Page 177 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

“When will you learn that Seb never loses a bet?” Nolan asked.

“Apparently never.” He shrugged.

“What did you two bet on?” I asked, peering around Nolan to see Reid.

All these werewolves were so damn huge.

Reid’s blue eyes widened, and then his face turned the brightest shade of pink I’d ever seen. “I—well, you see—there was, um…”

“When we were kids, Sebastian bet Reid that you and Wesley would be mates, and Reid took the bet. And even when Wesley shifted for the first time after you were adopted by someone else, Reid still didn’t think the two of you would be mates,” Nolan said, messing up Reid’s blonde hair.

Reid reached up and smoothed it down with a huff after Nolan removed his hand.

“What do you mean when he shifted for the first time?” I asked.

“Well, normally, lycans shift at thirteen and regular werewolves shift at fourteen,” Nolan explained after a beat. “But, when my parents were trying to adopt you, the day we found out you’d been adopted by someone else, and we didn’t know who or anything, Wesley’s lycan pushed forward and forced him into shifting early.”

“And I’m guessing that’s not a normal occurrence?” I ventured.

Nolan shook his head. “No. Shifting for the first time is painful enough as it is, but when it happens unexpectedly like that, it is worse. Most who have a forced shift don’t…”

He trailed off and glanced at Reid, whose face was unreadable as they reminisced about their friend’s first shift. I didn’t need Nolan to finish his sentence, though. I knew what he was saying—most didn’t make it.

“So, is that what Sebastian meant when he told me Wes ‘freaked out’?” I asked, remembering our conversation that day he’d taken me to see Jack and Shirley.

“Yes,” Nolan answered. “And this fool still didn’t think it meant anything other than Wesley being protective of another friend,” Nolan teased Reid.

“Nolan…” Reid whined, tilting his head to the ceiling. “I was twelve! Wes was twelve! Who meets their mate when they’re twelve?” he argued, gesturing wildly.

“Lots of people, Reid. We live in packs. Sometimes, people are mated to someone they grew up with. It is very common for us,” Nolan explained, dragging each word out.

“Do you see this?” Reid said, looking at me and pointing at Nolan. “Do you see what you’ll have to deal with every day with him as your gamma? The attitude and sass—I feel for you,” he concluded, with his hand over his heart.

“Better attitude and sass than poor life choices like bets you’ll never win.” Nolan shrugged, leaning against the wall.

I just shook my head and laughed at both of them, and the door across from us opened, saving me from having to say anything to either of them.

“Haven,” Harrison said, poking his head out the door. “Frederick is ready for you. Do you want Nolan with you?”

I swallowed and felt Nolan straighten up, ready to do his job as my friend and gamma. I still didn’t quite understand their world, still didn’t feel like I fit in to it. But the love and acceptance they all gave me was almost more than I’d ever had in my life.

I glanced back at him, taking in how his demeanor had switched from teasing and joking to serious and protective in almost no time at all, his hazel eyes watchful and ready. I didn’t know what the council member would ask me or how it would make me feel, but I knew I didn’t want to face it alone.

Nolan’s presence wasn’t the same as Wesley’s, but it provided me with some level of security to have him around. “Yes,” I told Harrison. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“I’ll come too,” Reid volunteered, raising his hand, and I gave him a grateful smile.

Harrison nodded, then held the door open for Nolan, Reid, and me to walk through.

The office we stepped into had a rustic but modern feel, with gray wood flooring and large windows that looked out towards the lake and the rest of their lands. There was a fireplace on the far wall, with a door next to it. Under the simple wooden desk was some type of animal fur rug, and across from the desk were two chairs and a couch for visitors to sit on.

Seated on a chair was an older man, probably in his sixties. His hair was silver, and so was his beard, and his face was lined with a few wrinkles. His fine clothing made me self-conscious about my casual outfit of jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. He looked serious but kind, easing my worries about speaking to a stranger about my ex-boyfriend.

He stood as I entered and held his hand out to me.

“Hello there, Miss Haven,” he said as I shook his hand. “I’m Frederick, and I am a member of the royal council,” he told me. “Before we begin, I just wanted to congratulate you on being the future luna here at Crescent Lake.”

“Thank you.” I smiled as I released his hand. “I’m still absorbing all this… werewolf stuff,” I told him.

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