LOGIN~Brady~“Dude I’m freaking out. She just asked me to go to the garden with her. I don’t know what to do other than try to make out with her. What do normal people do?” Logan frantically mind links me although his exterior looks as cool as a cucumber. I smirk. “Well first you say yeah.”“You’re so funny, smart ass.” His tone grows irritated quickly. “Just be yourself.” I suggest. “But I’m an asshole and a womanizer. I’m not trying to fuck her just yet.” I notice him biting his lip from a few tables away where they sit. I prop back enjoying the show. Lindsey looks at me curiously, knowing something is going on behind the scenes. “Do something sweet. Like something you’d see in a movie that your mom watches.” I look over at Lindsey and smile reassuringly so she doesn’t get troubled. She eyes me carefully, her look saying that she wants to know whatever is going on.“My mom watches horror movies, Brady. She’s not the rom com type.” He rubs his neck, probably trying to think of a way
~Lindsey~ Joie and I take our things to our rooms before reconvening in my office for some girl talk. We gossip about our high school drama and laugh at crazy stories. “Yeah. My alleged best friend in White Fang was only close to me to have access to the future pack leaders. She’s literal scum. Make sure you keep your guard up around her.” I warn. “Wait. You can’t just skip over that. Spill. Everything.” She uncrosses her legs and leans towards me from the other side of the desk. I spend the next several minutes telling my entire past: everything from Jagger’s betrayal to Blaine’s advances to moving to Black Forest in the middle of the night. She takes a deep breath in. “Wow. That’s a lot.” “Yep. So now I’m here. Met Brady, hated him, fell in love with him, now we’re gonna be mates and live happily ever after.” I smile, using my hands for emphasis as I speak. Joie laughs. “Brady’s hard not to love. I think our parents wanted us to be mates for a while, but nothing happened.
~Brady~ Logan mind links me to tell me that they arrived safely. I couldn’t help but notice the lack of playfulness in his voice. He sounded off. I checked on him to make sure he was ok. After all he’s been through four corners of hell this year with little to no break. Serious injuries, his parents splitting up, his mate rejecting him. I’m starting to realize how much he seriously needs a break. Nevertheless he said he was fine. I plan to do some digging later. “Hey, who was that kid with Logan? He didn’t have a wolf yet but he’s on patrol?” Grant asks. I know he’s concerned about his luna, but Rylan deserves a chance to be himself in this pack without judgment. I swallow hard. “He’s family. Distant.” Colton and Grant look at each other knowingly. I don’t have to say it aloud for them to figure it out. They’re smart enough to read between the lines. “Well I’m sure he’ll make a great warrior. Perhaps we can put him on border patrol?” Colton suggests, thinking I want my cou
~Lindsey~I smile mischievously as I see the SUV pull around. Joie and I walk towards the vehicle, arm in arm. One of the warriors who will be riding in the car behind us opens the backseat door. I enter first and slide to the seat behind Logan. Joie ducks her head in, immediately sensing Logan. “Oh hell no,” she tries to back out, but I grab her arm. “Oh come on. Logan is the head of my patrol at the moment. Grant and the others are up solving the world’s problems.” I lean in and whisper, “you won’t even know he’s there. He’s good at being discreet.” It’s a lie, but I hope she’ll fall for it. Joie rolls her eyes. “Yeah I’m sure I’ll forget all about him.” She caves and sits beside me. I notice the warrior up front with Logan looks familiar. “Don’t worry. One of your guards is in the other car. You won’t have to rely on me to save your life.” Logan smirks in the mirror. Joie grumbles low. “What was that about being discreet?” I just shrug. Logan puts the vehicle into drive. “Yea
~Lindsey~I spend the rest of the day with Brady, soaking in every moment with him. I don’t ask questions; quite frankly, I don’t want to know. We work together on assignments that we’ve missed and review some of his work for the pack together. He takes me on a stroll in the garden, claiming we need some time to rest our minds. I notice Joie sitting on the bench under the arch with the running red roses. She looks like a priceless painting, almost too perfect for real life. “Oh! Brady! Lindsey! I didn’t hear you guys. How is everything?” She looks between us, slightly concerned. “Walt has been…” Brady pauses, finding his words. “Dealt with. Jagger is in no harm. None of us are.” He smiles courteously, not his normal, genuine smile. I wonder what’s troubling him. “That’s great news! Um I was wondering. Can I steal Lindsey away for a moment? Just for some girl talk.”Brady looks at me for a decision, and I nod. “Sure! I’d love to!” I turn to Brady. “I’ll be in my office at 5. Meet yo
~Brady~Logan mindlinks me to inform me that Lindsey figured it all out. That doesn’t surprise me. I told them they could tell her, but John was worried she’d try to get involved. She’s got a gentle spirit and a soft heart when it comes to people. She’d probably want Walt to live. But he didn’t. Grant and Tom stand by the cave on watch duty. Dad and I exit, squinting in the sunlight. Colton and Uncle Dave are preparing the body for transport.Logan left two warriors with Walt after breaking both of his femurs. His orders were to go home and get some rest after getting a nasty bite from Walt. John treated him early this morning; he said it would heal quickly. John said that Logan was cruel to leave him in that position, that one of the most painful breaks to have was a broken femur. I asked him what the others were and made sure to break those bones as well before severing his spinal cord and breaking his neck. I wanted him to feel the pain he caused my mate all of these years. Even
~Brady~ My alarm goes off at 6, but I didn’t sleep at all; too much was on my mind. I go downstairs to the kitchen to grab coffee and a granola bar before I begin my walk to the gym. I mind link Colton and Grant, my future beta and gamma. “We have some things to discuss today. Plan on a run to
~Lindsey~ “Lin, wake up. We need to go.” I slowly open my eyes as my dad’s voice pulls me from sleep. I glance over at my clock, thinking it’s way too dark for 6AM. “Dad, it’s 2 in the morning. Why are you waking me up?” I say groggily. “Because we’re getting out of here. Tonight.” I loo
~Lindsey~ I woke up in a panic, not knowing where I was. Then it all came rushing back. Crossing the border at 3am, meeting a Beta friend of Uncle Rob’s, watching as Dad joined a new pack through the blood covenant, getting assigned a warrior for the rest of the night, settling into a new house i
~Brady~ I lay awake thinking about what could possibly have my dad so upset that he walked out of dinner without a single word. Mom always makes such a big deal about us eating together every night as a family. Sometimes it’s our only time together during the week. What’s more nerve wracking is th







