*Mike* *One month later* “Hey Mike, can you grab those packs of bacon and get them started?” Mariah asked me as she started to toast some bread. Inside the kitchen, many of us were working on the lunch shift, fixing BLT’s and hand cut fries. “Sure, are we frying it again or oven baking?” I asked as I checked the time on my watch. “Baking, we can get more done in less time.” She answered. “Plus, we need the fryers for the potatoes.” We worked in a comfortable silence, completing our work quickly and efficiently while the members of the pack started to collect their food. “Perfect!” One of the other kitchen workers said as the last of the hungry pack members collected their food and we started to eat ourselves. “Since Mike and the others showed up it seems we get through the service faster and faster!” “Well of course.” Mariah smiled. “BLTs were his idea. Simple, quick, and easy to mass produce! Out of all the services lunch should be the easiest. And I hate to admit it, but

“There’s nothing going on!” I said a little too forcefully as I grabbed the plate. Mariah just looked at me with an amused expression. “I mean it!” “Uh huh. Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with it. Whatever ‘it’ is. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Abby.” She sighed. “I mean, like I said he hasn’t talked about his past, and he is probably over 18. What if he finds his mate? What if there are some skeletons hidden deep in his closet? I just want you to be careful.” I sighed. “I know. Just... there is nothing there... really.” “But you want there to be?” “I didn’t say that!” I said as I nearly ran from the kitchen, my face burning. As I hurried out, I could faintly hear Mariah chuckling behind me. Damn it! But... is it true that both her and Brian can tell there is something between me and Mike? If that is true, then who else??? Secrecy is so important now, even though it kills me nearly every night it is to protect Michael... As I got closer to my office I breathed

*Abby* (Years earlier) “Wyatt??? Where are you???” I cried, looking around the darkening yard. The wind was starting to pick up, and my little 9 year old nose wasn’t strong enough yet to find anyone. “Wyatt?!” I cried again. “Come on! This isn’t funny!” I yelled as I ran towards the back of the packhouse where the storage room was. I thought I heard something behind me but as I spun around there was nothing. “Wyatt!!! Alright! You win! Game over, just come out!” My eyes started to fill with tears as the rain started to hit the back of my neck and the sky got even darker. A crash from the storage room startled me. “Hey, that’s not fair!” I cried as I pulled open the door. “We’re not supposed to play in here...” I sighed as I looked around the empty room. “Where...” I gasped as I felt two strong hands push me forward, as I landed hard on the floor, I heard laughter as the door closed behind me. “Hey!” I yelled as I jumped up and went to open the door, only to find it locked. My hea

*Mike* The bottom floor was chaos. Abby was in front of me as we went downstairs, people were rushing around and panicking. Glancing around there were huge gash marks on the walls, and dark red splashes of dried blood streaked the once white walls. The smell of blood was overwhelming, and an unmistakable smell of pepper was mixed in. Some of the doors on this floor were also marked with a giant bloody X. My heart pounded as I soon realized these were all the rooms of my friends! Where are they?! Are they okay?! In front of me Abby started to growl, I could feel her anger seeping through our bond, and an overwhelming protective urge began to radiate from her. “Oh, my goddess!!! MIKE!!!” I heard a sob from the side and felt a hug almost immediately. “Thank the goddess you are okay!!!” Emily cried as her and Stacey surrounded me. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” “Why was your link blocked? Are you hurt?!” Stacey began to look over me. “I’m fine.” I reassured them. “What