Chapter 16: Sutton

I put my interaction with Alpha Lucas out of my mind and focused on getting cleaned up. Well, as best as I could. The feeling of the hot water washing over me had helped. It was hard for my stiff muscles not to relax under the therapeutic spray.

When I got out and dried off, I took the shopping bag that Alpha Lucas had brought for me. There was a pair of jeans and a simple, long-sleeved blouse on top. Below them were several stacks of undergarments. More than I would need. A lot more.

I was hesitant to accept anything more than the bare minimum from Alpha Lucas and taking anything from his mate felt off as well. Considering his advances towards me. However, who knew how long it would take for me to get set up somewhere. Arguably, it would be easier if I had more than nothing. It would be hard to get a job with nothing to wear.

With a frustrated sigh, I relented to the practicality. I dressed quickly and looked for a place to stash the bag for the time being. Opening a dresser drawer, I found it already full of clothes. Men’s clothes. I looked around the room in confusion for a moment before it dawned on me.

I was in Alpha Lucas’s bedroom.

I didn’t know why I hadn’t noticed before, but the revelation made the whole situation feel even more wrong. Shaking off the discomfort, I tucked the bag under the bed until I could find someplace better. Wrangling a brush thoroughly through my hair, I opted not to tie the damp locks back before deciding it was time to head downstairs.

I had followed my nose this morning when navigating through the house. I got a general idea of the layout; however, not enough to feel comfortable assuming where this Tarrah woman would be waiting. I went the only familiar route, bringing me to the kitchen. I wasn’t surprised to find it empty. The main floor had a somewhat open floor plan on this side of the large house. The kitchen led into the living room, which was also empty. I was about to try down the hall when a voice startled me.

“There you are,” Tarrah said from the dining room behind me. “I was just about to come up and check on you. Are you feeling better? It looks like I got your size right. That top looks lovely on you.”

I tugged at the hem self-consciously. “They’re a little big,” I said. “But most things are these days.”

“We’ll help take care of that,” Tarrah said, looping her arm in mine. “But we’ll come back to the clothes. First, I’d love for us to get to know each other. And what better way than with a little pampering?”

She led me through the dining room and out the back door to the sunroom. There was an array of items set up on the coffee table — bottles of lotions, creams, and polishes, apparatuses that I had no idea what they were used for, and a tub of steaming, bubbling water.

“I thought we’d start with a mani-pedi while you tell me everything about yourself,” she gushed as she led me to the chair.

“Um… well, I’ve…” She ushered me to sit down. “I’ve never had…”

“Then this will be even more of a treat,” Tarrah said.

Sitting down on a wheeled stool in front of me, she took my ankle and started rolling up my pant leg. Putting my foot in the tub, she did the same with the other. The water was hot, but not unbearably so. It did feel very nice despite the awkwardness of the situation. Tarrah did seem so kind. I started to think I had been jumping to conclusions as I leaned back. That is until Tarrah pulled her curly black hair back into a ponytail. Lifting it from her shoulders, I saw the mark on her neck.

My eyes stung as the knot returned to my gut. The burning in my chest flared again. I felt angry and humiliated. And I felt sorry for Tarrah. Or I guess I should be calling her Luna Tarrah. Although, since he failed to introduce her as such, I guess Alpha Lucas is another Alpha who doesn’t consider just any mate as his Luna. That would explain why I hadn’t heard of the Ironpaw Pack having a Luna.

“Sutton, are you alright?” Tarrah’s voice pulled me out of my commiserating. “Is the water too hot?”

I forced a stiff smile. It wasn’t her fault her mate was a jerk.

“No, it’s perfect,” I assured her.

She gave me the most genuine smile before jumping back into her activities, including a barrage of questions. I was slow to answer at first, but eventually, found her enthusiasm too difficult to resist. Besides, the majority of her questions were relatively harmless. Personal — yes, but simple. Things like my favorite color and my hobbies and such.

I tried to push my ill mood away and figure out how to enjoy the time. I managed for the most part. Despite being out of practice with new experiences. We spent a few hours in comfortable conversation. I had to admit to myself that I liked Tarrah. In other circumstances, we would be friends. But I couldn’t in good consciousness consider that with the position Alpha Lucas had put me in.

He really was just as cruel as Alpha Anders made him out to be. To play with people like this. I was more grateful than ever that I was healing faster than usual. I could be out of here in a matter of days instead of weeks. I just had to figure out how.

“So, Tarrah, have you ever been to a human city?” I asked.

“It’s been years, but yes,” she replied. “There’s a lake town about two days drive from here that we vacationed at a few times when I was younger. My brother and I loved it.”

“Oh, that sounds nice,” I said as she finished doing my hair. “But no other visits recently?”

“No, unfortunately not,” she said. “My duties here keep me busy, at least for the time being. Once we’re fully settled, maybe we can take some time away. But that’s a ways off.”

“Do you mean you and your mate?” I asked.

She nodded. “He is away a lot right now,” she said. “I always miss him terribly, but it’s not for much longer.”

“How long have you two been together? Do you plan on becoming…”

“Oh, my gosh,” Tarrah interrupted, jumping up. “I just realized the time. We’ll need to start going through the clothes if we want to finish before Lucas gets back. I want to make sure everything fits right. And get some ideas on where to take you shopping when you’re up for it.”