"I want to go."

"Saigon chewed me out for asking you to go last time," replied Willow.

"He's not in charge of me, and he's not even here to get in the way." I pressed my hand to my chest. "I want to go. I don't care what he told you."

She glanced at her friends, who stood on either side of her. "Look, Archer, we have a good thing going and Saigon could ruin it. If he told Darius what we were doing, we'd probably get demoted and stuck with his toxins."

The girl beside her cringed.

"Saigon won't tell," I stated. "Hell, you're safer if I go."

Willow arched a brow as she folded her arms.

"If he tells on you guys, I'll get in trouble, too. He won't do that. Saigon is my best friend. He wouldn't risk getting me demoted."

Willow nodded. "True. But if you come, you have to swear you'll make sure Saigon keeps his mouth shut. If he tells the alpha and tries to leave you out it, we won't." She motioned to the others. "We're all in this together."

"I'll handle, Saigon. I promise."

Willow smiled and looped arms with me. "Alright then, let's go."

***

(Saigon)

I tossed a stone into the pond below the hot pools as I sat on the shore. I attempted to skip one and did it wrong on purpose. "Show me how you do it again?"

Cricket sighed and wandered over from his tower of rocks. "You gotta flick it." He demonstrated. "Like this, see. With your wrist." He rolled his hand in a circle before skipping a stone across the water. "See, like that."

I did as he said and the rock bounced once before disappearing under the water. "I'll never be as good as you."

"You have to practice. That's what the beta says. If you practice, you get good at it."

"Is that why you're so good?" I pulled the pup to my side.

"Yeah, I practiced a lot." He put his arm around my neck. Cricket knelt down and started piling up the sand. "How long are you going to stay?"

"I have to go back tomorrow night."

The boy's shoulders sank. "And you won't come back for a long time again."

"I'll come and say goodbye before I go to school."

Cricket shoved a rock into the center of his mound. "I don't like school."

"Was kindergarten that bad?" I laughed.

"Yeah"—he let out a dramatic breath—"I'm going to be a first-grader. They have to stay all day. That's so long."

"You'll have more time to play with your friends, though."

He dug his finger in the sand. "I don't have any friends. No one wants to be friends with an omega."

"Lies."

Cricket flinched and turned to me.

"We're friends."

He smiled.

"Want to know a secret? Come here."

The boy scooted closer.

"I'm going to be the beta," I whispered in his ear. "Don't tell anyone. It's a secret." I pressed a finger to my muzzle.

Cricket nodded. "I won't." He wrung his hands in his lap. "Could I maybe tell a little bit?"

"Like who? I don't need it getting out. People might get jealous of you for being friends with me."

He tilted his head to the side. "A few of the other kids. Just four of them." He held up that many fingers. "They're from other packs, so they won't get jealous."

I took a deep breath and leaned back on my arms. "I guess that'll be okay. Let them know to be a friend of mine, they're going to have to be yours, too. But, remember that we were friends first, so you have to hang out with me before them. Alright?"

Cricket grinned before hugging me. "Why can't you stay here? You can be our beta."

"I will be, but I have to live in Northern Ridge."

"Live here. Your parents live here."

"What would Gage do? He's going to be the beta here under me and Jagger."

Cricket sunk back and frowned. "Yeah, it won't work. Having two betas is hard." He scratched his arm. "Do you think Jagger will send me away?"

My ears splayed to the side. "Why would he?"

"Because." He picked at the fur on his arms.

"You're not going anywhere, Cricket. The main job of the beta is to keep the alpha in line."

"I'll have to go to that school. The one far away. My sister says when I'm older, it's safer, so I have to go."

"Hey"—I moved the pup in front of me—"that's a long ways off. You're still a pup." I tapped his nose.

He rubbed his muzzle and scrunched up his face.

"Besides, Midfield Academy has an all sub-campus, so everyone there will be just like you."

"Like me. With white fur?" He sat up and rubbed his belly. "All of them?"

I nodded. "It's where Raven went, my cousin. He loved it there. He spent all day with the other subs and they didn't have to worry about the cranky dominants." I tickled him.

He laughed. "Will you come and see me?"

"When I can."

He glanced around the cave. "I guess I can go."

"You have to be thirteen, pup." I ruffled his head fur. "That's a whole seven years away."

His mouth fell open. "That's so old."

"Want to know another secret?"

He nodded.

"I'm way older than that. I'm eighteen."

"Wow, you're old enough to get a mate."

"I know, right," I laughed. "My grandma can't wait for the day."

He grinned at me. "Do you like someone? Ivy is old, too and she's in love with Gage," he giggled.

I glanced around to make sure we were alone. I motioned for Cricket to come closer. "This is the biggest secret. One you have to take to your grave."

Wide-eyed, the boy nodded. "I will. I won't tell anyone, not even my sister."

"Promise?" I held up my pinky.

Nodding, he attempted to wrap his around mine.

"I like someone in the main pack." I pressed my finger to my lips. "Don't tell anyone."

Nodding even faster, Cricket puffed out his chest. "Friends don't tell."

"Exactly. Now go and get cleaned up. You're supposed to be taking a bath."

Cricket flopped backward. "I hate white fur. It's always dirty. We should play another game. Let's race up the rocks and whoever can stick their head outside first wins."

"Nope." I shrugged. "We've done enough playing."

"Just one more," he groaned. "I hate baths."

"Tough luck, pup. Ivy said you needed one, so get to it."

***

I stepped into my parents' cave. My dad was sorting through some of the boxes I brought.

He noticed me and smiled. "How'd it go with Cricket?"

"The usual. He whined for a bit before finally giving in. I dropped him off with his sister."

Aden moved the box to the side and pulled another forward.

"He's worried about school." I sat down in front of him.

My dad sighed. "It's hard. They aren't any boys like Cricket, and he's the only one his age in this pack."

"How old was he when Bloodhound was attacked?"

"One, the poor thing. His mother never fully recovered from her injuries. She suffered so much right up until the end. I don't know what would have happened to Cricket if something had happened to Ivy."

"Grandma would have snatched him up."

Aden smiled. "Very true."

"Cricket is already worried about being sent to Midfield Academy."

My dad sat up straight. "Darius plans on sending him?"

"I guess. Gage and Ivy must have mentioned it to him. It makes sense. He'll be a pretty sub with all that white fur."

Reaching over, he gripped my hand. "I've already told Titus this and now I'm telling you. If you're beta when Cricket is old enough to mate, protect that boy. I don't care what Jagger or Darius has planned, Cricket's happiness comes first."

"He's the one werewolf you don't have to worry about." I gave him a smile. "Cricket has been through enough. He's going to have a good mate."

"Speaking of—"

"Don't." I pointed at him. "When it happens, I'll let you know."

Aden laughed. "I was going to ask if you wanted to have dinner with Ivy and Gage, or if you're Cricket-out for the day. The pup has a lot of energy."

I frowned. "You make me sound like I'm an old man."

The sub chuckled. "Well, I'm getting to be an old man and he tires me out. His name suits him. The pup is always bouncing off the walls."

"He gets excited easily." I shrugged and laid down. "I'm fine with dinner."

"Hmm..."

My ear flicked to him as I closed my eyes. "What?"

"Are you sure he didn't wear you out?"

"Nope." I yawned. "I'm on vacation. Daily naps are a part of that."

***

Radish Fiction app has 3+ additional chapters than Wattpad. Links are on my profile. Thanks for reading!