Of Runt (Redone)

Chapter Thirty~Seven

  In all honesty, Archer made this look easy and that's saying something because I know it wasn't for him. Early morning and late nights were only the start for him. Since officially meeting him in that hospital room, I knew he had taken everything close to heart. Watching him finally crumble into an anxiety attack made me realize that perhaps he let it get to him more than he let on. If a leader like him struggled then what chance do I have?

However, this is what I signed up for with being with Archer. I may not want to be a Luna but the role to support Archer isn't necessarily tied to Luna. Loving him and supporting him is what is best, and if I can do that by caring for his pack for a little while I will. This is not a permanent thing, just temporary until we can find him. The one thing the Gamma and I could agree on was not letting the pack know that I am Archer's regent. I don't think some members would take too kindly to that right now.

I lean against the balcony with a heavy sigh. It's only been a few hours but every minute that passes by while I'm in here feels wasted. I should be leading the search parties, I should be tracking him. Instead, I'm sending small groups out to deal with watching some rogues on the edge of our borders. "Reagan, Ghost wishes to speak to you," Beta Garrett says leaning against the doorway. He refuses to meet my gaze, probably still upset that he was not included in the last-minute ceremony.

"Of course he does. Is he in that house still, Beta?"

"Yes." As I pass by him he grabs my arm pulling me to a stop. "Reagan, I think not only with your position in the pack but with Archer, you can call me Garrett now. I would much prefer it." A softness in his gaze has a warmth spread in my chest.

I nod my head not sure if I could bring myself to do it. I'm not sure when I dropped Alpha from Archer's title but I know it wasn't for a while of being around him every day. I pause as another thought passes by. Beta Garrett has been in here with me all day when Archer had previously said he and Gamma willingly kept a distance for the sake of their wolves. "Does my wolf no longer entice you?" I cringe at the words. "I don't mean that like-"

His laugh cuts me off. "I didn't notice at first but I blamed that on the situation at hand. However, you are a mated wolf now Reagan. You no longer have that pull on unmated wolves, just your mate. Besides we're basically family now."

"I don't think my sister becoming mates with your brother equals us as family."

He walks steadily behind me as I head towards where Ghost should be. "I think your twin sister becoming my sister by matehood makes us family. That's how my family works at least. Family is family and it doesn't matter how you became it."

That sounds nice, the motion that a family would willing to accept anyone into it. My biological family, mostly due to my mother and her husband, had constantly reminded me that being a part of their family was something earned and I had long burned my chance of redemption or that if they showed how much they cared I would be the one to suffer the consequences. "That sounds nice, Garrett." I hesitate on his name but a smile spreads across his face.

"How badly did that hurt?"

"A lot actually."

  Beta Garrett grins as he opens the door for me. Ghost and Wen are both sitting on the couch which sends an eerie feeling through me. They sit almost the exact same, leaning back with one arm over the back of the couch, one ankle resting on the other leg's knee. Where Wen refuses to meet my gaze Ghost smiles brightly. "I hear congratulations are in order," he praises. "Unlike someone we know I'm not a sore loser."

  Wen narrows his eyes at Ghost in a warning. "You're a pushover."

"And you're an asshole," Ghost retorts.