Chapter Ninety-Two

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Bingo. I wanted to roll my eyes. He used it weekly after the big pack meetings he threw together. But I needed him to offer it up, otherwise he would see it as a red flag and focus on me. “A company?” My mother huffed another breath, just a mom trying to deal with her insufferable daughter. “For what?”

“They have perfected cleaning carpets so that unwanted scents don’t linger.” He snapped his eyes to my mother and then back to me. “I know how it feels to have an alpha wolf who is territorial. It’s not Amy’s fault, Ainsley.”

I smiled and turned to look at my mother. “I told you.” I pressed. “You kept saying it was too much. That Shannon was my sister and I should just get over it.”

“Well, she is,” my mother pointed out, but I let out another growl.

“She is an unranked wolf who used my belongings to trick the alpha’s son into dating her.” I threw out, and I watched as Vince’s eyes tightened. He apparently hadn’t thought about it because Shannon was Morgan’s daughter. She acted as if she was ranked. She walked around and treated everyone as if she was a beta, but in fact, she wasn’t even strong enough to be a second gamma.

“That is neither here nor there.” Vince’s voice was tight. “Here.” He fished out his wallet and pulled a business card. “Call them. They can usually do same-day cleaning. Once you’re done here, you can call them to come out.”

My mother huffed out a breath. “Well, after this, we have to go buy her a new mattress. She refuses to even touch it. Said it was tainted,” my mother tossed out, exasperated.

But Vince actually nodded. “She’s right. Shannon was desperate for my son’s attention.” Vince was quiet for a minute. Then he looked at me. “It wasn’t until Brandon came of age and was smelling out his mate that your sister made any headway.”

I nodded. “She probably stole an outfit thinking it was cute and might get him to look, but it was the combination of our scents that pulled him in.” I shook my head in disappointment. “I’m sorry I helped fool Brandon. It wasn’t intentional at all. Brandon and I have always had a cordial relationship, and I wanted to keep it that way.”

“Why?” Vince stopped me. I wanted to curse, but I answered honestly. “My mom always said that our mate was sacred. And I didn’t see a point in chasing after men I had no reason to. My mom always said that when I came of age, I would find the perfect match for my wolf, and the soul mate of my human half. So why would I add feelings into the mix until I had to? There is no point in falling in love when I wasn’t sure if that was the person I was meant to be with.” I tilted my head and said the one thing that would seal this for Vince. “I wanted to remain pure and untouched for my mate.” I wanted to gag. Even though it was truly how I felt, I didn’t like the way he was staring at me, almost leering.

His smile was somehow worse. He grinned and nodded. “Your mate will be a very lucky wolf.” He looked me up and down, and I held back a shiver.

“Thank you, Alpha. I can’t wait until I meet my mate.” I smiled and then turned to leave.

“There is one more thing, Amy.” Vince grabbed for me and was too slow to evade him with everything in my arms. His fingers stroked down the bare skin of my arm, almost caressing me.

“What is it?” I turned and slipped away from his touch.

“You are just eighteen, and I know it is a distant issue, but mates are harder and harder to find nowadays. You should set a time frame for yourself. Find a wolf, like my son, of equal strength that you can build a relationship with. That way…” He trailed off and he was rubbing his fingers together, like he was thinking about touching me again and I could feel vomit rising in my chest.

“That way what, Alpha?” He shook himself and smirked.

“That way, you have options in case you don’t find your mate. Or if the worst happens, and goddess forbid, your mate betrays you, you know where to turn.” His smile was predatory, but I ignored it.

“That is very smart advice, Alpha. I will have to consider it and look at who my options are for building a friendship with.” I smiled and bowed my head, and my mother did the same. We made our way to the counter and handed in my clothes.