Chapter One
Foster
Oliver Creek was a bit of a random choice when I left my herd to pursue more education as well as business opportunities. I searched for both online college and remote work so that I could stay at home, but it rapidly became obvious that could not happen. All the other young alphas were taking up duties on the lands, and despite my other engagements, turned out, I was expected to do the same.
Clearly, a full-time job, remote or not, and four classes or more per semester did not leave very many hours in the day to take on a job driving a tractor or working in the machine shop. I had no talent for the tasks herd leadership would lay out before me. Which led to a very uncomfortable meeting with one of the herd betas.
“I hear you aren’t pulling your weight.” Cress, the third-in-command, never minced words. “Everyone has to do their part.”
“I already have a lot going on. There are only so many hours in the day.” I should have known this was coming, but somehow my stubborn self had managed to believe they’d respect my choice. “I committed to giving half my salary to the herd.”
“That’s not how it works.” He gave his head a slow shake. “You would have to give us all that you earned and still work part-time for the herd to make up the difference.”
The difference? Even half of my salary would garner more benefit than I could produce for the herd with a dawn-to-dusk job. Asking me for all my earnings plus part-time work was not going to fly. “I can’t do that. If I give you everything, I won’t be able to pay my tuition and school fees, meaning, I won’t be able to complete my degree and continue in my career. Also, there aren’t enough hours in the day to add anything.”
“I guess you have a decision to make, then.” The asshole smirked at me, and I wanted to smack that expression off his face.
“No problem. I’ll get packed.”
“You what? You can’t.” He’d actually thought my decision would be whether to take the deal he offered or give up on my dreams.
“You said I had to decide. And I have. I’ll be off the lands first thing in the morning.” I left him gaping, no doubt already dreading having to tell the alpha that he’d let me get away with my paycheck and strong back. No, I didn’t like hard physical labor, but I was very capable of doing it. He’d driven away an asset.
The next morning, I hiked down to the highway and hitched a ride to town. Then I bought a ticket to the farthest place from my herd that a bus leaving that terminal would go. Oliver Creek. Luck was on my side.
The town was, I quickly learned, a foodie hub with all kinds of restaurants people came hundreds, even thousands of miles to sample. Gorgeous farms and vineyards lay outside of town, and I was able to find a little apartment for an affordable rate.
Settled in, I went to work on my classes and my marketing consultation job. Unlike at the herd lands, there were few interruptions, and I was able to make great progress. To the point I added an extra class for the semester. It wasn’t that much more expensive and put me closer to graduation. In fact, I would be graduating on time, something that life in the herd had made doubtful.
But it took work. A marketing consultant who worked for a huge firm like ours could count on working at least sixty or seventy hours a week if they wanted to do well, and adding that to my classes made for a tight squeeze in terms of hours in the week.
I rarely left the house except for trips to the market every couple of weeks or a rare shift when my deer reached the point of desperation.
Nobody needed to tell me it was unfair to him, but I promised that once school was done, I’d put his needs where they belonged instead of treating my beast like an afterthought.
One night, rather early morning, I broke down. Not enough sleep, frozen meals, and zero exercise had taken its toll. Something had to go. Work? School? Neither was a possibility since work paid for school as well as rent, and all the other expenses of life and the conditions of my employment required that I finish my degree.
On time.
I didn’t love my job, but I was good at it and it would pay very well in the long term. So, I would have to pull it together and stick it out. For now.
Chapter Two
Briar
Everything had to be perfect. I stood back, taking in the studio, and closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe in deep and let the exhale out smoothly.
No, Briar. Perfection is no longer the goal. Steady progress is. Cumulative progress.
Perfection got me in trouble over the years.
Didn’t get straight As, so I told myself I was stupid and would never amount to anything.
Shouldn’t eat so much honey cake…lack of self-discipline.
Couldn’t commit to exactly one hour of exercise. Might as well quit.
I came from a sleuth of high achievers, so those doubts weren’t entirely self-imposed, but I allowed them to continue into adulthood. And although I’d made positive changes, learning a little self-love and self-care, my old plagues crept up from time to time.
