Chapter 3

“Well, since you already spilled the beans, I just finished it off.” Tatum sighed and sat on the toilet as I turned the shower on and got undressed. “He feels like shit for following Jo and not saving me. Now, he feels like a failure to you.” 

“I don’t need him to start caring now. I just need him to not force me to change packs until I’m ready.” 

“How is that going?” 

“About the same. He wants a submissive Luna, and I won’t give that.” 

“Brett. I know I have had my own shit, but I’ve listened to that lie a few times. Try again.” 

“You Collins are annoying.” 

“And you need to diet. Try again.” 

Dark humor was our way of coping. “Tate. I’m still having nightmares about Rowan, Michelle and Tina. I can’t let Piercy help and then get attached if he won’t let me be who I am. Then it gets messy, and I’d have to move back…” 

Tate was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, I’m still struggling. Maddox helps, but sometimes it is too much for him and he fights Cade to get the stress out. Doesn’t help he tries to take all my pain away.” 

“You are?” I wasn’t sure why that surprised me. “I mean, I get it. Your trauma was far worse than mine.” 

“Don’t do that!” Tate snapped at me as I turned off the shower. “Don’t minimize your trauma because I had a different experience. Your emotions are valid, Brett. Listen, we were both raised to keep our feelings inside. Maddox has honestly saved me from myself. Cade is going to learn the hard way what it means, and I’m afraid you will, too. Let Piercy at least try. I’m still not a huge fan of the man, but he saved my babies. For that, he has my respect.” 

“Why don’t you like him?” Grabbing some joggers, I added a crop top and braided my hair. After some makeup, I’ll pack nicer clothes to meet his pack in. 

“Because you don’t. If you would have accepted him already, I would like him. You don’t so I don’t.” 

“That is a horrible reasoning.” I just looked at her and laughed.

“Listen, I know you are moving to a pack that doesn’t think women should fight, but when have you ever turned down a challenge?” 

Putting my lip stain on, I just sighed. “You didn’t want to lose yourself.”

“Yeah.” Tate nodded. “And I haven’t. My shop opens next week and Vivian has Luna roles.”

“What about Blair?”

Tate and I shared a look before we laughed. She watched me put my makeup away and peel off the stain. “I was forced into a lot of things with Tina, Michelle and Rowan after me. You have time. Just… don’t lose the chance to find actual love. At the end of the day, I’m just a phone call away. Maddox will always be there to get you, if I can’t.” 

“Thank you.”

“Of course. I’ll miss you tormenting Cade, knowing you only did it because you wanted to get under his skin.” 

“If he wasn’t going to accept me as family, I was going to torment him.” I just sighed. “That probably means Jo knows.” 

Tate sighed and followed me out of the bathroom. “Yeah, well, she laid into him hard. I was actually pretty proud of her for that. Seeing bitchy pregnant Jo with hormones is great.”

That made me laugh as my door opened. “I’ll miss that.” I said as Piercy walked in. 

“This looks fun.” 

“I never did get to thank you for what you did.” Tate looked at Piercy. 

He seemed uncomfortable, but not as bad as before. “Regardless of who, I’d never let anything happen to a child.” 

Tate nodded and stood up. “Still.” She looked at me. “Remember what I said.” She kissed my cheek and walked out. 

“What was that about?” Piercy grabbed my bag and picked up my makeup. 

“Just girl talk.” Looking around, I didn’t see anything else that was mine. “I need that bag on the plane so I can change before we land.”

“I actually made my beta clear everyone so you can have one day to look around without meeting too many people. We can discuss rules and what works for either of us.” 

“Oh, thank you….” I think. However, we got to foyer. 

“Brett.” Maddox did a double take as he walked in, dripping in sweat. “Piercy, can you come to my office?” 

“Sure.” 

“I’ll go eat …” sighing, Maddox stopped in front of me.

“I’m not Cade. That’s up to Piercy.” He walked on, leaving me looking at Piercy.

“Come on.” Rolling his eyes, I was happy for the moment, anyway. 

“Shut the door and lock it, please.” Maddox leaned against his desk.

“Okay?” I was so confused that I didn’t have a bitchy comment. 

“Is this a lecture on mating?” Piercy raised an eyebrow. 

“Fuck no. You are grown ass adults and I’m too busy to care what you do behind closed doors. However, I will say Brett always as a home here. Not that I don’t want it to work out, but I also don’t want you to feel unwanted.” 

“Fucking Tate.”

Maddox smirked. “Right? Anyway, I asked you to come in here because I’ve gained access to Reed’s pack and properties. Between what I own, what he owed and Cade… that’s the whole fucking place. I have designed a project for building a research facility for illnesses.” Maddox reached around and grabbed a vanilla envelope. “I’m starting with the table members. Read it over. No pressure either way. I have more than enough money to run it. However, I’m looking at future growth and awareness opportunities. That’s where you guys come in. Just read it over, talk about it together and let me know.” 

“What else are you doing?” I asked, looking at Maddox.

“Well, I have plans to open the quarry up, Tatum has her shop and I want to start farming and maybe a school. We shall see.” 

“Developing your community?” Piercy asked.

“Exactly. If done correctly, we will thrive and I’ll have all the money to keep going.” Maddox pushed off his desk. “Come on. Tatum is yelling for you to go eat.” 

“How is she?” Piercy asked.