I wake up from the bad dream. Rather than a dream, it's more like a memory I'd forgotten for a long time. But with all that's happening, I guess it found its way to my dreams.

Deciding for a walk, I leave the house. When I come around the guesthouse, I see Jackson doing push ups, shirtless. The bad mood from the dream disappears in an instant. I spring next to Jackson and watch him work out.

Sighing he pauses mid push. "Why don't you wipe that drool off your face and let me work out in peace?" He says.

"No," I say, "Why don't you get up and wipe it off for me?"

With a grunt he resumes his exercise. I squat down close to him. "Do you work out everyday?" I say, admiring his arm muscles move.

"As any Alpha should," he says without even a little break for air given what he's doing.

"I know. I was on a walk myself," I say, nodding.

He scoffs. "Why are you stopping here then?" He says.

"Break."

He pauses again and turns his head to see my house at the back and then looks at me. "You need a break now from having walked from there?"

"I take a lot of breaks," I tell him while he continues his work out.

"Uh, huh," he says.

"You should be more open minded," I tell him, "Not every Alpha is born with a strong and sexy body like you. But we all have a strength of our own."

"Is that so? What's your strength?"

Shit. I didn't think he'd ask that. Let me think...

"Leah," Ivan says, walking over to us.

Oh, thank God, my Beta appears at the right time for a change. "What?" I say.

"It was a burner phone," Ivan says.

I'd asked him to look through phone calls placed around the time Jackson and I were in the theater. Looks like the prank caller was too careful.

"Got it. Thanks," I say.

"I also got a quote from the supplier for the security cameras. We are five thousand short on cash," Ivan says.

"Can't they give us a discount?" I whine.

"They already did. We're still five short," Ivan says.

"Gosh, why is everything so expensive? By any chance you've any cash left after making the traps?" I hopefully ask.

"I had to beg my landlord to put this month's rent on tab," Ivan says, shutting me up. I hang my head down in shame and thinking. Then I perk up and raise my head. "Let's ask Chu for money," I say.

"Seriously? You want to borrow money from the weed dealer?" Ivan says.

"We found that prick's stolen weed for him didn't we? Even though that was our lawful duty to do so, the least he can do is lend us some money, interest-free of course," I say.

"He already lent you two thousand," Ivan says.

"Great," I say, remembering it, "then he'll just have to add five more to my account."

Jackson stands up after finishing with his pushups. He says, "I can't believe that was a conversation I just heard between an Alpha and their Beta. How is your pack still surviving?"

"Oh, please, it's not surviving. It's thriving," I confidently say.

"Yeah, right," he says before turning to Ivan and saying, "I've some cash on hand. I'll give you five."

I gasp. "You have five thousand cash on you?" I say and then shake my head. "Never mind, I can't borrow money from the Alpha of a pack we don't have any diplomatic relation with. However, I'll be more than happy to do so if you accept our bond, mate."

Jackson quietly turns to Ivan and asks him, "You want it or not?"

Ivan looks at me, and I glare at him. Ivan sighs. "Thanks for the offer, but we're good," he says to Jackson.

Jackson turns back to me. "Is what you want more important than what your pack needs?"

"No. But I'll get both what I want," I say, pointing at Jackson, "and what the pack needs."

Then I look at Ivan. "Come on, Ivan, let's go shake up a weed dealer for some cash," I say and start walking.

"You sure about it?" Jackson says from behind us.

"I'm sure. Cuz, Jacky, that's what my strength is. Even though I can't do pushups, I can still get shit done," I say.

JACKSON'S POV

I see her and Ivan walk away, and can't help but think she has one big terribly guided Alpha ego. Maybe even bigger than mine.

The only help she took from me was to track down that wolf, and that too only because I offered it.

If she has to be this much self reliant, why does she still want me?

Rick comes out of the guesthouse. I tell him, "Go with them."

He looks towards Ivan and Leah. "Where?" He says.

"To a weed dealer."

Rick looks at me confused. "Don't ask," I say, "Just go, stay with them, and find out what those two clowns are up to."

BACK TO LEAH'S POV

We soon reach Chu's house. Rick has joined us too. Chu opens the door with a big smile. "Alpha!" He says, "What brings your here? Don't tell me you're already returning the two thousand. I wouldn't have minded if you'd taken your time, especially after helping me out like you did."

"Oh, that's great," I say, entering the house and turning to him. "I'm not here to pay back, I'm here to borrow some more."

Immediately Chu's smile vanishes. "No," he says.

"Come on, man, I found all that stash for you. If I wasn't your Alpha you know how much I would charge for a job like that?" I tell him.

"But you are my Alpha," he says, grinning, "and I'm your subject. So let's not mix business with packhood responsibility."

"Well... in that case, I suppose it should be alright if I shrink my border at the South to exclude Broge Corner," I say. It's one of Chu's weed shop. Without the pack's protection, it'll be open season on it.

"What? You can't do that!" Chu says.

"Of course, I can, Chu, after all, like you said, I'm the Alpha. With all the threats of a murderer and a rampage wolf, I've no choice but to shrink the patrolled area so my men can protect the land without exhaustion. You're free to move your shop inside the new boundary."

"You know if I did that, I'll lose my clients to Polo," Chu says.

Of course, I know. I shrug. "Anyway, you've been informed," I say and start to leave. Chu quickly says, "Dammit, fine! I'll lend you the money. How much?"

"Five," I immediately say.

"FIVE?!" He says, "Alpha, you can't just extort me like this."

"Come on, Chu, I'll pay you back when I get some money."

"You said the same when you got the two before."

"I'll pay you the seven together. Now, don't be stingy. Lend us the money so we can efficiently protect the amazing residents of Fault Lake, including you and all your recreational businesses."

Chu gives in at the end and lends us the money.

On our way back Rick says, "I don't know if I'm disturbed or impressed by what I just saw before."

I pat on Rick's shoulder. "It seems you've had an easy life so far, Ricky. This is how real Alphas out here in the real world work. Don't be listening to any of the nonsense your Alpha spews. If you want to learn to be successful out here in the real world, you come and learn from me," I say.

"No, thanks. I'm good," Rick cautiously says removing my hand from his shoulder.

Looks like Rick has already been tainted by Jacky's perfectionist principles.

"What are you going to do with the money?" Rick says.

"We're going to set up security cameras at the boundary. The kind with the motion sensors. So we can catch that wolf."

"You think it'll come back?" Rick says.

"I hope not, but," I say, recollecting the unhinged gaze of that animal when it came for me, "I'd like to be prepared just in case." 

End of chapter