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As my agitation peaked, and I was about to rush out to confront whatever awaited in the bayou, the ringing phone halted my momentum. Gerald swiftly put the call on speakerphone. "Go ahead, Theodore," he said, signaling us to listen.

"Hello, Gerald, sir. I'd say good day, but I know it is far from it. I've got an update for y'all."

The voice was oddly familiar, though it took me a moment to place it.

Theodore... How do I know a Theodore? Theodore Bayou? Wait... Teddy Bay! My heart skipped as the recognition dawned.

A rush of memories flooded in. Teddy Bay and I went to school together during the brief periods I was allowed to attend. He stopped higher-level werewolves, the few alphas and such we went to school with, from teasing and outright torturing the little skinny rogue in class.

On more than one occasion.

I knew he was part of the pack down there, but I had no idea he'd risen to become the beta. It was both shocking and oddly comforting. One of the few friends I had in school