Chapter 4
Brandon
Most of my day is spent in meetings. As the pack Alpha, I’m responsible for much of what happens around town. Essentially, I play the role of both mayor and protector. I control the town. I’m the one in charge.
And I’m exhausted.
Constantly.
It’s not that I don’t know how to delegate. I do, and I do it often. There’s something about facing the world alone, though, that’s starting to get to me. Maybe it’s because I finally met my mate. Maybe it’s because I finally found Rebecca.
By the time lunch rolls around, I’m worn out and anxious. I’m ready for a good meal, ready for some fun. I’m ready to get out of my head a little bit. I’m ready to shift and run and play, and I know just the wolf to go with me.
I head out of my office and go over to Tony’s. My buddy’s restaurant is one of the best in town. I eat here almost daily and I know the bloke doesn’t ever charge me full price. I just make up for it by tipping his waitresses extra well.
“Brandon!” One of the waitresses smiles when she sees me. “Welcome!”
“Thanks, Leslie. Is Tony around?”
Leslie twirls a piece of her blonde hair and nods. She’s a beautiful girl. She’s a wolf, too. We went on a few dates long ago, but there just wasn’t a spark between us. We both knew it, but somehow, that didn’t make turning her down any easier. Part of me wonders if Leslie still has some “hope” that I’ll pick her for the Alpha’s Mate.
Sadly, fate has already chosen me a partner, and she’s perfect.
I’ll never look twice at another woman again.
Even if I have to spend the rest of my life waiting for Rebecca to realize that I’m the one for her, that’s fine. Even if I have to spend the rest of my life waiting for her, loving her from afar, and just being there for her, I will.
I’ll do anything for her.
“He’s in his office,” Leslie says. “He had a meeting, but he should be done by now. Lunch rush is about to begin, so he’ll be in back. You know how Tony is.”
Yeah.
I know exactly how Tony is.
I know my workaholic, big-hearted friend is going to be in the back of the restaurant working on making sure every one of his plates looks perfect. I know he’s going to be making sure each plate looks incredible.
“Thanks,” I head back to the office before Leslie has a chance to ask me anything or to start flirting. She really is sweet and I hope she finds a wolf who makes her happy. Hell, I hope everyone I know finds someone who makes them happy.
Happy wolves, mated wolves, make my life easier.
It’s tough to be in charge of a pack, but it’s hellish to be in charge of a pack of horny, uncontrollable wolves who fight and bicker constantly. Having mated wolves is much nicer. It makes for a much calmer, quieter town.
If there’s one thing I like, it’s a quiet town.
I make my way through my friend’s restaurant. It’s a comfortable, cozy little place. Tony poured his heart and soul into this restaurant when he opened it and he continues to pour his heart and soul into it every day. After Tony and Dana mated, he let her add even more personalized touches to the place. The restaurant was sweet before, but it’s absolutely perfect now.
Dana came up with some great ideas when she and Tony got married. She’s been wonderful at helping the customers get more interactive. In fact, the restaurant now boasts artwork that’s been designed solely by the customers. In between canvas paintings different shifters have done, she’s hung pictures of Tony with different patrons.
The restaurant is sweet, and Tony is happy.
That makes me happy.
“Brandon,” Adam says when I barge into the office without knocking. “What brings you here?”
“Came to see Tony.”
“Present,” Tony raises his hand but doesn’t turn around. He’s staring at something on his computer. It looks like order forms.
“Good,” Adam says. “Maybe you can get him out of this damn office. I don’t care if he doesn’t want to cook today, but he can’t just sit up here looking at orders. He needs to do something. Anything. He needs to do literally anything at all and get out of this room. He’s going to go crazy if he doesn’t, Brandon.”
“Is that right?”
“Come on now,” Tony turns around and runs a hand through his short, dark hair. “It’s not my fault today has been so crazy.” He looks at me and lifts his hands helplessly. “One of my orders didn’t go through last week and I didn’t notice it. This means I’m short on a ton of product and I’m going to have a limited menu until I receive my order. The fastest they can get everything here is Tuesday.”
“So you’ll have a limited menu for a couple of days,” I shrug. “That’s fine. Your regular customers will understand and any visitors won’t care.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him,” Adam says, holding up his hands. “But he doesn’t listen to me.”
“It’s not that I don’t listen to you,” Tony says. “It’s just that I want everything to be perfect,” he whines.
“Why are you whining?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“Dana is pregnant,” Adam says.
“Dude!”
Adam just shrugs. “He’s going to find out sooner or later, man. No use keeping it a secret.” He turns back to me. “Her morning sickness is pretty bad and she gets it at night, so she’s up all night, which means Tony is up all night, which means Tony is cranky.”
“Congratulations, Tony,” I grin at my friend, happy for him. “Couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Thanks,” Tony smiles weakly, but the man looks tired, and I’ve got an idea.
“Can you spare Tony for an hour or two?” I ask Adam.
“Absolutely. You two gonna go run?”
“I think we should.”
“No way,” Tony says. “I’m much too tired. Exhausted, even. No shifter has ever been as tired in the history of the universe as I am at this moment.”
“Come shift with me or I’ll kick your ass out of the pack,” I say.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
Tony glares at me for what feels like an eternity, but as the Alpha, I basically get whatever I want.
If only Rebecca realized that.
“Fine,” he grits out. “But only one hour. Not a minute more.”