ASTRID   “I’m not taking no for an answer, we’re going,” Brent says, throwing an arm around Jared’s shoulders as I emerge from the hallway into the packhouse kitchen. “I never said I wouldn’t go,” Jared laughs, shoving him away playfully. “Go where?” I ask, shuffling past them to get to the refrigerator. I’ve been shut in my room since I returned from the squad complex today, digging into some IT stuff and video calling my brother and Sam. I know it’s silly to say since it has only been just shy of a week, but I miss those guys like crazy. “To the bar in Stillwater,” Jared supplies, picking up an open beer bottle from the kitchen island and bringing it to his lips. I pull the fridge open and glance inside, searching for something to eat as my stomach rumbles in protest. Brent polishes off his own beer, setting the bottle down and looking my way. “Hey, you should come with us. It’s ladies’ night so

ASTRID   It’s early afternoon by the time Theo and Brooke drop me off back at the packhouse in Riverton. The arrival and placement of the second group of evacuees from Denver went off without a hitch- the Summervale pack is one of the larger ones in the six-pack, so we were able to place over eighty refugees there. Greeting my pack members and the placements themselves didn’t take long, but I hung around with Brooke for a while afterwards to catch up on some developments with IT that she discovered late last night. I’m not sure when the girl finds time to sleep. According to what Brooke uncovered, the shadow pack coordinated an attack on a smaller pack in a neighboring state just last night. It seems they may be making a last-ditch effort to increase their numbers even further in preparation for taking on Denver, which doesn’t exactly bode well since we’ve already called in all of our backup. Brooke is staying in Summervale for

ASTRID   What’s the female equivalent of blue balls? Because that’s totally what Brock keeps giving me. I’m not sure what’s going on between us and mister hot-and-cold isn’t exactly making it easy to figure out. I’m starting to get whiplash from the constant push and pull between Brock and me. While playing this game with the king of indecision is exhausting, there’s just something about Brock that keeps pulling me back in. Maybe it’s because when I see broken things, I want to fix them. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment. Or maybe my intuition’s right- we’re supposed to be something to each other, and this is the universe’s way of throwing us together over and over to make sure that happens. Whatever it is, if that steamy make-out session in the woods last night is any indication, then I feel like the roller coaster ride he’s taking me on will be worth it. I’m enjoying my morning coffee with Jared and Brent in the

BROCK “Damn, you’re up early,” Jared comments as I stroll into the kitchen on Saturday morning.“Don’t get used to it,” I groan, going straight for the coffee pot and pouring myself a cup. My nose twitches as a delicious scent wafts my way from the oven. “Damn, what’s that smell?”“Your mom brought a quiche over,” Jared says, folding his arms over his chest and leaning back against the kitchen counter. “I think it’s bacon and tomato this time.”“Nothing gets me out of bed faster than the smell of Mom’s quiche,” Brent laughs, sauntering in. He looks my way, narrowing his eyes. “Bacon and tomato again, really? Isn’t that your favorite?”“Sure is,” I smile smugly.When we were growing up, my mom would make a quiche every Saturday for breakfast, changing up the types of veggie

Brock As soon as I turn the key in the ignition, I know that the drive back to Riverton is going to be tortuous with Astrid sitting beside me, looking and smelling like sin. The girl is hot as fuck; way too damn tempting for her own good. So fucking sweet, too, but with the heart of a warrior. I know I shouldn’t let her get too close, but how can I resist her? I pull out of Goldenleaf onto the main road, glancing sideways at the beauty seated next to me. I can’t help myself from reaching over to touch her exposed thigh, gliding my fingers all the way from her knee to the hem of her little black dress. It’s way too fucking short- every guy in the place was checking her out tonight. Probably why me and my wolf were both slowly driven into a frenzy watching her, and why I couldn’t waste another second before getting her out of there. Her eyes are alight with the golden shimmers of her wolf as I run my fingertips along the hem of her dre