Page 50 of Wulf’s Pack
Chapter
Twenty-Six
G orgeous hands me a pair of sweatpants that one of the FUA agents has scrounged up. As I slip them on, I say, “It was Victor. That’s as much as Skylar was able to tell me before our bond was blocked.”
Nora gasps. “He severed your mate bond?”
I shake my head. “It’s still there. It’s just buried.
I can feel her, but we can’t communicate.
I assume he’s suppressed her wolf again.
So far, I can feel a hint of fear, but I haven’t noticed any pain.
It’s the only thing that’s keeping me sane right now.
We need to find her before he hurts her.
Skylar’s not just my mate; she’s my true mate.
I’m worried that if he starts to torture her, it will be enough to turn me feral. ”
Gorgeous clamps a firm hand on my shoulder. “Then we’d better find her before that happens.”
Gorgeous pulls out his phone. “A couple of witnesses said Victor’s men left in a large white van. No windows in the back. Didn’t get a plate, but I’ll have Oliver pull the CCTV footage.”
I scan the street in both directions, as if I’ll somehow find that white van.
“Keep me posted. I want to know the second you have a lead.” It’s not a request. I don’t care if I’m not FUA.
This is my mate. My pack’s safety. And while the FUA can legally step in, I can’t let them take over.
I still have to prove my strength to the world so that others don’t keep coming for us.
Gorgeous knows this too and nods without hesitation. “You have my word, brother. For now, get your young one home and taken care of. We can get her statement later. You need to fortify your pack’s safety. Victor seems like the vengeful type, and he’s not going to give you a free pass.”
I have no doubt that’s true. We need to take care of him ASAP, because I’m sure he’s well aware that it was Samuel who attacked his pack, and even a moron would know it was Skylar who gave Samuel all the intel he needed to do it.
I’ll be at the top of Victor’s hit list, and he won’t leave any of my pack alive.
I glance around the scene again, and my heart throbs at the sight of Carl’s lifeless body.
The FUA has taped off the crime scene and are taking pictures.
Nora sees the direction of my gaze and gives my hand a squeeze.
“Go. I’ll look after Carl myself and make sure he’s taken care of.
We’ll hold onto him until you get this resolved and can give him a proper burial. ”
I swallow hard and again push away my grief. There will be time for that later. “Thank you.”
She smiles sweetly and kisses my cheek. I squeeze her hand, then turn back to my pack.
“Let’s get back home and regroup. We’ll have to put out feelers to the underworld community.
Victor and his pack are still twenty strong.
Twenty strange alpha wolves coming into town last night or this morning? Someone had to have noticed.”
“We’ll send out an alert to all our local underworld contacts,” Gorgeous says. “Tell them to be on the lookout.”
I give him another nod. “Appreciate it.”
I gather my pack, and we head back to our SUV. As we cross under the caution tape, several people shout at me. Two news crews have already arrived on scene. At first, I walk past the reporters, but then I stop. I can use them to my advantage.
When I approach them, they look surprised, but they eagerly push their microphones at me and start bombarding me with questions.
I lift a hand to cut them off. They shut up immediately.
“There’s been a lot of speculation about me in the media this past week.
The rumors are true. I have taken a mate and formed a new pack. ”
Both reporters start in with their questions again, but a glare from me has them quieting. “About half an hour ago, several members of my pack were attacked.” I wave my had toward the bloody scene behind me. “We lost one member and nearly lost another. My mate has been abducted.”
The reporters gasp in surprise, but don’t interrupt me.
I glare into their cameras and let out a vicious snarl.
“The man who took her is her former alpha. A man who bought her like a slave and then tortured her for eight years before she could escape. His name is Victor Santos. He is the alpha of the Vail, Colorado, wolf pack. He and his pack would have arrived here in Detroit late last night or sometime this morning. There are about twenty of them, and they are all very strong alpha males.”
I pause and then send out a plea for help. “Citizens of Detroit. Humans, underworlders, anyone who may have seen or heard about these wolves in the last twenty-four hours, please reach out to me. My contact info is on our pack’s website. Any tip, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.”
My wolf rises to the surface, and I know my eyes are glowing with his presence when both reporters take a small step back. His growl is in my voice when I say, “I’m coming for you, Victor.”
There’s no mistaking the threat and the promise of death in my vow. No hiding the danger I represent, the power I hold.
With nothing else to say, I turn from the reporters, ignoring their frantic questions, and head for my SUV that’s still parked at the curb with the engine running. Bree gets behind the wheel, and I climb in shotgun, while the rest of them pile in the back. Micah is carrying an unconscious Audrey.
It’s a quiet ride back to the warehouse.
I’m bombarded with the pack’s feelings. They’re scared and angry and hurting.
Their grief is potent. I allow myself to soak it in.
They are mine. Their pain is mine. I use it to fuel my rage and my determination.
I use it to make me stronger instead of letting it break me.
The Kellers are waiting for us when we get back.
The human contractors have been sent home, but Sean is still there, unsurprisingly having stayed with Matthew after I left.
With them are two unfamiliar males. Matthew makes quick introductions.
“Alpha, this is Sophia’s father, Jack Warner, and Preston’s best friend, Luke Rafferty. ”
Jack is a weaker alpha, but still more dominant than any of the Kellers, but Luke is a surprisingly strong alpha.
Both men dip their heads respectfully and shake my hand.
“I hope you don’t mind us visiting,” Jack says.
“When Sophia called, we figured it couldn’t hurt to have a couple extra wolves on hand. ”
I’m not too prideful to recognize the truth in that statement. “I understand the need to protect your family, and I’m grateful for your willingness to help.”
“You have the support of the Island Lake Pack as well,” Jack says. “Alpha Fuller saw the news and called me immediately. He understands this is a pack matter, but told me to tell you that he is behind you 100 percent and will help out however he can.”
I’m not that surprised. Last October, Evan Fuller was beta of the Island Lake Pack.
His alpha was a nightmare. Alpha Day and many of his top wolves had been abusing their pack.
When he planned a takeover of another pack, Nora got involved, and our clan stepped in to help.
In large part thanks to us, the Island Lake alpha and all of his corrupt wolves were killed.
Evan took over as alpha, and their pack has thrived since.
I nod. “That’s great news. I’ll give him a call.
We’re walking a fine line right now. We need to prove ourselves if we don’t want every pack in the country coming to challenge us for Skylar, but I’m willing to take any advice, added security, or perhaps refuge for our non-fighters while we resolve this. ”
“We want to help,” Sophia blurts, stepping forward.
I raise my brows in surprise, and she squares her shoulders.
Elise, Matt, and Preston step up beside her wearing matching, determined looks.
“Skylar is our Luna,” Sophia says stubbornly.
“You are our alpha. Carl was our pack. We may not be alphas, but we still want to help. Please don’t hide us away. ”
I worry for them, but I can also feel their resolve.
It borders on desperation. They want to help the pack, not be a burden or left behind.
I can’t blame them, nor can I deny them.
They are a part of this pack. They have a right to defend it and seek justice.
“Okay. If that’s what you guys want, we’ll figure out the best way to put you to use. ”
Matt clears his throat. “Elise, Sophia, and I are all pretty handy with guns.”
I can’t hide my surprise or my curiosity. It’s unusual for underworlders to use guns. They’ve always been more of a human weapon because most underworlders are strong enough to survive being shot. Demons tend to be the only race who consistently uses them.
Matt shrugs a little self-consciously. “When we left our pack and moved into the city, we were packless and defenseless. You saw our neighborhood. It’s not like we could just defend ourselves against the humans in our wolf forms, and we were on the edge of demon territory.
We thought it would be best to learn to protect ourselves the only way we could.
We’ve all been practicing for the last two years and are proficient with good aim.
I know guns won’t do much against wolves, but maybe if we… ”
His voice trails off, and he shifts uncomfortably while he stares at the ground. Bree realizes what he’s not saying as quickly as I do and beats me to the punch. “If you use silver bullets.”
Matt bites his lip and nods. Slowly, he forces himself to meet my eyes. “I know using silver on other shifters is reprehensible, but?—”