“Did you get a chance to meet them?”
“No, not yet. I had errands for your parents, and they were already gone to the training grounds when I returned. From what the Omegas say, they all seem respectful and pleasant. I think Rayna is in good hands.”
I nodded silently. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t have placed Rayna with anyone less than she deserved**no one could. My sister was the kindest, purest soul I’d ever known. She was probably the first and only person to truly steal my heart. Where I was rough and aggressive, she was gentle and calm. She always had the ability to ground me when no one else could. I wasn’t sure how I’d manage without her balancing presence, but I also knew I couldn’t keep her here forever. She deserved a strong, loving mate.
Speaking of which, I needed to get a feel for this guy. Even though my opinion might not matter, I wanted to know how he treated my sister when I wasn’t around. I’d encountered enough terrible alphas who abused their mates, cheated to hurt them, or were cruel to their pack members.
“Josh, Danny, Bennet. Is my sister and her mate still at training?” I linked with my men, steeling myself for what I might learn.
“That wasn’t my fault, and I left her hanging too. I don’t do clingy types, and honestly, none of you should either,” I say with a chuckle, sharing a knowing grin with him.
“Yeah, well, blue balls definitely ranks high on my ‘do not tolerate’ list,” he jokes back. “Alright, fill me in on this hot human you mentioned. What’s your ETA?”
“Probably around thirty minutes, but I’ve got a few things to take care of first. Edward’s pack requires some extra security, and a couple of the smaller packs have made requests too. I didn’t have time to handle all that before the meeting ended. I’ll head down to training as soon as I can.”
We pull up to the packhouse, and I step out, immediately greeted by Robin waiting at the door. Without missing a beat, she launches into a rapid-fire update on everything she’s accomplished and what I still need to tackle.
“I’ve scheduled a meeting with Matt for you in two days. You’ll go over the project details from the Oak Lake Pack then. He’ll be here for tonight’s dinner and party, but business is strictly off the table,” she says, shooting me a sharp look that makes it clear the rule applies to me as well. “If you hand over the files now, I’ll forward them to his secretary so he can review them ahead of time. That way, you can hit the ground running.”
She holds out her hands expectantly, clearly knowing that if I don’t give her the files, I’ll just retreat to my office and bury myself in work**which was exactly my plan.
“Robin, there are still a few files I need to review,” I protest.
She ignores me and strides ahead. Normally, I’d lose my temper with someone like this**maybe even throw them against a wall**but there’s something about Robin. She has this quiet, unshakable strength that makes it impossible for me to be anything but respectful. Honestly, if I tried to be violent with her, she’d probably skin me alive. She’s almost as intimidating as my mom.
“That’s why I set the meeting for two days from now. Your sister is about to leave the pack for good, so you need to spend time with her. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply. “Is everyone still at training?”
“I believe so.”
“Did you get a chance to meet with them?”
“No, not yet. I had a few errands to run for your parents, and I wasn’t here when they arrived. By the time I got back, they’d already left for the training grounds. From what the Omegas have said, they all sound respectful and pleasant. I think your sister is in good hands.”
I nod silently. I trust the Moon Goddess wouldn’t place Rayna with anyone less than she deserves**no one could. My sister’s heart is pure and kind, the sweetest soul I’ve ever known. In fact, she was probably the first**and only**person to ever truly steal my heart. She’s the gentle calm to my rough, aggressive nature. Whenever I’ve been on the edge, she’s been the one to steady me and help me find reason when no one else could. The thought of her leaving leaves a hollow ache inside me. I’m not sure how I’ll manage without her here to keep me balanced. But deep down, I know I can’t hold onto her forever. She deserves a strong, loving mate.
Speaking of which, I should probably get a better sense of this guy. I realize it won’t change anything I do, but I want to know how he treats my sister when I’m not around. I’ve seen too many terrible alphas**those who abuse the mates the Goddess gave them, cheat just to cause pain, and treat their pack members like dirt.
“Josh, Danny, Bennet,” I call out, linking with my guys. “Is my sister and her mate still at training?”
“Yeah, boss. They’re still hanging around,” Josh’s voice crackled through the link, always alert and ready.
Danny chuckled on the other end. “You coming down to scope out the fresh recruits?”
“Danny, don’t be an ass. They’re actually not half bad. All of them have kept pace with us,” Bennet chimed in, ever the optimist.
Josh’s tone was a little more skeptical. “Even the human’s holding her own, boss. She’s training with Greta and keeping up. I was worried she’d get hurt, but then she threw Tanya about ten minutes ago.”
Danny’s voice dropped into a teasing growl. “You should come see for yourself. Like I said, she’s hot. And if she’s single, I’m calling dibs before any of you assholes get near her.”
Bennet laughed, shaking his head. “You’re trying way too hard. Did you really have to stop them and shift right when they arrived? Don’t think Josh and I didn’t notice that little dick-swinging display.”
I smiled softly, feeling a warm rush of familiarity. I’d missed these guys**their banter, their camaraderie. They grounded me, made me feel normal, like I wasn’t some anomaly in this wild world. Even if it was just over the mindlink, it was enough.
“As head warrior, it’s my duty to check out all incoming visitors and welcome them. If they happen to notice what I’m packing, well, that’s on them.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.