11. Bryce

Ihated leaving Radley this morning, but I knew she needed time with Mason, which is the only reason I agreed. Nash was just as hesitant after the time he spent with her last night.

At first, I wasn't sure how I'd feel once we added Radley to our pack. For years, all of Mason and Nash's focus has been on me. But after last night, it just solidified the fact that she belongs with us.

I could feel all of Radley's lust, and when Nash opened his mind for her to feel his, I was almost a whimpering mess. It just makes me want to make her feel like that even more. Being the beta, I serve my alphas, which means I don't get a chance to feel what they do. I've never even wanted to until Radley.

After she passed out and Nash carried her inside, Mason dragged me to his room. He knew what I needed and was inside me before I could even ask. It just made me realize that they won't forget me just because they have Radley. Mason spent hours making sure I still felt cherished and loved. It was all that I needed and more. Radley belongs to us, but it doesn't stop the constant worry.

"I can feel you thinking from here," Nash says, wiping sweat from his brow. His big body is shirtless, and his muscles ripple when he stabs the shovel into the ground. "What's wrong, Baby beta?"

"What if Radley hates us when she finds out?"

Nash sighs and sits down, stretching his long legs out in front of him. "Come here." He holds his arms open, and I scramble onto his lap. I love curling up in their laps or lying on top of them to sleep. I used to be ashamed of how needy I was when it came to them. But over time, they showed me they love it just as much, and it is normal to be like that with your alpha. Nash's arms close around me, and he holds me tight. "It's not going to be easy when she finds out, but we just have to be patient and be there for her."

"Why can't we just tell her?"

"Because it isn't our secret to tell." We sit there for a few minutes, and Nash chuckles. "It seems like Mason and Radley are having fun."

"Yeah. I can feel it. It's stronger today."

"She's accepting the bond," Nash says softly. That's a good and bad thing. We need her to know everything first. We know what Luther went through when Mason's mom rejected him. It's not something that I ever want to feel. She needs to know the truth, and I have an idea of how she can find out. But I don't know how Mason and Nash will feel about it. I don't want to hide anything from her anymore. "She wants to learn how to shield like we do."

"But I like feeling her."

"I know. I do, too." Nash kisses the top of my head. "But she needs some privacy. We can show her how to let us see what she wants instead of everything on her mind."

"I don't want her to have to go back to work at the shitty diner." I'm pouting; I know am, but that place just sucks.

"Me either, but we can't do anything about that yet."

I sit up so I can see his face. "We can ask her to stay."

Nash rubs his thumb across my bottom lip. "She isn't ready for that."

"I don't think we're giving her enough credit. We thought she was going to freak out over the wolf thing, and she didn't."

"We'll talk to Mason. You know it's a pack decision." Nash kisses me slowly and then lays his forehead against mine. "Let's go for a run to clear our heads."

I nod in agreement and jump to my feet. Nash knows how much I love to run in my wolf form. It really is like stretching your muscles. Being in human form can feel confining at times, and there's nothing like being able to run with my guys.

We call out to Luther to let him know what we're doing and he waves to let us know he heard us. We slip behind the barn for privacy and strip out of our clothes. As soon as I'm naked, I can feel my body shudder, and then I'm landing on four paws. I shake out my coat and bump my snout against Nash's. His brown wolf is huge compared to me, but it always makes me feel safe.

We take off running, tearing through the forest at breakneck speeds. I can feel my body and mind settle, which is why Nash suggested it. I've always loved being in wolf form and would stay that way if I could most of the time. We weave through the trees until we hit the edge of the property. We stay behind the tree line and slow down to a slow trot. I fall in behind Nash, just enjoying this time with him, when he gives me a short, sharp bark. An alpha command. I stop dead in my tracks, and he's sniffing the air. I do the same, and that's when I smell it. There's another wolf out here, and it isn't one of ours.

"Rogue wolf," Nash speaks in my mind.

"Why are they so close to our lands?"

"I don't know. Let's track it. Stay close."

"Yes, Alpha."

We walk the perimeter, sniffing every inch. When we get close to the road, the smell gets stronger, and they aren't alone. Nash's hackles are raised, and I hear a growl rumbling up his chest.

"Go get Luther."

"But I don't want to leave you alone," I argue.

"Now, Beta."

With a whine from the reprimand, I take off back toward Luther's cabin. He sees me coming toward him and is already walking to meet me halfway. I shift back and stumble on my human legs in my haste. "There are rogues close to pack lands."

"What?" Luther barks and yells for Teddy, Cruz, and Marcus. They come running out of the cabin, and they all shift as if on cue. Luther's wolf looks so much like Mason that if they didn't have a different smell I would have gotten them confused. I shift back and run toward Nash with them hot on my heels. When we get to the edge of the forest, he's pacing in tight, agitated steps, his eyes never leaving the other side.

Luther walks to his side and jerks his head for us to follow. We'll get Mason if it turns into anything. We slowly walk across the road, keeping a close eye on our surroundings. Rogue wolves are ruthless and don't fight fair, which is why they're rogue. They have either chosen not to be in a pack or been kicked out of one. We get to the other side of the forest, and something hits me hard from the side. The wolf hits me, and I tumble from the force while I'm blocking them from going for my neck. I hear Luther bark and then the thundering of paws. The wolf lunges for me again, and then it's gone. I jump back to my paws in time to see Nash pin them down, snarling in their face. What the hell is going on? We haven't had a rogue attack in years. Rogues have yellow eyes instead of red, and I see them glowing all around me. They don't usually run together, so the fact that there are so many isn't good.

"Go back home,"Nash barks at me, still holding down the wolf that attacked me.

Before I can move, another wolf comes at me full force, but it's hit by Luther before it can touch me. The other wolves are starting to pick up on the fact that I'm a beta, and they're starting to circle me, blocking my path home. One lunges at me, and all hell breaks loose. Luther and another big wolf collide, and I swear it shakes the fucking ground. I back up from the wolves in front of me, trying to figure out my game plan. Betas can fight, but not when we're outnumbered, and from what I can tell, these are all alphas and twice my size.

I shift to the left, and one follows me. I don't have to move before it sinks its teeth into my flank. I howl in pain and try to get free. They pull back and lunge again. I'm already preparing to run when Mason's black wolf skids to a stop at my side. His teeth are bared, and he's licking his chops, already tasting the blood. I see several more wolves from the trees and know the rest of our packs heard my cry of distress. The rogue wolves notice and start slowly disappearing into the woods. The one that was fighting Luther is much slower than the light brown wolf that bit me.

To my surprise, the big wolf shifts, and I can feel the anger rolling through Mason. Luther shifts back, and he's pissed. "What the fuck are you doing here, Rogue?"

"Who is that?" I ask.

"The one my mom ran off with."I move closer to press my body against his in comfort.

"Just checking the scenery," the rogue wolf answers. "No need to be hostile." He's shorter than Luther and not as fit. His hair is long, shaggy, and unwashed.

"You attacked first," Luther growls, taking a step forward, not caring about his nudity. We see it all the time, so most of us are used to it. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Nice place you have here. We thought about setting up camp on the other side."

"Over my dead goddamn body," Luther responds, and Teddy steps up beside him.

"That can be arranged," the rogue wolf grins, and Cruz growls in warning. "We've come with a warning. Don't interfere in rogue business, and we won't burn your little camp down."

"A warning from who?" Luther hisses. "I don't take orders from anyone."

"You have a lot of helpless wolves in that camp, don't you, Luther? I would hate to see any of them die because of your pride." His eyes shift to me. "I see you still house useless betas, too."

Mason shifts, and Nash walks up behind him, still in wolf form. "Who the fuck are you calling useless?"

"Ah, Mason? I thought that was you. I get you and your dad confused. Watch out. I might make a mistake and rip your throat out instead." I keep my eyes on the brown wolf behind this guy, and they're shifting from foot to foot, watching us just as close. "I figured you'd learn from your dad's mistakes, Mason, and get a stronger pack."

"My pack is strong, you piece of shit. You have no right to be here."

"I do, though. This isn't your land."

"It's too close," Luther replies. "Leave, or there will be no one left."

"You think this is it?" the guy asks. "This is just the beginning."

"Since when do rogues form packs? You're too self-centered for that," Luther says.

"We've learned a better way." The rogue wolf motions to the brown wolf, and their body starts to shudder. When they shift to human form, it's a beautiful woman with long brown hair and mean green eyes. Mason sucks in a breath beside me, and I feel his hurt rolling through the bond. He takes a step forward and says something that I never expected.

"Mom?"