Page 22 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Ten

A fter we clean up dinner, we head to the club and have a meeting with the clan.

Former clan. Now that I have my own pack, I’m on my own.

It’s a little disheartening that I’ve cut myself out of my own clan, and Nora doesn’t take the news well.

But as an alpha, I can’t have my focus and loyalty split between the two; my pack has to come first. It wasn’t what I planned, but it’s done now.

I have a responsibility to make sure it’s done right.

Nora and I both feel a little better about it when I insist I’m still part of the family, and Terrance promises they’ll always be our pack’s allies.

After the meeting, everyone scatters to go do their own thing.

The Kellers go back to their house to start packing.

If they give up their lease at the end of the month, they’ll need to have everything out of the house in two weeks.

They invite Skylar to go with them, but she decides to stay with me.

I had Oliver bring a laptop and help her get set up for an online school.

She can’t start until we can get her some kind of ID.

Parker and Nora said they would help me with that.

She knows her name and date of birth, but she has no idea what her social security number is and has no birth certificate or driver license.

Right now, she’s taking a placement test. I told her she could stay up in Terrance’s suite where it’s quiet, but she didn’t want to be alone, so she’s sitting at the end of the bar since it’s not very busy.

I don’t complain about having her within eyesight.

A couple of regulars approach the bar, and I almost roll my eyes at their shit-eating grins.

Everyone who’s come in tonight has heard the news, and each person finds my situation even funnier than the last. “Wulf!” a sidhe named Vesryn calls out with a smirk.

His eyes find my mate, then come back to me, gleaming with amusement.

“The rumors are true, then?” I nod, and he laughs. “Oh, how the mighty has fallen.”

Now I do roll my eyes. I place a tumbler on the bar in front of him and pour a double of his favorite fae alcohol. “I can’t even complain. She’s beautiful and sweet and the exact opposite of every she-wolf I’ve turned down in the past few months.”

Vesryn eyes her again. I wave to her, and she blushes, ducking her head back to focus on the laptop in front of her.

It’s cute. I can’t decide if my extraverted ways are going to help her come out of her shell or put her in an early grave.

I stopped introducing her to people half an hour ago because I could feel her stress through our pack link.

Vesryn sips his drink. “Is she really your fated?”

I blow out a breath, still trying to wrap my head around the truth. Then I chuckle. “You think a woman could have tied me down otherwise?”

Vesryn smiles and lifts his glass in a toast. “That’s a rare gift, my friend. Treasure it.”

“I already do.” My smile turns wry. “Doesn’t mean I’m not scared shitless to be someone’s mate.”

Vesryn throws his head back and laughs.

A strong cougar shifter joins us. She’s tall for a woman, and lithe.

Her long, dark hair is up in a high ponytail, and her hazel eyes flash with alertness.

Wearing a jade green halter top and skin-tight jeans with sky-high heels, she’s not got a lot of curves, but her shoulders and arms have a lot of definition.

Everything about her screams strength. She’s pretty in a severe way.

She doesn’t exactly have a resting bitch face.

Not quite. But she’s not projecting let’s be friends , either.

I’ve seen her around, but don’t really know her.

I give her a wide smile, which she returns with a polite nod. “Pint of Demon’s Brew, please?”

I grin, impressed, and get to work pouring her beer.

It’s the strongest stuff we’ve got. Only the toughest underworlders order it regularly.

The rest only drink it when they want to get thoroughly trashed.

When the woman takes the mug and chugs back a healthy swallow like a seasoned pro, I laugh.

“Not much sexier than a woman who can handle her liquor.”

The woman lifts an eyebrow at me. “Flirting?”

I hold my hands up. “Just being friendly. I’m officially off the market.”

“I heard. I also heard another interesting rumor.”

Vesryn leans in, curious. “Do tell?”

The woman eyes me up and down. “Is it true you’ve started your own pack?”

When I don’t laugh it off, Vesryn’s jaw drops.

I try not to wince. I don’t want my pack thinking they’re unwanted or that I’m not proud of them; I just don’t know how to explain my actions.

It’s not exactly smart to admit that I lost control of my wolf.

“Word in the shifter community travels fast,” I say, skipping any explanation before either of them can ask for one.

The woman takes another deep swig of her beer. “Between your fated bond, what your mate did for the bear and the wolf, and you taking on a pack, you’re the biggest news in the shifter world since the outing.”

I sigh. “And here I was hoping to keep a low profile.”

The woman laughs. “Wulf Winters forms a pack? That’ll make national headlines.”

I groan. “Don’t remind me.”

A familiar face, one I’m happy to see, approaches the bar, but he doesn’t head for me. He sidles up beside my mate. I leave them be. I can imagine the bear shifter has a lot to say to her.

Carl’s a beast of a man. Biceps as big as my head and a double barrel chest. He’s got a full head of wavy brown hair and a thick beard to match it. Even if I weren’t a shifter who could smell his scent, it wouldn’t be hard to guess the man is a bear. He’s a total teddy, though.

“Well, if it isn’t the beautiful little omega who saved my life yesterday,” he says jovially.

Skylar smiles brightly at him. “Carl. It’s good to see you. How are you feeling today?”

He pounds a fist against his chest. “Good as new. Just needed a nap and a meal, like you said.”

“I’m glad.”

The brightness of his face dims to something a little more somber but twice as sincere. “I owe you a life debt, Miss Skylar. If there is ever anything I can do for you, anything at all, you need only ask.”

I’m not altogether surprised by the offer.

A life debt is a huge deal. It’s a lot more than someone just saying thank you and that they’re there if you need them.

It’s a loyalty thing. He’s essentially swearing himself to Skylar.

He’s the loyal type, though. Noble too. I’ve always thought some she-bear is going to be a very lucky woman when he takes a mate.

What does surprise me is how graciously Skylar accepts the honor. I would have thought she’d try to play her actions down. But she obviously knows how serious this moment is and recognizes that dismissing his declaration would be a huge insult.

She places her hands over his and squeezes. “I accept your sacrifice, Carl, and I thank you for this honor.”

Carl seems pleased with this and bows over their gripped hands. I choose that moment to join them. “You’re not hitting on my mate, are you Carl?”

Skylar jerks her hands back and stiffens before realizing I’m teasing. I wink at her. Carl gives me a hearty laugh. “You bet your ass I am. Seems only fair, seeing as how a person’s mated status has never stopped you from hitting on every underworlder in this city.”

I shrug. “Even the mated ones deserve some harmless attention every now and then.”

Carl snorts a laugh. “Harmless. Sure.”

My grin only grows. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll take a pint of Grizzly Beer.”

I pour a mug of the shifter alcohol for the bear and grin at Skylar after sliding the glass to Carl. “This man’s not bothering you, is he? He’s big. But I could take him.”

Carl roars with laughter. I don’t think he agrees with my assessment. I’m more dominant, but Carl is just so huge. It’d probably be a pretty even fight.

Skylar giggles, which sends a wave of pleasure through me. I love hearing her laugh. “Carl has sworn a life debt to me,” she says.

“I heard.”

Carl speaks before I can argue with him, not that I will.

“I know she’s yours, and I know you can protect her, but she saved my life yesterday, and that’s not something I take lightly.

You’re a fierce alpha, but she’s an omega without a pack.

You could use all the extra hands you can get.

I’d like to offer my services as her personal bodyguard. ”

My wolf rises to the surface so quickly I don’t even know what’s happening before I’m in my fur and trying to claim Carl as pack. WHAT THE HELL!? I shout at my wolf, but he ignores me and bites Carl on the forearm, extending the pack invite.

Skylar gasps, and Carl’s mouth falls open.

He’s frozen in shock. His eyes start to glow as his bear rises to the surface.

I brace for an attack. He’s a good friend of mine, but I wouldn’t blame him if he comes after me for this.

You don’t claim someone as pack without talking to them first, and he’s a bear .

Most shifters stick to their own kind to form packs.

Or sleuth, in Carl’s case. Asking him to be pack could be seen as a huge insult. And worse, he’s like me, a loner.

I try to shift back, but my wolf won’t allow it until Carl accepts or rejects the pack bond. Shift back, damn it!

Strong protector. Good for pack.

I curse my wolf out until I feel a link snap into place. Alpha?

Shit! Carl, I’m so sorry! You don’t have to ? —

I’m honored.

My wolf howls in victory and is so damn smug I wish I could punch him in the face. Finally, he lets me shift.

I collapse against the counter. I’m horrified by what just happened. I had zero control. I couldn’t even fight my wolf. He was 100 percent driving the bus, and I was locked in the trunk. I’ve never been so helpless to my beast before. I hate that he can just take over like that.

I don’t realize how violently I’m shaking until Skylar places her hand on my arm. “Wulf,” she murmurs. “It’s okay.”

I shake my head, as if that could erase what just happened.

“It’s not okay. I had no control. None.” I gulp and finally look at Carl.

“I’m so sorry. My wolf is—something’s wrong with him.

You’re the sixth shifter I’ve claimed as pack today.

You don’t have to accept. I would never…

” I yank at my hair and slam my fist down on the bar. “Damn it!”

Skylar’s sweet honeysuckle scent wraps around me like a warm blanket, calming my panic and frustration. Carl must feel it too, because his eyes lose their shifter glow. He places his hand down on my forearm and calmly says, “Easy, brother. We’ll get you sorted.”

I meet his eyes. His face is grave. “Carl—” I croak. “I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t have to accept.”

“Just because you’ve offered a life debt, doesn’t mean you have to?—”

“I didn’t accept out of obligation. I’m honored to join you.”

“But you’re a loner. And I’m a wolf.”

He gives me a stern stare. “You’re a good man, a strong alpha, and there isn’t a shifter I trust more in all Michigan. You have my allegiance, Alpha. Unless…you’d like to rescind the offer?”

I honestly don’t know what I want. I don’t understand what’s happening to me.

But Carl has accepted my pack bond, and I won’t insult him with a rejection.

I shake my head again, still scrambling to regain my thoughts.

“If you’re willing, I’m grateful to have you.

I’m sorry it didn’t happen in a conventional way. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

I can’t mask the fear in my voice. Which is unfortunate, because I’ve gathered a huge crowd.

I hate that I’m showing weakness in front of half the club.

Panic threatens to overtake me again. I need a moment to get myself under control without half of Detroit’s underworld population witnessing my mental breakdown.

“James!” I call down to my other bartender. “I’m taking five.”

I don’t wait for his answer. I book it to the men’s room and crash through the door, breathing heavily.

I shake out my hands and lean over the sink until my panic calms. I’m splashing cool water on my face when Carl enters the room.

“You okay? You’ve got a very worried mate waiting right outside the door. ”

I quickly send Skylar a thought through our link. I’m sorry. I just needed a minute. I’m okay. Promise.

I’m here if you need me.

I pat my face dry with a paper towel, then lean back against the counter.

“What’s going on, Wulf?”

I take a deep breath and rub my eyes with my palms. “I don’t know. It’s like I’ve lost control of my wolf. He’s obsessed with creating a strong pack for our mate.”

“Our beasts run on instinct. He’s as new to having a mate as you are. Of course he wants to build her a strong pack.”

“But I can’t just run around claiming every shifter I cross paths with. I need to get him under control.”

He sighs. “I’m not sure what to tell you. What about speaking to your old pack? Would they be willing to help you? Do you have pack elders who might know more about fated mates and omegas? Honestly, that’s probably why your wolf’s going so crazy.”

My shoulders slump. He’s right. I need to speak to someone who knows more about this.

But I was really hoping to keep Skylar away from other packs.

She’s too tempting a prize. Not that I think she would leave me for a more established pack, but they might talk me into joining for her protection.

At the rate my wolf is going, I’d challenge the alpha and find myself in charge of a huge pack.

Just the thought has my wolf perking up.

I growl and throw as much force at my wolf as I can.

No. We are not challenging any alphas today.

We could win.

Not the point!

“I’ll go with you. Skylar can keep you and your wolf calm, and I’ll intervene if the beast breaks free again.” Reading my thoughts, he adds, “I won’t let you challenge the alpha.”

I tip my head back and glare at the ceiling as if it holds the answers. “Ugh.” I groan. “All right. I’ll call?—”

Skylar’s terrified cry screams down the pack link. “WULF, HEL?—”

She doesn’t even finish the word before her wolf nearly blinks out of existence. She’s still there, the link hasn’t been severed, but it’s like she’s been buried deep. I can’t reach her. “SKYLAR!”