Chapter 16 - Mia

The truck bounces along the road, sending us lurching back and forth. I'm gripping the seat, holding on for dear life. Evan seems completely unaffected by the jostling. His gaze is fixed on the path in front of us, which can't exactly be called a road. There's barely a clearing in the brush, but I guess it's enough to get the truck through.

"Are you sure this is safe?" I ask.

"You're the one who wanted to go into town," he reminds me. "Deal with it."

"Well, I didn't think we were going to be taking a ride in a death trap."

"You can always walk."

I huff and lean back, looking out the window. Trees pass by, and for a second, I'm afraid we're not even going anywhere, that this is just some kind of trick to get me away from the others. But then the truck rolls around a corner, and a bunch of buildings appear in the distance. We're talking real, concrete buildings, not like the rundown, wooden structures in Green Lake. This is impressive.

We drive around for a while, and Evan points out various shops, restaurants, and stores, explaining their function. It's not a huge city, much smaller than Stardust Hollow for sure, but there's definitely more than just a handful of houses scattered around.

When the truck stops, Evan puts it in park and steps out, and I follow suit. We're parked in front of a small warehouse with a big open parking lot next to it. There are several large trucks backed up to the doors, and a couple of women are unloading crates.

"This is Shawna's warehouse," he tells me. "They produce a variety of items, from homewares and furniture to clothes and accessories, which they sell to other towns in the area. She has a whole team of people working for her. She's a good businesswoman."

"I thought she was your cook? And she spends a lot of time at the orphanage, too."

"Shawna does what she wants," he replies. "And what she wants is to keep busy. She doesn't sit still for very long. She likes having a say in what's happening in the pack, and the way she does that is by getting involved. That's why she helps at the orphanage. It's why she's on the council and why she runs her own business."

"I'm impressed."

He laughs. "That's what everybody says. She's a force to be reckoned with, and I have no idea how she has so much energy, but I'm glad to have her. Come on, let's go inside."

"You're taking me to the warehouse?"

"Yep. It's where you'll be working."

"Work... you mean, like, a job?"

"Sure. I get the feeling you're getting kind of restless. I was hoping volunteering at the orphanage would be enough to keep you out of trouble, but I think you did a good job proving otherwise today. Maybe a job will help you settle in."

"Are you serious?"

"Would you like to work here?"

"Um, yes!" I laugh, practically bouncing with excitement. Though I've loved working with the kids, and I fully intend on keeping that up, the idea of doing something different and being able to bring in my own income sounds amazing.

"Then congratulations. You've got a job."

"Thank you!" I jump forward and wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him. "I really appreciate this."

He's tense at first, probably because I've never initiated contact with him before unless you count the night I was in excruciating pain, but then his hands land on my waist and he gives me a light squeeze. "You're welcome."

"Is Shawna going to show me what to do?"

"Sure. She's excited to have you working with her."

"She is?"

"Well, ‘excited' might not be the right word. She's... accepting of it. She'll have plenty of things for you to do, I'm sure."

"Oh, great," I mumble, feeling a little deflated. Shawna has made her distaste for me known since day one, and I can't say I blame her. After the way I ran out on her when she was assigned to look after me, I wouldn't like me, either.

"Don't worry, she'll come around. Give it time. I figured I could leave you here a few hours and then pick you up later when I'm done with my stuff."

"That sounds fantastic to me."

We walk inside, and a bell rings overhead. The inside of the warehouse is spacious and well-lit. Rows and rows of wooden tables take up most of the space, with different stations set up along the walls. At the front of the room is a massive wooden counter with a computer and a cash register sitting on top. The wall behind it is filled with shelves of various fabrics and supplies. A staircase on the left side of the room leads to an upper level, and at the bottom, I can see a few women carrying boxes.

"There you are," a familiar voice says, and a few seconds later, Shawna is walking toward us. Her hair is pulled up in a loose bun, and she's dressed in jeans and a green blouse. "Evan said you'd be coming. Welcome to the warehouse, Mia."

"Thank you. This is amazing," I reply, looking around. "I had no idea this was here."

"There are a lot of things you don't know," she points out.

I'm not sure how to respond to that, so I just give her a tight-lipped smile and nod. "You're right. That's why I'm here."

"Good, then you'll need to pay attention. We have a lot of work to do. This way, please."

She walks away, not bothering to look over her shoulder.

I glance at Evan, who is giving me a knowing smirk. "I'll pick you up later," he says, taking a step back. "Behave yourself, okay?"

"I'll try."

He sighs and shakes his head. "That's all I ask. See you soon."

"Bye," I call out, turning and jogging after Shawna. She's stopped near the counter and is looking over a clipboard. When I stop beside her, she doesn't look up.

"What can I help you with, Shawna?"

"Do you sew?"

"Yes. My grandmother taught me when I was younger."

"Good. You'll be making some clothes. Here."

She grabs a piece of paper from a stack sitting on the counter and hands it over. "This is the list of items we need for the next order. There are three stations set up over there." She points to a section in the corner, and I can see a sewing machine, along with other supplies. A few other women are working there. "If you finish that, you can go back to the list and pick something else. We've had a lot of orders come in, and we're swamped."

"Okay. Sounds good. Thank you."

"Mm-hmm."

She turns and walks away, and I watch as she climbs the stairs, probably heading up to the office. I glance at the paper in my hand and scan over the list. It's mostly clothes and bags, with a few random things like curtains. Nothing too difficult, but there are a lot of them.

"First time sewing with a group?" a voice asks, and I look over my shoulder to find a woman smiling at me. Her brown hair is braided and hanging down her back, and her bright blue eyes are sparkling with kindness.

"Is it that obvious?" I say.

"Just a little," she laughs. "Here, I'll show you. That way, you can jump right in."

"Thanks, that would be great."

"I'm Nina, by the way."

"Mia," I introduce myself. "Nice to meet you."

"Same. Come on, let's go get you set up."

I follow her over to the sewing area, where she picks out a station and hands me a few materials.

"So, have you been in town long?" she asks.

"A couple of weeks."

"How do you like it so far?"

I'm not sure how to answer that without offending somebody, so I change the subject. "So, how long have you worked here?"

"About six years," she tells me. "My mate and I came here after we got married. We didn't have a pack, and Evan welcomed us right away. This was before he was alpha. His dad was the one in charge back then."

I pick up the design templates and settle on one I know I can do after referencing the count on the list. "I don't think I realized Evan's dad was alpha prior to him. I guess that makes sense. Green Lake seems to be a pretty traditional pack. I guess the role would go to the alpha's eldest son."

"Yeah. I'm not sure Evan was really ready for the role when his father died, but he's taken to it quite well. He's a good leader."

"You can tell the whole pack loves him," I comment, concentrating on starting the stitch.

"That we do," she agrees. "You know, before he came along, the females weren't allowed to work like this. He was the one who pushed for it, even though the others fought him on it. We had a bunch of women completely dependent on the men, and Evan knew we'd never make it if that continued. He said a strong pack needs strong women, and we have him to thank for that."

"That's... wow. I didn't realize."

"Of course, there are some who still don't agree. You can't change everyone's mind at once, but it's a step in the right direction."

I glance up at Shawna, who is watching me from the balcony upstairs. She wears so many hats and contributes so much to this pack, and she seems to love it. If it wasn't for Evan, none of these women would have had jobs or purpose. Not even her.

Over the next few hours, Nina helps me adjust to working on my own and I meet several other women, all of whom treat me like I belong. There's a different vibe here in town. It's less intense, maybe because the people aren't living together all the time. And more... free.

They tell me about their mates and children, and I can see the pride in their eyes when they talk about the things they've been able to accomplish since Evan took over as alpha. It seems everyone around here has a story about something wonderful and life-altering Evan has done for them. It makes me wonder if I was too quick to judge the Green Lake Pack, even Evan. I mean, I can't imagine any of the men in Stardust Hollow stepping up to do what he's done here.

The time passes quickly, and before I know it, the sun is going down. When I glance out the front window, I see Evan standing outside, chatting with a boy who looks about ten years old. The boy is laughing, probably telling some wild story, and all of sudden, Evan reaches out and grabs him, tickling him and making the boy squeal with laughter.

I grin, unable to look away from the scene. It's the first time I've seen him like this, and it's hard not to enjoy the way his eyes are crinkled and his lips are spread into a wide smile. He's completely different when he's like this.

"Looks like your ride is here," Nina comments.

"What?" I tear my gaze away and find her smiling at me.

"Your mate," she clarifies. "He's been waiting for about twenty minutes."

"Oh, I didn't realize it was so late. Sorry."

"Don't apologize. It was fun having you around. I hope you'll be back."

"She's on the schedule for tomorrow," Shawna announces as she approaches.

"That's awesome," I say. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

I say my goodbyes and grab my bag, walking outside. When Evan sees me, he ruffles the boy's hair and sends him off, then meets me in the middle of the parking lot.

"Everything go okay?"

"Great," I tell him. "I really enjoyed today. Thanks for signing me up."

"Don't mention it." He smiles and turns, motioning toward the truck. "Let's get out of here."

We climb in and start driving. For a while, I'm not sure what to say. Today was good. Great, actually, and it felt like I was getting closer to the people here. But I'm still not sure where that leaves Evan and me.

The next few days go by pretty much the same. I go to work in the mornings and stay until dinnertime, when Evan shows up and drives me home. In the evenings, we sit together and enjoy a quiet meal, and then I disappear into the bedroom. Surprisingly, it's the rides to and from town that have become my favorite part of the day.

I've gotten to know Evan more. He's funny and kind, and sometimes, I catch him looking at me with a gleam in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat. I know he's still holding back, and I appreciate that most of the time, but sometimes I can't help wondering what it would feel like to really touch him.

I'm not stupid. I know we're attracted to each other, even if we both pretend otherwise, and I've spent a lot of time dreaming about him ravaging me again. Sometimes, I have to excuse myself to the bathroom to take care of myself, just so I can fall asleep. The way I feel about him is so confounding to me. I can't make sense of it.

It's Friday, and I've spent the day chatting with the girls while putting together a few purses. Nina has shown me the basics, and I'm slowly getting better. Shawna has even started giving me more responsibilities, and I've taken that as a sign that she doesn't hate me anymore. I'm gathering my things to leave for the day when she approaches me.

"Are you coming tomorrow night?" she asks.

"Coming where?"

"To the party."

"What party?"

She laughs, shaking her head. "There's always a party in town every Saturday night. We all take turns hosting. This weekend, it's my turn. We're having a barbecue and swimming. I thought maybe you'd want to come."

"Me?" I look around, checking to see if she's talking to someone else, but there's no one around. "You're inviting me?"

"Yes, you." She sighs and leans against the counter. "Look, I know we didn't get off on the right foot. I'm not suggesting we're suddenly going to become besties or anything like that, but you seem like a decent person, and the others have warmed up to you. I thought you could use some friends. And besides, there will be alcohol."

I grin. "Now you're speaking my language."

"Then you'll come?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. I'll see if I can drag Evan along, too."

"Good. The more, the merrier."

"Shawna," a man's voice says, and a moment later, Rafe steps up beside us. "Good to see you. Mia, always a pleasure."

"What are you doing here, Rafe?" I ask, glancing between them.

"I guard the warehouse at night sometimes," he explains. "When I'm not busy back at the commune. Evan got caught up at the food bank and asked me to come get you and walk you over there."

"What food bank? I didn't realize they did that around here."

"That's Evan's baby," Shawna explains. "He sets it up once a week and distributes food and supplies to the people in town."

"Really?" I glance at Rafe, who nods in confirmation. "I had no idea."

That explains why Evan was so touchy about the food supply issue with Rafe a couple of weeks ago.

"Yeah," Shawna replies. "We're a family. If we don't look after each other, who will?"

"Wow. That's..." I can't find the right words to describe how amazing I think it is. "That's incredible. Thank you for sharing that with me, Shawna. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome." She glances down at her phone, her brows drawing together. "I gotta run. Rafe, take her to the food bank. I'll see you both tomorrow at the party. Have a good night, Mia."

"Thanks. See you."

I grab my bag and wave goodbye as she hurries away, then turn and follow Rafe outside.

"Where's your car?" I ask, glancing around.

"We're walking," he says, pointing down the road. "It's only a couple blocks from here."

"Okay."

We fall into step together, and after a while, he asks, "How are you liking Green Lake so far?"

"Honestly, it's nothing like I thought," I say. "I'm still trying to get a feel for everything. I mean, I grew up in Stardust Hollow, so I'm used to a certain way of living. Green Lake is... different."

"In a good way or a bad way?"

"Both. I'm not going to lie, my first impressions were not great. And the people here definitely made me feel unwelcome. But things are starting to change. I'm seeing another side to all of this. A lot of people have opened up and tried to help me settle in. I appreciate it."

"That's good to hear. We're not all bad, you know. Just like the other packs aren't all good. People are people. We have our differences and issues, but at the end of the day, we're all looking for the same thing."

"What's that?"

"Peace."

"Yeah, I think you're right." I decide to change the subject. "So, since Evan is the alpha, I suppose that makes you the beta? You're second-in-command, right?"

"Something like that." He smirks.

"But not really?"

"I'm not his second. Our roles are a little more fluid."

"And complicated, apparently," I comment, and he laughs. "You two seem to fight a lot, you and Evan. You're always bickering, and there's a lot of tension."

"Yeah, well, I guess that's probably my fault. I've always known he was going to be alpha, and growing up, that just made me want our dad's approval even more. With only one parent around, the poor old guy was spread pretty thin, and it became something of a competition between the two of us. Who could prove himself the most? Who would make our dad the proudest?"

"What happened to your mother?"

"She passed when I was two. Evan remembers her much more than I do. I think that's part of the reason he's so protective of the women here."

"I'm sorry," I breathe, looking over at him. "I lost my mother when I was young, too. My father just passed less than a year ago. It's not easy losing the people you love."

"No, it's not. When our dad died, Evan tried hard to step into that role, and I don't just mean alpha. He acted like my dad, I guess you could say, and I was just a teenager, so I wasn't having any of that. I pushed him away a lot, and it's taken us a while to find a balance, but now we're in a good place. He's still an ass, but so am I."

"Well, I'm glad the two of you have worked things out."

"Yeah, me too. This is it." He points up ahead.

My gaze lands on a white brick building with a small line of people standing out front, and Rafe leads me up to the door. Through the window, I can see Evan crouched down, talking to that same boy from the other day, and my heart warms. This man is such a mystery. One minute, he's tough and commanding. The next, he's laughing and playing with children.

I don't know what to make of him, but I'm starting to look forward to these moments. When he's this version of himself, I can almost see myself falling for him and staying here.

Almost.