Alpha Reid

4

Serena

Taylor's the type of girl that's so outgoing and over-the-top nice that it almost seems disingenuous- because nobody's that sugar sweet, right?

Wrong.

The more I talk to Taylor, the more I realize that this isn't a front; it's really who she is. And I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous. I wish I could be more like her. Maybe I could've been, if life hadn't stomped all over me. If I hadn't seen what I've seen and done what I've done.

She leads me down the hall from her daughter's room to her own, and on the way, Taylor tells me all about her mate, Cyrus, who is also the beta of Reid's pack. Apparently the adjustment to parenthood has been rough on both of them, but Cyrus has stepped up more than she ever expected him to. Her hazel eyes light up when she talks about her mate, her wavy shoulder-length honey brown hair bouncing as she speaks animatedly.

"So what kind of clothes are you looking for?" Taylor asks once we're inside her room, handing off her round-faced baby girl to me. She takes a step back and gives me a once-over, bringing her hand to her chin. "Something comfy? Dressy? Let's start with this, what are you dressing for?"

I shrug, sinking down to sit on the edge of the bed. "I'd like to go for a run," I say, arranging little Sadie on my lap facing me. She looks a lot like her mama- big hazel eyes and honey brown whisps of hair on her head.

"Casual, then," Taylor says with a snap of her fingers, heading for the large dresser positioned against the wall across from the bed. "Athletic wear." She pulls open a drawer, reaching in and rifling through the clothes.

"That'd be perfect," I agree, shifting my attention to Sadie and making a face to entertain her.

Taylor starts to select items of clothing, forming a neat stack on top of the dresser. "So how long are you staying?" she asks over her shoulder, making conversation as she rummages through her drawers. "Are you from Denver?"

"I don't know," I mumble, adjusting her child on my lap. "And no." I make another face at Sadie she gives me a big, gummy smile. Damn she's cute.

"So then how do you know Reid?"

"I don't," I sigh, tickling Sadie's tummy. She giggles, and I can't help but grin at the sound of it. I glance up at Taylor to see her leaning back against the dresser watching me curiously, waiting for me to elaborate. I blow out a breath, shrugging and looking back down at her daughter. "I mean he's my mate, so I guess I will soon enough..."

Taylor slams a drawer shut with her hip, her jaw going slack. "He's... and you're..." she stammers, holding up her hands. Her eyes look like they're going to bug out of her head. "Hold on, what?"

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. "Hey, it came as a surprise to both of us, too."

Taylor grabs the stack of clothes off of the dresser, rushing over to me with a huge grin stretching her face, her excitement spilling over. "Oh my gosh!" she squeals. "I can't believe it, he finally found his mate! He's been waiting... I mean, we've all been waiting... and here you are! This is incredible!"

"Uh, yeah," I breathe, chuckling anxiously as I reach up to run a hand through my damp hair.

Taylor immediately picks up on my discomfort, stopping short and reining it in a bit. "What's wrong?" she asks, her smile fading.

I just shrug, bouncing Sadie on my knee. Taylor seems nice, but we aren't girlfriends. I'm not about to bare my soul to her. And even if I wanted to, my own conflicting thoughts and emotions about the whole thing are confusing enough without someone else weighing in.