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Wyatt

S o my little mate has some secrets.

I don’t feel good about eavesdropping on her conversation, wishing I could be the type of man who wouldn’t let his protective instincts overrule his common sense, yet as I stand with my back to the wall of the cabin that she’s staying in and watch Callum bid her farewell, I can’t say I’m sorry.

In fact, I wish I’d heard everything.

My wolf is on edge, desperate to comfort her, to fix whatever's causing her pain. It took every ounce of control I had to walk away from the shower block when Callum told me to. Now, I'm not going anywhere until I know she's safe.

Everything comes back to her sister. The note. Naomi’s fears about what will happen to her if she pisses off her alpha. It’s all connected.

If I help Maddie, I help Naomi. Even if she doesn't know it yet, Maddie is family to me now too, and if she’s anything like Naomi, I doubt she’s done anything irredeemable.

But I still need more information.

One pitfall of being a rogue is a lack of contacts. How the hell am I going to find out what’s going on with her sister? And how am I going to make sure she’s safe? I’d love to be absolutely certain I’ll win these games and bring her to my pack, but I’m not that ignorant.

The welcoming party outside the shower block was enough to show me that there are still plenty of people interested in getting rid of me.

And it’s quite possible that right or wrong, they’ll succeed. I need to figure out a way to make sure Naomi and Maddie can switch packs without retribution from Brad, whether I win the games or not.

I need help.

I know who to ask.

Instead of going back to my lodgings, I head for the woods, to the remote cabin Dean and Jamie call home. As I expected, Jamie’s on the porch, sipping a mug of coffee and enjoying the view she loves so much, while the big bad alpha cooks up a storm in the kitchen.

When I hesitate on the edge of the lawn, Jamie puts down her mug and stares at me, her sharp eyes taking me in. We’ve spent almost every day together since our old alpha decided he wanted rid of me and used tormenting Jamie to force me to go.

Living as rogues meant we had nobody to trust but each other. She knows me better than I know myself, so my little sister is the first person I’m going to turn to for advice. And she’ll give it to me, whether it’s what I want to hear or not.

“I heard Callum had to break something up near the shower block.” Dean comes out and stands at Jamie’s shoulder, a concerned rather than stern look on his face.

He’s not accusing me of anything. He’s worried.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

When I don’t elaborate, not wanting to go running to the alpha with every minor complaint I have, he squeezes Jamie’s shoulder and turns to go.

“You can come to me too now if there’s something bothering you, Wyatt. We’re family.”

He goes inside, leaving me to think that over. I thought going to him would be cheating, using my connections, but I guess he’s right. If I become the alpha of a pack, I’ll have to get used to asking for help and trusting others. Pack allegiances are an important part of pack politics.

“We have other people we can rely on now. I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, but don’t forget that.” Jamie gets it, knowing what it’s like to be shunned. “Sit.”

Jamie pushes the chair beside her with the toe of her boot, inching it closer to me.

Feeling awkward, I climb the steps and lower myself into the wooden seat, half afraid it’s going to crumple into kindling beneath me.

My sister waits patiently as I stretch my legs out in front of me and figure out what I want to say.

“Naomi has a sister, Maddie. Her mate died, and it seems they’d like to leave the pack, but their alpha is holding it up over some personal grudge.”

Jamie's expression darkens. "Their alpha is that Brad guy, right?" When I nod, she grimaces.

Apart from her own mate, Jamie has a scathing view of alphas. Our experiences over the years were not good, with multiple pack leaders running us off their land and refusing us shelter when we needed it. Even when we were just teenagers, many refused to help.

Some wolves might be shocked to hear that not all alphas are good people, but not us.

“Yep. Brad.” I sneer his name, fidgeting in my seat and clenching my fists, which is enough to catch Jamie’s attention.

She twists in her seat to give me her full attention.

“He’s here?” Picking back up her drink, she stares out across the tranquil lake, at the beautiful scenery she’s now fortunate enough to have right on her doorstep after years of being homeless.

With a sigh, I spit it out. “Whatever he has over her, it’s bad. And Naomi’s caught up in it, too. She’s pushing me away and won’t let me in.”

Jamie nods. “So is she…?”

Wanting to neither confirm nor deny, I press my mouth into a thin line, but there’s no hiding the smile tugging at my lips. Jamie doesn’t push me to admit it out loud, but stretches out an arm and shoves my shoulder, although not hard enough to move me. She only pushes herself to the side.

“Congratulations, brother.” Her words are soft, and my insides twist with a mixture of joy, pride, and apprehension. Because what if Naomi never accepts me?

“Don’t congratulate me yet.” I sigh.

What if this, these few days, is as close to her as I'll ever get? What if, even after she and her sister get away from their pack, she decides taking a chance on a rogue isn't what she wants after all?

My wolf paces inside me, itching to find her, but the man in me knows that's not the right thing to do, at least for now.

“She’s strong, Jamie. Really strong. It must be bad if she’s this rattled.” With a frustrated groan, I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. “I just feel so helpless. Maybe I should blow off the competition and go find her? I don’t know what to do.”

It’s tough to admit.

“You’ll do no such thing.”

Jamie’s eyes glaze over, and I frown, still not used to the idea that she has a whole other pack she can mind-link with now.

“I have just the man,” she whispers, tapping the side of her nose and twisting to make sure Dean isn’t watching her. “He hates the Games. This will be a pleasant distraction for him.”

"Jax," I murmur, and she nods. It makes sense. Jax has the freedom to move around without drawing attention, especially at night when most are asleep. Nobody would even notice if he disappeared for a few days. In fact, with the slightly unhinged edge to his aura, people would probably welcome it.

"He'll help," Jamie confirms. "He's been itching for something to do besides lurk in the shadows. And he likes you, even if he doesn't show it."

He does show it. He’s been keeping me company, even if it’s in wolf form, when I can’t sleep at night, unused to luxurious bedding or being around so many other people.

Sucking in a deep breath, I push to my feet, nervous energy coursing through my veins. I’m looking forward to the next round of the competition so I can burn this off. I don’t say thank you, partly because I don’t trust my words to come out steady, and partly because I don’t need to. Instead, I swipe the slice of cake that she’s carelessly left on a side table and shove it into my mouth in one go.

“We’ll find out what we can.” Jamie promises. “She’s ours now too, Wyatt. We won’t let anything happen to her.”

I’m glad I can’t talk, because I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.

Jamie dashes into the hallway and returns with a pile of clothes. When I look at her, confused, she holds them out to me. “Take them. You don’t have to just rotate two outfits anymore.”

I’ve heard the comments. Why do I always wear the same clothes? That’s why when I’m out in the dead of night, I wash my clothes in the river. Or recently, Jax has taken them, his wolf running off with them, and then they miraculously appear clean and folded the next morning at my bedroom door. He’s strangely considerate for a wolf that’s borderline feral.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

She shrugs, not making a big deal of it, which I appreciate greatly. She knows how hard it is. We’re not like everyone else here.

With a wave over my shoulder, I walk away from the cabin, certain that even if I can’t help Naomi right now, my sister can.