The Reluctant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #1) - Susi Hawke Page 0,58

I can have fun sharing a few moonlight kisses without having to worry about anyone hogging the covers later. Now you boys enjoy your treat. I've got to check on my kitchen staff and make sure everything is running on schedule."

While we ate dessert, Matt told me about some alliances in the works with neighboring packs. Surprisingly, he brought it back around to the sign he'd stared at in the diner window earlier, mentioning his plans to have lunch there with some strange alpha.

"I told him it would have to wait until next week because my schedule was jam-packed right now. But yeah, the Tehachapi alpha wants to meet me in person before he signs an official alliance agreement."

Lucian wagged a finger. "I don't like it, bro. Less than an hour after you started making calls, you had ally agreements locked in with everyone but him and that Barstow dick wouldn’t even take your call. What makes this dude thinks he’s so special? I think he wants to come scope the place out, if you ask me."

Matt seemed to consider the idea before sighing. "You're not saying anything I didn't think of myself at the time. Hell, after I talked to the San Bernardino pack, the Alpha from Baker reached out on his own. They all seem wary but willing to give it a shot. They know as well as we do: if the LA packs get a toehold out here, everyone in the area is in danger of the same shit we are."

Noah interrupted, his stern expression completely ruined by the pink ice cream covering half his cute face and the entire front of his shirt. "You said a bad word, Matt. You're gonna get in trouble with Eli."

My cheeks were on fire. "When I lived in Newberry Springs, I kept a swear jar to keep people from cursing in front of the boys. It never stopped our father, but it helped everyone else tone it down. And whenever the jar got full, I treated the boys to ice cream. The bribe is probably what made Noah notice. Please don't think you have to police your language on my account—I don't personally mind. Especially because Noah is old enough to know the difference between what he hears from grown-ups and the words he's allowed to say."

Setting his spoon down, Matt leaned over to kiss my cheek. "Start the swear jar, little wolf. There is a new pup on the way, and we might as well start learning to watch our language now."

"Ahh… erm… this is only around little ones, right? We can talk however we want if there's only adults in the room?" Poor Lucian could barely get his questions out; he truly appeared about to panic. But then again, I didn't know him well enough to guess if he was teasing or not.

In case he really was worried, I nodded quickly to set him at ease. "Only around the kids, Lucian. I don't care how you guys talk when you're alone."

Lucian made a show of wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Whew. I thought for sure I was gonna go broke within a year."

Rolling my eyes, I threw a napkin at him before turning back to Matt. "I missed at least half of the story when you told me about the need for allies during snack time earlier. My mind was on other things. I've got the gist, though, so tell me what's up with this Tehachapi Alpha. You say he's coming here next week?"

"Yeah, I don't want to get everyone alarmed. He could just be nosy. My family has a long history in this valley, so you’d think it would grant me immediate acceptance. But then again, my story is perfect for the gossip mill, I suppose. I did walk away from my birthright a decade ago and came rushing back to save you, only to discover you're my true mate. And then I topped it off by challenging and killing your father."

I grimaced as understanding settled in. "And to make matters worse, you didn't keep the spoils of the challenge. You unselfishly gave the pack away to another Alpha who would have time to properly focus on his own pack, while you were content to keep the pack which should have been yours in the first place. Huh. Yep, I can see where gossip is probably spreading like wildfire."

Tucker chuckled softly. "You both left out the best part. He also