Chapter Four
Lisa wasn’t in the mood for alcoholic drinks, so she stuck with orange juice. Adele allowed the vodka to flow and was determined to have a night to remember or not, depending on how much vodka she drank.
They already had to make a stop for some food on the way over. Lisa had been starving, although she had enjoyed a stack full of pancakes at breakfast and juicy beef burgers for lunch, which had been delicious. Then there were the snacks throughout the day. She had stopped by the local bakery for several cookies and other baked treats.
She’d never been one for a sweet tooth, and usually she liked to bake her own food. Only now, it had seemed too hard to wait for the making, baking, cooling, and frosting.
There was no evidence of all the food she’d been consuming. She was so going to gain weight this week. She was tempted to wait until this hunger thing passed and then perhaps go on a diet. She didn’t dare put on her jeans, in case they didn’t button or zip up.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she instead focused on the bar. The dance floor was packed, and she suddenly wanted to dance.
“Come on,” she said, grabbing Pam’s and Adele’s hands and leading them onto the dance floor.
There was one time when Shadow took her on a date. It was a candlelit picnic. He’d brought his small music cassette player, and it felt so old-school and romantic. She had forced him to dance with her. They had made love under the stars.
Lisa didn’t know if that was the moment she had fallen in love with Shadow, or if it was another occasion. Either way, she had fallen hard for him, and now she was trying to get over him. Was that why she was eating so much? She was attempting to get over him by eating her feelings? That was a massive void to fill. No, she’d never eaten her feelings like this.
Ignoring all possible causes as to why she was eating a lot, she decided to just enjoy the Friday night with her friends. She was not much of a partier, but this was nice.
The three of them got along amazingly well, which she was pleased about. Adele had been a little nervous, as she’d not been friends with any wolves before. It would seem Adele didn’t want to get close to wolves. Lisa figured there was a story there, but she didn’t want to run the risk of bringing up bad memories for her friend. So, it was another mystery for them all.
That was what Lisa had come to figure out. Everyone at No Wolves Road, including the humans, had secrets. They didn’t always share their past lives or what led them to be in a town surrounded by wolves.
The music was a fast beat, and she loved that Pam didn’t care and just danced, swinging her arms from side to side, shaking her butt, and just getting into the song. Adele was a little more reserved, but still she danced, swaying, and holding one hand up in the air, while the other was across her waist. Lisa didn’t know how to dance, so she just let the beat wash over her and tried not to think about Shadow.
Although, she couldn’t help but think about him. Why did life have to be so cruel, to let her fall in love with a man who was never going to love her back? They were not destined to be together.
A hand banded around her waist, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“You look so freaking sexy, I think it is time I took you home.”
Lisa wasn’t used to pick-up lines, and this one had to be a little rusty, as it fell so flat. She nearly burst out laughing and was about to do just that, when a sudden growl seemed to bring the music to a stop.
Lisa didn’t have much time to react before the guy who’d attempted to flirt with her was suddenly picked up. He looked like a rag doll as Shadow held him by the scruff of his shirt. She’d seen it happen in movies but not in real life. She hated when people caused scenes.
“Shadow, what are you doing?”
“Who the fuck do you think you are, touching her!” Shadow growled the words out.
Lisa saw his flesh seeming to change, and she was pretty sure she saw the shade of his wolf. He’d once told her what his wolf looked like. He was a white and grey wolf, tall, but serene. She’d never seen him as a wolf, but she had a horrible feeling that was happening now.
Rushing to him, she grabbed his arm. “Shadow, stop!”
“Pam!”
To Lisa’s surprise, her friend grabbed her and began to pull her away.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lisa asked.
She felt so annoyed, then angry, and then irritated. The emotions flashed through her quite fast, and the moment they left the bar, Lisa spun around and then shoved at her friend. She had no idea how she was able to do it, but with a single shove of her hands, Pam fell a few feet away from her.
Lisa frowned, glancing down at her hands and then toward her friend. She had no idea what she had done and how she was even capable of doing it. There was no time to figure it out, as Pam got to her feet and then Shadow stepped out of the bar.
“You had no right to do that,” Lisa said, this time pushing him.
Any power she thought she had must have been brief, because he didn’t budge, not even for a second. She growled. So angry at him.
“I was saving you. Is that what you want?” he asked. “To be pawed at by every random stranger?”
It wasn’t, but he didn’t need to know that. “It’s none of your business what I do or don’t do. You don’t get a say in anything for me. Remember, you’re just after a good time.”
“All that asshole was after was a good time, and let me guess, you’re more than happy to give him a good time but I’m out in the cold. If you’re willing to give someone a good time, then it should be me.”
Tears filled her eyes, because once again he didn’t give a shit about what he’d done.
“I hate you,” she said.
She removed the heels from her feet and began to walk away.
“Lisa,” Pam said. “Come on, get in the car, I’ll take you home.”
“No, you go home with him. This was a big mistake, and do me a favor, don’t bother coming around to pretend you’re my friend.”
With that, she turned her back on them and began to walk away, going home. She heard footsteps, and she raised her hand holding the shoe, about to attack whoever dared approach her, only to stop herself as she caught sight of Adele.
“Whoa, please don’t attack me. I come in peace and all that. I’m only here to be your friend.” Adele held her hands up.
“You’re not going to try and convince me to be with him, are you?”
“No, no, but you also said I could stay at your place tonight, and seeing as all my stuff is there, I kind of need to come home with you.”
All the fight left Lisa, and Adele approached her, sliding a hand into hers.
“Are you all right?” Adele asked.
“No.”
“Is there anything I can do to make it all right?”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing.”
Adele sighed. They walked side by side, and her friend rested her head on her shoulder. The truth was, Adele was already doing enough by coming with her. She couldn’t believe Pam had done that.
She got that, regardless of her and Pam’s friendship, Shadow was still her alpha. Tears filled her eyes. The logistics didn’t matter. It still stung.
This was not how she wanted this night to be. She had no intention of going to pick up a man. Regardless of what Shadow had done and said, she was still in love with him, and there was no way she would be able to get over him, not yet at least.
“I enjoyed dancing tonight,” Adele said.
“You did?”
“Yeah, until your rotten ex came and spoiled it all.”
Lisa laughed. “Thank you.”
“What? I heard it is good for the soul, bad-mouthing one’s ex. Do you want to try it?”
She thought about it. “I’m tempted, but no, not … right now.”
“Are you sure? It could be good.”
“Some other time when I’m not so tired.” She did suddenly feel tired and hungry as well. Lisa glanced around as she had this weird sensation someone was following them.
“What’s wrong?” Adele asked.
“It’s nothing, just a weird feeling. Ignore me. It’s probably all that orange juice.”
She couldn’t exactly add “on an empty stomach,” as she had eaten before going out. Now, she was hungry again. What was wrong with her?
****
Shadow opened the door of his home to find Pam on his doorstep.
“You’re an asshole,” Pam said.
“And?”
“And, Lisa won’t even talk to me right now. Why did you have to meddle?” Pam asked, brushing past him and going straight to his kitchen.
What was it with the damn pack eating all his food?
“There was no way I was going to allow some asshole to touch her, and I stopped it. What is the big problem?”
“Are you purposefully not seeing your asshole ways?” Pam asked.
“I’m not being an asshole, and will you stop eating my food?”
“You’re the Alpha, which means I get to eat your food, and you get to listen to me complain about everything and anything,” Pam said. “Now, hear me out, and I don’t even know why I’m even trying because all this is doing in landing at a brick wall.”
“Are you calling me a brick wall?”
“If the wall fits,” she said.
“That’s not how the term goes,” Shadow said. “Look, I know Lisa, and even if you were there to pick up guys, or do whatever you wanted to do, it wouldn’t have worked for her.”
“Why not?” Pam asked.
“Because, like I said, I know her, and she’s not interested in hooking up.”
“Have you ever thought that since you, she realizes relationships suck and men suck, and it would be much easier to keep things strictly casual?” Pam asked.
Shadow glared at her. “If that was the case, then she wouldn’t have any issue with me and her hooking up again.”
Pam wrinkled her nose. “Not necessarily. You’ve proven to be an asshole and a dick.”
“An asshole and a dick. I’m sure there is some law you’re breaking by constantly insulting me.”
Pam snorted. “Yeah, and seeing as you’re the Alpha, you should also know them, but I don’t see you holding your hand up.” She continued to glare at him.
There was no rule. Pack was able to go to their Alpha with any trouble and concern, and seeing as he was the leader, it was his job to listen and help resolve all matters. So far, his pack had been very quiet. He did everything he could for all of them and had no complaints.
He watched as Pam opened his fridge. This time, she went for the chocolate cake and he had had enough.
“No, no, stop eating my food. What is it with you? Why don’t you go and eat your own food? The full moon is coming—”
“Wait!” Pam held her hand out.
“I’m not falling for any trick, so put the damn cake back. That’s mine.” It had been one Lisa had baked for him. At the time, he was already eating a previous one she made, and she had told him it was good to store in the freezer, which is what he’d done.
He’d missed her, and after fucking things up the other night, he wanted to feel close to her. The old Lisa would have liked him being protective. The new Lisa didn’t like him being anywhere near her, and he found that exhausting. Even though she tried to walk away from him the other night, he’d still followed her, only he’d kept to the shadows, just to make sure she and her friend returned home.
“How much food did Lisa consume when you were with her? Like on dates, or even just snacks?”
“What the fuck?” Shadow asked. “Are you for real right now?”
“This is serious. I need you to tell me.”
“She ate like anyone else.”
“So, when you went to the diner, it would be normal for her to consume two large double-decker juicy beef burgers, two portions of laden cheesy fries, as well as dessert?” Pam asked.
“No, she wouldn’t eat that much, why? To be honest, she wasn’t much of a beef fan. She’d rather have the chicken burger.”
“Crap!”
“What?” Shadow asked. He wasn’t in the mood right now. He wanted Pam gone and out of his house so he could wallow and eat the chocolate cake, thinking about Lisa. Sounded lame, but it was all part of his plan to deal with everything that was happening.
“Did you have unprotected sex?” Pam asked.
“Now, you’re just getting weird, and trust me, weird is not a good look on you.”
“I’m being serious. I’m not asking because I have some weird agenda. Lisa’s been eating, like, a lot of food. Way more than I have seen a human eat.”
“That’s a little judgey.”
“Even between meals. She is always snacking and complaining of hunger.”
“Maybe she is trying to get over me.”
“Yeah, but eating the burgers and fries, twice, and then needing ice cream and a snack like every hour, does that sound right?” Pam asked.
Shadow wanted to kick Pam out of his home, but he put his hands on his hips.
“Lisa’s pregnant.”
He stared at her. “That can’t be.”
“Come on, we all know that can be. Everyone heard the news that Eloise, the unmated, very human being, got pregnant with Beau Alpha’s child.”
“We don’t know if that is real or not.”
“It’s very much real and stop being an asshole. If you and Lisa had unprotected sex, then there is a very high chance she is now carrying your child. Either that, or Lisa had sex with someone else while she was with you.”
He growled. “That didn’t happen.”
“How can you know unless you were with her twenty-four-seven?” Pam asked.
“I know Lisa, and I know what she smells like. She never did that, trust me.”
“Then I am right,” Pam said. “Lisa’s pregnant with your baby, and that means you and her are going to have to talk, to settle this thing between the two of you.”
Shadow couldn’t believe it. The very thought of Lisa being pregnant was … amazing. “Do you think that is really possible?” Shadow asked.
“Trust me, Lisa is eating as if she is feeding two. She doesn’t know it yet. All she knows is that she is hungry all the damn time. That’s a wolf trait. She is feeding a very hungry wolf, your child—your son or daughter—and you’re going to have to tell her and you’re going to have to tell the pack.”
“The pack will accept her,” Shadow said.
“That’s not even in question, Shadow.” Pam growled. “So the pack can help put her at ease. Having a baby is going to be stressful enough, but right now, she doesn’t even like the father of her baby. You’re still the asshole that broke her heart, so trust me, you’ve got a long way to go to make this better.”
“I think I liked you more when you barely spoke.”
Pam pressed a kiss to the tips of her fingers and blew it toward him. “I love you too.”
He glared at her. “Holy shit, I’m going to be a dad.”
“First, you’re going to have to go to Lisa. It won’t be long before she figures out she is pregnant, and then she is going to have to make a decision,” Pam said.
“What decision?”
“If she tells you or not, or if she even sticks around.”
“What if she doesn’t want it?” Shadow asked.
“Can you blame her?” Pam asked.
Shadow didn’t know what he would do if Lisa decided she didn’t want to keep his child. The very thought of it felt like a giant punched him in the gut. It was not a thought he liked.
“Come on, don’t worry about it,” Pam said. “I know Lisa, you know Lisa, and if anything, this kid will probably make you completely jealous because, you know, she loves it way more than she will ever love you.”
“Thank you,” Shadow said.
“Anytime.”