“Jealous?”

“Hardly,” I answered with a smile.

As much as the guy got on my nerves, his only concern had been for Bailey. I couldn’t fault him for that. After setting his cup in the sink, he walked to the door and took off his shirt. “I’m going for a run.”

Tyla showed up as he was making his way out the door. She was carrying a large paper bag in her hands, and watched him exit.

“Please tell me you’re not interested in that douchebag.”

She snorted. “As if. I totally have better taste than that.” She said it but I didn’t believe it. “I guess she’s still not awake?”

Sighing, I moved over to the couch. “No.” She sat beside me and set the paper bag on the coffee table. “What’s in there?”

Grinning wide, she pulled out the contents. “My mother made you some soup and I brought two loaves of my homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies. Bailey hasn’t eaten in three days. I’m sure she’ll be starving when she wakes up.”

“Thanks. She’ll love it.”

“I guess your plans to mate on the full moon were thwarted. You’ll have to wait three more weeks now.”

“True, but it’s not that big of a deal.” She nodded, but I could tell she was keeping something from me by the smile on her face. “What is it?”

She bit her lip. “Okay, so I don’t know if you’ve talked to Bailey about this, but I wanted to do something special for her. Ever since she’s been here, we’ve become pretty close. Anyway, I know she’s always wanted a wedding, but it’s not something we do. Maybe on the next full moon, we could throw a party?”

“Like what exactly?”

“I don’t know, maybe a reception of sorts, like they do at human weddings. I think Bailey will like it. After everything that’s happened, it’ll be something to get our spirits up. Besides, I think it’s time our pack makes its own traditions.”

I could hear Bailey stirring in the room above. Her mind was in turmoil over the death and betrayal of the only father she’d ever known. His face ran through her mind and I could feel her pain. “I think you might be right.” Her eyes lit up. “But let’s make it a surprise. I’ll leave the details to you.”

She squealed, getting to her feet. “I’m on it. Kami and I have already been talking details.”

“You already planned this before I gave consent?”

She rushed to the front door and winked. “I knew you would say yes. You’d do anything for her.”

“Yes, I would.” She walked out the door and then shortly after, the sound of Bailey’s footsteps thumped on the hardwood floor.

Stopping at the top of the stairs, the sound of her growling stomach could be heard from where I sat, even without my sensitive wolf hearing. “Do I smell cookies?”

I opened the bag and pulled them out; they were still warm. “Freshly baked from Tyla’s kitchen. You better hurry before I eat them all.”

Jumping down the stairs, she rushed over and snatched the one out of my hand and closed her eyes, moaning as she bit into it. “Holy hell in a handbasket. These taste so good.”

“She made you some soup too. I have to say, she’s doing a better job than I am. The last thing I thought about was food. I just wanted you to wake up.” I gave her the bowl of soup and she devoured it.

“Well, I’m back now. Whatever that shit Darius gave me, it’s not something to play around with. My blood still burns, but not as bad as before. If the Yukon pack starts using wolfsbane against their enemies, we might have a problem.”

I nodded. “I know. It just shows us what cowards they really are. They can’t beat us in a normal fight, so they resort to other methods. Nevertheless, I don’t want to imagine what would’ve happened if Darius had thrown one of those vials at me. Thanks to you, I didn’t have to find out.” After examining the vials, there was a lethal dose of wolfsbane in them. I wouldn’t have survived if it had exploded on my body.

“How’s Sebastian? I was so afraid I’d lost him.”

“So you weren’t worried about me?” I teased.

She pursed her lips. “You didn’t get hurt. How is he?”

“He’s still around, succeeding brilliantly at being a pain in my ass.” She jabbed me in the side and I grabbed her hand and held it. “He’s worried about you. He pretended to be fatally injured to psych Darius out. When you freaked out, it helped make him believe Sebastian’s wounds were serious. The only thing he didn’t anticipate was you being caught up in the middle.”

“So he faked it all? That son of a bitch.”

“He did what he had to, Bailey. You believing he was about to die made Darius lower his guard.”

“So, tell me the truth. Are you guys getting along yet?”

I chuckled. “We’re getting there. But if you want him to be a part of our pack, we have to figure out new living arrangements. Having his alpha ass in my house isn’t going to work.”

She snickered. “Don’t want to share me?”

I pulled her into my lap and kissed her. “Fuck no. I want you all to myself. He can still be your protector, but I can’t have him interfering.”

She held me tight, with her arms around my neck, rubbing her body against mine. “It can’t be all that bad,” she moaned.

Then as if on cue, Sebastian opened the front door and I snorted. “Trust me, it can.”

Bailey (One Week Later)

“I know this’ll make lover boy happy,” Sebastian announced.

Laughing, I helped him unload the last of his furniture into his new house. He was only five minutes down the road. “You’re not that far away. Besides, I should’ve let you move your own shit after what you pulled.”

“You’re still sore over that?”

“I thought you were dying, jackass!”

“I did it to save you, but in the end, you saved me. I know it couldn’t have been easy to kill him.” I tried to hide my pain, but failed. “It’s okay to be sad, Bailey. Darius was your father for most of your life. Even I didn’t know all of his plans until much later. I wish I could’ve gotten you out sooner, but I had to wait until you were ready. And even then, I was too late.”

“You were never fast enough to catch me.”

“I’m faster. You were just better at hiding.” We both laughed and it felt good.

Taking his hands, I looked up into his bright blue eyes. “I was serious when I relieved you of your duties. You don’t have to protect me anymore.”

“I know, but old habits die hard. I’ve been responsible for you for years. It’s not easy starting a new life, or finding a new pack.”

“You’ll get used to it. I don’t want you missing out on life because of me. The only thing I need from you is your help in finding our siblings.”

Nodding, he sat down on his new leather couch. “It’ll take some time, but I can do it. I know my brothers . . . I just need to look in the right places.”

I sat down with him. “Do you miss them?”

“I miss a lot of things, B. One day, when you get your memories back, you’ll see how amazing pack life can be. Ryker seems to be moving in the right direction. It’s strange how much his ways are just like your father’s.”

The thought made me smile. One day I’d remember my mother and father. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so lost. “Speaking of Ryker, I have to meet him at the ranger station. He’s taking me hiking, so I can see what it is he does for a living.”

He got up and helped me by taking my hand. “What about what you want to do for a living? You’re not going to waste your degree are you?”

“No. I’m going to apply to different schools this summer. At least my fake parents did something right.”

“They had no choice. They knew you’d rebel if you didn’t get your way. You’re an alpha; you could’ve easily fought your way out.”

I nodded. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, at least, not until Kade. Do you think Rollin will try to retaliate? I killed Kade and now Darius. He isn’t going to like the humiliation if word gets out.”