Chapter 20
Old Town
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A day with Alpha Matthew? Is that even a good idea? Who cares, my wolf howls. He’s so incredibly hot.
Go on a date with him, she purrs.
This isn’t a date, I tell her firmly.
Then Matthew starts walking toward me. Slowly. Like a predator closing in on its prey. His
hands are casually shoved into his pockets, but it’s the intensity of his eyes that makes me
feel pinned in place. “I can take you around Old Town, show you ‘my favorite spots, grab lunch.
at this amazing place… And then, you can tell Sage how much she missed out.”
My wolf perks up, practically jumping with excitement. Sounds like a date to me.
“Is that a yes?” Matthew asks, his voice low as he steps closer, almost close enough to touch.
I blink, suddenly aware of the silence. I haven’t spoken for a moment, and it feels like I’ve
forgotten how to. His gaze flickers down to my lips for a second, then back to my eyes, like
he’s waiting for me to respond. I gather what little confidence I have and manage to smile. “I’d
love for you to be my tour guide for the day.”
Matthew chuckles, the sound like a soft ripple of laughter that makes my heart flutter. “Alright
then.”
He heads upstairs to get dressed, and I let out the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. My heart is pounding. It’s hard enough to be around Matthew and his Alpha aura. Add in how incredibly attractive he is, and it’s a struggle to keep my thoughts in order.
When he returns, I almost forget to breathe.
He’s swapped into a pair of well–fitted jeans, his black t–shirt hugging his chest just enough to make my pulse race. I try not to ogle him, but it’s impossible not to notice how effortlessly cool he looks as he spins his car keys around his finger. He catches my eye and grins.
“Ready?”
I follow him outside, my heart racing in anticipation. Matthew leads me to his garage, tucked just down the street. The moment I see it, I realize I should have expected it–living in an old castle means no space for a garage when it was built. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the collection of vehicles Matthew owns. Motorcycles, dirt bikes, four–wheelers… but the real showstopper? A sleek, black G–Wagon.
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I slide into the passenger seat as Matthew takes the driver’s side, pulling out effortlessly and heading toward Old Town. I want to talk to him, ask about his life and why he cares so much about the university, but my voice betrays me. Instead, I just watch him drive, captivated by the way his forearms flex as he grips the steering wheel.
Matthew glances at me from the corner of his eye. “You’re staring,” he says, his voice playful.
“Eyes on the road,” I tease, snapping my fingers and pointing forward.
A hum of amusement vibrates in his chest, but instead of making me nervous, it makes me
laugh. Despite the butterflies dancing in my stomach, Matthew makes me feel at ease, like I
can just… be myself.
Unlike Sparta, where I always felt out of place for being a little too nerdy, here I feel like I
belong.
Matthew pulls into a quiet street by the lake. Old Town immediately strikes me as charming-
quaint shops, colorful boutiques, and families strolling about, enjoying the Saturday sun.
As soon as the car stops, I leap out of my seat, eager to explore. My excitement bubbles over,
and I can’t help but smile. This place feels like home already. Matthew’s hand touches the
small of my back, and his voice is warm as he leans down to speak. “Come on, I’ll show you
around.”
I follow him through the town, and it’s like everyone knows him. Every head that turns, every person who waves or smiles, shows him the respect he’s earned. Unlike some Alphas who keep their heads forward, Matthew acknowledges every greeting, his nods gracious and
respectful.
“You’re adored here,” I say, taking in the way people practically worship him with their eyes.
“No, just respected.” He waves at a group of kids who shout his name, and then his expression turns serious. “I don’t believe a true leader can lead if they don’t truly understand their pack. I make it a point to respect everyone, and that, ideally, is how I earn their respect in return.”
I nod, impressed. But my attention shifts, like a magnet, to the flower shop just up ahead. Bright, blooming plants line the storefront, a colorful contrast against the gray brick buildings.
I glance at a few houseplants while I ask, “Do you interact with your pack often?”
“All the time.” Matthew’s voice is warm as he steps up beside me. “Other than education, we really focus on building a sense of community.” His eyes never leave me, his gaze so intense l almost forget to breathe. I glance up at him, caught off guard by how… attractive he is.
Just as I’m about to say something, I hear my name called out. I turn to see Eli and his mate
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with a group of friends in tow.
“Well, if it isn’t the girl who broke our beer chugging record,” Eli calls out, his grin mischievous. He starts to approach for a hug, but stops short when he notices Matthew standing next to
- me.
Matthew bows his head slightly, his smile reserved but polite. “Alpha.”
Eli mirrors the bow, his grin widening. “Hello, Alpha.”
Then, his attention swings back to me. “I don’t know how much you remember from last night, but I think we’ve found a new champion.”
Eli’s mate joins in with a sweet smile. “You were incredible, dear. Honestly, I don’t know how you chugged all that beer in such a short time. It’s impressive.”
Eli turns back to Matthew with a grin. “You should have seen her, Alpha. She beat Sage’s record. Just chugging down my beer like it was water–no gag reflex or anything.”
I feel my face burn, embarrassed all over again. I press my hand to my eyes, wishing the world would swallow me up.
Matthew’s gaze sharpens, but instead of looking disappointed, he looks… amused. And
something else. Something hot. My pulse quickens as I feel his stare burn into me.
“I’ll have to stop by next week,” Matthew says, his voice smooth, “See if I can beat the new
record–holder.”
We say our goodbyes and move on, but as we walk past Eli’s group, I realize I’m receiving more than just nods of respect. Several of his friends tap me on the shoulder or shout my name, offering their congratulations. “Nice going, Mia!” one calls out.
I wince and mutter under my breath, “That was so embarrassing.”
Before I can get too lost in my mortification, I feel Matthew’s hand at the small of my back again, pulling me gently to his side. I straighten up, grateful for the contact.
He chuckles softly. “I would say I’m fairly amused. Didn’t take you for a beer–chugging champion.”
I don’t know what to say to that. My brain is too occupied by the heat of his hand on my back
to form words.
We continue walking, and Matthew starts showing me around his pack’s Old Grounds. He points out landmarks, gives me a quick history lesson about how the town was founded by
werewolves centuries ago, when the Alpha King arrived.
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He tells me how his bloodline goes back to one of the founding families, and how he became
Alpha because of that lineage. As we stroll, he casually mentions the names of the shops and
tells me which pack members run them. He even names who’s mated and who’s still
searching for their other half.
By the time we reach what’s known as the Food District, I feel like I’ve gotten a crash course in
the town’s history. The area by the lake is lined with restaurants and bars. Matthew leads me
to his favorite place, giving me a mock–serious look. “You can’t tell anyone it’s my favorite.
Otherwise, the other restaurant owners might have my head.”
I can’t help but giggle at that. His stern expression softens into a smile, and we walk inside.
As soon as we enter, I spot a few familiar faces. Tyler, one of my students, waves at me from a
table, his bright smile instantly making me feel at home. He jumps up and gives me a quick
hug.
“Finally made it to Old Town!” he exclaims.
