Helina ran through the forest, not sure she wanted to meet with Kurt, the Alpha of her pack. He’d been making overtures to her, but she knew from his scent that he wasn’t her mate. She’d know it. Her mother had promised her on her deathbed that she would know who her mate was instantly. Kurt was not it, but members of her pack had been cajoling her to meet with the Alpha, to be with the Alpha.
The only one on her side was her brother, Harlan. They were the only family each other had after their parents died in an accident.
He was her rock even if she was the older child.
She paused in a clearing, shifting back to human form for a moment. She loved the forest whether she was in wolf or human form. The sounds and the smells made her smile, so she took a moment to take them all in. She lived in the forest, but the wonders of it never became old to her.
She became aware of voices. They were getting louder. Two beings in the forest were shouting at each other. She moved behind a tree, not wanting anyone to know she was listening. She’d agreed to meet Kurt here, but she was a little early. She was going to tell him right off that she wasn’t interested in him.
Yes, he was the Alpha and could do what he wanted, but she had no interest in him. It was within her rights to refuse him, even if she didn’t think the pack would agree. It was a tightrope she would walk for her self-respect. Her mother had taught her that no one could do anything to her that she didn't want them to. In Helina’s mind, this covered dating the Alpha that she wasn’t interested in.
The voices came closer then stopped suddenly.
“You owe me money,” Kurt said.
Who was her Alpha arguing with? She wanted to know but knew it was wrong to eavesdrop. She could shift and run away without anyone knowing she’d been there. Unless Kurt had already scented her. Then she’d be stuck lying to him that she hadn’t heard his argument.
Kurt and a man, she assumed he was human, entered the clearing. She had found a nice wide tree so they wouldn’t see her.
“I don’t owe you anything. That wasn’t part of our agreement,” the man said.
What was Kurt doing with a human? The humans had their world and the wolves stayed out of it. At least that’s what she’d been taught. Humans would harm wolf shifters if they knew what they were. They’d consider us freaks of nature, so wolves stayed separate, deep in the woods where humans rarely traveled.
“You know you owe me the money.”
What would her Alpha need money for? Why would he lend it to a human? This conversation left her with more questions than answers. She should have run away when she first heard voices. Now she was stuck because if she shifted to wolf form, her Alpha would scent her for sure.
What was she going to do?
“I don’t owe you money. At least not yet.”
“Not yet?” Kurt asked.
He loomed over the human, who didn’t look afraid. Did the human have no idea the Alpha’s power? With one swipe of his paw, the human would be killed.
Helina reviewed her options. Kurt was expecting her so he shouldn’t be surprised if she stepped out into the clearing as if she just arrived. Then again, she didn’t want to get involved in the Alpha’s business. He was going to be unhappy that she turned him down. She didn’t need to upset him in what was obviously an argument.
She had no choice, but to stay where she was.
“No, the deal hasn’t gone through. As soon as it does I’ll give you the money.”
“I don't trust you,” Kurt said.