Page 38 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Nineteen

I wake with a raging headache and nausea twisting my stomach.

My mouth is dry as cotton. I’m disoriented.

I shake off the feeling of deep sleep and take in my surroundings.

I’m in a cell. The floor and walls are made of concrete, and the bars are made of silver.

It’s well-lit and clean, not some dingy dungeon, but I’m still locked up.

I battle panic and confusion until my memories come back to me.

I was at the Santa Fe pack social. I tried to challenge the alpha.

Shit! I can’t remember exactly what happened.

Did we fight? Was it bad? Obviously, I lost. At least I’m not dead.

I’m still in my wolf form, and if I was hurt in a fight, I’ve been out long enough to heal. There’s no matted blood in my fur.

Where is Skylar? Would they have hurt her? Is she in a cell too? Skylar? I call out through our bond. Are you there?

Skylar’s voice immediately fills my head. Good morning, sleepyhead! You awake?

Skylar? She sounds fine, but I can’t calm my worry. Are you okay? Where are you? What happened?

It’s all right, Wulf. Everything’s okay. I hear a mental giggle in her reply. She sounds more than just relaxed. She sounds comfortable. Happy. I let out a deep sigh of relief.

We’re in the alpha’s house. I’m upstairs. I was downstairs, pacing a hole in the floor for hours waiting for you to wake up, but Luna Grant convinced me to eventually get some sleep. I’ve been chatting with Quinn since I woke up. Hang on. We’re on our way down.

There’s a cot with a blanket and pillow and a set of clothes waiting for me.

It’s a nice gesture and gives me hope that I haven’t burned any bridges too badly.

I pull on the sweats, and by the time I slip the T-shirt over my head, a door opens, and several pairs of footsteps tromp downstairs.

I can’t see a whole room. Across from me, there’s a cell that mirrors the one I’m in.

The cells are at the end of a hall. Alpha Grant, Skylar, and Quinn’s mate, Leia, come to a stop in front of my cell.

None of them look pissed. Skylar is smiling. “Good to see you awake,” she says.

I resist the urge to push my hands through the silver bars to reach my mate. I’d risk it just to feel her touch, but she’d be upset if I needlessly burned myself on the bars. “What happened? Did you manage to knock me out?”

Guilt washes over her face. “I couldn’t sedate you enough. I asked Leia to tranq you.”

I blow out a long puff of air. I hate seeing her guilt. “You did the right thing.”

I shift my gaze to Alpha Grant, feeling more contrite than I ever have in my life. “Did I challenge you? My memory is fuzzy.”

A weight lifts from me when Alpha Grant gives me a look full of sympathy. “Not officially. Your mate acted quickly.”

As relieved as I am that we avoided disaster, I feel terrible, and I’m completely humiliated. “I’m so sorry,” I tell Alpha Grant. “You showed us such generous hospitality, and I nearly issued an alpha challenge. I hope you know I would never?—”

Alpha Grant raises a hand to cut me off. “I get it. I was having a hard time fully understanding your situation, but I can see why you’re so worried now.”

My shoulders slump.

“Can we let him out?” Skylar asks.

Alpha Grant gives me a once-over. “How are you feeling? How is your wolf?”

I search inside me for my wolf. He’s as embarrassed as I am, but not because he was going to challenge the alpha.

He’s embarrassed that he was stopped before he could even fight.

He was taken out by a stupid tranquilizer dart.

He’s sitting in a cell. He’s also a little hurt by our mate.

He doesn’t understand why she wouldn’t want him to take charge of a pack for her.

“I’m good. My wolf has been sufficiently humbled.”

Alpha Grant cocks an eyebrow. “No more challenges?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. He took a hit to his pride. He’s licking his wounds.”

Alpha Grant nods to Leia, and she steps forward to open my cell. Skylar rushes in to hug me. I wrap her in my arms. “I’m sorry,” we say at the same time.

Skylar giggles and pulls back. We head upstairs and Luna Grant is in the kitchen with Quinn, Ben, and Isabella. “Hey!” she chirps. “Come sit down and eat!”

The smell of biscuits and sausage fill my nose, making my stomach grumble. I pause when I realize I’m looking at breakfast. “What time is it?”

“Not quite 8 a.m. You were out all night.”

Leia clears her throat. “My fault. We use really strong tranquillizers.”

We all sit down to breakfast. I have no idea what to say. I feel so stupid and weak. I feel broken. Skylar slips her hand into mine. “Stop beating yourself up,” she says. “It’s not entirely your fault. Your wolf is struggling with all of this too.”

“We talked a lot about your situation,” Alpha Grant says. “Leia had some useful insights.”

As the mate of an omega, it makes sense.

I look to her, praying she has something helpful.

“I was never as bad as you,” she says. “Quinn is quite a bit older than me. I was still a teen when he joined our pack. I felt the urge to protect him since the day he arrived, but when my wolf took interest in him as a mate, things got complicated. I became a bit of an obsessive stalker.”

Quinn chuckles and throws his arm around the back of Leia’s chair. “Not in a creepy way,” he says. “It was more like she became my permanent shadow. A constant bodyguard.”

Leia nods. “I couldn’t challenge my alpha. I wasn’t nearly strong enough for that, but I did all I could to make sure Quinn was as safe as possible. I trained and moved up a few ranks. Eventually, I demanded the position of chief enforcer.”

My brows lift in surprise. Alpha Grant chuckles. “She earned it,” he says. “And she’s every bit as vigilant as she was the day I gave her the position. But she relaxed a lot after she was secure in his safety.”

“Thank the moon goddess,” Quinn teases. “She was driving me insane.”

Leia shrugs without shame.

“I settled down when I was sure he was safe, but I think what helped me the most was completing our mate bond.”

I stop to consider this. Would that help us?

I know wolves get possessive and protective when they claim mates.

They can be a bit overbearing. They instinctively do a little nesting before the mating ceremony too, preparing to provide for their new mate.

I didn’t get that chance. My poor wolf got hit with everything all at once and was not the least bit prepared for it.

Suddenly, I feel for the guy. I’ve been annoyed this whole time, but I’ve never stopped to consider that he must be struggling too.

“It makes sense,” I admit. “Our connection was instant. I wasn’t prepared for a mate. I wasn’t even looking for one or considering the possibility. My wolf was as shocked by it as I was. It must have thrown his instincts into overdrive.”

“No doubt,” Alpha Grant says. “For a true lone wolf to find a mate is always unsettling at first. There’s an adjustment period while both man and wolf learn to deal with new instincts.”

Luna Grant nods gravely. “Add to that the fact that she’s your true mate, and your bond is only half complete.”

“And she’s an omega,” Isabella says.

Leia pipes in next. “And she was hurt when you found her and had just escaped an abusive situation.” I’m surprised she knows our history. They must have talked about a lot while I was out.

Skylar squeezes my thigh. “And there’s the immediate danger from Victor’s pack.”

“Frankly,” Alpha Grant says, “you’re lucky your mind hasn’t fractured. It shows your true strength that your wolf hasn’t taken complete control. With the amount of pressure you’re under, you could have lost yourself to your beast entirely. I’ve seen wolves break from less.”

I gulp. Every shifter fears, on some level, losing themselves to their beast. We walk a fine line, balancing our human nature with our animal selves.

We have to know when to give and take. It’s a constant battle and a compromise.

I’ve been afraid since the first time my wolf took control and almost claimed those rogues.

I’d not felt that since I was a pup learning to share my body with my animal.

And it’s been easier for my beast to take the reins each time since.

If I can’t do something, I might lose myself.

Calm floods into me, making me realize I’m on the verge of panic.

I shudder as the sensation washes over my whole body, relaxing my muscles and slowing my racing heart.

I clasp onto Skylar’s hand like she’s the only thing keeping me from drowning.

“Honestly, I think it’s all Skylar,” I admit.

“She’s kept me focused, calm, and grounded through this whole mess.

” I meet my mate’s eyes, and emotion clogs my throat.

“I swear you’re the only thing keeping me sane. ”

Her eyes are shiny with unshed tears. The sadness in them breaks my heart. I know it’s only sympathy for me, but I can’t help feeling like I’m letting her down.

“You’re probably right,” Alpha Grant says. “Her omega influence and the mate bond you share might be the only things tethering you to your humanity.”

“You said your bond is incomplete?” Isabella asks.

Skylar and I both nod. “It’s hard to explain,” Skylar says.

“It snapped into place when we met. We’re connected, but the link isn’t whole.

I think we still need the magic of the bite to fuse our souls.

I can feel a little of his feelings, but they’re hard to discern.

My soul feels like it’s almost complete, but not quite.

My wolf is waiting for that bond. She’s restless. ”

I jerk my head back in surprise. This is news to me. “She’s restless? How come you didn’t say anything?”

She smiles softly. “We’ve been a little preoccupied, and I—” Her face turns scarlet. “Well, we just met. I didn’t want you to think I…”