Page 19 of Redeemed Wolf (Grim Wilds #4)

Chapter 19

Silas

I didn’t like how quiet Carter was for the rest of the drive. Even if I could force him to talk, what would I say? He deserved to know the whole story, but this was neither the time nor the place for hard truths.

I could feel a trace of his emotions through the half-formed mating link, but it was only the vaguest sense of what he might’ve been feeling. Confusion, fear… but when I held him tighter and stroked his hair back from his forehead, trailing my fingers down his back, there was a definite sense of relief from him. No matter what happened from here on out, I could at least take comfort in knowing he still trusted me.

Carter didn’t remember who he was yet, that much was clear, but he’d shifted. Shifted! My life had been in danger, and listening to his instincts like I’d asked, he saved me. It hadn’t been a complete shift, but his wolf… the brief glimpse I’d had of him, oh, he was magnificent . I couldn’t wait to run with him through the woods, his fur bathed in moonlight.

The road home was familiar, and I felt immeasurable relief when the trees grew thicker the farther we traveled from the city. The forest grew denser, the air tasted sweeter, and traffic thinned. Finally, Pacey turned off the highway, zigzagging through the back roads, eventually taking the last turn onto a narrow, unmarked track.

Carter perked up, picking up on the sense of anticipation that had filled the truck. “Are we there?” he asked, shifting in my lap to look out the front window where a break in the trees could be seen ahead.

“Yeah. Welcome to Grim Wilds.” I ignored the lingering sting of the healing gunshot wound, focusing instead on the way his heart fluttered in excitement.

The clearing expanded around us as we broke through the tree line, the dying sunlight bright in comparison to the shadows beneath the canopy. The grass was lush, perfect for the kids to play in, and the leaves on the deciduous trees had already begun to change color, hints of red and gold, in preparation for an early fall.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the back of the clearing, now expanded with a row of brand-new cabins, the pine still clean and bright. Through the truck’s open window, I picked up the scent of sawdust.

“Looks like they’ve been busy,” I muttered, taking in all the changes they’d made since I was last here. It might have felt like I’d been gone only a matter of weeks instead of months, but the evidence of their hard work was everywhere I looked.

Pacey maneuvered the truck off to the side beside the pack’s vehicles and waited, letting the engine idle. We didn’t have to wait long until the door to the Alpha’s cabin opened and Shan stepped out, along with Jude, who was clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. I was relieved that they’d decided to keep the others back for now. Things were overwhelming enough as it was.

Carter seemed to shrink into himself, trying to make himself smaller, as he clung to me. “No one here will hurt you,” I assured him. “Any of you,” I added, twisting to look at the others in the back. “You’re home.”

Isaac seemed curious, only slightly wary, but then he looked out the window and caught sight of his older brother. He cried out, fumbling with the door handle until he tumbled from the vehicle, not bothering to close the door behind him. Poor Jude looked like he hadn’t slept since I left, with deep shadows beneath his eyes, but seeing his brother, he burst into a run, grabbing Isaac in a bear hug. Neither of these huge alphas had a problem showing their emotions, tears streaming down their cheeks as they collapsed in a heap. A band of pressure tightened around my chest at the display, my own eyes prickling.

Amelia was only slightly more cautious as she approached them, but I suspected that was more for the boy’s sake than her own. She wiped her tears away, but they were replaced by new ones just as fast. Jude climbed to his feet so he could hug her next. She pressed her face into his chest, her shoulders shaking with her sobs, while the little boy clung to her hand, hiding behind her with a shy curiosity.

Carter’s breathing had sped up, and he was gripping my forearm, unaware that the tips of his claws had peeked out and were snagging at my shirt. “I… I think I know him.”

I shared a look with Pacey, and he got out, leaving us with a semblance of privacy. “They’re your family, Carter. Isaac, Amelia, and Jude, the man in plaid. They’re your brothers and sister.”

He shook his head sharply, as though trying to clear the cobwebs. “But—”

“I know you don’t remember them very well, but I think it’s been coming back to you. Those nightmares you have. I know you don’t like talking about them, but maybe there’s something to them.”

He watched the reunion, and I felt a tingling of something new from him—it felt an awful lot like envy. This was an emotion I was familiar with, when it came to watching the Grim Wilds pack from the outside. Carter, however, was being given a chance to belong here.

“Do you want to get out and meet them?” I asked.

He was just now starting to realize everything he’d been missing. “Do you think they’ll want me to?” He sounded so vulnerable, so hopeful, and I knew no matter what, I would make it my life’s goal to help him heal. He deserved nothing less.

“I know they do. They miss their brother.” He nodded vaguely. He must’ve at least sensed something of who they were to him because he didn’t argue it.

“I’m practically naked,” he said, tugging on the tattered remnants of his clothing.

I chuckled, hugging him from behind. “Not as naked as Isaac,” I pointed out. “I promise they don’t care about that kind of thing around here, but give me a second. Let me see what I can find.” I popped the door open and slid out from under him, shifting Carter over and off my lap. In the back seat, I found an old blanket, and I shook out a few dried leaves and brought it back to him. “How’s this?”

Blushing, he slid out of the truck, his bare ass squeaking on the vinyl. He crouched, hiding self-consciously behind the open door. “Thanks,” he muttered, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around his waist.

Conversation cut out as I took Carter’s hand and tugged him forward. “I’m right here if you need me,” I whispered. Pacey moved into position as my Beta on my right side, offering his silent support to my mate.

Jude met my gaze briefly, and he took a moment to offer me a nod of thanks, before glancing behind me to where Carter was half hidden. “Carter?” His eyes were filled with such hope. I’d never seen the larger man so soft.

“Hi… Jude?” It came out like a question, and Carter glanced at me, subconsciously reaching for reassurance. I nodded and nudged him forward with a hand on his lower back, relishing the brief touch of his warm skin just above the blanket. “Isaac and Amelia…” Carter added, stopping a few feet away from them. He glanced down to the little boy, who couldn’t have been any older than five. “Hello again.”

Amelia smiled. “This is Andy. My son.” Her hard, sharp-toothed smile seemed to dare anyone to dispute their relation, since they didn’t look much alike, not to mention the scent of him was anything but wolf, but blood didn’t mean anything when it came to family. If anyone understood that, it was the Grim Wilds pack.

Isaac seemed to sense that something wasn’t quite right with Carter. His nostrils flared as he tested his scent, and a deep crease formed between his eyebrows. I hadn’t heard him say anything, not since I’d freed him. We were in the middle of taking samples when the alarm had gone off, signaling Joe’s distraction. Dr. Taylor had run off, barking orders, and I’d simply… let go of Isaac’s cuffs. In under 30 seconds, the remaining guards were dead. “ Time to raise Hell ,” Isaac had growled, his hands painted with blood. Now that blood had dried, leaving dark gloves of flaking red gore. He seemed to guess that Carter felt cornered, even out here in the wild, and wisely kept his distance.

Jude, though, took a step forward, his desperation to hug his brother overriding his instincts. Carter stumbled back a step into me, and I brought my arms up to catch him. Jude froze, nodding as he retreated. “Sorry, I just—”

“I know,” Carter said quickly, and I got the impression that he was piecing it all together as he went. “I’m sorry too.”

There would be time to get to know each other later. For now, there were immediate needs to be met. Isaac stared down at his hands, the splattered mess across his chest, and asked if there was somewhere to get washed up.

Jude’s smile was beaming, radiating joy that he could take care of his family at last. “When was the last time you had a hot shower?” he asked, draping his arm over Isaac’s shoulders to drag him toward the newly expanded bathroom building.

Now that the initial excitement had settled, Brody brought the kids out, and seeing kids close to his own age, Andy squirmed in Amelia’s arms. She set him down and held his hand as they walked over to say hello. Mal, ever the future Alpha, stepped forward and offered his hand to shake, then gave him a clean set of clothes from his own closet. I had no doubt he would take the poor kid under his wing in no time.

Dylan and Morgan emerged from the kitchen, their arms laden with trays of food, and I swore I could hear Amelia’s stomach growl from here, her eyes tracking the movement. I knew Carter had to be hungry too, after his shift, so I whispered in his ear, “Why don’t you go grab a bite to eat. Then you can have a shower next, and I’ll find you some clean clothes.”

“Y-Yeah, okay.” He seemed reluctant to go too far, but the outdoor eating area was still within sight. He and Amelia walked over, leaving two feet of space between them, not talking, but I could sense Amelia’s urge to touch him, to make sure he was real. The kids followed behind them in a noisy gang. None of them were untouched by trauma in some way, and I was constantly amazed at how resilient they were.

Pacey and I stood sentry while they settled in for a meal, watching over my mate. Shan ambled over to me, wearing a gentle smile. “You did good, Silas.”

I shrugged, gaze skittering back to where Carter sat with his arms kept close to his sides in a defensive position. I didn’t like the distance between us. It clawed at my insides, almost impossible to ignore. “Anyone would’ve done the same,” I said with forced levity. But then I thought back to holding Amelia down in her cell, to wrestling Isaac into submission and letting Dr. Taylor take their blood, muscle, spinal fluid. I couldn’t imagine Shan doing that, or Tristan or Jude. I’d always been cynical and bitter, hardened after living under Thorn’s rule, and my father’s before that.

Maybe what they’d all needed was a villain to get this messy job done.

Shan bumped my shoulder with his. “Maybe, but it wasn’t anyone. It was you.” His smile turned teasing. “And you got a mate out of the deal, I see. Though I don’t see a bite on him anywhere…” He craned his neck, as though searching Carter’s body from a different angle.

I huffed a hard sigh. “He doesn’t even remember who he is. I couldn’t tie him to me forever when he didn’t even know what it means.”

Shan’s gaze moved down to where my own healed bite was peeking over the collar of my shirt, exposed from when I’d loosened the top buttons. “You’re a stronger man than I gave you credit for. I can’t imagine that feels good without its corresponding half. I only managed a matter of minutes without biting my mate in return, and that bite looks days old.”

My throat was tight as I swallowed, heat creeping up my neck. Though I’d been actively working toward being in Shan’s good graces, now that it came time to accept his praise, it was harder than I’d expected. “Almost a week,” I confirmed.

He laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed in a brotherly way. “Good man.”

The sun seemed to set early here in the camp, nestled in amongst the trees, and it had been a long day. The adrenaline high had long worn off, and I could see Carter starting to sag. “Is there somewhere we can rest?”

“Take the cabin behind Jude’s. We had a few extras built quick since we figured we might have some company. It’s nothing fancy, I’m afraid, not befitting an Alpha, but—”

“I don’t need fancy,” I said. “As long as there’s a bed.”

He huffed a laugh. “There’s a bed,” he assured me.

I was about to collect Carter for the promised shower when we heard the rumble of an engine coming up the road behind us. Everyone went immediately on alert, heads darting up. Amelia was on her feet in an instant, grabbing Andy’s hand, ready to haul him off into the woods, no doubt, but Tristan dismissed us with a wave of his hand. “It’s just Joe. He called to say he was coming.”

Before the vehicle had even stopped, Jesse was leaping from the car. His cheeks were wet with tears, eyes puffy and red-rimmed. He let out this gut-wrenching sob as he ran across the clearing, a sound of such raw emotion that I swore I felt something tear inside me.

“Daddy?” Amelia said, her disbelief clear in her voice. She’d only taken a few steps toward him by the time he’d crossed the entire clearing, wrapping her up in a hug.

“Oh, my baby girl,” Jesse sobbed, leaning back to cup her face, tracking her features. “And where’s—” His eyes fell on Carter, and I immediately saw his intent.

Before he could take a step toward my mate, I moved in front of him, blocking his path, my hands out in front of me. “Whoa, hang on a second.”

He tried to step around me, and I felt Pacey at my back. “Get out of my way, Silas,” Jesse snapped.

“I can’t do that, Jesse, I’m sorry. He still needs a little space.”

The look on Jesse’s face was one of anger, confusion, and so much hurt, like he’d been physically slapped. I met his eyes and shook my head. “Just be patient, okay? You remember what it was like in the lab.”

His gaze found Carter, and he nodded jerkily. “Of course. Take all the time you need,” he told Carter, but it seemed to cost him something dearly. He clenched his hands into fists, fighting the urge to reach for his son. Moving slowly, deliberately, he joined them at the table, lowering onto a stool across from Carter.

Joe came to join me and Shan. He lowered his voice, but if any cared to listen, they would no doubt hear every word. “We got the rest of the rescues back to my estate. They’ll be safe there for now while we search for any family they might have left.”

“And the lab?” Shan asked.

Joe’s smile was dark and vicious. “Closed for business. Once you were clear, we made it our mission to raze the place to the ground, but we didn’t find Dr. Taylor anywhere on site, dead or alive. We’ve bought you some time, at least, but I would suggest having a talk with your pack—and with Vesta. You have some decisions to make.”

Shan looked grim. “Will there ever be a day when our lives aren’t in danger?”

“I’m sorry for bringing this to your doorstep,” I said, my shoulders heavy.

He shook his head, smiling sadly. “This has always been our fight. If anything, it was us who invited you to the party.”

I laughed lightly. “You sure do know how to show a guy a good time.”

My laughter died, smile falling. “I just wish we still had a way to keep an eye on what was going on within Apex, because I know for damn sure we haven’t seen the last of Dr. Taylor,” I lamented. Joe’s grin widened suspiciously. “What is it?”

“The man at the gate… Greg Thompson? Yeah, he’s working for us now.”

“What? How?” I sputtered.

Joe sniffed, fighting the urge to brag, but it was a losing battle. “So, a couple months ago, we picked up this woman, a former guard at the lab. She was looking for another job, and we just happened to have the perfect role for her.”

“Melissa?” I choked. “She’s alive?!”

“I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t think it would be safe to mention her name over the phone in case they were looking for her. She was more than happy to give us information about the lab’s layout, the guards’ schedules. And she got us in touch with Mr. Thompson who is luckily still employed by the lab. He’ll give us a heads-up about anything he hears.”

“You sly dog,” I said, shaking my head.

“Hey, watch who you’re calling a dog, dog .” Joe’s feline eyes flashed with humor.

The remaining pack members had made their way out of the cabins, introducing themselves to Amelia, Andy, and Carter. I noticed something strange, though. Damon and Stuart were wearing matching stunned expressions, their heads swiveling as though looking for something. It wasn’t until I heard Isaac cry out that I figured out what that could be.

Isaac had finished with his shower, and he was now dressed in some of Jude’s clothes, though his feet were still bare. He’d dropped to his knees in the grass, clutching at his chest. He wasn’t hurt that I could tell, but his gaze was locked on where Damon and Stuart were standing. Their scents combined, threading together until there could be no doubt—they were mates.

“Well, shit,” I muttered.

If this wasn’t fate telling us that we were making the right moves, I didn’t know what was.

There was another round of hugs and tears, with Jesse reuniting with his youngest son and the massive surprise of Isaac meeting his mates—both of them. I heard Stuart saying, “It all makes sense now. I felt a connection with Damon, but it felt like there was always something missing. It was you .”

Carter stood back watching wordlessly. I couldn’t guess what he was feeling based on his facial expression alone, but inside the thin tether anchored in my chest, it felt like he was… lost. Maybe even more now that he’d started to find himself.

As Shan got a celebratory bonfire started, Vesta came shuffling out of her cabin, and Pax ran over to help her—as much as a young child could, anyway. She looked tired, bowing under the weight of the world, leaning heavily on her walking stick. As if the present weren’t enough for someone, she had the knowledge of the past and future too. As much as I wanted to talk with her about what she’d seen, thank her for the herbs for Carter, it wasn’t the time.

“Come with me,” I whispered to my mate, wrapping an arm around his waist to pull him with me.

“Where are we going?” he asked, though it was clear he would follow me anywhere. He leaned into me.

“Shower first, then bed. Sound good?”

He sighed and nodded.

I’d intended to find him clothes while he was in the shower, but when I tried to leave, he panicked. “Stay,” he said, and so I had.

I peeled off my torn and bloody uniform and threw it in the trash before turning the water in the stall on. As soon as steam had begun to curl, I backed under the spray and brought Carter in with me. We stood there chest to chest until the water ran clear, then I lathered him up with soap, massaging my thumbs into his tense muscles. He finally began to relax.

“So, I’m one of them. A shifter.” His whisper echoed off the tile.

“One of us ,” I said, specifically highlighting the most important word. “Half man, half wolf. Shifters come in all shapes and sizes—tigers, elephants, mice, birds.” Cupping his jaw, I brought his gaze up. “Don’t be afraid of what you can do. You’re stronger, faster, have better healing and immune system. No matter what your dad said, not all shifters are monsters, no more than all humans are.”

“Except he wasn’t my dad.”

“No.”

“And I think… he might’ve been one of the monsters. He did things, didn’t he? To those people we rescued and… to me?”

It hurt me to say it, but I refused to lie in a misguided attempt to protect him. He was strong enough to handle it. “Yes.”

He nodded once, accepting that it was true. I could feel him tracing a finger along the edges of my scars. “So, when you said this was from a wolf…”

“It was. Another wolf shifter. He was my old pack Alpha, and he was one of the bad ones. It was too deep for me to heal without scars, though it would’ve killed a human.”

“Where is he now?” he asked, though I was sure he already knew the answer.

“Dead. Shan killed him.” Carter nodded, sending a tingle of relief and satisfaction through the link. “He deserved it,” I assured him. “His death saved countless lives, avoided a war between packs.”

Carter nodded again, growing quiet. He had more than enough to think about.

I grabbed one of the folded towels from a stack on a shelf in the corner and dried him off, and since neither of us had clothes, we wrapped the towels around our waists and walked hand in hand back to the cabin.

A few of the others were still sitting around the fire talking, though I noticed that Isaac was absent, along with his new mates. I saw Amelia leaning her head on Jesse’s shoulder, speaking softly. Perhaps they were talking about the past, but I thought it more likely, they were planning for the future. This was the moment they could finally begin to heal. Shifters could heal from physical wounds, often without scars, but the emotional trauma would take time.

While it wasn’t terribly cold outside, I was grateful to step into the cabin. Testing the door as I closed it, I decided it was sturdy enough, though it wouldn’t keep much out except the weather. I had to remind myself that even the super-secret reinforced lab hadn’t been enough to keep out a small group of mercenaries. It all depended on how determined someone was to get through.

“Is this your real home?” Carter asked, looking around.

I assumed he meant instead of the apartment in the city. “No, I live in a town not far from here with a pack of my own, Overlands. I thought you’d be better off here with your family to start.” Whether we would go to Overlands later or not, that was the question.

“They kept trying to touch me,” Carter said with a grumpy pout, his arms still tucked close to his body. It was like he didn’t want to come into contact with anything here.

I chuckled, walking around the small cabin, checking all the nooks and crannies. “Shifters tend to be a little touchy-feely. It’s a scent thing. Smells in our world can be a powerful tool. We identify our surroundings, deciding if we’re safe, we hunt food by following our nose, and we can even pick up changes in our packmates’ mood. But it’s also partially about displaying ownership,” I added with a smirk, making a point of rubbing myself on him on the way by, before lowering myself to sit on the edge of the bed. I bounced a couple times, testing the mattress. The frame creaked a little but seemed sturdy, and the sheets smelled brand-new.

“And Isaac with those two men? What was that?” he asked curiously. “He looked like he was in pain.”

“They’re mates.”

“Like you and I are mates?” He toyed with the edge of the towel where it was tucked in at the front of his waist.

I nodded slowly. It was as good a place as any to start. “Yes. Can you feel it?”

He nodded, keeping his eyes down on the floor as he walked toward me slowly. “I feel it here… and here…” He tapped his chest then his temple. Carter frowned, biting on his lower lip like he wanted to say something. I waited for him to be ready. I would always wait for him. Finally, he peeked up at me through his lashes. “There’s this voice in my head, and it calls you my mate,” he whispered.

“That’s your wolf. My guess is the drugs you’ve been taking have been keeping him suppressed this whole time, but you can trust him. He is a part of you, and he will always watch out for you, no matter what.”

He gave a little hiccup, his shoulders dropping as he released all the pent-up tension in a whoosh. “So I’m not going crazy?”

“No. You’re perfect.”

Carter heaved a breath, drenched in frustration. I could see behind his eyes that he was making connections between everything he’d learned. “So, if we’re mates like Isaac and those men are, then why is this so hard? Why didn’t I just fall to my knees in front of you the first time I saw you?”

I reached out and took his hand, drawing him in until he stood between my legs. “Shan and Brody didn’t recognize each other as mates either.”

“They didn’t?” I shook my head. “But they’re so great together. When one moves, the other moves too. I swear they can hear what each other is thinking.”

I huffed a laugh, reaching for his hips. “Tell me about it.” I rested my forehead on his chest and breathed him in. “It’ll get easier, I promise. They are connected through a mating link, a bite they each wear, acting as a tether between them. It forms an unbreakable connection, letting mates feel some of each other’s thoughts and emotions.”

“A bite…” Carter’s fingers trailed over my arm, setting my skin on fire as he coasted up to the mark on my neck. “Like when I bit you?”

“Yes, exactly that.” I placed a kiss on the groove below his sternum, my tongue peeking out for a quick taste.

“But you didn’t bite me,” he said, pointing out the obvious.

I tilted my head to gaze up his body at him. “I needed you to know what it meant first. Forever is not a decision to make likely.”

“And now that I do know?”

Hope bloomed inside me, my wolf ready to pounce as soon as he gave the word. “Is it what you want?”

“It is.” He reached between us to tug the towel free, the fabric dropping to the floor. His cock was already thickening. He grabbed my jaw, forcing my eyes back up. “You’re it for me, Silas. Even without the bossy voice telling me what to do, I would’ve come to the same conclusion.”

Then he lowered his mouth to mine, his kiss full of love, heat, passion. Full of promise.