Chapter


    112


    "Well, we have a greenhouse that some of us oldies work at throughout the winter. We don''t love the cold as much as the youngins do and it''s the best ce for pack gossip. And my nters have finally been put to bed for the winter, so that''s where I will be." She chuckles at the conspiracy. "You''ve mentioned the pups almost every day, you could go y with them. Some of their mammas would appreciate their energy being burned off. And a few guys keep their field clear of leaves in the fall and snow in the winter so they never have to find a ce to y. It keeps them out of trouble."


    “Am I allowed to leave though? Do you know something I don''t? Thest direction that was yelled at me after Be got attacked while protecting me was ''don''t leave the packhouse.'' It was pretty clear."


    "If memory serves, Ryker is very much like his father in that respect. When something they care about is threatened, theysh out, even at the person they are trying to protect. I''m not excusing the behavior,” She puts her hands up like I might argue with her. "It''s an asshole thing to do, but it is an inherited trait. And usually an overreaction they don''t remember having."


    "I know he cares about Be. But I think Ryker might have threatened him. Be and I haven''t spoken much since the attack." It sucks how bad saying those words out loud hurts. "Ryker, for sure, has made his point that he does not care about me. He''s stuck though because his wolf wants me around or needs me around, or something like that. I''m not sure which is more urate. I know a bit about mates, but it wasn''t anything I thought I needed to know about, so I didn''t pay close attention in school. I know he is trying to find a way to reject me so we can both move on with our lives. I just wish it wasn''t at the bottom of his priority list." “Did he say he was going to reject you?" She sounds horrified at the idea. "Not in words, but the former luna has books in her office and I have been through most of them. One talks about mates, the good and the bad stuff that can happen. I was trying to figure out if it said anything about human mates. I haven''t found anything yet, but I did find one that talks about infidelity and how serious it is. Well, I have the marks to prove that Ryker doesn''t want me, if I am to believe thetest book."


    “What?! Let me see!” I jump as she shouts at me.


    I''m afraid I said something wrong looking at her face right now. I really don''t want to show her. It''s embarrassing really. Clearly Amy''s usation when I got here was right and I don''t please or can''t please the alpha, so he''s looking elsewhere. "Kennedy, please show me." She softened her look at me, now I see pity. She already knows what she''s going to find. I think Greta saw themst week too, but she didn''t say anything so I can''t be sure. "This is not your fault and you have done nothing wrong, but I need to see."


    "Will he get in trouble somehow if you find what you''re looking for?" I don''t know why I care, but I do. Stupid mate bond. Clearly it only works one way.


    "Not any real trouble no, but I want to be sure for your peace of mind. Please." I don''t believe that at all. This is bad, the worst type of betrayal.


    I stand and meet her halfway around the ind. There isn''t anyone around that I can see and I don''t really care if Be knows. He''s lurking behind a wall. I wonder if he knows I can sense him near me? One more deep breath and then I raise my shirt. There areyers of tennis ball sized bruises in different shades of purple, yellow and green surrounding most of my abdomen and wrapping around to my back. I can''t ever get a good look at the back ones in my mirror though. "Did these just show up?"


    "Kind of, but I always had a stomach ache or cramps before. I thought maybe I did something in the gym or bumped into something or maybe was getting sick, but that''s not what these are, are they? I''ve been getting them for weeks."