Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 29

**Briony's POV**

"I just prefer privacy," I mumbled, focusing on rinsing my hair. "Not really a group shower person."

"Fair enough," Layla said, her tone softening. "But you don't need to hide from us anymore. Trust me, when you meet your mates, sharing space will feel completely natural."

"Mates?" I spun around so fast I nearly wiped out. "Why would you say it like that - plural?"

Layla just flashed that infuriating smirk of hers, wrapped a towel around herself, and walked out without answering. Classic Layla - dropping bombs then disappearing.

After finishing my shower, I wrapped myself in a fluffy white towel and stepped into the bedroom. Isabella had laid out clothes on the bed. Not women's clothes - boys' clothes. I picked up a sweatshirt that was unmistakably Maxwell's, his forest-pine scent still clinging to the fabric.

"Why are we getting guys' clothes?" I asked, holding the sweatshirt awkwardly.

Layla was already pulling on what was clearly Ethan's shirt. "Maybe Luna's stuff would be too big? Or maybe she's out of guest clothes?" She shrugged like it wasn't weird at all.

I reluctantly started dressing - Benjamin's shorts, Christopher's tank top, Noah's sweatpants, and Maxwell's sweatshirt. Each item carried its owner's distinct scent, making my skin tingle with unfamiliar awareness.

"This is strange," I muttered, tugging at the hem of Maxwell's sweatshirt. "It's like I'm wearing pieces of each of them."

"Like what?" Layla paused brushing her hair, eyebrow arched with interest.

"Nothing," I shook my head, refusing to voice what had popped into my mind - that it felt like being marked, claimed. The thought alone made heat rush to my face.

"Your face is on fire," Layla teased. "Figured something out, huh?"

"Knock it off," I said, giving her shoulder a light shove. "It's just weird wearing other people's stuff."

"Better get used to it," she replied with that mysterious tone she used when she knew something I didn't. "This might just be the beginning."

A soft knock interrupted us. "Girls?" Isabella called. "I've set out some snacks if you're hungry."

"Coming!" Layla called back, throwing me a wink. "Save your questions for later. I'm starving."

In Isabella's sleek kitchen, the island counter was loaded with appetizers that made my stomach growl after the intense training. While Layla chatted with Isabella about the upcoming mating ball, I ate quietly, savoring both the food and the rare peaceful moment.

"Something on your mind, Briony?" Isabella asked, her green eyes gentle but missing nothing.

I looked up, surprised at being read so easily. "Just thinking about what Conrad said about the Sentinel camp."

"Ah," she nodded. "A tempting path for a young warrior seeking her place."

"Do you think they'd take someone like me?" I couldn't keep the hope from my voice. "I'm not even seventeen yet."

"You've shown abilities far beyond your years," Isabella replied, her voice warm. "If that's your path, I believe you'd excel there."

Her confidence in me felt good, but a strange new hesitation had crept in. Leaving Polaris meant leaving everything - the bad memories, sure, but also these new connections I was just beginning to form.

"But?" Isabella caught my uncertainty instantly.

"Things are different now," I admitted. "I'm not sure running away is what I want anymore."

Her smile deepened. "Staying to face change takes more courage than seeking a fresh start elsewhere. Sometimes the braver choice is to remain and build something new from what was broken."

"Hey! You guys coming or what?" Ethan appeared in the doorway, hair still damp from his shower. "Everyone's waiting, and Adam's firing up the grill!"

"I can smell the barbecue from here!" Layla jumped up, practically salivating. 

As I stood to follow them, Isabella squeezed my hand. "Whatever you choose, Briony, you'll always have a home here."

Something warm unfurled in my chest. I'd spent so long creating hidden retreats for myself that having someone actually offer me shelter felt almost unreal.

The backyard had been transformed for dinner. A long table sat near the pool, ringed with soft lights that reflected off the water's surface. Adam stood at the massive grill, turning steaks that sizzled and popped. The smell alone made my mouth water after the day's training.

The guys all looked up as we approached. Their expressions shifted when they spotted me in their clothes - something flickered in their eyes that made my pulse jump. Benjamin's gaze lingered longest, his usually stoic face showing an emotion I couldn't quite name.

"Finally!" Christopher groaned. "We were this close to eating the tablecloth!"

"Drama queen," Layla rolled her eyes and casually claimed a spot on Ethan's lap like it was her personal throne. "We only took the normal amount of time to shower."

I stood awkwardly, seeing no obvious place to sit. Noah waved me over, indicating I should join him, but before I could move, Maxwell and Christopher shifted, creating a space between them on the bench.

"Over here, Lightning," Christopher patted the spot.

I hesitated, eyeing the small space between two future Alphas like it might be a trap. This seating arrangement seemed deliberate, and I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Come on," Maxwell said, his voice gentler than I'd ever heard it. "Food's almost ready."

Taking a deep breath, I squeezed into the space. The bench was narrow enough that I couldn't avoid pressing against both of them. Their body heat seeped through the borrowed clothes, sending a strange mix of comfort and awareness through me. I'd never been this physically close to either of them before, and it felt weirdly intimate but not uncomfortable.

"Now," Alpha Adam's voice carried from the grill as he approached with a platter of perfectly cooked meat, "let's enjoy this wonderful meal."

The dinner conversation flowed easily around me. I stayed quiet at first, still unused to being included, but gradually relaxed as nobody seemed to expect me to perform or impress. 

The food was incredible - Adam's barbecue lived up to its legendary status - and for once I didn't feel self-conscious about eating my fill.

"So, Conrad," Thomas directed his question across the table. "What did you think of our young warriors today?"