Page 9 of Twisted Destiny

Hayley looked unsure but ultimately didn't object—a good sign that she was willing to give it a try.

"Fine," she said with a sigh. Just let me grab my purse."

* * *

At the barbeque, Jackson kept close by Hayley's side, introducing her to different people in the pack as they went around the backyard. Calder and Daisy watched from a distance, wanting to allow Hayley to make up her mind about the pack. They didn’t want her to feel pressured to stay.

Everyone welcomed her warmly, offering kind words of encouragement and support—a stark contrast from when Griffin had been Alpha of Twisted Tail.

As Hayley chatted with various pack members, she seemed more at ease than before—and Jackson could see that she was slowly beginning to open up. Each smile seemed more sincere than the last.

He grinned with satisfaction. It felt good seeing her so at ease among their peers after feeling so insecure when they'd first arrived at the barbeque. He wanted her to know that not only was she safe within the ranks of Twisted Tail, but he also needed her to see how much the pack had changed over the years. Gone were the drug-fueled parties, and public slayings for the slightest of infractions. Calder had worked hard to revive the pack, bringing them back from the assured destruction Griffin had been hellbent on bringing about.

“Are you having a good time?” Jack asked.

“Surprisingly, I am. Thank you for bringing me. It’s so different than what I remember. Everyone here is so different.”

“Yeah, it is. I remember when Calder ran the pack. It was awful. Everyone lived in fear of what would happen next. Everyone kept their mouths shut and heads down, not wanting to catch Griffin’s attention for any reason.”

“I remember,” Hayley said, wiping a tear from her eyes. “Every day was a new form of torture. It was absolute Hell.”

“It was. For everyone. I wanted you to see that it’s not like that anymore. It hasn’t been. It took everyone a while to warm up to Calder, but as you can see, he’s earned the people’s trust. They love him and Daisy. He may not have been born at Twisted Tail, but he is Twisted Tail. He’s made this pack everything we always knew we could be. He’s fair and honest. I didn’t want you to take my word for it. I wanted you and your wolf to see it with your own eyes.”

Hayley took another look around at all the smiling, happy faces. People joked and laughed freely. Everyone was having a good time. But it was more than that. The pack looked happy and content. She could see the people felt secure.

“Does Calder have these barbeques frequently?” she asked.

“Every week.”

“Really?” She seemed shocked by his answer.

“Yep. Daisy insisted on the pack getting together every week. She’s been a blessing here. You know, she was once human?”

“Get out! That can’t be right!” Hayley gasped.

“Swear to Odin. She saved Calder’s life. He was attacked by some of Griffin’s leftover thugs who wanted to take the pack back. Out of nowhere, she shifted and saved the day. No one had ever seen anything like it. One minute, she was fully human. The next, she wolfed out. It was like she had been touched by Odin, himself. It scared the hell out of her. She had no idea how to shift back to her human form. It was something to see.”

“Wow! That’s some story. I’m not sure if I believe it or what to make of it.”

“I’m sure you’ll hear all about it if you decide to stay.”

“How did they meet?”

“Willow Sprout set them up,” Jackson explained.

“Huh.” A look of surprise flashed across her face. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. That’s what she does.”

“You know Willow?”

“I do. She’s my best friend. She’s the one who talked me into coming up here and claiming the cabin. She also thought it would be a good idea to see the pack now that Calder is Alpha. I think she’s hoping that I’d make peace with my past.”

“Willow is well known around here. We’ve actually had a rash of matings, thanks to her.”

“You don’t say,” Hayley huffed.

Jackson tried to figure out what it was that Hayley had just realized. Was it something he said, or something else altogether? He let it go, not wanting to push his luck.

The night flew by quickly. Soon enough, it was time to go home. It had been a successful outing—Hayley appeared more relaxed and content than ever before, no longer fearful or anxious about being around others in the pack.

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