Alpha Owned(4)
“You know what, Ciara?”
She turned in her seat to glance at him in the back seat. He lay with his plush foam pillow under his arm.
“What’s up, baby doll?”
“If I ever think of being with a woman, you’d be my first choice.”
Aw. Darius was so sweet. Sara and Cici knew he’d had a hard time telling his family he was gay, which was why they loved helping him open up and be whoever he wanted to be. “I know honey. But if at any point you feel uncomfortable with things, just tell me and we’ll pull the plug, okay?”
He frowned. “I’d never back out on you. You’re my best friend.”
That’s why Cici loved Darius. He and Sara had forever been her unconditional friends. More than she could have hoped for. They didn’t care that she was a big girl that came from a strange family of shifters. Granted, Sara had her own shifter family in which she was the only one that didn’t shift. But Cici had a mother who wanted grandchildren. And in the shifter community, curves were much appreciated. So her mother tried repeatedly to mention every eligible shifter male in the pack, but never mentioned Ryker. He was the only one Cici wanted. Throat bone dry, she turned back to stare at the road.
Things weren’t as simple as showing up with Darius. They’d both have to play a game that wouldn’t get them caught in lies or they’d smell them. So everyone decided to stick to what they knew. They did love each other, as friends, but nobody needed to know that part.
The surroundings went from big city buildings to small towns and finally to cabins in the woods. That’s how the Snow Mountain Pack lived in private cabins, really pretty ones too. The architecture of the cabins was like something out of Ultimate Cabins Magazine. Nobody in the pack wanted for money, so homes were large, comfortable and breathtaking. The whole set up was surreal. Thick large trees surrounded the cabins with oranges and browns on each of the fall leaves blending perfectly to create a canvas of warm colors.
“Hot damn!” Darius yelled. “You guys have been holding out on me. Are you girls billionaires or something?”
Sara giggled. “No. We’re not, but our parents have some money.”
Sara drove her 4x4 through the high ground, until they reached the highest level on the mountain. Several cabins sat in a semi-circle in the large clearing.
“Jesus. So who lives in these?” Awe filled Darius’ voice.
Cici smiled at Sara and let her gaze roam over the beauty before them. Cici decided to answer Darius as simply as possible. Shifter leadership still confused her. “To the left is my parents’ cabin. My father used to be the old Alpha’s, Ryker’s dad’s, top enforcer, but moved to the role of advisor and elder for Ryker. That gives him some kind of seniority. Now my brother Christian is Ryker’s top enforcer.” With a quick glance over her shoulder, Cici grinned at the stupefied look on Darius’ face. “What I mean is that Christian is in charge of all the guards. Those two smaller cabins behind my parent’s house are for guests like me. Yes, I consider myself a guest.” Though she made it a point to only visit when she knew Ryker wasn’t around. “That middle cabin, the big one, that’s Ryker’s.”
“The guy you’ve had the hots for since grade school?”
Sara burst into laughter, slapping her hands on the wheel. “Yeah. That one.”
“Cut it out. It wasn’t since grade school. I’m your future baby mama, remember?” Cici joked.
“True. Sorry to have interrupted, my love. Please go on.”
Ryker’s cabin was gorgeous. Two stories of absolute beauty made with wood and glass. And every time she visited she could only wish to own something that amazing one day.
“That cabin to the right of Ryker’s belongs to Sara’s parents. Her dad was Ryker’s dad’s beta, but he’s retired and is also advising Ryker as his elder. Sara’s brother, Sean, took on the duty for Ryker.”
“And they also keep little cabins for you, Sara darlin’, I see.” Darius pointed out.
Sara giggled. “Yeah. They know I stay up late and wake up late. These people sleep so little it’s annoying.”
“Not to mention the loud animal sex.” Cici snorted.
“Ciara!” Sara’s hand slapped her shoulder, leaving a stinging spot on her skin.
“Come on. You know it’s true. Our families are loud when they have sex and it’s why our parents allowed us to keep our cabins separate when we were old enough to tell them we didn’t want to hear them anymore.”
Darius laughter filled the vehicle. It was infectious and had Cici laughing in seconds. The sounds calmed down some of the nerves that were turning her muscles to stone.