Page 36 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Seventeen

I t’s only a six-hour drive to Santa Fe, but the time goes by slowly.

I’m anxious after having split up from the other new members of our pack, and I feel guilty leaving them.

I’m also nervous to meet with the Santa Fe pack.

I hope they have answers for us, and I really, really hope my wolf behaves.

The pack lives just beyond the edges of Santa Fe at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. They run a small tourist town that features outdoor activities. The alpha’s home is a couple miles from town, deep in the woods. When we get there, I can see hints of a lake back behind the house.

The house is a large, two-story log cabin.

It has a wrap-around porch with two rocking chairs and a swing.

Flower boxes filled with bright-colored flowers sit beneath the windows, giving it a Better Homes and Gardens feel.

It’s everything I’d expect from a pack house.

I think of my home. It’s nothing like this.

This is what a wolf’s home is supposed to be.

I only let insecurity plague me for a second before I remind myself that the city requires different living conditions. Different doesn’t mean wrong or bad.

As soon as we pull up in the drive, a man and woman step out onto the porch, arms wrapped around each other’s waists.

The alpha pair. I turn off the car and take a deep breath.

“No matter what,” I say urgently, meeting each of my pack’s gazes, “don’t let me challenge the alpha.

I don’t care what you have to do. Tackle me, knock me out, blitz me to high heaven with your omega power.

Anything. Just don’t let me challenge him. I do not want to take over his pack.”

My wolf stirs in my head at the thought, but I shout at him and try to shove him down deep. NO!

My wolf huffs, but settles down enough that I feel it’s okay to get out of the car. Skylar reaches over and takes my hand. Some of her calming influence spreads over me. “You’ll be fine, Wulf. I’ll stay by your side. Benjamin and Isabella will watch out for you too.”

I wish I had her confidence. I take a deep breath and shake out my nerves. The alpha pair is waiting patiently on the porch. They’re smiling. Friendly. Inviting. Curious. I won’t repay their kindness with a challenge. I won’t .

We get out of the car, and Skylar is at my side in an instant, holding my hand before we reach the front steps. The physical connection works wonders for my nerves. Alpha Grant comes down the steps to greet us, offering a smile and a hearty handshake. “Mr. Winters, it’s an honor to have you here.”

“Thank you for agreeing to see us.”

“Of course.” He shakes Skylar’s hand next. “Omegas are rare. It’s a treat to meet another one.”

Skylar only answers with a blushing smile.

Luna Grant waves us all toward the house. “Come in, come in.”

The lodge is beautiful. The front living room is huge with a lot of seating. It’s set up more like a community lounge than a private home. It’s warm and inviting.

Once inside, Luna Grant greets Isabella with a fierce hug. “It’s so good to see you again. When we got your call, I about died. I’m so happy you’re both safe.”

Alpha Grant gives Benjamin a quick hug with a firm pat on the back. “We’d heard the rumors you’d both gone feral. We assumed you were both killed.”

“We were feral. We were taken and placed in an underground fighting ring.” He gestures to Skylar and me. “These guys rescued us, and Luna Skylar was able to cure us of the madness. We owe them our lives.”

I quickly shake my head. “It was all Skylar. I was just along for the ride.”

Alpha Grant guides us into the living room, and we’re all able to take seats around a large coffee table. We sit, facing the alpha pair. Once settled, Alpha Grant gets right to the point. “So what can we do for you? You said you’re looking for advice? What seems to be the problem?”

I hesitate. It goes against instinct to admit weakness, especially to another strong alpha.

And Alpha Grant is so close to my dominance level we’d have to fight to determine who ranks higher than the other.

But he’s older and wiser and probably much better trained than me.

I might not win against him. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason my wolf isn’t demanding I challenge him right now.

“Anything you say will be kept in confidence,” Alpha Grant promises, having guessed the reason for my hesitation.

I run a hand through my hair and let out a breath. Skylar gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “We need his help,” she reminds me. “It’s the whole reason we came.”

She’s right, of course.

Resisting the urge to slump my shoulders or sigh, I meet the Alpha’s curious stare. “It’s my wolf,” I admit. “I keep losing control of him.”

Alpha Grant’s brow furrows. “Losing control how?”

“He keeps claiming pack members without my permission, or theirs.”

Now his brows climb his forehead. This isn’t what he’d been expecting. “You’ve started a pack?”

Of course he’s surprised by this. My fame and reputation have reached the entire country.

Everyone knows I’m a lone wolf who’s part of a clan rather than a pack.

I’m sure it’ll be all over the tabloids once the media gets wind of it.

If they haven’t already. Reporters will be demanding interviews.

I’ll likely get protesters outside my place too.

I nod. “More than fifty years as a lone wolf—by choice, not circumstance—then I meet my mate, and suddenly I’m claiming shifters left and right. I’m up to twelve now.”

Alpha Grant nods slowly, lips pursed and eyes narrowed in thought. His gaze slides to Skylar. “Twelve isn’t that many.”

“It’s been four days,” I say flatly. “And only Skylar was by choice.”

“What do you mean by that, exactly?”

I grimace. “I mean, one moment I’m standing there talking to a stranger, and the next I’ve shifted right out of my clothes and claimed them before anyone can figure out what’s going on.

I’ve tried to stop my wolf every time, but I can’t.

He’s determined, and his will is stronger than mine.

It’s like I’m in the back seat. I only regain control when he lets me.

I haven’t lost control like that since I was a pup. ”

Alpha Grant is silent for a minute. He takes long enough to speak that I start to worry he doesn’t have any answers for me.

Finally, he asks a question. “You said this started four days ago? I haven’t heard anything about a bonding ceremony.

You’d think the news would have been all over that, as much as they follow your clan around. ”

I shift uncomfortably and cast a questioning glance at Skylar. She gives me a small nod. “There hasn’t been a bonding ceremony. We only met four days ago. We’re fated mates.”

“True mates?” Luna Grant gasps. “That’s incredible! You’re sure?”

Both Skylar and I nod. “The bond isn’t complete yet, but it snapped into place the moment we saw each other.

It wasn’t fifteen minutes later that I nearly claimed my first wolves.

The only reason I managed to hold back that time is because they were rogues who’d broken the rules of a fair challenge and jumped me after I’d beaten their alpha.

I talked my wolf out of claiming them because they were dishonorable.

The first time I came across decent wolves, I claimed the whole family on the spot. ”

Luna Grant gives me a sympathetic smile. “Is it so bad to have a pack? It’s their choice too. You can’t force a pack bond.”

“No, you’re right. They had the choice to accept, but I didn’t have the choice to extend the offer. I’m a lone wolf. I’ve never wanted a pack, and I’m not prepared for one. I have no housing, no territory, no leadership skills.”

“That’s not true,” Skylar says. “You’re a great leader.”

“A great leader with no control over his beast?” I meet Alpha Grant’s eyes.

“My wolf is not going about this the proper way. He’s claiming strangers instantly.

And he’s not picky as to species. I’ve got a bear, a cougar, and now a pair of hawks.

One of these times, some shifter is going to take great offense, and it’ll be a nasty fight.

Plus, having no control of my wolf is a huge weakness.

I have an omega to protect, and I’m constantly in the spotlight.

If the news gets wind of my issues with my wolf, every pack in the country will be on my doorstep issuing me challenges over my mate. ”

Alpha Grant sits back, folds his arms across his chest, and mulls over my situation. I wait. I’m desperate for any kind of solution. Admitting my problem out loud has only heightened my sense of urgency.

“It sounds like you and your wolf are not in agreement on this issue,” he says thoughtfully.

I thought that was obvious. “We’re out of sync for the first time I can ever remember.”

Alpha Grant nods, expecting this answer.

“As shifters, we have two sides: our human side and our animal side. Each side has instincts. For some things, like logic, our human side is stronger, but there are a few areas where our animal instincts outweigh our human instincts. When it comes to protecting our mate, our animal will win out every time.”

I try to stay patient, but I know all this.

“What you have to understand about omegas is that they need pack bonds to stay healthy. The more pack bonds, the stronger and happier the omega will be. On a primal level, your wolf knows this. He’s doing what he needs to do to take care of his mate.

If you truly are fated, then I’m afraid you were always destined to lead a pack. ”

My stomach sinks at this. I know it’s too late, that I’ve already started a pack and now I’m stuck with it, but somehow knowing Skylar needs one makes it feel even more permanent.

“If I was destined for a pack, why do I feel so inadequate? Why am I fighting it so hard? Why does the thought of leading terrify me?”

I can’t believe I just asked that out loud.

“Those are questions only you can answer,” Alpha Grant says. “But I can tell you this: You have to get over it.”

The words are blunt and hit with a gut punch.

“Your wolf is taking control because he doesn’t trust you to do what needs to be done to take care of your mate. You have to prove yourself worthy to him and earn his trust. You have to find your acceptance and confidence.”

Great. Even my own wolf thinks I’m not strong enough.

“You and your wolf need to get on the same page. Your goals have to align with one another’s. Then he’ll stop taking control.”

“I can’t just roll over and give in to him. Claiming every shifter in sight isn’t the way to keep Skylar safe. A large pack and a stable pack are not the same thing.”

Alpha Grant’s lips curve into a small smile. “You’re more of a leader than you think,” he says. “You’re right. There’s more to a strong pack than just size. But your wolf runs on instinct. He doesn’t have your logic or intellect. You have to show him.”

I can see what he’s saying. Our intelligence and reasoning are why our human forms are our primary forms. I understand things my wolf can’t. My instincts for problem-solving are stronger than his. If I can prove I know better than he does, he’ll start to trust me again.

“You need to listen to him too.”

My eyes snap back to Alpha Grant. He lifts a brow and calmly holds my gaze.

“Your wolf’s instincts aren’t wholly wrong.

He knows better than you what your mate needs, on a basic level.

He’s right that she needs a pack. He might not know the best way to build one, but if he’s that insistent, then there’s a reason for it.

Work with him. Listen to him. Then show him you trust him and help him see you’re doing what you need to. ”

There’s a long silence. It’s as if they’re all giving me time for Alpha Grant’s advice to sink in. I need it. There’s a lot to unpack in his speech.

After a minute, Luna Grant slaps her hands down on her thighs. “I think you need to see it to understand it better.”

I’m not sure what she means until she says, “When we learned you were coming, we called the pack to throw together a potluck dinner. Quinn will no doubt be in the thick of it.”

“Quinn?” Skylar asks.

Luna Grant smiles brightly. “Our omega. It’s hard to explain his place in the pack.

When we tell you he needs his bonds, it’s hard to grasp the full extent of it.

Join us for dinner and just observe. You’ll see what I’m talking about.

It might help you understand a little better what your needs are. ”

Skylar’s face brightens. “I would love to meet another omega.”

Luna Grant’s eyes sparkle, and creases fan out from the corners when she smiles. It’s clearly something she does often. “I’m sure he’ll be excited to meet you too.”