Page 55 of Stripe Poker

She hadn't known what to expect after the fight, but she didn't expect people to be walking them back toward Jacobs's house. She cringed as she was pulled closer to it.

A man, Rod, the guard who opened the door to them, spoke up. "The alpha house should have everything you guys need to settle for the night. We can always start changing things tomorrow for you. Just let us know if you need anything."

It was the alpha house, and it was customary for the new alpha to move in, but she couldn't. She had too many bad memories from it to call that place home. She refused to call it home.

She stopped and shook her head. "This won't do."

Lilly, if she remembered correctly, froze next to her. She was the housekeeper. She'd been the one to keep everything clean and tidy in the house. She had worked for Troy and Reba for years.

She looked at her, confused. "I assure you this house should have everything you need. If we have to, I can go out and grab whatever it is you require."

She frowned, shaking her head. She realized she probably sounded rude and ungrateful. "I'm not saying that house won't do. It has more than what anyone would need, but I can't live there. I refuse to live there." She looked at the house with pure disgust.

Lilly looked offended.

Benton quickly waved a hand. "I think she means it's not our taste." Benton gave Lilly a smile. "And I agree. There are way too many bad memories in that house to call it the alpha house. When you think of the alpha’s home, you should feel secure, and it doesn't give us that vibe."

Lilly nodded, seeming to understand. She looked over at her. "Well, then, I guess you can use the abandoned house that they bought next to it. It's a little run down, but it should work."

She remembered that house. It was used for guests, not that Troy and Reba had many. It was just another way they flaunted their money.

She'd remembered going in there once, and she liked it. She always thought it was a lovely house owned by the wrong people. It was a small two-story with about five bedrooms. It reminded her of her home.

"That will be just perfect."

Lilly smiled. "Great, I'll have some arrangements made."

Lilly turned, and they both looked at the house. It sent a chill down her spine. While she didn't like the house, they needed to do something about it. It couldn't just sit empty now that they weren't going to live in it.

Someone cleared their throat behind them, and they both turned. A group of older men stood a distance away. The one in front gave a weak smile. "If we could speak with you."

Benton gave a nod and a gentle smile. She could imagine everyone was feeling unsure about the situation at hand. They were as well.

"We are the city council, your advisors, you could say. We hope we can be of some use to you."

"Of course." She blinked. "When was the last time you all had a meeting with Troy and Reba about the city's needs?"

They stared at her in shock, which gave her an answer. She frowned, hating how much they had all been neglected.

"Well ..." Benton cleared his throat. "We will have a meeting tomorrow then. Do you guys know where they kept the documentation of everything in the house?"

"In their meeting room. It's off the hallway of the dining room."

"Great, tomorrow I'd like to look at what they have in there, but I think today has been stressful enough for all of us. Everyone could use a good rest."

She definitely needed some. Her entire body ached, but she didn't want to show it. Her muscles and joints were tense as her shifter healing kicked in, her tiger growling softly as she was pieced back together.

The council started talking with Benton, going over names and each of their positions. She caught a few names while she stood next to them.

Her mind was everywhere, and the question that loomed in her head was, what were they going to do with the house? She stared at it, taking it all in.

"Opal." Benton leaned closer to her, catching her attention. "Are you okay?"

"The house," she said, tilting her head. "What are your thoughts on it?"

"What are yours?" he asked, looking at the house for a moment.

She blew out a breath, looking around the garden and the patio. She took in the hundreds of thousands of dollars that were put into it. She hated it.

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