I got out of the Jeep and knocked on the front door. James opened the door, looked at me, then opened it wider. I walked into the living room and James stopped in the doorway, but he didn’t say anything.“Has Kari been home yet?” I asked him.“No, not yet,” James answered me. “Kai, I shouldn’t have said what I did earlier. It wasn’t fair.”“Well, we imprinted earlier,” I said to him. James smiled as he looked at me. It was what he wanted after all. “I already told Kiran, and he thought you might want Kari to have Aunt Shoran’s ring.”“You want to propose already?” he asked me with a frown.“Kari thinks she might be pregnant,” I said, and he sat down abruptly. It was better to just rip off the band-aid.“Just like that, she’s all grown up,” he said, and looked at me. “I appreciate you coming to tell me face to face.”James stood up and left the room. I stood there wondering if maybe he was getting a gun to shoot me with. He returned a few minutes later and handed me the small velvet b
Falcon took a deep breath and drove his truck into town. He’d never been in love before, so the things he was feeling for Tala Sinclair drove him out of his comfort zone. He didn’t know her at all, but he knew he wanted to.They’d barely introduced themselves before they were kissing and touching each other. She was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen, even the coldness radiating from her didn’t put him off. He liked that she wasn’t this bubbly, preppy, highschool girl. Falcon was mature for his age, he had to be. He’d been mature from the age of 12, and he’d always had to fight to survive. He sensed that Tala was strong emotionally, and he liked that. Falcon didn’t want a weak woman at his side, didn’t want a woman he could dominate, he wanted an equal.He had immense respect for her father, Levi, but he also dreaded the moment he confessed his feelings. He’d been a rogue for half of his life, and now he was a Beta. Levi was a Council Zeta with Alpha blood. He killed rogues alm
I drove home and Falcon stood on the patio, looking deep in thought. He walked toward me when he saw the Jeep and frowned when I slammed the door shut.“What’s wrong with you?”“Kari, she’s … I don’t understand what’s going on with her,” I said to him.“I feel you, man,” he said, and I smiled. His dilemma was a bit worse than mine. Tala was only 16.“We should really talk, you and me. I know almost nothing about you,” I said, and he smiled.“I know that you rocked it,” he said, and I laughed loudly. Raven. She was exciting, bold, knew what she wanted, and took it. For some reason, I also couldn’t get her out of my mind.“Dude, you can’t say shit like that when Kari’s around,” I said to him, seriously. “We just sort of imprinted on the beach.”“Welcome to the club,” Falcon said, with a grin as we walked inside the house.Jace and Adara were busy with dinner in the kitchen, and we sat down at the counter. “What did you buy us?”“Us?” Adara looked at me, and I smiled.“Yeah, us. You now
I was lying in the back of the Jeep with my arms under my head, listening to the waves crash as I waited for Kari at the Point. I was relaxed, and I just wanted to get this over with, so I could get on with my life. The conversation I had with James irked me, because love didn’t work that way, and I was fed up being the bad guy.I sat up straight and looked at the beach through the open door when my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize and I answered it. “Hello.”“Did you keep fantasizing about me?” she asked, and I chuckled.“I did,” I answered her.“I’m surprised you didn’t call,” she said.“Some things came up and I had to come home,” I said.“And home is in Seward?” She asked.“How did you know that? We’ve never actually talked to each other,” I said to her, surprised that she knew that.“Maybe I was internet stalking you just a little,” she said, and I laughed. “But we’re talking now, and I’ve been thinking about you, too.”I smiled. If I closed my eyes I could still pi
I couldn’t figure out what was going through James’ mind, or how worried I should be. He wanted me to make Kari fall in love with me again. I’d been convinced that he would prefer me to stay far away from her, and that the two of us together would be the last thing he would want.I wasn’t sure that I wanted Kari to love me again. Going to California had opened my eyes to the possibilities out there. Kari was comfortable, sure, but when I needed her the most, and wanted to be there for her when she needed me, she shut me out.I walked toward the firing range and opened the door. I would never be able to unsee what I saw there. “Falcon!” They stopped kissing and Falcon looked guiltily at me. Tala stood with her back to me, and she didn’t turn around. Falcon’s back was against the wall, and he still had his arms around her.I shook my head, walked back outside, and started to laugh. I should’ve seen it coming. Falcon was like Levi, so it made sense for Tala to like him, but they’d barel
“Settle down, guys,” Kiran said loudly, as the pack members took their seats in the den.Falcon and I stood in the back as Kiran started the pack meeting. James stood in front, next to Kiran, and the looks he was giving me weren’t friendly. I hadn’t seen or spoken to either James, or Kari, since before I’d left, and I spent my time with Falcon and Jace as they settled into their new lives in Seward.“I’d like to welcome Kai back home, and introduce his friend for acceptance into the pack,” Kiran said, and a few heads turned toward the back where we stood.“The prodigal son returns,” Carl said, and chuckled.Kiran nodded at me, and I nudged Falcon with my shoulder. He followed me as I made my way to the front, and stood behind Kiran. Carl stood up, and Kiran sighed.“Yes, Susan?” Kiran asked, and the room erupted into laughter.Carl smiled, and shook his head as everyone settled down again. “Really? It’s been years.”“What is it, Carl?” Kiran asked, and Carl looked directly at Falcon.