Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 32 - Dear Friends

Jadea

When I woke up the next morning, I was a bit disoriented.

Looking at the time, I realized why.

I'd slept in a lot later than usual.

That was a good thing, I told myself.

Rolling over, I found a new, large squishmallow in the bed beside me with a note. I snatched that mallow up and squeezed it against my chest, burrowing my face in the soft material. Inhaling deeply, I caught Adam's scent. I had to wonder if he'd slept with it last night?

Reaching back over, I picked up the note:

Jadea,

As promised, here is your reward for taking all 60 spankings yesterday. I'm sorry I left early and without saying goodbye. Please forgive me. You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bring myself to wake you. Garret is already here and waiting for you in the kitchen. He's got breakfast ready when you wake up. He also knows what your tasks are. You can complete them with him. I am planning to be back late, sometime after dinner. Enjoy your time with your beta baby girl.

--Adam

Excitement flared in my chest, knowing I was going to have a great day with my beta.

Alright!

Jumping out of bed, I got dressed and headed to the kitchen where Garret was patiently sitting at the island, reading a magazine. The moment I showed up, though, he tossed that aside and pulled me into a huge healing hug. We just stood there, holding onto one another.

"You're looking better," he commented once we finally broke away.

"You need to get your eyes checked," I shot back, knowing I still looked like hell.

He shot me an exasperated look. "Can't you just take a damn compliment, woman!"

"Is this where I say 'make me' or 'it's not in my nature'?" I smirked as I took a seat. He went to the microwave and pulled out a heaping plate filled with breakfast goodness. I knew it was from the kitchens from my father's compound. Well, Ty's compound now, I reminded myself.

He rolled his eyes plopping the plate down in front of me. "You are insufferable."

"But you love me," I smiled impishly at him. The amused adoration in his gaze was not lost on me.

As I started to pick at the plate, Garret said, "I asked Jillian to pack a to-go box for you. She snuck a few of those tarts you like so much in there." He leaned across the island and snagged one from my plate, popping it into his mouth. My facial expression was priceless as I stared at him, dumbfounded.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Garret," I growled, the threat falling flat since I couldn't stop smiling.

"Naw, that's just payback for yesterday," he winked, his gaze looking for an opportunity to snag another one.

I picked up the plate and held it close to my chest as I stuffed the tarts in my mouth. About to start a fight if he tried taking another one. Those tarts were my absolute favorite and Jillian always made sure to have some on hand for me. Even when they weren't on the menu, she always had them on stand by.

Surprisingly, I had a voracious appetite. I fairly licked the plate clean. Garret looked satisfied, knowing I had been having a hard time eating. "So, what do you want to do?" he asked, that wicked grin splitting his face.

"I don't think I have a say in this," I chided, knowing that look. "You already have something in mind."

"Yes, I do. But you need to go put on some appropriate clothes for outside." He shooed me down the hallway. I quickly changed into a pair of pants, boots and a flannel shirt I'd found hanging in the closet. When I re-emerged, I found Garret silently studying the pictures hanging on the walls. I'd taken my time admiring them throughout my stay.

Constance dabbled in photography back in the day and became well known for her wolf photography. All of her subjects had been from her cousin's pack. Many pieces of her work were displayed proudly throughout the house. There were also many candid photos of Constance and Erwin's pack. Garret studied one in particular, with Constance and Erwin. Erwin had cake smeared all over his face and was leaning in to smear it all over Constance. The amount of joy, laughter and love captured in that photo alone was astounding.

"It's amazing how things can change so quickly," he murmured in the stillness of the house. Those dark eyes turninf to me seriously, and I knew he wasn't talking about the tragedy that befell Erwin and his pack.

Yes. Everything could change in the blink of an eye, I agreed silently, knowing he would catch onto my thoughts. I turned towards him, truly seeing him. He looked a bit haggard and there were dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't been sleeping well for a long time. Even after my return. "What is bothering you?" I asked him. I would have to be more diligent in my alpha duties. It wasn't okay for me to disregard my pack like this, to not be aware of their own needs and worries.

He sighed heavily, reaching out to take one of my hands in his. "I can't help but think what would have happened had we listened to your gut instinct. If any one of us would have just ... Said to wait even just another ten or fifteen minutes. Would it have changed the outcome?"

My heart ached for the weight he had been silently carrying. "Don't tell me you've been blaming yourself this whole time," I jested gently.

He didn't have to respond. I could see the answer in his face.

I pulled him into a fierce hug. "Oh Garret," I started gently. "This was never your fault. If it was anyone's , it was mine. I should have listened to my gut. I was the one who pulled the figurative trigger. And I doubt anyone's secondary opinion would have changed my mind. There were no obvious signs that anything would happen. It was a well planned attack. If we changed any part ... Who knows who wouldn't have walked away."

My gaze turned to look at a picture of Erwin and his pack, all lined up, arms wrapped around each other, as their smiling and laughing faces gazed beyond the photographer. Out of his rather large pack, there were only two survivors... "Who knows who wouldn't have come back home had we waited," I continued on, my voice fading. "This way, at least, I was the only casualty. You know my whole stance on this, Garret," I stated, pulling just far enough away to hold his shoulders tightly and level a stern look at him. "If I had my choice, I would always take the bullet for any one of you." I was the alpha, after all. It was my responsibility to take care of my pack, to take accountability for any of their shortcomings, and to make the ultimate sacrifice. "I have never been shy about this particular responsibility of mine, that is mine alone to carry.

"Stop holding onto the what-if's." I connected fully with his mind and breathed the command into existence. There was no reason for him to carry this on his shoulders. "This is all in the past. I am alive and I am here. And I don't plan on being separated from you, or the rest of the pack, again."

Garret nodded, still in his feelings. It would take time for everyone to heal from this.

"So, what are we doing today?" I re-directed.

A smile split his face as he looked up at me, a twinkle in his gaze. "I've been practicing my sword fighting."

I was a bit shocked, but knew exactly where this was going. "You brought the swords, didn't you?"

"Did I?" he scoffed. "Of course I did! I want to show off my skills and didn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone when I won," he sassed.

"Oh? You think you're going to win?"

"I know it!"

"Well then, why don't you put your money where your mouth is," I growled, following him out to the front porch.

For hours, we practiced swordplay. He had indeed been practicing, and it was showing. While I won most of the rounds, he did outsmart me a few times. I made sure to praise him. To tell him how proud I was. This was no easy skill to learn, especially when we relied on our wolves in battle.

As we took a break, both of us drinking a glass of blood for replenishment, a dark shadow fell across my mind. Garret felt it and prompted, "I know you've been wanting to ask me something, Jay. Why not get it off your chest?"

Within their minds, I'd come across my purpose as a councilor. While I had taken over identifying threats and assigning hunting packs to those immortals who were threatening our way of life, I had also taken up the torch to end the multiple, underground trafficking rings running rampant through the immortal community. Blade and Garret led a few of my strikes against them, and Keb's name had come up ... "What do you know about Keb?" I asked bluntly.

Garret brushed my mind, trying to figure out why I was asking about this very evil, malevolent being. When he saw the memory of him at Silas's, I saw him shift uneasily. "He's dangerous, Jay. And sly. I didn't know him, personally, but Blade did. Keb is hard to track, and he's embedded deep within the trafficking rings. If he has a vendetta against you... He's not going to stop."

I was afraid of that. "You need to talk with Ty when you get back to the compound. Have him increase their safety protocols. And, if anyone leaves the compound, they need to be in groups with proper weapons to protect themselves."

He nodded his agreement, then asked, "Does Adam know?"

"Not yet."

"He needs to know."

"I know," I whispered, staring off in the distance, numbing my mind. Standing up, I told Garret I was going to run the perimeter. I needed the monotony of it. I'd completed all of my tasks—

"How about we go see Mystic Lake?" he suggested.

"I need to ask Adam-"

"I have already asked him. He said we could, as long as we stay connected with him. And to take the hounds with us," he added.

That wouldn't be bad. It may even help sooth that restless anxiety within my chest more than simply running the same perimeter. I smiled, nodding my agreement to his plan. I was thankful for Garret and his penchant for planning ahead. He was a valuable asset, and a dear friend.

"Just a dear friend?" He asked, sounding aghast.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head in amusement. "You are definitely more than a dear friend, snoop," I teased.

After we stripped and were headed towards Mystic Lake, I prayed when evil came knocking again I would be there to protect my family.