Chapter Twenty-Two River

I ended up taking Vincent home that night and putting him to bed. Of course, I couldn't force myself to leave with him lying there looking so adorable, so I crawled in right next to him. However, I set myself an alarm so that I had enough time to go back to the hotel in the morning. After all, I'd only packed enough clothing to go on our little trip and all of it was dirty now and covered in flour from working. I desperately needed a change and then I'd meet Vince back at the cafe like I always did.

But I had one last thing to do before I went to the cafe. After my shower and change of clothes, I went down to the front desk to ask Sam for a pad of paper. That wasn't something I usually carried with me when I went on trips. I had a journal, but tearing pages out of it seemed sacrilegious.

However, I didn't find Sam at the front desk as usual. It seemed odd that he wasn't manning it, but at the same time, he had been up late the night before helping at the pizza shop. I shrugged it over, figuring he was sleeping or helping another guest get checked in. So I just walked around the desk, found a small pad of paper and a pen, and wrote him a note letting him know I'd bring it back.

I drove out to the pizza shop, letting myself in through the back thanks to Vince's hidden key, and took a seat at the desk in the back office. There were some things I needed to think through before I met Vince for breakfast. And I wanted to work them out on paper before I finally admitted everything to him. Steps one to grovel had gone very well. And step two to be honest about my feelings went better than I ever thought possible. But step three was telling him everything about back home. That meant revealing I was technically engaged, that I'd grown up rich, and that the biggest reason I'd tried not to get attached was because I was depending on my inheritance to secure an easy future for me.

Definitely not easy things to say. But I had a little bit of time to work it out before his text inevitably came through.

Vincent: You coming to breakfast?

Me: Yeah. Had to do some stuff real quick. On my way now.

Vincent: The line is long this morning, tell me what you want and I'll get it. Love you!

I typed my order back to him, feeling my heart swell as I got to type I love you too and it actually meant something. It was incredible how much my life had improved in just a span of a few weeks. And, with each passing moment, I felt myself growing braver and braver. By the end of next week when it was time for me to return home, I felt like I'd finally have the courage I needed to face my father at last.

Ten minutes later I left the pizza shop, locking it up behind me, and headed for the cafe. Vince hadn't been kidding. When I got there, the parking lot was packed. There were no spots, so I parked across the street and walked over. Just inside the door I saw Vince waving me over to a corner booth he'd secured for the pair of us. It looked like he'd managed to get our food, but only just. The entire place was packed shoulder to shoulder, all the tables were full, and trying to get through people was like threading a needle blind.

"Christ," I said, sitting down across from him after pushing my way through. "Why is it so damn busy in here?"

"Andy got a new baker," Vince sighed, shaking his head. "Apparently he's really good. But that's all the barista would tell me." He looked sort of grumpy that Andy's place was so busy. "If he outsells me, I'm never gonna live it down. And, I can't even tell him off like I want to because he's already baking. The barista said they're gonna run out of food in the next hour if they don't start replenishing their stock."

"Wow." I scanned over the crowd once more. "Well, good for him I guess. Everyone wants their business to succeed, right? Even you."

"Yeah, yeah," Vince groaned. "But he's my rival in town and I want to win ."

"Well, you'll always be a winner in my eyes."

"Thanks Dad ," he sighed. He pushed the tray full of food to the center of the table. "Here. Eat your breakfast and we can get the hell out of here. It's too damn busy."

I reached out, picking up half a cinnamon roll and taking a bite. The moment the warm sugar and cinnamon spread over my tongue, I let out an involuntary, but inappropriate moan.

"Oh my god… this is–"

"Don't fucking say it!"

"The best cinnamon roll I've ever had," I finished. I took another bite. "Holy shit. Is this from the new guy?"

"Yes…" He reached out, tearing a small piece of his own half and popped it in his mouth. I could tell he was trying to hold it back, but his reaction was the same as mine. "Fucking Andy…" he grumbled. "This isn't fair."

"So what? He got a new baker and you got a new mate." I leaned across the table, grabbing him by the collar and forcing my lips to his. "I think you got the better end of the deal."

Vince seemed shocked and maybe a little embarrassed, but that didn't stop him from kissing me back.

"You know what? You're right."

"I know I am."

"Now if only you could make pizzas as good as this new baker…"

"Hey! I'm not that bad! I'm just… a little messy."

"A little?" Vince laughed. "I think I lose more money when you make pizza than when you drop one on the floor!"

"Ha ha. You're hilarious."

"Come on," Vince smiled, giving me a nudge. "Eat so we can get the hell out of here. This place is making me anxious."

Chowing down as fast as we could, we finished our breakfast in record time, took the dishes back to the bussing tub, and got the hell out of there. Hand in hand, Vince and I exited the cafe. However, the moment we passed through the door, I found two figures blocking our way.

"Excuse us," I said, without looking up.

Then that familiar scent hit me.

Alpha .

I looked up and my heart froze solid in my chest. It couldn't be. Out of everyone in the entire world I could be running into, there was no way he would be in Shifter Grove. Not in a million years. But… there he was, giving me that disapproving look as always.

My father and the Alpha of my pack.

"D-Dad?" I stammered, taking a step back. "What are you d-doing here?"

"I came here to get some coffee and breakfast before we set out to find you ," he replied. "But it looks like I got lucky this morning."

"We?" I glanced over at the woman standing next to him. She was tall, had long dark hair, intense amber eyes, and a tough demeanor despite her obvious beauty. "Who is this?" I asked, knowing full well what the answer was going to be.

"This is Michelle," he replied, offering her to me. "You're new mate and future Luna of our pack."

"New mate?" Vince asked beside me, his fingers slipping away from mine. "What does that mean?"

"Didn't River tell you?" my father grinned. "He's already betrothed. Has been since the end of last summer. This is their first time meeting face to face, but Michelle has already passed every test we had for our future Luna. She will be a leader worthy of her station."

"You didn't tell me about that…" Vince whispered, the hurt in his voice nearly breaking my heart. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I was about to–"

" And ," my father added. "I've already gotten the paperwork for your inheritance lined up. Once you two are married and have taken over the pack, I'll sign over the thirty-five million to you. With my guidance, our family will be wealthy for generations to come. Neither you nor the pack will ever want for anything."

Vince's eyes grew wide. "Thirty… Thirty-five million ?!" He glared up at me, his expression suddenly full of suspicion. "You're rich?!"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "It's not–"

"Yes, he is ," Dad replied, cutting me off. He snaked a hand around my shoulder and pulled me close, his fingers digging into my shoulder painfully. "And he'll be a great Alpha. River's been training his whole life for this and he knew it was coming. This was his last summer to mess around and get…" My father looked Vince up and down. " Whatever out of his system. Now he's coming home with me and his new mate to lead our pack into a bright and glorious future. We're all very proud of him, aren't we Michelle?"

"Extremely," she nodded, all passion and personality gone from her voice. "It will be my honor to be your wife and lead our pack. I can't think of any greater purpose for my life."

"Dad, I don't–"

"Come, come," he said, giving me a shake. "Don't make a scene in front of your friend. Say your goodbyes and let's get out of this dingy little town. This coffee shop is too busy, anyway. We'll get breakfast somewhere else." He held his hand out to Michelle who took it dutifully. "You know what the car looks like. Don't worry about your van, I'll have it driven back home later. Not that you'll be needing it anymore."

As soon as they'd walked away, I turned to face Vince. He'd already taken a few steps back from me.

"Vince… I was going to tell you–" I began.

"Were you?" he snapped. "You've been here for three weeks and not once have you mentioned a single thing that man just said. All you said was you were in line to be Alpha. What about all the rest of it?"

"It doesn't matter," I replied, taking his hand. "I want to stay here with you."

Vince pulled his hand away. "How do you expect me to believe that?"

"Because it's the truth." Tightness filled my chest. "I love you."

He just shook his head. "Do you? Or is that just another lie you've told me?"

"I didn't lie–"

"Not telling someone the truth is lying , River!" His shout echoed across the parking lot. He stopped, taking a deep, shaky breath. "How can I trust you when you won't even tell me what's going on?"

"Vince–"

"Save it," he said, the words cutting through me like a knife. "I knew I wasn't special enough for you, anyway. I never have been for anyone." He looked up, his eyes filled with tears. "It's fine. I'm used to it. Go enjoy your money and your new mate . I'm sure you'll make a great Alpha."

And, before I could say anything, he turned away from me and walked away. I started to go after him but I felt a hand grip my shoulder.

"Let him go," my father said, his fingers tightening against my skin. "You can't be with him, anyway. You have responsibilities back home. The pack needs you."

My breath hitched in my throat. "What about what I need?"

"The pack always comes first," he sighed. "That's what being an Alpha means. You've always known that." He pulled me away from Vince and back toward the black SUV waiting for us. "I know it's hard, but it's time to grow up son. Duty calls you home."

I looked over my shoulder, but Vince was no longer there. My heart shattered in my chest and I felt the tears spilling down my cheeks. I had no strength left to resist my father and even if I did, Vince was never going to take me back after this. No, there was nowhere left to go but home.

And I'd never see Shifter Grove again.