Chapter 10
Alison and Hail walked out onto the patio, then took a right and walked over to the small pool house Jack had built with a place to store pool floats, shelves for towels, and a bathroom complete with a shower.
“This is nice,” Hail said.
“It is. Alpha just turned it into a pool and splash pad for his daughters not too long ago. He’s very generous, though, and allows anyone else to use it when they want to, as well.
The only time it’s off limits is after bedtime for the girls.
But most of us don’t come over unless we see them outside using it themselves.
They do live here,” Alison said with a lighthearted chuckle.
“We’ve got several big pools like this back in Alliance for whoever wants to use them. I’m going to have to tell them about the splash pads for the kids.”
“It’s honestly used more than the pool by all the kids,” Alison said.
“So, have you always been a part of this Pride?” Hail asked.
“I have. My parents were before me and I grew up here. It wasn’t always this nice.
But when Jack challenged our old Alpha and became the new Alpha, everything changed.
He treats everyone fairly. He’s good to everybody, and if you don’t want to do something, don’t.
But you have to contribute in some way — it’s only fair. ”
“So, he challenged someone to take over the Pride?”
“Yeah. The last Alpha was brutal. He was cruel and controlling, and everyone was afraid to do or say anything at all. Even if it was in line with what he said because who knew if he’d have a different opinion that day.
And he didn’t respect mates at all. He decided who would be mated and who wouldn’t.
It was all about politics and control for him. ”
“Sounds like it was a good thing Jack took over.”
“It really was. When his father was Alpha, we barely had anything. But when Jack took over, he gave us ownership in the leather company so we all make a comfortable living now. He hosts meetings regularly to make sure we’re all on the same page and there’s nothing he’s not aware of that needs to be addressed.
If we’d rather speak to him in private, he welcomes anyone to his home. ”
“He challenged his own father for Alpha?”
“And rightly so. After what he did to Jack and Bonnie, I’m surprised he didn’t do it sooner.”
“What did he do to them?”
“He gave her to someone else even though everyone always knew they were mates. She was forced to marry the male. Eventually, they had kids, and he was really good to her, but he wasn’t Jack.”
“Maybe it took him a while to get the gumption to take his father on,” Hail said.
“Maybe. But whatever it was, Jack couldn’t stand by and watch him abuse anyone any longer, so he challenged him.
And when it was over, Jack was still standing, and now everything is better than ever.
We’re very happy he’s our Alpha. We’re safe, we’re happy, we’re secure.
Nobody’s under pressure to perform or be punished.
We’re paid for our work, and we get profits. ”
“And living in a beautiful place. It’s gorgeous here.”
“It is.”
“You still live with your parents?” Hail asked as she came out from behind the curtain that served as a changing room, wearing a bikini.
“No, my parents are older. They had me late in life and decided to go live in Florida after Jack took over.”
“They weren’t happy with Jack becoming Alpha?” Hail asked.
“Oh, no. That’s not it. They just couldn’t leave before because his father wouldn’t allow anyone to leave.
Now that they could, and still remain part of the Pride if they needed Pride support, they moved to Florida.
They’re soaking up the beach and the ocean and loving life.
And wow, you look great! Red with white polka dots were a good choice. ” Alison said.
“So do you,” Hail said, taking note of the swimsuit that Alison was wearing. “I love that yellow suit.”
“It’s just my usual. Nothing special.”
Hail kind of looked at Alison for a moment. “You don’t think people notice you, do you?”
“I’m not sure where that came from, but no, nobody notices me. Not ever,” Alison said. “My own fault, though. I tend to stay in the background.”
“We’re not exactly known for beating around the bush. We tend to say what we’re thinking, and I’m thinking you’re not aware of just how pretty you are.”
Alison laughed. “Like I said, I’m just plain old Alison.”
“Old, no. You can’t be any older than I am. And you’re not plain.”
“I’m twenty-six.”
“I’m… well, I don’t know how old I am exactly, but I’m pretty sure it’s in that vicinity.”
“It must be hard not remembering.”
“Not always. But when I see families out together, and it’s clear they love each other and are bonded like a family should be, it gets me then. I wonder if I had one, or if they cared.”
“I’m sorry,” Alison said.
“It’s okay. I survived, you know? And I will continue to survive.
And maybe one day I’ll have a family of my own.
Until then, I’m just taking in all that I can find to take in.
Don’t want to miss anything. Frenzy said that he needed two more team members, Storm was volunteering, so I did, too.
One of the good things about Frenzy is that he doesn’t care if you’re male or female if you can do your job, success is all he cares about. ”
“He seems like a lot of fun.”
“He’s nuts. But he’s a good nuts,” Hail said. “You ready to go out there?”
“Yep. Let’s do it.”
They walked out of the pool house, looking around to see who all was enjoying the sun and the water.
“Hey, Alison?” Hail said.
Alison turned around to look at Hail. “Yeah?”
“Did you happen to see that Feral noticed you?”
“He was just going past me to the garbage can.”
Hail shook her head. “Didn’t Valid ride with you to get the soldering irons?”
“Yeah.”
“Feral sent him to keep you safe.”
“Wasn’t necessary. We’re all safe here.”
“You’re missing my point, Alison. Feral noticed you. He didn’t want you unprotected so he sent Valid to watch over you because he was working on the other female.”
Alison opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it and looked at Hail with a hesitant grin on her face. “He did?”
Hail nodded. “He did.”
“Okay, then,” Alison said.
“I saw you notice him, too.”
“I didn’t exactly notice him. He just smells so good,” Alison said.
“And he was so close when he went by me that I couldn’t help but notice his scent, and…
” Alison stopped talking and looked directly at Hail who was smirking as she watched Alison try to explain away the fact that she liked Feral. “Yeah, okay, I noticed him.”
Hail laughed, as did Alison.
“Let’s go find a place to put our towels,” Alison said, shaking her head as she led the way toward the opposite end of the pool.
“I definitely need a splash through the water. It’s hot as hell out here. But not as hot as Alliance,” Hail said.
“It’s hotter there?” Alison asked as she found two lounge chairs near the back fence that was around the yard.
“Texas. Miserable hot,” Hail said.
“Oh, yeah. We get hot here, but not as much humidity here as in Texas. Plus we’re elevated a little higher.”
They spread their towels out, then wasted no time getting in the pool. They swam around a bit, waved at Bonnie when she noticed them in the pool, then went back to their chairs and laid out on top of their towels.
After a few minutes Alison laughed.
“What? What’d I miss?” Hail asked, her gaze on swivel trying to determine what Alison was seeing that she hadn’t.
“You’re as bad as the males around here, keeping up with who is where and the exits, and a quick way to escape if necessary.”
Hail grinned at her. “Guilty. But it’s how we think. It’s kept me alive all this time and I’m not sure it’s a habit I want to break.”
“I can understand that,” Alison said.
“Full disclosure?” Hail asked.
“Of course,” Alison said, giving Hail her undivided attention.
“I’ve never had a friend that was just my friend because they liked me. I was always assigned to a team and we functioned as one or we died. The sitting here chitchatting and just relaxing is new to me. It’s refreshing, and I like it, but it’s new to me.”
Alison smiled at Hail. “It’s new for me, too. I’ve never really had a friend to come lay by the pool with, or to just talk about whatever. It’s not that I’m excluded. It’s just that I’m just kind of always on the outskirts.”
“You got a friend now,” Hail said.
“Same!” Alison said.
“Second full disclosure?” Hail asked.
“Yep. Give it to me.”
“I kinda want to climb that male like a tree,” Hail said, staring across at two of the Pride males who were obviously working security.
Alison leaned closer to Hail to get a better idea of which one she was looking at. “Titus, or Dane?”
“The bigger one.”
“Titus. He’s in charge of all our building and construction and such. He’s very laid back and very easy going.”
“He mated?” Hail asked.
Alison turned and looked directly at Hail, waiting for her to look at her.
Hail turned her head and looked at Alison.
“Not yet,” Alison said with a smirk. “But I think he might be getting climbed soon. He may be claimed before he knows what hit him.”
Hail burst out laughing. “Girl, you just don’t know how right you might be.”
~~~
Rance sat quietly beside Gwen’s bed in the suite she and her boys had been given.
It was early evening and the sun had ducked down behind the trees.
It wasn’t completely dark, but dusk was in full swing.
He could hear the laughter and the shouts from everyone downstairs at the pool as they played and enjoyed each other.
He could even smell the chicken they’d fried in the outside kitchen to go with all the dirty rice Alison had brought over just before the Variant had arrived.
But he wanted no part of any of it — not the companionship, not the food, nothing.
All he wanted was Gwen to wake up. Even if she threw him out, at least she’d be alive.