Chapter Ninety-Five

I turned back to the spill and picked up the broken plastic bottle. I tossed it in the trash I saw and mopped up the spray. “You work here?” Brandon’s voice was incredulous.

“Not really. Carl is my mom’s friend. We came here for descenting spray, but Carl asked my mom about a contact back in her dad’s old pack, and then they took off, asking me to watch the store.” I smiled as I lied through my teeth.

“I didn’t see them leave.” Vince turned around and silenced Brandon with a look.

“They went out the back, since that’s where Carl is. My mom rode here with me, but Carl will give her a ride back here, and we will go home.”

“Well… I didn’t realize you were watching.” I laughed as I stared at them, and I saw Brandon wince.

“Do you know where they went?” Vince shopped, and I made my way to the counter. I prayed I was going to be able to work the cash register.

“They said they were going down the road for ingredients, but that they might have to go all the way to my grandpa’s pack for one specific ingredient. He said he was making a new batch of spray.” I lifted my shoulder and settled on the stool.

“You’re not sure.”

I laughed. “She is my mother, not the other way around. I am sure there are a ton of things you do that Brandon doesn’t know about.”

Vince stared at me. “Yeah, but I’m the Alpha.”

I tilted my head. “I think you forget sometimes that my mom is also an alpha.” I raised my shoulders again. “I learned a long time ago not to question her.”

Vince gave a quick nod and grabbed a few things. Brandon, on the other hand, came over to talk to me. He leaned on the counter and gave his best charming smile. “Hey Amy.”

I furrowed my brows. What was he trying to do here? “Uh, hi Brandon.”

“How are you?” He stared into my eyes, but I could see him flexing the arm he was leaning on. I had to do a slow blink to cover my eye roll.

“I’m great. How are you?” I politely smiled and looked over to Vince, who was staring at us, like a stalker. When his eyes met mine, he went back to shopping.

“I’m great now that I see you.”

I nearly gagged. I nodded along. “Oh really? Did you have something you wanted me to tell Shannon about you? Or did you like to lose your phone and need me to tell her something?” I played stupid.

“What? No! I just wanted to see you.” Brandon straightened and sent a weird look to his father, who, by the way, was once again staring.

“Why?” I leaned down over the counter and rested my head in my hands.

“Why what?” Brandon tried to recover.

“Why did you want to see me?” I sat back up as he tried to lean close. “We aren’t friends, barely even acquaintances. I think we have barely said a few words to each other, and most of those were about, or because of, Shannon. You know, my stepsister, the girl you are still dating.” I smirked at him as he did his best to recover.

“That’s only because…” He trailed off and looked to his dad. I watched as Alpha Vince mind-linked him, and he turned back and smiled. “It’s because you were so beautiful I was intimidated. I talked to Shannon about you, and she swore you would become interested in me if we pretended to date.” He leaned back over the counter. “It was all just a ploy to get your attention.”

I leaned back onto the counter, and I watched as his smile got bigger, more confident. I leaned in really close to his face, and when I was a hair’s breadth away from his lips, I looked him in the eye. “Well, it was hard not to pay attention when you and Shannon hooked up for hours in the room next to mine.” He jerked back, and his smile dropped, but mine got bigger. “You seem to have good stamina, but come on, did you really believe that was really how she sounds? It was right out of a movie. A bad one.” I stood back off the counter. I turned to Vince and back to Brandon. “If you really wanted to catch my attention, sleeping with my stepsister was probably the worst way to do it. I want a mate who waited for me, just like I did for them.” This time around, I was sticking to my morals. In my last life, I looked past it, and look where that got me. “Now, is there anything I can help you with in the store?”