Page 17 of Alpha Brock

Being part of a pack is like having a very, very large extended family. It’s dysfunctional at times, but we’re generally always looking out for one another, and we’ve all got love for each other. Being away from my pack for the past few days has been tough- just seeing some of them now has me feeling more whole again.

Reid comes up beside me as my people circle up in front of us, awaiting instruction.

“Welcome to Stillwater, everyone!” I say cheerfully, looking around at the members of my pack before turning to Reid with a smile. “This is Alpha Reid, he’s been kind enough to host all of you in his territory for the next few weeks with members of his own pack.”

Reid gives a wave in greeting, glancing around at the group on the packhouse lawn. “Welcome! We’ve paired each of you with host families from my pack and hopefully you’ll feel right at home with them. I know this is a tense time, but we can definitely turn it into something more positive, right? Make some new friends? So why don’t you come on in and you can meet them.”

Reid’s good with people- I can see the members of my pack visibly relax as he flashes them a grin, turning and gesturing for them to follow him inside. He tosses me a wink in the process, and I can’t help but beam back at him.

As I turn to walk back inside the packhouse, I spot Brock standing off to the side of the interior hallway, leaning idly against a wall with his arms folded over his chest. Staying out of the way as he observes everything. He’s looking right at me-watching me- and there’s something in his expression, something unreadable that makes my belly tighten and my cheeks flush.

Before I turn my attention back to my pack, I swear I see it- just for a fraction of a second, so quick that I almost miss it. So unusual that it almost doesn’t register. I’m almost positive that for the briefest of moments, the corners of Brock’s lips actually tip up into a smile.

CHAPTER NINE

Brock

The first members of Astrid’s pack arrive in Stillwater around 9 a.m., and she immediately snaps into action, greeting them on the packhouse lawn. I hang back inside the packhouse and just watch her work. I’m not sure what I expected, but I quickly see that Astrid’s a natural leader and she’s good with her pack-reallygood. It’s clear from the moment they arrive that they all respect and adore her.

Not that I’ve changed my mind about her, but it does strike me how Astrid basically acts like she’s her pack’s Luna, and her pack responds to her like that’s what she is. One of the little kids actually slips up and calls her Luna at one point, but she just laughs it off and ruffles their hair, leading them inside. She glances my way as she makes her way back in, eyes searching mine like she’s still trying to figure me out.

Good luck with that one, sweetheart.

I linger on the periphery as Reid and Astrid facilitate introductions between their pack members, sending the refugees off with their assigned hosts. While most of them head out pretty quickly to grab their bags and check out their new digs, a few stick around longer than the others, hitting Astrid with a slew of questions.

As she fields them effortlessly, Reid joins me on the sidelines, taking a spot on the wall beside me. “Hey, you alright?” he asks as he leans back against it, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his slacks.

“Fine,” I murmur, tearing my eyes from Astrid to look his way. “Why?”

He shrugs. “Don’t know, you’ve just seemed off for a few days.”

“Hmph,” I grunt, shooting a sideways glance in Astrid’s direction. Trying not to notice how good she looks today in her skin-tight jeans and fitted black long-sleeve shirt, or how sweet she is with the little kids from her pack, or how much it fucking irritates me that the more I learn about her, the more I’m realizing that maybe I’ve had her pegged her all wrong. “I’m fine,” I grit out. “Little miss perky has just been driving me insane.”

“Oh, c’mon,” Reid laughs. “I like her, she’s spunky.”

I roll my eyes. “She’ssomething.”

Reid glances her way, and I go back to watching her, too. For some reason I’m finding it difficult to take my eyes off of Astrid this morning. She’s got an air of authority with her pack, and I have to give credit where it’s due- the ease with which she fields their questions and makes them feel comfortable is damn impressive. I see why she was the one sent up here to get her pack settled.

“She’d make a hell of a Luna,” Reid mumbles to himself as he watches Astrid intently.

I don’t know why that comment has my wolf pushing forward, but he’s suddenly on high alert, close to the surface.

Reid turns to me, a devious smile stretching his lips. “Don’t you think?”

I flicker my gaze to meet his, then back to Astrid. I don’t know why that question irritates me so fucking much, but I try to play it cool. “Seems like she’s already got the gig,” I shrug.

“For now, maybe. Not once her brother finds a mate.”

He pauses, though I can still feel his eyes on the side of my face. Slowly, I tear my gaze from Astrid and turn to face Reid again.

“C’mon, bro, you’ve gotta think about it sometimes,” he says, nudging me with his elbow.

“About what?”

Reid rolls his eyes. “Finding a mate.”

I don’t respond. Instead, I look away as a brief silence settles between us- and once again, my gaze wanders to Astrid.What is it about this girl?