Page 97 of Out of Peril

“I know we don’t know each other, yet, but are you okay?”

“I'm fine. I genuinely thought I could make those cookies. There's even a batch in the oven.”

A second later, an alarm went off and we took off running for the kitchen. I skidded to a halt just in time to see Callie open the oven door to a billowing cloud of smoke and pull out a sheet of large black cookies.

“Well those don't look like they did in the show,” I said.

The girls all burst out laughing.

“Oh Lindsey, you're going to fit in just fine around here.”

Fortunately for me, they brought lunch, and we sat down for some girl chat to get to know each other. They explained a lot about Westin Force and Delta team in particular.

It was odd because I'd never really been good with other females. They made me feel awkward and insignificant, but not these women. Instead of mocking me and my disastrous attempt at making cookies, they offered to teach me how to bake.

I understood why Walker called these people family. Delta team was a unique group of people with a sometimes dangerous and demanding job. That bonded them together in a way I hadn't really understood until they took me in and made me feel accepted when my whole life I'd always felt like an outsider.

“Delta is a family, Lindsey. And now that you and Walker have made things official . . .”

My gasp cut Callie short.

“How did you know?” I blurted out.

“Your mark is showing,” Mirage said, pointing to my neck.

“And Michael texted me about it because Walker shared it with the team this morning.”

“We're all excited to welcome you to the family,” Christine said.

“You guys really don't mind what I am?”

“You're Walker's mate. That's who you are as far as we're concerned,” Abby explained. “Trust me, from the nightmares I've heard about Annie and how these three rockstars still tried to include her, you’re a big improvement.” She blushed. “Ugh, you guys bring out the worst in me. I didn't even know her.”

“Who's Annie?”

“Tucker's late mate. He got an Abby upgrade after she past,” Mirage said as the two women embraced.

“The ladies have been my lifeline since I moved here, and I truly hope that I can be included in making you feel just as welcome as they made me,” Abby explained.

“Yeah, besides, Annie was the ultimate beast. Trust me when I say you're just an amateur that doesn't impress us on that level,” Christine said, and we all burst out laughing.

I had no idea what we were talking about or what that woman could have possibly done to make them hate her so much even after death, but I was high on happiness to have them overlook that part in me and still be willing to be my friends.

Maybe Walker had been right all along and San Marco really was a different, more accepting kind of place. I knew only time would tell, but I definitely wanted to stick around to find out.

I was sad to see these women leave, but we had already made plans to get together again soon and I couldn't wait.

Despite the Challenges looming over us, life here was better than I could have ever imagined. I have the perfect mate, who loves me unconditionally despite my flaws. We have the best kids in the world, who were fitting in and making friends. And for the first time in my life, I felt like I could just be me, and that really was more than enough. It was everything I never knew I wanted in life.

But happiness couldn't drive away all the ugliness in the world, and a few days later, we got the call.

“The plans are in motion. You have a challenger. The fight will occur tomorrow. Are you ready?” Kyle asked when he called.

“Ready? I think I was I born for this.”

Lindsey

Chapter 26

---