Page 17 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Eight

A fter introductions—the parents are Matthew and Elise, and the feral’s mate is Sophia—we follow the family to a small rundown home in a not-so-great neighborhood.

Detroit has pockets of nice areas, but it also has places like this.

I think we’re in the heart of East Side demon horde territory.

I don’t like the thought of these wolves living here.

It’s not safe. My wolf stirs, agreeing wholeheartedly.

I’m not a selfish man. Nor am I uncaring.

But I’ve never been particularly concerned for strangers either.

Being a lone wolf, I mind my own business especially where other shifters are concerned.

I hate shifter politics. So the fierce feeling that I need to help these people and protect them catches me off guard.

It’s so shocking that I stumble to a stop and grip at my chest. My wolf is pacing, on edge.

Demanding something of me that I don’t understand.

Illren stops and frowns at me. “What?” he barks.

“Wulf?” Nora asks, echoing Illren’s concern.

I shake my head. “I don’t know.” I glance at the family leading us up the driveway to this house that is nowhere near good enough for them. “You live here?”

The women blush, and Matthew lifts his chin defensively. “We weren’t exactly prepared to leave the pack when we were forced out. We all worked for the pack. We had to find new jobs where we could. It’s not much, but we make do.”

I scan the street and see a couple of men lingering in front of a car a few houses down. They’re watching us with an interest that has my hackles raising. “It’s not safe here.” I surprise everyone when that comes out as a demanding growl. Myself more than anyone. What is going on with me?

“We have no choice,” Matthew mumbles, dropping his gaze to my chest when he can’t match my dominance. “Preston protects us. We were bothered at first, but people learned quickly that a semi-feral wolf is nothing to mess with. Our neighbors mostly leave us alone now.”

I grind my teeth, only slightly appeased. Illren and Nora are still watching me like I’ve grown a second head. Skylar looks confused, but concerned. I wish I had answers for them, but I’m baffled. I push the protective instincts down as much as I can and grumble for everyone to get inside.

The house is old, but it’s tidy and as clean as I imagine they can get it. My wolf huffs, still angered by the state of their neighborhood, but appeased a little to know they aren’t living in filth or a condemned structure.

The moment we get inside, a ferocious snarl rips through the air.

I have no control when my wolf takes over.

I shift right out of my clothes and push myself in front of Skylar.

I can hear the madness in the growls coming from the back of the house.

It sounds like someone or something is slamming against a cage.

Skylar buries her hand in the fur of my neck, but it’s not because she’s scared. She’s got the same steady confidence she showed when she helped Carl. I settle at her touch and lean against her legs.

Sophia rushes off while Matthew and Elise give us apologetic grimaces. “I’m sorry,” Matthew says. “I should have explained before. He’s contained. You’re safe.”

We round the corner to the family room, and I nearly howl in outrage.

Preston is wild with rage and slamming himself into the walls of a large metal crate strong enough to hold a shifter.

Sophia is kneeling beside it, clinging to the metal sides, sticking her fingers through the bars and whispering to the wolf.

“You crate him?” Nora asks, startled.

All three of them wince. “Only when Sophia has to leave the house,” Elise admits. Her cheeks heat with shame, and her wide eyes plead with us for understanding. “If we don’t, Preston follows her, and he will attack anyone who comes near her. It’s dangerous.”

I growl. The poor wolf shouldn’t be subjected to this. He should have been put down.

“I almost never leave,” Sophia says, clinging to the side of the cage.

Tears streak down her face again. “I got a job I can do from home. I’m with him as much as possible, and like I said, he’s content as long as I’m nearby.

He’s only like this because there are strangers in the house.

” She gulps and looks at Skylar. “Can you help him?”

Skylar steps forward, but I push in front of her, stopping her from getting closer. “Wulf,” she murmurs, but I don’t budge. She can calm him from here.

She sighs and then fills the room with pheromones so potent I nearly choke on them.

I calm down to the point of becoming lethargic.

I try to shake off the feeling, but I can’t fight it.

I whimper and lie down at Skylar’s feet.

She kneels and buries her face in my neck.

I whine again. “I know, Wulf,” she says.

“I’m sorry, but I need to do this in order to help this man.

I can feel his human side. These people are right. He is still in there.”

I whine again, and when Skylar inches on her hands and knees toward the wolf in the cage, I crawl with her.

Preston has calmed as well. He’s standing still, watching Skylar’s every move.

She lifts her hand toward the cage, and I let out an unhappy bark.

“It’s okay, Wulf,” she murmurs, petting my fur and scratching behind my ears.

The move has me lying on my belly, placing my head on my paws. I’m completely at her mercy.

“Preston,” she says softly.

The wolf in the cage cocks his head to the side, curious but cautious.

“I know you’re in there. I can feel you. You need to come out now. Sophia and your parents miss you.”

The wolf continues to watch her, but he plops his butt down and sits, as if waiting. Skylar pets me again. “I need to touch him, Wulf.”

I growl softly, but I can’t seem to really fight her.

“Shh,” she says, petting my head again. “I know you don’t like it, but it’s all right.

I’m safe. Preston’s wolf is listening to me.

He can feel his human responding to me. He wants to let him out.

I need to touch him. He needs to feel a physical connection in order for me to pull him safely out. ”

I hate this, but I trust her. She was right about Carl, and she’s 100 percent certain right now. I can’t detect a hint of nerves coming from her. Nor can I feel any aggression from Preston. He’s cooperating.

I can’t shift back, but I rub my head against Skylar’s side and give her hand a lick. It’s the most she’s going to get from me right now. She smiles at me, and longing fills my heart. My wolf surges forward, needing the comfort of his mate. “Trust me?” she asks.

I nod, and she rubs my head again. I close my eyes at the feel of her delicate touch. She continues petting me while she says, “Open the cage.”

Sophia slowly does as asked. She opens the cage door, and the urge to jump forward to protect Skylar from the feral wolf is strong, but I resist. The wolf isn’t attacking.

Keeping one hand on me, Skylar holds out her other to Preston. “Will you come?” she asks him.

He watches her a moment longer, then slowly steps from the cage.

If he wasn’t so calm, I’d lose my shit when he approaches her, but he’s not acting the least bit aggressive.

He walks over to Skylar and presses his nose to her lifted hand.

She smiles at him and starts to rub his snout.

Again, like with Carl, I should be jealous, but all I feel is a sense of pride in my mate.

“Preston,” Skylar calls softly. “I know you’re in there. I can feel you. Reach out with your mind. You will feel me.” Skylar leans forward and presses her forehead to the wolf’s. Both woman and beast close their eyes. “That’s it,” Skylar murmurs. “Feel the connection. Follow it. Come to me.”

The entire room seems to take a collective breath, feeling the magic at work.

And then, a miracle happens. Preston shifts.

He looks confused and scared. His family cries out, and moves to converge on him, but Skylar holds up a hand.

“Give him a moment. It’s very disorienting at first, and he needs to solidify his connection to his human. ”

The family all freezes. Husband and wife cling to each other, and his mate sits beside the cage, weeping.

Preston doesn’t look at them yet. His gaze is locked on Skylar.

She runs her fingers through his hair, and he falls face-first into her lap.

“Shhh,” she croons. “You’re all right. You’re back now.

I know it’s overwhelming, but you will adjust in a few minutes.

Trust yourself. Trust your wolf. He doesn’t want to take over right now.

He’s happy to have you back. He didn’t feel whole with you locked away. ”

Preston takes a deep, shuddering breath and nuzzles his face in Skylar’s stomach the way a wolf would.

She lets go of me to take Preston’s face in both her hands.

She lifts him up so he’s kneeling in front of her.

“You’re human, Preston. Feel your body. Your fingers, your toes.

Think in words, not just instinct. What is your name? ” she asks.

She waits patiently, still holding his face. “What is your name?”

He blinks at her, then rasps, “Preston.” His voice is rough from disuse. “I’m Preston Keller.”

“And your mate?” Skylar asks.

He blinks a few more times, then turns to his mate. “Sophia,” he breathes. He looks at his mate as if she’s an angel, and then they fall into each other’s arms.

Their reunion is a joyous one, with tears and kisses on both sides. Skylar smiles at them, then looks down at me. She scratches my ears again. “He’s good now. It’s over. Thank you for trusting me.”