“My da and Will’s parents are pushing for us to set a date for the weddin' again, and I’msooonot ready.” I let out a sigh.
“Not ready or haven’t figured out a way to get out of it yet?”
Will and I were supposed to get married when we turned twenty-one. I'm twenty-four next month, and he’s twenty-four this summer, so I’ve been postponing it for several years, and the pressure from our families is mounting.
“No comment,” I reply. Mikey knows I don’t want to marry Will, but he’s big on ‘you do what you have to do for the good of the pack,’ so I avoid bringing it up with him too often. The gash on my hand has finally stopped bleeding, and I watch the top layer of skin going pink.
“Will’s one of the prettiest guys I’ve ever met and one of your best friends; I don’t see why you’re so put out over the match.” As if that’s all that’s required to commit your entire life to someone.
“Yeah, he’s pretty, but I don’t see him that way; we’re just pals. I’m only ever going to view him as a friend. I don’t understand why everyone is so focused on me and Will when Sam is the Alpha heir with no intentions to settle down.” I know I sound stroppy, and I don’t mean to throw Sam under the bus, but I amsoover this constant debate.
“You and I both know nobody can tell a future Alpha who they’re gonna marry. That stubborn Alpha gene of his would have him swearin' to never settle down if anyone pushed it,” Mikey says, snickering.
“And my Alpha gene? Why can’t I use the same excuse?” I ask, getting exasperated.
“Yours is dormant. You’re just stubborn because you’re a Kelly. You’ll get over it,” he says dismissively, and I huff in annoyance.
“Yeah, well, Sam might want to get a move on. Campbells will have another Alpha heir soon, and our line ends with Sammy.” I’m hoping if my family starts focusing on getting Sam to settle down, they’ll be less livid when I finally call things off with Will.
“What do you mean?” he asks curiously.
“Apparently Jasper and Jade Campbell are expecting. New baby Alpha en route,” I tell him. I really hope he doesn’t push where I got this information from because I can’t exactly tell him the truth.
“Fuck. Really? If you don’t marry Will, the pack is gonna be broke without his family’s money and with a new Alpha on the way; it won’t be long before their pack is stronger than ours, too. Does your da know?”
He's reacting to this news with much more vehemence than I expected.
“No, I don’t think he does, anyway,” I answer. Knowing that since I haven’t told him, it’s highly unlikely he would have found out elsewhere. Guilt niggles me; maybe this is something I should have kept to myself.
“Good, that’s good. Probably best not to tell him right away,” he says distractedly. He’s acting really strange which is saying something because Mikey is a bit unpredictable at the best of times.
“Why’s that good?” I ask, but Mikey gets up and leaves the room like he didn’t even hear me.
My hand only has a rapidly fading pink scar on it now, thank fuck for quick healing since I’ll have to plane the tabletop again, and hope my blood hasn’t soaked into it. Finishing the dregs of my brew, I dump the mug in the sink. I really need to crack on if I still want to finish early today since I promised to go and meet Niamh and Will at the pub after work.
My work boots stick to the grubby floor, and the smell of stale beer assaults my senses. When I spot a group of builders standing around the bar, I no longer feel bad for being so dusty and not changing out of my work clothes. The Fox & Hound isbusy with the after-work rush, but I spot Will at a booth in the corner.
“You are my best mate in the whole world,” I tell him, picking up the pint of Amstel on the table and taking a large sip. There’s a bottle of red wine and two glasses in front of him, but no sign of Niamh yet. I dry my hand on my trousers from the condensation on the glass.
“I’m your only friend that isn’t related to you,” he replies, arching an eyebrow.
“Touché.” I slide into the seat opposite him.
“How’s your day been?”
“I almost took my thumb off with a bench saw, so I’ve had better days. You?”
“Shit, are you okay?” He grabs my hand and inspects it for damage, rubbing a thumb over the faint pink scar. It feels like a strangely intimate gesture. It makes my stomach flip, and not in a good way. Will has always been tactile—wolves, in general, are—but I’m now distinctly aware of the fact he thinks I’m single and that I’ll marry him one day, so I pull my hand back.
“Hurt like a bitch, but it’s fine now. What’s new with you? Where’s Niamh?” I ask, grasping for a subject change.
“Umm. Actually, I texted her and asked if she could join us a bit later because I needed to discuss something with you.”
Oh fuck, I have a really horrible feeling about this. I look towards the pub door, genuinely considering making a run for it, but I know that’s not an option.
Probably best to get this over with.
“Oh yeah… What’s up?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.
