Page 7 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

“Yeah! And he’s amazing!”

Huh? “Amazing?”

“Yeah!” Oric beamed. “He called Paul a jerk, to his face! Several times! It was hilarious!”

“He did not!” I gasped.

“Oh,” Oric grinned. “He did.”

“Man,” I laughed. “Can’t wait to meet the guy.”

“His name is Cass. Oh, and the Brown Pack had kidnapped him.”

“Kidnapped?!”

“Yeah, seems like it wasn’t a true kidnapping though. They watched a movie and I swear I smelled popcorn.”

“You were there?” I’d thought he’d just heard about Jeremy’s fated. It grated on me that Jeremy hadn’t asked for my help, or told me about Cass this morning.

“Yeah, he was in panic mode, running around shifted and giving major danger vibes. Us closest to him followed and he picked a few of us to help. Not that Cass was in any danger, I don’t think.” He frowned. “But I’ll let Jeremy decide on what to do with the Brown Pack.”

“Wise decision,” I chuckled.

We continued to cook and once our packmates began leaving the room, Oric and I sat down to eat the leftovers.

I couldn’t help but notice Milo’s absence. He was usually the one cooking breakfast and dinner. Actually, Milo tended to help with pretty much everything when it came to the pack. Was I thereason he stayed away? Or was it out of sheer pettiness from not being chosen as alpha?

“What’s wrong?” Oric eyed me warily. “The pancakes too cold for you or what?”

I startled, then eyed my untouched stack of pancakes and gave him a sheepish grin. “I guess my thoughts wandered for a bit there.”

“Know the feeling,” he chuckled with his mouth full. “You want a run after this? I want to chase the birds around before most of them leave for winter.”

Laughing, I nodded because bird chasing sounded amazing and just what I needed at the moment.

I’d given Jeremy time enough, I decided, and after hearing Marcus badmouth Cass to his son Fillian, I needed to tell Jer. Marcus was the pack grump, the one who always complained and whined whenever he didn’t approve of how things weredone or handled. Fillian seemed just as annoying, or maybe it was strictly because he was his father’s shadow that caused me to feel they were basically the same.

I followed Jeremy’s scent into town, knowing he was likely showing his fated around. Happiness bloomed inside my chest at the thought of Jeremy finding his mate. He deserved someone who would love him with all their heart, and it selfishly meant our friendship could continue without me feeling guilty.

I parked my car behind the diner and hurried inside, giving Loren—one of the owners—a wave hello as I searched for Jeremy. I found him with a brown-haired guy sitting next to the windows facing each other.

This would be fun.

“Jeremy!” I greeted, smiling widely as I took in his fated mate. He was handsome and clearly startled by my sudden appearance.

Jeremy groaned. “Darius,why?”

I beamed at that. I loved teasing Jer and I’d missed him so much these last two days.

“Are you two on a date, perhaps? Wouldn’t want to impose or anything,” I asked, again with the same teasing tone.

Jeremy glared as he growled, “We are. We can talk later.”

“No can do,” I said, sitting down next to Cass, pushing him further against the window.

Jeremy continued to glare at me while I sat there smiling and loving every second of it. Cass ignored us, likely put off by my company as he watched people walk pass outside.

“I actually came here to warn you,” I admitted, losing the teasing. I eyed the room, making sure no other packmates were in here, other than Loren and Loretta, of course. But Loren would be on our side and his wife was busy creating delicious food in the kitchen.