“It’s fine,” she said, but I could tell it wasn’t.
She ate quickly and soon we were on our way back downstairs. We went out the side door closest to my Jeep.
Olivia frowned. I couldn’t imagine why. Macie was carrying her booster seat with her so I didn’t see the problem.
“We’re riding in that?” my kid asked.
I sighed. “What’s wrong with the Jeep?”
“It’s not very safe.”
“Of course, it is.”
Olivia sighed.
“I can leave the top up if it makes you feel better.”
“It’s cloth. How is that going to protect us in an accident?”
I scowled. “This has the highest rated roll cage installed. It’s perfectly safe, I assure you.”
“Tell me we can get a more appropriate vehicle.”
“You hate the Jeep.”
“I don’t hate the Jeep, I’m just not comfortable with Macie riding in it.”
“I have my booster, Mom. I’ll be okay.”
“I’m not going road racing with her in it. She’ll be fine, O.”
I could tell by the look on her face that it wasn’t okay at all. Strike two for the day and it was still morning. Begrudgingly, they got in. Macie was all smiles in the backseat.
I was sure to drive the speed limit which made the journey feel longer than ever. I took them on a tour and showed them the town. Olivia softened some. San Marco was beautiful and it was hard not to fall in love with it.
My tour concluded at the Alpha house.
“Kyle keeps his office here, but he doesn’t actually live here. His parents still keep the residence. I guess in some ways it’s similar to Kano and your father now.”
“What happened to make his father step down?”
“I wasn’t here yet. Westin Force is a product of that. From what I’ve heard, there was a big fight between Westin and the Bulgarian wolves over the lineage of Kyle’s mate, Kelsey. The Bulgarians attacked and Jason nearly lost his life. Power transferred to Kyle at that time. Kelsey was able to save the former Alpha though.”
“Kelsey saved him?”
“Yeah, she’s um, well, she’s a powerful witch and Alpha she-wolf.”
Olivia’s eyes widened in fear.
“Relax. She’s perfectly safe and I promise you’re going to love her. The breeches back then that allowed the Bulgarians to infiltrate the area have long since been secured. With Westin Force headquarters right here, there is no place safer on this planet. Come on. Keep an open mind and just meet her, okay?”
Olivia
Chapter 24
The fact that Baine couldn’t understand why I didn’t want Macie riding in his Jeep and why I was upset about exposing her to a witch just showed how little he knew about children. Witches scared me, but the fact she was also an Alpha she-wolf was terrifying.
I didn’t know much about wolf shifters, but I knew that female Alphas were rare and dangerous. He thought nothing of exposing our daughter to that. I was starting to question his judgment and my choice in bringing Macie here.
I had to admit the town itself was adorable. It smelled funny though and didn’t feel like home. The surrounding woods provided me a tiny bit of comfort. I just wasn’t sure this place ever could be home to me.
I’d been on edge with a sense of doom hanging over my head ever since I’d woken to an empty room with no idea where my daughter was. It left me feeling unsettled and hard to stay positive about any of this.
The house we walked up to was huge, far bigger than the one I’d grown up in. Baine had explained there were five Westin siblings, all mated now. Mary and Jason Westin, the former Alpha and Pack Mother still lived here, but Kyle Westin worked out of the Alpha office.
Baine knocked on the door and an older woman opened it, a kind smile lighting up her face when she saw my mate. I was shocked when she pulled him into a tight hug. My bear didn’t see her as competition, more as a curiosity.
“Welcome home, Baine. I’ve heard you got more than you expected on this mission,” she said before turning to me and then squatted down to Macie’s level. “You must be Macie Laine.”
Macie smiled. It was hard not to relax in the woman’s presence and Macie shocked the hell out of me when she hugged her.
“Do you know I have a grandson about your age. He’ll be here shortly to help me bake cookies today. If it’s okay with your mother, would you like to join us?”
“Mom, can I?”
“Um?” I looked to Baine who nodded. I could tell he trusted this woman. “Yeah, I guess that would be okay.”
“Fantastic. Come on in and make yourselves at home. Kyle’s in his office,” she told Baine before turning a critical eye on me. “You must be Olivia. I’m Mary Westin.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I didn’t want to like her, but she made it hard not to.
Baine linked his fingers through mine. “I’m going to steal her away for a minute, Mary. I want to introduce Olivia to Kyle.”
“Of course. I’m going to take Macie to the kitchen, unless you’d prefer she stay with you. I’ll just be in the kitchen getting things prepped.”
“Um, shouldn’t she meet Kyle first?” I asked.
“Yes, she should,” a male voice said.
I wasn’t sure what I expected from the Alpha of the largest wolf pack in the world, but the handsome man standing before me in jeans and a black T-shirt certainly wasn’t it. He was far too young to be an Alpha.
Baine shook hands with him. “Kyle, this is Olivia, and our daughter, Macie.”
He held his hand out flat and Macie high fived him. “Careful not to let my mother spoil you too much.”
Macie giggled as she followed Mary Westin into the next room.
“Come in, please, and welcome to San Marco. It is very nice to meet you, Olivia.”
“Thanks,” I said softly.
“My mate will be here shortly. Kelsey is dying to meet the woman who tamed this guy.”
“You know him well?” I asked.
He laughed. “Yeah, you could say that. Saved my ass more than once.”
I nodded. It seemed feasible that Westin Force would also run personal security for the Alpha heading them up.
“Fishing,” Baine surprised me by saying. “Kyle is shit at fishing and Kelsey likes fresh fish. It’s our little secret.” He winked at me.
“You’re shit at fishing,” I pointed out.
Kyle burst out laughing.
Baine just grinned. “Still better than this guy. And I’m not terrible at it, I just don’t enjoy it.”
“Then why do you help him?”
He shrugged. “He lets me blow shit up and play with my new toys afterwards.”
“Of course he does.”
“Just don’t mention it to Kelsey, okay? She thinks I’m a fishing God now.”
I laughed. I highly doubted his mate was that clueless.
The door opened behind us and I turned to see a beautiful tall blond walk in juggling a small child on her hip while ushering a boy in ahead of her.
“Hey, you’re back! I hadn’t heard.” She leaned over and Baine kissed her cheek.