2-114 “I think so if Lil comes with to help. It will be plenty of time.”
“What about me?” Jena whines. She’s scouting not far from Wyatt.
“Not a chance.” I responded. “I won’t even go, because the temptation will be too great, you are going nowhere near those guys. It will be a massacre and we are not in a position to deal with that fallout.”
“I’m ready, give me the go and scout, boss.” Nathaniel says, ignoring Jena. He hates leaving her out, they have become close, but knows it’s for her own good too.
“Me too.” Lillian chimes in for the first time. “I will meet you at the back of the truck.” She and Jena have been at each other’s throats because we have been giving Lil all Jena’s usual jobs on this mission. Not really what anyone wants, but it’s necessary. So I have been keeping them as far apart as possible.
“Make sure you get in and get out. We don’t have any way to mask your scent now, so they will know something is up if you go right in. You need to come from the front and when you leave each take a different direction, go as far out as you have to to cover your tracks. Then meet up with us.”
“Understood.” They both say.
“We have about five minutes, get set.”
I stare just like I did the first time we were brought to the compound. It’s like this everytime we come back from a mission. I always smile seeing the bunkhouse and the trees lining the back, hiding all of the obstacle equipment from the road. This is my safe place, my place to feel free, but it still isn’t home. I don’t know if I will feel home until I find my mate though. Like a piece of me is still missing, but I don’t feel sad about the thought, more like I am waiting.
“We should jump back in the jeep and keep working on your driving. You’re getting really good now.” Wyatt says looking back from the passenger seat.
“Aren’t you tired? We literally stayed up for two days and slept outside on the ground for the rest of them.” Lillian whined.
“Nah, I’m still kind of wired from all the caffeine. And I know Midge had more than me, so she is too.” He winks at me.
“Sure, we can. We’ll see how long before I crash.” I laugh at him.
We were all quick to drop our stuff off. Jena fell right onto her bed face first, starfish style. Shoes on and everything, just snoring away. I turn off the lights and laugh as I head back out the door and downstairs. There are several jeeps that all the warriors can use. We tend to run everywhere, but this territory is so damn big that sometimes it’s just easier and better to drive. Wyatt and Nathaniel have been taking turns teaching me to drive. They decided they were offended that I never broke any rules and didn’t try to drive before I turned sixteen. It led to a lot of eye rolling on my part and razzing for being a goody goody for days from all of my friends. They are slowly trying to figure out how much of a rule follower I have always been. Now it’s a game that they try to sneak into conversation.
Today isn’t one of those days though. We are both tired, but need to wind down from all the excitement, so he just has me drive around this awesome loop that surrounds this edge of the forest near the compound. It is so nice today even though we are deep into the summer. The air is warm, but not heavy and the breeze through the trees is just right. The different shades of green explode across the horizon and set my whole mind at ease after spending the last week overthinking what Mike and this rogue king are up to, what they want from me and how they both fit into the dynamic of the royal family connection.
I love that Wyatt doesn’t force me to talk when he knows I just need the peace and quiet, but he will also push me to speak when he knows I am in my head about something. We just ride in the open jeep letting the sounds and smells of the forest settle in for about a half hour before I start to really feel the hard week we just had and I head back to the bunkhouse.
I pull up and Wyatt helps guide me to parking in the garage. Why boys need these cars to be crammed in here, I have no idea, but it makes me so nervous to pull in and out of here, but Wyatt won’t do it for me and I will lose my privileges to drive it if I don’t take care of it, so here I am, trying not to dent or scratch anything and it take a comically long amount of time for me to figure it out. And Wyatt doesn’t hide his amusement at all.
Ten minutes later we are walking out of the garage and as we get to the front door, I stop short.
“Mina!!!” I run to my friend and jump into her arms. She hugs me gently, but strong at the same time.
I pull back from her to take a look. She is the same as she was a couple weeks ago, but she is different. I can feel it radiating off of her.
“Damn, Luna. You look good. We’ve missed you.” Wyatt walks up and gives her a side hug.
“I’ve missed you guys too. It sounds like you have been up to all kinds of stuff without me.” She smiles at both of us and we all start to walk in. I am starving and as much as I missed my friend, I cannot wait to have one of Stella’s hot meals and I have no issues dragging her along with me.
“So…how’s mated life?!” Wyatt asks with a little lisp and batting his eyelashes as he sits down at our table.
