Chapter 109

Cara’s POV

If I wasn’t so jumpy, I might not have accepted Alaric’s invitation to escort me to the daycare and then to home, but as it is, I’m very pleased to have the company.

I’m still not sure how I feel about dating Alaric. With how nervous I’ve been, I haven’t had room in my thoughts to truly consider Landon’s suggestion of dating both Alaric and Noel and then letting the feelings grow naturally. Right now, I’m more focused on the world around me, listening for dangers with my weak wolfless senses.

Alaric places his hand on my arm, and I lean into his touch without realizing it at first. When I do realize it, I’m not sure how to pull away without making it obvious. So I don’t. Worrying about his touch helps focus me. It’s nice not to be thinking the paranoid thoughts about who could be following me.

“I’ve been meaning to share with you the good news,” Alaric says. “I’ve decided to stay with pack BloodyMoon for a few more weeks.” Glancing at me, he adds, “I hope you can see I am serious in my desire to pursue you.”

That he is staying makes my heart race more than I want to admit. Even so, I shake my head a little. “You are Alpha of DuskWood, Alaric. I’m sure they have need of you more than we do here.”

“I’ve already been granted permission from the elders,” he says. “And I’ve rented another room at the hotel to be used as my office. I can still rule DuskWood from a distance.”

He is a capable leader, I know that first-hand having been his Beta in the past. So I’m sure that if he believes he can rule remotely, then he can. At least for a while.

Though I am concerned that his feelings for me might be getting in the way of his judgement. This has never been an issue in the past. Back then, ever would Alaric choose the best for the pack over any and all feelings for me.

In fact, in the past, he seemed to outright despise and resent me sometimes.

It’s curious how much things have changed. I know he hopes to convince me of his change of heart, but it’s still hard for me to fully believe in him, after he’s hurt me so much in the past.

For so long, I’ve always been second or third or even fourth in his life. Now I’m to believe he wants to put me first? I don’t know what to think.

I suppose, for right now, I don’t have to think anything at all. Alaric is here, he’s escorting me to the daycare. This doesn’t have to be any more than that. It doesn’t have to be anything at all.

I’ve been so worried about everything: the party, Alaric, and now Noel…

Maybe what I really want is to just turn my brain off for a few minutes and enjoy a nice, evening walk with a man I hold affection for, even if those feelings are coupled with confusion.

Yet, as we are walking, I feel that familiar chill run up my spine, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

At once, I stop and pulling my arm loose from Alaric’s, swivel on my heel to face whoever is following us on the sidewalk.

There’s a few other people on the sidewalk, all walking along, minding their own business. The one closest to us, glances up with me with mild annoyance. After all, I’ve stopped and am not holding up all the foot traffic.

I quickly step to the side, allowing them all more room to pass me by.

Alaric, who stopped with me, steps to the side as well.

“Cara? What’s going on?” he asks.

I feel foolish, and heat floods my cheeks. For a flash of a moment, I felt as if there was someone with hostile intentions toward me, coming up from behind me. Looking now, I can see it must have been my imagination. None of these people are bothering with me. They are all going about their own business.

I don’t know how to tell Alaric the truth. Even though I’m not ready to date him, I’m also not willing to let him think that I’m slowly losing my mind. I still want him to think highly of me.

Embarrassed, I try to brush this off. “I thought I heard someone calling my name.”

Alaric looks at me with skepticism clear on his face. Once more, he swoops his gaze over the entirety of the space around us. “I didn’t hear anything.”

Great, he still thinks I’m crazy. “Let’s just forget it,” I say.

Gathering my courage, I continue walking down the sidewalk on my own. Alaric hurries to catch up to me.

“Are you sure that’s what it was?” Alaric asks, stealing glances at my profile. “For a moment there, you looked… afraid. That’s not how you usually respond to someone calling your name.”

“I’m sure,” I say. I’m not going to get into this right now. I can’t. I already feel shaky down to my core. Having to explain myself will only make everything worse.

We don’t speak again until we are standing in front of the daycare.

“Stay here,” I tell him. “They don’t allow strangers inside.”

Alaric nods and plants himself on the edge of the sidewalk, waiting for me.

Inside, I recover Ethan and Mia, who both swarm toward me, eager for hugs and attention. I give both, as much as I can.

“How was school today?” I ask them.

“Fun!” Mia says, as Ethan replies, “It was fine.”

“Alaric is going to be walking us home,” I tell them, not wanting them to be surprised. “He’s waiting just outside.”

“Uncle Alaric is here?” Mia asks with rising excitement.

Ethan, meanwhile, frowns openly. “Does he have to?”

Perhaps on another day, I would take Ethan’s annoyance into consideration. I know he doesn’t particularly like Alaric, though I’m not fully sure why. I have a feeling it has to do with how close Alaric and I are.

Today however, I would feel safer with Alaric nearby, ready to offer protection, especially while the kids are with me.

I have my own doubts about Alaric’s sincerity when it comes to his feelings for me, but I do not doubt that if a need arose, Alaric would protect me and the children valiantly.

He’s a good man. He’s just not great with feelings or emotions. How to express them or what to do with them.

“Today, he has to,” I say to Ethan. “Be nice.”

Ethan pouts a little on the way back to the door.

Outside, Mia runs straight to Alaric for a hug. “Uncle Alaric!”

Alaric is happy to comply.

Ethan, however, stays at my side, glaring at Alaric with open suspicion and disdain.

Alaric takes this in stride. “Ethan,” he says in greeting.

“Uncle Alaric,” Ethan replies formally.

I don’t like being here, out in the open like this. My nerves are still shot, and having the kids with me now feels like too many vulnerabilities at once.

Alaric immediately seems to pick up on my mood. “How about we get you all home?”

Thankfully, we start walking again, with Alaric staying slightly behind us, as if guarding me and the kids.