Page 40 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Twenty

We all pile into the brand-new, very tricked out SUV. Bree continues driving, I hop in the passenger seat, Skylar and Isabella take the middle, and Ben jumps in the back. Bree beats me to the questions. “Good to have you back safely, sir. How did it go in Santa Fe?”

I settle into the cushy leather seat with a yawn. “Good. Informative. Haven’t figured out an exact solution, and it sounds like it’s not going to be an overnight fix, but I have a lot better grasp on what’s happening and why. It’s helped me settle down a bit, if not my wolf.”

“Not going to lie, boss, that’s a bit of a relief.”

I laugh. Bree and I are going to work well together. “For you and me both. How’d things go for you? When did you guys get in? And do I dare ask where you scrounged up this luxury vehicle?”

Bree shoots me a frown. “The car? Carl said it’s a pack vehicle.”

“Terrance. I should have known.” At Bree’s questioning glance, I let out a chuckle and shake my head.

“My old clan leader owns a dozen or so car dealerships. He’s stubborn as hell with unwavering loyalty and protective to a fault.

And he’s been my best friend for nearly fifty years.

I’m sure it’s driving him crazy that he can’t step in and help us with Victor.

” I slide my hand along the armrest. “This is probably the only way he could think to help that he could get away with.”

Bree smiles. “That’s nice. Convenient too.” She smooths her hand over the dash. “It’s a pretty car.”

I snort. “Yeah, Terrance has a fondness for Cadillacs that borders on obsession. The real question is: Just how many cars is our pack now in possession of?”

Bree’s lips twitch. “I’m not sure, but there were a few more cars in the parking lot at the warehouse this evening than when we left.”

I sigh. “I may have had to leave his clan, but I doubt he’ll ever stop trying to take care of me.”

“He’s not the only one.”

I glance sharply at my beta, and she shrugs. “Sounds like loyalty, generosity, and protectiveness were clan traits, not just Terrance traits.”

I’m almost scared to ask. “What did they do?”

She grins. “You’ll see. I’ll let the pack give you the full report, but let’s just say they’ve been very busy in the three days we’ve been gone, and your former clan has been putting their resources to use.”

I groan. The way she says it, I’m sure it goes way beyond a few new cars.

I’m not sure how to feel about that. I can only imagine what the clan has done to help us get on our feet.

I can’t blame them. If this had happened to any one of them, I’d bend over backwards to help in any way I could.

It’s also a relief to know I’m not completely on my own.

Gratitude and love for my family hit me so strongly I could almost choke on it.

But at the same time, the alpha part of me wants to dig my heels in and be prideful.

I know it’s not logical, but I got myself into this mess.

I shouldn’t have to ask my friends to bail me out of it.

And though I know they would never expect anything in return, I can’t help wondering how I’ll ever repay them.

I push that aside and try to focus on the present. “So, when did you get in? Did you have any trouble on the drive?”

“We got in about seven this evening. Elise and Sophia had cots and care kits waiting for all of them. Clothes, basic toiletries. It’s not much, but it’s a start, and they’ll be comfortable enough until we can get more permanent placement.”

“How is everyone? Any ill effects from being feral or the captivity? Ben and Isabella seem to be doing all right, but they’re mates, and they have each other.”

Bree sobers. “Audrey is a very traumatized girl. Her memories of her time with the rogues before she went feral are getting clearer every day. She’s having nightmares and panic attacks.

A lot of PTSD. We’ve already discovered a couple of major triggers, and she’s terrified of men.

She’s with Sophia and Elise now, but she’s going to need a lot of care. ”

Sadness and rage bubble in my chest, but it’s the fierce protectiveness that catches me off guard. She’s mine, and the need to take care of her would bring me to my knees if I weren’t sitting down. “I’ll call Enzo tomorrow.”

“The shaman?”

I nod. “He’s a shaman healer, but for his day job he’s a psychologist. A really good one. And he actually specializes in trauma victims. He’ll be the perfect person to help her.”

Bree’s mouth falls open. “Day job? I knew he left his temple, but I’ve never heard of a shaman having a profession.”

I grin, proud of my clan brother. “He’s unique for sure.

When he walked away from his temple, he was on his own.

He had to do something, but it never felt right to him to charge people for using the gifts he was blessed with.

He considers it his responsibility and privilege to heal anyone in need.

He’s been the on-call healer for the FUA for years, but he refuses to take money for it.

His gifts make him a bit of an empath, though, so psychology was appealing to him. ”

Bree stretches in her chair and gazes out the windshield. “That’s very noble of him.”

“Selfless,” I agree. “Never met a humbler person. He certainly makes the rest of us look like assholes.”

Bree barks out a laugh.

“What about the others?”

“Micah and Easton seem to be fine. I think you acquired a couple of real gems there. Really good heads on their shoulders, and both very strong fighters. They were high-ranking enforcers in their old pack and ran their own business—a mixed martial arts gym. Micah ran the business, and Easton trained several professional UFC fighters. With their shifter strength, they obviously couldn’t fight in the human circuit, but they loved the sport and have spent decades training.

We’re pretty sure that’s why they weren’t killed by the vamps who attacked them.

They saw the value in them. I hate to say it, but we got lucky.

They’ll be a great addition to the pack. ”

As much as I hate what the brothers have gone through, I have to admit it’s a relief to know I have a few more people to lean on.

My wolf is practically preening from this news.

“If they want to stay. I know they pledged their loyalty, but have they tried to get in touch with their old pack? Do they have family to go back to?”

Bree’s shoulders slump. “They have nothing to go back to. They managed to get in contact with another pack in Idaho. Their entire pack was slaughtered when a clan of vampires moved in and took over Boise. There were a couple of survivors who managed to escape or weren’t there at the time of the attack, but none of their family survived.

Their gym was burned to the ground, and the vampires still own the territory.

They’re grieving for their pack, but they seem to be coping okay and are more than ready to jump right into things here.

I think they’re looking forward to the distraction of being busy. ”

“And Diego?”

“He decided not to join the pack.”

“I’m not surprised. Cats are very solitary.”

Bree nods. “More than that, he’s got a lot of anger and trust issues. He remembers some of his time in captivity. He needs the freedom. I put him up in my place for now. Figured it would be best if I stayed with the pack while we get everything worked out.”

I give her a grateful smile. Knowing she’ll be there is a relief. She and Carl are our strongest and most emotionally stable pack members. I need them. “Thanks.”

Bree shrugs. “No problem. Diego’s agreed to let us help him get on his feet, but I doubt he’ll stay in the city. He remembers who sold him to Samuel in LA. I have a feeling he plans to try and take down the fighting circuit as soon as he can find a way to do it.”

I can’t begrudge him his revenge, and if I hadn’t agreed to be allies with Samuel, I’d do everything in my power to help him.

“Maybe Illren can hook him up with some people. Seems like something he’d have the resources for, and I’d bet Diego would rather not work with law enforcement.

That would be better for us with not betraying Samuel too. ”

I smirk at the side glance Bree slides me.

I can tell she doesn’t know what to think of my relationship with the notorious assassin—most people can’t make sense of Illren’s loyalty to his clan—but it’s also clear she’s amused.

She doesn’t question me, so I spend the rest of the drive giving her the rundown of what we learned in Santa Fe.

When we get back home, I have to wake Skylar. She’s exhausted. She didn’t sleep much after I was tranqued and locked in a cell for my own good. After quick check-ins with everyone, I leave Ben and Isabella in Elise’s hands to get settled and take my mate to bed.

We’re quiet—a combination of exhaustion and contemplation—as we go through our nightly regimen.

We’ve learned a lot and are both still processing everything.

I’ve got the added stress of organizing, providing for, and protecting my new pack.

It’s not until we slip into bed that I notice Skylar’s nerves.

I’m ready to pass out, but I can’t leave my mate feeling anxious.

I roll onto my side to face her and prop my head up on my elbow. “What is it, sweetheart?”

She turns to face me, tucking her hands under her chin. Her brow is creased, and she’s chewing on her lip. “Are we going to complete the mate bond?” she asks quietly, as if she doesn’t want to disturb the somber mood in the room.

Surprise, confusion, and a bit of heartache build up in my chest. How could she doubt that? “Of course we are. Don’t you want to?”

Her cheeks flush, and she looks down, breaking eye contact. “No, um…” She clears her throat. “I meant right now.”