BrooklynOkay.Who asked me?Why didn’t I just keep quiet??Why did I have to suggest meeting a crowd of people???There are over 10,000 heads out there right now!Oh, goddess.Can I back out?!A delicious short laugh — one I’d rather not hear right now — comes from beside me. I glare sideways at him, and it vibrates into a long laugh.“Damn, stop acting cute.”“Cute?!” I swerve in my seat, eyes wide and mouth open in shock. I’m having the worst internal panic attack of my life, and he calls it cute??“Really?!”“Okay.” I see the laughter dancing in his eyes, but he dares not let it out.“Let’s take a deep breath.”He breathes in, and I do. Landon glances at me, then back at the road.“Good. See? It’s just people.”And the panic returns.Does he seriously have to remind me immediately after?He chuckles.“Stop looking so constipated, Brooklyn.”I snort, smiling.“Constipated, really? Here I thought I was acting cute a minute ago.”He swaps his right hand for the left one on the steeri
LANDON“You’re not thinking straight,” my dad says before he crosses the doorway of my office. I continue to scribble angrily on the paper. He shuts the door behind him. “You are putting the people in danger,” he adds, trying to make me see sense.I cling to the pen, the clenching of my fist around it makes it snap, and I let the broken pieces fall on the table. Forcing in a deep breath, I look up at my father. “If it were Mum, would you tell me this?”He looks taken aback by my question and flounders for an answer before sighing. “No.”Sweeping the broken pieces aside, I grab another pen from its holder. “Anything else?”“Son—”“Father,” I call out in warning. Maybe he is King. He’ll do worse or better—I don’t particularly care. But I am King, and when it comes to the ones I hold dearly, I’ll do anything. Anything. “Anything else?” I repeat.In resignation, he steps away from my table. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” With one last contemplative look my way, he walks out of the o
BrooklynFor some reason, I look to Maddie for approval before going to the front door to let Mike in… and Alan. I pause when I see more than just a head there.“I didn’t know you’d be coming,” I say, referring to them.“Landon didn’t mention us?” Mike asks in confusion.“He did—”“That solves it, then,” he answers, pushing me aside and stepping inside.I gawk at him, but it’s nothing new. I let Alan and James walk in.“Queen,” they bow in greeting.I nod tentatively before trailing after my friend, the guards behind me. However, Mike freezes when he sees Maddie in the kitchen, eating ice cream.Quickly, he recovers himself and approaches her, smirking.“Who do we have here?” Mike Ross glances back at me, his eyes crinkling at the sides. “I had no idea you know her.” Without waiting for a response, he leans toward her. “Hi, Mads.”I try to hide my smile as I go for a bottle of water. The idiot likes her.Maddie’s face turns crimson, and she looks away from him, a permanent scowl on he
BrooklynI sit by the window, counting the minutes until Landon’s return, even though he didn’t mention when he would in his letter.The letter. A little blush coats my cheeks as I recall it. It’s already imprinted in my mind because I read it over five times, not willing to get over it yet. My breath comes out short as I realize the fact again: I love him.The front door opens, and someone walks in. I frown but don’t move from my spot. From what I know, only Landon and I have access to the front door.A familiar scent that’s not yet stabilized in my mind floats in. I look up at the face. Maddie. She smiles widely when she sees me, and I try not to grimace.“How did you get in?” I choose to ask instead.“I live here,” she says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. I lift my eyebrows. Funny how Landon, in his sweet full letter, forgot to mention that we’re taking in his baby sister. She watches me.“You didn’t know?” Then scoffs. “Of course, you don’t. I’ve been staying here f
LandonTop of the morning to you, lover.When you get this note, I’ll be gone. I wish I could stay with you until I see those pretty eyes—those eyes I call mine—but you look so peaceful and sweet that I don’t want to disturb you. I fear I can wait no more, and how that saddens me. But on a bright note, I should be back home early.Please, eat your meals, take as much breathing space as you need, and rest. Mike will drop by later, as well as Alan. Maddie and Riley may be here too. I’m sorry I packed so many people around you, but if I’m not there to watch you, they will. And I trust them. I told them to give you space, though. When you ask for it, it’ll be yours.And try not to miss me too much.Laters, babe.Xoxo,Landon.I drop the note by her phone, where I’m certain she’ll see it immediately when she wakes up and doesn’t find me beside her.My gaze falls on her once more, and I feel my body slowly relaxing—though I’m certain it’ll tense right back up once she’s out of my sight. Her
Landon.I walk into my study and, as expected, everyone is there. Sighing, I cross over to my chair before sitting. Ignoring them all, I pick up one of the folders I brought from the pack office to study here, since I can’t be far from my mate. I take out one of the papers and switch on my system.All at once, I feel the holes their eyes are digging into my skin. It’s only a matter of time before they speak.I pick up my glasses and perch them on my face before starting my work. In the midst of signing, reading, and trying to catch errors, I begin to forget the people taking up space in my room.“You’re really not going to say anything?” Maddie —in her usual high-pitched voice— demands.It was only a matter of time. I look up from above my glasses. Her mouth hangs open in disbelief, and I roll my eyes at her dramatics. Why did her assignments end so soon?“She’s right, son,” Mother says, more softly. “You need to talk about this. We need to talk about this.”I pull off my glasses and