CHAPTER ONE
Roughly four weeks had passed since Rachel arrived in London, but each morning—for a split second—she woke expecting to be deep in the Cornish countryside. And like always, her heart hurt when reality kicked in and she remembered where she was.
The Regent’s Hill pack had been good to her. Better than she ever expected considering their recent upheaval—the joining of the Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill packs was a work in progress—but the high-rise buildings and busy streets were no match for the open, rugged landscape and sea air she’d left behind.
And Sara.
Not that she was there anymore, according to her father. But Rachel still associated her with home, and in the moments after Rachel first woke, she longed to be back there with Sara in her arms. Putting her hand to her chest, Rachel closed her eyes on a sigh as the ever-present ache made itself known. One day she’d wake up and it’d be gone—the potential bond they shared finally faded away to nothing. That terrifying thought kept her awake most nights.
But that day wasn’t today.
Collecting herself, Rachel sat up and ran a hand through her hair as she checked the time—7:35 a.m. She had a meeting with her unit at nine.
Her unit.
Although it felt odd to think of herself as a beta with a team of people under her, she still got a little thrill every time she thought about it. Cam and Gareth had trusted her enough to offer such a valued position in their pack, and she wouldn’t let them down. Them or her unit members.
After breakfast and a quick workout to stretch her sleepy muscles, Rachel showered and got ready for her day.
At 8:50 a.m. a knock sounded on her front door, and she glanced at the screen on the kitchen table. The small display was connected to the camera outside her front door, as were similar ones in the bedroom and bathroom.
Unsurprisingly, the first to arrive were Nathan and Jared.
Smiling to herself, she went to answer. With Gareth eyeing Nathan for Rachel’s eventual replacement, Nathan positively oozed with the need to prove himself, as though he didn’t want to let Gareth’s faith in him be misguided. Rachel might not know her unit all that well, yet, but she knew them enough to spot Nathan’s need to make Gareth proud of him. The bond between a beta and his unit was hard-earned but strong. Even though Gareth had relinquished his position, that connection remained.
Rachel had to work to earn and deserve their trust, and she’d vowed to do that in the time she had there. There weren’t units as such in her father’s pack, so this was an opportunity she wouldn’t likely see again.
“Nathan, Jared.” She stepped back and held the door wide for them to enter. “Come in.”
“Thanks.” Nathan offered her a smile in return. “Are we the first?”
Jared rolled his eyes as he followed Nathan. “Of course we are. We’re ten minutes early.”
Suppressing a laugh, Rachel led them into the living room. “Can I get you guys anything to drink?”
They both declined and sat down on the sofa.
Rachel perched on the arm of the chair opposite and clasped her hands. “I’m a huge fan of punctuality, but is there any other reason you two are early? Anything you want to talk about?”
Nathan chanced a glance at Jared and received a small nod of encouragement in return. “I know there are rumours floating around the pack that I’m pissed off about Gareth choosing you as his replacement and not me.”
Rachel had heard the murmurs of surprise at the meeting when Cam announced it, but she was still too much of an outsider to be privy to a lot of the pack gossip. “I’ve not heard them, but I’m not all that surprised, I have to say.” Nathan gave her a quizzical look, and so she elaborated. “I’m not a fully fledged member of your pack, so I understand that a lot of people are going to be—” She searched for the right words. “—confused and concerned.” That didn’t quite convey what she was going for, but it would do. “There’s bound to be a lot of speculation about it.”
Nathan met her gaze for a moment, then shrugged. “I guess you’re right. I want to make it clear that the rumours are just that—rumours. I haven’t said anything to encourage that train of thought, and I don’t feel that way.” He managed a rueful smile. “As much as I wanted it to be me, I’m not ready. Gareth knows that.”
“He does.” Rachel hoped she could say this next bit without sounding patronising. “But he wants you to be. I’d like to help you get there, if you’ll let me?”
Nathan glanced down at his hands and was silent for so long, Rachel felt sure she’d handled it wrong.
But then Jared nudged him with his knee.
“Sorry.” Looking up, he nodded. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” After a fond look in Jared’s direction, a small smile appeared. “I’ll do my best not to be an arse.”
Laughing, Rachel stood as her doorbell rang. “That would be helpful.”
The others arrived almost together, and Rachel began her first unit meeting as their beta.
THREE HOURS LATER, Rachel stood outside Alpha Cam Harley’s apartment. Before she could knock or ring the bell, the door opened and Cam greeted her with a smile. “Hey, how did it go this morning?”
