CHAPTER SEVEN

The sun is shining as I head outside with Brock.

"Here's the forest," he tells me.

It looks like the forest I know.

My heart swells.

There are many trees.

Lush green foliage.

"It's beautiful," I say, feeling tears in my eyes.

"It's one of my favorite places," he says.

"It is?"

"It's a peaceful place. That's my favorite thing about it. Peaceful and quiet. I love lying in the shade of the trees. The forest has always been my favorite place to just...be."

He smiles.

I smile too.

Brock seems like a nice guy.

But he is quiet and reserved.

Fun-loving Ethan and happy-go-lucky Beth would have been better tour guides, but Brock seems nice.

We walk through the trees.

"I like it here," he continues. "You can get away from the others, but it's still close to the pack. Come, let me show you something."

He leads me through the forest.

We come to a clearing.

There are so many flowers.

I have never seen so many flowers.

I gasp.

"What is this?" I ask him.

"This is the flower field," he tells me.

He walks into the field of flowers, bending down to smell some.

I am in awe.

"It's beautiful, Brock," I tell him.

"It's my favorite place," he tells me.

I follow him and bend down to smell a flower.

"I've never seen flowers like these before," I say.

"Do you like them?"

"I love them!" I tell him.

"They have a scent that calms the mind and helps you rests easier," he says.

"That's what I need," I say with a laugh.

He hands me the flower.

It is pink and delicate.

It smells sweet, like candy.

I feel myself blushing.

"Thank you," I say.

He smiles.

He reminds me of Nathaniel.

"You have a beautiful smile," I tell him.

He looks surprised.

"I do?" he says.

"Yes. Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. You just remind me of someone."

He watches me.

"Who?" he asks.

I hesitate. "My...boyfriend," I say, finally.

His eyebrows rise upwards. "Oh," he says, suddenly coy.

I turn away, blushing.

I feel awkward and embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," I tell him, "I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's okay," he says, looking down.

"I shouldn't have," I tell him.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"Nothing," I say.

"It was a nice compliment," he assures me.

"It's not that," I say. "I miss my home."

I sigh and sit on a rock.

I don't know why, but I immediately regret mentioning it.

Brock sits besides me.

"Did you want to join the pack?" he asks.

I look at him in surprise. "What?"

He shrugs. "It's just...I was wondering. You don't seem all that happy here. And I wondered if Alpha had made some kind of trade."

My cheeks grow hot.

He is right.

But I don't know how to tell him that.

"There was an agreement, yes," I say. "Between my Alpha and Jeremiah."

Brock nods, slowly. "I thought so."

He sounds sad as he says it.

I look at him.

"You didn't know?" I ask.

If Brock is Alpha's Beta, you'd think he'd know.

He looks back at me.

"No," he says. "Turns out there's a lot I don't know about Jeremiah. He keeps his secrets to himself."

"You mean the girl he's in love with?" I ask, catching his hint. "You know, I might have been wrong about that."

Brock smirks. "You weren't wrong."

"So there is someone?" I ask.

"If he told you there is, then I believe there is," Brock says. "He has no reason to lie."

I scoff. "Of course he does. To keep me away!"

Brock looks puzzled. "Bria, who on earth would want to stay away from you?"

His words stun me. "What?"

"I mean you're beautiful! You do know that right?"

I can feel my cheeks burn.

"I don't know," I mumble.

"A guy would be crazy not to love you," he carries on. "You are a real catch."

I'm silent.

I don't know what to think.

I don't know what to do.

My head is spinning.

"Bria," Brock says, softly. "I want you to know you're not alone here."

I look down at my feet.

I don't know what to say.

Brock seems to sense my distress.

He stands up.

"We should get back," he says.

I nod and stand. "What do you guys do to pass the time?" I ask.

"Well, we hunt, of course," he says. "We help in the kitchen. Everyone has their own chores."

"And for fun?"

“I read," he says.

"What do you read?" I ask, curiously.

"All kinds of books," he says, walking ahead. "They keep me educated. And entertained."

The more I get to know this man, the more I like him.

"Oh, and we also play games."

"What kind of games?" I ask.

"I'll show you," he says.

We walk back to the house, Brock leading the way.

I watch him walk, admiring his broad shoulders and strong arms.

As we go, he stops in front of a tree and reaches up, grabbing hold of a branch.

He pulls himself up, easily.

I watch in awe as he climbs.

I can't believe how graceful he is.

I watch him climb higher, admiring the view.

I have to admit, he is pretty darn hot.

"Coming?" he asks.

I shake my head. "I've never climbed a tree before," I say.

"I figured as much," he says, holding out his hand.

I take it, hesitantly.

He helps me climb, pulling me up.

"How did you know I'd never climbed a tree?" I ask.

He chuckles. "No scars."

He helps me to a large, thick branch.

"Wow," I say, looking out. "I'm so high up."

I can see the whole forest from here.

I can see the whole pack's territory.

My new home.

And for the first time all day, I forget my troubles.

I forget Nathaniel.

I forget my father, my Alpha, and my old pack.

That is, until Brock whispers in my ear, "Weird to think once you marry Jeremiah, this will all be yours soon."

And just like that, my joy is gone.