Logan stared at her, locking them in a stalemate. He had caught her red handed, holding the picture frame, sitting in the office chair. It was hard to misconstrue what she was doing. She broke into his office, was holding a no doubt treasured photo, and did who knows what when he wasn't there. Things weren't looking too good for her. It would end before it even began if he threw her from the pack now. "Do you think—" Jamie spoke up, ignoring the rage in his expression and doing the only thing she could to salvage this situation. Allow herself to be weak. "That they would want to hear from me?" The fight bled from him, and she allowed herself to tear her eyes away from him, looking at the landline phone, sitting so innocently on the desk. "Do you think they care?" she whispered out her fear. The one she'd been trying to ignore since coming here. Jamie wanted to believe they loved her, that they did this because they cared but they hadn't said anything, just sent her away without
There was a loud thump from the other end of the phone, and Jamie could hear her mother asking what happened before there was another thump, her dad letting out a woosh of air and Jamie couldn't help but laugh, not knowing what else to do. Her mother just tackled her father to get closer to the phone. "Jamie?! Oh Jamie, sweetheart, we've been so worried!" "Hi Mama," she choked out, closing her eyes and trying not to cry."Are you okay? Have they been treating you well? Do I need to start something?" demanded her father and a sob left her throat because her dad was willing to start a fight with another pack for her. "No–no, daddy, I'm alright. The Northeastern pack's been good to me. I miss home though. I miss the path I'd take a morning run on. I miss sparring with the pack, messing around with Sarah, I miss you…why didn't you tell me I was going? I could've understood." "If we told you, we wouldn't have been able to let you go." Jamie could tell her mother was crying, her voice w
Her father couldn't find the origins of the members of the Northeastern pack. Jamie knew it was a longshot, but she'd been hopeful. Without their names and without knowing where they were from it'd be hard for him to ask, especially when they were being so careful with this.Faith Anderson, the Southern pack's medic, had some documents but couldn't even send hers over yet. There were hoops she had to jump through to do it since Andy was supposed to be the only one who had access now. To get the medical files from a pack that wasn't theirs though? She was gonna have to jump through a lot more than hoops. Jamie was already lucky her parents were on her side and that Faith also believed in her to even do something like this that went against all pack standards. It was a waiting game now, so why did Jamie feel like there was a time limit?Logan hadn't been upset with her breaking in, even allowing her to continue to help with the paperwork. In truth, Jamie had to punish herself, takin
"So, what did you want to be when you grew up?" asked Jamie curiously. She was sitting in Logan's office on the floor, sorting through one of the last piles of paperwork. Two weeks of work and here they were. It was almost decent. It was up to Logan to sort through the coats though and how the closet was bulging, and some sort of carnival stuffed snake was sticking halfway out, she didn't think that was going to happen. "Huh? Oh, well…did you know what you wanted to be?" "The alpha." Logan made a small noise, giving her a look, and Jamie laughed. "No, but in all seriousness, it was more like being the alpha was a means to an end to get to where I really wanted to be. I'm sure you've heard people call me wild." "Don't forget feral," he grinned roguishly, making her roll her eyes. "That too, but I know what I'm about. I don't like being controlled. Alphas are the last people you'd even think about trying to control, and when someone takes over for you? You're just an elder and do
Jamie chose to ignore her sudden realization about her feelings for Logan. She did not have time for that when she was trying to expose and convict his best friend. Yeah, that wasn't a good starting point for a relationship. More like a situationship. The fallout of that would be even worse if they were dating. Logan was a good guy. He was funny and strong and pretty handsome…AHHHHHH!'Heart, you've betrayed me!' Jamie inwardly screamed, slamming her face back into her pillow—thanking God Valerie was still asleep. She didn't need to have that conversation. Help for her love life was not really the help she needed right now. Her heart got her into this in the first place though. Not only did she feel the need to take down Andy for hurting them all, now she was crushing on the guy who'd defend him, who also happened to be the pack alpha. "Stupid emotions," muttered Jamie before looking at the clock and now cursing God. 2:07 AM was not a decent time for all that it was considered 'th
Hiding out in a bathroom to do secretive things was not what Jamie thought she'd ever have a habit of doing, but there she was again, hiding out in a bathroom, doing secretive things. It was a new sort of low to be sitting on the tile floor, back to the door, only about a foot or two away from the toilet, but you had to do what you had to do. Play super-secret agent trying to take down three rather beloved members of a pack she was close to, filled with friends she'd made and people she wanted to help. God, this was why spies didn't do relationships or friendships. They became compromised. Ha! As if Jamie hadn't been compromised the moment she realized she cared about Logan, the moment her and Valerie became friends, the moment she realized Andy was suspicious. Pack, family, friends, even strangers, like hell she'd just let the Burroughs get away with this. Still, Jamie had people on her side at least, so despite the dangers, she'd keep on going. Her parents really went all out
Jamie slept through breakfast, but that was fine. Her fight with Logan wasn't until the afternoon so she had to eat lunch and even warm up. Her and Valerie didn't bring up what they talked about last night. It wasn't like anything they did could solve it or make it better, or, at least in the moment. The waiting game was killing her, but if Jamie could just expose the Burroughs, then maybe they could finally get rid of the tension between the packs. They were scared because they thought the disease might be transferable, but if they knew it wasn't, then maybe they would be able to return to their packs. At least have the right to visit them! Though Jamie knew she was being too hopeful with this. The Northeastern pack was the only pack not allowed to visit their original packs, there was just too much tension with all the assumptions about what Canis Syndrome was. Urgh, the longer this went on, the more complicated it became. It was a good thing she was fighting someone today. May
"Aw crap. What happened?" asked Valerie, staring at Jamie from the doorway of their cabin. "What makes you think something happened?" muttered Jamie, not looking up from her position. "Seeing as how you're face first in your pillows again, I'm gonna guess emotional distress. Be careful, you might become predictable." Jamie swore before rolling over. "It's a habit. I used to scream into them when I was angry." "So, what happened? I thought you were sparing with Logan?""I was," she grimaced, glad Valerie couldn't see her face. It wasn't like she could explain the reason behind her emotional distress. How was she supposed to say, 'yeah, your alpha who's supposed to be fine and perfectly normal might also have Canis Syndrome.' "Wait, Waaaaait a minute!" Jamie's head shot up. She didn't like that tone, she didn't like that expression, that excited look on Valerie's face. "No," she said instantly. "Whatever it is you're thinking, no." "You're in love~!" "Hell no." "Fine, crushing
"—and then Logan busted down the door and almost hit me with it. Then I dragged his body back, my parents came by to help, blah blah, exposition travel, and now we're here." Finished Jamie. There had been lots of dramatic gasps and screaming during her explanation, and the alpha of the southern pack and his brother had to be held back from leaping over the tables to kill Andy, but other than that it went okay! Hardly anyone purposefully interrupted her for clarification that Valerie and Jamie's parents were able to help with. Everyone else made sure to keep to their seats since they didn't want to fight Jamie at all, even if they didn't know what her shifted form was. A few people were even crying, some families scattered across different packs reuniting for the first time in years. It was…almost gruesome in a way, to have it all laid out. How many people suffered for another's gain, but that was the question wasn't it."Andy Burroughs," started Ballie. "Why did you and your paren
Jamie was not allowed to get any f*cking rest. A true tragedy. She got a nap, that was all she was allowed before it was apparently time to leave at the *ss crack of dawn. She was given consolation hugs by her parents. They managed to talk the other packs down into a meeting and trial, but that trial was in the morning. Early morning, meaning they would have to leave even earlier to be there on time. Jamie was at least allowed the other front passenger seat in the car Logan was driving at the consequence of having to have Valerie in her shifted Dachshund form on her feet while Daniella sat in her lap. Daniella's parents were a smaller breed of dog and offered to shift so the others could fit. That left Jamie looking after a child while still very tired. She, thankfully, had the time to at least shower and change, donning her leather jacket and combat boots. Daniella was thankfully distracted by braiding her wild hair and Logan was focused on driving while jamming to whatever song
"Tell me the truth Andy, did you do it?" asked Logan. "Do what?" "Don't play this game!" he snarled, dragging Andy closer. "Did you do it?" "Hey, yeah, can we know what 'it' was?" called Kim, voicing everyone's question."We were woken up looking for Jamie and now we're having an interrogation?" "Yeah, why is Andy wrapped up in duct tape and…did Jamie bite him?" asked Gary in disbelief."He stabbed me in the neck!" shouted Jamie hotly. "He's lucky I didn't do worse and that's only because the drugs knocked me out!" "Drugs?! What's going on!?" "Oh my god!" wheezed Valerie, still out of breath but now she was laughing. "You really did go through with it. You don't give empty threats, do you." "I don't." Jamie glared into Andy's soul, and he was deeply aware of the threat she was capable of being since he kept his mouth shut. "What did Andy do?" "That is a LONG story," grimaced Jamie. "We can help explain it though." "Dad?!"Jamie didn't know who was more surprised. The Northe
He was an idiot! A really big idiot!Logan was trying to stave off a panic attack as he sprinted through the woods in his shifted form. It was a little bit hard though when his childhood best friend was apparently about to murder his girlfriend—ex-girlfriend. How the hell did Jamie not straight up murder him after that? He was supposed to at least hear her out, not just write her off! Oh God, he was what people talked about when they brought up their sh*tty exes. 'Yeah, my ex almost got me murdered because he didn't hear me out that his friend was experimenting on people.' Logan didn't want to believe it, that Andy could do something like that, but it all made sense, everything made horrible, terrible sense. Why Jamie was so wary of Andy, so odd around him. Andy's own interest in her shifted form—him never letting Logan see the bodies. He thought it was because it was too gruesome, but he knew his families shifted forms well, he'd seen what their claws could do. If he was allowed
Valerie knew something was wrong the moment she heard Jamie screech in rage before tapering out into silence. It was more than enough to know they failed in convincing Logan, yet she hesitated to call the Western pack. She should've gone with Jamie instead of letting her do this alone, that was on her. It wasn't over yet, they still had time. They still had all the proof they collected and photos of the experiment's documents. They needed Logan on this. Valerie didn't want to go to war with the other packs, not when she might be fighting people she knew. Not when she would never be able to bring herself to fight in Andy's defense after everything he and his parents did. If Jamie didn't succeed with diplomacy, then maybe Valerie should take a page from her book and beat it into Logan's thick skull. She'd do it, even if he could take her in a fight. It had to end. Valerie rushed out of the cabin with their copied medical records, looking for Jamie, but she was nowhere to be found.
She woke up with a killer headache, her jaw aching but now it was bruised on top of that, and blood in her teeth.It was, arguably, the worst wake up of her entire life. Then Jamie realized she was in Andy's lab, collared to his weird chain wall and it immediately nudged the removal of her wisdom teeth into a distant second place."Good, you're up. You were out for longer than I thought you would be. To be fair though I did give you a second dose after you, you know, bit me." Jamie turned, gaze landing on Andy, his arm wrapped but there was still blood on his lab coat in a ring of teeth. "You're lucky that's ALL I did," she hissed, standing up and tugging on the chain. A thick metal collar with a lock was around her neck. She was strong but there was no way she was gonna be able to pry the thing open. "That's not gonna work. It's made with tungsten steel. It's funny, when did you start to suspect me?" he asked curiously, taking a seat in the swivel chair at one of the desks, messin
Somehow, after putting everything back in place, Jamie was even faster running back to the pack."Please tell me you have something good, and the lab place wasn't some sort of secret man cave," begged Valerie the moment she slipped back into their cabin. "If this doesn't convince him, I really don't know what will," grimaced Jamie, showing Valerie the documents she found. They were all signed off of by the Burroughs, all on different occasions. They were called experiments and subjects for God sakes. Valerie made a face as she looked at her before gasping at Logan's."Wait—Logan has Canis Syndrome?!" "I thought he might, but to think he really was 'a success'. Andy hasn't returned?" "Not yet," sighed Valerie in relief, checking out the window again and making sure of it. "If you're gonna talk to Logan, now's probably the time." "I know," murmured Jamie. "Keep the phone on you, if things go wrong…well, you'll probably hear it." "I can talk to him about this." "I know, but it's p
For a moment, Jamie almost thought she missed whatever hidden lab, secret bunker thing Andy had when she sprinted for 15 minutes. It would be just her luck that after everything she missed the stupid thing, but a flash of metal caught her eye at just the right moment. Jamie went into a dead stop that almost sent her slamming into a tree, but it allowed her to keep her eyes on the metal, tracking it down in the last twilight hours of the evening. It was an old building, moss and vines crawling up the sides of it, the windows small and high, while the metal—the metal was the door. This was it, this had to be it. A quick inspection showed a deadbolt lock, and Jamie quickly searched the area. Andy had to keep a key somewhere nearby. He traveled across practically the entire White Oak territory and then some. He wouldn't just risk THE KEY to the lab. "Alright, if I was a smart doctor who was carrying a 20-year legacy having yet to get caught and trying not to, where would I stash the ke
"Did she mean we have seven days left today or it started yesterday?" asked Valerie.That was the question Jamie got the second she was awake, and the answer Valerie got was a very heartfelt swear. "I'm not sober enough for this." "You're not even allowed to drink." Jamie stared Valerie dead in the eye. "I'm not sober enough for this," she repeated, daring her to continue and Valerie raised her hands in surrender. "I'm gonna go tail Andy. We have a basic idea of his schedule so either today or tomorrow he'll head to his lab. My chores today are scrubbing the shower stalls." Jamie groaned heavily before giving a thousand-mile stare to the ceiling. "Is it truly too late to murder him?" "You've made it this far in, so I'd have to say yes. Just for bragging rights." "Go, I'll get the stalls. Don't get caught.""Knockin' on wood, girl." With a short knock, she was off. Hopefully Valerie would be able to find something. Getting up was a hassle. Jamie swore that once this was all o