"I'm sorry?"

I couldn't have heard him right. He didn't know me well enough. His pack was in danger because of me. Surely that didn't result in an invitation to live here permanently.

What did you think was going to happen?

I nearly rolled my eyes. I wish she had an off button.

I watched Grayson watch me, eyes as hopeful as they were weary, and as much as I wanted to tell him yes, that I'd join tomorrow, I couldn't. Joining a new pack was no small feat. It was special. I'd form a new bond with each of them - they'd become my new family.

And while a part of me, a huge part of me missed that community, that bond, that safety, I didn't think I'd be able to handle the guilt if something happened to them because of me.

"Grayson, I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

His eyes hardened, the same way they did each time I disappointed him, and I knew he was about to shut me out. We had some serious communication issues. I suppose now was as great a time as any to start working on those.

"I just mean," I tried to find the words, feeling caught off guard, and I was beginning to grow tired of that. "I just mean that I don't think it's a good idea for me to join because that'll put eyes on your pack, Grayson."

His jaw flexed, eyes darkening, and I realized that I wasn't making this any better.

"Gray, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened here," I admitted, allowing myself to give him some of my worry. "If they're after me, and I join, Black River will be their new target."

"So, what? You think you're better off alone," Grayson asked with exasperation, tilting his head towards the ceiling. His face was pleading when he faced me again. "I can't protect you, the pack can't protect you. We can try but if something happens to you, Kris, we will never know."

He rose from his chair, rounding the counter and grabbing my hands.

"Black River is so much stronger than Silver Crescent ever was, you know that. We know there is a threat, and we can fight against it. But if they take you -,"

"If they take me, Grayson, the chances of you finding me would still be slim. If they were to take me far away, or mess with my head, mind linking would be impossible. They could mess with my scent. They could -,"

"They could," he agreed with a nod, and I didn't realize I was heaving until his hands cupped my cheeks and he dropped his forehead to mine. "But it'd be a hell of a lot harder to take you if you were a part of Black River."

His blue eyes bored into mine and shined with fierce determination.

"And if by chance they got their hands on you, if they took you from me." His eyes darkened dangerously, and I realized then I should probably be a little afraid of him.

"No place on this earth would be safe enough for them."

It was a dark promise. One I believed.

He pulled back a little, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs.

"I'd always find you, just make it a little easier for me, yeah?"

All I could do was swallow, my throat drier than it had ever been. His words seemed so casual, but I didn't doubt him. This was the care of a mate. He was wanting to give me what I had so desperately sought from Aiden - that thought suddenly made me feel guilter than a convicted sinner.

Grayson pulled away from me completely, smiling softly before he reached behind me and plucked a cookie from the plate.

"Think about it."

And then he was turning around and disappearing down the hall.

***

"Knock, knock."

Gabi's bright red hair was the first thing to capture my attention when I rolled over, resisting the urge to pull the covers up over my head and live under the duvet for the rest of my life. Her smile was warm as she held two mugs in her hands, stretching one out in my direction.

"Can I come in? I brought coffee."

I grinned, propping myself against the headboard.

"Only because you're bribing me."

That warm smile widened into a full blown grin as bright as her hair as she bounded over carefully, passing me a mug before crawling onto the bed near my knees. Her eyes were mischievous as they watched me behind the rim of her mug. I arched my brow, waiting.

"So," she trailed. "What the hell happened between you and my brother."

I laughed a little too loudly, covering my mouth, and hoping it wouldn't disturb Grayson down the hall.

"You hold nothing back, do you?"

My friend tilted her head back and groaned.

"Kris, I've been waiting for over twenty-four hours. That's twenty-three hours too long. I need to know. It's killing me."

She kicked me with her foot.

"And you told Asher," she exclaimed, and I took another sip of my coffee to keep myself under control. "Asher. He's been rubbing it in my face, but won't tell me what it is. I was your friend first. I deserve to know."

I grabbed a pillow with my free hand, shoving my face in it as I erupted into a fit of giggles.

"Kristin!"

"Okay, okay," I panted, clutching my stomach.

When I looked up, she was pouting, and I rolled my eyes playfully. She was too pretty to pout and she knew it.

"You're brother and I kissed."

Her eyes widened, that same unique blue I saw in her brother's, darkening as she stilled. Slowly, she reached forward, grabbed my cup, and placed them both on my bedside table before she turned back to me. She covered her grinning smile with both hands before they reached for me, and she was shaking me gently.

"You two kissed! What? When? Where?" She pulled back, pausing. "Is that why you ran off?"

I sighed, fiddling with my pillow. The same one I had cried confused tears into last night. I hated being so out of control emotionally. One minute I felt like I was on top of the world, and then the next I felt like I could cry enough to fill a large trough. It was a strange feeling, being trained to contain my emotions, to never let anyone see me weak, but it felt like that piece of me had died in the cellar.

"The night after Thanksgiving, in his office," I admitted, and when Gabi noticed my mood change, she removed her hands from my shoulders and dropped them into my own instead. "I didn't run off because of the kiss. The kiss," I paused, wondering how much she would want to hear about her own brother. "The kiss was perfect, but then I found out about him looking into my former pack and the rogues. I freaked out."

"Ah." She bit her lip, squeezing my hands. Her bright blue nails contrasted greatly against the light pink on mine. "You know that you're safe here, right? Gray wouldn't let anything happen to you. You have nothing to be afraid of."

I was afraid. Afraid of being captured and taken back to that damn cell where I wouldn't be a person anymore, where my body wouldn't be my own. But being afraid of that cell had nothing on the terror I felt for Grayson and his pack. The repercussions that they could face because of me, because Grayson had me as his mate.

I had come to care for him, his family, and his pack in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time, since before my own family was alive. If the rogues wouldn't kill me, the guilt if something happened to them very well might.

That would be a heartbreak I couldn't come back from.

"He asked me to join the pack."

My admission was soft, nervous of her reaction, but she simply straightened, her face breaking into the happiest grin I'd ever seen.

"Yes! That's amazing." She gripped my hands, and if I didn't feel like a piece of shit before, I definitely did now. Her care for me was evident, just as her brother's was. Her smile fell. "Is-Is that not a good thing?"

"I just -,"

"Does it have anything to do with your old pack?"

"No, no, I don't -,"

"You know you don't have to feel guilty. And if you ever wanted to go back, Grayson would go with you in a heartbeat. All you have to do is ask and -,"

"I don't want anything to do with them," I snapped, and closed my eyes on a sigh when Gabi pulled back, looking as if I had smacked her.

"Why?" Her question was tentative, but full of question nonetheless. "Why did you freak out when Grayson was looking into them? Did he find something?"

No, and I'd never been more thankful. I should feel guilty. I should feel devastated that there was no sign of them, no sign of Aiden, but I didn't. Aiden had given me up, and where there was Silver Crescent, there was Aiden. If there was nothing left of them, then there was nothing left of him.

Maybe that's why Grayson was my second chance. Maybe Aiden's death shifted something bigger than the both of us.

"My family died that night." I swallowed. I figured I could at least give her some truth. "And when we were cornered, and the rogues took me, the rest of my pack just watched. They stood back and watched as I was given over to save whatever was left. My life for those who had survived. And maybe, maybe if my family hadn't already been killed, I could learn to live with that, but I can't."

The people that were supposed to protect me the most, the person that was supposed to protect me the most, as my mate, my alpha, not only stood and watched, but gave the go ahead.

"She's yours. You take her and you leave immediately. That's the deal."

Fuck. It never got any easier to remember. Those words still played in my head often.

Aiden and I had been on decent terms. I had come to the conclusion that I would never beg someone to love me, and while it hurt like hell, I hid it well. We were civil in passing. And that night, I stood beside him, ready to defend what was left of our pack, and he hadn't batted an eye when they requested the one thing that would make the violence stop. Me.

There'd been no negotiation. None.

"Kris," Gabi whispered. She looked heartbroken, for me. She grasped my hand again. "I hope you know we are different. That any of us would put ourselves in front of you in a heartbeat."

That didn't make things any better.

"What are we doing?"

We both jumped, finding Addison at the doorway staring between the two of us. She was still in her pajamas, that golden hair tied up high on her head. With her arms crossed over her chest, she frowned.

"You two are having a pow wow without me?"

Gabi rolled her eyes and looked at me, a little smirk on her face. And then I was smiling again.

"Come on in here, ya bitch."

Addison flipped Gabi off before she flew onto the bed, bouncing and causing us to squeal. She wrapped her arms around me, tackling me backwards, and I laughed. Laughed until my stomach hurt as she grabbed Gabi and pulled her down with us.

"Okay, you have to tell me everything. Like what the hell was causing Grayson to pout like a damn puppy."

"They kissed!"

Addison gasped loudly, rolling to face me.

"You kissed!"

I buried my head beneath the covers, hoping to hide the blush on my cheeks. I was thankful for the subject change. Not that I didn't want Addison to know, but I was emotionally spent and it wasn't even nine in the morning. But upon their badgering, I spilled the details about our kiss, leaving out that Grayson asked me to join the pack. Gabi seemed to understand, and never uttered a word.

"O my gosh! I love, love." Addison placed the back of her hand to her forehead, and when she fell down beside me, I yanked the covers over her. She laughed, not even bothering to fight me.

The clearing of a throat caught my attention, and I found Grayson and Seth leaning against the doorway, both looking equally amused. Seth held baby Wyatt in his arms and he squirmed, eyes opened wide as he stared up at his father. Grayson stared at me, a gentle smile on his lips.

"Does my mate happen to be under there," Seth asked, bouncing Wyatt.

I feigned a confused look, lifting the covers and glancing under them at Addison. She shook her head and I giggled, clearing my throat before looking back at Seth with the shake of my head.

Grayson flat out laughed while Seth grinned with the shake of his head.

"Well, if you see her, tell her, her son is hungry."

Addison groaned, flipping the covers off her as she sat up.

"He is always hungry." But she was out of the bed in an instance, grabbing Wyatt from her mate and cooed as she lifted him. "My big boy."

Gabi rolled over from where she had been face down in a pillow. She eyed her brother eyeing me, and she pretended to gag. She sat up, dragging me with her as she grabbed her coffee that was now cold.

"Come on. I have to go into town, and I want you to come with me. I need company."

"Hey, I wanna come!" Addison looked at Seth. "Do you have to work?" When he shook his head, she put Wyatt in his arms. "Great. You're watching the kid. Mom needs girl time. Let's go feed him."

With that, they were walking down the hall.

"We are leaving in an hour," Gabi shouted but there was never a reply.

"Where are you two going," Grayson asked, stepping into the room, and propping against the desk as Gabi rifled through my drawers. I had no idea what she was looking for. When he caught my gaze, I shrugged.

Suddenly he reached for me, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him before I could overthink it. He wrapped his arms around me loosely, kissing my forehead, and instead of tensing or chastising myself, I let it happen. I'd come to a new conclusion, and it was that I would enjoy him for as long as he would let me,

"Good morning."

I buried my face in the center of his chest, breathing him in. His smell was already entirely too comforting. His touch felt like a growing fire that I never wanted to put out. I would never get used to him, and I never wanted to.

"Oh, gross."

Grayson held me tighter when I tried to pull away at Gabi's words. They weren't disgusted. If anything, I thought I heard her smile. But I still didn't know if I was ready to show the world that we were, whatever we were.

Mates. You're mates.

"We are gonna go to the studio."

Grayson allowed me to pull my head back, but he still didn't let me go. His hands were rubbing soothing circles on my back and if I were a cat I'd purr. Settling a cheek against his chest so I could watch Gabi brush her hair, I thought I heard his heartbeat speed up.

"Studio?"

She caught my eye in the vanity mirror and smiled.

"Yeah. I teach a group of kids dance three times a week. We aren't holding class today because of incoming weather, but I still need to turn on the emergency heat, turn off the water, and run some errands before it hits. "

"It's been raining and sleeting. Make sure to take the Acura, I just put new tires on it."

Gabi nodded, grabbing the sweater she had pulled out of my drawer, and walking out of the room.

"I'm borrowing this," she called over her shoulder.

That left Grayson and I alone, in my room, and it put butterflies in my stomach just as it did a shit ton of nerves.

"I guess that's my cue to get ready, huh."

He nodded, pushing my hair off my forehead.

"I'll be on the other side of the territory today, and won't be back until later this evening. Stay close to Gabi or Addi, if you need anything, they can contact me."

His eyes danced between my own, and I wondered if that was a sly reminder on why I needed to join the pack - perhaps I could just get a phone. Once I figured out how to earn my keep, but something tells me that Grayson nor I were ready for that conversation yet.

"How will I ever survive the day without you," I grinned and he smirked.

"You are sassy this morning."

Maybe a little.

***

"No, this song sucks."

"I don't remember asking," Gabi replied, turning up the volume while Addison rolled her eyes in the front seat. She reached across the console and grabbed Gabi's phone from her lap.

"I'm picking the next song."

"I should've put Kris up front," Gabi mumbled.

I smiled, resting my head and watching the passing trees as the winding road took us through the mountain valley. Outside, it was cold and rainy, the first of the incoming snowstorm making its appearance, but inside the car I felt safe and warm listening to Addison and Gabi. Their presences almost rivaled Grayson's - almost.

Despite the weather, the day had been blissful. Once Gabi took care of the cutest little dance studio she frequented, we had gotten lunch before Addison had asked if we could shop for Wyatt. Apparently, he was already beginning to outgrow what they had. Gabi had been ecstatic, and I had even picked out a baby sweater that Addison cooed over and instantly bought.

It felt like a day I could see us repeating often, and the thought had made me teary eyed more than a few times. They had clung to me and refused to let me go in the same way Grayson did. And I was so tired of fighting against being loved.

"How about you ask Kris if she wants to pick a song," Addison replied and turned in her seat to face me. "What's your favorite type of music?"

My eyes widened a bit and I shrugged my shoulders. I hadn't the slightest clue what was in nowadays. Two years ago, I'd been eighteen, obsessed with boy bands and the hard rock my dad listened to - I no longer felt like that girl anymore though.

"You should listen to -,"

"Shit!"

She didn't get to finish her sentence before Gabi jerked the wheel hard, avoiding the massive wolf standing in the middle of the road. The squeal of tires was deafening. Then we were spinning. Spinning and spinning before the front of the car collided harshly with a tree.

One moment, the sounds of metal screeching and crunching together filled my ears before silence. And the silence made my stomach roll.

I flew, yanking my seatbelt from the buckle as I crawled onto the console, my heart in my throat as I reached for them. I nearly sobbed when I spotted Gabi's bloodied forehead, her eyes closed as if she were peacefully sleeping against the steering wheel and deflated airbag, but her back was moving with slow breaths.

Addison's baby blues were partially opened, but cloudy, her nose pouring blood. Her lips parted, little cuts from the broken glass surrounding her beautiful freckles.

"No," I croaked. Careful not to move her neck, I slid my fingers down, releasing a cry of relief when I found her pulse. Her eyes fluttered before closing completely, but her pulse was there and strong.

I didn't notice them at first. Not with my sole attention on Gabi and Addison, but when a flash of gray shifted from behind the car, I stilled. Turning my head slowly, I found three wolves standing side by side, staring right back at me. Their eyes were dark, heads dipped with their ears back as they crouched low.

Rogues.

Any wolf of Black River would have approached the car by now.

Fuck.

I was suddenly aware of a few things. I was aware of how utterly alone I was, how Grayson had been right. Gabi and Addison weren't able to mindlink, and I had no way to contact anyone. If they succeeded in taking me, I didn't even have a link to Gray.

I was aware that I was outnumbered.

But mostly, I was aware of how furious I felt. How not an ounce of terror rattled my bones, but instead a fierce protectiveness. A protectiveness I had never felt before as I chanced one more glance at Gabi and Addi, bloodied and unmoving. My mate's sister. My Beta female - a new mother to her baby boy.