“Who told you that?” Kelsey demanded having caught Daya’s sudden paleness.
“Sebastian,” Simone admitted with a wince. “It was why we were arguing since I didn’t believe that they should be the ones to protect her, but…”
“They didn’t know who it was until the last minute after they had already accepted the mission,” Brianna continued closing her eyes. “Alec called me before I came back and let me know he was going to be gone again.”
Even through the pain sweeping through her, Daya saw the look the other three shared at Brianna’s words and she turned a questioning look to Kelsey who shook her head.
“I’ll explain later,” she mouthed before Brianna opened her eyes, and Daya turned her attention to the news that was just imparted to her.
“I’m sorry, Daya,” Simone told her when they got up to leave since each of them had lost the mood. “I was sure that Garin would’ve told you.”
“I guess he didn’t want me to worry,” Daya surmised out loud giving her a small smile. “Although he promised to tell me when he met his mate.”
“Ex.”
Daya turned in surprise when all four of them uttered this aloud getting swift glances from others entering, and leaving, the building.
“She is his ex, Daya,” Brianna repeated putting a hand on Daya’s shoulder. “She rejected him, and from what I heard, you are the first woman to have stayed with Garin longer even after sleeping with him.”
Daya’s cheeks flushed and they stared at her in shock while Maggie asked hesitantly, “You two haven’t slept together?”
“Well,” Daya said slowly, “we’ve slept together, but we haven’t had sex if that’s what you are referring.”
The looks of shock on their faces told Daya more than they could’ve known, her eyes feeling with tears.
“Which means, Garin thinks you are special.” Brianna put into words what crossed Daya’s mind with the others quickly agreeing with her.
“I hope that is true,” Daya replied blinking her eyes holding back the tears. “Do we know how much longer for the mission?”
Simone shook her head sadly while Kelsey sighed, and Maggie replied in a downcast voice.
“No, but my mate let me know that it was taking longer since they still don’t know who is after the Alpha Female.”
“Oh, okay,” Daya replied running a hand through her hair. “I guess we will just have to wait a little longer although Simone, if I was you, I would call your mate sooner.”
At Simone’s questioning look, Daya turned to walk away. “Right now, in their situation, I think he could use all the support he needs especially if his mind isn’t hundred percent on the mission.”
With a brief wave, she walked away only to stop glancing over her shoulder. “It was nice hanging out with you ladies today.”
With those words, and another brief wave, Daya continued to her car where she got in and started it up driving away without looking back although once out of their sight, she pulled over to the side and leaned against the steering wheel.
“I’m such a fool.” She moaned in the confines of the car knowing it wasn’t going to stop the feelings rushing through her.
When her cell rung, she sighed and forcing a smile to her face she answered it. “Hi, Uncle Jordan, what are you up to?”
“Why did you have to bring that up, Simone, in front of her?” Kelsey demanded when they walked into the pack house forty minutes later.
“I wasn’t thinking,” Simone defended in a loud voice. “It just slipped out.”
Kelsey went to argue some more when Kala stepped out of the hallway leading to her office a frown on her face.
“What’s going on here?” She asked in a lighthearted voice although her eyes were dark since she didn’t like her members arguing amongst themselves.
Brianna was the one who spoke up stepping over to her. “We met up with Daya at the mall and Simone let it slip that the Alpha Female who was the mission happens to be Garin’s ex-mate.”
Kala’s face went white at the news turning to Simone who flushed darkly.
“It was an accident, Alpha Female,” Simone said quietly. “I wasn’t thinking especially…”
“I know,” Kala assured her with a soft sigh. “Well, it is out now and to be honest, I think it is only right that Daya knows although I believe Garin should have told her before he left.”
Brianna and the others nodded their head in agreement, and Kala put a hand on Simone’s shoulder.
“You did right, although I wished you had been a little more tactful.” Kala shook her head briefly. “But what is done, is done. You should probably go upstairs, though, and make your own call.”
At her words, Simone’s eyes opened wide and Kala merely sighed pushing her toward the stairs.
Simone turned back to the others and jumped when they all shouted at the same time.
“GO!
Chapter 8
After that day, Daya and Kelsey hung out together from shopping to studying although it was normally done at Daya’s apartment even though she was given permission to do it at the pack house.
Still leery although she liked Alpha and Alpha Female Jansen, she didn’t want to intrude especially with Garin gone.
“I can’t hang out tonight,” Daya told Kelsey a few day later leaving class. “I have to work tonight. In fact, I have to be there in about an hour.”
Kelsey frowned tilting her head to the side. “I thought you had the night off,” she protested getting a laugh from Daya.
“I did, but one of the regular nursing assistants called out so they asked me to fill in for a few hours,” Daya explained heading out of the building. “I will get off around eleven.”
She glanced over when Tammie and few of her friends brushed past them, and Kelsey scowled after them while Daya shook her head.
“She’s been mad as hell since that day at the house,” Kelsey remarked in a low voice. “It seems she was sure that Garin would ditch you soon, but he hasn’t accepted any of her calls.”
Daya shrugged her shoulders. “Tammie doesn’t worry me,” she said with a small wince.
Kelsey gave her a thoughtful look. “No, she isn’t one to be frightened of, but…”
“Exactly.” It was an agreement before Kelsey even finished her sentence, and she sighed while Daya gave a brief smile.
“I’ll see you later,” Daya told her once they reached their vehicles, and Kelsey waved watching Daya get into her car driving away with a brief wave of her hand.
Kelsey turned seeing Tammie stare after Daya’s car with a malicious look on her face.
“Tammie,” Kelsey called out starting toward the other woman, but Tammie merely gave her a dirty look before climbing into her teal blue car.
“Now, why does that worry me?” Kelsey asked herself eyes on Tammie as she pulled out of the parking lot in a squeal of tires.
All members back to the pack house.
The Alpha’s voice vibrated through her head, and Kelsey went on alert rushing to the car thoughts of Tammie, and her strange behavior, completely forgotten.
“Is there a problem?” Kala rushed into the pack house right behind the others having left the school early canceling her last class for the day.
Trevor looked up from the paperwork on his desk and sighed sitting back. “Alec contacted me with some information that was disturbing so I want to bring the members closer to home.”
Kala frowned. “Do we need to put the pack on alert?”
Trevor gave her a steady look before he answered in a hard voice. “I’m not going to full alert, but I want the pack to be more cautious of their surroundings which what will be discussed in today’s meeting.”
Kala nodded her head biting her lip while one hand soothed over her stomach watching Trevor’s eyes follow her movement.
“It’s going to be all right, honey,” he assured her with a smile.
“I know.” She replied answering that smile, but a hint of worry stil
l lingered in the back of her mind even though she knew her mate would do everything in his power to assure the safety of their pack and her.
Trevor got up from his chair and walked around the desk putting an arm around Kala’s waist. “Let’s go.”
Kala nodded her head letting him lead her out of the room and to the living room were the members were packed waiting for them.
“I got a message from Alec,” Trevor stated right away seeing Brianna’s eyes start to flicker with worry. “He is fine, but he believes that we may have an issue heading our way.”
“An issue,” one of the members repeated sharing looks with others.
“Rogues,” another voiced a hint of worry in his voice.
Trevor shook his head once. “We don’t know yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared for whatever it may be. Alec heard some rumors that he doesn’t want to ignore, and the others have been informed of them also. They would like to come back home, but they still have a mission to fulfill.”
“Alpha Leonardo will send them home if anything occurs and they are needed here,” Kala added glancing around the room watching some sigh with relief while others nodded their heads at her words.
“This meeting is merely an informative one, but,” Trevor stressed eyes narrowing slightly shifting his eyes around the room. “I don’t want anyone straying too far from the pack house. If the rumors are true, then I want all of you to be close just in case something does happen.”
“Yes, Alpha.” A chorus of voices echoed around the room, and Trevor gave a rueful laugh running a hand through his hair.
“So, for right now, be on alert wherever you are and wherever you go,” Trevor ordered. “I don’t want anyone coming onto our territory without my knowledge, and I especially don’t want to lose anyone.”
Again, a chorus of voices before Trevor dismissed them never one for long, and tiring, speeches turning to Kala who gave him a brief grin.
“Was there any word on when Jaime and the others may be home?” Kelsey asked walking over to them a light of anticipation on her face.
“Sorry, Kelsey, but no,” Trevor informed her excusing himself when one of his fighter wolves approached them.
Kelsey sighed sadly, and Kala put a hand on her shoulder. “I thought you were going to hang out with Daya tonight,” she asked turning for the kitchen with Kelsey falling in step with her and they were joined by Brianna.
“I want to check the infirmary to make sure we are stocked up just in case,” Brianna told them getting a nod of approval from Kala.
“It’s a good idea since we are not sure what is going to happen,” Kala muttered having forgotten her own question until they walked into the kitchen. “Oh, that’s right, Kelsey…”
“Daya had to work tonight,” Kelsey informed them going over to the refrigerator where memory hit her when she pulled out a can of soda. “I almost forgot since the Alpha called while it was happening, but Tammie was staring after Daya when she left school, and I didn’t like the look on her face.”
Kala frowned turning to Kelsey. “What time does Daya get off?”
“She said around eleven.”
“Did Tammie hear this conversation?” Brianna asked seeing the worry that flashed across the Alpha Female’s face.
“They walked past us just after Daya was informing me,” Kelsey uttered a frown coming to her face shifting her gaze between Kala and Brianna. “Why, do you think Tammie will try to hurt Daya?”
“Tammie was upset when Garin ditched her for Daya,” Kala admitted leaning against the counter a heavy frown on her face. “But that didn’t stop her from still coming here and trying to cozy up to him every chance she got although Garin has been busy with practice and…”
“When he isn’t, he is with Daya,” Brianna finished watching Kala nod her head.
“Tammie has been informed of this,” Kala conveyed with a wince. “I’m sure she isn’t too thrilled about the fact another woman has taken what she thought was rightfully hers.”
“Garin is no one’s unless he chooses to be,” Kelsey and Brianna stated at the same time sharing a look.
Kala laughed shaking her head. “I guess it is obvious even to Kelsey who hasn’t been here that long.”
Kelsey flushed, but she grinned at her Alpha Female’s words. “Besides, I think Daya is more compatible for Garin.”
“Hmm, how so?” Brianna asked turning a questioning look to her.
“Daya doesn’t actually give into Garin so easily although it may seem like it to the others,” Kelsey remarked a hint of laughter on her face.
“Oh,” Kala remarked laughing herself which only earned her a confused look from Brianna. “A few days before you came back, Garin stormed into the house fury vibrating through him which I think was at odds with his wolf.”
“Jaime and I both think his wolf was having a laugh at his expense,” Kelsey interjected.
Kala chuckled. “It seems Daya had to work that night, and Garin wanted her to call off so they could go out. Daya told him point blank that she had job and she needed to do it especially since it was how she paid her bills. I guess Garin made some off the wall comment about him paying her bills, and Daya kicked him out of her apartment.”
“Wow,” Brianna uttered her eyes wide at the information.
“It didn’t last long,” Kelsey tacked on with a giggle. “About an hour later, Garin was on the phone with Daya apologizing to all of our amazement. The next day, he went over to see her and…”
“The rest is history.” Brianna uttered the old cliché making Kala and Kelsey laugh, but they nodded their heads.
“They are still feeling each other out,” Kala revealed. “Garin is leery, but so is Daya. I think this is actually a good thing for them, and the mission is another good thing although the location isn’t the one I would choose.”
“No, especially since it concerns Garin’s ex-mate.” Kelsey winced at the reminder.
“Which Daya knows about.”
“She is dealing with it,” Kelsey assured Kala catching the frown that drifted over her face walking over and putting a hand on her arm. “Besides, she feels safe in the fact that Garin promised to tell her when, or if, he met his mate again.”
“Yet…” Brianna replied biting her lip.
“Daya is waiting,” Kelsey informed them seeing understanding settle on their faces.
Kala turned to the door doubles thinking about the young woman. “Kelsey, why don’t you call Daya when she gets off work?”
“It will be late.”
“I know,” Kala told her. “But I have this bad feeling especially after what you told us about Tammie. I just want to make sure she is okay.”
At their confused looks, Kala merely shook her head grabbing her drink and exiting the kitchen knowing that it would be hard to explain the occasionally flashes that came to her. They didn’t come often, and yet something in her gut wasn’t letting her put Kelsey’s words to the side.
“I wonder why,” she whispered to herself putting a hand on her stomach while her wolf mumbled incoherently unsure herself why they were so uneasy suddenly.
Later that evening, Daya walked out of the hospital yawning since she stayed almost an hour later than she had been requested to work not that she minded although she was tired from the demanding patients and the strict nurses.
“Another night done,” Daya whispered tiredly heading for her car when her arm was grabbed roughly from behind.
“Hey pretty lady,” a voice slurred even as she was swung around to see the two men staring at her with lazy, and bloodshot, eyes.
“Let go of me,” Daya ordered striving to curb the panic going through her.
“We were told you wouldn’t mind some company,” the one who grabbed her arm slurred his grip tightening, and Daya had a feeling that they weren’t as drunk as she assumed.
“No, thank you,” Daya replied yanking her arm away from the man’s grip watching his eyes narrow when she broke his hold.
“I’m sure your man won’t mind sharing,” the other spoke up joining his companion. “After all, he isn’t in town and it can get lonely without your lover around.”
He sneered the last of his words, and Daya’s eyes narrowed at how much they knew although not everything it seemed.
“Even if he was here, I wouldn’t go with you,” Daya stated without hesitation tensing her stance when she saw how they reacted to her reply.
Their eyes narrowed, but they laughed heartily as if she had made a joke and the second one reached out grabbing her arm while the other ran a hand down her chest. Without thinking, Daya grabbed the man’s wrist and twisted it until she heard the snap of bone before pushing him back. She turned to the other man whose hand on her arm tightened painfully and she brought up her leg kicking him hard in the groin which made him scream dropping her arm and collapsing to his knees, hands between his legs.
“You bitch,” the first shouted holding his broken wrist while the second got back to his feet slowly glaring at her.
Daya clenched her fist and hit him squarely in the face before he got fully to his feet and he fell back in surprise at the attack.
Turning, Daya was just in time to move out of the way of the knife the other man had drawn and using her fist again, she hit the man in the stomach hard enough to make him lose his breath. Grabbing his knife hand, she brought it down hard on her upraised knee making him drop the knife and then she slammed him into the car. His wrist hit first at the momentum she used, and he screamed out in pain before he passed out collapsing to the ground.
Daya turned back to the other man just as he picked up the knife, but she wasn’t quick enough to deflect it when he bought the knife down catching her in the upper thigh, and she let out a cry before she fell to the ground.
“Not so tough now,” he mocked down at her until Daya swung around on her injured leg gritting her teeth the entire time and catching him in the face with her foot. She heard a crunch letting her know that she broke something before he hit the pavement. She pulled herself to her feet with as much effort as she could before she collapsed her head hitting the pavement even while her mind called out for one person.
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