William My parents had left with Abigail for her checkup with Doctor Edwards. My sister was off with Addison and Jessica, Cayden's younger sisters, for their tea party. So, it was down to just Wesly and I. I really enjoyed being with my family, though Wesly was always the distant one. "I have some free time before Uncle Brody gets here." I said to him, nudging his arm that was propped up on the table. "How about if we spend the afternoon together? Anything you wanna do. I'm up for it. We need some bro time." Wesly just struggled his shoulders at me and continued to stare into nothing. So I decided to take a little sneak peek inside his head and see what he really wanted to do with me. I focused all my energy on him. 'Ah, ha,' I said to myself once I had the answer. "How about we go for a drive? We can drop the top and crank up the raido. Just 2 dudes and the road." "How did you know? Nevermind." Wesly said, shaking his head. "Let's go." I mind linked my father that Wesly and I
William By the time we made it back to our packlands. Uncle Brody had arrived with the female. My father had linked me, telling me that he and my mother, along with Uncle Brody, were with her in the hospital. I dropped Wesly off in the packhouse and headed over to meet up with them. I was trying my best to get the bus stop woman's image out of my head. There was not a chance in hell I would ever see her again. Though I wanted to go back to Durwood and comb the streets until I found her. I couldn't get past the fact that they looked homeless. Down on their luck at the very least. For some reason, it is torturing my soul to know the two of them are suffering in life. I could easily put an end to it if I could only find them. Luke has been silent since we left Durwood. Whatever it is that he is feeling or knows he is isn't sharing it with me. His response to the woman still has me perplexed. I walk into the hospital, and Doctor Edwards quickly helps me to locate my parents and
Layla When the bus stopped in a little town called Durwood. Opey and I got off. We would wait here for the Harris House bus. We were in a gas station parking lot sitting on the bench waiting. I put my arm around Opey and pulled her up close to me, trying to reassure her that we were going to be ok. Though I wasn't feeling it myself at the moment. I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious about our appearance. We didn't have a lot of anything, especially clothes. We were both wearing things that were too small for us. Looking at us, I realized I kinda looked like a cheap hooker and Opey just looked thrown away. I decided that once I got a job, I would take Opey shopping and get her some age appropriate clothes. She couldn't go to school dressed in rags. Her shoes also had holes in them. I didn't even have any real shoes, I was in flip-flops at the moment. There wasn't anything I could do about it. I sighed heavily. Maybe the Harris House people would give us some clothe
William When I got back to the tree where I had statched my clothes. I shifted and got dressed. Then, I linked my father to ask where they all were. He told me they were in his office. So that's where I headed to. I had managed to get control of myself and Luke enough to deliver to them what I had seen inside the females mind. I walked into the packhouse and wasted no time getting to the office. There, I find my father and mother, Jack, Cayden, Archie, Dylan, and Uncle Brody all sitting around the conference table waiting for me. I took a seat at the table, placing my arms on the top of it and lacing my fingers in front of me. I looked to all of them who were looking at me. I took a deep breath before I began. "The female is telling the truth about everything." I stated flatly. I could tell that was not what any of them wanted to hear. My father raised his eyebrows and exchanged a knowing glance with Uncle Brody. It wasn't going to get any easier, so I continued. "She is d
Alpha Greg "How is it possible that both of them just disappeared?" I demanded of Kieth. I swear I am surrounded by idiots. This could not possibly be happening. I knew I had to get my niece's back here at any cost. If anyone were to find out that I had beaten the oldest one, they would start investigating. Which would be disastrous. Should anyone find out what I have in my dungeon, I was done! "We have searched the entire pack." Keith told me. "Both she and the little girl are gone." "The fucking werebears!" I thundered as I drove my fist down into my desktop. It had to be. There was no other explanation. The flea bitten bastards now had 3 of my women and 2 of my pups. They'd had the nerve to come to my borders and question me. Of course, I had denied any knowledge of a naked, pregnant she-wolf on the loose. I was sure Brandy would be to scared to tell them much. However, they would take one look at Layla's back and know she had been beaten severely and that little bitch
Layla It had been late by the time we reached the Harris House. Everyone there had been so kind to us. The intake procedure was actually quite easy. I only had to lie a few times to the nice counselor who was assisting us. If she had any inclination that I was lying, she didn't show it. I am sure they hear all kinds of stories every day. Maybe they are trained to just accept what they are told and move on. I told her that we were orphans, which was the only part of my story that was true. I told her that we had gone rogue after our parents died. She seemed to be sympathetic and understand our plight. She agreed that Opey and I didn't have any business being on our own and that my little sister needed to be in school and have some structure. I thanked her for that. That's where the lies started. I told her that our parents had been warriors and were killed in the pack wars. Opey, obviously, wasn't old enough to have her wolf yet, and I told her I was born without one. She rais
William It had definitely been the day from hell for me! Cayden and Dylan had suggested we go out for a while and get a few drinks. I had readily agreed. I was in my room getting ready when the bus stop woman invaded my mind again. I was supposed to leave tomorrow night to head back to the university. And I didn't want to go. In the morning, I was going to oversee the intake of the latest Harris House refugees. I thought if I could find them again, I could just sneak them into the program. We had never had humans stay at the Harris House before, but there was a first time for everything. I knew I was grasping at straws. Rachel had called again, and I had blew her off again. I didn't have any idea what she saw in me. I decided that once I got back, I was going to make a clean break from her. It was really the right thing to do for the both of us. I hoped she would find a guy who would do her right. Especially seeing as how I may have to drop everything at a moment's notice and
Layla Early the next morning, Opey and I got up. We showered and got ourselves dressed. Then, we went downstairs to have breakfast. It wasn't long before we were all loaded up on the buses and heading to the Harris House hospital. There were 12 of us, including Opey and myself, on our bus. "What are they going to do to us?" Opey asked me. " It's just a checkup, Opey. They're gonna make sure that we're healthy. That's all." I assured her. "What about your back?" She asked me softly so no one else could hear her. I sighed. "There isn't anything I can do about it. So I'm not going to worry about it." "Are you going to tell them who did it?" She asked me, concerned with wide eyes. I had thought about that but I didn't have an answer. I was hoping they wouldn't ask. We were in a home for battered shifters. So I was hoping it would be like the intake process, and the doctor would just accept it and patch me up. "Not unless I have to." I answered her. "If anyone asks you an
William "And you want me to try to figure out what is going on with her?" My mother asked. "If there is anyone who can get through to her, it's you." I said. "It's hard sometimes knowing everything, isn't it, son?" She asked me softly. My mother always did know how to get to the heart of the matter. "Yes." " I will do my best with your mate. But might I suggest you cast a spell around yourself before you come back home. Keep yourself out of her mind temporarily?" I stopped us and looked into my mother's eyes. "Just be careful with your wording." She continued." I have gotten myself into a bit of trouble trying to cast spells on myself. I think it would be best for the both of you until we get it all straightened out." I cleared my throat. "I just don't want to lose her. I'm afraid I didn't make a very good first impression with her today." "Jack and Archie tried to kidnap me, so don't be so hard on yourself it will come." She laughed. I wanted to go to Layla's r
William I had been watching from the courtyard waiting for Layla and her sister to leave the hospital. I had to see her just one more time before I left. Even if I had fucked everything up with her at least I could see her until I figured out how to fix it. When I saw the interaction between her and my Harris House counselor I watched on with curiosity. When Layla started yelling at the guy, I couldn't help but smile. I wanted to see the Alpha I knew she had buried inside of her come out. It seemed the trigger was her sister. But I had already caused enough trouble for today, so I had gone to investigate. When I found out they were trying to separate her from Ophelia. I had to get involved. It had turned out pretty well since my mate would now be staying here with my parents. I had to speak with my mother before I left. I had no idea why Layla was lying to me or what she was trying to hide. But if there was anyone in this world who could get her to open up, it was Luna Hope.
Layla I was absolutely losing my shit when the nurse helped me up off the floor. My hair was glued to my face by my tears. And I was trembling. I got Opey up off of the floor, and She had tears streaming down her cheeks as well. The nurse handed me another gown, and I quickly slid it on over my shoulders. The doctor was staring at me. I knew we were in big trouble because I had pissed off their Alpha. I opened my mouth to apologize, but no sound came out. I slumped back down onto the bed. I couldn't stop the tears that were spilling from my eyes. I had screwed everything up for us, and I knew it. I sat still as the nurse cleaned and bandaged my back. At least, I wouldn't leave here and have it get infected. "Are you ok?" The doctor finally asked me. I nodded my head at her. "You can both get dressed when you are done. You are free to go." She turned and left the room. "You will need to come back in a couple of days to have the bandages changed." The nurse said to me as
William I had just finished up breakfast with my family. When I saw the Harris House bus coming down the driveway toward the hospital. I waited for it to pass by because I knew the first part would be getting them all registered. I wasn't in any real big hurry to get there. When I came in through the double doors. Only a couple of the shifters were still sitting in the waiting room, and the rest had been taken back to exam rooms. I checked in with the nurse to see which hall the shifters were taken to and headed that way. I was walking down the east hall, looking in through the different windows at the shifters. This is something I have seen most of my adult life. So I wasn't shocked by their appearances. When I got to the last window and looked in. My heart stopped beating, and Luke pushed forward. It was the bus stop woman and her little sister. They were both sitting on the side of the bed wearing hospital gowns. Luke began to growl viciously and fight me for control when
Layla Early the next morning, Opey and I got up. We showered and got ourselves dressed. Then, we went downstairs to have breakfast. It wasn't long before we were all loaded up on the buses and heading to the Harris House hospital. There were 12 of us, including Opey and myself, on our bus. "What are they going to do to us?" Opey asked me. " It's just a checkup, Opey. They're gonna make sure that we're healthy. That's all." I assured her. "What about your back?" She asked me softly so no one else could hear her. I sighed. "There isn't anything I can do about it. So I'm not going to worry about it." "Are you going to tell them who did it?" She asked me, concerned with wide eyes. I had thought about that but I didn't have an answer. I was hoping they wouldn't ask. We were in a home for battered shifters. So I was hoping it would be like the intake process, and the doctor would just accept it and patch me up. "Not unless I have to." I answered her. "If anyone asks you an
William It had definitely been the day from hell for me! Cayden and Dylan had suggested we go out for a while and get a few drinks. I had readily agreed. I was in my room getting ready when the bus stop woman invaded my mind again. I was supposed to leave tomorrow night to head back to the university. And I didn't want to go. In the morning, I was going to oversee the intake of the latest Harris House refugees. I thought if I could find them again, I could just sneak them into the program. We had never had humans stay at the Harris House before, but there was a first time for everything. I knew I was grasping at straws. Rachel had called again, and I had blew her off again. I didn't have any idea what she saw in me. I decided that once I got back, I was going to make a clean break from her. It was really the right thing to do for the both of us. I hoped she would find a guy who would do her right. Especially seeing as how I may have to drop everything at a moment's notice and
Layla It had been late by the time we reached the Harris House. Everyone there had been so kind to us. The intake procedure was actually quite easy. I only had to lie a few times to the nice counselor who was assisting us. If she had any inclination that I was lying, she didn't show it. I am sure they hear all kinds of stories every day. Maybe they are trained to just accept what they are told and move on. I told her that we were orphans, which was the only part of my story that was true. I told her that we had gone rogue after our parents died. She seemed to be sympathetic and understand our plight. She agreed that Opey and I didn't have any business being on our own and that my little sister needed to be in school and have some structure. I thanked her for that. That's where the lies started. I told her that our parents had been warriors and were killed in the pack wars. Opey, obviously, wasn't old enough to have her wolf yet, and I told her I was born without one. She rais
Alpha Greg "How is it possible that both of them just disappeared?" I demanded of Kieth. I swear I am surrounded by idiots. This could not possibly be happening. I knew I had to get my niece's back here at any cost. If anyone were to find out that I had beaten the oldest one, they would start investigating. Which would be disastrous. Should anyone find out what I have in my dungeon, I was done! "We have searched the entire pack." Keith told me. "Both she and the little girl are gone." "The fucking werebears!" I thundered as I drove my fist down into my desktop. It had to be. There was no other explanation. The flea bitten bastards now had 3 of my women and 2 of my pups. They'd had the nerve to come to my borders and question me. Of course, I had denied any knowledge of a naked, pregnant she-wolf on the loose. I was sure Brandy would be to scared to tell them much. However, they would take one look at Layla's back and know she had been beaten severely and that little bitch
William When I got back to the tree where I had statched my clothes. I shifted and got dressed. Then, I linked my father to ask where they all were. He told me they were in his office. So that's where I headed to. I had managed to get control of myself and Luke enough to deliver to them what I had seen inside the females mind. I walked into the packhouse and wasted no time getting to the office. There, I find my father and mother, Jack, Cayden, Archie, Dylan, and Uncle Brody all sitting around the conference table waiting for me. I took a seat at the table, placing my arms on the top of it and lacing my fingers in front of me. I looked to all of them who were looking at me. I took a deep breath before I began. "The female is telling the truth about everything." I stated flatly. I could tell that was not what any of them wanted to hear. My father raised his eyebrows and exchanged a knowing glance with Uncle Brody. It wasn't going to get any easier, so I continued. "She is d