Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine novel Chapter 26

JASON

Maria’s angry and yelling. Her hands are fisted and she’s actually stomping her foot. I have to say, I haven’t seen an actual foot-stomp outside of kids taking a tantrum when they don’t want to go home at the end of a pack holiday.

Finally, she storms off with Mia following her.

The car sits there. Windows shattered. Doors dented. It looks like it’s been hit with a Mac Truck.

“Wow…I wonder what happened?” Grace says.

I shrug.

I guide Grace toward the bus stop.

“Well, it's none of our business anyway,” she tells me.

“You’re very calm considering how she treated you. I thought you’d be more pleased.”

Now she shrugs. “Why? i don’t wish bad on anyone.”

“Even people who have wronged you?”

“Maria was rude to me. Sure. But that doesn’t mean I wish her harm. If prison taught me anything, it’s that there are stories and reasons hiding beneath everybody.”

“Is that right?” I ask.

She glances at her feet. “Well…I’m not sure bad people are ‘born.’ I kind of think they’re made. Like we are all just in this life, dealing with the things that happen to us and the cards we are dealt. Maybe Maria hasn’t had an easy life.”

This woman…

“It’s noble of you to make allowances. But people have to be responsible for their own actions. A tough life is not an excuse to abuse somebody else.”

She nods. “You’re right.” She looks up with a hint of a smile. “The things she said to you made me soo angry.”

“So maybe you found it a little satisfying when she was freaking out over the car?”

She blushes. “Maybe a little. But really… isn’t it sad that her sense of worth is derived from a vehicle?! I mean, she was trying to tempt you to break up with me because of her car. Like you would be that shallow.” She realizes what she’s said and her mouth opens and closes like a fish. “Not that we are dating or anything!”

I find myself wanting to smile.

This woman is amusing…

I nudge her and she blushes more.

“Have you always been such a pacifist?”

She makes a noise that sounds like a snort. “No. Ava…my wolf… she has a temper.”

“So does mine.”

“I never would’ve guessed that,” she says mildly.

As an Alpha, I have to be strong. Objective.

Ruthless in war, business, whatever way will ensure the survival and success of my pack and species.

We walk toward the bus stop. I have the inexpensive phone in my pocket and…it pleases me. When we get home, I think I’ll go and buy some good cuts of beef for Grace. She’s a very good cook with simple ingredients and I suspect she’ll turn out even more amazing meals with some better quality meats.

Grace is smiling up at me and I catch myself grinning back. Then there’s a flash of movement behind her that catches my eye.

My wolf is instantly at attention.

I freeze.

“What’s wrong? Jay, are you okay?”

I shake my head to clear it.

“You look like you saw a ghost.”

My gaze cuts to her swiftly. She’s not wrong…

The woman who stepped off the bus and disappeared into the market crowd…she looked too much like the woman who’d deserted her Alpha and son.

My wolf snarls inside me.

Most nights she argues with me to sleep in the bed. Saying we should ‘swap’ so it’s fair. She never offers to share her bed. And part of me is waiting for that invitation.