’s not that much different without them here.They were workaholics who often forgot that I existed.I was a disappointment to them.I wasn’t interested in art like my mom, or law like my dad.I was chubby and a bit of a wallflower, and preferred going for walks or reading a book over any of their hobbies.
Their deaths were sudden.My dad had a heart attack at the office.He was a lawyer who moved his family to this small town, hoping it would help him slow down and relax.Instead, it forced him to buy an apartment closer to the office because he was tired of commuting.
My mom survived my dad by seven months before she caught pneumonia and ended up in the hospital.Unfortunately, she waited too long to seek treatment, too busy working on her latest art installation, and she passed away three days later.
I buried both of them here, even though it felt wrong.This place meant nothing to them.It wasn’t home.They didn’t love it here the way I did.
As their only daughter and last remaining family member, I inherited everything.Now, I’m set for life, which works out because I have no desire to go to college or leave Night Grove Falls.I’m happy working at the bookstore and hanging out with Penny.She’s the only family I have left.
I let myself into the house, sighing as I kick off my shoes and flick on a few lights.I glance at the kitchen, but not feeling hungry, I head into my room and grab the book I started reading last night from my nightstand.
Plopping down onto my bed, I flip to the last page I read.Then I do the same thing I do every night—try not to think about Foster.
I fail.
TWO
Foster
“Morning!”my sister chirps as she skips into my room.
I blink, frowning at my alarm clock.“It’s five in the morning,” I grumble.
Penny laughs.“Yeah, but it’s Selena’s birthday, and I need your help to decorate the house.”
I close my eyes while my wolf rolls his.
As if you didn’t know that today was Selena’s eighteenth birthday, he growls.
