In the Alpha’s Arms

Bank Run

Lita angrily sat in a very stuffy bank office as she waited for her trust fund paperwork to be finalized. She’d already initiated this porcess at another bank branch closer to her apartment a few days ago, but she didn’t have much time before her mother would know she wasn’t on her way home. The sum left to transfer shouldn’t have been an issue. Thankfully, Lita had been transferring her assets slowly over the last month, worried that large money moves would trigger some notification system and her parents would fond out.

Lita huffed, she should have been happy to be out from under their thumbs, and yet… She couldn’t put her Enger on exactly why she was so upset but It didn’t make it any less true. Brody sat in the chair next to her, tapping away on his phone.

It still frustrated her how she ended up with a babysitter. Cole kept saying bodyguard but the real meaning was clear, they did not trust her to be alone. Especially since Andres said no one know where Cole’s pack grounds were, so it wasn’t like she’d be followed. Plus, who would know exactly

what bank she was going to and at what time? That was ridiculous, even for supernatural creatures.

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No, it was more likely they didn’t want her to run off. Or maybe they didn’t trust her with their secret. She rolled her eyes. Cole thought she would run off and start telling people something insane? No one would believe her. She didn’t even believe her own own eyes.

fter what happened in the bedroom, Cole was on Lita’s last nerve, and she was determined to steer clear of him when she got hack.

After

When she realized she needed to iron out these banking details before her mother knew she wasn’t coming home, Lita seized the opportunity to get away from him for a little while. She’d had to call in a favor with the bank supervisor she worked with for her other transfers. The commission she promised would cover opening the bank for her on a Sunday.

She had never noticed, but now assumed, that control over Lita’s life was her mother’s number one goal. Why else was her money use monitored so beavily? Because if anyone had this much money to their name, they didn’t need to ask permission to spend money at the mall.

Her mother just wanted to keep tabs on her. And it terrified some part of Lita to find out just how far that control really ran. Where had things really gone wrong? Had it been like this when she was a kid? The more she tried to think, the more she realized the remembered little her childhood at all.

Lita intended to continue the conversation about her family, and Brian too, when she got back to the house, but her head was already swimming with details that didn’t quite make sense as it was. Perhaps she would be better off leaving it for another day.

Lita just wanted to go back to the way things were on Wednesday. Before date night. Before Cole. Before all this new information. How could she know how much her life would change? She desperately wanted out of her situation and now she was, but at what cost? What did she owe Cole in exchange?

Because that’s the type of transactional love she was used to with Brian. Something given for something received. Why the hell was she putting love and Cole in the same sentence any fucking way? That was the bigger worry.

Of course when she’d mentioned needing to go to the bank, who was the first to demand she have an escort? Cole. And who was hell–bent on being that escort? Cole. After several spirited refusals, she settled on Brody, the least ego–driven of the bunch. He’d exposed her photograph, which say he was distrustful, something she could understand. And he was standoffish with her but Lita figured that meants less talking.

her signatures. Oddly enough, after popping three p shouldn’t

sighed, “It’s kind of

be upset. It was annoying her even more.

on women,” he laughed, shaking his head at his phone. “He keeps texting me to qee

“He’s an ass.

pissed in your cereal this morning. I get it. This is all a shock, but, I thought you’d be grateful?” He shifted in his seat,

1/3

Bank Run

annoying me? No, I’m

for rescuing you? He’s going out on a limb to do that. You get that right? He squinted at her, like he couldn’t make sense of what was going on in her mind. Did

and bravado had taken a back sept. She’d somehow forgotten all about what brought her to this specific set of circumstances. And in her defense, it had been a lot to absorb in such a short amount of time. Wolves, manipulation,

ex–boyfriend–who I’m assuming is as high profile as your family if they’re forcing the marriage… In the

out of his way for her, taken

like abusers. But I’m not an Alpha. That comes with certain responsibilities that ain’t in my job description, you know? I’ve got more freedom in that aspect. Alphas have to put their pack before everything else. And you are the only thing he’s ever put ahead of the pack, You need to understand that. You need

whispered, “I didn’t realize…

Bringing you in was a huge statement. Whether he’s going to admit it to himself or not.” Brody sat back in his chair. “Plus, it’s not that big of

do you mean, “whether

much of

going to admit it

planning to reject

listen,” he leaned forward like he was about to tell her a secret, “Rejecting is pretty common shit, okay? Wham–Dam- thank–you–ma’am. Most of the time, wolves reject the person within the

Lita nodded, confused.

it. He could’ve rejected you when you first met, without you even knowing what the hell was going on. Could’ve just walked up and said it. Would have confused you. You probably would have thought he was crazy but it wouldn’t have mattered. He probably doesn’t know what to make of it, or maybe his wolf doesn’t, but if

manager had returned with the paperwork.

account information, your new card, and all of your copies of the paperwork,” the manger said, sliding a large, open folder across the table. Brody’s nosiness surpised Lita as

he

her things to the door

brother helped put in for the land, but most of his money was used for renovations and he died before they were complete.” Brody held the exterior door for her, then continued, “And since he and Stace weren’t married, his money defaulted to you a few weeks after