Page 33 of Wolf's Vow

“It wasmethat asked the shaman who they spoke of. Wolfe knew it was you as soon as the shaman said the alpha was due to pass and had only one child, no sons. He walked out of that tentforyou. He left the Pack Council foryou. To make sureyouwere okay.”

We’d stopped walking, and I was fighting back tears.

“He asked me not to let them know he was my alpha. He asked me to pretend we were just two messengers. Why?” Killian stepped closer. “Soyouwouldn’t feel intimidated. So you wouldn’t be put in the position of knowingwhat his station was. He didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.” Killian wasn’t holding back. “And then your father found out he was an alpha, and I can see his blood runs deep in you, because he tied Wolfe to that Hollow as quickly as possible when he named him his successor. And Wolfe? Wolfe, knowing it was that alpha who took him in when he was a helpless child, how could he say no?”

“He could have?—”

“That’s not who Wolfe is,” Killian growled. “He doesn’t let people suffer. He doesn’t shirk his duties.”

“Neither do I!” I met his fierce glare with one of my own. “Neitherdo I.”

Killian stepped back with a huff of disgust. “You’re completely blind. Grandfather can see more clearly than you can.” He turned and started to walk away, and I saw that Cody stood not too far from us, along with his wife. They both were watching me, their expressions carefully blank.

“I’m not blind.” I felt the need to say it.

Killian looked at me over his shoulder and then turned back, shaking his head in frustration.

“Kill,” Cody warned, stepping towards him. “Don’t.”

“She needs to hear it.”

“Not from you, bro. This is for the alpha.” Cody laid a hand on his arm. “Let it go.”

“I need to hear what?” I asked them. Neither of them spoke. “Nowyou’re quiet?” I demanded incredulously.

Cody glanced at me. “Go to Wolfe’s place. We’ll have someone bring you food.”

“I want to know what you won’t tell me.”

Thalia sniffed loudly. “I want clear skies and no storm on the horizon because I have crops to harvest, but I’m not going to get it.”

I looked west and saw dark storm clouds. I loved storms, but they weren’t ideal for the harvesting season. Still, I understood the message: you would learn nothing more from us. Stop asking.

I almost,almostdemanded they speak, but I knew not to fight. I was stuck here for Luna knew how long. I had enough enemies; I didn’t need an entire pack on my back, too.

“I don’t know why you think I’m so bad,” I told them quietly, knowing there was more than just them listening. “Yes, I hurt him when we were younger, but look at how much he’s done. He has this pack, who are so loyal to him that they left their homes for him. He has Blueridge Hollow, who are learning from him. He has a lot. He’s done a lot.” I slowly started to make my way up the hill. “I’m sorry a mistake I made ten years ago taints me so much. I’ll try to stay out of your way.” I looked back at Thalia. “I can help…if you need help with it, with the harvesting, I mean.”

She dipped her head in acknowledgment but didn’t confirm or deny. At Wolfe’s door, I pushed it open and went inside, my heart heavy.

I didn’t know how to turn their favor, but I knew one thing: if this was my pack because I was his mate, I was in for a very lonely time here.

With nothing else to do, I curled up on the couch, closed my eyes, and prayed to Luna to be able to leave soon.

Chapter 9

Wolfe

If I wereone for superstition, I’d say the dark clouds hanging over the Hollow were a bad omen.

However, I knew better.

Kind of.

I felt Diesel’s presence as soon as he crossed into Hollow territory. If Killian was my shield, then Diesel was the hammer. Killian was my right-hand man, Diesel was the left. The one you sent to clean house when you didn’t really care if there were survivors. He was quiet, lethal, and the scalpel I had no problem wielding.

Alpha, I heard his low rumble through the mindlink and grinned. It was amazing that as soon as I accepted that I was really their alpha, the mindlink felt as if it had nevernotbeen there.

Good to have you here,I told him honestly, just before his massive form stepped through the bushes. His wolf was possibly bigger than mine, but his was just more intimidating to look at, which pissed me off, but he was on my side, thank Luna, so it was a thing my wolf’s pride could live with.