Chapter 20

Kyp

Monday was bright and clear with the promise of some wintery sunshine. I stretched and grimaced as my back popped. I laid still for a moment in my old bed in my new room at the house at the end of Dominic’s street. It was a strange feeling to be my own Alpha with these protective, dominant surges that flashed through me periodically, but to still feel so inadequate and unprepared. I’d never been anyone other than the lowest of the low. And now here I was, in a borrowed house, on borrowed pack land, with my own pack—even though it was only two strong. Mom had gotten in late after her shift and I could tell she was still asleep. There were rustlings down the hallway, and I knew Rachel was moving around. I swallowed as my blood moved a little quicker at the thought of her only a few feet down the hall. Unbidden, images of her clad in that purple bra and cheeky underwear flitted through my brain. I blinked, trying to clear them from my mind’s eye. Those were not the sort of thoughts I needed to be having about my pack member…especially as the shower started. I groaned softly, understanding that this was going to be even harder in some ways than I’d thought.

“Do you care if we both drive this morning?” Rachel asked as I dropped into the kitchen for a quick breakfast.

“No, that’s fine. Why?”

“I really appreciate everything you have done and are doing for me,” she quickly clarified as she glanced up and must have seen the confusion on my face. “I…I was hoping for a few minutes to myself. I haven’t actually been alone since I changed, and I thought it might be helpful to just be me and the wolf for a bit.”

“Oh. I can understand that.”

“Please don’t think this is me being ungrateful, because I’m not,” she protested, her cheeks flushing slightly. My breathing hitched. She was so hopeful, and it only added a layer to her beauty.

“Of course.” I smiled, unable to stop myself as my fingers reached out and brushed her arm. “I get the need to be alone.”

She smiled, relieved. “Thanks. But you’re still going to follow me, right?” Her forehead scrunched in concern.

“Definitely. Atwood is still out there.” She nodded and her face relaxed. Wolf puffed up his chest, filling me with confidence that just my word of assurance could give Rachel such peace of mind.

“Good. You ready?” She snagged a granola bar from the box on the counter. We’d put things away later. Evidence of our recent move was still scattered all over the house.

“Yep. One sec,” I said as my eyes skimmed a note my mom had taped to the refrigerator.

Kyp and Rachel, have a great day at school! Be safe. Kyp, please call Jonathan Stone on your way to school. Love, Mom

A phone number was scribbled on the bottom of the paper. Wolf’s hackles prickled.

“Everything good?” Rachel touched my arm and my hackles smoothed right down.

“Yeah. Let’s go.” She gave my arm a quick squeeze and we tromped out the door, locking it behind us.

I followed Rachel out of the subdivision and quickly punched the phone number Mom had left on the paper.

“Hello?” the deep voice answered on the second ring.

“Jonathan? This is Kyp.” I tried to keep my voice neutral, unsure where this conversation was going and unsure how I needed to react.

“Ah, good morning. Thanks for calling.” He cleared his throat and I grinned, realizing that this seasoned man on the other end of the line was nervous about talking to me. Jonathan continued, “I wanted to ask your permission formally, both as your mother’s protector and as the Alpha of your own pack,” he cleared his throat again and I felt a zing of power course through me as Jonathan acknowledged my status, “if it would be all right with you if I started escorting your mom to and from work. I don’t like the thought of her going in alone, but I didn’t want to cross any boundaries, or overstep myself.”

I was silent a minute. Emotion rushed through my chest. “Yes,” I finally answered. “Yes. I’d like it if you did that, Jonathan.”

“Thank you. I’ll coordinate schedules with your mom.”

“Jonathan,” I said before I could stop myself, “are you interested in my mother?”

There was a brief but pregnant pause on the other end. “Yes.”

“Noted,” I replied.