Catching up with Michael regarding what transpired during practice took no more than an hour, his training plans good enough that I saw the need to praise him rather than scold him for getting it wrong. It was a relief. It meant that I didn’t need to add yet another problem to my already growing list.

Since my conversation, if you could even call it that, with Annabelle I hadn’t spoken to her since. Reflecting back on what I said to her and how I acted I was horrified that I had spoken to not only a female wolf like that, but someone who my wolf was so fond of for whatever reason. I had been brought up more respectful than that.

My wolf had been pinning since, her scent having disappeared a few minutes after it had begun to rain after she had gotten safely inside the boundary. I was pleased that she had managed to escape the shower only to be reminded that I had not only yelled at her, but nonverbally threatened to destroy the book she seemed so fond of all in the space of ten minutes.

I was an arsehole.

I didn’t know anything about her other than she had been involved in the battle which I was aware of already even before I had spoken to her, and that she scared easily. She was timid yet not pathetically terrified; cautious was the better term of phrase to use when it came to describing her temperament.

Running a hand through my hair I sighed, slouching against the couch with a frustrated expression. Michael had been less than helpful, commenting that after stalking the girl for the last few weeks I had most likely blown it by being more than a jerk to her in the space of a few minutes.

It was not what I wanted or needed to hear.

Shaking my head I flickered through the channels on the TV before shutting it off, finding nothing interesting enough that would take my mind off the mess I had managed to get myself into. My wolf was pining, crying and whimpering out for Annabelle and I had no idea why.

What was so special about her?

Clearly she was intelligent, my previous conversation with her giving me the impression that she had a brain in that blonde hair of hers. She spoke of education yet carried herself in a way that didn’t give me the impression that she was in the popular crowd at her old school.

She was a mystery.

Glancing towards the clock I rolled my shoulders before shrugging, grabbing my leather coat from its positon against the front door before locking up and heading out.

If my previous timing was correct Annabelle should be making herself comfortable on her favourite table in the library in a few minutes; that was if my previous attitude hadn’t scared her off. I may not be the type of person to apologise but if my wolf wasn’t giving any signs of cutting out the pining I could suck it up this once in order to get some rest.

Walking into the library a few minutes later I frowned at the empty table. According to past experience she should have been here by now. Hoping that she was simply late I decided on sitting at a table that was more out of view than my previous one, Annabelle being unable to spot me unless she deviated from her usual path towards her table. I made myself comfortable.

“Chase?”

Looking up I was surprised to see Harry and James making their way over, knowing they were usually paired on guard duty together since their skills complimented each other. It was odd that they would choose to spend their days off here of all places, neither seemed to be fond of reading.

“Harry, James” I nodded in acknowledgement. “What can I do for you?”

“We brought you a coffee,” Harry held out a mug which I took gratefully, nodding my thanks. Bringing it towards my nose I inhaled it, taking note that there was no sugar or sweetness much to my relief. At least they had gotten it right.

“It doesn’t explain why you’re in the library of all places.”

James snorted, “What? Can’t we catch up on some reading?”

I quirked a brow, “You haven’t read a book since you graduated.”

When James didn’t have a good response I rolled my eyes, grinning around the mug as I took a long sip before swallowing, enjoying the slight burn as the liquid slipped down my throat.

Still no sign of Annabelle I couldn’t help but notice.

I watched as they both took a seat in front of me, thankfully for their safety not blocking my line of sight. I waited for them to speak, Harry being the one who broke the silence as he looked around the library as if he had never stepped foot in the building before. Knowing him, he probably hadn’t.

“Michael said we would find you here.” He continued when he noticed I wasn’t about to comment on his factual admission, “Asked us if we could pass along a message. Jacobs fathers been calling him trying to sort out the situation with his son.”

I frowned. “That isn’t Michael’s decision and he knows that.”

Harry nodded, “You don’t exactly give your personal number out to a lot of pack members outside of the guard, Chase.”

That was true. I did not want the parents of my pack members constantly calling me regarding their children. If there was something wrong I would deal with it in person. If they didn’t show I would track them down with ease. I didn’t need to speak to the people who birthed them into the world.

I leaned back in the chair. “Did he say what he wanted?”

“He spoke to Peter.”

Now that did have my attention. When people went behind my back by going to my alpha it was not something I approved of in the slightest. It was not only disrespectful but it was rude. It did not sit well with me or my wolf. I may be at a lower position to my alpha but that didn’t mean Peter would be able to choose, train and keep on top of an entire pack guard. He didn’t have the experience nor skill to cope with such a responsibly. And he knew that.

Almost instinctively I watched both Harry and James wince at my expression. Pulling out my phone I immediately skimmed through the contacts before Michael’s number flared on the street. I hit ‘dial’ and hoped for his sake he answered quickly.

Never one to keep me waiting he answered on the second ring, his voice breathless as he breathed down the phone. “Chase?”

“What were you just doing?” I couldn’t help but ask curiously.

“Laura.”

I closed my eyes, breathing through my nose with a huff of warm air. Michael as far as I had known him had never lied to me and was a brilliant second in command, but when it came to his mate he didn’t seem to understand that some things I could understand could stay just between them. I didn’t need or want to know the details of their mating.

“Harry said Jacob’s father called you.”

“Yep,” I could imagine him rolling his eyes. “I’m not your assistant you know. You may not want to deal with the parents but it isn’t like I want to either.”

I shrugged despite him not being able to see it. “You liked the added responsibly.” He couldn’t deny it, his wolf loving the fact that I gave him more work to take pride in. It was a wolf thing; made him more valuable to the pack.

“Not when they call me up when training runs late demanding to know where there son is.”

I frowned. “They do that?”

“Yes!”

It was easy to understand his annoyance. “It happens again pass the phone to me, I’ll make sure they keep to themselves.” I wouldn’t have my second in command distracted because of some fretting parents. If their son hadn’t informed them training would run late it was their own faults, not mine.

“Cool, thanks. But yeah, his dad called asking if you were available, I said I was at home so no. He then went onto say that his son hadn’t meant anything bad about what happened, that he would apologise if it meant Jacob could return back to training.”

I closed my eyes as I felt my temper flare. It had been one day. Being a concerned parent was one thing, but going to my alpha behind my back after I gave an order that I expected to be obeyed was not exactly the best way to get into my favour, in fact it was the opposite.

“Chase? You still there?”

“What did you say?” I breathed out, frustrated.

“That if he wanted to try and go over your head then that was on him and I hoped his actions wouldn’t reflect negatively on his son. I hung up after that.”

Pleased with his actions I told him as much, almost being able to feel his wolf preen at the compliment. “I’ll allow you to get back to Laura, give her my best.”

“I will! She told me that you need to hurry up and find yourself a mate so we can double date.”

I rolled my eyes, barely giving his admission a second thought as we ended the call. I turned my attention back to Harry and James who were staring at me with stunned expressions.

“What?”

Almost as if mirroring each other’s actions they shrugged in unison. “Just thought you’d be more angry that’s all,” James admitted.

I took a sip of my coffee. “I am. I plan to speak to Jacob tomorrow.”

“Is there a reason why you’re waiting here, I mean you do know that Annabelle isn’t going to turn up right?” Harry asked hesitantly.

Immediately he had my attention, my wolf growling and snapping in anger and frustration as I felt my own eyes flash black briefly causing Harry to take a sharp intake of breath. No, I did not know that.

“Nothing’s wrong with her, she’s fine. She’s on the schedule to help at the hospital.”

My frown deepened. “What schedule?”

“We were on guard when the head of the hospital board approached us, mentioning something about volunteer’s to help with dispensing medication to the patients. Their closely monitored but only three of the pack volunteered since it was more of a voluntary position than anything else. Two humans and a wolf, Annabelle. She volunteered,” he shrugged. “Something about liking having a purpose. The board members love her.”

“And you know this how?” I asked.

Harry shrugged. “We speak to her when were on duty a bit, she’s nice and polite so it’s practically impossible to stay emotionless around her like we try to, right James?”

James nodded in agreement.

Leaning back further against my chair I glanced at the clock. If Annabelle wasn’t going to be making an appearance as James and Harry seemed so confident that she wouldn’t there was very little point of me remaining in the library. It would give me an opportunity to deal with the Jacob situation.

“You have a copy of her schedule?”

“I guess I could get it tomorrow for you after I finish. We’re scheduled to work from the morning shift so you can come by and I’ll have it ready or I can drop it by yours when I’ve been relieved.”

Nodding at Harry’s offer I watched them leave, remaining behind for a few minutes before making my way outside. I needed to speak to Jacob and his father about how I did not appreciate them going behind my pack just because they weren’t happy with my decision. It didn’t work like that. We may live in a democracy but not when it came to the protection of the pack. That was my forte.

The sooner they both learned that the better.