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“Yes? That’s it? Why would you need to know that?” Her rapid fire questions didn’t hide the tremble in her voice as she tilted her head back to meet my eyes. She was wedged between the locker and me, out of sight of curious gazes, and I let my gaze linger on her as I attempted yet another apology.

“I was a little abrupt with you yesterday. Caleb feels like I might have frightened you,” I said slowly, my jaw tensing at the admission. The last thing I wanted was for her to be scared of me, but as she automatically shook her head, I could see it was a lie.

“You didn’t,” she denied, trying for bravado, as she straightened her back. “I just don’t like hanging around bullies. Especially weird ones with secrets,” she finished pointedly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me I have to go to class and you wouldn’t want to be found granting me preferential treatment, now would you?”

I didn’t tell her I could give a shit what anyone in the school thought, that it was and always would be her reputation I protected. I inched to the side, allowing her space to slide past me, which she did, her body brushing mine.

I didn’t allow her to escape though, lighting grabbing her arm where I’d held her, the barest flicker of her lashes telling me I’d left bruises.

“Don’t walk home alone. Stay away from High Valley,” I warned her, knowing it wasn’t nearly enough, but I’d pushed her to far already. We’d just have to double down on patrols and keep an eye on her until she was ready.

Chapter Five

“It’s been two weeks,” the Alpha roared, loud enough to make the windows rattle as most of the Pack trembled at his rage. He paced in front of us, but his heavy glare held me responsible. The knowledge should have worried me, given his rage, but I didn’t flinch.

I was too exhausted.

It had been two long weeks of patrols every waking moment and sleeping in the woods by the motel to appease my wolf. There was also the fact that I had doubled my runs since Trent was still hanging around.

It didn’t help that Jess was avoiding me. Not only me but the entire Pack. She kept to herself, but I knew she studied us. Every once in a while her gaze would meet one of ours, and I could sense her curiosity, but so far she hadn’t acted on it.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” The Alpha’s sharp demand brought me back to the conversation as Dad shot me a warning glance.

“She’s safe,” I announced, then motioned to the room full of Pack members, added, “Or at least she was. You’ve pulled everyone off patrol.” He didn’t need to know I had Trent watching the motel in my absence, but his jaw locked at my insubordination. He stepped closer to me and Anna trembled at my back.

“Are you questioning me?”

A tense minute passed as I fought the desire to do just that. Caleb glanced at me from the corner of his eye but didn’t dare speak.

“No. Sir.” If he heard the defiance in my voice, he didn’t comment, instead moving away from me to stop in front of Caleb.

“And you. Why haven’t you talked to this female?” Caleb stared at the ground, not answering, and the Alpha flicked his hand. “Useless.”

“Enough,” my Dad barked. “We agreed to give the girl time. We’ve never encountered a situation like this before. As long as she’s safe from the Hanleys we have time.”

The Alpha grunted, but didn’t argue Dad’s words. There were very few people he respected and my Dad happened to be one of them.

“Go,” he dismissed us, and Caleb was the first out of the room, his shoulders hunched as he made a beeline for the door. “You, stay,” the Alpha barked as I went to leave. Anna sent me a sympathetic glance but quickly followed Caleb’s footsteps.

I held in a sigh, as I waited impatiently to find out what the Alpha wanted. “The pack to the north of us contacted me,” he commented and my forehead furrowed as Dad shot a surprised glance at him. Gregory stood in the corner, so still he blended into the shadows, only the gleam of his eyes giving him away to me.

“To the north?” I echoed, confused. “I wasn’t aware of a pack to the north.”

“They don’t like outsiders,” he answered, crossing his arms over his chest as he studied me. “But they have breeding females. Solid stock.” My lips twisted at his description, but he didn’t notice. “They could use a strong male.”

“For what? Stud?” I commented, not missing the harsh stare Dad leveled on the Alpha. His angry reaction told me he hadn’t known about any of this, and I was perversely grateful for the fact.