Chapter Three - The Visit

A week passed. Deborah’s daughter, Holly, was petite like her and snuck her in some clothes. The Beta turned a blind eye when he showed up, though she knew the yellow dress didn’t suit her.

She made them both a pot of coffee and they sat on the couch for a chat. Because it had been on her mind a lot, she blurted out what had been eating at her resentful heart since day one.

“Why did you come to our house in the first place? Deborah’s more than competent.”

Jack blew on his drink to cool it before replying.

“She’s like you,” he said. “Unappreciated.”

“I’m glad someone thinks so.” Nell hesitated. “Why doesn’t the Alpha come and see his half-sister? Is he too busy?”

“That’s only part of the reason,” the Beta said, avoiding her eyes now.

Nell waited, but it seemed he wasn’t about to say any more.

“Do you have pups of your own?”

“Not yet, but Louisa’s still hopeful. We’ve been mated a year now.”

“Then there’s plenty of time,” she assured him, hoping that was the case.

Alpha Liam summoned her that evening. His office was piled high with paperwork, he seemed harassed and she felt resentful enough to be glad that he was struggling with his workload. Let him suffer, too.

“Did you remember what I said?”

“What about, Alpha?”

He drummed his fingers on the desk. Long, sensitive fingers which she couldn’t help but imagine stroking her face. What was the matter with her?

The PC looked ancient, but it wasn’t her place to say so. As she watched he picked up his much more modern mobile and frowned at something on the screen. Setting it aside, he glanced across at her.

“People tell me you are doing a great job taking care of Fallon. So, I’m minded to let you go home for a visit. My Beta will drive you. But I want you back here by the end of the day to resume your duties. Say it.”

She clasped her hands together, hoping not to tempt Fate by expressing her joy too openly.

“Thank you, Alpha. I can pick up some of my things at the same time.”

“Whatever,” he said. “Do you swear to return before midnight?”

“Yes, Alpha Liam. I give you my word.”

The grin was sudden and unexpected. It transformed his whole face just for an instant before the shutters came down once more.

“That’s what I like to hear in my employees: obedience.”

“But I don’t work for you,” she couldn’t resist pointing out.

“Yes, you do, Nell. Until I say otherwise.”

“What about payment?” she dared, looking down at her borrowed dress.

The Alpha’s eyes followed hers. He opened his wallet and tossed her one of his personal credit cards. “Buy something nice.” He pointed a finger at her. “Don’t make me regret this, Nell.”

“You can rely on me, Alpha. I won’t let you down,” she told him. Then, daringly, she added, “Tell me to mind my own business, but you need to look in on Fallon occasionally. She needs to bond with her blood kin.”

He scowled. “I’ll think about it.”

Nell decided not to push it, given how his half-sister had been conceived.

The Beta drove her to Oakley. For some reason she was apprehensive the whole way. Alpha Liam’s credit card was clutched in her hand and must be overheating by now. It was warm in the SUV.

Jack cleared his throat. “Looking forward to seeing your family again?”

“Some of them,” she said, not wanting to lie to him.

“That figures,” he replied, stroking his beard.

“Will you be coming back for me later?” she asked.

“It’s unlikely,” he admitted. “But the Gamma, Henry, is free. Don’t worry, he’ll keep his paws to himself.”

“I sure hope so,” she muttered, making her companion laugh.

The house was showing signs of life given the smoke emanating not from the chimney but the kitchen at the back if she was any judge. Mom wasn’t the best cook and Olivia was too lazy to try. She couldn’t help wondering about Dad’s broth and if he had been going without.

Saying a reluctant farewell to Jack, she went up the steps and pushed open the front door without knocking. Inside, the burnt smell was even worse. Onions, if she wasn’t mistaken. Her father would never swallow something like that.

Making her way quietly up the stairs she pushed open the door to his room and just stared. His bed was made but there was no sign of its most recent occupant. Maybe he had recovered enough to go and sit in the garden in his favourite spot.

Coming back down she encountered her mom in the passage.

“Oh, it’s you. Didn’t expect to see you back for a while,” she said.

“Where’s Dad.”

“Gone.”

It was Olivia who spoke, as casually as if she were remarking on the weather or passing on the news that one of the stray cats had died.

Nell clutched the banister rail. “Was it sudden?” she asked.

“Just upped in the night and took himself off. You know what that man’s like,” her mother said.

“You mean he’s recovered? Oh, that’s fantastic. Is he out on call?”

“Your sister was never a good listener, was she?” her mom said to Olivia, raising a plucked eyebrow.

“Dad left a few days ago. We don’t know where he is.”

“Liv, that can’t be right. Mom, please tell me you’ve alerted the sheriff.”

“I was getting around to it, Eleanor. Now that you’re back, make yourself useful and sweep the yard.”

“What’s that you’re wearing? Is it a new dress? And what’s that in your hand?”

Nell was too late to prevent her sister from robbing her of the Alpha’s plastic.

“Give it back,” she cried, struggling with her much taller sibling in vain.

“Is that American Express? My, my, someone has gone up in the world.”

A cunning look came over her mom’s face. For the hundredth time, Nell wondered what her father had ever seen in Miss Worthington, who had insisted on keeping her maiden name as well as taking his surname when they wed. It wasn’t as if she was from rich stock given that her parents had owned a farm.

“I’m going to pack. The Alpha wants me back in Watertight later.”

“That’s too bad. You’re needed here.”

“But someone will be coming to fetch me later.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Running up the stairs, hoping she could persuade Olivia to see sense and relinquish the Alpha’s card, Nell started to throw some things into a backpack. The thought had occurred to her that, if need be, she could hike back through the forest.

Her mother had other ideas. She heard the key turn in the lock too late and all the hammering in the world would not make Rosemary Worthington Field change her mind.