Page 8 of Stargazer

“She’ll be okay, right?” I asked, worried for my friend.

“She’ll be okay, Vee. She’s been doing this for months now.” He chuckled softly to himself. “I’ve got to admit, I never would have pictured Amelia as an espionage kind of girl, but she’s surprised me. She’s been great with the transition too, even without a normal pack behind her. She’s good at this, more than I ever thought possible. So we just need to trust her.”

“Okay,” I muttered, trying to simultaneously convince myself.

He stroked my arm and his gaze met mine when he ducked his head slightly so we were eye level. “If she calls for help, we’ll be there. Without question. No matter how it might affect any plans. She might not be physically in my pack, but she is pack. And we won’t leave her behind. Not without a fight, Vee. I promise.”

I bit my lip and nodded. I believed him.

“Well, well, well. Look what the wolf dragged in,” Zander snickered as he strolled into the large expanse of the airy kitchen, Axel trailing behind him. His tone didn’t hold its usual amount of teasing.

River had mind-linked the main pack—the inner circle and ones I’d been closest to—to make their way down for a breakfast reunion. We both showered and got ready—separately of course—and now, forty minutes later, we stood in the kitchen, preparing a spread of eggs, bacon, toast and fruit.

I was just finishing off the platter as the Beta and Delta walked in. My stomach did somersaults at the sight of them. I had a lot of amends to make and there were a lot of conversations that needed to be had, which wasn’t necessarily something I was looking forward to. I wished there was a way to skip ahead to the part where we were all fine. I had no idea how this was going to go, but I knew it was going to be a long few days and I was likely going to be mentally drained by the end of it.

Given all that, I was still so happy to see them. Even if Zander looked pissed at me.

I wanted to hide from his glare; an expression so rarely seen on him. I missed his silliness and that cheeky smile.

I fought the urge to re-organize the platter as a distraction, and instead forced myself to look up at my two friends and face their wrath.

Axel—contrastingly to Zan—was all smiles as he nodded my way.

“Hey, Vee,” he greeted. “Nice to see you back in the pack house. It felt empty without you around.” He walked right up and pulled me into a tight hug, squeezing me close to him. I let out the nervous breath I’d been holding as I buried my face into his chest, hugging him back just as tight.

“Axel,” I cooed, “I missed you too.” He squeezed me harder in response and then laughed at the solid squeeze I returned.

Pulling away so he could look down at me, he smiled. “I can’t wait to hear all about your adventure, little Knight.” He chuckled as he let me go, “You clearly have gotten stronger.”

My lips formed into a knowing smirk as I took him in. Same old Axel that I knew and loved.

“There’s definitely a lot to tell you guys,” I admitted, daring to sneak a glance at Zander, who waited on the far side of the counter. Riv had paused scrambling the eggs to watch the reunion with a wide grin. But I happened to catch a quick moment where he levelled Zander a look that I knew meant he was telling him to behave.

I walked up to Zander cautiously while he continued to stare at me, not giving anything away.

“Hey Zan,” I breathed. “No bear hug from you? I missed them.” When he didn’t say anything, I continued forward, babbling an apology. “I am so fricken sorr—”

Before I could even get the words out, he cut me off and startled the shit out of me by wrapping me in his large arms as he captured me in one of his famous hugs, lifting me off the ground and squeezing. A muffled, surprised scream tumbled out of me, but it was extinguished as my face collided with his chest.

After regaining my composure from the initial shock, I leaned into it. And once he returned my feet to the ground and let go of the hold he had on me, I snaked my arms around him and held him tight. “I am so sorry. For judging you guys. For not giving you a chance to explain. For assuming the worst. I’m so sorry,” I mumbled into his chest.

“It’s alright, Vee.” Zander’s tone was serious—a very uncommon occurrence indeed.

I pulled away from him and looked to both Axel and River, wanting them to know the apology was for all of them. Axel nodded a few times, reassuring me it wasn’t something he would hold against me, while Riv gave me a pleased smile. I knew he had forgiven me almost immediately—even though I didn’t deserve it—and that his relief was directed at his friends and I making up so effortlessly.

I looked back up at Zander who towered over me. “I’m a horrible friend,” I proclaimed.

“Yeah, you are,” the giant Beta smirked. “But we won’t hold it against you.” The grin on his face practically touched his dark eyes, the playfulness that I knew so well returning to his face. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and guided me towards the food. “Now let’s eat.”

And just like that he was back to himself.

I could almost see him visibly salivate as he took in the spread, eyes lightning in pure, unadulterated joy at the thought of devouring it.

Riv finished the eggs and plated them up. But one important member still hadn’t showed yet and I eagerly awaited her arrival.

The boys made their way to the round breakfast table and I filled a few cups of juice, my gaze constantly flicking over to the door in anticipation of Skylar’s entrance. I wouldn’t have peace until I spoke to her too. And I’d still want to eventually see the rest of the pack as well.

When it didn’t seem like she was about to barge through the door at any second, I let out a quiet sigh but brought the tray of glasses to where the guys sat, eagerly waiting to dig in. I had to admit, the smell was making my stomach rumble in hunger too.

---