"She was a pack member for two decades before she ran," he reminded her. "She has no reason to betray us."
"I suppose not," Deborah pushed up her sleeves and kept washing. "Good to see that she's putting roots down in town. I guess that means she knows you aren't going to let her leave anytime soon."
He froze. "What do you mean by putting down roots?"
Deborah shrugged. "I stopped into that new coffee shop downtown, and she was working. Alexander was tucked into a corner booth, reading. Don't worry. Both of them looked pretty content."
She continued to ramble on, but he stopped listening. Instead, he could only hear a low buzz in his ears. Sharon had a job. His mate was out in town working at some little café he had never seen in his whole life. It was all well and good that she was looking after their boy and assisting with the household, but the idea of her considering going into town and getting herself a job like he would permit her to have a life independent of the pack or even independent of him ignited his fury.
How dare she? He wasn't about to be humiliated by his own mate and be the laughingstock of his pack because he couldn't keep her in line. That kind of disobedience would not be tolerated. She had already gotten away from him once, and that wouldn't happen again.
Deborah finally shut up as she noticed the expression on his face. "Uhhh, what did I say?"
"Stay here. Don't move."
Did Sharon really believe that he would not worry with their son, that they were off to find a place to live? And what about threats that may have been in the town for them? Did she care outside her self-centered needs?
No, clearly not. That would explain why she felt that she could work in a fucking café without talking to him about it first. He grabbed his t-shirt from where he'd thrown it over a lawn chair, climbing into the Jeep without even putting the bucket and brushes away.
Deborah rushed to get on the other side, even though he had instructed her to remain where she was. She never was any good at following orders, and it was both maddening and useful.
"It's not a big deal really," Deborah talked rapidly, her voice nervous. "It's probably healthy for her to have a part-time job and for both of them to leave the house and—"
"Enough," he growled, but his cousin wasn't intimidated. Instead, it was clear she was more worried that she'd potentially started something between him and his mate. "She shouldn't have just left without asking."
Deborah wrinkled her nose. "You know how I feel about all that macho man pack bullshit."
"And you also know that's just how packs work, so knock it off."
"You don't treat me like an object, though. Why her?"
"Because you're family. She's.she's." He dragged a hand down his face, trying to come up with the right explanation. "Sharon is a flight risk. A liability. And she's been away from pack life too long to understand her place in this world."
"Wow, that sounds really convincing and totally not like an asshole at all," she said, sarcasm dripping from her words.
"She needs a firm hand. That's all."
Deborah shrugged one shoulder. "Whatever you say. I don't see why it matters to you either way. The point is, Sharon is working and seems pretty content at the coffee shop. Alexander was playing and reading, so no harm done, and now you're driving out to the shop to. Alpha out on everyone. Just turn around and go home, Luthor, please."
"No. Hell no."
She huffed. "Then what exactly is the point?"
He gritted his teeth. "Sharon cannot just run off with our son and not talk to me about anything that involves my heir. If she had asked me, it would be different, but…"
"Why don't you tell her that and just not come down to the café and act like a maniac?"
He didn't answer her. She wouldn't understand, and he didn't have to defend himself or his decisions as an Alpha to anyone, even his cousin. He drove a bit faster, and before long, they pulled up to a little parking lot across the street from a café he had never noticed before. The entire storefront was glass, and from inside the Jeep, he could see his Omega working, her dark hair reflecting the overhead lights like a raven's wing.
Unhurried after speeding to get there, he stepped out of the Jeep and crossed the street to get a closer look without entering the building, Deborah hot on his heels.
His Omega was busy helping a few customers, but there were other employees, too. The other woman, a pack member, appeared to be in control, commanding Sharon and a waitress on the far side of the counter. Deborah leaned on his arm, her eyes raking the scene and the shop beyond. He looked over in the direction of the rear of the store and saw his son reading in the booth Deborah had talked about, a small pile of books and a package of crayons made out of cardboard beside him.
It looked like any other café in a small town. It smelled of coffee and the food in the display case, the soft sound of indie rock coming from speakers that hung overhead. It was innocent, quiet, and friendly, and the longer he stared through the windows at Sharon working behind the counter, the less angry he became.
Sharon was settling into the town, which was a positive indication that she knew what she meant to him and the pack. Perhaps Deborah had been correct, and he was imagining something where there was nothing.
Sharon looked so beautiful standing there. It had only been a few days, and she was already looking less chronically angry. Her dark hair looked thick and healthy, and her eyes were bright, even from a distance. She was in the flow, serving drinks to the customers with ease, her lips curled into a friendly smile.
With a jolt, he realized how badly he wanted her. He wanted to bury his face in her neck and drink in her scent. He wanted to mark her so no other wolf would ever dream of touching what belonged to him. The memory of the single night they shared, how delicious she'd smelled and tasted, and the soft sounds she made came back to him in a flash. He had to force the images away before they could really take hold.
Deborah was busy typing on her phone, but after a few minutes, she looked up at him. "I don't know if this will help with your Alpha-related stupidity, but from my quick bit of research, it looks like this place is legit and is in good standing with the community. It's safe, and people like it."
He gave her a long look, and she sighed, looking annoyed. "It doesn't matter how many times you try to scare me into being silent. I'll always be me, and I'll always do whatever the hell I want, even if you disapprove."
He huffed. "I'd never hurt you."
She let out a quick bark of laughter. "Of course you wouldn't. You're not an idiot or a psychopath, Luthor. But that doesn't mean I don't think your choices are crap sometimes. Let's go home before you get caught stalking your Omega."
"I don't care what they see," he snarled, then realized his mistake. It was humiliating enough, having Deborah witness how quickly he could lose his temper when it came to Sharon. "Just so long as she remains in pack lands with my son. Get on, I have things I need to do."
They turned away from the window and stepped back towards his car. Deborah and he walked silently. When he'd buckled in, and they were making the turn out of the parking lot, he saw Alexander waving at him. His small hand, tiny and helpless, was against the window of the shop. He stopped for one moment, then waved again in that small wave.
Well, if he had to be caught, he'd rather it had been Alexander than Sharon. At least he was happy to see him.