The Alpha I Chose

Chapter 16

Meadow

Once the embarrassing stories finally come to an end, I decide to go visit my chickens. After a considerable amount of begging and pouting, I manage to convince Malcolm to come with me.

He follows me down the cobblestone path to the chicken coop Daddy and I made a few summers back. I tiptoe up to the door and motion for Mal to be quiet. He raises an eyebrow at me, but doesn’t make a sound.

I lift the latch and swing the door open, revealing six pairs of beady eyes staring at us. Suddenly, the girls have realized that it’s me and the squawking begins! Feathers and straw fly as they hop down from their nests and race toward me like I'm their mama hen.

Tears sting my eyes as I drop to my knees.

One by one, I scoop each of the girls into my arms, giving them a cuddle while telling them how much I'd missed them and exclaiming over how much they'd grown during my absence.

Yes, I know I’m ridiculous.

Finally, I reach the last chicken. I go to pick her up but she scurries out of my way, clucking indignantly.

“Now Tilly,” I reprimand her. “I had to go, I didn’t have a choice!”

She clucks again, taking a step closer.

“You know I’d have much rather stayed here with you girls.”

“CLUCK.”

“Of course I really missed you!”

“CLUCK!”

“Oh come here!”

Tilly struts back over to me and I pick her up, snuggling her against me.

Standing, I turn and look at Malcolm with a smile.

“Tilly, this is Alpha Malcolm Sullivan. Mal, meet Tilly, my best gal!”

Malcolm stares at me as if I’ve grown three extra heads.

“I’m sorry… but are you introducing me to a chicken?”

I scowl at him.

“Rude! Say hello,” I demand, holding Tilly up so that he’s eye level with my bird. He lets out a resigned sigh.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Tilly," he says, giving her a dramatic bow.

"CLUCK!"

"Oh my goodness, she likes you!" I gasp.

Malcolm snorts.

"And how, exactly, did you arrive at that conclusion?"

"She called you handsome!”

Mal rolls his eyes but humors me as I introduce him to Mabel, Dot, Hazel, Poppy, and Clementine. I settle Tilly back onto her nest and turn toward him, about to ask if he wants to walk down to the creek. Before I can get the words out, a commotion erupts from the direction of the cottage.

I frown and start to step out of the coop to see what’s happening, but Malcolm holds up a hand, stopping me. I give him a look and am about to question him when Clover suddenly becomes agitated.

Meadow, it’s him… she says, my wolf sounding almost scared for the first time in her life.

I freeze, holding my breath as I try to make out what’s happening at the house.

“I know she’s here,” an angry male voice breaks through. “Hand her over. Now.”

I gasp at the sound of my mate’s voice and quickly clamp a hand over my mouth.

“I haven’t seen Meadow since you hauled her off to Blackwood Ridge,” Daddy replies tersely. “Are you trying to tell me that you’ve lost my daughter?”

Garbage Garrett scoffs.

“No, I did not lose your daughter. She ran off,” he says with disdain. “And I’ve come to take her back where she belongs.”

“Sounds to me like if she felt like she belonged there, she’d be there,” Mama pipes up.

I can’t see anything, but I can just imagine her stepping up to Daddy’s side, probably with her hands on her hips. When Mama gets mad, she’s just as scary as any Alpha.

“She’s my mate,” Garrett growls. “She belongs to me.”

“My daughter may be your mate but she’s nobody’s property. Clearly you haven’t gotten to know her in the past six months if that’s your attitude towards her.” Mama fires right back at him.

“How I handle my mate is none of your concern.”

“She’s my daughter,” Daddy snaps. “It will always be my concern.”

I fidget nervously beside Malcolm, torn between wanting to stay hidden and wanting to stand at my parents’ side and prove to Garrett that he hasn’t broken me. At least not completely. I take another step toward the door, but Malcolm’s arm slips around my waist, gently pulling me back against him.

“Shh… stay here, wild one. Your parents are doing just fine,” he whispers in my ear.

I don’t fight him.

Instead, I let my guard down and melt into him, knowing that I’m safe.

“I’ll be watching you, Fields,” I hear Garrett shout at Daddy. “If she shows up here, I’ll know, and I’ll be back to take what’s mine.”

A car door slams. A few seconds later, the engine roars to life before the sound slowly disappears down the road.

Malcolm and I stand there a few moments longer, my breathing heavy and my heart racing.

Suddenly, the chicken coop door swings open.

Mama, Daddy, and Daisy are all standing there. Daisy looks terrified, while my parents look absolutely enraged. Mama rushes forward and pulls me out of Malcolm's arms and into hers.

“That man is horrid,” she growls against my hair.

Daddy comes up behind her, placing a hand on my back as Daisy takes my hand in hers.

“You are never going back there,” he says firmly.

“Never,” Mama agrees.

The sound of Malcolm clearing his throat gets our attention.

“While I agree that Meadow is never going back to that bastard again,” he says, “we do need to consider what Blackwood just threatened. He’s going to be watching. He’s eventually going to know that she’s here.” His eyes find mine as I realize what he’s saying.

“I can’t stay here,” I whisper. “I can’t put my family in danger.”

“The choice is yours, Meadow,” Malcolm says. “This is your family and your home. I would understand completely if you chose to stay. I’ll talk to your Alpha, I’ll send extra warriors…”

“…but it might not be enough.” I finish his sentence.

Daddy’s hand tightens on my shoulder.

“So what are you saying? That she has to leave again?”

“No,” Malcolm says firmly. “I'm saying she has options. Stonehaven is one of them.”

Mama pulls back enough to look at me.

“Would you be safe there?”

I nod without hesitation.

“Yes.”

“And happy?” she asks.

That question catches me off guard. I glance at Malcolm before looking back at Mama.

“Yeah,” I admit softly. “I think I would be.”

“Well, this sucks,” Daisy mutters. A laugh escapes me despite everything. “I’m serious! You just got home.” Her bottom lip trembles. “I haven't even had time to annoy you yet.”

“You can come visit anytime you like,” Malcolm says quietly. “All of you can.”

“Yeah, well, we heard that one from the last Alpha that stole Meadow from us,” Daisy grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Malcolm smiles at her.

“I’m not stealing her. And I’m not Garbage Garrett,” he says, giving her braid a playful tug, making her expression immediately soften.

Daddy takes hold of my arms and turns me so I’m looking only at him.

“This is your decision, baby,” he says seriously. “Only you know what’s best for you.”

I nod before turning my head toward Malcolm.

“So when do we leave?”

Malcolm holds my gaze for a moment before giving me a small smile.

“Whenever you're ready, wild one.”