Chapter 27

~Jessie’s POV~

I couldn’t help but feel a little sad that this was my last meeting with them. They had certainly come a long way from the sulking pair who entered my office that first time, to the smiling couple sitting before me today.

“You guys must be happy this is your last meeting.” I said with a smile as I scribbled on my legal pad.

“Yes.” Thomas said instantly and I laughed when Grady reached over to punch him in the arm with a disapproving glare.

“No, we’re gonna miss you Jessie. You prying private information out of us was the highlight of my days.” Grady said with his hand over his heart like the drama queen he was.

“Whatever smart ass.” I said with a laugh and Grady grinned up at me. Thomas only smiled and shook his head.

“Okay boys, let’s continue, we only have about ten minutes left.” I said and they both straightened in their seat giving me their undivided attention.

I shook my head. Figures they’d be the most cooperative on their last day with me.

“So you know I have to ask, how’s the sex life? Last time we spoke you were withholding sex from Thomas Grady, how’d that work out?” I asked, more curious than anything else.

“We’re good, everything’s back to normal.” Grady said and I nodded.

“So no more control issues then? Thomas gave you what you wanted?”

I didn’t miss the quick look Grady gave his mate before he looked back at me with a nod but I chose to ignore it. They had a right to keep some things to themselves. From what I could see, they had worked out a lot of their issues and if more cropped up then I was satisfied that they would be able to work through it together.

“Alright I’m glad to hear it guys and what about the whole Jake situation. How are you coping Thomas?”

 He looked up at me, his expression unreadable and shrugged. “I’m fine. I don’t have to see him anymore so that’s great.” He said.

It hadn’t surprised me to hear that Jake had convinced his parents to send him to a school in another state. When you had parents like his; who spoiled you rotten and were never around then you could expect nothing less.

Last I heard Jake and Rivers still managed to keep in contact with each other but I wondered how long that would last and I also had to wonder how Thomas would have coped if Jake had chosen to stay. This was all for the best I supposed.

“Okay and what about the situation with those drug dealers? How does it feel knowing that the Alpha passed off the investigation to Lucas?” I asked knowing this would be a touchy issue, but unless they wanted to delve into it.

I was simply asking to get their reaction, to make sure this wasn’t a burning issue between the two, but Grady only shrugged nonchalantly and Thomas’s expression remained unchanged.

“All I know is that Carson told Lucas what happened and Lucas said he’d look into it. I’m fine with that.” Grady continued and when it looked like I was about to push the issue as I turned to Thomas, he spoke up again;

“He’s fine, we’re fine, everything’s fine Jessie, trust me. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.” Grady cut in and from the look in his eyes I could see that he was being sincere.

They say everything happens for a reason and this only cemented that thought in my mind because it seemed as if it had taken Jake entering their lives and Thomas flying into a crazy rage to get them to this point; where they seemed incredibly happy, Grady was no longer trying to watch every word he said to me while Thomas was around and Thomas wasn’t sitting there  with a pissed off look for the entire session.

 It always pleased me to see that they had changed for the better and this was one of the reasons I’d be handing the Alpha my notes with glowing remarks on the two men. I felt like a proud mother hen.

…………………………………………..

~Thomas’s POV~   Nine weeks later

“I don’t why you think you’re always right, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion you know, you can’t keep trying to force your views on everybody else.” An irritated Rivers told Grady.

“This has nothing to do with opinion, it’s a fact. Battle freaks is the only videogame worth playing right now, all the other shooter games can’t even keep up.” Grady replied and this time Rivers was wise enough to keep his mouth shut.

There was just no point in arguing with Grady.

“Who cares anyway they’re just games. No sense fighting over which one’s better.” Carson said and Grady rolled his eyes.

The entire conversation was pointless, hence the reason I had chosen not to join in. I looked out at the peaceful lake instead, then at the trees surrounding it. This place was really something. I had been surprised when Carson had told us about it.

All the time I’d though there was only one lake in our territory; that being the lake everybody hung out at but arson knew of this one and he had told us that it was the place he and Laken came when they wanted some time to themselves so the mere fact that he told us about it was telling.

We’d become a close knit group over the past weeks, spending much of our free time together, learning more about each other, giving each other advice and sharing in each other’s happiness.

It was days like this that I found myself wondering how we used to exist on our own, going about our separate lives without so much as a thought for anyone else. The four men sitting   before me were much like family to me now and I was happy to be a part of it.

I looked around me, gazing at my companions; Rivers was sitting beside me on the grass, his back resting against the tree, Grady lay belly up a short distance in front of me, his hands tucked under his head, while Carson sat on River’s right and Laken was still in wolf form with his big furry head resting in Carson’s lap.

I watched absently as Carson ran his fingers through his fur until Grady spoke up causing me to look over at him, eyebrow raised.

“I think imma get a tattoo.” He said, not really telling anyone in particular but as if he was just speaking out loud.

Rivers snorted, “I just don’t see why humans find the need to draw on their bodies. Your bodies are beautiful without all that ugly art.”

“Are you saying you find me sexy Rivers?” Grady questioned, craning his neck to look over at Rivers, a small smile playing on his lips.

Rivers only looked at him with wide eyes as he got tongue-tied trying to come up with a response.

“He’s speechless.” Grady said with a brief shake of his head. “I understand dude, I’m just too sexy for my shorts, I can’t help it.” He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

“You’re wearing pants.” Carson deadpanned and Grady gave him the ‘you’re an idiot look.’

“That’s not the point Sherlock.” Grady said shaking his head.

“tThen what’s the point Grady? do tell.” Carson spoke again and I could tell by his grin that he was teasing him. Grady didn’t even notice.

“The point is, Rivers thinks I’m sexy and I can’t help but agree.” He replied and Carson burst out laughing.

“You’re too damn conceited for your own good, that’s what you are.” Carson responded.

“Yeah and I do not think you’re sexy.” Rivers said, his cheeks red.

“Haters gonna hate.” Was Grady’s only response and I snickered then watched as Carson shifted his weight and Laken shifted back into his human form, his head still resting on Carson’s lap.

“Stop quoting famous people, don’t know why you can’t be original like the rest of us.” Laken said and Grady gave him a once over.

“You shouldn’t strive to be like everyone else Laken.” Grady told him and we all watched as Laken looked at him in disbelief,

“You’re the one who can’t even form two sentences without using other people’s lines you big-”

“Everyone’s a critic.” Was all my mate said, cutting off Laken’s insult and we all laughed.

“So any thought to where you’re going after senior year Rivers?” I asked, turning to face him.

He shook his head and glanced out at the lake. “Guess it depends on whether I find a mate or not. When I find him I’m going wherever he goes.” Rivers said and I nodded.

“Same here.” Laken spoke up and we all looked at him in question.

“You already have a mate limp noodle.” Grady said and Laken moved his leg to kick him on his shoulder. Grady swatted at his foot but otherwise remained in good spirits.

“I mean I’m going where Carson goes, jerk.” He said and Carson heaved a sigh but said nothing.

“It’s sad that you can’t go to University, you and Thomas are stuck here just because you have to lead the pack.” Rivers continued and Carson shrugged.

“I don’t mind.” He said and I nodded in agreement.

“What about you sir sexy?” Rivers asked Grady sarcastically.

“See? I knew you couldn’t resist. I’m staying here, I’ll just go to a local college or do an online degree I guess. Not really into the long distance relationship thing.” Grady said, but I chose not to respond to that.

I knew it was selfish of me, but if I was staying here then I wanted him here with me too, so I was happy with his decision.

“Yeah I don’t see why Carson’s trying to force me to leave him here.” Laken said grumpily.

“I just want what’s best for you Laken, it’s not like I’m sending you away, I’ll visit you as often as possible and you can come visit me and then when you get your degree you can come back to me. Plus you have two years to go before you need to think about that so relax.” Carson said and while I found his logic reasonable, I didn’t think I would be able to offer Grady the same courtesy. I wanted him with me at all times.

I guess the fact that he was able to make such tough decisions and live with them was another thing that made him such a good Alpha.

“You know what the good thing about all this is?” Laken asked no one in particular but we all answered.

“What?”

“It’s my life and I get to choose what I wanna do with it.” He said, his voice firm. Grady nodded but Rivers and I were smart enough not to respond to Laken’s statement as Carson gritted his teeth and looked away.

………………………………………..

“Hell no, I refuse to get into any form of Metal death trap with this lunatic!” Rivers said gesturing to Grady.

We were all standing in front of Carson’s quarters about to enter his car when Rivers made the announcement. I laughed, Laken snickered and Grady reached up to remove a piece of lint from his shirt, completely ignoring Rivers’ outburst.

“Rivers there’s no point in taking more than one vehicle to the city, it’s hard enough getting parking as it is.” Carson said trying to reason with him but Rivers only shook his head and folded his arms in front of his chest.

“Okay then Rivers isn’t coming, let’s go guys.” Grady finally spoke up, wrapping his arm around Laken’s shoulders and pulling him into the back seat of the car.

I shrugged and followed and when he realized no one was coming to his rescue, Rivers groaned and made his way around to the empty passenger seat in the front. Then we were off, four  wolves and a crazy human making our way to the city that never sleeps.

The first place we went to was a little Italian restaurant, smack in the middle of the hustle and bustle and after we had eaten our fill, Laken dragged Carson into a clothing store and Grady, Rivers and I left them to continue up the street.

Grady wanted to go to one of those makeup stores to get something for his mother and Rivers was one of those guys who didn’t mind testing out makeup so it was a win-win.

“Why would you even want to wear makeup?” Grady asked Rivers half an hour later, as we stood in the store looking at their products.

“I don’t wear it, I just like testing it out.” Rivers said with a grin then went back to surveying the collection. Grady shrugged, looked over the shelf again then grabbed a few things at random, threw them in the cart and walked over to the cashier.

I didn’t blame him, this makeup thing was beyond me too.

Exactly twenty minutes later, after Rivers had gotten his fill of all the girlie stuff, we met up with Carson and Laken who emerged from a store carrying large shopping bags. Laken was smiling and looking pleased with himself, while Carson looked only vaguely interested. Shopping wasn’t really his thing then.

“What’d you get?” Grady asked, walking over to Carson and taking the bag from him.

“Nothing, this is all Laken’s stuff.” Carson commented as Grady snooped and I grabbed my mate’s arm and pulled him away from Carson, forcing him to walk alongside me up the street. He didn’t struggle but allowed me to pull him away and I was pleased.

Nobody who passed us even batted an eye when I slipped my hand into his and I couldn’t help thinking, this was the way it should be.

“I feel like a third wheel.” Rivers said after a moment. He was walking not far behind us with Laken and Carson and Grady turned his head slightly to look back at him.

“That’s because you are a third wheel.” He said then turned back to me with a smirk.

“Shut up.” Rivers replied without malice and Grady hummed a tune in response.

These two will never get enough of teasing each other, I thought with a grin on my face, the warmth of the sun on my back and my mate’s hand trapped in mine.

                                                                  AUTHOR'S NOTES

LUCAS'S STORY WILL BE UP IN TWO DAYS!!!

jUST WANNA TAKE THE TIME OUT TO THANK ALL THe HAPPY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN READING,VOTING AND COMMENTING AND AS THIS STORY DRAWS TO A CLOSE I GOTTA SAY IT'S BEEN FUN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL OVER ON LUCAS'S JOURNEY!.... ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO!! IT'S BEEN FUN ^_^

My twitter: TwinZ_Double

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.