Filed to story: The Alpha’s Pen Pal Book
We had been talking for a long while when a knock sounded on the door, and it swung open immediately after. As if summoned by my thoughts, Wesley stood in the frame, his eyes widening as he saw me sitting on the couch with Jack and Shirley.
He closed the door behind him, his eyes locked on me, watching me for my reaction.
“I’m sorry, I-I didn’t know you’d be here, I swear. I come here every Wednesday at this time and—“His eyes moved to my right, and I looked over to where Sebastian stood, grinning like the cat who got the cream. Wesley glared at him and then looked at me again.
“I swear I didn’t put him up to this Haven,” he explained, his voice desperate, begging me to believe him.
I wanted to still be mad at him. I wanted him to be the villain of my heartbreaking story. It would be easier that way.
But I knew he was telling the truth. I didn’t think twice about what I did next.
I jumped up from my spot between Jack and Shirley and strode to him with one singular goal. His face looked worried when I reached him, but I didn’t pause. I just threw my arms around him, holding on to him as tight as I could.
He hesitated for just a moment, then his arms wrapped around me, holding me close and with care. His muscular arms felt too good as they tightened around my body, and his large hands rubbed my back as we hugged. The gentle caresses were unexpected from such a strong, intimidating-looking man. I closed my eyes for a second as I took in a deep, calming breath.
I pulled back before I could let myself get drunk on the feel of his hands on my body, not wanting anyone, least of all him, to know how his touch affected me. Then I looked at him and muttered, “Did you still want to get coffee?”
WESLEY
After exchanging phone numbers with Shirley and Jack and getting her bag from Seb’s old beat-up truck and many, many,
many hugs, Haven and I settled ourselves into my big black truck and headed back into town towards Brewed Awakenings.
Neither of us said anything as I drove to the cafe. I think she was still in shock from the whole thing. I was just happy that I seemed to be forgiven and too afraid to say something to put me back in the wolf house.
I gripped the steering wheel hard, trying to keep my focus on the road instead of letting it wander over to her. My lycan kept trying to get me to look at her, and her jasmine scent filled up the cab fast, making him roll around on his back in my mind.
She seemed much more relaxed than the day I showed up at her apartment. Her hands rested in her lap, and she stared out the window as we drove through town.
There was so much I wanted to ask her, so much I wanted to know, but I wasn’t sure where to start, and I didn’t want to overwhelm her. Especially not after she had just seen Jack and Shirley. So, I was going to let her take the lead on the conversation. For now, anyway.
“Where do you work?” she asked me as I turned down the street that led into town.
“What?” I asked.
She gestured towards my dress pants, shirt, and loafers. “You clearly came to Jack and Shirley’s from work. I am just curious about what you did. Do.”
I glanced down at my clothing for a moment. I had forgotten that I was still dressed for the office.
“I work with my dad, running our various businesses,” I told her. “Lots of paperwork. We rotate locations throughout the week to make sure each business gets the same amount of attention from us.”
“What businesses?”
“We own a lot of the hotels near the national park entrance, as well as various camping supply stores and things of that nature. Some restaurants and bars. The club.”
She nodded and looked back out the window.
“I’d ask you where you work, but I think that’s been established,” I teased, and she chuckled.
“Where did you go to school?” she asked.
“Stanford,” I replied, and she rolled her eyes. “What?”
“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head.
“What’s wrong with Stanford?” She shook her head again, pressing her lips closed. “Well, where’d you go?”
“Ballerinas don’t go to college,” she told me. “Or at least they don’t usually. I went straight into an apprenticeship at seventeen after I graduated a year early from high school. I joined the corps de ballet a year later. Then Peter offered me a soloist position here earlier this year after he saw me in the company’s self-directed showcase.”
“Can we pretend I have no idea what any of that means so you can explain it all again in English?”
She let out a genuine laugh at that. Her head leaned back against the seat, and I smiled. Progress. That was progress. I would take any small moment I could and keep them to myself like the selfish ass I was when it came to her.
“Apprentice would be like an intern,” she told me. “The corps is the group of dancers that dance together all the time. They’d be like… um… what sport do you like?”
“Football?” I suggested.
She nodded. “Ok, so, the principals are like the quarterback. The soloists would be the wide receiver or running back. The corps would be the offensive and defensive lines.”
I stared at her as I paused at a stoplight. “Did you just—“”The game would suck if the corps was shit, or the soloists weren’t good at their jobs, but the principal is the one most likely to be named MVP.”
I blinked and drove through the stoplight, impressed and, honestly, slightly turned on that she knew so much about football. I readjusted my position on the seat, trying to hide the semi I was sporting from the combination of her scent and her sports knowledge.
“What about the self-directed showcase thing?” I asked, trying to move forward and distract myself from the dirty thoughts forming in my mind.
“Oh, that’s just something the principals started doing a few years back. We get to perform pieces we wouldn’t normally do or self-choreograph some dances or whatever we want, really. The company director gives us one night in the theater to perform. Sometimes directors from other companies will come and watch, and that’s how Peter found me.”
I parked the car and nodded. Goddess bless Peter for bringing Haven here. I’d have to remember to thank him the next time I saw him.
“Don’t get out!” I exclaimed as I saw her reaching for the door handle.
She frowned at me and kept her hand on it, pulling it towards herself to pop it open.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?