8. Mai

As Ryan drove me to the compound where Jem and Hayley lived, I couldn't help but feel nervous. What would I say to Jem after all these years? Would Hayley still hate me? I had to make sure that they knew I wasn't here to stay.

I'd never been inside the Alpha compound before. I'd just turned eighteen when I left and had never been there. As we approached the entrance, I could see a network of cameras and sensors covering the perimeter. There was a guard stationed at the gates. Ryan wound down his window and nodded to him. The guard looked at Ryan, then at me, then back at Ryan. His face showed no expression. Right.

The guard talked into his radio, "Open the gate." Then tapped on the roof of the car two times.

We drove through, and I was surprised to see that the compound was more like a small town. There were several large houses scattered around a central square. All of them had well-maintained, spacious gardens in front.

In the center of the square was a fountain surrounded by benches and a ring of Japanese maples. The fountain was beautifully crafted, with intricate carvings of rabbits, fawns, and squirrels.

Each house was different. Some were modern, with grand windows and sleek lines, while others were more traditional, smaller, with thatched roofs and beautiful rustic stonework.

The largest one, which I was guessing was where the Alphas would stay, was a sprawling, three-story house with a wide veranda and a garden full of colorful flowers. There were bean bags and two hammocks on the veranda, and I could just picture Jem chilling out in one in the evenings.

Ryan parked the car in the driveway.

"We're here," he said.

No shit.

"Mai, I—"

"Don't start. I just want to get in there, listen to whatever Jem has to say, and get the hell out."

Ryan stared at me for a long moment, his jaw tight. I knew he wanted to say more, but thankfully, he got out without saying anything. I blinked, and he was at my door before I'd even opened it. These crutches sucked.

"Here, let me—"

"I've got it, Ryan. I don't need your help, so back off."

I hobbled past him toward the door. It was awkward, but I made it to the front door. Ryan walked straight in. I guess Jem had an open-door policy. I followed him and was immediately struck by how cozy and welcoming the house felt. There were soft pastel rugs on the floors and bookshelves full of books lining the walls. I didn't remember Jem as a big reader. That was always my thing.

Ryan steered me into the living room. It was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. It was decorated in warm, earthy tones, with plush couches and chairs arranged around an imposing fireplace. Then, my eyes met the gaze of the man standing in the middle of the room. My brother. Jem.

I hadn't seen him in so long, and I could hardly recognize the boy I once knew. I could see the weight of the past four years etched on his face. There were lines around his eyes and mouth that hadn't been there before. He was taller, broader, and just oozed confidence that I guessed came with being an Alpha. His eyes, the same deep brown as mine, were filled with emotions that I couldn't quite decipher.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, unsure of what to say or do.

Then, without warning, Jem strode forward and pulled me into a tight embrace. I felt his strong arms wrap around me, and I breathed in the familiar scent of him. It was a mix of coconut and earth, with a hint of something that was uniquely Jem.

I forgot about everything else. I forgot about the pain in my leg, about Seth and the fact that he was still out there, about why I left in the first place. All I could feel was the warmth of Jem's embrace, and an overwhelming sense of relief washed over me.

"Mai," he said softly. "I'm so glad you're back."

Tears were prickling at the corners of my eyes. I had missed him so much. All those lonely days when I didn't know when my next meal would be or if I'd find somewhere to sleep that night, I'd think of Jem—there was no way I'd let my thoughts go to Ryan, there was too much hurt there—and wonder if he was okay. When I heard the rumors that the Three Rivers Pack had a new Alpha pair, I knew it was Jem, and he'd finally done it. Jem was always the strong one. He'd plotted and prepared, he'd kept us safe, and when the time was right, he and Hayley had challenged Oliver. Me? As soon as things got hard, I'd run.

I took a deep breath. I didn't want to break down in front of him.

Jem must have sensed my hesitation. "It's okay," he whispered. "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I can't stay," I mumbled the words into his shirt.

"We can talk about that later." Jem pulled back. "What did Doc say?" he asked, looking at Ryan.

"Broken arm, two ribs. Twisted knee. She'll be fine in a couple of days."

Jem looked at me again. "Who?"

I stared back at him. "This isn't why I came. It isn't your business. I'm handling it." I had to set the boundaries now, before I fell into being his kid sister again, one who needed protecting.

Jem's eyes bore into mine, and I knew he was not happy with my answer.

"Does that trick work on all your minions?"

Jem's jaw clenched, and then he sighed. "Normally, yes. I glare. They spill. That's how the whole Alpha gig works. Apparently, it doesn't work on sisters, though. I'll have to come up with something different just for you."

I grinned at him. Man, I'd missed him.

Jem grinned back at me. "You must be exhausted. Why don't we get you settled in your room?"

"What room?"

"You can't stay in our old apartment, Mai. I haven't seen you in four years. Please, stay here with me so we can catch up properly before you leave again."

He had me. He knew he had me. I couldn't go back to the apartment now.

"Is Hayley—?"

Jem cut me off. "Don't worry about her. She's hardly here these days."

That didn't sound good, but I wasn't going to dwell on it. Spending some time with Jem actually sounded good. Maybe we could catch up; maybe I could get some closure before I moved on. Maybe we could even get to the position that when I did get settled somewhere else, I could call him once in a while and hear his voice.

"My stuff—"

"Sofia packed it up and brought it all here while you were at Doc's," said Ryan.

Oh, did she? She and I were going to have words.

"I have to move a couple of meetings, Mai. Ryan can show you around, and then you can rest. I'll see you for dinner, okay?" Jem leaned down and kissed my forehead, gave Ryan a look that I couldn't decipher, and then strode out of the room.