Free For Their Happiness by Jayton Young Page A

of her dad threatening me with certain dismemberment if I hurt his daughter, it’s been great.  We’ve decided to stay here until the move so she won’t have to leave her parents and siblings.”
    “Well that’ s wonderful, ” I told them.  I was so happy that Gary had found his mate so quickly.  I really hoped that they would all find their mates on this trip.   “And like you said, it won’t be long before you move home anyw ays.  Maybe there will be a Junior on the way by then.”  I added, smiling at them.  Peyton’s face seemed to redden even further, and I hadn’t thought that was possible.  Gary just had a huge grin on his face.
    Right then, Ryan, Alpha Burgess, and my parents entered the room.  I realized as both Mom and Dad rushed over to my bed that I was still laying down, so I scooted up to where my back was resting on the headboard.
    “I’m alright.”  I told them, but they weren’t listening.
    “I told you.” My dad said.  “I said I had a bad feeling.  You didn’t listen.”
    “Daddy, you can’t shelter me from everything, you know that.”  I said softly.  He knew my injuries were not all I was talking about.
    “But it is our job to try, Tink.”  He said.  “We want you to come home with us.  Alpha Parker agrees.”
    “Then you can help me talk him out of it.”  I looked at him pointedly.  “Please, Dad.  Remember the reason for this trip, please.”
    He looked over to my mom and had a silent conversation with her before turning back to me.  “Alright, Tink, We’ll talk to Jeffery , but please consider coming back early.  Maybe cut the visits to each pack a little short.”
    “We’ll talk about it, Daddy, but remember that I’m not the only one on this trip.”
    “Well,” Alpha Burgess said stepping up .  “I’m very happy to see you awake .”
    “Thank yo u, Damon .”  I bowed my head to show him my respect before looking back at him.  “I really appreciate you coming to help during the attack.”
    “I’ll not have rogues on my territory; much less have my honored guest being in the center of an attack by them.”
    “I understand that, sir, but can I ask you a question?”  I asked respectfully.  I knew I had to watch the way I said what I wanted to say or it could be construed as a challenge to his authority.
    “By all means.”  He answered.
    “Sir, why are you questioning Bolton about this attack?”
    “I just find it convenient that we let him in, then you come to visit, and all of a sudden rogues are attacking .  Don’t you?”
    ‘Dad, please help me keep him calm and reasonable.’   I saw a small nod from my dad from the corner of my eye.
    “Damon , Bolton helped to take out the rogue pack.  From what I understand he took out three on his own.  Why would he do that?”
    He looked like he was thinking over what I had said.
    “Furthermore, sir, when you took him in, there was no indication that I would be coming here, so how would he have known to join this pack to get to me?  Not only that, but I don’t think the attack was aimed at me.  The rogues never once tried to get to me, even after I fell from the tree.  They just fought, not like they had a particular goal in mind.”
    Alpha Burgess sat down in the chair Becca had vacated when he and my parents came in the room.
    “You are right.”  He sighed.  “I don’t usually have to apologize for my actions, but I owe Bolton a big one.  I guess I was just so upset to think that an Omega would be taken from my care and disgrace my pack, I wasn’t thinking clearly.”  He got up and headed to the door , but he stopped to turn to me and said, “I apologize to you as well, and thank you for making me see reason.”  And he left.
    I took a big breath and let it out.  Only my mom, dad, Billy, Becca, with Jazzy in her arms, and Ryan were left in the room with me.  Gary and Peyton had left with Jerry when the Alpha had come in, and I didn’t know where they