Page 29 of Claimed by the Pack

11

Ridge

Iwas so tired, but I couldn't sleep. Maybe because even though I'd been exhausted for two days, it was only just after sundown, or maybe it was my thoughts of Cheyenne driving me crazy. She was on my mind all day, every day, no matter who I was with or what I was doing. And now, as I waited for Grayson to report in, I was worried that something had gone wrong and he'd blown it for me, completely. I finally got out of bed, deciding I would shift and go for a run. Just as I slipped off my pajama pants, my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but it was local.

“Gray?”

“Yeah, it's me.”

“Whose phone are you using?”

“House phone. I couldn't very well walk in here with mine in my mouth.”

“True. How's it going?”

“Well, it was going good, for a while.”

“What's that mean? What happened?”

“Chase happened.”

“Chase? What the hell? What did he do?” I listened as Gray told me about Chase showing up and talking Cheyenne into going out for coffee. The anger that was slithering through my veins was hot, and as it grew, I almost forgot it was my best friend that we were talking about. Maybe he had a plan to help me. That has to be what it is...it had to be...When Gray finished I said, “Where did they go?”

“No clue. I shifted as soon as she left and looked out the door. I saw them walking west across the street and then they disappeared behind the buildings.”

“Why didn't you follow them?”

“You're kidding, right? What if her roommate comes home and tells her I wasn't still inside the locked apartment when she got here? You want her to believe I'm a dog, I have to act like one.”

“Shit. What the hell is he up to?”

“Ridge, I don't want to cause trouble...”

“What Gray, just say it.”

“I smelled Chase when he was close to her. He's aroused by her, Ridge. Chase wants her too.”

“No. You have to be wrong about that. Chase has never gone after any woman I wanted, wolf or human.” Not that we'd had many she-wolves to go after. There had been one or two passing through and that was it. But I'd taken plenty of human women back to their place at the end of a night at the club, and Chase was always content to take the ones I didn't want. No way was I going to believe he'd choose the one he knew I wanted to mark as my own to go after.

“I don't think I'm wrong, Ridge.”

“Has she said anything about me, Gray?” He hesitated, for a long time. I thought he was going to tell me there was no hope, that she hated me. Instead he said,

“Yeah. She is still interested. She's just scared.”

Relief washed over me. As long as she wanted me, there was hope. “Well then, I have to find a way to ease her mind.”

“Ridge...” He hesitated again.

“What Gray? What are you trying so hard not to tell me?” I knew this kid since he was a pup sucking on his mama's teat. There was something on his mind.

“I just wanted to tell you, Cheyenne is a good choice. I like her.” I heard something in his voice that said he more than just “liked” her. What the hell was going on? My two best friends were feeling things for my mate? Hanson might be right and we just might have to go back to the old ways. Sadly, I wouldn't want to beat up either one of my friends, but I hoped that no one made any mistake that if it came to that, I could...easily.

I took a deep breath and said, “Thanks Gray. Stay put. I'm going to see if I can find them, and talk some sense into Chase.” Gray started to say something else. I didn't want to hear a lecture on how pissed Chelsea or the other alphas would be. I wanted Cheyenne, too badly to let anything, or anyone get in my way.

* * *

I startedto leave the compound and then I decided I wasn't going to sneak around any longer. If I was ready to man up and go claim my mate, I had to man up first to my alphas. I walked over to their cabin, took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Will pulled it open. He was dressed in a pair of flannel pajama pants and not shirt. Since they weren't in the military any longer, most of them had let their hair grow out. Clay didn't let his get too long, just not military short. Manny's was down to his shoulders, Titan kept his as sharp as it had been in the army, and then there was Will. His hair was down to his shoulders. He'd gotten it braided into Dread locks somewhere on the main island and he had a wild beard. He looked like he should be wandering the streets of Jamaica, looking for a hand out. But if I had to pick my favorite of Chelsea's four mates, it would be Will. He was the most easy-going and laid back of them all, and I was slightly relieved that he'd been the one to answer the door.

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