My own mother never cooked. She didn’t really have the funds to keep a growing kid like me well fed.

  I was six years old when Maverick found me. My mom had been dead for three days, and I had no idea how to process anything, let alone getting unstuck from my wolf.

  Jo said sometimes early shifts happen, well before the normal age. She says a traumatic experience can bring it on.

  I don’t know if anything’s more tragic than seeing your house get raided, or your only parent killed in cold blood.

  I liked being a wolf. It was easier. My wolf didn’t need things the way my human self did.

  It was content to survive on scraps of food, and makeshift shelters. It was easier to stay warm and I could hide in smaller places.

  No one can hurt you if you’re alone.

  I shifted a few weeks after Maverick brought me back with him to Starfall Creek. No one knows the real record for longest shift, but according to Maverick and Jo, I’d been in shifted form for almost a full month.

  I can still remember Jo and Maverick setting the picnic table out back. Two girls were taking turns on the swing set, racing each other and jumping off. One was little, had a blonde ponytail, and red cheeks. Her yellow sundress was spotted with flowers.

  She looked like a living doll. She pushed and pushed her swing, determined to make the jump, but every time she would get high enough she stopped right before, and just kept swinging.

  The other looked like she’d rolled around in the mud, and then some. Her dark, wild hair was frayed, falling out of her ponytail, and when she jumped off the swing she landed perfectly on both feet.

  That was the first time I saw Jade, and I knew instantly I wanted to be her friend.

  Because a girl like that wasn’t going to let anything stop her. She was fearless.

  Scarlet eyed me suspiciously while Maverick manned the grill, and Jo sipped a glass of water. I know now she was watching us, seeing how we’d react to one another. But at the time, I was still constantly on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  I’d been in and out of places, nice ones, shitty ones, cars and hotels with my mom. I was worried this was going to be like that. That these nice people would see I wasn’t worth their time and help, and I’d be alone again.

  “Are you a good runner?” the dark haired girl had asked. Her sister swung on the swing, eyes focused on us.

  “I think so.” I tried my best to form my words; after all, I hadn’t spoken to anyone with a human voice in about a month.

  “Then race me. Winner gets ice cream.” She chewed her bottom lip, green eyes blazing with excitement.

  I never looked back. From that moment on, Jade and I were inseparable.

  Nothing could come between us. No matter what happened in life, I knew that there was at least one person in the world who saw me, really saw me.

  And they wanted me.

  I settled into Hollow Pack and Starfall Creek, and what a life it’s been.

  But not even I could have predicted the last three days.

  I watch Rev as he licks icing off Jade’s finger, and while I know I should be jealous, or protective, or whatever, I’m not.

  I think it’s actually pretty fucking hot.

  Which is a problem.

  I’m a best friend. I’m not Jade Hollow boyfriend material. For one, I know her.

  Better than Dustin or Rev ever will. I know she is messy, and feisty, and that her damn gorgeous hair clogs the sink way too damn much, and it's a bitch to clean the drain. Seriously. I swear I could create another wolf with all the hair she sheds.

  When she was scared, I was the one she ran to.

  When those assholes from the Alder Pack and the Blackridge Pack challenged her to jump off that cliff, wasted no less, it wasn’t Dustin who held her when she cried because she’d almost died.

  And when Reverie was dying, it was me she looked to for answers, for permission.

  Jade Hollow doesn't ask anyone permission for anything. Yet she asked me in that moment.

  I still don’t know what came over me when I watched her sink her teeth into his skin.

  I felt this feeling in my gut, this rush through my own blood, like I’d lay down everything to have that mark.

  Her bite. A claim on my damn soul. So for the first time in my life, I lied.

  When she asked if I was okay, I lied.

  When she pressed me about Rev, I evaded her.

  But when she looked at me this morning at the lake, that fucking twinkle in her eye, I had to wonder if she felt it too.

  Maverick looked pretty shocked to see us as he closed the door behind him.

  “Hi, Dad.” Jade waves at him, and I can see the worry present in her eyes.

  Trouble should be this woman’s middle name, but this… this goes beyond your run of the mill trouble.

  She broke a fucking law, and an ancient one at that.

  “Nice to see you brought your friends.” Maverick exchanges a knowing look with Jo.

  They know something.

  “Dad, there’s something I have to tell you.” Jade swallows, fingers gripping the countertop. Rev stood next to her, but he wasn’t touching her.

  Somewhere inside I think he was struggling with what to do in the presence of his first respected alpha. It means something now. When he saw Maverick before, he was just another person. Now that Rev has that wolf inside of him, being near an alpha is different.

  Dustin sat spine straight in the chair, looking at Maverick, waiting for Jade to make her move.

  Neither of them could register the anxiety I know she is feeling because they don't know her tells.

  Like how she rubs the web of her thumb when she’s anxious, or when she slides her foot up and down her leg, like there’s an itch she just can’t scratch.

  I set my glass of milk down and walk over to her, and I don't need to ask Rev to move.

  He makes way for me gladly. It makes me smile, but I’m sure to hide it.

  I wrap my arm around Jade, and hold her tight, running little circles on her shoulder, and I can feel the tension melt away.

  Just a simple little touch.

  Sometimes all she needs is to know you are there.

  That you will always be there, especially when she's scared—and that's the thing nobody ever notices.

  She’s always scared. Scared of failing, scared of pushing people away, scared of fucking up her mom’s lasagna.

  Everyone thinks because she has a tough exterior, because she is strong, competitive, and an all around badass, that she doesn’t have a squishy center. They couldn’t be more wrong.

  “Dad, I did something. I don’t regret what I did, but…” She takes a deep breath and looks at Rev, and I know in his eyes she is finding her strength.

  He does have some pretty compelling peepers, to tell you the truth. I’d seen the way the girls looked at him at the bar, and he didn’t even have a tenth of the gusto then that he has now, since becoming a wolf.

  “I know.” Maverick sighs as he walks into the living room, taking a seat next to Dustin.

  Dustin looks at him in shock.

  “What do you mean you know?” Jade’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “I just came back from the council. Donevan Blackridge is dead.” Maverick settles his hand at Dustin’s shoulder. Dustin glances at Rev, his shoulders tensing.

  “My deepest condolences, Dustin.” I watch Maverick with Dustin, as I have many times over the years. I knew he was fond of him, despite his heritage.

  When Samuel protested and approached the council to try and keep Dustin from crossing the pack border, it was Maverick who spoke on Dustin’s behalf, in favor of abolishing the pack lines.

  Dustin was only ten then.

  I know he wanted a son. After four girls, Maverick was ready for a son to succeed him.

  Throughout the years, rumors spread it was probably going to be me. I knew what the role meant—it meant that if I were picked, I’d be running the future Hollow Pack, which would include Jade as my alpha female. And at the time, that didn’t sound like a bad deal.

  But even though I’d been brought into the pack, I never saw Maverick as my father. And I’m pretty sure he never really saw me as his son.

  But it is clear to me as I watch him with Dustin that that is exactly how he sees him.

  “Before he passed, Donevan told Samuel what you did. Saw the whole thing, hiding out in the trees.” Maverick looks Rev in the eyes, and even I want to cower. “I thought you didn’t want any trouble, Reverie,” Maverick growls, and it wasn’t an alpha growl.

  It was a pissed off dad growl.

  “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen…” Rev’s body tenses with his words, and I wrap my free arm around him. He doesn’t push me away, but he doesn’t relax either.

  Well, it's a start.

  “I know you didn’t.” Maverick paused dramatically. “But unfortunately, such a thing has repercussions, and my hands are tied.”

  Maverick turned to Dustin.

  “I expected better from you, Dustin.” The disapproval in his face was evident.

  Dustin goes pale at his words.

  There is nothing that eats at Dustin more than feeling like authority figures such as his dad, Maverick, or any of the other bigwigs see him as weak. Like Jade, he is constantly looking for validation that he’s strong and capable, because he doesn't see himself as either.

  I tried my best to shoot him a reassuring gaze too.

  My arms are already occupied, anyway.

  “Sir,” Dustin starts.

  “And you too, Ranger. I thought you were supposed to be the voice of reason.” Maverick twisted his lips.

  Well, shit. If I’m the voice of reason, we’re all royally fucked.

  “He would have died.” Jade’s voice carries in the spacious room, and my wolf twitches.

  One thing they don’t teach you in wolf 101 is obedience. It’s second nature to obey your wolf. The wolf knows things on a deeper level, senses things differently. Like the command of an alpha.

  My wolf wants to lay down right here.

  At the feet of my beautiful, swing jumper alpha. I swallow, and grip her and Rev tighter, because I don’t know what else to do.

  Dustin must have heard it in her voice too, because he stands up faster than I’ve ever seen him move, eyes flashing at her in surprise.

  Scarlet peeks her head out from the long hallway.

  “What’s all the commotion out here? I’m trying to practice.” Her voice is soft like a bell, and she pulls her cardigan tighter around her arms, her blonde hair pulled back neatly. Not a hair out of place. She looks at me, with my arms around Jade and Rev, and I can see the pain cross her face.

  I know Scarlet has a thing for me. I have tried to talk her out of it numerous times. She just doesn’t seem to get the message.

  Everytime I tell her I don’t feel that way, she just brushes me off.

  Writes some songs, cuts her hair.

  I think she gets it now, though. At least, I hope she does.

  “Your sister has broken a cardinal rule, Scarlet. She has turned a human.” Maverick’s eyes settle on Jade.

  Dustin comes behind us. He wraps his arms around Jade from behind, bumping mine slightly.

  Scarlet eyes us all, complete and utter shock on her face.

  “You’re the human from the other night. Ranger’s friend,” she chokes out.

  “That’s right.” Rev nods in response. He turns to Maverick, and I can feel his anxiety too.

  “What does this mean for Jade? For us?” he asks.

  Maverick runs his hand over his face, sighing deeply.

  “It means… that you, Jade, are no longer a member of the Hollow Pack.”

  Chapter 39

  Reverie

  Jade tenses beside me, her knees become visibly weak, her body trembling. It’s a good thing Ranger is here to hold her. But it’s not something he is unfamiliar with, I’m sure it’s something he’s been doing for most of his life. They help each other. I can see that now—how important they are to each other.

  The more you get to know someone, the more you spend time with them, the more you learn what they keep hidden deep within, for only their closest friends and loved ones to see.

  Ranger and Jade get one another. And even though it’s been a few short days, I truthfully feel like I get her too.

  I feel her deeper than I’ve ever felt anyone before, and right now, she’s terrified.

  “Sir, if I may…” I begin, taking a step forward, trusting Ranger to hold Jade, to keep her up. Dustin stands by her side too, but I can see how torn he is. How does he choose between a lifelong aspiration and the love of his life? Because I know that’s who Jade is to him. Anyone can see how much of a fool he is for her. I can’t blame him.

  Maverick looks up at me. “Son, I’m afraid no matter what you say, it won’t change a thing.” He leans back into his leather couch, sighing.

  “As much as I can respect your rules and ways of living around here, I feel I must say something. This wasn’t Jade’s fault. She saved my life, shouldn’t that mean something? If it weren’t for her, the scratch would have killed me. I was… dying. She didn’t have a choice.”

  “Scratch?” Maverick asks.

  “Yes, sir. Donevan, he took me. Ranger, Dustin.. they saved my life, but Donevan must have scratched me somehow. I became very ill. Jade saved me.”

  Jade’s father pulls in a deep breath. “As much as I can appreciate the care my daughter has for other’s lives, this is out of my hands. I’m sorry.”

  “But Maverick…” Ranger starts. My eyes move to him and I can tell he is unsure of what to say but feels he needs to say something. Jade is standing there in shock, her face going from sad, to angry, to scared. I just want to hold her and tell her everything will be okay, though I’m not sure it will be. I don’t know what any of this means.

  I have a house, we could go there, we have a place to stay but… that’s the human world. How can three—I glance at Dustin—four wolves survive in the human world? I’m not sure that would work. At least it’s an option. A worst case scenario.

  Everyone in the room is quiet for a long time, emotions and tension running high.

  “Jade,” Maverick breaks the silence. “I am sorry, but you know how it is.” His eyes find Dustin’s. “You should have known better. You knew this would happen. You could have stopped this.” Mine and Ranger’s head snap in that direction, both glaring daggers at him. We knew he didn’t like me, and it’s obvious he didn’t like the reality of me being turned, but I didn’t know why. He should have said something... but would it have mattered? Knowing what I know about Jade, I’m not sure anything would have changed her mind. “This isn’t all bad,” Maverick begins. “Technically... this makes you an alpha. You will have your own pack. With Reverie.”

  “Wh-what” she asks, breaking out of her spell. “I—what?”

  “You’ve turned a human. You are no longer part of the Hollow Pack because you’ve started your own. However, a meeting with the Elders is needed. With the ceremony in a few days, they’re pretty tied up at the moment, but what you’ve done is illegal and they will find a suitable punishment. I’m not sure how this will end, Jade, but it’s possible you will get what you’ve always wanted.”

  “But how… where do we go? What do we do?”

  “Well, for starters, I will have to alert the Elders, if Samuel hasn’t already. They will need to speak with you and Reverie, get the order of events. Then they will make a decision. I can allow you and Reverie to stay—”

  “And me,” Ranger interjects. Maverick’s eyes go wide. “I don’t belong anywhere that doesn’t have Jade. I go where she goes.” He pulls her closer to his side, and she looks up at him, no doubt taking stock of this surprise declaration. “Always, no matter what.”

  Maverick blows out a frustrated breath. “Very well, then. We can handle the official business for that at another time. For now, you three can stay in the guesthouse. At least for the next couple of days while this all gets figured out.” His eyes flick to Dustin, who is still standing there, next to us, not moving. “Your new Hollow alpha will have the say in what goes on with that once the ceremony is complete.” Maverick’s eyes move back to Jade. “I am sorry but this is how it must be. I do not have enough time left in my position to sway the Elders that much. We’re in transition. This is Dustin’s job now and it will be official during the full moon.”

  The full moon? I think that’s in like… three days?

  But… is Dustin really going to stay here? In Hollow’s House? Without Jade? Without us? Is he really going to choose this pack, this position over her? No, he wouldn’t do that...

  Would he?

  “I’ll take it under advisement,” Dustin says sternly.

  And there we go. I guess we have our answer.

  Jade looks at him and scoffs before storming out of the room and rushing outside. I rein back my temper as I watch Ranger immediately run after her. She needs him right now.

  “Reverie?” Maverick says my name a bit harshly, snapping me from my thoughts. I shake out of it and notice everyone is staring at me. “Perhaps you should go let off some steam before you do something you’ll regret, huh?” He gestures towards Dustin who refuses to even look at me, his jaw clenched tight.

  “Yes, sir. That’s probably a good idea,” I say as nicely as I can manage. My plan is to walk out the door, to go for a run, to do something. I’ve never had so many emotions run through me than I have since becoming a wolf. It’s like learning myself all over again. But as I pass Dustin, I stop, turn, and look him dead in the eyes. We’re about the same height, though he has a good bit of muscle on me. “I didn’t save your life for you to ruin hers.”

  I turn on my heels and walk out the door.

  Chapter 40

  Ranger

  I don’t always know things are going to work out. I just cross my fingers, and pray to the Great Wolves in the sky that they will.

  It’s not a foolproof system or anything, but so far it hasn’t steered me wrong.