Page 34 of Wulf’s Pack

Skylar rests a gentle hand on Bree’s arm and pulls it back. “He needs to focus on me if I’m going to pull his human forward.”

Bree nods in understanding.

It only takes seconds after touching the jaguar for him to return to his human form.

He stumbles backward and leans against the back of his cage.

He’s got some residual anger in his eyes, and he glares at Samuel.

“Peace,” Skylar murmurs to him. She holds her hand out to him through the bars.

“If you can calm down, we can set you free.”

His eyes flash to Skylar. She shakes her hand at him. “Come. Take my hand. Connect with your human.”

It takes him a minute, but he warily inches forward and takes her hand.

She smiles at him, and I know her touch is soothing him.

He starts to nuzzle her hand. Apparently, that’s all the go ahead my greedy wolf needs.

He shoves our snout through the bars, but the jaguar is out of our reach.

Good , I mutter. He huffs and sends a thought to Skylar. Pack?

Skylar gives us a crooked smile. “Give him a few minutes, Wulf. You can ask him once he remembers he’s a man as well as beast.”

My wolf balks and moves to the bear. Like the coyote, there is no bringing the giant shifter back from the madness.

Skylar tries for a full ten minutes. The three wolves are different.

They’re responding more to me than Skylar.

She’s tried to pull their humans forward, but they’re more interested in the powerful alpha wolf than the human omega. My wolf loves that.

They’re not completely feral. Skylar was able to bring them back to conscious thought, but their wolves are too distressed to allow them to change back.

They must feel safe with me, though, because they’re tracking my every move.

My wolf is pacing back and forth in front of their cages.

Pack, pack, pack! he keeps shouting. They want pack!

Skylar considers this, then shrugs. “It’s worth a shot. If I can’t bring them back, perhaps their alpha can.”

The wolves yip in response. “All right, gentlemen and lady. Paws forward if you’d like to join the pack.”

All three of them push their paws through the bars of their cages. My wolf does what he apparently does best and claims all three of them quickly. Their connections blink into my mind, and together they reach out through the link. Thank you, Alpha.

My wolf preens. Every single one of these shifters is an alpha, and now five of them are ours. I look at the wolves again and throw my dominance at them. Shift , I command.

In a flash, three humans sit in the filthy cages.

Two men and one teenage girl. My wolf howls when he sees how young she is.

The poor thing is just a child, maybe sixteen or seventeen.

How did she come to be trapped here? How long has she been here?

How many fights has she had to live through?

If I could kill Samuel right here and now, I would.

A rough male voice pulls me from my seething thoughts. “You’re part of a wolf pack?”

Bree is talking to the jaguar. He seems to have his mind back. “We have a bear, too, and now it looks like a pair of hawks as well.”

“And you live in the city?”

The jaguar can’t wrap his head around it.

Bree shrugs. “You get used to it. And Michigan has lots of woods to run through. We may have to drive a bit to find unclaimed territory, but it works.”

Skylar moves to his cage and looks up at Samuel expectantly.

He’s been standing back, being far more patient than I would have expected.

It’s been nearly an hour since we came down here.

He looks at the jaguar, then frowns at Skylar.

“Is he going to try to attack me? You won’t be happy if I have to kill him when you’ve just brought him back. ”

As much as I hate the man, I can’t help appreciating his concern for Skylar.

I swear it’s the only thing saving his life right now.

That, and Skylar’s still got us all blissed out.

That reminds me… How are you? I ask her.

I move to her side and nudge her with my head.

She smiles at me and scratches me behind my ears.

You’ve been using your power for a long time.

Are you exhausting yourself? You don’t want to overextend your powers.

“I’m okay for a little bit longer,” she promises out loud. “Maybe twenty minutes? We should probably get out of here. I doubt we want these guys anywhere near Samuel or his vampires when I pull back. You going to shift back any time soon?”

Ask my stubborn half. Apparently, it’s up to him.

She smiles at me, then teasingly says, “Wulf? Hey, boy. Can Wulf come back now? We need to get going. We need to get our new pack members taken care of.”

My wolf glances at the jaguar.

Skylar bops me on the nose. “You can’t claim him if he doesn’t want you to. Now, change back. I’m tired and starving.”

With one last indignant huff, my wolf gives me back my human form. Skylar grins a crooked smile. “Welcome back.”

I groan. “He’s really starting to annoy me.”

She surprises me with a small kiss to my cheek. “We’ll worry about it later. Let’s get everyone someplace safe first.”

I climb slowly to my feet. I’ve evened out a little—not quite so high—like Skylar promised me I would, but I’m still lethargic. We all are. Skylar takes charge. She approaches Samuel. “Have you got any spare clothing or blankets? I can’t very well march them naked through downtown.”

Samuel considers us. “I can have clothing brought down to them, and I will tell Felix to bring the van around. He will give you all a ride to any hotel you choose.”

Skylar’s eyes mist over again. “Thank you, Samuel.”

He sighs and pulls her in for a hug. “How does a wolf have me so wrapped around her finger? You have since you were a little girl in ruffled dresses and pigtails. It’s probably a good thing you’re leaving, Pet, but you will be missed.”

Skylar hugs him back. I nearly bite my tongue off.

He pulls back and smiles affectionately. “Go. Be safe and happy.”

A large van with room for all nine of us pulls up.

Felix is behind the wheel. He passes out sweatpants and T-shirts for all the shifters, including me.

It’s not until Felix hands me a set that I realize I’m naked.

Damn it. I shifted out of my clothes again.

I’ve got to get my wolf under control before I have no wardrobe left.

I dress quickly and help my new pack members into the van.

Skylar and I are the last to leave. I can’t help looking back at the bear and the coyote we weren’t able to save.

I hate to leave them. I shouldn’t push Samuel’s generosity, but I can’t help pleading with him.

“Can I at least put them out of their misery?”

Samuel purses his lips. “The deal was for the ones you saved only. I’m upholding my end of the deal, even though you are taking far more than I expected.”

I clench my jaw. He hadn’t expected we’d save any.

“Go, and be grateful for those lives recovered. The others are not your concern.”

Skylar grabs my arm and tugs me toward the van. I’m going to hate myself forever for leaving them behind, but I help Skylar into the van and then climb into the passenger seat. We’re all quiet as we leave. I have no doubt all of our thoughts are on those poor souls.