Banished by the Alpha

Old Friend

Cory Pov

            “OH MY GOD! You work fast!” Ricky shouts from across the living room as I enter.

            “What are you talking about? And why are you yelling?” I ask, confused.

            “You’ve already romped in bed with your man, you just officially met him a few days ago.” He laughs at me.

            I turn bright red at his words. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Ricky.” I try not to act guilty.

            “Hun, how do you not realize your mark is showing for the world to see? Looks super fresh too.” Ricky c***s and eyebrow at me.

            “He marked me?! How did I not realize that?!” Then I remember the heat from my neck that tipped us both over the edge and blush even more. I’m pretty sure my entire body has turned pink at this point.

            “Good question. I mean he had to break skin with his canines to do it. How do you not feel that?” He laughs at me while looking somewhat astonished. “Must’ve been pretty damn good sex.”

            “Let’s talk about something else. I want to meet your mate, not talk about mine.” I’ve got to switch subjects; this one is just causing me embarrassment.

            A young woman walks up and holds Ricky’s hand. She has sandy brown hair, a slim figure, and a pretty face. She’s wearing a sundress with yellow flowers on it and it looks fantastic on her. She looks to be about the same age as Ricky and I.

            “This is Annette. Annette, this is Cory.” He gives a formal introduction.

            “Ricky has told me so much about you and all the mischief the two of you used to get into as kids. I never thought I would get the chance to meet you!” She smiles warmly and hugs me.

            “I’m just glad he has someone to keep him in line. You know he was the reason we got into so much mischief back then.” I giggle while hugging her back.

            “Was not! It was at least 50 percent your fault!” He sticks his tongue at me.

            We spend the next few hours catching up and enjoying each other’s company. They catch me up on a few things that have happened and introduce me to a few pack members who filter through the house. Some were new and others simply didn’t know me as a child. All of them were excited to meet their new Luna, even though it wasn’t official yet.

            Pretty soon it was lunch and we headed for the kitchen. The kitchen staff had laid out everything I could think of for sandwiches. Meats and cheeses lined the island and there was every kind of condiment in the middle with several choices for bread on one end. I grabbed some wheat bread and toasted it while I grabbed salami, honey ham, a slice of cheddar, mustard, and mayonnaise for a meat and cheese sandwich. There were also several side snacks and I grabbed a bag of my favorite spicy, hot cheese puffs. I had missed eating like this. I was doing a little happy dance while putting my food together.

            “I’ll have to remember how happy food makes you.” Lucas chuckles behind me. “That little dance is pretty sexy darlin.”

            “You have no idea Alpha,” Ricky chimes in, teasing me for my love of food.

            I turn and beam at Lucas. “Been busy in your office?”

            His face turns serious. “I’ve been trying to help your dad track down the men who tried to kidnap you but we’ve had no luck. They haven’t been back to the farm and their scent washed away with the rain that went through the area last night. Corbin is finalizing the sale of the last of the animals and they’ll be back within the border by tomorrow night.”

            “I’m gonna go help mom get settled after I finish eating.”

            “Just stay within the border. That house is barely on pack land and whoever tried to grab you could still be trying to.” He warns. “We don’t know how much they know about your whereabouts or even why they want to kidnap you.”

            I nod and assure him I won’t wander from the house. Then I finish my sandwich and snacks, I give Lucas a quick kiss and run off to help my mom and siblings unpack.

            Mom asks me to help Em finish hauling her luggage inside to her new room and then come help her in the garden. Mom has always loved having flowers lining the front of the house and even worked in the flower beds alongside the gardeners when she was Luna.

            I make quick work of hauling Emily’s stuff to her as she unpacks it and puts it away. I excuse myself to go out to help mom. I’d rather be out in the sun, working with dirt than helping her with clothes and we both know it. I find mom out front, hunched over with a wagon full of tulips next to her.

            “The cavalry is here.” She beems at me. “I’ll go get the second set of tools, you use these and we’ll have this landscaping done in no time!” She heads to the backyard where the garden shed is, leaving me alone for a moment to work in the garden. I enjoy this kind of busy work, but something feels off. That feeling of being watched is back again.