Chapter 3

Andrei As soon as we finish showering, to my displeasure, Sage leaves for training. I have a couple of things on my mind as my hands slide over her body in the shower, but I suppose we have enough time to fulfill those fantasies later. “Patience, Andrei, we’re still on thin ice with her,” Donnie snaps at me out of nowhere. I can’t say I am surprised by this, so I don’t react to his words. I am aware of this fact. I know she needs time, and so do I, at least in a sense. Besides, I shouldn’t feel worried about anything; we marked each other. Now, our forever after begins. While my amazing mate is busy learning new skills, I walk outside and head to check the packages that the couriers have dropped off. Recently, we have had to order a few new traps. Of course, Sage disagreed with it when I brought the issue up, and she isn’t very supportive of the fact now that they have been delivered either. But, she swears up and down that she understands that safety precautions are highly necessary, regardless of the amount of pack members we have. Plus, now we have these kids here, so she seems to be a little more lenient about the traps. To be completely fair, I wouldn’t bother ordering any if it weren’t for the fact that someone stole the traps along the river a few weeks back. Finally, the order is here, and I want to sneak them out to the forest before Sage gets back from training with Casen and Malik. I am not lying to my mate, just to be clear. I am being a tiny bit secretive not to worry her. Some things can stay as my business, so she can worry about Luna stuff. Since Zane decided to have the day off so he can spend it with his mate, I suppose this task lies on my shoulders alone. Walking across the grass oval to the small post office, I see a few people about and nod to them as I pass by. Today is turning overcast as the storm clouds roll across the sky. I look up at the clouds and hum to myself. I still should have plenty of time to get out there, and back in time. As I pass by the huge old willow tree that sits dead center of our small town, I see Jonah facing the trunk, his chin propped on his hand and glaring at the tree as he plays in the dirt. Ah, so this is where Malik ordered him to sit for a time out. And here I am, thinking his words are nothing but an empty threat. I guess I should be happy he didn’t go for that wooden spoon he mentioned earlier. I shake my head and keep walking toward the post office, it’s not the right moment for me to get distracted and waste more time. Besides, Jonah kind of deserves that time out. If not for pissing all over me, which is disgusting, then at least for pulling off such a dangerous stunt. I get it, the kid wanted to tell me something and be the first one to deliver the news, but let’s be real, he went too far with it. As I get closer to the post office, some uncomfortable thoughts assault me. The small red and white building is the only one that wasn’t ruined during the attack. I can only assume it is because it was the only place that didn’t house anyone. We use the building for more than one purpose. Aside from the post office, it is also a general store for backup and emergency supplies if the trucks are running late. Everyone in the pack has their key to get in now that Martha, the lady that used to run it, is no longer with us. Yet another casualty of Jackson's pack and band of rogues. As I grip the key and unlock the door, I find two medium-sized plastic tubs. I stack them on top of each other before grabbing them. Walking out, I am about to lock the door when I look over my shoulder at Jonah. Damn that little shit for looking so sad. I groan and decide to grab him a juice box from the fridges in here. My eyes snap to the rows of dry foods, fuck it, we’re not missing much, so I add a small packet of chips. He experienced the scare of a lifetime, and even though it’s only him to blame, he’s still just a kid. I place Jonah’s treats on the plastic tubs, step out of the building and lock it up. Grabbing the bottom tub by the handgrip, I head back across to the house, detouring slightly to the willow tree. Right as I near the boy, Jonah looks up at me with a big, toothy grin splitting onto his face. “Malik said I have to wait here until training is over,” he says and then pouts. Jonah crosses his tiny arms in front of his chest and juts his bottom lip as if he is genuinely offended by the punishment. It amazes me how the boy makes it look like he’s suffering and it’s not his fault to begin with. I huff as I place the tubs down and hand the juice box to Jonah. He smiles, jams the straw in it and slurps away before I hand him the salt and vinegar chips. “Now behave. I will be back soon to check on you,” I order, grabbing the boxes. “Can I help?” Jonah perks up, sounding a little too eager for my liking. If I have to think back to the last time he tried to help someone it ended with some rather unpleasant experiences and a sore ass. Big, massive fucking pass on that. I look over my shoulder and shake my head at the boy. “Nope, now stay here. You better be here when I return,” I tell him and walk off toward the house. I skirt around the back to the treeline and place the boxes on the ground. Quickly, I scan the surroundings and then open them. I grab the traps out by the chains so they are easier to carry and stomp into the trees, heading for the river. It takes me a good hour to hide and set up the traps. Placing the last one down and setting it, I stand up to stretch my back when I hear the chink of metal. Donnie excitedly jumps around in my head. He is wondering the same thing I am. Has something fallen prey to our traps? He urges me to investigate. I creep back toward the last one, but it is still fine. But I stop dead in my tracks when I see Jonah standing there. The trap has been set at his feet, and he is trying to pry a large stick from it. The end snaps off, and he nearly falls backward on his butt. I suck in a deep, very fucking frustrated breath as my lips press together in a thin line. Jonah spins around and jumps when he spots me standing behind him. “Jonah, what are you doing? Why did you leave your spot at the tree?” I demand answers from the boy. At this point, I am struggling to keep my cool. I get it, he’s a kid and all that crap on top of it, but for fuck’s sake, he seems to be adamant to go above and beyond to ruin my day. Not to mention that he ignored what Malik told him, and now, he’s clearly ignoring commands from an Alpha. “I wanted to help, but I kept finding these traps, so I set them off,” he boasts. “How many have you set off, Jonah?” I ask through gritted teeth. He thinks for a second and looks at his hands to count on his little fingers. “This many,” he says as he proudly holds up both hands, and then adds another finger. I suppress the growl that really freaking wants to escape me as I keep reminding myself that I am facing a child. Jonah is only a child. Annoying little shit, but a child that doesn’t know better. “So, eleven?” I ask him, running a hand through my hair in obvious frustration. Jonah nods. His eyes light up like he just did me an excellent service instead of making me waste an hour of my life setting them up. “You were told to wait by the tree.” I remind him. The boy averts his gaze to his feet and his shoulders slump. “I just wanted to help, and then I saw the traps when I was following your scent.” “Why would you set them off, Jonah? You don’t play with bear traps,” I lecture him. I’m not sure if I’m that annoyed anymore since I think I’m a little concerned for the boy’s well being too. Anything could have happened to him. Fucking hell, his leg might have been caught in one of those traps and he is still too young to heal without a wolf, so the process would likely take an immense amount of time and pain. Reckless little shit.