Chapter 11: Stay Away

Emma smiled at Brutus. “Hey. It’s nice to see you.”
He didn’t return the smile. “Why are you here?”
“At the conference? I’m with Lucien. Alpha of the Fang City Pack.”
How come he didn’t know that? He rolled his eyes. She laughed. “That’s not what you meant. Dex and I bumped into each other. We were just catching up. We were talking about that burger place we used to go to.”
“A trip down memory lane? Isn’t that often fraught with pitfalls?”
She hadn’t remembered Brutus being so maudlin. They’d had some good times together. Brutus wasn’t a one-woman wolf so there had been a revolving door of women in his life. Emma never got attached to any of them. Their time was usually short-lived.
“Pitfalls?”
“Yes. Like Dex remembering how you tore out his heart,” Brutus said.
She stepped back from the venom in his voice. “Dex isn’t angry with me. Why are you?”
“Because, Emma, I’m the one who had to pick up the pieces. I was the one who had to make sure he ate and slept and took care of himself.”
“Dex is a big boy. He’s an Alpha. I’m sure he can take care of himself.”
In reality, Emma hadn’t really considered what Dex might have been going through. She hadn’t thought about it because her heart had been broken also. She’d been launched into wedding plans right after she made her decision. The fallout from it had been someone else’s problem. At least that’s what her mother had told her over and over.
If Dex was so heartbroken , why was he being so nice to her now? Brutus was exaggerating. “I think Dex has turned out fine.”
“I’d like to keep him that way. We need our Alpha.”
“And why would my speaking to him on a beach affect that?”
“You are a piece of work, Emma. Because Dex loved you with all of his heart and he may not give his heart to anyone else. That makes him a weaker Alpha.”
Had Dex been that heartbroken? She couldn’t imagine Dex still wanting her after all this time. The idea choked her a little. “Uh.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid, Emma. Dex is a new Alpha and he has to prove himself without being around someone else’s Luna.”
“We were having a conversation out in the open. I hardly think that’s a threat to anything you’ve built,” she said.
Why was Brutus so angry with her? They’d been good friends at one point. Dex hadn’t let on since they’d spoken that he was angry with her.
“Actions have consequences, Emma.”
“Brutus. What happened to you? You were so carefree and fun,” she said.
His eyes sharpened. “We’ve had a tough road, Emma. We still have some tough times ahead of us. It was time to put away my youthful ways and be a wolf. A Beta for Dex’s Alpha.”
“I get that.”
“Then don’t ask me silly questions. Stay away from Dex. You will only distract him. He has big plans.”
“And I’m not part of them. I know that, Brutus. I was thanking him for getting me food.”
Brutus studied her and she refused to wilt under the scrutiny. If she was going to practice having a backbone, she might as well start now.
“What do you mean?”
She related the story of Dex bringing her food two nights in a row. Brutus studied her as if he were searching for a lie. “When I saw him I thanked him.”
She had no need for gossip to start. It would undermine her credibility in her newfound need to be strong. For her pack.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. No grand plans.”
Not that Emma didn’t want to see Dex again. She hadn’t decided at that moment if she was going to do something about that desire or not. A strong Luna should be decisive, so she’d have to choose her path.
“Still, Emma. I’m sure seeing you had brought up a host of painful memories.”
“Do you know that for sure or are you just guessing?” she asked.
He pressed his lips together his eyes narrowing. “I know Dex.”
“Hey, Emma. You coming?” Kendra called from where she stood among a group of women. “I have some people for you to meet.”
Emma waved. “I’ll be there in a few.”
Her new friend was including her. Emma had forgotten what that felt like. “That’s my cue to leave, Brutus. You have a good afternoon.”
“Stay away from Dex, Emma.”
Emma waved, but didn’t make any commitments. When she got to the group, Kendra introduced her to everyone. Emma settled on a chair someone offered her and watched the surf as the conversation flowed around her.
She had a dilemma. What was she doing to do about Dex? Seeing him had reminded her of their good times. What was she thinking? It was the happiest part of her life when she was with Dex. His presence made her think of what she’d given up. She hadn’t given herself time to think about it when she’d made her decision.
Now she felt a little regret but didn’t know what course of action to take. As usual, she couldn’t make a decision. Indecision wasn’t the mark of a good Luna. It wasn’t the trait of a strong she-wolf and she wanted to be one.
Kendra nudged her. “You are miles away.”
Emma smiled at the group. “Sorry. What did I miss?”
“We are talking about providing support to all of our families. We have a few in my pack that homeschool instead of sending them to pack school.”
Emma had been homeschooled so this topic was near and dear to her heart. “Is this new in your pack?”
“Relatively. The younger generation seems to embrace it more,” Kendra said.
“And you want to support this?”
“Yes, of course.” Kendra looked around. “Anyone’s Alpha have a problem with that?”
Everyone shook their head.
“I was homeschooled so this is a subject I can speak on. The best part of it for me was the lack of structure.”
The other women nodded.
“But there needs to be some oversight as to what is taught, just not when,” Emma said.
“I haven’t known anyone to homeschool in our pack, but you are proof that it works,” Kendra said.
“Exposure of the cubs to the rest of the pack is important. I think that’s what my upbringing was lacking,” Emma admitted.
Maybe that explained why she was indecisive. She hadn’t had to work things out with siblings or playmates as a young child.
The women had many questions for her and she answered them all as best she could. She’d never been an authority on anything and it filled her with warmth. They were all looking to her for answers. Take that Lucien.
She smiled as the questions wound down.
“You should be giving a seminar at this council, Emma,” Kendra said.
“I doubt that, but I’m glad to answer any questions.”
For the first time in her life, Emma felt as if she’d contributed something. She was helping other packs with their issues. Just what a Luna should do.
Her phone dinged. “Oh, I have to go. I’m meeting my husband for lunch.”
Kendra pulled out her phone. “Put your number in my phone and I’ll text you later.”
Emma stared at it for a moment, then punched in her number.