Page 35 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Sixteen

W e find a hotel near the airport and get a block of four rooms. They all insist Skylar and I have our own room.

The hawks are given one as well. Bree and the teenage girl bunk together, and the jaguar agrees to share with the other two wolves.

We all take showers, something the shifters haven’t done in who knows how long.

None of them seems to know how long they were in Samuel’s kennels.

It appears Samuel didn’t acquire them until they were already feral after all.

I tell myself that makes it less horrific, but I don’t really believe it.

“I know,” I admit. “And I hate it. But there was nothing more we could do. If we’d tried to fight, we’d have all been slaughtered. We saved who we could.”

“We could turn him in to the FUA,” the male hawk says. His name is Benjamin, and his mate is Isabella. They’re from New Mexico and don’t remember how they went feral. “They could shut him down.”

Skylar shakes her head. “We can’t. We agreed to be allies. Samuel is ruthless to those who betray him. We’re not strong enough to fight him. We’ll be captured and tortured for the rest of our days.”

“Can’t win every battle,” the oldest of the three wolves says. His name is Easton. He and the other male, Micah, are brothers from Idaho. Their pack was attacked by vampires. They remember being taken and tortured with silver. I figure they were then sold into the fighting circuit.

The teenage girl, Audrey, who is actually eighteen, speaks up over her plate of eggs. “We’re grateful you were able to at least help us. Thank you, Luna.” Her eyes fill with tears.

The girl is traumatized. She doesn’t remember much from her life before going feral.

She thinks she and her parents were packless and attacked by rogues.

She has vague memories of being held by the rogues, where she was abused in all kinds of ways.

She thinks she went feral as a result of their cruelty.

My heart hurts for all of them, and I’m overwhelmed by the thought of being responsible for them. More pack members who need peace, safety, and time to heal.

Another heavy silence settles over us. I wrack my brain for something to say. There’s so much to do. So many things we need to discuss. I don’t know where to begin. I look around the table at all of them and realize I owe them an apology. I clear my throat and just put it out there.

“I’m sorry for claiming you all as pack without warning and while you were all vulnerable.

I’ve been struggling with my wolf since I found my mate.

I was a lone wolf, but since I found Skylar, my wolf is determined to build a pack.

I’ve been losing control to him. I won’t hold any of you to your bonds if you wish to leave the pack now that your minds have cleared up.

I’ll still help you all get on your feet, regardless. ”

“Do you not want us?” Micah asks.

I hate that this is always the first response.

I’m pretty sure I’ve made every member of my pack feel rejected at one point.

“It’s not that. I’m happy to take you in as pack.

I just don’t like that I was out of control and went about things the wrong way.

I also have to warn you that we are a small pack, and every member aside from myself has emotional trauma.

We’re good people, but not really the strongest pack yet.

We have an omega to protect, and she has a very bad pack after her.

It’s why we went to Samuel for help in the first place.

Hopefully we’ve taken care of the issue, but I can’t guarantee your safety yet. Joining our pack is a risk.”

Easton sets down his fork and places his fist over his heart. “You and your luna have saved me from a fate worse than death. You are my alpha for life.”

“Mine as well,” Micah says.

Audrey chews on her thumbnail. “I’d like to stay too.”

The hawks don’t answer right away. I wouldn’t blame them in the least if they want to go off on their own again.

Hawks will go off alone as often as they’ll stay in a kettle.

They share a wary look, and Benjamin asks the question that’s on both of their minds.

“Are you sure you want us? We’re hawks.”

I grin at him, hopefully putting him at ease and giving him some confidence in my choice. “And I have a cougar and a bear as well. If you want a place in my pack, it’s yours.”

They look genuinely surprised. “Detroit isn’t like most other places,” I say. “The races blend more. They get along, for the most part. It is unusual to have a multi-race pack, but it’s not unheard of.”

“That is so unreal.” Diego shakes his head, still trying to process the idea.

He hasn’t asked to join the pack, but he agreed to come with us to Detroit.

I told him I would help him get set up if he’d like to start over there.

I’m not surprised he’s not jumping at the chance to join.

Jaguars are solitary animals, like cougars. Bree wanting to join was an anomaly.

Isabella scrapes her plate clean and asks, “You two are true mates?”

Skylar and I share a smile and both nod. “I think that’s the reason my wolf is out of control. She’s an omega, and she’s my fated. He’s going crazy.”

“There was an omega in the local wolf pack in Santa Fe,” Isabella says. “If the pack is still where they were before we went feral, I could probably set you up to meet with them. They might have answers for you.”

Hope springs up in me. I would kill for answers or any sort of advice. I can’t keep losing control to my wolf. Skylar squeezes my forearm. I can feel her excitement through the bond. “If you could set up a meeting, we’d be very grateful.”

We finish up our dinner and head back to the hotel. Everyone is tired and eager to sleep in a real bed. I don’t know what I’m going to do with them all when we get home. I’ll have to set up cots in the gym for them until we can figure out more permanent arrangements.

Benjamin, Isabella, and Bree follow Skylar and me to our room.

I lend Benjamin my phone, and it turns out that his friends are overjoyed to hear from him.

They agree to see us as soon as we can get there.

The sooner the better. I need control of my wolf.

If I grow my pack too big too fast, we’ll be unstable.

That’s the last thing my traumatized pack needs.

“We’ll head out tomorrow,” I say. “If you’re up for the travel.”

Isabella nods enthusiastically. “We’d love to visit our old friends.”

I look at Bree, and she frowns. She knows what I’m going to say before I say it. “We can’t bring them all, and I can’t send them home on their own.”

“I don’t like leaving you and Skylar unprotected.”

Skylar gives her a patient smile. “We won’t be alone. We’ll have Benjamin and Isabella. They’re both strong alphas, and I’m sure they’re vicious fighters if Samuel kept them. He only keeps the best, most ruthless shifters in his personal collection.”

My jaw clenches at the reminder of the underground fights. I’m going to have to find a way to put a stop to them without betraying Samuel. There has to be something I can do. I’ll talk to Gorgeous and Nora about it.

Bree sizes up the hawks, debating. I’m sure it’s hard for a large cat to accept that a bird could protect anyone.

I’d like to see it myself. But they are strong.

I haven’t figured it out exactly because all of my new pack members are very close in dominance, but the hawks probably rank fourth and fifth after Carl.

And Hawks are supposed to be wicked intelligent. They’ll be good company.

Bree sighs, realizing we have no other option. “All right. I’ll take them home and help them get settled. We’re going to have to hire a private jet or drive because none of them have ID.”

“Rent a van. Driving will take longer, but it will draw less attention. Find a Target or a Walmart and get them a change of clothes and any toiletries they need. We’re going to have to get cots to set up in the gym for now.

It’s not ideal, but I’d rather have them together with the pack than in a hotel while Victor is still out there. ”

Bree nods. “I’ll call Carl and let him know to be ready for us.”

I turn to Benjamin and Isabella. “We’ll have to drive as well, but I can probably get you copies of your IDs before we leave New Mexico so we can fly home.”

Beside me, Skylar yawns and her eyes droop. She’s dead on her feet. “Let’s call it quits,” I say. “We can hash out the details in the morning.”

No one argues. After the others leave, Skylar and I are left alone. It’s our second night sharing a room, but somehow it feels more intimate tonight. Because we connected on the plane? Because we survived a very intense situation together? Because we accomplished our goal?

Whatever the reason, my heart pounds when I crawl into bed with her.

Desire hits me hard. I want this woman. I slip between the covers with her, and my body comes to life.

All the fatigue and stress I’ve been feeling is suddenly gone.

The only thing I can think about is the sweet, gorgeous, brave woman beside me.

I know I should behave. She’s had a difficult past, and if she’s never even been on a date before, I doubt she’s been with a man.

At least, willingly. I’m still not sure if she’s been sexually assaulted.

I’d hate to trigger any horrible memories.

But when she scoots over and curls up against me, all reason flies from my brain.

I pull her lips to mine and get lost with her in a deep kiss.

She’s shy at first, but quickly responds.

She moans softly and wriggles her body against mine, as if she needs more but doesn’t know what that more is or how to get it.

Damned if I don’t want to give it to her.

My body lights on fire. I roll her onto her back and lean over her, slipping my leg between hers and pressing her into the mattress.

My thigh connects with her, putting pressure where she needs it, and she gasps into my mouth.

I break our kiss to let her catch her breath and move my lips to her neck.

I find a sensitive spot behind her ear, and she whimpers. “Wulf.”

I’m burning inside and aching with need, but I know I can’t take this that far. This can’t be about me tonight. “Skylar,” I murmur as I pepper kisses along her neck and jaw. “Would you like me to take care of you?”

Her reply is breathless and unfocused. “What?”

I slide my hand from her shoulder down her side, brushing the side of her breast and trailing lightly over her ribs until I bring it to a stop on her stomach.

I slip my fingers beneath the material of her T-shirt, meeting hot skin.

She arches her back and gasps again. I swallow the gasp with another deep kiss and brush my hand high across her abdomen, teasing the underside of her breasts.

“I can give you what you need, if you’d like me to. ”

“I…I…” she stammers, panting heavily. “What…I don’t… Yes . Please.”

That raspy please is music to my ears. I can tell she doesn’t know exactly what she’s asking for, which both excites me and relieves me. Victor may have forced her to stay in his bed, but he didn’t take her innocence. She’s giving it to me now. Trusting me with something precious.

I kiss her again and let my hand drift to her most sensitive places. When I touch her for the first time, she lets out a surprised cry, startled by the intensity of the pleasure. “Shh.” I brush my lips to her temple. “Relax, baby. Just feel. I’ve got you.”

I take my time, being as gentle as possible. I build her up slowly, bringing her to the edge until she’s whispering my name over and over. And then she falls over the cliff, crying out in earnest. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I give her a moment to catch her breath and process what just happened.

She lies there, with her eyes closed, panting heavily and shivering every so often.

When she finally opens her eyes, I get lost in their deep blue depths.

I prop myself up on my elbow and take her hand, entwining our fingers and resting them on her stomach. “Feel better?” I ask.

She blushes deeply and nods shyly. “That was…I’ve never…”

“I know.” I smile down at her and brush the sweaty hair off her forehead. “I’m very relieved to know you never lost that part of you.”

She shakes her head. “Victor forced me to sleep in his arms every night. He kissed me and bit me every so often, trying to create a mate bond, but he never raped me. He thought himself above forcing a woman. He would make me watch porn with him and touch himself in front of me in hopes it might excite me, but he never made me feel anything except disgust.”

I stamp down my rage fast, not wanting Skylar to feel worried or self-conscious in any way. “Are you okay?” I ask. “With what just happened?”

Slowly, she smiles. “I’m glad it was you.”

Relief floods me, and I grin. “I am too.”

I give her one last kiss, then lie down and tuck her against me. She snuggles close, and I learn that I am, in fact, a cuddler. I’ve never been so inclined before, but she feels amazing in my arms, right where she’s supposed to be, safe and happy.

“Goodnight, Skylar.”

“Goodnight, Wulf.”

I fall asleep almost instantly and sleep deeper than I ever have in my life.