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43 - KennedyThere is an apartment above my mom’s studio. I have been having it renovated over the last couple years. Even Aunt Beth doesn’t know that. She’s been trying to find reasons for me not to leave the pack for school since I got here. She thinks I don’t know about her plans, but her fear of me leaving has become a bit over the top as we all come into adulthood. I know it’s the first place Jer will look, but I’m hoping his loyalty to me is strong enough to keep everyone away for a little while. The studio is thriving and I have been working with Mark for years learning the business and helping it grow. He’s another one to worry about since he’s one of Jer’s pack warriors, but I’m putting a lot of faith in the fact that he understands as much as Jer why I need this. But if an Alpha or Luna command is put on him, he won’t be able to go against it like Jer.I pack a couple days worth of clothes, my laptop and a few other small essentials and move toward my door listening. I
44- RykerThis whole day has been a roller coaster of emotions. Add to that not sleeping and my wolf worrying about whatever made Kennedy so afraid that she screamed herself and half the packhouse awake last night.I can only pace my room so long hoping to hear any of their conversations. Clearly, this is all normal and everyone just goes about their business like nothing happened.I hear Rayna and Kennedy getting ready in her room when I go down to meet with Alpha James and Luna Beth this morning. It lessened some of the tension in my chest to hear them laughing together. At least she likes my sister.“Maybe that will soften her up for us.” My wolf sounds lovesick and wistful.“We can only hope.” I roll my eyes, because I have a feeling Kennedy has fairly strong, expressive emotions and she probably would not put ‘soft’ and I in the same sentence.There isn’t much for us to do since Beth won’t let Jeremiah near the girls, which apparently extends to all the guys except Jason and Be
45- Ryker“Hey, man. I’m sorry. This mate thing has me f*cked in the head. Is she okay?”He shrugs. “I just hope I’m not this stupid about my mate when she finally shows up. I do not have time for the bullsh*t you and your wolf are up to. Especially right now, since I am on twenty four seven Luna duty for the foreseeable future since she thinks you are an asshole.”“She said that?”“Not in words, but I figure it’s a common thought amongst us and she’s pretty smart so she's probably on board with the idea based on the way you keep treating her.”“Again, f*ck you. I never wanted a mate. You know this. I have too many enemies that will try to use her against me. After everything my parents went through, I thought everyone understood. I thought maybe the Goddess agreed with me, but no. She made me wait until after my sister found hers and then just for fun decided to give me a weak ass human. She can’t shift or protect herself. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”“Start
46 - RykerI finally catch sight of her running like her life depends on it, meaning she heard the growl too and gave up on her stealth in order to run the path to safety. At least she doesn’t have a complete death wish, she just rides the line of danger at all times.“Bennet, I see her. Do you have the wolf?”“Yeah, just a rogue out for a run. He caught sight of her and thought he would have an easy meal. But, he didn’t fight me when I corrected his misinformation. What do you want me to do?”“Take him to Jeremiah. He should know there is a rogue camping this close to his territory. He can decide. I’m going to go collect Kennedy.”“See you back at the packhouse.”“Josh, we are on the outskirts of the forest bordering the neighboring city about five miles out. Kennedy is scared and has been running for a while. She was chased by a rogue. Bennet is handling him, but I don’t think she could or should walk back to the packhouse. Come meet us.”“Did the rogue take her?” Danny
47 - Kennedy“Are you f*cking kidding me? Ryker, put me down! Now!” It is not lost on me that I am looking down at the most perfect ass I have ever seen in my whole life and pounding my fists against muscles so ripped, he probably doesn’t feel it. I am trying not to think of the front half of this massive man. Specifically the appendage that keeps slapping the side of my ankle.“Not a chance little lamb, you’re skittish. I wouldn’t want you to run off again and get lost. Lots of big bad wolves out there ready to gobble you up.” Now he thinks he’s a comedian.I know it’s not going to do me any good and will probably leave bruises on me tomorrow, but I keep flailing around just to be difficult and make him as irritated as I am right now. It’s the principle of reminding him that he doesn’t have complete control over me. As long as I move enough to force him to keep adjusting his grip I am satisfied. And the pain reminds me to be mad at him and not enjoy the feel of his skin under my
48 - RykerAt least she is talking to Bennet. They seem to have come to some kind of understanding. That will be helpful in gaining some insight in getting her to cooperate. But, watching her look at the pack brands on Rayna and Jeremiah’s hand longingly and heartbroken did something to my insides. I felt my stomach drop with her expression. Their mate marks she completely ignored. She just wants to be a part of the pack. And watching Jeremiah’s reaction to her rejection of him. I don’t know what I would do if that was Rayna and I. She has been my everything since the day she was born and I know Jeremiah feels the same about Kennedy. But, there has to be a reason they never made her pack. She’s been physically a part of it her whole life and permanently here for the last three years. I never got a full explanation of why they left her out and the events here so far haven’t left much room for that discussion. Jeremiah said it was her story to tell.There’s no way I can ask her a
49 - Kennedy“Kennedy. Hey Ken. You have to let go and wake up. Kennedy.” The last one comes out like a song.“What?” I grumble. I am so comfortable and I don’t think I had a nightmare, I don’t think I dreamed at all last night. I just want to curl up and fall back into the blissful darkness. I am so comfortable, I don’t want to move.“Luna, I need my alpha back.” My eyes fly open at Bennet’s words, and he laughs.“Don’t call me that.” I grumble and try to bury my face back into the pillow as he laughs.“Then let go of my alpha and get your butt up. We need to leave and your death grip on his fur is making things difficult. His wolf is not going to let him up until you let them go.”I don’t move, but I blink and look around and sure enough Ryker’s wolf is still laying in front of me. My arm is draped over the side of the couch and my fingers are threaded through the fur at the nape of his neck and balled into a fist. Maybe I did have a nightmare and don’t remember. I don’t u
50 - Kennedy“I don’t know what I am allowed to tell you. A lot of your questions are going to be better answered by the Alpha.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, but I can’t tell if he is frustrated with me or the situation.“The Alpha? Who spends so much time with me and enjoys long drawn out conversations?” I raise my eyebrow again as I slide into the booth and look around. “Speaking of, is anyone else joining us, or are we the only ones who didn’t eat?”“Everyone else is fine. You will always have hidden warriors around as backup. That is protocol by the way. Sometimes even the Alpha will patrol if we think there is a threat. He will want to keep you as safe as possible and that may include luring a potential problem away while it looks like you are just going about your day.”“I’m sorry for that by the way.”“What are you sorry about?”“I feel like you got the short end of the stick with me. You had to sit out in the hallway all night, had to run down a rogue wolf and take him