Page 107 of The Reluctant Alpha

"He's going to be a problem," I said quietly.

"We'll handle it," Kaylan assured me, helping me back inside because I didn't like being sweaty. It wasn't a good look.

Ben appeared in the doorway carrying a tray of snacks. "Thought you might be hungry," he said, setting it on the coffee table. "Simeon made those little sandwich things you like."

I accepted a salmon sandwich gratefully, suddenly ravenous. "I’m glad you’re not going to the meeting."

"Someone needs to keep you from sneaking out to spy on the proceedings," Ben said dryly.

"I wasn't planning to sneak anywhere," I protested, though the thought had crossed my mind. "I'm a perfectly compliant patient."

Both Kaylan and Ben snorted in disbelief.

"Right," Kaylan said, checking his watch. "I need to go make nice with the other alphas. Ben, you're in charge of keeping our pregnant drama queen corralled."

"Hey!" I called after him as he headed for the door. "I resent that remark!"

"The pregnant part or the drama-queen part?" Ben asked innocently.

"Both," I muttered, but I was smiling. Having Ben here was comforting.

As the sun began to set, we could hear the low murmur of voices from the gathering area. The formal presentations would begin soon, followed by discussion of the revenant threat. I found myself straining to hear, wishing I could be there to spy. I was insanely curious…so sue me.

"Tell me about the jaguars," I said, settling back against the pillows. "Phoenix mentioned they're private, but what does that actually mean?"

Ben considered the question, absently shuffling a deck of cards he'd found on the side table. "They're...intense, according to Mom. Secretive to the point of paranoia. Most shifter packs have some interaction with humans, but jaguars avoid contact entirely. They live deep in the mountains, completely self-sufficient."

"And their alpha?"

"Nezra." Ben's expression grew thoughtful. "He's young for an alpha—maybe twenty-three, four? But he's well thought of. His pack is small but fiercely loyal. They say he can track anything through any terrain."

"Sounds like exactly the kind of ally we need against a revenant," I mused.

"If he agrees to help," Ben said, dealing cards for what looked like gin rummy. "Jaguars don't like getting involved in other people's problems."

I scoffed because vampire zombies were everyone’s problems.

We played cards in comfortable silence. The babies were down for their afternoon nap, and I could easily join them.

"Your turn," Ben prompted, and I realized I'd been staring at my cards without seeing them.

"Sorry." I discarded a seven of hearts. "Just wishing I could hear what's happening."

"Bayer will tell you everything," Ben assured me. "He promised, remember?"

I nodded, though part of me worried about what he might edit out to spare my feelings.

When he found out Shane had been here and threatened me, he would go nuts.

And if I was a drama queen like I'd been accused of—which obviously wasn't true—then I would have liked the idea of my boyfriend standing up to bullies.

I would have liked that very much.

Chapter twenty-six

Bayer

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the last Gathering, just after Phoenix had met Emery. Draven had relinquished the pack to Phoenix, and my father had made it very clear he disapproved and had no intention of doing the same. But then, Phoenix had been ready. He hadn’t spent his life being ridiculed, told he was weak and ineffectual. I knew I had a decision to make. I might’ve been alpha now, but was running the pack really what I wanted?