How Skye and Jordy are so easy to forgive him is beyond me. When it comes to Jordy, I’m not surprised. He’s always been a forgiving person and does what he can to keep the peace. He doesn’t like being angry with anyone and he especially doesn’t like people angry with him. Skye... I’ll admit I’m a little surprised. I didn’t expect her to almost forget herself just by seeing him, but I guess when you love someone, truly love someone, that’s just how it is.

  And that’s what has me a mess.

  Do I not love Jensen the way I should because I’m not so quick to forgive him? Did the rejection work more on me than the others? I don’t think that’s true because I felt it just as fucking hard as they did, or maybe less... maybe even more. I don’t really know because how do you compare one’s pain to another? You can’t.

  I’m terrified of making the wrong decision here. Of letting Jensen back and it being the wrong thing. What if he comes back and leaves again? What if he comes back and I can’t ever forgive him, and that’s what tears us apart?

  Things have been good. They haven’t been perfect, but they’ve been good and we’ve made it work. We’ve been happy. I don’t want anything less than that. I just want my mates to be happy, and I definitely don’t want to see them hurting or be the cause of their pain, and I feel like this decision is resting on my shoulders since Skye and Jordy have already made up their minds. Therefore, if this doesn’t work out, it’s my fault.

  Me.

  And I don’t know if I can handle this pressure, now or in the future.

  So how the fuck do I figure out the answer to this? And why did I think fucking him would help?

  Well, because I wasn’t thinking. I acted on impulse which was really fucking stupid, and it makes things more difficult because that could be mistaken for acceptance, but I’m not there yet.

  When I look up, I realize we’re almost back to town. I’m grateful for the little bit of quiet time I had, Jensen and Jordy staying ahead of me and talking amongst themselves and allowing me to stew in my thoughts, but it wasn’t enough. I still don’t have answers...

  We emerge from the woods and the walk to the inn is quick. Someone curses up ahead and I lift my head to see Jordy and Jensen stopped by a shiny, black car that’s parked beside the inn... in a spot that isn’t a parking spot which grates on my nerves because why the fuck can’t people just follow directions?

  “What’s going on?” I ask as I reach them.

  The car certainly stands out, but other than that, I can’t see what the problem is. Probably just another out-of-towner wanting to come get a glimpse at the shifters. It’s been happening for the last few years.

  Jensen glances at me from the corner of his eye, and I look from him to the car, then back to him, and I make the connection. Well, I have a pretty good idea of it anyway. He doesn’t say anything, but I see the way his hands turn into fists and his jaw clenches. He turns on his heel and rushes towards the front doors, Jordy right behind him, so I do the only thing I can... and follow them.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Juniper-Skye

  Jensen has been gone a long time and I’m growing more and more worried as the minutes tick on. It doesn’t help that I have no idea what time it is. I’ve already called down to the front desk three times to ask Redd for the time, and thanks to him being patient, I know at least two hours have passed. If I had to guess, it’s closer to three now, considering it’s been a while since I last called.

  “I should probably check on them...” I say out loud as I pace the room. I’m surprised I haven’t worn a hole in this floor yet with how much pacing I’ve done. “Yeah, I’m going to check on them.”

  I turn towards the door and yank it open before carefully shutting it once I’m out and make my way down the narrow stairs.

  Normally, I’m not someone who worries, I just take things as they come. I feel I do better under pressure. It keeps me on my toes. I also don’t like to waste my time with what-ifs. What’s the point? There are so many other things I could be doing.

  At the same time, I probably should be a little more prepared. If I were, then maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation with the pack right now. Maybe they’d trust me a little bit more. Maybe if I’d worked with my father more to prepare for this, half of them wouldn’t be against me. Though, from what everyone has said, the issue doesn’t exactly lie with my father or even me. It’s just the fact I was rejected, and somehow that makes me weak? I’m not sure how that makes any sort of sense, especially with the Trials. The results should speak volumes, but it seems they’ve already made up their minds.

  Now that Jensen is back, it’s something I can use to my advantage. Not that I want to blame Jensen for the whole thing, but I mean... he kind of is to blame.

  Waiting here hasn’t been easy and the idea of Luka killing him and burying his body has crossed my mind a few times. I don’t think Jordy would allow that to happen, but crazier things have happened, and that thought is exactly what has me moving down the stairs faster.

  I rush around the corner and come to a dead stop when I find the small room stuffed with people. Three of them are huge and the exact people I was looking for. Redd is also here, along with three others I don’t recognize.

  Jensen looks angry, glaring at an older man who is talking to him animatedly, waving his arms all around. I don’t get the sense he’s upset though, so I’m not sure why Jensen is.

  I take a tentative step closer and Jordy notices me, pushing past people to get to me.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, trying to look around Jordy.

  “Someone from Seattle showed up unexpectedly. One of Jensen’s clients.”

  “Clients? Why?” I ask, still trying to look around Jordy’s big body to see what’s going on.

  He shrugs, placing his hand on my shoulder and guiding me away and back towards the stairs. We stop by them and he looks down at me.

  “Something to do with why he was here in the first place.”

  “Okay... so why does he look so pissed?”

  Jordy lets out a sigh and runs his hand through his hair before glancing back at the group of people. He looks at them for a long moment before turning back to me, and he looks unsure... as if he doesn’t know what to say.

  “It’s probably better Jensen explains it to you because, honestly? I don’t understand any of it.” I nod and try to move around Jordy again to get to Jensen, but he grabs my arm before I get too far, and I look at him, narrowing my eyes. “You’re not going to be happy,” he says. I raise a brow, not surprised but also annoyed because I’m sick of waiting for answers.

  I had a feeling the specific reason Jensen was here wasn’t a good one, but I was hoping it could be ignored.

  “I’m sure I’ll—”

  “Get the fuck out!” The roar shakes the damn walls, sending goose bumps up my arms. I recognize the voice, and Jordy and I both move to see what’s going on. I have never heard Jensen yell at anyone like that before. I’ve heard him get loud, but not like that.

  Jordy’s grip on my arm tightens and he pulls me closer to him, shielding me from whatever is going on by putting his arm around my shoulder. I assume it has nothing to do with Jensen and more of a fear of a fight breaking out with the others. I shift my body so I can see what’s going on, and the older man who was talking to Jensen smirks and jerks his head towards the door. The other two guys move that way. I sneak around Jordy and head towards Jensen, catching the last words the guy says to him.

  “—just made this so much more fun. I never liked you anyway.”

  The anger radiating off Jensen is palpable and unnerving. Just as the older man leaves, Jensen turns and swings, putting his fist right through the wall with a rage-filled grunt.

  “Fuck!” he growls as he starts to pace.

  I look from the hole in the wall to Redd, who just shakes his head. Luka moves to Jensen and catches his attention by standing in front of him.

  “Come on, let’s go out back.” He points to where the stairs are, and I turn that way first, knowing exactly where the back door is. I hear footsteps behind me, and I’m sure all three of them are following behind.

  I push through the door and am met with cool air. Sucking in a deep breath, I listen as car tires peel away in the distance.

  Jordy comes out next, followed by an enraged Jensen, and then a concerned Luka. I move off to the side, hoping someone explains to me what the hell is going on and fast.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Jordy

  Jensen continues to pace once he’s outside as the rest of us just stand by and let him do his thing. He’s tugging at his hair, mumbling to himself about how he’s going to kill Jase and someone named Norwick, who I can safely assume is the guy who just left here.

  I cross my arms and lean against the wood shingles of the inn and watch Jensen, waiting for Luka or Skye to say something about what’s going on. I can’t decide who is going to speak first, and as if she knows I was trying to figure something out, Skye glances at me over her shoulder with concern in her eyes. When she catches my gaze, she spins and moves closer.

  “I’ve never seen him like this before. Have you?” Her words are quiet, full of worry.

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “I don’t like it,” she says softly.

  “Neither do I,” Luka says, moving to stand on my other side. “It’s weird as hell. He always had his shit together.”

  The look on Skye’s face tells me she’s confused by Luka’s remark, and I forgot she doesn’t what’s happened over the last couple of hours between him and Jensen. She has no idea they kissed—well, fucked—and made up. That’s a conversation for another time, though, because Jensen has some serious problems on his hands right now, and I have no idea how he’s going to handle them.

  I also have no idea how Skye is going to handle any of this shit because she’s completely in the dark. I had my time to be pissed at Jensen for all of this and was able to work through all of it. It’s not that I’ve forgiven him for what he’s done—both rejecting us and why he’s here—but I’ve made enough peace with it to put it on the back burner. I assume the same is true for Luka, considering what took place back at the cabin.

  But Skye... she hasn’t had time to process any of this, and she’s about to get a heaping pile of shit dropped right in front of her feet. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if this is something Jensen can fix at all. It seems it’s out of his hands at this point, and the best we can do is stay by his side and help, or let him help us... I’m not sure. I’m also not sure if Skye is going to agree with us when she finds out what the hell is going on. She’s going to be pissed and feel betrayed. I’m not sure I can help her with that in any way, and I don’t want to put all the blame on Jase because then she’ll just take her anger out on him. I mean, it may be warranted though. This is partially his fault too...

  Fucking twins.

  “Can you just tell me what’s going on?” Skye looks from me to Luka, her face full of concern.

  From the corner of my eye, I see Luka is as still as me. Neither of us wants to be the bearer of bad news. I sigh and glance at Luka before gesturing towards Jensen with my eyes. He nods, then moves towards Jensen, throwing his arm around his shoulder and pulling him deeper into the backyard where he can hopefully get him to calm down.

  “Jordy?” Skye says.

  “Hm?”

  “Just tell me.”

  I shake my head. “I really think you should hear it from Jensen.”

  “I don’t care about the specifics; I just want to know why he’s so upset.” She turns her gaze on him, and when she speaks next, her voice is softer. “Things seemed... good this morning.”

  “They were.”

  “So what changed?”

  “Well... nothing.”

  “Jordy,” Skye warns, spinning to face me again. Her patience is growing thin. I glance over her head towards Luka and Jensen who are pretty far off now in the yard, almost at the other road. They look like ants from here.

  “Jensen made a bad decision, okay?”

  “What does that have to do with those guys who were here?”

  I run a hand down my face and huff out a breath.

  “Everything? His bad decision was coming here.” Her brows furrow at my words but she doesn’t say anything, allowing me to continue. “Not because of us, but because of why he came here at all. Those guys are people he works with... or for, or something.”

  “Jordy, this isn’t helping.” She pinches the bridge of her nose as she closes her eyes.

  “Those guys want to buy Blackcreek land.”

  I instantly regret saying anything when her eyes snap open and her body visibly freezes.

  “They what?” she finally asks after a long pause.

  I clear my throat before explaining as best I can. “I don’t know exactly what it is Jensen does, I don’t understand it, but those guys sent him here to scout the land. They want to buy it and turn it into a resort. Though, you can’t exactly blame Jensen entirely because Jase put the idea in those guys’ heads.”

  “Jase?” Her hands fall to her sides and her face goes blank.

  “Yeah...”

  “Why the hell would he do that?” Her voice is loud, eyes wide, and she’s clearly upset now.

  “Some kind of reverse-psychology thing or something? I don’t know, Juni. He was just trying to get Jensen here to help with the pack because he didn’t want to lose what we’ve built.”

  “How does that make any sense?” She holds her arms out wide, her chest heaving.

  “Luka said the same thing. I mean, it doesn’t really make sense, but it worked, didn’t it? And Jensen doesn’t want to get rid of the land. I mean, I think he did at first but now he doesn’t.”

  “But those guys are still here!” She jabs a finger towards the front of the inn.

  “I know.”

  “They’re going to take our land! Everything we’ve built!”

  “No, they aren’t. We won’t let them.”

  “We don’t have much of a say in the matter, Jordy! Not with how things are right now. Not with almost half of our pack leaving and wanting to be taken into Edgewood’s pack. We don’t have the numbers to back us up! Either way, we’re losing our land. Whether it be to the humans or to a pack of fucking wolves.”

  I take a step towards her and place my hands on her shoulders, hoping to calm her down some.

  “Juni—”

  “I think we should give it up,” she blurts out.

  “What?!” Her words throw me for a loop, so much so that my own voice raises which isn’t something that happens often. My hands drop from her shoulders and I step back.

  She looks me dead in the eyes before speaking once more. “The pack. The land. All of it. I don’t want this stress. I don’t want any of this. I just want...” Closing her eyes for a moment, she takes a deep breath before opening them and finding mine. “I just want us all together and that’s it. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

  “Well, why haven’t you said anything?” I ask gently, moving forward again and running my hands down her arms.

  “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to disappoint you. Or...”

  “Or what?” I ask, keeping my voice soft. I don’t want her to feel she has to hide anything from me. Ever. She can be as open as she needs to be. Tell me everything and I won’t judge her.

  “Or my father.”

  “Juniper,” I say breathlessly before wrapping her in my arms and pulling her towards me. “No matter what you choose to do, your father would never be disappointed in you. You know that. All he wanted was for you to be happy. He always said if you didn’t want to be alpha, you didn’t have to be. It just seemed like something you wanted. When did that change?”

  She shakes her head against my chest.

  “I think... I think it was when he died. Alpha was our thing—his and mine. And now he’s not here...”

  Her shoulders start to shake slightly, and I hold her even tighter, trying not to be pissed at myself for not knowing this. How long has she been keeping this inside?

  Luka and I have been pushing her for months, since Desmond died, and what? This entire time she hasn’t wanted anything to do with it?

  I grit my teeth, wishing she would have said something sooner so she wouldn’t have had to bear the weight of this alone.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Jensen

  “You gotta calm down.”

  “I know, I know.” I run my hand through my hair and to move back towards Luka. I stop in front of him and he places his hands on my shoulders, making eye contact.

  “We—the four of us”—he motions to me, then himself, and then to where Jordy and Skye are—“will figure this out. You aren’t alone anymore.”

  I search his eyes, wondering when the hell he changed his mind.

  “Why are you so accepting of this?” Instead of just taking it for what it is, of course I have to analyze it and figure out why the hell it’s happening. Luka isn’t nice for no reason. That’s not who he is. I mean, yeah, to his mates he is, but technically, I’m not his mate anymore. He has no reason to be nice to me after what I’ve done to them.

  He closes his eyes for a second, his brows creasing.

  “Because,” he starts, opening his eyes. “Whether you believe it or not, I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us and how things were. This hasn’t been easy on me, and I was angry over it for a very long time because I didn’t want to feel a damn thing. Because I felt you didn’t deserve my feelings—good or bad. But when I realized Juni and Jordy were feeling the same, when I saw how obvious it was that we all missed what we had when you were here but didn’t talk about it... it made me realize I wasn’t alone, and I don’t ever want to be alone. You’re meant to be with us, Jensen. Most people don’t get a second chance, but we have one, and I’m not going to be the reason it gets ruined.”