Speaking With Scarlett

Annie
As I walked out of the house by Scarlett’s side, I smiled at her excitedly. When I went to get into the backseat, Scarlett opened the passenger door for me. I glanced back at the front door of the house before hesitating beside the car door.
“Isn’t Osprey coming?” I asked.
“No. I missed you, sis, and I wanted us to go shopping. Osprey has been a little insufferable, and I needed a break, so I told him that he was not allowed to join us. I’m still very upset that he basically kidnapped you and forced you to come home,” she told me. “Besides, we wouldn’t be able to spend as much as we wanted to if he was there. Let’s not even talk about the girly stuff we would not be allowed to purchase.”
“Yes! It’s better for us to just go by ourselves,” I giggled as I got into the passenger side.
“Attagirl,” she said, winking at me before hurrying around the car to get in the driver’s side.
She put the car in drive and drove silently for a few minutes before patting my hand. “So, Annie, how are you enjoying Grimm Forest?” She asked.
“It’s fine. I made a friend,” I told her.
“That’s great! Want to tell me about her?”
“Well, her name is Giselda, and she was really nice to me. I don’t know much about her, but I do know that she is a beta,” I answered. “We’re the only two girls in the program. Meeting her made it easier to be surrounded by boys.”
“Oh, that’s awesome. Which pack or sleuth?” Scarlett questioned.
I frowned. “I’m not sure. We didn’t really talk about it. And I really don’t think we will be friends anymore.”
“Why not?” She asked curiously.
“Because Gerry doesn’t like her. When they met, it was really awkward,” I told her.
“Awkward how?” Scarlett continued to press.
“I’m not sure; it was just weird. It was over so fast that I can’t be sure that what I saw was accurate. I just know how it felt to me.”
“You are allowed to have friends, Annie. Gerry shouldn’t be interfering in your relationships. You need to branch out and develop communication skills and confidence,” she gently lectured me.
“But what if I don’t want those things?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t you? It will only help you. Please don’t think that just because you are away from home that we don’t all wish the best for you. You are the youngest, Annie, and you were the most sheltered. We all hope that you will grow into the person you were always meant to be without our family constantly around you, keeping you from growing on your own. We are not going to always be there to protect you. You need to learn to stand on your own two feet.”
“Gerry will always be there,” I replied confidently.
“No, Annie, he won’t be. He’s going to find his mate one day, and his world will become all about her. While he won’t ever just leave you completely, he will choose to be with her, and then you won’t have him, unless by some miracle he finds his mate in Havana.” She paused to smile encouragingly at me. “It will be good for you to get to know her. It’s important that you start to develop a relationship with other alphas and betas now.”
I looked at her curiously. “Why is that?”
“Because it will help you when you become the Alpha Sow of the Havana sleuth. If you can offer your future Alpha Boar something more than a pretty face, it will benefit not only your relationship but your sleuth too. It is important to put your sleuth first, even if it makes you uncomfortable to have to step out of your comfort zone to ensure that they will remain under your rule,” she informed me. “When I first started stepping up as the future Alpha Sow for our sleuth, I was terrified. The first time that Osprey asked me to stand by his side while he addressed the sleuth, I didn’t. Well, not at first. It took me a few minutes, but I am so glad that eventually I was able to do it. Osprey needed the support of his Alpha Sow, and so will your Alpha Boar.”
She parked, opening the door almost immediately. When I made no move to get out myself, she closed her door before turning toward me.
“What’s wrong, Annie?”
“I don’t think that I want to be the Havana Sleuth’s Alpha Sow, Scarlett,” I admitted softly. “In fact, I know that I don’t want to be their Alpha Sow.”
“Why not? I know the future Alpha Boar, and I happen to think that he would love you more than anything. He is a true gentleman and will always respect you. He is not even Alpha yet, and he has the loyalty of every single one of his members, along with the Alpha teams from the sleuths and packs around his sleuth. He is smart, fierce, and I have to admit, and if you ever tell Osprey that I said this, I will deny it, handsome. You two would make the most perfect offspring.”
I stared at her wide-eyed. “O-offspring? I’m not even sure that I w-want to have k-kids,” I stammered.
She patted my hand again reassuringly. “If you didn’t want to have babies, I’m sure that he wouldn’t pressure you. He has waited for a few years to pick a chosen mate, honey. He searched high and low for his fated mate, but he couldn’t find her. When he sent out a call for potential chosen mates, every Alpha, both bears and wolves, with unmated daughters, nieces, or sisters, sent him proposals for consideration. Out of thousands of females that wanted to be his mate, he chose you, Annie. That means something. Don’t walk away from the Havana Sleuth without giving Alpha Logan a chance. He really is a great guy, and I know that you will never want for or need anything with him by your side. Please, just give him a chance. He really has put a lot of thought into picking the perfect woman to rule by his side. And that’s you.”
I sighed as I nodded. “But it’s not something that I want to do anymore. Doesn’t that count for anything?” I asked.
“It does, little one, I promise,” she told me as she hugged me. “I just want you to be sure. Like, without a doubt, sure that this is what you want to do.”
“It is. I’ve thought it through,” I confirmed.
She shook her head sadly. “Will you at least meet him before you decide?”
I groaned. “Scarlett…”
“Annie, please, I know why you are hesitant to become the Havana Sleuth Alpha Sow, and I’m begging you not to be.”
I shook my head. “I don’t have a reason.”
She pulled back to meet my eyes. “Annaria! I was born to be an Alpha Sow, and so were you. I was meant to be Osprey’s, and you were meant to be Logan’s.”
My eyes snapped to her face in surprise as the name she said for the second time finally registered. “Wait? Logan? Did you just say Logan?”
“Yes. That’s the name of the Havana Sleuth’s future alpha and who you’ve agreed to be chosen mates with,” she confirmed.
“Does he have brown eyes?” I asked, getting angry.
“Yes. Why?”
I got out of the car, furiously slamming the door behind me as I stormed toward the mall. Scarlett hurried behind me, asking me to slow down. I ignored her pleas as I entered the large, multi-store building. When she pulled me to a stop, I glared at her.
“Annie, what’s wrong?” She panted.
“It was Osprey!” I snarled. “It’s always Osprey!”
“What was Osprey, honey?” She asked, concerned.
“The other day I had a dream about a tall man with brown eyes named Logan. I kissed him, and I wanted to mate with him. When I woke up, Gerry told me that he could tell that I had been under Osprey’s aura. Why was he pushing me? Do you know? Did you know he did that to me?” I paused as another thought struck me, making me look at her suspiciously. “Or were you in on it? Did you tell him to do that to me?” I asked her with tears in my eyes.
She took a step back as her eyes widened. “What? No, of course I didn’t tell him to do that. When I found out he had, we got into a big argument. I told him that he needed to back off and let you live your life like you wanted to.”
I narrowed my eyes on her. “Did you really?”
“Yes, Annie. People interfered with our relationship so much that we almost didn’t have one. I didn’t want that for you,” she said as she took my hand, letting her Alpha Sow powers slowly seep into me, making me relax a little before she put her arm over my shoulders. “Don’t worry so much, Annaria. Your life will work out the way it is meant to. And just so you know, I support you. Now, how about we end this conversation and go spend Osprey’s money?”
“Yes,” I giggled. “Let’s go spend Osprey’s money.”