The Alpha and Her Secret Mate

Talking to the Beta

Taylor and I wave from the front porch until the Rising Sun car is out of sight. But as soon as they’re gone, I turn to Taylor and say, “We have to do something about the rogues.”

“Wait what are you talking about? Didn’t you just do something about the rogues?” Taylor picks absently at her sweater, only half paying attention. “I read over the notes you took. Who’s handwriting is that? It’s a disaster.”

“Taylor!” I roll my eyes. The handwriting isn’t important.

“What?” she says casually, unbothered.

“It was Jamie. You know that wolf who found his mate among the Rogues?”

“Aww really? They’re so cute together!” She holds up her empty coffee mug, gesturing that we should go inside for more.

I nod in agreement, and start to follow her inside. “So you already read the notes. Do you have any thoughts? Did anything stand out? Any red flags?”

“Hmmm…not really. Rowan was the one that’s mated to Jamie, right?” She poured coffee in both of our mugs, still not really paying attention to me.

“Taylor,” I pause, and something in my tone finally got through to her. When she looks at me, I continue. “Zacharie told me someone tried to go to his rooms last night.”

“Ohh! Was it you?” She grins at me. “Did you change your mind about having some fun with him after all?”

“Ew! No!” I say, but I can feel myself blushing. It was only the ‘with him’ portion that I didn’t change my mind about. “I’m worried it was one of the rogues. I want to look over the records and see if we can get to the bottom of this before word gets out.”

“Oh…yeah, I can see how that would be bad. Did you make any kind of packwide announcement about the decision to let these rogues stay?”

“No?” I say, suddenly fulfilled with doubt. “Should I have? Everyone seemed so happy at the mate party, I assumed that we had just…come to a good agreement?”

Taylor pinches the bridge of her nose. “This is my fault,” she mutters. “I should have issued a press release then scheduled a meet and greet to make the rogues more relatable.”

“A press release? This is a pack of werewolves, not a government.”

“They prefer shifters,” she says, her face darkening at the need to other herself. “And I mean, isn’t it kind of like a government?”

I scrunch my nose. “I guess…?” I shrug.

“Think about it. We have a pack budget, pack members, land to manage and develop, hereditary rule…”

“Okay, okay, I get it! I guess I need to add “good qualities for a strong dictator” to my research list.” I sigh and lean against the kitchen counter.

“The good news is, the leadership qualities seem to be innate amongst shifters. That’s part of why I think you made the right call with the rogues.”