JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

6. Her mother's daughter.

"Kayla?"

At the sound of her name, Kayla turned to see the source. Her face instantly frowned when a motherly-looking blonde woman in an apron met her gaze with a beaming smile. The woman was walking towards her as if they were familiar.

Kayla instantly tensed and widened her stance.

"Wow! You're much more beautiful than I imagined." The woman startled Kayla further when she wrapped her arms around her and embraced her.

Kayla kept her clenched fists down and stayed rigid in the woman's warmth. The woman — who had a wolf's scent — must have felt the awkwardness of the moment because she instantly let her go and pulled back. But the warmth in her blue eyes and sweet smile remained.

"You have grown so big." The woman fawned, running her eyes over Kayla's frame. She must have finally noticed the look on Kayla's face because she quickly flushed and added. "How absolutely rude of me. I'm Rebecca, one of your mom's oldest and closest friends. She called me earlier today and told me all about you. Then she begged me, and literally threatened me — as if she needed to — to take care of you."

Kayla's face went skeptical. Her mother had never mentioned a Rebecca, and had given her strict instructions to trust no one. Even innocent and harmless-looking she-wolfs like the one before her.

"You don't believe me, do you? Good thing your mom told me to call her the moment you got back. Follow me. We will call her while we put some food into you. I am sure your new boss didn't feed you."

Rebecca started walking away, but Kayla remained stationary, debating.

She was starving. Since she ate in the jet about 24 hours ago, she hadn't eaten anything else. She could survive five days without food just fine (her father had made sure of that). But if there was an opportunity to eat, shouldn't she take it?

Yes, her mama had warned her about the people in that pack. But that didn't mean her mama was above having someone look after her. Actually, it sounded like something her mama would do. Find someone to keep tabs on her while she was in enemy territory.

Kayla started following Rebecca but stayed alert in case Rebecca wasn't who she claimed to be. As she followed her, Kayla saw that the woman was well-known and liked by werewolves in the pack. Everyone they met smiled and greeted her. While Rebecca returned each greeting with a smile and questions about how they and their families were doing. For everyone who greeted her, she knew not only their names but also of their family members.

By the time they reached the large kitchen filled with omegas in attires similar to Rebecca's, Kayla felt more confident that Rebecca was who she said she was.

Still smiling, Rebecca inspected what the other omegas were cooking and asked a man who was blending juice to bring some food for her guest. And then she led Kayla into a room at the far end of the kitchen.

"Sit!" Rebecca ordered, pointing at a chair facing an office desk. She then rounded the table, sat on the longer chair, and just stared at Kayla with that smile. For an entire minute. "I must look like a creep staring at you like this. But you look so much like your mom and I can't help but stare. How is she by the way?"

"I thought you said you spoke to her today." Kayla's eyes instantly narrowed, but Rebecca just laughed and slapped her hand on the table.

"Aaand you are as uptight as your dad. Nice! I like it. It's perfect really. You got the best of both worlds: your mom's beauty and your father's character." She took a break to swallow. "To maybe ease your hackles, I meant how is she, really. These phones can only tell you so much. I haven't seen my best friend for almost two decades and then suddenly, she calls me and asks for help. It's not exactly the best time to ask about her wellbeing, not with how worried she was about you."