Wolf Bait (Perry and Jonas)

It's been too long since I've been alone with my computer. After getting my build together and setting it up in the cabinet in front of my desk, I can finally sit down and get out the plans for new system I've been thinking about since I was in the looney bin, and while I'm piecing everything together, I can also review other projects. It's better than therapy.

I mean anything is better than therapy but this helps me more than anything else and I tend to set it aside when I'm stressed out. I have room to breathe now and it feels good. Bunny and I have been working on the mechanical appendages that she will be presenting at the next Lycan Tech presentation. The changes she made to the program are impressive given that she's barely learning the codes Darren and I created.

"I thought someone was barbequing, but it turns out you're just in here overworking as usual," the King walks into my study with a tray. "I thought you'd be a little more committed to unpacking,"

"I'll get to it. I'm more committed to Bunny's addition to one of my biggest projects," I point at the three screens in front of

1. me.

My back is to the entire room. I set up the desk in front of the giant window overlooking the lake and treeline behind the main house so there's no glare. I can also see if there's anyone behind me when I'm locked in. Everything else is still in their boxes or protective wrap. I asked for no one to touch my shit.

Valentina is the only one allowed to come in here to clean up so as long as she doesn't move anything around or put anything out on the table tops or counters back on the shelves. I'm very particular about how I leave things. Once locked in, all I want to do is go over to where I left my notes and I tend to move around a lot.

"Don't touch anything," I growl making him laugh.

"Just making room for lunch. Come join me," he says. I glance back at him and for a second I feel a little annoyed to be interrupted but I put everything on hold and lock my computer to go over to him anyway. "I didn't expect you to be so protective of your work. Can I at least ask what you're working on?""

"I'm reviewing the changes Bunny made to my codes for the replacement limbs,"

I take a seat on the half-circle couch I chose for my study. It fits about eight people. If there is ever a time when all the seats are taken I'm going to hurt someone. The glass coffee table in the center is an acute triangle. I chose glass so it matches my desk and to pay tribute to my study back in Cliffside. He's made it clear that we will only be going back if needed and it doesn't look like it'll be a requirement any time soon.

"I made your favorite," he says placing a covered plate in front of me and a cup of ice. He reaches into his blazer jacket to pull out a can of Dr. Pepper. I smile reaching for it.

"What do you think is my favorite?" I ask and take the metal cover off the plate. "Jonas, is this a BLT?"

"It is. With avocado," he smirks.

"Did Mackenzie tell you?" I laugh.

"No, Jake did. A while ago," he admits. "I wanted to talk to you about something,"

"Ooof, is it bad?"

"Mmm," he grunts and removes his jacket. "James is in New York

"I know," I nod.

"Did you send him there?"

"No," I take a bite of my sandwich. He stares at me long enough to make me feel insecure about eating my favorite food in

III

front of him. I take a napkin and try cleaning my face. I don't know what he did to this to make it taste so fucking good, but. it's the best BLT I've had in my entire existence. "Perry-"

"He just got out of the looney bin, Jonas. He's probably out doing drugs and fucking it out of his system. He'll be back on Monday. He has three more days,"

"I think you gave him too much liberty way too fast. He hasn't done anything to earn it,"

"Exactly, so it'll hurt that much more when I take it away,"

"He's not a child,"

"No, but he doesn't understand that yet. Trust works both ways, Hon. He's not going to be open to the training I'm going to put them through if we keep him locked up. Let him do his thing. He can't do anything without us knowing. We know who he's with and who he's been talking to,"

"I don't trust him,"

"But you trust me,"

"1

"And you trust him?"

"I trust my instincts, Jonas. I always have,"

"That's not a good defense, Little Wolf," he smirks.

"But it is one and I am sticking by it," I laugh. "I've missed your cooking,"

"And I've missed cooking for you," he smiles. "The reformation has been kicking my ass. No one is happy about it,"

"Not yet,"

"Right," he says unenthusiastically.

"Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"No," he lifts the tray and holds out a file for me. I wipe my hands and take it. I set it down next to me so I can pour my pop.

"Do you want to give me a heads-up?"

"It's your proposition to let my mother out," he says gently.

"Did you read it?"

"I did and my answer is no,"

"Jo-"

"Perry, she ruined our lives," he says quietly.

It's not the same anger he holds against James. This is worse because there's real pain in there and I get it. Having found out about my biological mother and that I have a sister out there. I get it, but she's alive and she's in just as much pain as he is. I'd give anything to tell my mom that I miss her and that it doesn't matter to me that we're not blood.

"You should go see her," I suggest.

"I'm not ready to see her yet. The last thing I want is to be alone in a room where I can wrap my hands around her throat,"

00

mu, De

18×70%

"Okay," I don't push it.

"Okay? I thought you'd fight me on this like you did with James,

"I need James. I don't need her. You do. If you don't think you can be around her then I don't want to add that stress to everything else going on. It might also present a problem with Annie and she's doing great. I'll keep this until you're ready," "And if I'm never ready?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"Then we let the bitch rot where she is," I shrug and reach for the second half of my sandwich. He smiles and continues to eat with me.

"Tomorrow," he says.

"What's tomorrow?"

"Our first date," he smiles. "I got you a dress,"

"Oh, shit," I laugh. "Seriously?"

"Yes, it will be delivered later so don't tell the delivery boy to fuck off,"

"Got it," I agree. "I hope you got me something warm for it. The hot weather girl on channel eight said we're due the first snow of the season,"

"I should have checked that. There will be something warm provided for you. I promise,"

"No fur. That's too fancy for me," I warn. He looks me over with a heated look in his eyes that is going to get us in trouble one day.

"That's too bad," he smirks. "I can see you in a fur coat with nothing underneath. A topic I don't mind fighting you on later,"