1 - Kennedy

The peeling sound of screeching tires. A loud thunk and an explosion of glass. An invisible force throwing me forward. But no control over anything, nothing to grab as my hands fly through the air. I hit a solid surface and jolted up. I gasp as I blink my eyes open. I’m in my room. I am always in my room. I can still smell burned rubber and gas though. The pungent fumes still burn in my nose. This nightmare will never go away. It’s the same thing every night. It has been for two years. I take another deep breath in, trying to clear the smell from my nose and the sight from the back of my eyelids.

My door bursts open and my best friend comes flying at me. At this point I think we should just share a room, with the amount of time he spends with me here. He says nothing, just climbs under the cushiony down blanket and wraps me in his arms, placing my head on his chest. His heartbeat and smell is comforting enough for me to fall back into a dreamless sleep.

I have had the same dream every night since the crash. I don’t know what am I supposed to do? I have been to every doctor that Aunt Beth has sent me to and nothing seems to make it better, except being near Jeremiah. It is messing with my life which is already a complete sh*tshow anyway. I don’t need any more weirdass situations. It’s also not super convenient for him either.

“Awe, sweetheart, you look tired. Another bad night?” Aunt Beth asks like she couldn’t hear me scream from across the house.

I can’t bring myself to be a moody teenager to her though, her and Uncle James have done so much for me the last couple years. They didn’t have to take me in, but when none of my other family members stepped in to claim guardianship over a fifteen year old teenager, my mom’s best friend and her husband took me in without question. She was the one who stayed with me in the hospital while I recovered and she was the one who held me when the doctors told me my parents didn’t survive. She made sure I saw the best doctors and specialists to help me process the whole situation.

“Yeah, They seem to be getting worse, but I don’t know why.” I grumble as I sit down at her massive island and she puts a plate of all my favorite breakfast foods in front of me and I just give her a big smile and dig in.

“You ready yet?” Oh the dulcet howl from my best friend comes from somewhere in the house ten minutes later. What would I do without him in my life?

“Almost. Aunt Beth is trying to gorge me on food and I can’t be rude and leave anything behind.” I say shoving a forkful of food into my mouth.

“Mom, you know she doesn’t need to eat the same amount as me, right? I’m going to have to roll her to school.” He throws my way walking towards the fridge like he isn’t going to grab a plateful of food and wolf it down.

“Did you just call me fat?!” I took a swipe at him from my seat, but he’s fast as f*ck and I missed. “I will remind you, sir, that I train just as much as you. My body just isn’t predestined to be god-like with rock solid muscles stacked on more muscles.”

“So, you’re saying I’m hot and we should go out sometime?” He leans on the doorframe of the kitchen as he slings his backpack over his shoulder while simultaneously shoveling food into his face. I can’t deny that my best friend is hot. He is one of the best looking guys I have ever seen and there are a lot of good looking guys here. I’m pretty sure it’s a genetic trait for werewolves. With his chocolate hair in a strategically messy flop on the top of his head, like he ran his fingers through it but didn’t bother to fix it. His light caramel eyes can draw you in and almost make you miss his full lips. His over six foot stature screams ‘I will keep you safe’ or ‘I will f*ck you up’ depending on who it’s directed at. But, I will never say any of that to him out loud, his ego doesn’t need the boost. But I have never felt the hormonal pull to him either. He is my brother for all intents and purposes and we are super close, but that’s it.

Copyright © 2024 by Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

“Are you kidding?! One of your Luna wannabes would slit my throat in my sleep. And now that you’re eighteen, they are so much worse.” I grimace and pretend to vomit.

“Are those girls still giving you a hard time, honey?”

“Aunt Beth, it’s fine. They would give me a hard time even if we were destined mates.” I pretend to gag again. “They don’t like me because I’m human and beneath them, but I somehow have the attention of their fearless future Alpha. Besides, no one has tried to hit me with anything in a long time. It’s just stupid girls with stupid insults.” I roll my eyes like it doesn’t bother me as I push Jeremiah’s big ass out of the house so we can head to our first day of senior year.

What I won’t tell her is that the insults have gotten worse recently. Apparently, having dead parents and being a human in a werewolf pack wasn’t enough to work with. Now, I am a sl*t who sleeps around with all of Jeremiah’s friends behind his back, even though we have never dated and never will. We have known each other from birth, literal birth. We have the same birthday and were born in the same hospital. Our mom’s had been best friends since college. They graduated together and opened a studio that taught yoga and women’s self defense. My mom took over the studio when Aunt Beth met Uncle James and became the Luna of the pack, which takes a ton of time.

Aunt Beth kept the studio for me and I work there a couple days a week. I help train and the manager is teaching me about the inner workings of the business so I can take over some day. It’s the one thing that my mom left to me that I feel the most connected to her. They started this from nothing and taught both humans and werewolves. It’s a legacy that I really want to keep going, no matter what I do with my life.

“You still plan on leaving for school next year?” Jeremiah asks, not looking at me from the driver’s seat of his muscle car. I couldn’t tell you what it is, but it’s sleek matte black, big and beefy with an engine that growls.

We have had this conversation so many times over the last year that I don’t know what else to say to him.

“Yes, Jer. I have to go. You are going to really start Alpha training and I am a human so it’s not like I am looking for a mate. I mean, it wasn’t you and I don’t know how anyone else will ever compare.” I say dramatically, putting the back of my hand on my forehead. “And right now, I don’t have any other useful purpose in the pack.”

“You know how strangep that was right? Everyone waiting to see if we were mates. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you are amazing and beautiful, but you’re my twin sister.” He shutters dramatically and I just laugh at him.

“You are such a weirdo. You ready for this year though? I mean there are a lot of expectations now. Everything is starting to feel real.”

“Ready as I’ll ever be I guess.” He shrugs. “We already have a bunch of trips planned to visit with other pack Alphas so I can start building relationships with them. At least I’m not the only new Alpha. There are two more in our alliance, which helps. I won’t be the odd man out and just treated like a stupid kid all by myself.” I laugh at him, but I get it. The visiting Alphas can be patronizing to younger wolves. It’s a hierarchy thing, but some of them, like some of our pack members, think that their species, rank and position make them automatically better and allowed to behave anyway and say anything they want with no retaliation.

We pull up to the school and into Jer’s parking spot and of course the b*tch entourage is here waiting.

“Oooooh! Your fan club is here to make sure you don’t break a nail on your way to classes.” I sing song.

“Shut up.” He growls, taking a deep breath before getting out.

These girls are ruthless in their pursuit of him and many of them are eighteen like us and know for a fact that he isn’t their mate, but they still pursue him like he’s available. I mean, he’s not a saint by any stretch of the imagination, none of his crew is. They are actually kind of manwh*res. According to Tommy, it was to practice so they could be good for their mates.

But since our birthday when he came of age and is able to sense his mate, I don’t think I have seen Jer with another girl, I don’t think his wolf will let him. They are game on for their mate and only their mate. Too bad none of the b*tch brigade got the memo.

His lack of attention brought on more rumors about him slumming around with me, but I could at least shut those down pretty fast when I reminded them that means he chose me not them. They changed tactics pretty fast.

We both got out of the car and I had to fight the crowd that surrounded him just to get by, but he has never left me hanging, no matter how mean some of these girls can be, and now is no exception. I do love that he doesn’t baby me or fight my fight for me. He knows that would be more detrimental. I can actually fight for myself and I have the attitude to match. He just keeps the trolls from getting in my way or holding me up from classes.

“Kennedy, let’s go girl. The guys are waiting.” He wraps his arm around my neck and leads me away. “What am I going to do without you here to c*ckblock for me? See, you can’t go away to college. I need you here.”

“First, that is your mate's job, so chop chop and find her already so I can pass the torch. Second, you know why I want to go. I can’t be a burden any more. I want to do right by my parents and Aunt Beth and Uncle James. I need to be able to support myself, I can’t rely on you guys forever.”

“That is a lie and you know it. You had better rely on me forever. I fully plan to rely on you, Warrior.” He tries to look stern, but his handsome face doesn’t really do the look if he isn’t actually angry. “And you know Mom is never letting you go, she’s plotting just as hard as I am to keep you here.”

Before I can reply, the rest of the guys walk up looking like a Magic Mike runway show before all the clothes come off. Not gonna lie, I might have drooled a bit, but what do you expect when all of my friends are hot as f*ck. Too bad none of them are my type, and I’m not their mate. And I have tested all the waters, except Jeremiah. It’s just an unspoken rule that none of us bring it up or discuss it at all.

Ben is our dark haired, tattooed and broody Beta. Tommy is our fun loving Delta and Jason our blonde surfer boy Gamma. They are all tall, and wide like Jer, with Adonis muscles crammed into too tight shirts. I always wonder if that’s on purpose or if they just can’t be bothered to find clothes that fit.

They all do the bro hug thing as we meet up and each one gives me a hug and kiss on the head or cheek. It’s all very public and very much on purpose after last year.

2 - Kennedy

“Hey Kennedy! Looking good girl! I think you get hotter every time I see you.”

“Tommy. You saw me yesterday…at training…when I kicked your ass.” I didn’t actually kick his ass. I just didn’t get beat, and gave him a run for his money.

“That’s better every time too.” He closes his eyes and smiles and we all just laugh.

“You are so stupid!” I say to our future Delta. “Does that line work on any girls?’

“I save my best lines for you, until I find my mate of course. Then I won’t need any lines, she will love me no matter what.” He puts his hand on his heart.

“Lucky girl.” I pretend to vomit on Jason, who just laughs.

“You’re lucky the Moon Goddess is going to force someone to be with you forever. Otherwise, I don’t know if anyone would put up with you that long.” Ben huffs a laugh. I don’t know if I have ever seen our tough-as-nails friend really show any emotion outwardly. He’s actually a really nice guy, when you get to know him, but to the outside world he’s stern and quiet, but he seems to make that look work based on the amount of girls that try and get him to open up, so determined to ‘fix’ him or ‘save’ him. I don’t think he’s broken, just reserved. His mate will be the only person he shows that side to.

We head into the school ready to start the first day of our senior year.

—-

The first week of classes were about as expected. Mean girls say mean things, but the guys don’t let it go too far. They don’t step in right away like they used to. When I first got here, it was a big deal that I was human and best friends with the Alpha’s son, and no matter what race, species or supernatural powers you have, teenagers can just be assholes. So the guys would jump in to protect me, but that just made things worse. It made me a bigger target to pick on because I was perceived as being weak, an easy target.

I struggled to even just get out of bed after the accident, the kids at school didn’t help. Jeremiah used to drag me to training to get me out of the house. It did give me an outlet when my depression morphed into the anger stage of grieving. One day at training a girl got extra rough after she got laughed at. A prank she tried to set on me backfired and she ended up with syrup on her pants for part of the day.

She decided to retaliate publicly. Since I was human, she assumed I wouldn’t know how to really fight even though I train with all of them every day. Her first mistake. She also thought she wouldn’t have to put a lot of effort in because, again, I was human and she was a wolf and there is no comparison. Her second mistake. I beat her severely, and since then I have been training with the guys as a future warrior as well as training self defense at my mom’s studio.

There are things I can’t do, like shift into an enormous beast, but I still train with them even when they are in their wolf form. It has made me faster and more aware. I think the guys go easy on me, but the jealous girls do not. My skill set is varied and probably better because of that.

I have also been working with the trainers on using my other senses to enhance them like any other muscle. I have found I am really good at tracking and hiding from trackers. Even though a wolf’s sense of smell is very strong. I can even fool Jeremiah, who is one of the strongest with Alpha blood.

“So, what exactly is this meeting about? I mean all of the alliances are good, right?” Tommy asks Jer as they are circling each other in the sparring ring after school.

“I think it’s more about getting me and the other future Alphas ready to take over. You know meeting the other Alphas, establishing relationships, that kind of thing. I’ve known most of these guys my whole life, so it won’t be too bad. Mostly a formality.” Jeremiah dodges a series of punches, but doesn’t respond quick enough, because he talks with his hands, and is taken out with a leg swipe and he hits the ground hard, recovers and rolls before Tommy can land another kick. Jer pushes Tommy’s foot away, causing him to stumble and stands to take the offensive.

Before they get too rowdy, Jason steps up and taps Tommy on the shoulder, switching out to partner with Jer. We rotate frequently to work on his stamina. I went first and got a great right hook in, but I was taken out shortly after with a punch to the ribs. I may have heard a few crack, but I am not saying anything to them. The last time they thought they hurt me, no one fought against me for a month. I have been working with our main healer at the clinic on ways to heal faster and not get sick as often. Werewolves apparently have no issues with sickness or disease the way humans do and they heal from broken bones in days and scrapes in a matter of hours. My human body needs more time, but the herbs and teas our healer has speeds up healing and takes away most of the soreness and pain.

“When do you leave?” Jason asks as they continue to work around each other. Our resident surfer boy with sandy blonde hair and dark eyes. He’s the sweet calm to Ben’s military rigidity and Tommy’s wild silliness.

“We take off tonight, so make sure you keep an eye on her.” He pointed to me and I almost spit out the water I was drinking.

“What are you talking about ‘watch me?’ What do I need a babysitter for? You’re going to be gone for the weekend.” I am trying to stay calm, but not doing a great job. I hate it when they get like this.

“You know there have been rogue attacks up and down the southern borders. They haven’t been too close to us, but now that I am in transition for the Alpha title we are vulnerable and you will be a target for several reasons. The other new Alphas have noticed a similar situation. It’s just a precaution, I promise.”

“What reasons are those exactly?” I can’t let the idea drop. He’s been more obsessive in his protectiveness of me lately and I don’t know why. Something is going on and I want to know what it is.

“You know why Ken, come on.” He pleads, knowing where this conversation is going to lead. He can't focus on me for too long though, Jason is still working his grappling skills and they all use me as a distraction for Jer.

“Nope. I’m going to need you to spell that sh*t out for me.”

He huffs and looks around at the rest of the guys, like they are going to save him. They know better than to jump into this warpath, but they aren’t running for the hills either.

“Fine. It can’t happen again, I can’t handle it, we can’t handle it.” He gestures at the guys.

“What, Jer-e-mi-ah,” I enunciated his name, “can’t happen again?”

“You can’t get taken again!” He grits out through clenched teeth.

“Nothing happened last time.” My voice is getting louder. “They had me for all of 2 days, you have to get past this.”

“Bullsh*t! You were targeted because of me. That can’t happen again.”

I change tactics. “Who had to rescue me then, hmm?” I’m fighting for a calm I don’t feel. I can appreciate his feelings, but I do not have to put up with his stupid reactions to them.

He takes a breath and halts his fight with Jason. “You got yourself away, okay? I know that, we all know that, but that is beside the point. You are a human who was left unguarded.” He growled at me.

“The f*ck?! I was and am a warrior with this pack. Anyone in my position, in my location, could have been taken. Or am I not good enough to hold that title anymore?”

Copyright © 2024 by Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

“You know you are, I just…” He grunts. “I can’t lose you. People know you are important to me and they will target you because of that and the fact that you are human.” He rubs his face.

“Ben and Jason and Tommy are important to you. Are you going to put a babysitting detail on them too?”

“What? No, of course not. That’s their job. They’re just…” He stutters again, knowing he’s losing this argument.

“Just what? Guys? Werewolves?” I shrug. “I know you worry about me, but I’m not dumb enough to run into danger. So stop treating me like a fragile piece of glass. And what about your Luna? Are you going to put her under lock and key when you find her? I’d like to be around for that fight.”

“But you are fragile, Ken, ugh,” He jumps in front of me, grabs my shoulders and pulls me into his chest, locking my arms by my side in his control hold type hug. “You are more fragile than we are. One of the new Alphas was moving his mate to his pack and her vehicle was attacked enroute. She’s okay, but a lot of people were hurt and she was held for ransom. She fought Ken, fought hard and was still captured.”

I can’t argue that they are less breakable than me, it’s a scientific fact. And a Luna is the heart of her pack, it’s the one thing that makes an Alpha his strongest, but can also destroy him. He just seems to keep forgetting, I am not his Luna.

“I’ll be fine.” I mumble noncommittal.

“Oh yeah? How are the ribs?”

“Wha…?”

“Don’t try to lie, I felt them crack. I don’t think they are broken, since you are able to yell at me, but that is my point. You are my sister and very, very important. And very much in need of the healer,” He squeezes my side and I wince. “Let's go.”

“No! I’ll be fine in a couple days. Healer Gwen gave me something to speed up healing. I’ll be good as new to beat your ass when you get back.”

“We go now or I mindlink mom.”

I gasp. “Low blow, Jer.”

“Come on Ken, let’s get you checked out and then he can buy all of us something to eat to guarantee you’ll feel better.” Tommy chimes in. He already has his stuff packed up and ready to go. We have been fighting longer than I thought when I look at the time.

“Here, Kennedy.” Ben hands me my bag. Well, I guess we’re going then. I grudgingly follow them out to Jeremiah’s car. I know if I stall too long someone will just pick me up and throw me in like a toy.

It was two small fractures and the guys were sworn to secrecy about it. Aunt Beth tended to get very over protective when I got hurt in any way. Worse than Jeremiah, and I always had bruises and scrapes. It was a wonder she let me train with the pack at all, but I think she knew I would find a way and the guys, and probably Uncle James, would have fully supported the anarchy. I had also been taking classes with my mom for my whole life, so I wasn’t accident prone or weak, just human. I just tended to play hard, always have, like I was part wolf myself.

When we got back to the pack house Aunt Beth had pizzas all lined up for us. Even though Tommy made us stop for burgers on the way back from the healer, all the guys rushed for the food.

Aunt Beth walked up to me while Uncle James and Delta Drake carried the bags outside.

“We will be back in a couple days, hon.” Aunt Beth hugs me, that worried look in her eyes.

“Seriously, I will be fine. Besides, I have the boy band to keep me company.” I point my thumb over my shoulder at Tommy, Ben and Jason sitting at the island working on a pizza. “You better go, so I can get over there, you know they won’t leave me any.” I hugged her one more time.

I walked over to the island and had to slap Tommy’s hand away from the last slice of cheese pizza. He just giggled like a little kid. Big strong arms wrapped around me from behind and squeezed me tight.

“Love you, Ken. I left a shirt in your room. Just in case.” He whispers in my ear.

“Thanks. Love you too.” I lean back into him and squeeze his massive arm with my hand. Then he was gone.

gone.

3 - Kennedy

“So, the cat’s away. What are the mice going to do?” Tommy taunts.

“This mouse has some homework to do and the Beta gave me something to test this weekend so we are playing hide and seek.” They all look up at that? Shocked faces tell me I am going to have to work for my freedom.

“Not a good idea, Ken. You heard Jeremiah. He’s going to lose his mind if he finds out we let you off in the woods by yourself.” Ben tries to shut the idea down before we even start.

“It was your dad’s idea! Come on Ben! Please?”

“Uh, no.”

“Jason, help me out. It was an assignment from the Beta, you can ask him yourself.”

“I can guarantee that he would not assign you something the same weekend the Alpha, Luna, Gamma, Delta and Jeremiah are all gone. Even he knows what Jeremiah will do if any of us allow that. And he will be too busy running the pack for two days to supervise. Not a chance. I love you Ken, but I like my balls more.” He laughs.

“Ugh, Tommy? What do you say?”

“If they are out, I’m out. You’re a handful when you are in your testing sh*t mode. And it kind of makes my brain hurt.”

“Really? Ugh, traitors.” I figured as much, but it was worth a try. ‘I’m going to go change. Can we still do movie night? Or am I not allowed to do that either since Jeremiah won’t be present?” I turn to leave before any of them can answer. It’s not their fault, but I hate feeling like a prisoner. I clearly haven’t done enough to prove myself. I’m just going to have to double the training.

“We are for sure watching a movie. Are you going to wear that sexy thing I got you for Christmas?” Tommy hollers down the hall after me. I turn to give him an evil glare, but I break when he wiggles his eyebrows at me.

“Not a chance in hell, traitor.” I smile at him. “For your inability to grow a set and help me out, I’m going to wear a bunch of frumpy layers.” I turn around to walk off to my room when I hear him mutter.

“Layers are more fun. It’s like unwrapping a present.” Such a hornball.

We didn’t do much of anything all weekend and I barely left my room, let alone the packhouse. It was just easier than getting the third degree for trying to leave. I kept my space from the guys. The longer Jeremiah was gone the more irritated I got at being a prisoner, and they didn’t deserve that wrath.

I got a call from Aunt Beth on Sunday, the rest of the guys got a mindlink from Uncle James. I can’t mindlink, because I’m not an official member of the pack. Our elders found some information that insinuated humans can’t handle a pack connection and trying could kill me. So, naturally, Aunt Beth said absolutely not and won’t even entertain the conversation.

Something came up and they had to stay an extra day. It wasn’t like her to be so vague, but maybe there were people around and the ‘something’ wasn’t common knowledge. I missed Jeremiah and the nightmares were getting worse. All the guys know, it’s just another thing we don’t talk about.

Ben stayed with me last night after we got the call. He didn’t even ask or wait until I had the nightmare. He followed me into my room, wordlessly, and climbed into bed behind me, and just held me while I clung to Jer’s shirt inhaling the scent that has faded over the last two days. The nightmares seem to be worse when I don’t expect Jer to be gone. None of us understand the connection that he and I have, but it really is like we are twins sometimes, we can feel each other's emotions and communicate without speaking or the mindlink, it’s just an innate ability.

The worst part is I hadn’t heard from Jeremiah at all in two days either. I don’t know if we have ever gone more than 24 hours without talking or texting. Nothing feels wrong, but something has definitely changed, it’s palpable in the air and it’s kind of freaking me out.

School was rough Monday. Even with Ben soothing me, the nightmare was on a loop and I couldn’t seem to get it to stop or get myself out of it. We were both tired, he just did a better job of hiding it. I adopted his persona and made it silently through our morning workout and my first class.

I was lost in my thoughts after exchanging my books at my locker for my second period class.

“Were you too busy entertaining last night? You look a little rough, but maybe that’s the way you like it. Is that how you keep all those guys entertained? I hope they pay you well for the services, human.”

“So witty, Janelle. I’m so glad to see that our education system hasn’t been wasted on you.” I didn’t even look at her as I walked away. It was going to take her a few minutes to figure out I called her stupid. Plenty of time to get to my next class.

“Are they still on that kick?” Jason asked from the seat behind me, and I jumped, damn ninja.

“Yep, it’s an oldie but a goody and she really only brings that sh*t out when Jer is gone and she has nothing better to talk about. Apparently you guys aren’t scary enough to keep her away with your mere presence. You're going to have to work on that.” I give him a half hearted smile.

“Well at least your humor is still intact. Oh… we gotta go. Now.”

“Wait, what? We just got here and class is about to start.” He completely ignores me and stands up grabbing his backpack and mine. The f*ck?

“Mr. Jones, sorry to interrupt. Alpha needs us. It’s urgent.” He gestures his head to me, not breaking eye contact with our teacher.

“I will need confirmation of that Jason, by the end of the day.”

“Yes, sir.” Is his only reply as he pulls me up by the arm and basically drags me out of the school.

“What the hell Jason? Where’s the fire?”

“Alpha said come to the packhouse now and to bring you, the rest of the guys are already there.”

We jump in his car and head over to the packhouse, really fast and Jason’s not usually the panic guy.

“Jason, what is going on? Is everyone okay?” Now my brain is going a hundred miles a minute thinking something bad happened to Aunt Beth or Jeremiah or Even Uncle James. “Jason, talk to me,what’s going on? I’m freaking out over here.” He finally looks at me. “What happened?” I’m on the verge of tears and I don’t even know what happened.

Copyright © 2024 by Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

“Oh Sh*t. Sorry Ken, I didn’t even think. No, everyone is okay, I guess. I wasn’t told that anyone was hurt, and he usually leads with that. Alpha James said that they have news and we need to get there quickly. That’s it, I swear.”

I look out the window, willing my tears not to fall until I know what is going on. The ten minute drive felt like forever and I couldn’t get my heart to beat at a normal rate. I just have to see them then it will all be okay. That’s what I keep telling myself as we drive up and I see all the familiar cars in the driveway. There is also an unfamiliar car, a sleek white SUV.

I jump out of Jason’s car before it is even in park and run through the front door not bothering to close it. I have worked myself up and I need to see my brother before I lose my mind. I trample through the house and straight toward the voices I hear in the common room. Then I see him and I have eyes for no one else.

“Jer,” I whisper out and he turns to me with the biggest smile on his face, he looks so happy to see me. I run straight at him and jump into his arms without even thinking, wrapping my legs around his waist. I bury my face in his neck and inhale, feeling calm immediately.

Then a loud menacing growl sends a shudder around the whole room and Jeremiah lets me go, just drops me to the floor and turns away. I land in a heap on my butt. I am stunned, he’s never dropped me before, not outside training anyway.

“Who the f*ck is that!?!” A female voice I don’t recognize snarls. I can’t see her behind Jeremiah’s big frame and everyone else has moved to stand next to him.

“What’s going on?” I ask all the backs facing me, finally pulling myself together enough to get off the floor and stand upright. I’m ignored by everyone. My heartrate spikes again, something is very, very wrong.

“I will not ask again, Jeremiah.” Her voice is on the higher side and demanding. I can feel her power from here, but it doesn’t seem to bother me, my body just knows it’s there and she’s using her aura, meaning she‘s high ranking.

“It’s nothing, really. This is my best friend, Kennedy. Kennedy, this is my mate, Rayna.” He finally turns around to look at me, but I don’t know if he even sees me. His warm chocolate eyes look between her and I, and I can tell he is already in love. Completely infatuated with her and my heart sinks.

His smile isn’t for me, it’s for her. She is staring daggers at me with her emerald green orbs. She is perfect, like, literally perfect. Her symmetrical face is angular almost like a fairy and she is tall and lean with generous curves in all the right places. Her raven black hair falls in loose waves around her, hitting her mid back. Her olive skin is radiant and the soft pink tracksuit she has on makes her look athletic instead of like a lazy traveler. She is gorgeous and looks amazing standing next to my best friend.

I choose to ignore the insult of him ignoring and dropping me and focus on my friends' excitement.

“Your mate? No way! Jer, this is amazing!” I go to give him another hug and she growls at me again. It takes everything in me to pull my hands back and not hug him. I just clench my fists at my sides, looking around awkwardly. The whole room had gone silent watching the exchange. I want to be excited for my friend, but this is not what I expected at all. I don’t know what I thought would happen, but it wasn’t this.

Tommy breaks the tension and introduces himself. “Hello Rayna. It’s nice to meet you. I’ll be your Delta. This is Jason your future Gamma, and Ben your future Beta. Kennedy is one of our warriors too.” He points me out and I wish he wouldn’t, she was calming down, but that tension is back the instant he says my name.

“I’m just gonna go. Rayna, It was nice to meet you.” I turned to leave as quickly as I could. Ignoring protests. I had no idea where I was going to go. I lived here and she was going to stay here and eventually live here and she clearly doesn’t like that I have a friendship with Jeremiah. I head out the front door. Did she even know about me, that we were friends? Or did he try to hide me? Is he ashamed of me, his human friend, now that he has his mate? I have never felt so unwelcome in the packhouse before. The foreign feeling is not setting well with me, I feel sick.

I don’t know what that will mean for us. I never once considered what would happen if his mate didn’t like me or want me around. I just assumed she would fit into our group, not replace me in it. It feels like my heart is breaking, just like when I lost my parents and I really need to catch my breath then hit something… hard.

I was walking aimlessly, but now I had a course. I needed to get to the training grounds and work out my frustrations and confusion on some weights and a punching bag. I could feel Ben and Jason following, which means Tommy isn’t too far behind. They are here to babysit me, to make sure I don’t do anything that would make Jeremiah upset. The thought makes me more angry. I know he is the future Alpha, but why is it always about what he wants and needs from me? Why can’t we think about what I need?

I change into some spare clothes from my locker and wrap my hands to hit the bags, letting every insecure thought run through my head, fueling my fire. The three guys are outside the changing room, waiting for me. Tommy goes to say something, but I just hold my hand up and shake my head. I don’t want to hear it right now. I don’t want excuses or placating neutral thoughts. I don’t think I could listen to anything rational, I just need to beat the sh*t out of something.