Page 16 of In Plain Sight

I had always known I would only ever bond with my true mate. It didn’t matter the mission, a true mate was simply too precious a find and I knew I was a lucky son-of-a-bitch for finding mine, but I really wish Thomas wasn’t her brother.

Once Thomas was fully in the room, I snapped out of my shock. I walked up and bowed my head to him humbly. I had an Alpha. I would not bare my neck and fully submit to another, but I could show humility and submission to his position.

“Hi, I’m Bran,” I said, straightening and offering him my hand.

“Thomas,” he said. “What are you doing in my territory?”

“Thomas,” Ruby growled, but he brushed her off.

I couldn’t help but chance a look over to my feisty mate and grin.

“I heard you might be hiring for help heading into spring,” I said, just as I had rehearsed.

“And that just gives you the right to trespass on my land?”

I knew this was all a formality and had been expecting it.

“No, sir. My humblest apologies for that. I was careful to avoid your territory when I got to the area but was pushed onto it during a minor altercation with what I believe Ruby refers to as a Larken wolf. I meant no disrespect and I was coming to see you the next day, but, well, I got a little shock and priorities changed quickly. You have a mate, I’m certain you understand what I’m talking about.”

I saw him glance over at the woman that had come in with him. Lily Westin. I knew who she was from the pictures I had memorized when preparing to come here.

“Just because you’re mating my sister doesn’t mean I’ll treat you any differently,” Thomas said.

“Oh please, stop with the macho crap,” Ruby said.

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Thomas grinned and nodded. “Glad to hear it. Welcome to Collier Pack. I’m certain we can find something for you to do around here.”

The thing that threw me off-guard the most was that I instantly liked Thomas Collier. I had prepared to hate him. On paper he was little more than an overentitled pompous ass, a spoiled little rich kid who was handed the title of Alpha much too soon, yet there was something commanding about him. I felt like I was in the presence of a truly powerful Alpha.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

“Now, tell me what your intentions are with my sister.”

I blanched for a minute. I knew there were still packs out there that held to the strict antiquated notion that mates, even true mates, needed to be vetted first and approved by the pack. I didn’t know where Collier Pack stood on this. Concern crept in as I looked to Ruby for guidance.

Ignoring him entirely, Ruby introduced me to Lily, Thomas’s mate.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you,” I said, still feeling a little overwhelmed by the situation I found myself in.

“It’s really great to meet you, too. Now, answer his question. We’ve heard the rumors that you two are mating, but what do you intend to do with that? Will you be sticking around? Will you be transferring allegiance to Collier? Are you planning to bond with her?” Lily asked one question after another until my head was spinning.

“We’re already bonded. I plan to stick around a while. We’ll decide in time where we’re supposed to be and what Pack we should live in,” I said truthfully.

Lily squealed and turned to Ruby. “You what? And you didn’t call me? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

Ruby shrugged and blushed. “It’s still very new. I know, Clara was just as surprised.”

“Wait, you told Clara before us?” Thomas demanded.

Ruby shrugged again and tried to give an innocent look. “I didn’t want to just show up in town with all the rumors flying around, so I borrowed some clothes from Gage until I can get Bran out shopping for his own.”

“You don’t have any clothes?” Lily asked.

It was my turn to shrug. “I have enough to get by, just not enough by her standards.”

Lily laughed. “Okay, fair enough.”

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