21 "I can take you home so you can get some things together for you and the pups , Mr. Blake volunteers . " I don't know if I want to take the twins back there so soon , " " I can watch them , Tessa and Maria blurt out at the same time "I don't know , I start to shake my head . " There is no safer place for them , Phoebe . The ranch is sealed off . I have betas patrolling all the way around . The girls I wouldn't allow anything to happen to them , " Mr. Blake tries to reassure me "I believe you . I've just never left them with anyone else . Kendra has been their only nanny and before that , it was just me " It's just for a couple of hours , Maria says . " What do you guys say ? Want to spend time with Grandma Shark ? " " Yes , " the two of them shout . " What we doing ? ' Ayrie asks . " I can show you around . You can see the horses and the cows , " Please , momma , " Aizen looks up at me immediately . " I've never seen a real - life horse ;" " Okay , only if you promise to behave for Grandma . Remember D.A.D. said she's his Mommy " " Promise ," they both hold up their pinkies . " Okay , " I agree . " It's settled then , " Maria beams . " I love skittles ," Ayrie dances on Freddy's lap . He is loving how trusting she is with him . Aizen loves animals . He shed tears when I told him couldn't bring our neighbor's cat Shanty with us . It didn't last long , but he didn't like it . It's why he slept through the entire plane ride . And he hasn't brought it up since . Once we're done with breakfast , I find that someone cleaned up our room and set our belongings on the loveseat by the television set on the right side of the bedroom . By the time we're in my car , I'm a mess . Mr. Blake offers to drive and I don't deny him . I press the home button on the screen so he knows where we're going . Then I remembered that he was there last night . " I imagine this is a lot to take in , " he breaks the silence . " Yes ," I nod . " I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have ," " Most of the questions I have are for Knightly ," I admit . " You and me both , kid ," he chuckles . " This is a very nice car , " " Thank you . I don't really know anything about cars . My assistant put everything together for me . I just drive it , " " What's her name ? " " Him . His name is Cevin Nendo ," " Marissa and Charles Wheeler's youngest ? " he asks . That is Cevin's maiden name before he got married . " Oh , shit . Are they shifters too ? " " Yeah , they're allies . Their alpha is a friend of mine ," he nods . " So is your boss , " " Xo ? " " Yes , she an alpha as well . She's something we call Feral ," " Knight told me about that . About his dad . I mean his biological father , " " Yeah , Arnold is Feral too . But she's not like him . She lost her mate . There's a difference , " " Right ," I agree . " Have you always liked fashion ? I'm not sure what it is you do , " " Oh , well right now I'm just starting to get acquainted with the business side of the industry . Xo named me the acting CEO of our California branch . The former went a little crazy after his divorce and he was sent to rehab , " " Francis ? Is that what they told you happened ? " " Is that not what happened ? " " His mate Louis was killed in a highjacking . Up towards Downtown LA , the rogues running gangs down there stop expensive cars to commandeer and shake down the owners . My guess is he fought and they didn't take lightly to it , " 21 " Oh , god , " I cover my mouth . " That's terrible , " " Yeah , he's not in rehab , sweetheart . He couldn't bear to be without his mate , " I feel terrible . That is not I don't understand this world . " Forgive me , but what is rogue ? " I ask needing to change the subject . " Rogues are wolves or shifters like me who don't adhere to pack laws . They're nomads . They don't want to belong anywhere ," " Knightly said you're the alpha of the city . Does that mean you own the entire city?" " No , " he grins . " It means I'm the strongest . I have the most wolves , the biggest territory , and ready heirs to take my place should anything happen to me , " " Are there other alphas ? " " Dozens . Just here in this region . Southern California is a vast territory . There's a mix of people and our kind here . I take care of most wolf - related problems . Maria represents our kind under the official government here . Tessa runs our education system . Elliot jumps around . He's kind of enamored with whatever keeps him busy , " What about Knightly ? " " Knightly . " he lets out a heavy sigh and I can't help the laugh that comes out of me . " Knight has the potential to be an amazing Alpha . I want him to take over after me in a few decades . He's an intelligent little fuck . But he's young and he didn ' t have a great start with the father that brought him into this world . " He put my son through hell and that darkness follows him around . He blames himself for things he has no business blaming himself for . But talking that boy out something once his mind is made up is impossible . Just like his momma , " Did you say a few decades ? How old do wolves get to be ? " " I'm sixty - eight , " " No , you're not ," I laugh . He grins looking over at me . " Seriously . You aren't that much older than me , " " You're a baby ," he laughs . " How old are you ? " " I'll be thirty in the fall ," " Yeah , you'd still be considered a pup to us . Just like Knight , Tessa , and Eli ," " Aww man , " I say sitting back . " You okay ? Your heartbeat is going crazy , " " You can hear that ? " " Yeah , " he pulls into my building . " My babies are going to outlive me by forever . I don't know how to deal with that , " I whisper to myself . " Well , " he clears his throat . " Not necessarily , " " What does that mean ? " I ask once we're in the elevator . I can't believe he heard that . " You're human for now , " " For now ? I don't think there's a cure for that , " I try to calm myself and mentally prepare for the chances of finding Kendra in my apartment . He finds me amusing . His smile says it all . " Knight might have been able to let you go six years ago , but he can't this time around . You're his mate . Whether he wants to admit that to you or not . Those pups are going to need both of you . Once he puts that mark on you , you become one of us . ot let " You may not be able to shift , but your life will be bound to his until your last breath , " he reaches into his coat and pulls out a big ass gun . " Listen to me , sweetheart . Stay behind me . You do as I say and we'll get through this together . anything happen to you . I made a promise to my son and I intend to keep it . Yes ? " " Yes , sir ," I nod . " Good girl . No more questions until I make sure you're safe so you can pack your things . Take what you can , because I don ' t want you coming back here anymore . I don't think my boy and I can handle seeing you cry again , " Subscribed 10 Likes