6

~Brady~

After practice wraps up, Grant, Colton, and I head for the packhouse. We shift, and I fill them in on the way back.

“Did your dad tell you anything this morning?” I asked Colton.

“Not really. Just said he had to check the border and take care of a situation. You know he won’t give anything up.”

“Damn. I just feel weird about this. Our dad’s keeping secrets, a beta from another pack helping two of his pack mates leave in the middle of the night? There’s something going on.”

“You’ve got a point. If they needed to transfer them, the proper paperwork and everything would have been processed. And they wouldn’t cross over in the middle of the night.” Colton wonders aloud.

Grant looks at us like we’re idiots. “I think you’re missing a big point here. If they were in danger in the pack or causing problems, why wouldn’t Alpha Walt have contacted Alpha Cam? Or better yet, why wasn’t he there? Who gives a damn about paperwork? They literally have each other’s phone numbers. A quick phone call and an armed transport would’ve taken a couple of hours at most.”

We arrive at the packhouse and shift back at the edge of the woods. I grab my shorts from a bin we leave by the oak tree that we used to play in as kids. I look down, deep in thought. They both have valid points. I can’t shake this feeling that trouble is brewing.

“Well I, for one, care about the proper paperwork. Shit gets disorganized when you fly by the seat of your pants.” Colton jokingly chips in. He definitely got his mom’s planning skills. Uncle Dave is far from having it all together.

“Yeah yeah. You have fun with all of that. Some of us have better ways to spend our time. Speaking of which, what did Jaqueline have to say? I saw her lingering around the almighty alpha,” Grant says with a wink. They both know how much I hate clingy females.

“She wished me luck. Not that I needed it. I was distracted and still came out on top.” Trying to push Colt’s buttons is probably my favorite pastime. He’s so easy to get riled up.

“Dick. They called it, and you know it! Besides you were distracted for the first five seconds of the match. It’s not like you have your head in your ass all day.”

Grant and I share a laugh at Colton’s irritation and head to the showers. The Beta and Gamma families share the floor beneath ours, but they have houses of their own that they normally stay in. Their dad’s offices are down there. Maybe they can get some more information out in the meantime.

After my shower I get dressed in my usual: jeans and a plain black t-shirt. I comb my hair, put on a little cologne, and I’m ready to go. I meet Mom in the kitchen. As usual, she has a biscuit and coffee in hand, waiting for me.

“Mom, I’ve got something important to talk about tonight. Dad will be at dinner, right?”

“Yes dear. Wait. Have you found your mate? Wait, no. Don’t tell me. I want to see the shock on your father’s face. Don’t tell him I told you but I bet him that you’d find her before your birthday.”

“Mom it’s nothing like that,” I roll my eyes. Ever since I got my wolf, she’s been on eggshells waiting for me to find my mate. She claims it’s because she wants the best for me, but I know she’s got mixed feelings about it. The amount of times I’ve been scolded for being a “player” and “not valuing a woman’s heart” is insane. She acts like I’m out breaking hearts left and right.

“If you say so,” she gives me a kiss on the temple, just like always. “I hope you have a great day, Brady. Don’t forget shifter training at 4 today. Your dad expects you to be on time, ready to roll.”

“Yes ma’am. Love you mom!” I call over my shoulder as I head out the door. I hear her say it back and head downstairs to meet the guys. Since the school is a few miles away, we usually drive in my truck. Grant thought it was hilarious that I didn’t want a sports car, like most young alphas. However, I’d rather have something I can put to use, not just a flashy piece of metal.

Grant and Colton come out shortly after.

“Dad was in his office, so whatever is going on must be handled now.” Grant informs us.

“I’m going to ask Dad about it tonight. Just gotta get through shifter practice first. I think he’s gonna kick ass today after the stunt you two idiots pulled last week.”

Dad takes shifter training extremely seriously; after you get your wolf and a year of training, you start patrols. Last Friday, Grant and Colton had the bright idea to nip at the girls every time our dads weren’t looking. Unfortunately, my dad caught on quickly why the girls kept yelping and caught Grant red handed. Colton got ratted out by one of the older girls who we didn’t know found her mate that week and almost got the shit beat out of him when her mate found out.

“You two idiots just love making my life more difficult.”

“That is our job!” Colton jokes with a dumb grin on his face.

“Just shut up and get in the truck.”