Page 17

17

JACOB

I kept running through the forest until my legs burned and my lungs threatened to burst from my chest. Pain stung my face and arms as the branches lashed me. As a werewolf, I had stamina for days, which was useful in the bedroom and beyond. But even I had limits.

Sweat dripped from my brow and soaked my hoodie. The crisp winter breeze did little to help me cool down, and I leaned back against a tree. My chest heaved as I sucked in big gulps of air to calm my rattled nerves and racing pulse. None of the breaths felt enough, like I was drowning.

My ears strained to pick up on any noises in my surroundings, but I couldn’t hear anyone coming, so I relaxed a little more. If any wolves had chased me, they would need to be determined to pull that off. Dedication to a chase had never been Shane’s forte. The chance of him searching for me was pretty damn slim.

I pushed the hood off, then shoved my fingers through my sweat-dampened hair. When I returned home, I needed a shower.

My thoughts swept toward one topic I’d run from. The Pack Council’s summons was important, and I knew I had to go. But how would I stand up to their scrutiny?

More than ever, I felt almost fragile.

With my mother being a councilmember, maybe she would be lenient and ask for my presence before them to be delayed until I could deal with life better. After all, I was a stable Pack member. I’d attended the trial today as asked.

Was I going rogue? No.

But Chad’s words came back to me. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for someone who’d been in my position to go there. Fuck . I wasn’t helping my case by running away from the Pack either. Twice.

I needed to reach out to my mother. She’d be able to help me climb out of the mess I’d made. She’d been in the audience, so she most likely knew I’d attended the trial, especially after the way I’d run off. Would she want to help me out?

The crunch of leaves beneath approaching feet wrenched a snarl from my lips, but when I turned, I froze and the sound died in my throat.

Chad paused mid-step, hands raised in a placating gesture. “Hey, it’s just me.” He stalked a little closer, but kept several paces between us.

I stood up straighter, jamming my fists into the hoodie pocket like I could hide my nerves. Whatever he wanted to say, I doubted I’d want to hear. All I’d wanted was to be left alone with my thoughts, calm down enough to get my shit together, and figure out a way to get home.

“I didn’t think you’d come, but it’s good to see you.” He slowly lowered his arms, letting them hang loosely at his sides.

Those weren’t the first words I’d expected from him, but it eased the tension radiating through my shoulders and down my spine.

“I had to keep up with my Pack obligations and be here for the trial.” Although that seemed more like a verdict. “After what Jared tried to do to your dad, he deserves everything that’s coming to him.” I looked beyond him to the lush forest that hid the mansion. We were miles away. His presence made little sense. “What are you doing here?”

Chad sat across from me on a fallen tree trunk, stretching his long legs before him and crossing them at the ankles. “You looked like you could use a friend back there.”

“That’s all? It wasn’t because of your dad or my brother asking you to make sure I’m not a threat to myself or others?” I lifted an eyebrow, not bothering to look convinced. I doubted my brother would even care. He’d probably want someone else to find me for him because he couldn’t be fucked to do it himself. He’d proven that. Not bothering to see where I was, not giving a shit about my message for help.

“Shane hasn’t spoken to me since the meeting earlier this week. My father… Well, things aren’t great between us right now. He did want me to check on you, but I didn’t come all the way out here for him. As I said, you looked like you needed someone to talk to.” He glanced up toward the trees’ canopies in thought. “You’re not the first wolf—or shifter—I’ve spoken to who was impacted by what happened at the research facility. Do you remember Colin Fraser?”

“Colin? Yeah, I remember him. It’s been a while, though. Didn’t he go back to Scotland several months ago?” I tried to remember the last time I’d talked with him. He stopped showing up at Pack meetings out of the blue, but he’d been a pretty new transfer to the Pack. I hadn’t thought a lot about it. Could’ve been that he missed home. It wasn’t my place to intrude.

Chad’s thoughtful expression turned grim, and he shook his head. “No, and yes. Right now, he’s in Scotland, but that’s not where he’s been all this time. He’ll be coming back when he’s ready.” He blew out a steadying breath. “What I’m trying to say is, he was locked in the research facility too. He was there for months before we realized. His sister, a wereleopard, had been around. She tried to find and rescue him. With our current policies toward ‘others,’ no one had listened to her. Hell, maybe it’s time to make some changes.”

What the fuck? I wiped a hand over my face, unable to believe what I was hearing. To think Colin had been locked up there for months? My stomach soured, and nausea brought bile to the back of my throat. I’d only been locked up with Kelly for one month, and I knew how fractured I felt. “Damn. How’s he holding up?”

“It’s hard to say.” Chad lowered his gaze from the trees to meet mine, and I looked away. “It’s been tough on him, for sure. He’s going to be visiting his family and his old Pack. We could use him over here to make sure those involved in this are no longer a problem, but I hope they’ll keep him in line over in Scotland. He seemed like he was teetering on the edge.” He shrugged his shoulder as I glanced back.

And they still let Colin leave? Just cut him loose and hoped for the best? My chest tightened. Damn. What would they do with me if I cracked too?

“Ah, I see.” I wasn’t in charge of making those decisions, thankfully. I only hoped they knew what they were doing with letting him go—for Colin’s own safety. But his former Pack and family would help him far better than the assistance he might get over here. “That’s rough.”

“It is. I wouldn’t want to experience what you’ve been through. I feel for those who did.” His gaze raked over me assessingly, then he rolled his neck, as if trying to dispel the tension there. “How are you holding up?”

“Fine. Just needed time to collect my thoughts.” I grimaced, aware that my words weren’t entirely true. Lying to a werewolf, especially one as strong as Chad, wasn’t smart. “I’m not ready to be part of things again. Look, I came to the trial and will attend the fight, but to interact with people again?” I shook my head. “Especially the Pack Council and your father, who is sure to mention the meeting.” A nearby tree stump caught my attention, and I perched on it, letting my aching legs rest. “I definitely don’t want to talk with my brother, not after learning about…” I hung my head, staring at the stump’s thick roots. “I’m just not ready for this.” The cool wind cut through the trees, and I hugged myself tighter.

“It’s okay to not be ready. You need that time and space, but you can’t run from the Pack Council or my father forever. As much as I’d love to help you, I doubt speaking for you will change anything, especially with how precarious things are between me and my father.” A low growl of frustration rumbled in his throat. “The witch came before the Council because of me. She tricked me into letting her help by offering me a cup of tea laced with one of her potions. I didn’t think she’d do something like that, but I should’ve known.”

I lifted an eyebrow at that. That explained a few things. “No kidding? Why have you been protecting the witch then? If she tricked you into something like that?” Not that I could complain since I had plenty to thank her for. If it wasn’t for her and the new, severely injured wolf, Kelly and I likely wouldn’t be free right now.

“No, I’m not kidding.” Chad’s expression remained impassive. “And I haven’t been protecting her. She’s a pain in the ass, but she means well.” He grimaced, as if it hurt to say those words. “Besides, she helped the Pack out… twice, when we couldn’t do anything. If it wasn’t for her, my father would’ve died—yes, even though she initially caused it—but I still blame Jared. He knew what he was doing, especially when he threatened the witch to make a potion with a large amount of wolfsbane in it.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “When I came to her, she quickly saw the error of her ways.” A smirk slid across his lips. “I might’ve helped her out there, but she didn’t seem malicious. After that, she helped those who were captured. She placed herself in harm’s way to do so, endangering her life and my own, but her magic came through for us. She succeeded when we weren’t able to. That’s something, isn’t it?”

He knew better than I did about all of that, so I couldn’t dispute his words. If the witch had heeded the Pack’s warning, Kelly and I might still be in the research lab—no thanks to my brother. How could I suggest punishing her? No way. “I see your point. She’s done good things for the Pack—for us—I mean, me.” The slip happened before I could catch myself.

“Hmm…” Chad tilted his head slightly. “Us? I suppose, but I’m sure you’re not talking about me when you say that.” Something flashed through his eyes, and I wondered what he knew. “There’s someone else you’re talking about.”

Shit.

I stared into the trees over Chad’s shoulder. The chance of another wolf coming out of the forest and overhearing us was slim. We’d hear or scent an intruder before they came too close, but I didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Not with the Pack’s current second-in-command and Alpha’s son. I’d much rather go home and check on Kelly, but I couldn’t put this off any longer. Someone had to know.

“Fine. This stays between us, but I met someone special.”

Chad released a slow sigh and tilted his head back to stare at the tree canopy again. “I figured as much. This special someone is at your home, is she? Where did you meet her? Is that why you ran off the other night?” The look of exasperation on his face sucked. He was someone you wanted in your corner. To have disappointed him…?

Fucking hell.

“She should be there. She went to see a friend this morning.” I ran my hands through my hair, cradling my head. How much should I say? But I was already this deep. I might as well come clean. “We met at university. That’s why I took off. I needed to keep her safe, to let her recover before trying to bring her into Pack life. She barely knows anything about this world. Many of us were born this way. We’ve had years to come to terms. Keeping who we are and what we’re capable of a secret was important at the research facility. The scientists couldn’t learn more about our kind than necessary.”

Silence stretched between us, and I shifted on the stump. My wolf howled at me to run, fight, protect… That wouldn’t help me now, though.

Chad stretched his legs once more before his now wolf amber gaze met mine. “You thought the Pack would turn their backs on her? Do you hear yourself?”

“What?” But his words made me grimace. He more than anyone should know what Pack politics called for. “Maybe it wasn’t the right decision from the Pack’s point of view, but I want Kelly to be safe and comfortable. Besides, the Alpha hasn’t wanted more new wolves?—”

Chad crossed the distance between us in the blink of an eye. “No one will hurt her, I promise. My father decreed no more werewolves could be made, but the scientists put her through circumstances beyond that rule.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “She’ll live and will be just fine.” He squeezed my shoulder a little before his hand fell away. “You went through hell. Both of you. I’m sure my father will understand. Or at least he should come around.”

That didn’t quite ease my concerns, but I hoped he was right for both our sakes. If not, I didn’t know what I’d do. We’d need to flee, but I wasn’t sure where we could go. Aaron Fitzroy had many contacts among the world’s Packs. We’d be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives. Kelly’s desire to continue her studies—let alone live out her dreams—would be postponed indefinitely.

“I know that look on your face, Jacob. Try not to worry. You’ve been through a lot. How about I drive you home?” Chad nodded in the mansion’s direction where his car was parked. Maybe he was right.

“Thanks. I appreciate it. Both the drive home and the talk. If you can,” I said with a groan, “just don’t tell anyone about Kelly yet. I want to put it out there. It might seem like I was hiding her away for nefarious reasons, but I’ve been worried how our Alpha will take the news. I don’t want anything to happen to her.” Hell, I hoped the Pack didn’t turn their back on us when they learned the truth.

Chad opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself. The grimace on his lips said he wasn’t happy, but he nodded. “If the topic comes up, it’s my duty to the Pack and my father to tell him what’s going on. But…” A muscle in his jaw ticked, and he turned to begin the long walk. “I won’t say anything yet. However, if you don’t meet with the Pack Council and tell them—or at least make my father aware of Kelly—then I’ll have to give a report. You have two days, man. That’s all I can give you.”

“I’ll do it. Promise. I don’t want to put you in a bad spot.” I glanced away from Chad, not comfortable with how this was going. Then again, he was far more understanding than I’d first thought. At least that was something.

“Let’s get you back to your condo. I’m sure you’d like to check on your woman.”