GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Remember when I told you that I'm having a giveaway as part of the Wattpad Block Party?

Well, my post (yes, the one with Kennedy) won't be featured until February 16th, but I wanted to give you a head start so I'm sharing the giveaway link in the first comment and also as an External Link so you can enter right now!

Check out the prizes at the bottom of this chapter.

I exhaled slowly.

The figures before me swirled and shifted over the white page like an army of angry ants who wanted to attack, but were unsure where their enemy hid. I closed the folder and slid it away before placing my elbows on my desk, closing my eyes and rubbing my temples.

"You need a distraction," Aunt Olivia said from the other side of the desk.

My work is my distraction, I wanted to retort, but I couldn't explain what it was supposed to be distracting me from.

I couldn't tell her I was in love with Callum, I couldn't tell her he was my mate, I couldn't tell her that the more time I spent with him, the harder it got to keep away from him and that, indeed, I needed to keep away from him.

He could never return my feelings and even if he could, he would never be able to become one of us.

I had to keep him away and I had to somehow stop tormenting myself with thoughts of him.

And thus, work.

"Come on," her voice beckoned.

"I need to go over the yearly tax and see if the raise would cover the new gym equipment without major inconveniencies for the pack."

Our Treasurer sighed.

"We already went over that, approved it, paid for the equipment and the boys are installing it. Looking at the numbers now won't change anything. I really don't understand why you even wanted to see this file today."

Because I'm done with pretty much everything on my To Do list and I needed something work-related to concentrate on, Aunt Olivia.

I opened my eyes, my fingers motionless, but still on my temples, and looked at my Aunt with her white-streaked brown hair and smiling, albeit a little worried fine-wrinkled face.

Perhaps, she would somewhat understand.

After Uncle Jackson had died, she'd kept working. Hard, focused work. It wasn't until we also lost her twin brother - Zachary, that she'd stepped down and opened her position as the Beta for someone else. Sure, with Uncle Zach gone and a new Alpha rising, it wasn't unusual to get a new Beta as well, but we aim for the people taking on those positions to work well together and I could've worked with my Aunt as my second in command.

And yet, she had permanently retired from that honorable obligation, even though she'd kept her role as a Council member and our Treasurer. With a background in accounting, it was only natural.

And yes, maybe she'd understand diving into your work in an attempt to overcome emotional hardship, but she would never understand why I'm keeping Callum away from the truth and away from the pack.

"Besides," she went on, "you haven't even heard where I want to take you yet."

"Alright, let's hear it," I conceded.

I could use a little RNR and any distraction from Callum would do; work just happened to be at hand.

"Girl time at Lisa's house. Everett's Lisa," she clarified, "not your Anthony's Lisa, although you know how close those two are so obviously Anthony's Lisa is going to be there too."

Sharing a name and a hobby, my sister-in-law and Rhys' sister-in-law had hit it off from the moment they'd met and had not only become best friends, but also business partners. Their little shop on Chip street was a popular place not only to buy good-quality, affordable yarns, needles and threads, but also get How To books on knitting, crocheting, sewing and embroidery, as well as receive advice from the two Lisas.

"Kelly's also invited," Aunt Olivia added, knowing that would tip the scales towards me saying yes.

I looked at the folder that laid between us on the desk.

I couldn't concentrate on it so it provided no distraction, just a headache. A chat with Kelly and the Lisas could, on the other hand, take my mind off that-topic-which-shall-not-be-named.

Could.

It could provide a distraction or it could make things worse for two reasons: one - Kelly worked with Callum; two - Lisa Flemings was pregnant from her mate who she was happily married to... A.k.a. what I'd never experience with Callum.

My right hand left my temple and I rubbed my flat stomach.

It will never be filled with life, I'd never experience the joy of my child moving inside, I'd never be awoken in the middle of the night by my offspring kicking my large belly...

"I bet they have food," Aunt Olivia commented, misinterpreting my actions.

I tried to smile as if she'd just hit the nail on the head.

"Okay then." I got up. I couldn't avoid Kelly forever and I couldn't turn around and walk away each time I saw a pregnant woman. "Let's go."

With wine glasses in hand - well, all of us, except for Lisa Flemings - and idle chatter, an hour had past quite pleasantly. Anthony's Lisa had shown us a picture tutorial for a knitted sweater that Everett's Lisa had uploaded on their shop's website, and that I couldn't understand a thing from, but nevertheless appreciated the end result. Cozy and warm, dark green, and with a wonderful tree pattern, the product was shown to us before being casually flung over the arm of a sofa where it was still lying.

Our attention was currently on the screen of a laptop, but this time instead of the Lisas' site, we were looking at pictures of the Red Wolves - the pack Lisa Flemings had been a part of before she'd married Everett and moved in with us.

"And, of course, he has to take a picture of his trophy," Lisa laughed as she showed us a photo of her father and a rather large fish - I didn't know what kind - that he'd just caught. Also in the frame, holding the man's fish-free hand, was Lisa's mom, wearing a vest and...

"That's a beautiful bracelet," I said as I pointed to the gold jewelry, gracing the woman's wrist.

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Everett's wife zoomed in so we could better appreciate the craftsmanship. "One of our pack members made it. Terrance is amazing at crafting all sorts of jewelry - simple designs, complicated ones, feminine, manly... Just tell him what you want and let him work his magic; you will not be disappointed."

"Really?" I asked as I stood up. "Sounds good."

"Are you leaving so soon?" My sister-in-law asked.

"Tell me you are not going back to work, cous." Kelly held on to my hand to stop me.

"Just need to use the bathroom," I reassured them with a necessary lie. She let go of me and I headed for my fake destination. Once inside, I locked the door and took out my phone.

"Hey," my best friend greeted as he picked up. "I was just about to call you. The equipment is all in place and..."

"Forget about the gym equipment," I cut him off, grinning. "Rhys, I have an idea."

It's been three weeks since Keri had shared her idea with me, since I'd told my family that I was about to propose to Riley and since I'd asked Lisa to get me in touch with Terrance.

One week of conversation with the guy, him coming up with several designs, me falling in love with one in particular.

Two weeks of him working.

And now I had it in my hand.

A silver band with a leaves pattern all around it, no gemstone. It was delicate, yet not too feminine, and just perfect for Riley.

I had the perfect ring. Now I had to come up with the perfect proposal.

Should I do something grand - fancy dinner, lots of flowers - or should I go for something small and intimate?

Maybe put the ring in the food I made him for dinner?

No, Riley could choke on it.

Leave the ring somewhere that he would find it and once he did, ask him to marry me?

No, Luna could find it first and eat it.

Put it in a gift box and tie it to her leash?

That could work. That could actually...

My phone vibrated and I picked up.

The first thing I heard was loud breathing, the second - Everett's voice.

"Is Riley with you?" He asked. A car honked at the background.

"No, why?" I stood up from the sofa, alert, ready to react.

"Pick him up and come over to Woodville General." A loud groan came from somewhere near him. "Lisa's gone into labor early."

Rhys has a problem? Keri to the rescue! :D

What did you think of the chapter?

Should Keri tell her Aunt about Callum?

Do you think Rhys picked a good ring for Riley?

What do you think of his idea to tie it to Luna's leash?

Do you have any ideas of how else he could propose to Riley?

I really hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please support it with a VOTE and don't forget to check out the GIVEAWAY! Here are the things you could win:

- a chapter dedication

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- two printable bookmarks: one with a quote from my stories and one with a curious fact about one of my characters; you get to pick the book and the character

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