Forty-four

“This weekend is like a break for me.” He changed the topic and when I raised my head to him, he seemed like he was on the verge of smiling. “I want to feel free from my Alpha roles and just have fun for the first time in a long time. I want to explore different aspects of being a werewolf, aspects that aren't tied down to being an Alpha.

“Being here makes me feel nostalgic because Scarlett’s grandmother used to live here and when we were younger, we’d come here for holidays sometimes, she’d make us the best dishes, tell us strange and interesting stories, educate us on herbs and the uniqueness of each flower…” he smiled, staring ahead of him like he could see it happening again. Alpha Keegan was actually 'smiling'? So he could 'smile'? “Those days were such happy days. They made me feel loved, she felt like family, like my actual grandmother. Would you like to know a secret?”

“What secret?” I returned his smile, eager to hear something exciting.

“When she died, I cried.” He said li