Page 64 of Wulf’s Pack

“No humans were even involved,” Gorgeous adds.

“You know that.” He pushes off the wall and steps closer to the group with his chest puffed up and his thumbs hooked casually into his belt.

“This incident isn’t a human matter at all.

It falls completely under FUA jurisdiction.

We’re allowing you to be here and question these guys as a courtesy, but whether or not he gets charged with anything is up to us. ”

Fire flashes in Johnson’s eyes hot enough that if Gorgeous weren’t a fireproof dragon, he might be incinerated on the spot.

He cocks a brow in response. The dragon looks harmless enough, but I can feel the aggression beneath the surface.

He’s radiating smugness and silently challenging the FBI agents, daring them to disagree.

Johnson shakes with rage and looks seconds away from exploding, but she says nothing.

Technically, Gorgeous is right no matter how much she hates the fact.

Ralston sees the futility of the situation as well and sags back in his chair.

He lets out a weary sigh. “Well, I suppose we’re done here, then. ”

Agent Johnson scoffs. Ralston climbs to his feet and grabs the woman by the arm. “Come on, partner. We’ve got everything we need for our reports. Let them deal with the cleanup. I’m starving.”

He drags Johnson to the door, but she glares over her shoulder at me and then Gorgeous. “I’ll be speaking to my superiors about this.”

Gorgeous shrugs. “Go ahead. I’ll happily ignore any ignorant humans you send my way.”

Nora groans. “Nick, stop antagonizing them.” She stands up and gives the FBI agents the diplomatic smile she’s so good at. “It seems we still have a lot of work to do with human underworld relations. Let’s schedule a meeting with whatever human officials are needed to sort through this.”

Nora subtly starts leading the humans out the door, talking as they go.

“We can discuss the individual needs of the different underworld races so that the humans are better informed and more comfortable with how underworlders need to run things. I’m sure there can be some concessions made on both sides to make sure everyone feels safe. ”

Gorgeous opens the door for them, and as they exit the security office, Nora glances over her shoulder, shooting Skylar and me a smile.

I mouth a thank-you and she winks. Once they’re all gone, I sink back down to the couch and scrub my hands over my face.

I’m exhausted. “Ugh.” I groan. “Humans are such a pain in the ass.”

“Especially that one,” Bree mutters, referring to Agent Johnson.

Skylar sighs. “It all turned out okay. No sense in stewing over it. Let Agent Gorgeous and Director Jacobs worry about them. We need to take care of our pack. We should get them all home, where they can rest and properly mourn.”

My shoulders slump, and I drop my hands to my lap, slapping my thighs. “You’re right.” I smile at my mate. “As always.”

She smirks at my obvious brownnosing. I grin and steal a kiss before pulling myself up again and holding out a hand to Skylar.

Outside, we find Easton, Isabella, and the woman we’d found in the holding cell directing the FUA cleanup crew. Brett is here as well, having brought the children back so they could be with their families now that the danger has passed.

The compound is bathed in red, and the coppery stench of blood saturates the air, but at least it no longer resembles a battlefield.

The cleanup crew has taken away the bodies of Victor’s pack, and there are only nine remaining bodies enclosed in body bags laid out in the courtyard.

I assume the extra two are the alpha and beta coyotes Victor killed when he arrived.

My gut twists at the sight. Nine lives I was responsible for.

Six of them were people who died because I led them into a fight we had no chance of winning without casualties.

I knew going in that people would die, but seeing it forces me to feel it.

Skylar squeezes my hand and murmurs, “You didn’t command them to come. They made a choice, knowing the risks. Their deaths are not your fault.”

I’m not sure I agree with her, but I will accept that they fought willingly, and I will respect their sacrifices. I won’t dishonor their choice by brooding about their loss and making it about me. Instead, I’ll move on and take care of the family and friends they left behind.

I hold my hand out to the coyote woman. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Alpha Winters. I’m very sorry for your losses.”

The woman shakes my hand and gives me a pained smile, but her inner strength shines through despite her watery eyes.

“Lisa Shaw, pack luna. Or, I guess, the alpha now.” She swallows hard, and several tears track down her cheek.

“I’m sorry for your losses as well. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you did to save my pack. ”

The heavy feeling of guilt hits me again. “There is nothing to repay. These men were here because we destroyed their pack. They were after my mate. I’m sorry your pack got caught in the crossfire.”

She nods once, acknowledging my claim of responsibility, though I’m not sure she accepts it. I sense no anger or resentment coming from her. She looks around with a devastated expression. “What will you do now?” I ask.

She looks down at the body bags and grips her arms as if she’s literally holding herself together, and shudders.

For a second, she looks completely haunted, but then she pulls her shoulders back and a fierce determination fills her.

It’s a strength I recognize, one I’ve only recently gained myself.

The strength of an alpha. I’m in awe of the woman.

She just lost her mate, yet she’s standing here with a clear head, pushing through her grief for the sake of her pack.

“I’m not sure,” she admits. “We’ll need to bury Mike and Thomas.

Daniel and I can take over the family business, so we’ll be okay financially.

But a pack of two widows and eight children with only one adult male among us isn’t safe, no matter how fortified our home is. ”

I don’t even need to glance at Skylar to know she’s thinking the same thing I am. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, tucking her tightly against me to present a unified front as I make my offer. “If you’re interested, you would be more than welcome in my pack.”

Lisa’s eyes widen.

“We’re unconventional, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.

We’re a mixed shifter pack, and we’re urban.

We live in downtown Detroit. We’re brand new and small, but we’re strong in our own way.

You would be accepted with open arms, and you wouldn’t be alone in your grief or your trauma.

We’re a unique pack who are all healing in some way, but we’ve banded together to make a family, and we have an omega to help keep us strong. ”

Lisa’s expression turns hopeful. I would love for her to join us, but she needs to be aware of the risks before she commits.

“Our pack is very public,” I warn. “Joining us would mean revealing yourselves to the world. Your previous alpha might learn where you are, but if he decides to come after you, we’ll deal with it just as we did with Skylar’s old pack. ”

“We’ll understand, of course,” Skylar says, “if you would rather stay here in your home and remain anonymous. But you’ll still have an ally in us. If you ever need anything, we’ll be here.”

Lisa pulls in a deep breath through her nose and swallows hard.

“That’s very generous of you. I’d like to speak with the others, but I believe they’ll be grateful for the offer.

It would be nice not to be on our own anymore.

” Her gaze drifts to her mate’s body again.

“Especially now…” Her eyes fill with tears again, and she brushes them away.

“I hate to admit it, but I’m not sure I have the mental capacity to take on the role of alpha right now, and Daniel should not have to shoulder that responsibility.

He is young and grieving as well, and keeping us all safe will be no easy matter. ”

Skylar reaches out to Lisa and gently squeezes when Lisa grips her hand.

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now.

You’re obviously an incredibly strong woman, but you deserve the chance to mourn your mate in peace without the burden of taking care of a pack.

Let us shoulder that responsibility. Let us help your family heal and keep them safe. ”

Lisa’s tears come back in full force, and she nods. “Thank you, Luna Skylar.”

Skylar gives her a smile so compassionate that even I feel it, and she wraps Lisa in a tight hug.

The two women cry together for a moment, Skylar sharing Lisa’s grief as if she feels it too.

I wonder if she does. Perhaps as an omega, she’s a bit of an empath.

It would make sense, considering their ability to be in tune with and comfort or calm other shifters.

For a moment, I worry that Skylar might become overwhelmed with our traumatized pack, but I dismiss it almost immediately.

Skylar is the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and my pack is tough as well.

We’ll all be okay, and we’ll be stronger than most.

Skylar’s omega influence leaks into the air, soothing Lisa and taking the edge off for me as well. Brett shivers, and then relaxes. He meets my gaze, then quickly lowers it in a show of deference. “If you’re accepting new members, I’d like to petition to join your pack as well.”

My brows climb my forehead. I didn’t see that one coming. Bears are solitary more often than not, and Brett is almost a match for me in dominance. “You’re interested in pack living? You’d be willing to give up your home? Your territory?”

Brett casts a glance at Lisa before nodding.

“Wouldn’t be much of a home without my coyotes.

I was on my own for a long time before Mike showed up with his pack, and when they arrived, my bear eagerly accepted them as his.

Looking after them gave me a sense of purpose I hadn’t realized I needed.

I have no interest in being on my own again, and Lisa and the others are my family.

If they decide to join you, I want to stay with them.

I’m also curious about this mixed species pack you’ve built. ”

I study him for any hint of doubt. I don’t find it, but I still have to ask. “You’re very dominant. Strong enough to challenge me.”

Brett shakes his head. “I’m dominant, but not aggressive unless I’m defending those I care about.

I don’t want to be alpha of a pack. I wouldn’t even want to be a beta.

I just want a place to belong. I could still be an asset, though.

I’d make a good enforcer. I’m strong, protective, and fiercely loyal.

You’ve gained my respect, Alpha Winters, and I’m impressed with the devotion your pack has shown for one another, even though they are of mixed races.

It’s something I’d like to be a part of. ”

There’s not a trace of a lie in his voice.

All I’m getting from him is sincerity and that respect he mentioned.

I glance at Skylar and am not surprised to see her and Lisa watching me.

Skylar reads the question in my eyes and gives me a smile and a nod.

It’s all the encouragement I need. I look over Brett again, then hold out my hand.

“If that’s truly the case, then assuming the coyotes join us, we’re lucky to have you. ”

“I’ll speak to the others now,” Lisa says, “but I think it’s safe to assume we’ll take you up on your offer.”

Brett’s eyes light up, and he grins a big smile behind his bushy beard when he shakes my hand.

I’m relieved when my wolf doesn’t try to shift and automatically claim them.

He’s pleased with the idea of having more pack members, especially one as strong as Brett.

But he’s not so desperate that he feels the need to take over. He trusts me.

I look around the compound, making a mental list of everything that needs to get done.

“We’ll lay our fallen pack members to rest and have a proper memorial first, then we can figure out the logistics of getting you all to Detroit.

I’m assuming you’ll want to sell your businesses and your land before joining us.

I can have a few people stay here with you as added protection until you’re ready to leave. ”

Lisa looks around with a wistful gaze. I hate to make her leave her home.

It’s such a nice place. Perfect for shifters.

Moving to the city might be hard on them.

“Yes, I’ll want to sell the business,” she says.

“But we should keep the land. It would be a good place for the pack to come when they need to run, or when they just need some time away from the city. It can’t be easy on you all. ”

I perk up. She’s right. This place is perfect. And looking for land for the pack is already on my to-do list. I don’t know why I didn’t consider this a possibility. “That would be great,” I say. “As long as you don’t need to sell the property for your personal funds.”

Lisa shakes her head. “We should get enough from selling the business for a fresh start, and honestly, I would hate to give this place up. It’s home, you know?”

I do know. I left my pack decades ago, but a piece of me still considers it mine.

“Well, all right, then. Welcome to the family.” I look up at the sky that’s starting to lighten up with the approaching sunrise, and my body reminds me that it’s been the longest day of my life.

“Everybody get some rest, and we’ll get everything sorted in a few hours, when we’re not all ready to drop from exhaustion. ”

No one argues, and Lisa finds us all places to sleep. I go to bed with a heavy heart, but I have my mate in my arms, and I’m hopeful for the future.