Ch. 21..30

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 21-“High five Alpha! You're golden!” Chase mind links me so as not to give it away that the gift is from me.

| can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. | feel high, exuberant, on top. of the world. Nothing in my life has ever felt so momentous as this moment.

| watch as she takes the first bite and her moan of pleasure has my cock stiffening in my jeans. Shit. But it’s her next words that make me go rock hard as she and Artemis both threaten anyone that wants to try to take her offering. My heart settles and Kai is practically rolling over to show his belly he’s so happy.

| watch as people walk by to see what she’s eating and smelling the food. It really does smell good and makes whatever Chase grabbed for us taste like cardboard. When she finishes eating, she reaches for the brownies. Dad had let it slip that he frequently takes mom’s brownies to his dinners with Mr. Nelson because he’s realized that they are Cara’s favorite. So, | asked mom to make me some and | dropped them off to Tamara earlier this morning.

| watch as her eyes nearly roll back into her head when she takes a bite of the brownie and | get an image of her making that same face while she’s riding on my cock, her pussy gripping me as she cums, making that moaning sound before. screaming my name.

And now I’m so close to blowing my load in my jeans that | need a serious distraction. | tune into the conversation around the table to hear some of the she -wolves who are trying their best to not sound too bitchy while also implying that Cara isn’t worth this level of effort. It has the desired effect and | go from turned on to pissed in seconds. She's more than worth it and not just because she’s a Guardian, although that would be reason enough as far as I’m concerned. She’s beautiful, intelligent, strong, the best warrior on my squad and a loving daughter.

I'm about to respond when | hear her asking Tamara questions about who ordered the lunch. My attention shifts back to Cara’s conversation. Tamara responds perfectly, just as | asked. It gives me an idea and I rush to leave the cafeteria before Cara does.

She's distracted when she comes out the door and it takes no effort to put myself in her way so she runs right into me. And now I'm hard again.

She looks up at me with those beautiful emerald eyes, no longer glowing with Artemis’s gold. My cock gets so hard it feels like I have a steel rod in my pants. |

12 | want to know if she truly understands that this is me staking my claim on her. So | guide the conversation in that direction until | can ask. She doesn’t answer me so | ask the other question that’s really been bothering me. | need to know if she realizes that it's not Liam doing this for her. Her response, while snarky, makes me happy. It’s a side benefit that he’s heard about what happened yesterday. As an Alpha, he’ll know exactly what this means. He has competition. When she confidently tells me she'll figure out who | am as she walks into class, | can’t help but murmur, “Good luck with that” under my breath as | turn making my way to the bathroom to relieve this pressure in my jeans. Not ideal to jack off in the bathroom at school, but desperate times…..

After school, | confirm my surprise for tomorrow. I’m trying to hit all the bases, things she will like, things that are romantic, and like today, things that make a statement. | make it home in time to attend warrior training and | get in a good workout. | decided to attempt to take down each of my warriors during training, to see what level of endurance it takes for Cara to do this on a daily basis. | nearly lose my last match, and I’m exhausted at the end of training.

As I'm walking back to the packhouse, | hear one of my warriors grumbling about how it’s not enough to get their ass kicked by Cara in the morning, now they have to get their ass kicked by me in the afternoon. The happiness of the day stays with me through dinner and | drift off to sleep thinking of Cara’s beautiful green eyes, overlaid with Artemis’s gold.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 22-After school, | drop Jason off and head home. When | walk in, Dad looks at me and gives me a side smile, “What? No flowers?” The look on my face must have been more serious than | anticipated because his smile drops. “Honey?” | walk over to the living room and sit on the couch. | take a deep breath and tell dad about the lunch that was ordered for me. He whistles low, looking at me intently. “That could be taken a couple of different ways Cara.” | silently hand him the card. He reads it and then stares at it for a second like | did. “Okay, only one way to take that. What does Artemis say? I’m assuming she was pleased?” “Oh yeah, she was thrilled to be given the adoration she thinks she deserves.” | say laughing.

| see Donovan push forward as Dad’s green eyes go brighter. “She’s a Guardian and my pup. Of course she deserves it. Any male would be lucky to have her as a mate. This is the type of homage that is due a Guardian and my daughter.” Donovan’s gravelly voice states.

Dad forces Donovan back and we give each other a look. Sometimes our wolves act a bit….arrogant. “So, have you figured out who it is yet?” Dad changes the subject.

“No clue dad. Not one. | did rule out most of the guys in training this morning, mostly because they were giving me such a hard time about the flowers.” “Could it be Alpha Liam?” he asks. He knows that Liam and | have been flirting. and spending some time together but | hadn’t mentioned Friday night's chat. with him. | still wasn’t completely sure how | felt about it.

“| don’t think so. Plus he texted me last night after hearing about the flowers. I’m pretty confident it’s not him.” “Oh! And, it was the owner of Ethereal that brought in my food today.” Dad whistles again. He looks thoughtful for a moment, then looks back at me. “It could be Alpha Rik.

| laugh out loud, bending over and holding my stomach. “Dad, | hate to break it to you, but Alpha Rik has no clue who | am.” He cocks an eyebrow at me in question.

“He literally came up to me last week and asked me what my name was and. which pack I’m from.” Dad, or maybe Donovan, growled about that. | quickly jumped in with damage control. | didn’t want Dad saying anything to Alpha Anders. “It's fine Dad. He'll figure it out eventually.

After training and dinner, | was up in my room finishing my homework when my phone rang. | saw it was Liam and sighed. | knew this was coming.

“Good evening Liam. To what do | owe the pleasure of a call?” “| think you know very well Cara. Yesterday it was, and | quote only flowers, not a romantic dinner’.” “Well, it wasn’t dinner.” | reply awkwardly. What do | even say here? | have no idea who is doing this.

“Do | need to come have lunch with you tomorrow Cara?” Even through the phone | could feel his need to show his dominance to the other wolf that he feels is threatening his claim on me. He’s been patient. But now he has, what he would consider, competition.

“That’s not necessary, Liam. I’m sure you have more important things to do than have lunch at the local high school.” “Artemis accepted the offering.” It was a statement, not a question, but | answered anyway. “Yes.” | swear | could hear him grinding his teeth through the phone. It was quiet for so long that | began to wonder if he was still on the line or if he smashed the phone and disconnected the call.

“Liam?” “I'll see you soon Cara.” he stated abruptly and hung up.

After that, | decided to call it a night. The air was warming up and | went to my window and opened it to let in fresh air while | slept. | laid in bed thinking of what all this could possibly mean. Artemis basically had two wolves staking their claim on her, which also meant they were staking their claim on me. Artemis was purring in my head, thinking of two wolves fighting over her.

‘What is wrong with you? One of those wolves is an Alpha and would kick the other wolf’s ass.” ‘Only if the other wolf isn’t Alpha.’ The thought of two Alphas fighting over her has her purring so loud | feel like my bed should be vibrating. For me though, it’s is Alpha Rik. Since he doesn’t even know who | am, it can’t be him. Unless someone told him. Unless he’s figured it out. But even if he knows who | am, why do this? It’s likely that I'll be his Guardian even if he doesn’t go to all this effort. Unless…..unless he’s worried about Liam. He did mention that he saw Liam and | Friday night. So, maybe this is a way to ensure that | remain in our pack?

Oh holy hell! Two Alphas in a fight over having me as their Luna? Wars start because of things like this. This could be terrible. It could cause so many problems. And what if neither of them is my fated mate? Will there be three of them fighting over me?

‘We could call it “The Alphas’ Rumble” or “Battle for a Luna‘. Or…what about ” The Guardian’s Battleground?” my very unhelpful wolf states. ‘Oh for crying out loud Artemis! We're supposed to protect the packs, not cause chaos and war!” “Those are human emotions. For wolves, only the strongest male can mate with the female. So it makes perfect sense that they would fight over me. she replies, completely unphased.

I roll my eyes and give t admirer is and fast.

on my wolf.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 24-The next day, I’m feeling a bit more confident. My morning is the same, watching Cara take out my warriors. Trevor continues to be her biggest competitor, but even he is unable to take her down.novelbin Then | meet up with Chase, who has my breakfast to go, and we head to school. Everyone is talking about Cara’s secret admirer. | see Dean and walk over, knowing he’s taking bets on who the mystery man is. “Dean.” | reach out and fist bump him and so does Chase. “So, who’s in the running?” | ask.

Dean gets a gleam in his eye, “Why, you want in on the action?” he asks. I'm seriously considering it if I’m on the list. This way, | can divert attention, in case Cara knows to ask.

“Depends. Who's on the list?” Dean gives me a shrewd look, “Well, you and Chase are in the top five.” “Is that so?” | ask.

“Why me?” Chase asks.

Dean gives him a look like he’s missing the obvious, “Because you can afford Ethereal, Beta.” Chase nods his head in understanding.

“Who else?” | continue my quest.

“Well, Trevor is also in the top 5, Alpha Liam and my biggest surprise, Jason.” “Jason, her friend Jason?” Chase asks. I’m as surprised as he is.

“Yep. Apparently some people think he’s showing her in the only way she'll notice. At least that’s what I’m hearing when the bets are placed.

| reach in my pocket and pull out some money. “Fifty bucks says it’s Chase.” | give my Beta a wicked grin. He goes very still before slowly turning to me and raising his eyebrows at me.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his own money, “Fifty on Rik.” Bastard. He knows he’s winning this bet!

Dean takes our money and makes a note of our bets. “Awesome!” “Now | need to recalculate the odds. Take into account that you could be trying to don’t know that…” He continues to mumble about modifying the odds as he walks away.

Satisfied that I've mucked up the betting pool, Chase and | walk to our first class.

When it’s lunch time, | grab my lunch quickly so I can watch. It seems everyone. that is not in class during this lunch period, plans to be in the cafeteria.

When she walks in, | see her look around, trying to figure out what today’s surprise will be. Is that disappointment that | see on her face? Oh, | think it is. Don’t you worry my sweet, today’s gift is on its way.

When the quartet walks in, everyone goes quiet. Everyone knows exactly why they are here.

They begin to sing and | have to laugh when they sprinkle the rose petals over her head. | told them to make it fun, and that’s exactly what they are doing. | love watching her laughing at their antics during the song, knowing | brought that smile to her face Everyone gave them a standing ovation and they deserved it. | see her ask them about a card and Harry pulls it out of his pocket and hands it to her.

| hold my breath while she reads it. Yesterday we made a clear claim for Cara and Artemis. Today, | am making my intentions clear. Kai and | want them and we're willing to wait for them. | see Cara’s eyes brighten with that sunlight glow and | know that Artemis has pushed forward again. Kai’s rumble of approval reverberates in my head. We’ve made an impact on not only Cara but also Artemis.

After school, | head to training with Chase. Talk continues as to who the secret admirer is. Trevor continues to swear that it's not him. Chase and | just give everyone that asks us a death stare. We hear lots of theories that it's Alpha Liam. He’s the obvious option since he and Cara have spent so much time together. The rumors are also rampant about what the cards have said. To Lacey’s credit, she’s not giving out much information, just basically saying that it's pretty obvious. what his intentions are based on the gifts he’s been providing.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 25-After dinner with the pack, | go to my dad's office. The door is slightly ajar and | knock before pushing it open to walk in. | stop when | see my mom sitting in dad’s lap, and he’s practically checking her tonsils with his tongue.

“Seriously, can you not wait until you’re in the privacy of your own room for that?” My mom hops out of my dad’s lap while her cheeks turn pink. They turn red when my dad smacks her ass. She turns to frown at him, but | can see her lips twitching up into a smile.

Turning back to me she says, “One day, hopefully soon, you'll understand the pull of the mate bond Rik.” and she taps my cheek on her way out of the room. She closes the door behind her leaving me alone with my father.

He watches my mother leave until the door closes and he can’t see her any longer. Then he turns his attention to me. “What can | do for you son?” | take a seat and cross one ankle over the opposite knee. “I want to go with you to the Nelson’s home for dinner tomorrow.” I’m pleading my case again. But this time, there is an ulterior motive. | want some alone time with Cara.

“Rik, we've talked about this. It’s my time with Clint. | owe him my life and this is one day a week that | can devote to him.

“| want to show him my appreciation for what he and his wife have given to our family too, Dad. | want him to know that I understand the sacrifice that they've made and how important their family is to me.” He leans back in his chair and looks thoughtful. “I’ve been trying to get him to come back to warrior training for years now. | can’t seem to make any impact on him. He doesn’t seem to realize that he has so much to give to the pack.” “Well, if his training with Cara is any indication, then he may be the best trainer we've got.” “He is.” Dad says, Better than you and I, as well.” He looks at me for several moments, and finally seems to decide something. “I'll think about it. I’m not saying yes, but I’m not saying no either.” “Thanks Pops. | understand he is going to be attending my birthday party, so apparently you're getting him back into the packhouse at least.” He gives me a devious smile. “I told him how offended I'd be if he didn’t make it | shake my head at my father.

Conversation switches to pack business. For the next two hours, we discuss the pack finances, increasing rogue threats near our borders, the increased border patrols that have been ordered because of it, living arrangements for the packhouse residents who are leaving and those that have applied to come live here. Dad is updating me on all of the decisions that have been made so that | know what is happening at any given time within the pack. Once | graduate, I’ll become more involved in the actual decision making process. Until then, my father wants me to focus on my studies but keeps me in the loop.

When we're done, | say goodnight to my father and head to my room. | need to write up the card that will go with tomorrow’s gift.

After saying goodnight, Alpha Anders watched thoughtfully as his son left his office. The entire pack is buzzing about the mystery man that is staking his claim on Cara Nelson. But over the course of the week and the hours they spent alone together this evening, not one word about it from his son. He contemplates that he also hasn’t seen any young she—wolves sneaking off the alpha floor this week in the early hours of the morning.

Aknowing smile spreads across the older alpha’s face, before he decides to find his mate a and finish what he started earlier in his office. He locked up and began whistling as he went in search of his Luna. This weekend's birthday party should. prove to be very interesting.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 26-My dream has me on edge most of the morning. That or maybe it’s the constant whispers and not so subtle comments about who my mystery man might be.

By lunch time, | feel like a nervous wreck. But, I’m also excited. | have to admit, I’m enjoying the attention. Artemis is over the moon with the attention she’s getting from what she has determined is a worthy male. Stupid wolf, it takes more than some flowers, food and music to make me swoon.

Artemis snorts in my head, ‘You do realize that we share mind space and | actually do know that you are just as taken with this attention as | am, correct?” “Whatever.' | try to push her back, but she refuses. She’s expecting a gift and she’s ready to receive it.

As | walk into the lunch room, it seems that every possible square of space is taken up. Who knew this many students had lunch during this period.

As | walk in, there is a person standing by the door with a huge gift basket. “Cara Nelson?” “That's me.” “This is for you.” “Is there a card?” “Right here Ms. Nelson.” He hands me my card. | thank him and head over to my table.. Lacey and Jason have grabbed me lunch, which is lucky since everyone. starts crowding around my table to see what I’ve gotten today.

Jason looks up and around at everyone. “Do you mind? If you're going to be nosey, at least give her some room to breathe.” Everyone takes a step back, but it only helps so much. | open the card first.. Dearest Cara, As a Guardian, you protect and fight for your pack.

But who looks after the Guardian, when the fighting is done?

Who ensures that your cuts and bruises are tended, your muscle aches relieved? | will look after you when the battle is won.

You will never be alone, your needs will always come before my own.

So please accept my gift, let me help you unwind To remind you that your wounds will never be left unattended And the hope that these gifts will relax you; body, soul and mind.

Wow, I’m once again speechless. His cards have become more bold every day, and today is no different. He’s telling me he wants me as his mate. If Liam hadn’t acted so angry the other night, | would really think it was him.

| open my gift basket and it’s a plethora of relaxing products lavender and floral scented candles, epson salts that smell like eucalyptus and peppermint for soaking my aching muscles in a bath, vanilla scented bubble bath, body wash and lotion and a bottle of wine, which just happens to be one of my favorites.

It's perfect. It’s exactly what | need at the end of a hard day of training. ‘And thoughtful’ Artemis chimes in.

Now that everyone has seen the gift, they begin to drift off while continuing their conversations about who it could possibly be. As I'm looking over my gifts the room suddenly goes quiet and the scent of the woods, blood, and fighting assaults my nose. Artemis pushes forward, ready for a fight. Out of the corner of my eye, | see Rik and Chase stand up, looking toward the door. |

can see in their eyes that both of their wolves have come forward.

| look in the direction of the door and freeze. Liam is walking directly toward me, Cyran front and center in his eyes. His clothes are filthy, torn and bloody. There is a huge, bloodied slash mark across his chest. But that isn’t what is most startling. Over his shoulders, he has a huge, dead black bear.

It's so large, | have no idea how he can even carry it. It’s easily twice his size or more. He stops right in front of me and | stand up. “Liam, what..?” I’m cut off by Cyran’s deep, gravelly voice.

“| bring an offering for Artemis.” And he drops the bear at my feet.

Artemis practically throws me to the ground in my mind to push me out of her way. “Cyran” she purrs as she looks at the giant bear. “You killed a bear for me?” He steps up to me and cups my cheek in his hand. Artemis leans into his touch.

“| wanted to show you that | can provide for you and protect you, Artemis. As a Guardian, you don’t need my protection, but | will always provide it to you.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 27-She places her hand on his chest. “Yes, Cyran, | accept your offering.” Acheer from Liam's pack erupts throughout the room, proud that their Alpha’s offering was accepted by a Guardian.

A furious snarl comes from behind me, silencing the cheers. Artemis turns to see Kai fighting to come forward. His canines have extended and his claws are starting to emerge. Rik is obviously fighting for control and Chase has moved in front of him, restraining him from attacking Cyran.

| felt the change in Cyran as he moved to push me behind him. | quickly push Artemis back so | can take control of the situation before it gets out of hand.

When | look back at Cyran, his canines are extended and his claws are coming out. | put both hands on his chest. Not to restrain, but to distract.

“Cyran, Liam.” | waited until his eyes return to me. “What should | do with this offering? It’s awfully big and, well, I’m still in the middle of my school day.” | smiled at Cyran, hoping to distract him enough to relax, while | watch Chase and some other warriors from my pack from the corner of my eye moving Rik out of the cafeteria.

Liam's eyes start to lighten, his claws and his canines retract. However, it was Cyran that responded. “Liam will take this and have it processed. The meat will be ready tomorrow but the skin will need another day or two to be tanned and cured.” His eyes track back over to Rik who is still growling and fighting Chase. To bring his attention back to me, | say, “Maybe Liam can bring the meat by tomorrow after school. He can train with my dad and I.” His eyes whip back to my face. It’s an honor to train with not just one, but two Guardians. “We could make…” | look at the bear again, “bear steaks?” | ask it as a question, because, is that even a thing? | have no idea, but I’m desperate for him to focus on me and not Rik’s continued growls that are still clearly audible even though he is outside now.

His eyes shift back to their beautiful shade of sage and | know that Cyran is calm now. “I'd like that. I'll make sure to have some…” he pauses, trying not to laugh, “bear steaks ready to throw on the grill.” | smile back at him. “Wonderful.” He leans down and gently touches his lips to mine. Then, he grabs the bear and pulls it back over his shoulders. As he turns to leave, | can’t resist one last remark.

1/2 “Oh Alpha Liam?” He turns and looks at me. “Please make sure you shower before you come by tomorrow.” | say to him with more sass than normal in my tone. He smiles and nods his head in acknowledgement before turning and leaving the cafeteria.

| release a huge breath as | turn around to Jason and Lacey giving them a ‘Can you fucking believe that?‘ look.

Lunch is over and I’m not hungry anyway after all of that. Jason hands me my gift basket and my bag then grabs his own. As soon as we walk out of the cafeteria, he pulls me into a quiet corner of the school. “What the hell was that Cara?” “Which part Jason?” | whisper—yell back at him. “The part where Alpha Liam killed a bear with his own hands and brought it to me as an offering or the part where Alpha Rik went all psycho alpha and almost started a fight with Liam?” “Yes.” He responds and then we both just stare at each. He chuckles and then pulls on my arm. “C’mon. We have to get to class.” He looks at me as we walk. ” Have you ever eaten bear before?” “Nope. Have you?” “Nope.” he pops the ‘P* at the end of the word. “So let me know how it is. Oh and, just because I’m not an Alpha, doesn’t mean you can’t invite me to train with you. and your dad sometime.” I stop and look at him. “Jason, you're my best friend. | like you and want you to continue to be in my life. Odds are good that if you trained with me, it would kill you.” He just shakes his head.

| wasn’t joking.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 28-Thursday starts out the same, watching Cara in training, grabbing breakfast to go and heading to school.

I'm excited for today. Every day my cards have become more bold, and every day, she and Artemis have accepted my words and gifts.

Everyone is buzzing about who the mystery man is. The odds are spinning around and now another bet is going as to when he, me, will announce himself. I’m tempted to get in on that one, but | decide to stay out of it. Throwing the odds off with me betting on Chase is the most | want to do..

I'm in place at lunch early, again. My delivery person is standing at the door. | don’t know this person, so | don’t give any sign of acknowledgernent and he doesn’t make any eye contact.

| sit and wait for her to enter. When she does, the delivery guy asks if she’s Cara. | watch as she asks for my card and then she heads to her table.

The entire cafeteria seems to push in on her, even the adults that work here. Kai and | start to move in her direction to get everyone out of her space when Jason speaks up and tells everyone to step back.

| watch as she reads my card. Again, | see Artemis push forward, wanting to be part of this, even though today is more specifically for Cara. I’m not a poet, but | am speaking from my heart every day and so far, it seems to be working.

| watch as she pulls out the items in her gift basket, smelling them, smiling over them, passing them to Lacey so she can smell them too. Kai and | relax, knowing that our plan is working. She is accepting our gifts every day. She is accepting us.

Everyone begins to head back to their tables, and | begin to eat my lunch. I’m smirking at Chase when the smell hits my nose, and | see Nash, Chase’s wolf, push forward at the same time that | feel Kai pushing forward. It’s the smell of a bloody battle.

| look to the front door as | stand, Chase right beside me. The sight before me has my hackles raising and Kai snarling viciously in my head. A low growl leaves my lips and Chase puts a restraining hand on my arm.

Liam walks in with a huge bear slung over his shoulders. There can be no mistaking his intentions. He knew | was staking my claim and he is now publicly staking his own. He walks right up to Cara. She seems shocked at his appearance. | think the entire looking like he just got out of a battle for his life.

“| bring an offering for Artemis.” Cyran states, dropping the bear at her feet. | can see Artemis has pushed Cara completely out as her eyes are the bright shining gold of the sun. As angry as | am, | can not help but admire the beauty of her eyes.

My fury ratchets up when | hear her purring Cyran’s name. Kai begins fighting me for control. ‘I will kill him! She is ours! He can not have her."

It takes everything in me to maintain control of him. He’s never been like this. He and | have always been in agreement about everything. But he’s seeing red and all he wants is to kill Cyran and show Artemis that we are the stronger Alpha.novelbin I'm still fighting Kai, when | hear Artemis say that she accepts his gift. | look up and see her hand on his chest and that’s when Kai blows past my defenses and a snarling challenge erupts out of my mouth.

The cheers of the room die down immediately and Chase is in front of me, trying to talk Kai down. A couple of my other warriors come to his aid, but Kai is having none of it. His canines extend and his claws come out. My whole body is shaking. with my effort to maintain at least a small amount of control. | know that if Kai forces the shift, Cyran will too and it can only be a battle to the death at that point.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 29-watch as Cyran reacts to Kai’s challenge. Cara turns and | can see that she is taking control of Artemis, which is good. Artemis won't mind two Alphas fighting over her. But that is the last thing we need right now, and Cara knows it.

Cyran starts to push Cara behind him, about to accept my challenge. His canines and claws are extended. | watch as she turns and puts both hands on his chest. Kai is about to lose it and it’s all | can do to help Chase get us outside.

Chase and several of my warriors finally get me outside and Kai continues to snarl and fight against them.

Chase gets up in my face, “ALPHA! Think about what you are doing. Get out of here and go for a run. There is no other way that this does not end in a battle of two packs with many students dead.” He stresses the word students, trying to get through to Kai. “We'll stay and make sure nothing happens here. Go get yourself under control.” I'm able to get just enough control of Kai to turn and run toward the forest. As soon as | hit the tree line, | shift. We run for hours before | finally feel able to return to the packhouse. I’ve missed training and as | walk in, Chase is waiting for me. | shift and walk over to him. He holds out a pair of shorts.

“How are you?” ‘Better. Thank you for earlier. Was there any backlash?” “Nah. Cara calmed Liam down, he left with his bear, and everyone went back to normal. Although the betting odds have definitely ramped up in your favor, and for some ridiculous reason, mine. | guess everyone thinks you fight my battles for me.” | scoff. “As if you need me fighting your battles for you.” He slaps me on the shoulder. Then his look turns serious. “That was awfully close today.” “Yeah. Too close.” | look at my Beta scrubbing my face with my hands. “I think she might be my mate.” His eyes go wide and he whistles low. “Seriously?” “Yeah. Kai has never acted like this. Never been this…” | search for the right word. “Territorial. Possessive.” “I've watched girls I’ve hooked up with the night before practically going at it with another guy the next night and Kai wasn’t phased at all. But with her, and her, talking to her and | sure as shit don’t want him touching her. Kai was. snarling the minute he walked in with that bear, but when she accepted his offering, Kai lost it. He wants her and he sees Liam and Cyran as a threat to getting what he wants.” “Can | ask you a question?” “Yeah.” “| mean this with the utmost respect, so please, know that | am asking as your friend.” I give him an ‘out with it‘ gesture when he pauses.

“Do you think it might be because she is a Guardian, not because she’s your mate? She’s a powerful she—wolf. Any male wolf would want her. Hell, even Nash recognizes that she would be one hell of a mate.” Alow growl rumbles in my chest and Chase puts his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “I’m not staking any kind of claim, I’m just saying, our wolves respect strength and power and she has both. As an Alpha wolf, it would make sense that Kai would want her for those reasons.” | reach out to Kai, but he doesn’t have an answer for me. He probably won't until after my birthday, or maybe not until her birthday in a couple of months.

“| honestly don’t know Chase. | guess we'll have to wait and see.” With that, | head up to my room. For the first time ever, | will not be joining my mother at Lily’s memorial site. | need to go see Cara. | need to make sure that she is ok and that | didn’t ruin everything with her today.

The Broken Warriors Daughter Chapter 30-heels himself into the living room. “Hey sweetheart, what's today’s offering?” He says with a grin.

I sigh. “I'll tell you, but we need to talk. It’s really important. You know | wouldn't interrupt training if it wasn’t, but we need to have this conversation before Alpha Anders comes by tonight.” “Of course. Let’s go sit in the living room and you can tell me what’s going on.

I sit, and dad wheels himself in front of me to give me his undivided attention. | start at the beginning, telling him about the gift basket. | tell him how the cards. have gotten more bold each day, starting with Monday’s guessing game to today’s professing his desire to be the one who takes care of me.

‘Sweetheart, it’s not uncommon for Guardians to have males attempting to claim their love or favor. Your mother had many men trying to gain her favor in her day and your birthday is in a couple of months. I’m not sure | understand what the concern is.” “Dad, almost immediately after | opened my gift, Alpha Liam walked into the cafeteria with a huge black bear on his shoulders. He looked like he’d just come from fighting and killing the creature. He even still smelled of blood and fighting. Cyran announced to the cafeteria that he brought the bear as an offering for Artemis.” My dad whistles appreciatively and starts to speak, but | cut him off.

“That’s not all dad. When Artemis accepted Cyran’s offering, Kai snarled a challenge. I’m not sure why he did it, maybe he felt that Liam and Cyran were being disrespectful to his packmate that is sending me the offerings, but either way, if Chase hadn’t pulled him out of the building and | hadn’t distracted Cyran, they would have fought. Over ME! It was bad.” My dad looks at me thoughtfully for a minute. “And you don’t know why Kai issued the challenge to Cyran?' He asks.

“No idea. But Liam is serious in his desire to have me as his Luna. We talked about it last week. He knows I’m waiting for my mate, but he also thinks HE is my mate, so he’s perfectly happy to wait. That is, until someone else started putting a claim on Artemis and L.” “Cara, have you considered that Rik is your mystery man? Maybe he is the one that is staking his claim and Alpha Liam recognized it as real competition.” “Dad, | hate to break it to you, but Rik doesn’t even know who | am.” “Why would you say that Cara?” “Because, he had the nerve to walk up to me in school and ask me my name and what pack | was from.” My father looks dumbfounded for a minute before regaining his composure.

“So, who else is in the running?” “| had Jason check the betting pool, since you know there was one.” Dad smirks, “Of course.”novelbin “So the short list was Rik, Chase, Liam, Trevor and Jason.” | scrunch up my nose when | say Jason’s name. My dad just raises a brow in question.

“It's not Jason Dad. He’s my best friend and even he thought it was sort of gross and stupid to be in the top 5.” | sat thoughtfully for a minute. “We can remove Liam, and Rik, so that leaves Chase and Trevor as the biggest possibilities. I've never gotten any vibes from Chase, so | honestly don’t see it. That leaves Trevor.” | look at my dad. His gaze is far away as he looks out into our backyard.

Turning back, he voice is thoughtful when he responds, “Trevor is a good bet. He’s a strong warrior and would want a strong mate. But | don’t see Alpha Rik challenging Alpha Liam because of a perceived slight. It’s common enough for males to fight over Alpha females that it doesn’t make sense for him to act that way.” His focus returns to me. “So, how did it end?” “Well…” | drag the word out into as many syllables as possible while my father’s face becomes even more inquisitive. “I had to distract Cyran from fighting Kai while Chase and some of the Canyon Ridge warriors pulled Rik out of the cafeteria, s "| take a deep breath and say it all as fast as | can. “I sort of invited Liam to train with you and | tomorrow and then stay for dinner to have bear steaks or whatever you make with bear meat.” | make a face, waiting for my father’s backlash. But instead of him being angry he bursts out laughing.

“You're telling me I’m going to be training one of the strongest Alphas tomorrow along with the strongest warrior on the planet?” | open my eyes and nod. He rubs his hands together in anticipation. “I can’t WAIT!” Ok, now I’m shocked. “Really? You’re not mad?” Mad? The one you should be worried about it is Anders. He’s been trying to get me to train his warriors for years and now I’m going to be training the Alpha of another pack. Yeah, good luck explaining that one tonight.” “Wait. What? Why do we even have to say anything at all? He doesn’t even have to know!” I’m back peddling and | know it. Of course Alpha Anders will need to know that another Alpha is coming to visit one of his pack members tomorrow, a My father just chuckles and pats my shoulder as he wheels past me. “Oh | can’t wait to see his face. Tonight is going to be fun. First his son almost starts a war over my daughter and then my daughter invites another Alpha over to her warrior training.” Ok, when he says it like that, it sounds terrible!

“Um…” | follow my father into the kitchen. “I have so much homework, | think | need to skip dinner tonight and…” He doesn’t even let me finish. “Not a chance! You’re a Guardian, not a coward. Besides, I'll be very interested to get Anders‘ take on what is happening and why he thinks his son reacted the way he did, won’t you? My guess is, being the involved Alpha that he is, he already knows, or has a good idea of who your mystery man is.” | hadn’t thought of that. This could be a good way for me to get the answers | need! “Fine, what do you need help with for dinner? And speaking of, do you even know how to cook bear meat?” “I'm guessing Alpha Liam will bring over steaks or ribs. Either way, I'll throw them on the grill. It's meat Cara. | can cook just about any kind of meat on the them on the grill. Its meat Cara. | can cook ju grill.”