Page 16 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Seven

S kylar is quiet through breakfast, but she seems happy.

There’s a small, almost wistful smile on her face.

I can’t blame her for not talking much. We’re a large, boisterous family and we’re still brand new to her.

I don’t think we overwhelm her. I think she’s just a bit shy and maybe fascinated by the comradery of our group.

Knowing what little I do about her alpha, I’m positive her last pack wasn’t quite as well-adjusted.

Her whole face lights up, though, when Nora declares she needs clothes and asks her to go shopping and have a girls’ day with her.

I, of course, invite myself along. Nora can take care of herself pretty well, and she has Illren as a constant shadow ever since the underworld was outed and Nora became the face of the whole supernatural population.

But with Skylar’s omega status out there, I’m not going to be able to let her out of my sight for a while.

At least, not until I’m sure how much of a problem it’s going to be.

We hit the salon first, and Illren and I wait while Skylar gets her hair trimmed and the girls get their fingers and toes done.

I don’t understand the necessity of it until I watch my mate relax and start to open up to Nora.

Nora’s ability to read minds gives her a rare insight to how people think.

She’s not an empath, but she’s great with nonverbal cues, and can be really sly with the skin-to-skin contact.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s picked up a few thoughts from Skylar and is using that knowledge to put her more at ease.

We go to the mall next. I don’t hate shopping, and I’m enjoying watching Skylar have fun with Nora, but having Nora and me in such a public place has garnered a lot of attention.

We’re too well known, and Nora’s siren’s allure isn’t exactly inconspicuous.

She always causes a stir. People have been gawking and taking pictures of us since we arrived.

Behind Charlie, Ren, and Nora I’m probably the most media friendly member of our clan.

I don’t mind being a face of the underworld and chatting with curious humans when they stop me.

I’ll shake hands, answer questions, and take selfies, though I’ve never agreed to shift.

But today is different. I’m on edge having Skylar out in the open, and she’s really apprehensive about all the attention. I just want to get her home.

“Are we about ready?” I ask after Nora and Skylar make their purchases in a makeup store.

Nora and Skylar look at all the bags they’ve collected and nod. “I just need to go to one more store,” Skylar says. Her face turns dark red. “I need to get some underthings.”

I purse my lips, knowing now would be a horrible time to grin.

I’d offer to help her pick some stuff out, but I think the embarrassment might kill her.

I’ll have to settle for using my imagination for now.

It’s not hard. Skylar is a beautiful woman, and once we can put a little more weight on her, she’s going to be a knockout.

Illren lifts a brow at me, snapping me from my inappropriate daydreaming, and Nora smirks. “Victoria’s Secret is that way.” She points down a hallway we haven’t explored yet.

We stroll at a leisurely pace, and when we hit the store, I start to follow the women inside. Nora stops and presses her hand against my chest. “No way, mister. You and Illren can wait here. You know as well as I do that Skylar would like some privacy this time.”

I do know that, but it was worth a try. I sigh playfully. It takes everything in me not to make some comment about eventually seeing it anyway. “Fine.” I grin at Skylar. “If you need any help or just want a third opinion, you know where to find me.”

I wink at her when she blushes and chuckle when Nora rolls her eyes at me.

Once they’re safely inside the store doing their thing, Illren and I take up watch beside the entrance.

So far, we haven’t had any problems, but I won’t relax until we’re safely away from the mall.

I’m sure our presence here has been tweeted about or whatever.

Anyone looking for us can easily find us.

“Your mate is very skittish,” Illren says out of nowhere.

I’m surprised he said anything. He’s definitely the strong, silent type unless there’s something on his mind.

He never speaks just to make conversation.

I sigh. “Her last pack abused her. Her alpha was a monster. Held her prisoner, beat her regularly, and made her wear a magic collar that suppressed her wolf so she couldn’t heal.

She hasn’t mentioned sexual assault specifically, but she did say the asshole has made her sleep in his bed since she was fourteen. ”

Illren’s eyes narrow in a way that would have most people cowering.

I’ve seen that look in his eyes before. For an assassin, he has a very strong moral code.

His compass doesn’t always point North, but heaven help those he feels break that code.

“What is his name?” he asks in a voice that easily marks him as a stone-cold killer. “What pack is she from?”

I wish I had an answer for him. I’d love to let the psycho loose on Skylar’s old pack. “Don’t know.”

He glares at me. “You didn’t ask?”

I growl under my breath. “She won’t say.

I think she’s worried I’ll run off half-cocked and get myself killed.

She just says she escaped, and it doesn’t matter.

I’m not ready to push the issue. She seems hell-bent on forgetting her past. I think she needs time to get to know us and trust us before she’ll let us deal with the problem. ”

“I will deal with the problem.”

Sometimes having a ruthless fae assassin on your side has its perks. “I’m happy to let you.” It’s the truth. I don’t have some inherent need to take the man out myself. I trust Illren. He’ll do the job right, and all the people who hurt Skylar will pay in ways I couldn’t even imagine.

“Get me a name, and I will destroy them.”

I glance in the store, seeking out my mate. “As soon as I find out anything, you’ll be the first to?—”

I cut off when I catch a scent. I stiffen, and it has Illren snapping to attention instantly. “What is it?”

I take a deep breath. “Shifters. Wolves.”

Illren and I move next to each other. “Nora!” I bellow.

“Do you see them?”

I scan the crowd and nod toward my right. “Not yet, but there are three of them. They’re approaching slowly from that direction.”

Illren relaxes a little. “We can handle three.”

Nora and Skylar arrive behind us. “What is it?” Nora asks.

“Wolves,” I tell her. “Stay behind us.”

A hand moves to my back. The delicate touch makes me shiver and settles my wolf. I can’t tell if Skylar is trying to calm me or seeking comfort herself. “It’s okay,” I murmur. “There are only three of them.”

“Three?” Nora asks. “They could just be here doing some shopping.”

“It’s possible, but I’m not taking any chances.”

There’s a tense moment while we wait for the shifters to come into view.

A few shoppers pass us, and I get a visual.

There are two women and a man, and none of them are particularly dominant.

I’d put them somewhere in the middle of their pack order.

They don’t look threatening, but looks can be deceiving.

Just because they couldn’t beat me in a fight, doesn’t mean they aren’t armed or something.

Their attention focuses on us the moment they spot us.

I don’t like it. They aren’t just random mall patrons. They’re seeking us out.

When they get close, I give off a soft warning growl, and they freeze in their tracks.

I can smell their fear. It’s not so ripe that they’re terrified, but they’re definitely nervous.

The man holds up his hands in surrender.

His eyes bounce back and forth between Illren and me, and he gulps.

“Please,” he begs. “We’re not a threat.”

He’s right about that. He’s shorter and thin, and everything about his appearance looks weary.

The two women aren’t much different. They have this defeated look about them, as if life has kicked them in the teeth.

They’re mildly attractive, one blonde, tall and thin, the other shorter with brunette hair and a thicker frame.

“We wish only to speak with the omega,” the man says.

My defenses skyrocket. I adjust my stance, ready to shift if any of them so much as breathes funny, but Skylar steps up to my side, refusing to hide behind me. I hold my arm out, blocking her from moving closer to the strangers. “Careful,” I murmur. “We don’t know them.”

“We mean you no harm,” the brunette says. Her voice shakes, and her eyes are glassy.

A soft wave of pheromones seeps into the air around us, heady and sort of sweet-smelling.

It’s a stronger version of Skylar’s natural honeysuckle scent.

It’s not nearly as potent as it had been at the FUA office yesterday.

It’s not meant to take control, simply to put our beasts at ease.

The strangers all take shuddering breaths, and the women grasp hands.

“How can I help you?” Skylar asks softly.

The three shifters all exchange glances. It doesn’t take a mind reader or an empath to see their hope and desperation. The taller of the two women takes a breath and says, “My mate.”

“Our son,” the man adds.

“Two years ago, we were attacked by rogues while visiting the city. They were just trying to rob us, but they had silver bullets.”

I feel for them. Shifters using silver on other shifters is despicable. I really hate rogues. I don’t know where they’re going with this, though. What do they want from my mate?

“My mate and I were both shot,” the soft-spoken woman continues. “I went down right away, and it enraged my mate. He went into a frenzy and fought through the silver poisoning until all of the rogues were dead. The FUA was called. We were both saved from the silver, but my mate…”

Her voice breaks, and I understand. “He went feral.”

It happens sometimes. Silver is deadly to us, but if we’re exposed to it long enough and it’s not enough to kill us, it can drive us to madness.

Usually, the fever will pass after the silver is removed from our bodies, but in some cases, it’s not enough to expel the poison.

Our wolves take over in an attempt to protect us, but then the madness sets in, and man and beast can separate from one another.

I suspect that if this woman’s mate had to fight in wolf form while struggling with the silver madness, his beast took over.

“He’s not feral,” the man says, vigorously shaking his head. “Not completely.”

Feral wolves are shifters whose beasts have taken over. There is no humanity left in them. They’re wild, uncontrollable, and a danger to everyone around them. They’re basically rabid. Most are put down immediately by their alphas. It’s the only humane thing to do.

“How is a wolf feral but not?” Illren asks. His skepticism matches my own.

“He’s not lost to the madness,” his mother promises. “He’s stuck in his wolf form, but he only becomes dangerous when people come too close to the three of us. He can’t be around other wolves, friend or foe, but he is loyal and loving to us. In his mind, he’s protecting us.”

“He’s like a very aggressive guard dog at this point,” the man says, making us all wince. No shifter likes being compared to our domestic counterparts.

“Our alpha wanted to put him down when it was clear he wouldn’t make the shift back to his human form,” the mom says, with a sniffle. She wipes her eyes. “We couldn’t let him. Our Preston is still in there somewhere. We chose to leave the pack instead.”

I sympathize, but I don’t blame their alpha for wanting to put the wolf down. No shifter would want to live stuck in one form, half out of their mind with silver madness. It’s cruel.

My disapproval must show on my face, because the blonde woman shakes her head, desperately. “He’s happy,” she swears. “As long as I’m near, he feels content. He may be lost to his wolf, but he still recognizes me as his mate. It’s why our alpha let us leave with him.”

“We’ve heard the stories,” the mom says, her attention glued to Skylar. “Omegas can connect with those who’ve lost themselves to their wolves.”

“We will pay,” the man says before Skylar can turn him down. “We don’t have much, but you can have it all. Everything we have. All we ask is for you to try.”

There is no lie in their story. They’ve been truthful since they approached us.

Part of me wants to take Skylar away from here.

To keep her hidden and safe. If she helps this family, word will spread.

It could put her in more danger, and even more shifters will come to her with desperate requests.

But I already know Skylar well enough to know she won’t turn these people down.

She has such a pure heart and the soul of an omega.

I can’t do anything that would suppress that side of her. It would hurt her to even try.

“Of course I’ll help,” she says right on cue. “I can’t promise it will work. I’ve failed as much as I’ve been successful in the past. But I will try.”

My head whips toward her. She’s done this before? When? Where?

“You have experience with this?” Illren asks, as surprised as I am. We need to learn more about my mate and her life before she showed up at the club, asking for the alpha of Detroit.

Skylar looks away and nods once. “It was part of my job for my old alpha. He knew all of my capabilities and used all of them to his advantage. He was no stranger to torturing people with silver and wolfsbane and using me to bring them back from the madness. It was an effective tool.”

“Interesting,” Illren says, as if he’s considering adding that tactic to his own arsenal. Sometimes the faerie can be creepy.

I’m not as calm about it. I start to shake with the need to shift.

I’ve never wanted to kill someone more than I want to rip her old alpha to shreds.

Skylar grips my forearm. “It’s okay, Wulf.

I’m not there anymore, and thanks to Victor, I have excellent control of my gifts. I can probably help this family.”

“Victor?” Illren asks, perking up. I wonder if that will be enough for him to find this man.

Skylar doesn’t answer him. She’s completely focused on the family in front of us. A small cry escapes the mother, and she and her daughter-in-law fling their arms around one another. Hope wafts off them. “We’ll give you anything,” the man says, wringing his hands.

Skylar gives him a soft smile. “I don’t need anything. Take me to him, and I’ll do what I can.”