Reed

Leaving a pair of basketball shorts and a large t-shirt outside the bathroom for Simone, I go down and open the front door when I hear a knock. Corey stands there with raised eyebrows. "What's going on?"

"How did you get Jena to be comfortable with you?"

He shrugged and stepped inside, sitting on a couch. "I didn't. She was perfectly fine. Why? What's wrong?"

I shake my head and sit, picturing Simone's wide eyes and shaking body. It pained me so much to see her like that. "I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, Corey. She's not reacting well to being here like I first thought she would."

"What do you mean?"

"She's afraid. She backed herself against a wall shaking until I finally got her to go shower. She's just not acting like I thought she would."

"Well, she was the outcast in her old pack. She's probably expecting the same treatment here." He picks at his nails and makes a weird face. "Didn't you say she ran from you when you first met?"

"Yes, but I thought it was only the Alpha's presence making her scared. He was giving her a glare that seemed cruel."

"She did say her mother and he had told her stories. Maybe try to prove them wrong."

"How?" I growl. "I'm being as nice as I can."

He glances up and raises a brow. "I don't know but might as well start."

I spin around and see Simone walking down the stairs, her eyes peering at anything and everything. When she got to the bottom, she looked over and saw us, stiffening instantly. "I didn't mean to interrupt," she said softly.

"No need, Luna!" Corey said cheerfully, standing up and walking to the front door. "We were finished. I was just leaving."

I glare at him, but he only waves and leaves. I sigh and put my head in my hands, wondering what to do. Soft footsteps come closer and stop right behind me. I close my eyes, frustrated somehow at myself. "R-reed?"

"Hmm?" I say but don't look at her.

She doesn't say anything for a moment, and I wonder if she's still there. But then I barely hear her say, "Are you okay?"

Slowly, I sit up and turn to her. She's standing stiffly right behind me, looking down with curious eyes. "I'm stressed out, that's all."

Simone tilts her head and glances away before looking at me again. "I can go away if you want."

I shake my head and stand, startling her a little. "No, Simone. I don't want you to go away. I want you to stay."

For a moment, her amber eyes brighten, but then, she slumps. "What do you want me to do then?"

I furrow my brows but walk around the couch and up to her. I hear her soft gasp before her heart starts racing. "Be yourself," I say lowly. "Whatever you want to do, do it."

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. "But—"

"You're not in that pack anymore, Simone. You're here, with me. Forget what they told you. Listen to what I'm saying. I want you to be yourself and do whatever you want."

Her heart speeds up a little more as she stares at me. "Whatever I want?" I nod. Biting her lip, Simone looks around then says softly, "Can I go outside and run? By myself?"

"Can you find the borders?" She nods quickly, giving me a small smile. "Then go ahead. If anything happens, howl for someone to help you, okay?"

"Really?" she asks breathless.

This makes me smile and I nod. "Just be careful, okay?" At my words, Simone jumps up and down excitedly. I laugh and point to a nearby door. "There's a place you can shift. I'll open the door for you when you come out."

Simone runs to the door and I hear her whispering to herself before they turn into excited yips. When her big black wolf comes out, she looks up at me and stares for a moment. I'm surprised when she bounds up and rubs my leg with her body as a way of saying thank you. I run my hand through her thick fur before walking to the door and opening it. Simone glances at me hesitantly before glancing outside.

"Go on!" I urge. Her ears lift and she takes a couple of steps. Realizing I wasn't joking, she leaps into a sprint and is out the door and running toward the forest. She stops at the tree line and looks back at me, a wolfish grin on her face as she barks once. I raise my hand and her tail comes up and starts wagging before she continues to run.

Chuckling, I close the door and go upstairs to my office, doing paperwork. "Alpha?" Thrain says in my mind.

"Yes?"

"You do know Simone is running around, right?"

"I'm aware of it."

"Do you want me to keep an eye on her?"

"No. Leave her be. Unless there is trouble, let her be wild."

The sun was setting when I hear a bark outside, and the doorbell rang. I run downstairs and open the door, seeing my mate there covered in dirt and leaves. "Have fun?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

She barks again and strides inside, going straight to the changing room. It takes her a few minutes before she walks out as a woman and dressed again. A smile was on her face and she didn't seem to care about how messy her hair looked. "I can't believe I was out for three hours!" she gasps.

"I told you to do whatever you want," I say and gesture her to follow me. Going into the kitchen I reach inside the fridge and grab a bottle of water, handing it to her. "Where'd you go?"

She drinks the bottle in one go and smiles up at me. "Just ran the border. I just did it about five times." Her amber eyes were still wild as she threw away her empty bottle and walked back into the living room, dropping onto a couch. I chuckle and follow her. "I'm starving!" she whispers wearily.

"Good thing that it's time for the bon fire then," I say and open the door. "There will be plenty of food to eat there."

She stands and walks up to me, giving me a curious once-over look before sighing. "Thank you for letting me do that."

I smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Simone walks out and waits for me a few feet away as I close the door and lock it. Then, I lead her to the pack house where the bonfire would be.

"Reed?" she says after a minute.

I look back at her. "What's up?"

Simone pauses walking and nervously glances at me. "Can—Can I hold your hand?"

Surprised, I hold it out. "I don't see why not." Her body instantly relaxes, and Simone jumps over and clasps my hand, smiling to herself. "You don't need to ask to hold my hand, okay?" I ask.

"Okay," she says, and we continue.

When we reach the bonfire, I feel Simone's hand tighten just a little before it goes slack. I look down to see her eyes wide with awe and darting around. The big fire ahead is surround by the pack as they mingle together and wait for us. On the far side of the fire are tables of different foods to be cooked or snacked on as well as plates and utensils. It's like Simone is a child again, amazed by everything she sees. I lean down and whisper in her ear, "Why don't you go fill a plate for yourself?"

Licking her lips, Simone's eyes glance up to mine. "What about you? You're the alpha."

I chuckle and shrug. "Ladies first." Her eyes flutter for a moment as she thinks about my response. "Go, Simone. Take whatever you want."

Without another hesitation, she hurries to the food and looks around. I watch as she pulls her hair back into a bun before tasting a variety of food, then setting a heaping pile of the ones she likes on a plate. Laughing, I go towards the fire and see Corey and Thrain talking to Jena and some other girls. Thrain looks at me and raises a brow. "Where is our Luna?"

"Gorging herself delightfully with food," I say with a small laugh.

"So, is she warming up to you?" Corey asks.

"Slowly. I think letting her do what she wants is the key factor in all of this." I look around seeing other people watching Simone as she continues to fill her plate.

"Who's Luna?" Jena asks.

I tense and look at her. "Simone from your pack.

Jena's eyes widen, her mouth open to say something before shutting it again and looking away. She walks away and I relax again. Corey and Thrain start a conversation with me and don't really notice anyone for a while. Everything is fine and peaceful, even fun.

Until an old woman comes up to me with a worried expression. "Alpha, Beta?"

All three of us look down and I put a hand on her shoulder gently. "What is it?"

"There is a problem I think you should see."