“Jase told us what he did,” Jordy says, moving to the chair in the corner and carefully taking a seat. His slow movements make it almost comical to watch.

  “Okay...” I say, looking between the two of them.

  “I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt here,” Luka starts, moving over to Jordy and stopping beside him, but turning to face me. “But I’ll admit, I’m confused by the entire thing.”

  “What’s there to be confused about?”

  “You come here out of the blue—well, what we thought was out of the blue, but turns out it was more planned than we’d thought. Anyway, you made your intentions clear to all three of us in the beginning, just days ago, yet your actions today are quite contradictory unless we read that whole situation wrong.”

  Okay, I can see why that could be confusing, but I assume they’d have made the connection by now.

  “Things have changed,” I say simply.

  Luka raises a brow. “Is that right?”

  I nod my head.

  “And what is it that made you change your mind?”

  Everything? Being back here. Seeing all the changes and the lives being built. Knowing my brother is—outside of his stupid decision—doing good for himself. The fact I can’t see Skye hurt. The both of them...

  I think about all these things, truly feel them, and know them to be true, but do you think I say it?

  No. Of course I don’t, because I’m Jensen Stone, an A-plus asshole.

  “My client decided to look elsewhere.”

  Neither of them react to that. Almost like they purposely held back from it.

  “How come?” Luka asks.

  I shrug, continuing with the lie because it’s easier than admitting the truth. “Not entirely sure. I didn’t get to talk to him, only know what Ridgway told me before he turned tail and ran out of here. Thanks for that, by the way. It was just the entertainment I needed.”

  “Entertainment?” Jordy asks, glancing at Luka before looking back to me. “Is that what it was?” Luka gives him a look telling him to knock it off, but he doesn’t. Jordy continues to stare me down, waiting for a response.

  I huff out a laugh. “What did you think it was?” The words roll off my tongue easily, but a pit rests in my stomach, making me sick because once again I’m not being truthful.

  Jordy purses his lips, shaking his head. “I thought...” He trails off, staring at the ground and leaning back in the chair.

  “I’m sorry if there was confusion about anything, and I’m sorry if I’ve caused any issues here. I truly mean that.” The words I’m saying are shit, I know that. They aren’t what I really want to say, but I can’t seem to let out the truth. It’s like it’s locked away, deep inside, and I threw away the key a long time ago and have no other way of letting it out. “As I said, it was all for business, nothing else. I’m heading back home on Friday.”

  Luka raises a brow before nodding absentmindedly. “Thanks for clearing this all up, Jensen. It’s nice to know you’re as predictable as the rest of them.” He taps Jordy on the shoulder with the back of his hand before moving towards the door. Jordy hesitates for a moment before getting up and following after him. Luka pauses when he’s at the door and turns towards me. “Will we be seeing you at the baby shower tomorrow?”

  Fuck. I forgot all about that.

  “Possibly.”

  He smiles at me, and to anyone else, it would look genuine, happy even, but I know Luka, and there is hatred hidden under that smile.

  “I’ll make sure to warn everyone, then.” He pulls the door open and steps out, but Jordy glances at me over his shoulder with a frown.

  I shake my head at him. “I’m sorry, Jordy. Things are just... different now.” I fail at hiding the sadness from my voice.

  “They don’t have to be, Jensen. Just...” He sighs and runs a hand through his unruly hair. “Just think about that, okay? Please?”

  I chew on the side of my cheek before nodding once. “Yeah, Jordy. I’ll think about it.” But I don’t have to because I already did. I just can’t admit it to myself yet.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Jensen

  I feel like absolute shit when the sun finally starts to peek through the drawn shades. I don’t think I’ve gotten more than a half hour of sleep, if that. Everything about this place sucks, and I’m looking forward to going home on Friday. My king-sized bed with Purple mattress and bamboo sheets is calling my name.

  Rolling onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling, trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do today.

  Going to a baby shower that’ll have most of the pack there, all of which who probably hate me, is a bad idea. At the same time, I feel I owe it to my brother to show that I give a shit. Why? I have no fucking idea. I’ve done so many things for that asshole throughout our lives. I saved his ass too many times to count, yet... I feel I owe it to him to let him know I’m proud of where he’s at. This is about showing him I can see he’s changed—even if he did pull some bullshit to get me here. Regardless, he deserves something from me, so I get out of bed, take a shower that takes way too long because I can barely move, and then I’m out the door.

  The general store is about a block down, so the walk doesn’t take long. There aren’t many shops here, but most of them won’t open until later in the morning.

  The bell above the door jingles as I walk in, and the young man behind the counter holds up a hand in greeting. I give him a smile and go in search of what I’m looking for. First I grab a card, some generic congratulations with baby toys on it, and then I spot something else I feel I have to get for him. There’s a small, stuffed bear that would be perfect for a baby. It’s pillow-soft and the perfect size, so I shove it under my arm, grab a small, yellow gift bag, and head to the front of the store to pay for everything.

  “You have a wonderful day,” the clerk tells me with a cheery smile.

  “Thanks. You too,” I say as I leave the store with the bag in hand. I walk across the street to the diner, deciding I’m already out, I may as well have a decent fucking meal for once. Thankfully it isn’t too busy, but it doesn’t ever get too busy, considering the population here isn’t enough to qualify as busy.

  I sit and eat without being interrupted or receiving death threats or hardened stares, which is surprising, considering I was expecting to be carried out of here by angry townsfolk and made to disappear. By the time I’m done, the bank is open, which is where I have to go next.

  I take out some money, shove it into the card, use a pen to sign it, put that and the bear into the bag I bought, and head into the woods.

  Mara opens the door, a bright smile on her face. “Jensen,” she says happily, pushing open the screen door and moving to the side for me to walk by.

  “Hey, Mara. Is Jase here?” I ask as I step inside, careful not to knock her belly on the way. I wish I knew how she gets around with that thing without knocking things off tables. She’s huge... of course I know better than to actually say that out loud. I’m not completely idiotic.

  “Yeah, he’s right in the kitchen.” I nod and move that way, but stop suddenly when I remember I have something for her. “Oh, this is for you both, and the baby, of course.” I hold out the bag.

  Her smile grows into a grin as she accepts it, peeking inside. “Thank you, Jensen. This is so sweet of you, but you know the party isn’t until later, right?”

  “Yeah, I—”

  “Who’s at the door?” Jase calls out before he enters the room.

  “Hey,” I say, turning my attention to him.

  “Jensen,” he says cautiously, narrowing his eyes.

  “I, uh... was just stopping by to let you know I won’t be able to make it to the party, but I wanted to at least give you a gift.” Mara holds it up to show Jase, who has a skeptical look on his face.

  “Okay...”

  “I also wanted to let you know that I won’t be around after today. I mean, I’m not leaving ’til Friday, but I won’t be out this way, so...”

  “How come you can’t come to the party, then?” Mara asks, putting the bag on the end table and moving to stand next to Jase. He puts his arm around her and she leans into him, resting her hand on her belly. The movement is so natural I wonder if he did it without even thinking about it.

  “He obviously just doesn’t want to,” Jase says, but doesn’t exactly sound mad by it, just indifferent.

  “It’s for the best. I know I’m not welcome here.”

  “Now that’s not true,” Mara says with a frown.

  “I appreciate that, but it is. It’s no secret people are pissed about me leaving the way I did, and I can’t even blame them. It was a shitty thing to do.” I take a deep breath before letting it out and shove my hands into my back pockets to give them something to do because this is awkward. “Anyway, I’m really happy for you both and the last thing I want to do is cause any problems at a party that should be nothing but happy.”

  “So why don’t you stay and show them you’ve changed?” Mara asks.

  I smile. “That wouldn’t be fair.” I clear my throat. “Nothing’s changed.” I look up and meet Jase’s eyes, catching a flash of concern. “I wish you both the best of luck with the baby. I’d love a photo or two, if you’re okay with that. Jase has my address.” I gesture to him. “And good luck with the pack stuff. Skye deserves to be alpha, and I know she’ll do great to prove that to everyone.” Jase clenches his jaw but I continue anyway. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help more.”

  “You could if you wanted to,” Jase snaps.

  I shake my head. “No, Jase. I can’t. It isn’t my decision and it’s out of my hands.”

  “It only takes one person to make a difference.” I huff out a laugh as a sad smile crosses my lips. Mom used to say that to us all the time, and I haven’t heard it in years. I’m hit with a wave of nostalgia that warms me and makes me sick.

  “Yeah... but this time, that person ain’t me,” I finally say softly.

  I turn to leave, knowing going back and forth with him isn’t smart. “The only person stopping you is you,” he adds.

  I hesitate for a moment but then decide it’s best to keep going, so that’s what I do.

  I move until I’m back in my room at the inn, and fall onto the bed with a huff, hoping I’ll sleep until it’s time to leave on Friday.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Jensen

  Surprisingly, I fell asleep at some point. I guess it was bound to happen after sleeping like shit night after night since being here. I sit up and yawn before looking around the dark room, noting the sun has already set and wondering what it was that woke me in the first place.

  I listen closely, sure I hear something... mumbling, maybe? I listen harder and glance around the room to try and find out where it’s coming from.

  I hear it again, to my left. Voices, from outside. I get off the bed and move to the window, standing to the side to peek behind the shade. There’s a group of about ten people in front of the stairs leading to the inn’s front door. With narrowed eyes, I shift my stance, trying to get a better look. One of the people below raises his arm and points towards the woods. I follow the direction, putting my head directly against the glass to see as much as I can, and that’s when I notice another group of people hurrying in that direction.

  “What the hell...”

  I watch for a few moments longer, and only when the group by the stairs breaks up, with half of them moving towards the woods and the rest somewhere towards town, do I move. I put my sneakers on and rush out the door and down the stairs. As I round the corner, I slam into someone and see them falling back so I reach out to grab them.

  “Shit!”

  I grip Redd’s arm and pull him straight up.

  “Sorry,” I say quickly. “What the hell is going on outside?” I point towards the door, my heart beating faster, and I have no idea why. Something about the tension in the air has me on edge, like something is wrong.

  He stares at me for a long moment, as if deciding whether he should tell me. After the longest moment of my fucking life, he finally lets out a huff before saying, “There was an altercation up in Blackcreek.”

  “What? With who?” He scratches the back of his neck while I narrow my eyes at him. “With who?” I repeat more firmly before taking a step closer to him.

  “That damn Edgewood Pack. They—”

  I don’t listen to what else he has to say, I’m out the door.

  The only thing that could cause an altercation between Edgewood and Blackcreek is that damn Alpha spot and the fact Edgewood is greedy as fuck. Our land isn’t theirs to take, and I’ll be damned if I let them try.

  As I reach the woods, I don’t stick to the trails like the others do—I know because I can smell them. I veer off, weaving through trees, and make it to where the bonfire is being held in no time. I burst through the trees and trip over a large rock but catch myself before I go down. It earns me a bunch of stares which soon turn to glares once they realize who I am. If I was trying to make a seamless entrance, I failed entirely. Though, I hadn’t thought of what it would be like to show my face here. All I thought about was Skye and if she was okay, where Jordy and Luka are, and my brother and Mara and if their party was ruined.

  I straighten myself, dust off my shirt, and hold my head high as I walk deeper onto the site in search of someone who doesn’t want to chop my head off—or at least won’t act on it.

  There are decorations everywhere in the small clearing and a pile of gifts by a tree where there are two empty chairs. One labeled “Daddy” and the other labeled “Mommy.” I ignore everyone looking at me and continue my search for Skye, my stomach turning when I don’t see her, Jordy, Luka, my brother, or Mara.

  The faces I scan are all familiar. I know all of their names and have memories with each person. It’s dead silent though. No one looks happy to see me, and yet no one says a word. It’s awkward as hell.

  I move further in and see the large pile of wood to the right, which is where the fire would have been but I can see it never got started. I pass many groups of three or four people as I go, and once I feel as if I’ve seen everyone and none of who I’m looking for, I turn towards the closest group, a group of teenagers who I remember from when they were little kids.

  “Where are they? Where is Skye?” They stare at me with wide eyes as if I’m the monster who ruined the party, like if they answer me, I’ll grow fangs and tear their throats out. “Where is she?” I repeat, taking a step closer to them.

  Movement catches my eye, and I see someone walking over. He stops between me and the kids. His name is Rendo, and he isn’t someone I know well, but certainly remember. He’s a few years younger than me. Redd’s age, if I remember correctly.

  “You’re not welcome here,” he says firmly.

  I frown. There’s never been any sort of rule saying that. I think of arguing with him, of making a big deal about it and telling him just that, but I don’t. Instead, I take a breath and say, “I just want to know where she is.” It seems the kindness pays off because Rendo’s features soften and he jerks his head towards a short path that leads to a much smaller, more private field. “Thank you,” I say quickly before turning around and jogging to the area. The moment I step onto the path, I hear their voices. The three of them chat amongst themselves in quiet voices when I burst through the trees, catching all three of their attention, and am met with looks of shock, which isn’t surprising. I’m sure I’m the last person they expected to see. “What happened?” I ask the three of them but then turn my gaze on Skye. “Are you okay?” She opens her mouth to speak, and I think maybe we’re going to have a normal conversation for a second, until Luka steps between us.

  “What the hell do you want, Jensen?” he asks harshly. When I don’t hear any argument from Skye or Jordy, I know this isn’t going to go in my favor, not if Luka is calling the shots.

  “What happened here?” I ask again, ignoring his question.

  “Why do you care? This isn’t your problem. You’ve made that clear numerous times,” he argues.

  “I know, but... it doesn’t matter, okay? None of that shit matters.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Skye asks and peeks her head around Luka’s large arm, looking up at me with hopeful eyes. I stare at her for a long time, trying to find the right words but they don’t come to me.

  “I don’t know. I... I just... Shit.” I huff out a breath. “I don’t know, okay? I’m... confused.”

  “And we should care, why?” Luka asks, crossing his arms over his chest. He shifts to the side to try and hide Skye, but it doesn’t work because she only moves more too.

  “You shouldn’t,” I say. “Not really, anyway, and I get that. I do, but—”

  “But nothing,” Jordy says, moving to the front of Luka and right in my face. “Enough is enough, Jensen. We don’t have time for your games. Shit is getting serious around here, and—”

  “So let me help!” I shout, my eyes darting from his to Luka’s.

  “Why? So you can just walk out like the last time?” Jordy screams back in my face. His eyes are full of rage, and he’s practically shaking. This isn’t like him. Whatever happened here must have been bad. It really must have spooked them if Jordy is losing control. Or maybe... “You rejected us! You made that decision, and we had no say in the matter. And guess what? We’ve moved on, and you should too. Go home, Jensen.” He lets out a breath, shaking his head as he takes a step back, stopping beside Skye. “You don’t belong here.”

  I take a step back, at a loss for words. This isn’t how I expected this to go. I mean, I don’t know what I was expecting, but this really wasn’t it. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it, I just wanted to make sure they were okay. I guess I just wanted them to talk to me and let me in a little. I take another step back. Clearly, they’re okay, more than okay, and they seem to have everything handled so... I guess they don’t need me.