The Transfer novel Chapter 22

We came to a small clearing in the trees where I could finally hear the sound of running water. Despite the fact that it was winter, the warm sun was beating down on me, helping with the sweat forming on my body. I was exhausted, but I felt great.

Up ahead, I saw Ezra and Alfie. They were sat around a campsite. There were several tents positioned around the area, already set up. Most of them sat within the trees, away from the water and mud by the stream.

There were camping chairs set up too. There weren't enough for everyone to get a seat, hence the reason for the giant logs that had been positioned around the fire that was cooking two giant pots of rabbit stew.

My wolf grumbled. She was hungry and couldn't wait to grab some food.

People began to shift back and changed into clothes. Lila nudged me into the trees, grabbing some clothes for us on the way. We shifted back and slipped on the clothes before returning back to the campsite.

"I can't wait to crawl into bed and just pass out. I'm so tired," Lila said softly, stretching out her arms. I nodded in agreement and yawned. Just thinking about sleep made me feel even more tired.

"Hey there. Have a good run?" Ezra greeted as he walked over to me and kissed my crown. I smiled up at him and nodded.

I threw a glare in Veronica's direction. "Most of it was good."

Ezra chuckled lowly and lead Lila and I over to a log where we sat next to each other and stared at the fire. It wasn't late yet, but it was almost getting to the point of sunset. I assumed that everyone would be having an early night.

"The stew is almost ready. It's Jenny's recipe so it has to be good, right?" Ezra asked me. He sat down on a chair and I nodded eagerly. Jenny's cooking was the best in the world.

"We should've brought Jenny with us. She would've been able to cook up a storm," Lila groaned as her brothers and the other boys began to sit with us. Most of them sat on the dirt, leaning back against the legs, keeping their feet close to the small fire.

"I've missed Jenny's cooking. I volunteer that when we get back, I'm coming over for dinner," Lucas says, sipping on a bottle of water. My wolf yipped, she liked the idea of him coming over for dinner. She thought of him as her brother already.

"Me too!" Quo said quickly before anyone else could say anything. We all chuckled with each other before I looked up and saw Liam approaching us. The bond pulled at the two of us, and then began to twist when Veronica bounded over to him and stopped him from coming my way.

I inwardly sighed and turned my head. Veronica was a pain in my damn ass. I hated her already.

"You know, Ali, we're pretty close to Terialta. Your brothers said that you should come and visit before we make our way home," Ezra told me. I raised my eyebrows at him.

How did he know that my brothers said that?

Ezra smiled and shrugged. "I like Beckett. I talk to him quite often."

I rolled my eyes. Of course he spoke to him often. My brothers loved knowing everything about me. They're just protective, but it got a little annoying at times.

The thought of crossing into Terialta on the way home made me feel a little queasy. I didn't like that I would more than likely be seeing the disgusting Beta. I only wanted to see my brothers.

"Maybe... they'd probably grill me and try to get me to come home," I told him wearily. Ezra chuckled and nodded at me.

"Samaya said he wanted you to come home. I think Jax wants you to stay here," Ezra said with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes. Of course Jax wanted me to stay. Him and I always liked to joke around and make it out like we hated each other.

I loved all my brothers. I was close with them, as they were mostly the only friends that I had had for a long time. Surprisingly, no one in Terialta wanted to be good friends with the Alpha's daughter.

"Four brothers? Man, screw that! I can't even handle my brother, let alone four!" Quo hissed out. Everyone laughed, except for Kade. He looked quite uncomfortable.

He stared at the ground and used to stick to stab at the dirt. He looked oddly sad. His beast was on edge.

"What's up with Kade?" I asked Lila through a private link. She looked up and noticed Kade. She sighed softly.

"His brother turned rogue a little while ago. He doesn't like talking about siblings and stuff," Lila replies. My heart ached for Kade.

A rogue brother? That must be absolutely terrible. I couldn't imagine how painful that would be to experience. I wondered where his brother was. Was he still alive? Was he dying?

"Don't worry about him though. He's just a little uncomfortable by it. He always has been," Lila added quickly. I nodded at her and yawned yet again. My belly rumbled hungrily and everyone turned to look at me.

I flushed as Alfie rolled his eyes at me. "Food is almost ready, pig."

I rolled my eyes back at him for the nickname. He just chuckled a little and I rubbed my eyes. I was in fact incredibly tired and hungry. I couldn't wait to eat so I could crawl up into a warm ball in a tent and sleep.

I suddenly felt a hard burn on my shoulder and I hissed. I looked up at Liam, noticing Veronica's hand on his shoulder. She was talking, and he looked not at all interested. They had been talking for ages now.

"For fuck sakes," I muttered under my breath as it continued to burn. I wanted to march up to Liam and rip Veronica's hand off his shoulder.

Why wasn't he telling her off? Did she not know that it hurt the both of us? It stung like a bitch.