Page 8 of The Pack

CHAPTER 8

T horne Winchester

Zara’s voice trembled as she answered Callum’s question, but she held herself steady.

“I’m fine, I swear,” she said, her words firming up as she forced a faint smile.

I didn’t believe her, not for a second.

She was beautiful, no denying that. Not in an obvious, polished way, but something quieter. Subtle. The firelight cast warm highlights over her dark brunette hair, which tumbled in loose waves down her shoulders. Her high, angular cheekbones caught the glow, and her lips—soft, slightly parted—quivered just enough to betray the storm brewing beneath the surface.

But it was her eyes that held me. Wide, dark blue, and haunted, they gave away more than she probably intended. They carried a knowing look that didn’t belong on someone so young, and yet she bore it with the kind of quiet defiance that reminded me of my son.

I hadn’t taken my eyes off her since we returned to camp. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands clenched and unclenched in her lap, the way she seemed to be holding herself apart from the group, like a lone wolf circling a pack she didn’t trust.

She was an outsider. A stray.

Our stray , I corrected myself.

She didn’t want to be here. At least, not really, but she knew better. Her best chances were with us, not out in the wilds alone.

I hoped she knew that we’d protect her through anything.

Zara stared into the fire for a moment before looking back at me. For a moment, I thought she might turn away, but she didn’t. Her eyes locked on mine, searching, testing, as though she were trying to decide whether I was friend or foe.

I nodded once, a silent acknowledgment.

Her lips quirked into the barest hint of a smile, and I felt something shift in the air between us. It wasn’t trust, not yet, but it was a start.

She looked down at her hands, twisting them together as though she were gathering courage. When she spoke, her voice was even.

“I remembered my brother,” she said to all five of us.

The firelight flickered, its warm glow painting her face as the rest of the pack fell silent. Even Killian, who rarely stopped grinning or talking, turned his attention to her.

Zara took a deep breath, her hands tightening into fists.

“His name is… was Logan. He was a wolf shifter, like you.” Her gaze lifted, meeting each of ours in turn. “But he wasn’t like the others. He didn’t go feral.”

Magnus leaned forward slightly, his silver eyes narrowing. “How do you know?”

“Because I hid him,” Zara said, her voice trembling now. “For over a year, I kept him hidden in my apartment. A secret room, behind the closet. He didn’t shift unless it was safe. He didn’t hurt anyone. He wasn’t dangerous. He was still… himself. ”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

“The government said wolves can’t control it, that it’s impossible. That all shifters lose their humanity after they’re bitten,” she continued, her voice gaining strength. “But Logan proved they were lying. He proved it.”

“What happened?” Callum asked gently.

Zara’s lips pressed into a thin line. “They found us. Someone turned us in. The police stormed my apartment, arrested me, and dragged Logan out. They didn’t care that he wasn’t feral. They didn’t care that he was still human in every way that mattered.”

Her voice broke, but she pushed on. “They took him, and they used me to send a message. I remembered that too. I was paraded around and sent here as an example of what happens when you break the rules. When you protect a wolf shifter.”

“And Logan?” Magnus asked.

Zara’s expression hardened. “They dumped him somewhere in Ireland, somewhere far away from me.”

The fire crackled, but its fiery blaze did nothing to warm the icy rage I felt building in my chest.

“And now?” I asked quietly.

Zara’s gaze met mine again, fierce and unyielding. “Now I need to find him. Before it’s too late.”

She exhaled sharply, her hands trembling once more. “I remembered something else,” she said, her voice softer now. “When they were loading him onto the truck, I saw where they sent him on the bumper. Dublin . ”

My pulse quickened. “You think he was taken there?”

“It’s all I have,” Zara said. “It’s not much, but it’s a place to start.”

“Dublin’s a long way. It’ll take more than a month to get there,” Tobias said, his deep voice breaking the silence. “And it’s crawling with ferals.”

Magnus nodded, his eyes narrowing. “If we go, we’ll need a plan.”

Zara blinked. “We?”

“We,” Magnus said firmly. “You are part of this pack now, whether you like it or not. And if your brother is in Dublin, we’ll find him.”

I saw the flicker of relief in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her gaze lingering on Magnus before shifting to me.

I nodded, my resolve hardening. I understood Zara’s need to find him and fight for him. I’d do the same if it meant I could go back and save Alaric.

I couldn’t change the past, but maybe I could help Zara make sure she didn’t lose her brother the way I’d lost my son.

“We’ll help you,” Magnus continued. “But we do this on our terms. No rushing in without a plan. It’s a death sentence if we don’t handle it carefully. It’s hard journey and it’s a dangerous one.”

For a moment, I thought Zara might argue, but instead, she nodded. “Fine. As long as we don’t waste time.”

“Good,” Magnus said, his tone softening slightly. “We’ll leave at first light. Tobias, Callum, and Killian, you’ll scout ahead. Thorne and I will secure supplies.”

Killian stretched, his grin returning. “Dublin, huh? Sounds like fun.”

Tobias snorted. “Your idea of fun is getting us all killed.”

Callum laughed, the sound light and easy. “Come on, Tobias. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Buried under common sense,” Tobias muttered, crossing his arms.

I just shook my head, a grin edging at the corners of my lips.

Well then.

Things were about to get really interesting.