Borrowed Beauty

Chapter Sixteen: Sweet Things

Josiah

I retreated to the sanctuary of my office, but the thoughts and feelings that Olivia evoked followed me everywhere. It didn't help that she had left me a plate of cookies on the corner of my desk. I tried to ignore them as I spread the latest invoices across my desk, but when I looked at the pages, I didn’t see the numbers, I only saw her soft lips, her changing hazel eyes, and the way she tilted her head just before she said or did something naughty.

I knew she’d been avoiding me. I had only seen her at meal times for the last several days. Truth be told, I’d been avoiding her too. Not that I didn’t want to be near her, but because I wanted it too much.

There was a knock on the office door. My heart jumped with hope. But when the door swung open, it was not the woman of my dreams, but my aunt Vero. I didn’t do an outstanding job of wiping the disappointment off my face, as she gave me a stern, disapproving look before she perched herself properly in the chair across from my desk.

Aunt Vero had always been like a second mom to me. When both of my parents and my uncle died together in a plane crash five years ago, she had shown me what it was to be a pillar of strength and support, even though she must have been suffering in her own grief. She had helped me take over the pack and gently guided me along the way. The fact that Prosperity Springs had flourished under my leadership was due, in no small part, to her quiet, behind-the-scenes influence.

“Josiah,” she said quietly, crossing her legs and smoothing out her pencil skirt. “We need to talk about these Forest girls.”

“Oh?” I raised my eyebrows. The twins had brought home other young women, and none of them had ever necessitated a talk.

“You know I don’t really approve of Aaron and Brock bringing these women back to the packhouse, but they are young and impulsive. I know nothing will come of it, and they will grow out of it eventually. But Josiah, I’m worried about you.”

“Worried about me?” I repeated.

“I know that being the alpha at such a young age is a heavy burden to bear. You’ve missed out on so many of the experiences that men ought to enjoy in their youth, and I can understand the temptation you must feel…”

I could only stare at her blankly. I felt like I was thirteen again, and my father was trying to have the “s*x talk” with me.

“...and I get it,” Vero went on, twisting her wedding bands absently as she spoke, “Olivia is a lovely young woman, it's only natural that you would take an interest in her. But I really feel I must caution you, not to let her become a distraction from your duties. Fool around if you must, but make sure you keep things in proper perspective.” She lowered her voice, as though someone might be listening to our conversation. “The Forest family isn’t one you want to get mixed up with.”

“Why not?” I frowned. I knew that Vero was watching out for me, but the direction of this conversation was making my wolf extremely irritable. It was as though he couldn’t stand to hear anyone speak badly about Olivia. It was difficult to keep his irritation separate from my emotions.

“Their pack is unstable,” Vero went on, her eyes staring out the window behind me. “The luna left years ago. I don’t know much about it, personally, but I’ve heard stories. She was a wild thing that couldn’t be tied down, she dragged the family and the pack through hell when she left.” She finally pulled her gaze back to mine, her forehead creased with concern as she studied my face. “And I hear Olivia is just like her.”

I swallowed down a lump of discomfort, remembering how passionately Olivia had talked about her trip to Japan. She had mentioned other trips, too, and I got the feeling that she traveled quite a lot. But that didn’t mean anything, right? Lots of people were passionate about traveling and experiencing new places. It didn’t mean she suffered from some kind of terminal wanderlust.

Did it?

Vero was watching me closely, and I had a feeling she could sense my uncertainty. She gave me a soft, maternal look. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” she said gently, “and I don’t want you to choose a mate who could jeopardize everything we’ve worked so hard to build over the last five years. It’s different for you than it is for my boys. When you are the alpha, you aren’t just choosing your own partner, you are choosing a luna for the whole pack.” She shook her head sadly, “It's part of the sacrifice of being a leader.”

I took a deep breath and put the lid on my wolf, who was boiling inside at the insinuation that Olivia was anything less than perfect. I thought Vero was making too much out of her family history, but she did have a valid point. I didn’t have the liberty of playing fast and loose as the twins did. All eyes were on me, all the time, and when I did finally choose a partner, I had to make the best choice for the entire pack. However, I didn’t think that my happiness and the welfare of the pack were mutually exclusive. The woman I fell in love with eventually could be both the best choice for me and the best for Prosperity Springs. I didn’t believe it had to be a “sacrifice.”

I forced a smile. “I will keep what you have said in mind,” I replied quietly. And I would. Her warning had given me some things to think about. But even as I said the words, my eyes went to the plate of cookies that had been waiting for me on my desk. What could be so bad about a woman who baked cookies? All we had shared was a lunch date and one, sweet, innocent kiss. “But I think you are worried for nothing.”

Unable to resist any longer, I swiped one of the cookies and bit off a huge half-circle. The buttery-sweet flavor of cinnamon and vanilla melted over my tongue and I almost groaned out loud. “Wow,” I said after I had chewed and swallowed. “These are amazing!” I lifted the plate and held the offering out to my aunt. “You want to try one?”

She frowned and cast a disdainful glance at the plate of cookies before she shook her head and stood gracefully. “I wish your father was here. He would tell you not to be distracted by sweet things, Josiah Salvador.”