"Wash those dishes even faster, and I'm sure you're going to break some kind of health code."

Penelope and Blaine decided to bother me at work. Which meant make fun of me. And my customer service persona.

"Well we know who she's wanting to see," Blaine grinned at Penelope.

"Oh she likes likes him."

"Penelope, isn't there something more productive you can be doing?" I asked her sweetly because the only other person here was some elderly human woman who was sleeping while sitting up. How this woman did it, I do not know. But I needed that talent.

"Actually, no."

I groaned, looking at the clock. Penelope wasn't wrong. I was totally waiting to see West again. What had I turned into?

"Maybe I won't see him...." I mulled over.

"No!" both Blaine and Penelope exclaimed.

He did text me when I was going to save him from Wyatt and Theo which made me smile.

"Are you guys good?" I asked, looking at Blaine who nodded.

"Penelope is making me her servant, but that's fine," Blaine said.

"We're good," Penelope said.

"I haven't been hanging out with you guys much lately," I feel guilty.

Blaine smiled at me. "I think we both get enough of you."

"Way too much, " Penelope agreed. "We like to see you out of your comfort zone."

"She's making friends too," Blaine said.

"I'm right here you guys," I tell them, but smile.

"Look out our gal, all grown up. Going to her man."

The one who opened the door and shouldn't be standing up was a half naked West. His face brightened when he saw me, and the ever present goofy grin flitted across his face.

"Hi," he greeted me, still in front of the door blocking it and not moving to let me in. He drank my entire being in.

"Hey," I did a lame small wave, a thrill went over me at the way he was looking at me. Seriously- what was wrong with me? There had to be something in the water. The mate bond was strong, I'll give it that. Too strong.

Theo popped from under West's arm, and he gave me a devilish smile, "Well West don't hog your mate, we're here too. How are you doing?"

"Fine thank you," I replied honestly.

"Come in," Wyatt chimed in from the back.

"That means move, you idiot," Theo said to West, who was still gazing at me. I cleared my throat as West made a face when Theo pushed him. "Oh sorry did I hurt you?" Genuine concern was on Theo's face, making me step forward to see why West was hurting.

West grimaced, touching his back, in pain. "Ah, I think I need to sit down."

"I'm so-" Theo stopped when West couldn't hold it anymore and started laughing. "I am so sorry you're such a big baby."

Wyatt gave me a hug- I don't know why that was such a normal thing for him and I, but it was. I already felt comfortable enough with him but not my own mate. I needed serious help. Something was wrong with me.

As if sensing something was bothering me, Wyatt said, "We'll get more salve in the nurses office." Wyatt looked at my wrists. "They hurting?"

"No, no, they're fine," I said quickly.

"Use some of mine," West offered, and before I could tell him it's fine, he took my arm gently, and put the cool salve on it for my faint silver burn.

"Thanks," I whispered to him.

West gave a half smile, "You're welcome."

"You're so annoying," Theo said. "Let's go. West you need to rest. I don't know what part of that you don't understand."

Wyatt managed to get Theo and I out before they started to talk some more, and once we were nearing the nurse's office, Theo cast me a sideways glance.

"So West had a mate this whole time?" Theo was blunt. I'll give him that. He was definitely sizing me up. "And he hasn't marked you? West?"

"Thankfully he isn't like the typical Alpha. Because then he would have no teeth to mark me."

Theo stared at me for a second before cracking a grin. "I like you."

"Thanks, don't need your approval."

"I like you even better."

"You're going to be annoying, aren't you?"

"Trust me, he's always like this," Wyatt said to me. "Miniature Grayson."

"I am not miniature anything," Theo winked at us.

I stifled a laugh before we fell into silence and the office was right in front of us.

"Before we go in, I need to tell the both of you something. We need to finish this rogue and wolfsbane business without him." Wyatt looked at Theo and I seriously. Leaving West out was surely going to make him angry. "I've started it, now I have to finish it. And West- uninjured- may have been an advantage, but he's in no condition to be doing anything right now." Wyatt looked at Theo. "Theo?"

A moment of silence then, "I agree with you."

"Edith?"

They both turned to look at me. I'm glad they wanted my opinion. It meant something. It meant that I meant something to West. And they didn't want to leave me out of it. Wyatt didn't.

"I don't like it, but if we can protect him this way, I'm in."

"The best possible thing to do is to go to the head Alpha," Wyatt suggested.

"Without alerting our parents," Theo added.

Wyatt sighed, "Yup because Uncle Grayson will kill you first then me."

"And then our parents are going to be at a war."

"Then the only ones with common sense will be our mothers."

"Then we'll have huge funerals-"

"Are you guys always like this?" I stopped their little story they made up as they grinned at each other, but I was smiling too.

Theo rubbed the side of his face. "The worst thing about all of this is that if we tell our parents, we're dead. They'll ask why we didn't come sooner. They'll make a whole debacle. Probably prevent us from going to school. Put us in house arrest. Get grounded for life."

I couldn't help but tell them, "At least you guys have parents that care that much." For the first time I met him, Theo looked perplexed. Even Wyatt looked guilty.

"Your parents are dead?" Theo asked tentatively.

I stared hard at the tree in front of me. "My mom's alive." If alive meant just breathing and barely eating and doing nothing else. My throat tightened just thinking about it. If only I could have an actual conversation with someone other than Blaine or Penelope. Even then, I don't want to talk about it. It's like if I don't talk about it, it's not there. Mom is my secret to keep. Her mental state.

At first, when Dad died, Mom tried. She did. She tried to go on, do motherly things, talk to me. But there was still this great distance between us. We couldn't communicate how we felt. She didn't, at least. I needed her. She needed me too, but that's what sucks the most. She didn't come to me, she just told me how much I did look like my father, and went into a depressive state. She would just stay in bed. That's when I started to notice she didn't eat, so I would have to make her everything. I talked to her. I think I talked to my mom about everything and anything while she was on the bed. She used to at least give me a head nod to say she's listening, but after a short while, I got nothing. Now she wouldn't even speak. Now she just goes through the motions.

I begged her once years back to just speak to me. I wanted to tell her about Silas- about how much he ruined our pack, about the firs time Silas beat me. One look into my mother's eyes and she wasn't there. The pain afterwards wasn't something I wanted to go through again.

Ever since then, it was just Blaine and Penelope. Penelope knows most of it, but not all of it. I've never voiced out my concerns, never voiced out anything about Silas ever- not since my mother rejected me.

I hate how closed off I am, but that's the only way I know how to protect myself.

Because I don't need anyone. I learned how to fend for myself. I'm so used to it that when someone- West- tries to help me, I'm cautious and I shut them down.

Theo and Wyatt were quiet, knowing when to be as I sort out my own inner crisis as we entered the office, getting the salve.

Once we got off the office, Theo made a wise cracking joke about always breaking and entering.

"Are all of West's friends like this?" I had to ask.

"Me? I'm the best? Others-" Theo stopped shortly, and cursed under his breath as two people approached us. I recognized the both of them as two of West's friends that were usually around him.

"Be nice," Wyatt warned Theo.

"It's actually really hard being nice," Theo said. "I exert too much energy trying to be fake. Why not just tell him how I really feel. Maybe I should finish him off."

One of his friends, Maddox I believe, gave Wyatt a hug, signing a hello to him and Theo. Theo returned a handshake, and was all genuine smiles until he saw the other person.

"Jax," Wyatt greeted, waving at him. "How are you?"

Jax nodded, "Good. I know you guys are scheming something," Jax gave Theo an even look. "So we want in."

Theo gave Maddox an accusing look before turning back to Jax. "Don't fault me if my fists accidentally make it to your face."

"West is my friend too," Jax said, ignoring what Theo said. I don't think Theo was joking either.

"Some friend you are," Theo scoffed.

"No matter what happened between you and I, West is my friend," Jax repeated, holding his ground.

Theo's eyes flashed in anger. "Just get out of my face right now. You're pissing me off."

Poor guy just got here.

Jax took one step forward, and Wyatt stepped in between them.

"Enough both of you." Wyatt's tone held no room for argument. I had a feeling Wyatt never raised his voice usually, unlike his twin. Nonetheless, they both glared at each other, ticking Wyatt off even more. "Theo. Jax. Run it off."

"Not worth it because I'm only here for West," Jax said, taking a step back. Theo straightened. I really think he's going to do something.

Jax glared at Theo for a bit longer before he shook his head, turning, and shifting into his large brown wolf, snarling before he ran into the forest.

"I can't promise you anything, Wyatt."

"Please."

Theo sighed loudly, clenching his jaw and did the same, disappearing into the forest.

Maddox looked at Wyatt, signing to him:

Wait a minute- I remember seeing Wyatt injured at school. I asked him, "The rogues beat you up that one time I saw you?"

Wyatt gave Maddox a withering look. "It was nothing," he shrugged. "I just had to do what I had to."

"The principal didn't say anything about that and she still made you keep doing it?" I asked, angry now. Wyatt was simply put, kind. I knew why West was so overprotective of his younger twin brother.

"Edith," Wyatt gave me a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "all we can now is keep on going with this and get those rogues who did that to my brother and you."

I know it was surprising for West to find that the only thing we bought wasn't the salve, but some of his friends. I sat quietly at West's computer chair, as he sat on his bed, looking up at his friend that was speaking to him right now.

"Abby wants to see you," Jax said, and West glanced at me. Jax followed West's gaze. Jax frowned." Is it okay if she's here to hear all of this?"

West's rising growl was cut short before I told him, "I'm West's mate," this came so naturally to me, I surprised myself. Especially Jax. Who looked embarrassed. West looked shocked momentarily.

"Oh," Jax said slowly, clearly not expecting that answer.

"Does Abby still want to see him?" this petty side of me is ugly, but if Abby wants to try something with West again, I won't be nice at all.

"Easy Edith," West whistled, but he's grinning- a knowing grin of my jealousy. And he's fully enjoying it.

"Uh, yeah, I think so," Jax didn't sound so sure though, looking between West and I. "Really? Mates?"

"No, she's lying," Theo interjected, rolled his eyes. "Why would anyone actually want to lie saying West is their mate-"

West threw a pillow at Theo, who chuckled.

Maddox, smiled at the both of us, signing he's happy for us. I didn't know how that made me feel.

Jax didn't seem like he was too cool with it, but I didn't let that bother me too much. Once everyone left- Theo and Wyatt giving West and I alone time like they always did, Theo whacking West in the head in a teasing manner before leaving and giving me a nod.

"Give him hell please," Theo told me before shutting the door.

"I won't see her if you don't want me to," West stated, coming to the computer chair where I'm sitting at, placing both hands at the arms, and swiveling me so I faced him as he was eye level to me.

I inhaled at how near he was to me, getting a good dose of his intoxicating scent. Did he smell like this to all the wolves?

"Who?" I played dumb, blinking up at him.

"Abby," West's eyes narrowed, a slight curve gracing his lips. Those very kissable lips.

"You can," I shrugged, "really doesn't bother me."

"Oh yeah?" West asked, curious.

My heart beats fast, and I break his intense eye contact as I tell him, "I trust you." Because I do trust him. "She's your friend, and I won't take that away from you." There's a look he gives me that I can't discern. "What?"

West shook his head, "Nothing it's just...you surprise me."

"Me?" I almost squawk out very unattractively. I was probably the most boring person ever.

West cocked his head to the side, lips curling upward, nodding. "Thank you for trusting in me. You make me feel like I can do anything."

My heart squeezed. Because he made me feel that way too.