Page 53 of Little Red and Her Creatures of Chaos
“Radley, what’s going on? I just had one of your very frantic mates show up naked on my front porch, telling me I needed to pack a bag. Are you okay?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “We’re sending someone to get you and bring you to us.” Nash nods, phone already to his ear.
“Okay,” she answers, and I can hear her moving through the house. “Do we know how long my stay will be?” This is what I love about her. She doesn’t even question it. She just trusts me.
“Not yet. This is just a precaution. And, uh, sorry about Bryce’s nakedness.”
Grandma chuckles. “It’s quite alright. I think he was more embarrassed than me when I opened the door.”
“Cadence is on his way,” Nash informs me. “He’ll be coming through the path in the woods in a big blue truck.”
“Did you hear that, Grandma?”
“Yes, dear. I’ll be ready when he gets here. Stay safe.”
“You too. I’ll see you when you get here. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The line goes dead, and I deflate on the couch. Mason sits beside me and pulls me into his lap. I snuggle against his chest and feel my body relax. I’ve been on edge since we found out Bryce was gone, and I lost my temper on that bitch in the other cabin.
“How’s your hand?” Mason asks, picking it up and looking at it.
“Fine.” I flex my fingers, proving my point. “I’ve never hit anyone in my life.”
Nash chuckles and sits down beside me. He pulls my legs into his lap and massages my calf. “You were dead on, though, Pup.”
“Already protective of her beta.” Mason kisses my forehead. “I’m proud of you.”
“Is that what he is? My beta?”
“Absolutely,” Mason answers. “You technically rank higher than he does.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Neither do we. It’s just the way of the wolf hierarchy. And trust me, he’s fine with it.”
I’m just settling against Mason’s chest when we hear a wolf howl. We all jump up and run outside. I have enough sense to strip my clothes off before shifting behind the guys. We take off running toward the noise and see a smaller wolf cornered by three big ones. Nash and Mason run ahead of me and knockthem out of the way. The smaller wolf runs back toward camp, whimpering.
“Go check on them,”Mason says. Oh, that must be the alpha command Bryce talks about. It’s like he has full control of my limbs. But since I have no idea how to fight, I follow the small wolf back to a cabin. When they shift, it’s a girl who can’t be any older than sixteen. I shift when I’m in front of her, and her eyes widen.
“You’re the omega.”
I nod in answer. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. I was coming back home when they came out of nowhere.” Her entire body is shaking, and I grab a blanket I see lying across the porch banister. I wrap it around her shoulders and rub her arms.
“Go on inside. Are your parents home?”
She shakes her head. “No. They’re out patrolling.”
“Okay. You can come home with me. Go grab some clothes.”
She smiles gratefully and disappears inside the house. When she comes back, she hands me something that looks like a dress. I slide it over my head and lead her to our cabin. Our cabin? Damn if I didn’t like the sound of that. “What’s your name?”
“Ava.”
“I’m Radley.”
