Secrets

STANLEY POV

Steady grunts leave my mouth as I toss square bails of hay thirty feet into the air. My shifter body is nearing its breaking point, and that's saying a lot. I have been working for thirteen hours straight, and I keep finding more projects to do in the barn. Tasks that don't really need to be done. Like reorganizing our winter supply of hail bails.

Keeping myself busy and out of the house has become a necessity for survival at this point. Lauren and her adorable son seem to be everywhere. She hasn't returned to work yet, so at least the office is still a safe place. However, that does me no good on days like today...Saturday. My haven is closed, and the pack expects me to be here.

"Hello, big brother," Finley says as he comes strolling up behind me.

I grunt louder to acknowledge him, and he chuckles.

"Not even a smile...wound up that tight, huh," Finley asks, and I freeze midswing.

"Don't start," I growl, not even looking his way.

Finley moves closer, and I throw