-Adrian-
I head down to the SUV, keys jingling in my hand. My mood is already sour, and it's not even noon. Between pack politics and my mate thinking I cheated on her yesterday, I'm itching for a fight.
"Perhaps we should find some rogues to hunt," Nox suggests, his energy restless beneath my skin. "Nothing clears the mind like the thrill of pursuit."
"Later," I promise him. "First, we deal with whatever's happening at the gates."
Just as I'm about to climb in, Jamison and Killian jog out from the packhouse, making their way to the vehicle. I hold back a growl of frustration. Can't a man handle one simple task alone?
Killian slides into the passenger seat, face pinched with annoyance. "This better be good. I was in the middle of watching the security feed from yesterday."
"Between Jasmine, Elder Ron and Laura, and now this..." I grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles whitening. "I'm going to need a day in the rogue block."
"YES," Nox perks up immediately. "Blood. Violence. Release."
Jamison pipes up from the back seat, "Or you need a day with Luna and everyone leave you alone. She just got here and has spent most of it either alone or with Oaklynn."
"You don't think I fucking know that?" I snap, my control slipping.
"They question our care for our mate," Nox growls indignantly. "As if we would willingly neglect her."
Killian whistles low. "Damn, Alpha. Maybe Asher, Jax and I should be in charge a few days and you take Luna to the Lake cabin."
The suggestion takes some of the wind out of my sails. Time alone with Ember, away from pack drama and responsibilities... the idea is more tempting than it should be.
"Our mate. Alone. Uninterrupted," Nox purrs with approval. "We could properly claim her there. Mark every inch as ours."
"I might take you up on that offer," I admit, some of my rage dissipating. "Things haven't really gone easy for Ember since she got here."
"Besides Jasmine's welcome party...what else happened?" Jamison asks.
"Yesterday Jasmine was in my office trying to seduce me into leaving and rejecting Ember. She was playing with herself on my desk." The memory makes Nox snarl with disgust. "Ember went into my office later and smelled Jasmine in there and assumed I fucked her. Then apparently this morning she butted heads with Laura about the Pup-center's Den-mother assignments."
"Wait, Jasmine did what on your desk?" Killian asks, his face contorting in disgust. "Did you burn the desk afterward? Because that's the only appropriate response."
"I should have," I mutter darkly.
Killian shakes his head with a light laugh. "So, Luna wanted to make a decision as is her right and Laura didn't take too kindly to it?"
"Bingo," I confirm as the gates come into view. I pull to the side of the road and turn off the SUV.
My warriors are gathered in a circle, surrounding someone I can't see. But whoever it is has them on edge—I can sense their unease even from here.
"Threat?" Nox questions, instantly alert.
"We'll see," I reply, climbing out of the vehicle. "Well, let's go see what's going on here."
As we approach, a woman's voice rings out, threatening my men with creative forms of bodily harm for not allowing her passage.
"I swear by all that is unholy, if you don't let me through these gates in five seconds, I will personally turn each of you into a living anatomy lesson for kindergartners. 'And this, children, is where the nice wolf's spine used to be before I ripped it out through his nostrils.'"
Killian chuckles. "Damn, she's got balls."
Jamison's face splits into a wide smile. "Fuck yeah!"
"Shit," I mutter, recognition dawning.
"The fiery friend of our mate," Nox rumbles with recognition.
I give Jamison a look before addressing the circle. "What's going on? What's the problem?"
The men split apart, revealing a very pissed-off redhead.
"You mother fucking bastard!" Stella launches herself at me, fist connecting with my jaw before I can react.
I stumble back, clutching my jaw. "Nice to see you again, Stella."
"Let me out!" Nox demands, affronted by the challenge. "No one strikes us without consequence!"
"She's Ember's friend," I remind him firmly. "We can take a punch for our mate's happiness."
"Nice to see me? NICE TO SEE ME?" Stella spits, eyes blazing with fury. "You promised not to hurt her, you fucker!"
She comes at me again, but Killian catches her around the waist, holding her against his chest.
"Whoa there, sweetheart," he says. "Can't have you challenging the Alpha."
Stella scoff-laughs. "Why? Afraid I'd win? Let me go, you overgrown Ken doll, before I turn your ribcage into a designer handbag."
Jamison, still grinning like an idiot, steps forward. "Well if it isn't my favorite little warrior. Still throwing punches first and asking questions never, I see."
"Oh shut up," Stella shoots him a murderous look. "I'll deal with you later. What the hell were you thinking, messing with Oaklynn when you knew damn well she was having issues with Carter? I should hang you by your own intestines for that alone!"
Killian chuckles. "They're past those now. Thanks to us."
Stella elbows him in the stomach and whirls around. "Us? So you're Killian, I assume."
Killian gives her his patented panty-dropping smile. "Nice to meet you, babe." He looks at me. "This the girl you said I wouldn't be able to handle?"
I nod, amused despite everything. "Killian, meet Stella." I can't resist adding with a smirk, "She's more pit bull than wolf."
"I'll show you my fangs, you oversized poodle!" Stella whirls back around, ready to launch at me again. "Call me a dog one more time and I'll turn your pelt into a welcome mat for my bathroom!"
Killian grabs her, holding her tighter to his chest. He leans down to whisper something in her ear. "You know, all that fire would be put to better use in more... pleasurable activities. I bet you're just as fierce in bed as you are in a fight."
"The Delta plays with fire," Nox observes. "She will devour him."
Suddenly, a loud growl rips through the crowd. Stella is yanked from Killian's arms, and a fist flies into Killian's face, sending him to the ground.
Killian looks up, shock written across his features. "What the fuck, man?"
Jax stands over him, emanating pure rage, now holding Stella against his chest. "I suggest you keep your hands off my mate before I separate them from your body."
Killian shakes his head in disbelief and stands. "You've got to be kidding me! Her? Your mate? The universe has a sick sense of humor."
"Excuse me?" Stella glares at Killian. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Killian rubs his jaw, "that Jax is the most disciplined, rule-following wolf in this pack, and you're... well, you're a walking hurricane."
Stella frees herself from Jax's arms with surprising strength. "As much fun as this sausage fest is...I want to see my friends. Now. And if any of you testosterone-fueled idiots try to stop me, I will personally ensure that future archaeologists find your remains scattered across five different counties."
Jax looks at me, confusion evident. "Friends?"
I can't help but smile. This is perfect—Jax's mate is one of Ember's friends. My Luna will have another familiar face here, another piece of home. "Jax, meet Stella." I can't resist adding, "Ember's guard dog."
"Call me a dog one more time," Stella takes an angry step toward me, finger jabbing in my direction, "and I will personally ensure that your next meal is served through a straw. Are we clear, Alpha Asshole?"
"Crystal," I reply, unable to keep the amusement from my voice.
Jax pulls her behind him, addressing me. "May I take my mate to see her friends, Alpha?"
I laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, Ember will be happy to see her." I turn to the gate guards. "Luna has another friend, Ainslee. She has permission to enter the territory if she comes to visit."
"Oh, Ainslee's coming too," Stella informs us, crossing her arms. "She'll be here in a few days."
"Is there anyone else from your old pack we should expect?" I ask, only half-joking.
"Why? Afraid of a few more women who won't take your bullshit?" Stella challenges, eyes narrowing. "Because I've got news for you, Alpha—if you hurt Ember or Oaklynn, I will rain down vengeance so terrifying even your ancestors will feel it."
I laugh, "Xander never told me the name of the banshee terrorizing my men. But I should have known it was you."
"You called me a banshee?" Stella shoots daggers at Xander. "Listen here, Stretch Armstrong, I was perfectly reasonable until your goon squad decided to play 'who has the biggest ego' at the gate."
"Reasonable?" Xander sputters. "You threatened to—and I quote—'shred our livers and use them as confetti at your next birthday party' if we didn't let you in!"
"And I meant every word," Stella replies without missing a beat. "Consider yourselves lucky I didn't have to demonstrate."
Jamison steps between Stella and the warriors, laughing. "Okay now, let's get Stella here to the packhouse before she starts single-handedly dismembering all our warriors."
"Smart man," Stella nods approvingly at Jamison. "At least one of you has a functioning brain cell."
Jax takes Stella by the hand and leads her to his car. She looks down at their joined hands, then up at him with suspicion.
"Just because you're apparently my 'mate' doesn't mean you get to manhandle me," she warns, though her tone lacks the venom from earlier. "I go where I want, when I want. Got it?"
Jax's lips twitch with the hint of a smile. "Yes, ma'am."
Stella blinks, clearly not expecting such easy acquiescence. She gives him a shy smile—a softer side I had yet to witness. "Good. At least you're trainable."
"I prefer to think of it as knowing which battles are worth fighting," Jax replies smoothly. "And which surrenders lead to greater victories."
Stella's cheeks flush slightly. "Just... take me to Ember and Oaklynn before I change my mind about not hurting you."
I watch them go, feeling a sense of satisfaction despite the chaos. My little wolf just gained another ally in Dark Pine—one who will likely keep us all on our toes.
"Well, that was entertaining," Killian mutters, still rubbing his jaw. "Your Gamma just claimed a wildcat."
"Better him than you," I reply with a smirk. "She would have eaten you alive."
"Probably," Killian admits with a reluctant grin. "But what a way to go."
I'm already looking forward to Ember's reaction when she sees her friend. If nothing else, Stella's arrival will certainly liven things up around here—as if we needed more excitement.
"Let's head back," I tell Killian and Jamison. "I have a feeling the real fireworks are about to start when Stella reunites with Ember and meets Jasmine's mother."
"Oh shit," Jamison's eyes widen. "Laura versus Stella? I need front-row seats to that showdown."
"My money's on the redhead," Killian declares. "Ten to one odds."
I can't help but laugh as we climb back into the SUV.