Granny watched with a heavy heart, as Jayden tore down the street on his new gray Harley Davidson motorcycle. Since they’d moved to Arkansas, he didn’t drive his Mustang much anymore. These days he always seemed to prefer riding his motorcycle on every mission that Barrett sent him. But that wasn’t what worried her.
Jayden was working too much. She could see the strain in his eyes when he walked into the room. Usually when there were women around, Jayden hung around and flirted. He’d always had his share of admirers growing up. That was no different now. At the age of thirty Jayden was as handsome as ever. And she wanted him to finally settle down with a mate of his own. But since that one night in Louisiana something about him had changed. Though he tried to hide it, she still saw it. He was different now, harder.
Life was too short to live with regrets and pain of the past. This she knew. But she wasn’t sure that this time she would be the one to help her grandson heal.
#
Jayden walked into the gray concrete building that housed the training facilities of the Arkansas Werewolf Guardians. The building also housed the office of his, “don’t fuck with me” Pack Master, Barrett Middleton.
He’d met Barrett years ago when he’d asked him to find out some Intel on a suspected werewolf who was dealing meth down in Louisiana. After he provided the info to the Arkansas Pack Master, Barrett had continued to call on Jayden throughout the years whenever they needed some Intel. They usually spoke through a third party, up until a few months ago when Arkansas Were female, Ava Renfroe, had been kidnapped by the same rogue wolves that had taken Haley. Jayden had been called upon by his childhood friend Damon Trahan to help. After both women had been rescued, Barrett had offered him an official position with the Arkansas Pack. Jayden welcomed the opportunity to get away and make a fresh start. He didn’t need any reminders of what had happened that night in Louisiana. Maybe with a change of scenery he could get his head right. Until he had spotted beautiful blonde-haired blue-eyed Haley Guthrie sitting in his Granny’s living room.
“Maybe I’m not supposed to get a fresh start. Maybe I’m going to have to deal with this shit for the rest of my life.” Jayden plowed his fist into the cinderblock wall. The sting bit into his knuckle for a brief second before the healing properties in his blood regenerated the bruised flesh.
“You already bitching about the job, Jayden? Is all this work cutting into your dating time?” Damon stepped out from the locker room wearing low-hanging gym shorts and a whole lot of sweat. He had one boxing glove tucked under his arm while he untied the other with his free hand and teeth.
Jayden crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “Just trying to keep the ladies happy.” Jayden smirked as he told the lie without flinching. It was a talent he had recently learned to master.
Damon snorted. “You keep showing up for work looking like a female has kept you up all night and Barrett just might ship your ass back to Louisiana.”
Jayden straightened, his smile slipping a little before he remembered to adjust it. “Has Barrett been complaining about my job performance?” He needed this job more than anything.
Damon pulled his other glove off and shook his head. “Hell, no. He’s pretty impressed that you’re taking the job as a Guardian so seriously.” Damon narrowed his eyes. “Plus the fact that you’re the first one to volunteer for overtime has him drooling at the mouth. But if I were you I’d go easy on the brownnosing, brother.”
Jayden laughed. “It’s called taking up the slack, not brownnosing. You’d do well to learn the art, my friend, and pick up some overtime yourself.”
Damon grinned and shook his head, sending droplets of sweat raining down onto the floor. “No, thanks. I’ve got Ava waiting on me at five o’clock sharp at the door with nothing on.” Damon reached down and adjusted himself and Jayden could tell the Were was getting aroused just talking about his woman.
An unexpected jolt of jealously hit Jayden in the gut. He’d never expected Damon to be mated at all, let alone be mated before him.
“Being mated looks good on you, Damon.”
Damon straightened and held out his hand. “Thanks, brother.”
Jayden shook his hand and pulled away. “I got a meeting with Barrett and I don’t want to be late.” As he walked away, Damon called after him.
“Just wait, Jayden. Once you’re mated you’ll be trying to find someone else to pick up your overtime too.”
#
Jayden walked up to Barrett’s steel door and knocked. Barrett’s office, like the rest of the compound, was built like a fucking tank. Reinforced steel and concrete. After a bomb that took out a building some months back, they’d made sure to make the building was as bomb proof as possible.
“Come in, Jayden,” Barrett’s booming voice called out from the other side of the door.