New Alpha – New Rules(18)

“Tell them that. I have to relearn accounting and it’s been years.” He scowled. She giggled at the face he made.

“You aren’t running a business anymore so it’s just bill paying. I know how to do that too.” She scowled down at the envelopes in her lap. “When there’s money.” Ryder reached over and took them from her. He folded them in half while keeping his hands on the steering wheel then stuffed them in his back pocket. He avoided a hole then pulled to a stop at the highway. “You don’t have to do that.” Harper said quietly. “I’ll have money on Friday.”

“You keep that and buy yourself something pretty.” He winked at her. “I’ll take care of your needs Harper, welcome to Green Valley pack.” Harper stared over at him and he grinned then pulled out onto the highway headed for home. She wondered about the take care of your needs comment. Did she want him to take care of all of her needs? She looked out of her side window at the rolling hills.

Would she have to wait long for him to make a move? She’d almost thought that he would last night and she’d been surprisingly okay with that. It had been too long since anyone touched her and she found herself wanting him to but he’d simply wrapped her in his arms and they’d gone to sleep. That was nice too. She’d never slept with anyone except Bronson and he never held her like that. She’d never felt that safe or that taken care of before last night. Sleeping with a true Alpha was very different from sleeping with your mate. Bronson was Alpha in the house but outside of it, he was just another wolf.

Her wolf felt different last night. At first she was nervous, frightened in the bar and ready to spring. Then he’d wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to his side where the wolf felt safe and protected. That close to an Alpha made her feel special, giddy even. Now he was offering to take care of her needs. She wondered if she told him what those needs were, if he would take care of them right now. Her skin heated and she felt the flush spread over her face. A pleasant tingle worked its way through her.

“Are you okay?” His finger trailed over her arm and down to her hand where he gripped it softly and squeezed gently. “Nervous?”

“A little. I want them to like me.”

“They already do darling. I’m sure the ones that you haven’t met will like you just as much. You’ve won over Lucy so the rest should be cake.” Harper chuckled. “I’m serious.” He grinned. He turned the vehicle down the long gravel drive toward home. She noticed the mailbox was upright on a new post with a fresh coat of paint.

“He did a good job.” She pointed.

“Tell him that. Jack needs all of the encouragement that we can give him right now. He is new to our pack. We found him wandering alone, almost feral.” Ryder’s jaw tensed. “I’m still not clear on what happened to him and his pack but we’re trying to help him socialize again.” She nodded.

“I’ll try to help him.” He glanced over at her. “I’m new to the pack too and he can help me get to know them while he’s learning his pack skills again. Nothing loosens someone up like helping someone else.” She smiled brightly. Ryder smirked. “We had a similar situation when I was younger, don’t worry.”

“I think you are going to fit in whether they like it or not.” Ryder parked the truck beside the porch. Harper saw wolves going in and out of the large barn doors that stood open.

“I thought we weren’t to go in there. Is it safe?”

“They know what to be careful of but I don’t want you in there. You can stand outside and watch but don’t go past the doors. If it falls, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“What are they doing?” They were carrying stacks of wood that looked finished to the house.

“They are probably laying the floor in your new room. I told them that I wanted it finished today so you can have your privacy.” She watched one of them, Curtis she thought, carry a window around to the back of the house. He’d danced with Sid last night and tried to steal a fry. Suddenly, someone was beside her and she jumped. Lee stood there holding up two buckets of paint.

“Green apple or raspberry?” He said through the window. Harper looked at him, confused.

“The walls sweetheart, what color?” Ryder said. She pointed at the green can. “Good choice. We’ve painted Lucy’s room and Nicole’s room so far and those were the colors they picked. As we go, there will be more of a selection and you can change it later if you like.”

“Where is my room?”