The Alpha's Siren Song

Chapter 23

"I never pegged you as a truck guy, especially after seeing you drive a little manual Ford car," I mused when I climbed into his Tacoma. The interior of the truck was basic and about as far from flashy as one could get. Typical Toyota, practicality and safety over all the bells and whistles.

"Welcome to Alberta," Easton replied, shifting the truck into reverse. "Everyone and their dog has a truck, even if it's more reasonable to have an SUV or a small car."

"So why do you have a truck then?"

"Because I needed something off road capable. Living out here, it's kind of a requirement if you want to enjoy the world around you. Plus, I have a couple pack members that live off the grid and I need to be able to check up on them every now and then. I would have gotten the SUV version, but it was ten grand more and Elliot keeps me on too tight of a leash for that to happen."

We moved through Easton's town at a crawl and I watched in admiration as he waved and smiled at each person we passed. He didn't seem like the only alpha I had ever known. He wasn't threatening those below him, wasn't strong arming people to his will. 

"So Elliot does the finances, but what do you do everyday? Like what does being an alpha actually entail?" I wondered. It was an honest enough question. But it felt like a test. If he wasn't torturing sirens what did he do all day long?

"Well, mostly, it's paper work. I'm responsible for documenting my pack's welfare and sending it off to the royals. Alphas are born into their position, but sometimes they aren't right for it. The royals need all the information they can get to determine who needs more funding, who needs more education, or who just isn't fit to be an alpha at all. I make sure all the businesses are making money, preferably for the human tourist population. I make sure everyone has safe housing and access to food and water whenever needed."

"Wow, that sounds intense."

"It's not," he said as we merged onto the highway. "They are normal people. They tell me what they need and I provide it. They tell me what they want and Elliot and I go over a budget. They are the town and they run it themselves, I just help those who need a little push. Honestly, I had so much free time I started volunteering at the high school. I have a diploma in social work so I thought I should use it."

As he spoke, I watched his mouth move. I watched the way his eyes shone when he talked about his pack and the love he had for his volunteer work. It could have just been my rose coloured glasses, but this man seemed really wonderful.

"So when do I get to know what we are doing on this mystical dated?" I pressed.

"When we get there," he replied with a cheeky grin. 

We slowed on the highway and slipped onto a gravel road. A gravel road that didn't seem to have any houses around for miles. Thick foliage was covering the world in green, swallowing every sound a person could make. My hands curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms. My spine suddenly felt like it was made out of steel.

"Are you alright?" Easton asked. "Kaia, I'm taking you on a date, not murdering you. But, if you don't want to go, we can turn around right now. No hard feelings either way, okay?"

I almost told him to turn around right then. It was on the tip of my tongue. But something else came out of my mouth. "I'm just a little nervous, but I trust you."

I stayed quiet as we bumped along a road that hadn't been maintained in ages. We gradual drove up the incline, dodge ruts and holes as we went, though it was clear to me that Easton wasn't completely comfortable with driving off road all the time. His line choices weren't always great, but I kept my lips sealed, not wanting to offend him.