“No, I didn’t.” He gives me a look. “I’m sorry,” I say, as I push myself to a seated position. He keeps his eyes on me.

  “I know you’re stressed,” he reaches over to grab my hand. “Let us help you, okay? Don’t push us away, don’t allow a barrier between us.”

  “Why didn’t you guys tell me you were planning on leaving and going back to your homes?” The words fall out of my mouth. Castor is right, this needs to stop. But it can’t if I don’t have answers. I need to know and they need to stop hiding things from me. I hold a finger up before he’s able to answer. “This is a two way street. Stop with the lying, stop with the hiding. I want to know everything from now on. I can’t do what you want if you aren’t willing to do what I want.”

  He nods once.

  “Are you going to tell me?” I ask, not sure if he was going to answer my question in the first place.

  He takes in a deep breath before letting it out.

  “Thorne is going to be pissed that I told you without him, but you’re right.” He puts his phone down on his side and pushes himself up a little more, turning to the side slightly, so he’s facing me. “It wasn’t just us that was leaving. It was you too.” My eyes go wide. “I know what you’re thinking, I know it’s a lot and it’s why we didn’t want to tell you. There are so many things you don’t know about being part of a pack, and it isn’t your fault, but it’s the way it is. Pack life dictates our lives. In order for us to be a part of the pack, we have rules that we need to follow.”

  “And if you don’t agree with these rules?”

  “Suck it up or get out.” He answers immediately.

  “Why do you need to be part of a pack?”

  “Security? I don’t know, I feel like it’s in our blood. It’s how our parents always lived, it’s how we were raised.” He goes quiet for a moment before he continues. “Anyway, one of the rules is that we all have to live together on the land. The area we live in, that’s all our pack land. Miles and miles of it. We’re all spread out over there. We stay close to stay safe. The only reason we were able to stay here for so long was that our parents were covering for us. You’ve met Thorne’s parents, and we did that on purpose. Mine and Hunter’s parents are not as kind as his. They aren’t covering for us anymore and we just aren’t at a place in life where we can afford to get kicked out of the pack. There is a much bigger picture that we have in mind for ourselves, and being kicked out of the pack isn’t part of it.”

  I look at him, raising an eyebrow.

  “Like I said, many things you don’t know. One thing at a time though, okay?”

  “Okay,” I agree.

  “We’d hoped that spending time at Thorne’s would make you okay with this. That you would realize you were safe there, that his parents are awesome, so that you wouldn’t feel so bad about leaving. We know it’s going to be hard for you, but it’s something we need to do. We have… we have a house. It’s been ours since we found out we were part of the same coterie, it’s what the packs do for their members. We wanted to get you comfortable with the idea before we told you about it. I swear the plan was to tell you on Sunday, before coming back here, but then you know… stuff happened.”

  “Hunter.”

  “Yeah, Hunter.”

  I push the thought of him from my mind, knowing I will only get more upset if I think about him. After what Castor has just told me, I’m not sure how I feel. Confused? Definitely confused. I love how caring and considerate they are of me, I hate how it seems like they baby me and don’t want to share anything with me.

  We’re quiet for a long time.

  “So… no more walls?” Castor asks, flashing a bright toothed smile. I can’t help but laugh.

  “No more secrets?”

  He leans over, placing his hand on my cheek and leaning in. His lips find mine and he presses the softest of kisses against them. “No more secrets,” he promises in the tiniest whisper. He pulls back and gets to his feet, reaching out a hand for me. “Shower?”

  “We don’t have enough time!” I whisper shout playfully, trying to get out of Castor’s grip. We’re both covered in soap bubbles and Castor won’t keep his hands off of me. His arms are currently wrapped around my waist and his mouth is on my neck—seemingly the only place on my body bubble free.

  “It won’t even take long. Trust me.” I can tell he’s smirking by the tone of his voice. I groan as I feel him pressing against me, his hardness against my ass.

  “Castor…” I say, losing my bearings. The more I feel him, the more I want him.

  His hand slides down my belly, going straight between my legs. He massages my clit with his warm, soapy fingers. Nibbling against my neck, he whispers, “Five minutes. That’s all I need.”

  I don’t bother putting up a fight anymore, knowing that there is no way I can stop him now. I lean into him, dropping my head to his shoulder and spreading my legs a little. “That’s better, isn’t it?”

  “Mmm.” I hum my satisfaction. Castor walks me forward until I’m inches from the wall.

  “Place your hands on the wall,” he says. “Five minutes, Leona. Better hurry.”

  I smile and do as he asks, placing my hands flat against the wall. He places his knee between my legs, spreading them further apart. With one hand on my back, the other slides down over my ass and settles right between my legs. He finds my clit again almost immediately. Shivers run over my body at how good his fingers feel, at how he knows exactly what he’s doing.

  “There are so many things I would love to do to you right now.”

  My knees begin to shake as I get close to reaching that familiar peak.

  “Just wait until later, beautiful. Wait until we have more time and I’ll show you every single thing.”

  My forehead rests against the tile as my back arches. Castor’s other hand falls from my back and is soon sliding down my ass. His fingers find my hole, wet and needy. He slides his fingers in, pumping them in and out at a slow pace. His fingers moving quicker around my clit.

  “Come for me so I can fuck you,” he growls. “Come for me, baby.”

  I scratch and claw at the wall, my head pressed firmly against it. My knees begin to give out as I clench around his fingers. Wave after wave of pleasure rolling through my body. Castor manages to keep me up and I’m grateful for it. I’m too young to get hurt from a fall in the shower.

  I’m just catching my breath and regaining strength in my legs when Castor thrusts inside of me. I cry out at the feeling of being so full and so sensitive.

  Castor groans deeply, pushing himself in as far as he will go. He slowly starts to grind his hips against mine, hitting all the right spots inside of me. He pulls out slowly and slides back in just as slow, grinding his hips in circles once he’s pressed all the way in. He does this a few more times and I already feel like I’m going to come again. Whatever it is that he’s doing… it feels fucking amazing.

  “If I keep doing this I’m going to come,” he says in response to my pleas for more.

  “I want you to,” I gasp out.

  He does this once more—slowly pulling out, slowly sliding back in, grinding against me—before his fingers dig into my hips and I feel him pulsing inside of me, that little bit extra, and just the thought of him coming alone, sends me over the edge. I’m seeing stars and my whole body is numb. If it weren’t for Castor—yet again—I’d be on the floor for sure. He holds me up and pulls me close to him. He kisses my neck softly and laughs.

  “What are you laughing at?” I ask sleepily. I would love to go back to bed right now.

  “That was much longer than five minutes.”

  Twenty-seven

  Leona

  Thorne helped Callan with breakfast. I think they made a little bit of everything that one could want. Eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, French toast, homefries, crepes, muffins, croissants… and that isn’t even all of it. We sit around the big table and eat together, all ten of us, including Milo. He hasn’t been so attached to Friday the last few weeks and even sits in his high chair to eat with us now.

  Everyone is happy, smiling, and laughing. All sharing chitchat with the others. I look around with a smile on my face. I was worried that this day wouldn’t be a good one but I couldn’t have been more wrong. What we have right here, this is perfect.

  My thoughts go back to what Castor told me about having to leave.

  At first, I didn’t think I could ever do that. The thought was terrifying. I didn’t even want to leave home for college, but I’m going to leave home for boys? That doesn’t seem right. After listening to what he said, I realized that I overreacted. Once again letting my emotions get the better of me. If I’d just asked them instead of getting so worked up we wouldn’t have had to fight about this at all. And in all honesty, I guess I can’t be so upset with them. They were trying to do the right thing. They were right. If they’d told me that, I would have freaked out. I mean, the thought of leaving? Going to live somewhere I’d never been before? It’s terrifying. It took me long enough to get settled here and that was when I was just a kid.

  I’m not a kid anymore.

  I’m officially an adult.

  Eighteen.

  I want to be excited about this, but really, all it gives me is anxiety.

  I think of the paper that’s sitting up in my room under the mattress. The one I have yet to give to Lenny because I’m terrified of what is going to happen. This is all so much. So much change. I don’t like change. I like to know what to expect. And the information that Ms. Boone left me with… well, it’s just a lot.

  I can’t keep going like this forever though. I need to give that paper to Lenny. I need him to help me, to do his thing.

  I’m scared and nervous. What will it be like to feel an animal inside of me? And what about shifting? The thought of that is what terrifies me the most. How much will it hurt? What if I can’t control it? What if... I still don’t?

  I push all of this from my mind now. Looking around at my family, I just want to be happy today. I want to have a good day. No, I need to have a good day. I only wish that Hunter were here. I don’t even know why I am thinking that, but it’s true. For a few days, I thought we were getting somewhere. Then out of nowhere, he starts acting worse than he’s ever been. It doesn’t make any sense.

  “Gift time?” Lenny asks excitedly.

  “Sure, I’m stuffed,” I say, pushing my plate away. Lenny picks up the half eaten muffin and shoves the whole thing into his mouth. I roll my eyes and huff out a laugh. Everyone gets up in search of their presents and comes back shortly after. Briella is the first one to come up to me, handing me a small jewelry box with a bunch of small shells glued all over it haphazardly.

  “I made this for you, Nana!” She says excitedly.

  “Thank you, Bri. I bet I will love it.” I pull the top off the box and find a bracelet, one that Briella most certainly did not make.

  “Do you love it, Nana? I picked out the shells and Daddy helped me make it. He said I couldn’t use the tools until I’m bigger, but I think he did a good job.”

  I pick it up and look it over. A thin leather strap with one single shell hanging off of it. It’s simple but I love it.

  “It is perfect!” I say, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you, Bri.”

  “You’re welcome,” she says shyly, running over to Maddox and hopping onto his lap.

  Everyone else—except Thorne and Castor—takes turns giving me gifts. I get all kinds of things from gift cards, to clothes, to new cell phone cases.

  “This is too much,” I say to all of them. “You did not have to get me this much stuff.”

  “It’s not everyday someone in this house turns eighteen,” Alec says.

  “You’re the only one that has,” Lenny says, shoving another muffin into his mouth. He seriously never stops eating.

  Shortly after, they all get busy doing other things with promises of a huge game night tonight. I’m looking forward to it.

  “You ready for our gifts?” Thorne asks as we walk next door to our little home.

  “If it involves sex, I may have to take a rain check.” I’m quite sore from this morning and I’m not sure I could handle more of that right now.

  “What’s wrong? Too much sex already?” Castor asks. “I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

  Thorne rolls his eyes and I take a seat on the couch. They each hand me a bag that they had resting on the side of the TV. The bags are heavy and full of things. New boots, a new jacket, a scarf that has bear prints on it that is actually freaking adorable. A fox hat with matching gloves. The gifts actually make me laugh, because they’re so adorable and not me at all, but they remind me of them and I love them. I get through the bags and have so many things that I don’t even know what to do with.

  “We have one more thing to give you,” Castor says. They both stand in front of me, hands clasped behind their back. I raise an eyebrow at them.

  “Close your eyes,” Thorne says. I let my eyes fall shut. “Hold out your hand.” I reach forward, palm up.

  Something cold falls into my hand and I open my eyes. I bring it closer to my face, slightly confused at what it is for a moment. Then it hits me.

  “This is… is this really what I think it is?”

  Castor has a grin on his face. “It sure is.”

  “We thought it would be more useful to you.”

  I pick up the old, faded penny and take a good look at it.

  “This is really the same one? You kept it?” I look to Castor, recalling that embarrassing moment in school when I lost my freaking marbles and thought standing there with my eyes closed would make me disappear. How they still want something to do with me after that is beyond me.

  I guess this penny really is lucky.

  “We thought we could use it with—”

  “I know.” I look up and smile at them both. “Thank you. For everything.”

  Twenty-eight

  Leona

  I have to admit, as bad as my mood has been, I am looking forward to this day trip. I think this may have been one of the best gifts I received for my birthday, and from Maddox, of all people. He doesn’t usually do the thoughtful things, but he won this one.

  “How much longer until we’re there?” I ask, looking out the window and watching as all the big buildings fly by the window. We aren’t too far from home, but we’re heading into a town I’ve never been to before. I think I’d normally be more nervous being so far away from home with just Friday, but I’m not really with just Friday. Lenny and Castor were put on babysitting—as I like to call it—duty today. They promised to leave us alone and not to even look at us unless they had to. Knowing Lenny, he’ll find a reason.

  Friday glances at the GPS on her phone that’s too far away for me to see. “Seven minutes. You excited?” She looks at me from the corner of her eye.

  “I am. It’s nice to be able to do something…”

  “Without men?” She laughs. “It’s okay to say it, you know. It does get tiring after a while. Girls need girl time. There is nothing wrong with it.”

  “How have you managed for so long?”

  She blows out a sharp breath. “Honestly? I don’t even know.” She shakes her head. “Annual school shopping trips?”

  We both burst out laughing.

  “That is so pitiful!” I tease.

  “Oh my god, isn’t it?”

  It takes a few more minutes to stop our laughter.

  “We should do things like this more often.” She sneaks a glance at me again, this time a happy and caring smile on her lips.

  “I think you’re right.”

  Friday has always been my go to in the family, always has my back. Vaginas stick together. It’s what the guys like to say, and I guess they’re right. But it’s more than that. She’s the only thing I have that’s even close to a mother figure. I respect her and appreciate her. If my life ended up like hers when I was older, I wouldn’t be upset at all. She’s happy, she’s surrounded by people she loves, she has a family.

  She has everything that I want.

  That I have, I guess. I mean, I’m starting to anyway.

  The guys and I are slowly building our life together. We still have a long way to go, but I think we’re on the right path.

  All except Hunter anyway. It’s only been two days since I saw him last and this ache in my chest won’t go away. I’d hoped I’d get some news of “it’ll get better as time goes on.” Like most people say after a breakup, though I’m not sure I could actually call that a breakup, but no such luck. Apparently, that ache and pain are going to stay there until one of us officially rejects the other.

  I’ve thought about it.

  But the ache only gets worse.

  “We’re here!” Friday shouts, pulling into the parking lot.

  But that ache is one of the reasons I am so excited for Maddox’s birthday gift.

  The second I set foot inside the place, I instantly feel better. Everything is decorated in white, light grays, and green. Plants hang everywhere. It’s warm and smells minty. I feel better just standing here.

  “Is this your first time at a day spa?” The young woman asks. Her skin is perfectly clear, her hair is perfectly styled into a bun, and her makeup is light and, you guessed it, perfect. She looks comfortable, wearing something similar to nurses’ scrubs, only they look much softer and more comfortable. And she lacks shoes.

  “That it is,” Friday says.

  “Well, you girls are lucky ducks today.” She spins around, motioning for us to follow her.

  Friday looks at me, raising a brow and mouthing the words lucky ducks?

  I shrug and cover my mouth to hide the laugh that wants to burst out.

  “I’ll show you to the changing room. You both should remove all clothing for the best experience. I promise you all of our employees are trained professionals, there is no need to feel shy. Everyone wants the same thing here, and that’s to feel relaxed.” She practically breathes the last word out. “So, here are our changing rooms.” She points to the one on her right. “There are robes in each of them. Take your time. I’ll be just around this corner here and you can meet me when you’re all set.” She smiles and bows as we enter and shut the door behind us.