Page 8 of Wulf’s Pack

Skylar’s face heats again, and she looks away when she shakes her head. “I don’t have anything. Just a knife and some cash I stole from my alpha when I escaped.”

Escaped. Not left . My stomach drops at the thought of what Skylar must have been through, but at the same time, rage floods me.

My wolf is incensed. He takes control while I’m distracted and scoots down to her end of the couch.

Skylar yelps when I pull her into my lap and wrap her in my arms. My wolf holds her tight and nuzzles the top of her head. “Safe now,” he promises.

Yelling at my wolf to let her go does me no good.

He’s too close to the surface. He’s wanted this since the moment she walked into the club, and he’s not giving her up.

I’m worried that he might never let her go again.

I’m also worried that my pushy wolf has frightened my tiny mate, wrapping her up as he did, with no warning.

She’s stiff at first, but she slowly melts into the embrace.

She presses her face into my neck, nuzzling me back and marking me with her scent.

The action is so small, so timid, but my wolf loves it.

Loves her. The feelings slam into my chest with the force of a sledgehammer.

Wrestling back control from my wolf, I lift her off me and scramble off the couch.

I back into a corner and bend over, gripping my knees and trying to breathe.

My head is swimming. I feel like the air has been knocked from my lungs.

The anxiety is crippling. Having her in my arms felt too good.

Too right. This is too real. It’s happening too fast.

A hand falls on my back, and Oliver calmly says, “Breathe, Wulf. In through your nose for a count of four.”

He takes a deep breath, and I mimic the action.

“Hold it for a count of seven, and then let it out through your mouth for a count of eight.”

I can barely make sense of his instructions, but I follow his example, and after a few rounds of breathing, my head clears. I look around at the pitying looks of my friends and grimace. I can’t get my shit together. How the hell am I supposed to take care of a mate?

Terrance sighs. “Get out of here,” he says to me. “I’ll cover the bar. Take your mate home and get acquainted. You’ll need the time to sort everything out and get her settled. Rook, go with them. Make sure Wulf has his animal under control before you leave.”

I wince again. I’m a grown-ass man who’s just been issued a babysitter. Some mate I am.

“You got it, boss.” Rook moves in front of Skylar and holds out his hand to her. “How ’bout it, baby sister-in-law, you feel like moving in with this goof?”

Skylar surprises me when she cracks a smile at Rook’s antics.

She seems shy, but not nearly as afraid of this situation as I am.

I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

It’s nice to see her relax a little, though.

And if she can do it, then I can try. I force a smile at her that I hope hides my anxiety.

Not that she doesn’t already know I’m totally freaking out after witnessing that panic attack.

She eyes me again and bites her lip. “I don’t have to move in with him. My room at the hotel is fine. I have enough cash to stay there until I can find my own place.”

My wolf growls at this, but it’s me he’s unhappy with. It’s my fault she wants to stay alone. She can’t. I know this. I grimace, and all of my clan brothers wince or shake their heads. Terrance crosses his arms and barks out a very stern “No.”

The force of it startles Skylar, and she hunches in on herself. My wolf doesn’t like that Terrance scared her. I growl at the troll. Terrance cocks an eyebrow at me and says nothing.

Rook crouches down in front of Skylar so that he’s not looming over her. “You shouldn’t stay alone. Detroit isn’t very safe right now, especially for lone wolves.”

Skylar frowns. “I don’t understand. The FUA is headquartered here. Shouldn’t it be safer than most cities?”

Rook sighs. “Yes and no. Most underworlders are avoiding Detroit right now. Especially those who are on the wrong side of the law. But we’re taking most of the heat from the humans, and we have a bit of a vampire issue.”

Skylar freezes, and the smell of fear explodes from her. Why is she so afraid of vampires? “What issue?” she asks, trying to mask the tremble in her voice.

Rook sighs. “A few months ago, the Detroit clan was wiped out.”

She blinks. “The whole clan?”

I understand her surprise. Shifter packs can vary in size. Some are huge, but a lot of times there are only a handful of wolves in a pack. But vampire clans are almost always very large. “How?” she asks.

We all cringe. The last master vampire in Detroit was obsessed with my clan sister Nora. He tried to take her and ordered hits on every other member of my clan. We were forced to fight. We’re small, but extremely powerful, and have many allies. It didn’t end well for the Detroit vampires.

“It’s a long story,” Rook says. “But once word got out that Detroit was ripe for the taking, vampires swarmed here. There were several turf wars as clans fought for the right to hold the city. It’s only been a month since the current one took over.

So far, they’re holding strong. The current master is a good woman and extremely strong, but her clan is smaller, and things are still a bit unstable.

Occasionally others come to challenge her, and rogues are taking advantage of the fact that she’s still building up her numbers. ”

The blood drains from Skylar’s face. “So vampires are running free in the city?”

My wolf shoves at me again, wanting to scoop Skylar up and demand answers from her.

I keep him contained, but I do move back to the couch and push my brother out of the way so that I can be the one crouching in front of her.

Rook tumbles over and shoots me an annoyed look that I completely ignore.

“It’s getting better,” I promise. “The new master is working hard with the FUA to get the city stabilized, but it’s not quite there yet.

We still have an unusually high number of rogues and clanless vampires.

Your wolf isn’t dominant enough for you to be wandering around the city alone. ”

She grimaces, but doesn’t argue. I hadn’t felt her wolf at all while she was wearing her collar, but even now that it’s off, I can’t feel any dominance from her. She’s the least dominant wolf I’ve ever met.

“I can protect you,” I say, surprising us both. I quickly gesture to the other men. “We can keep you safe. Give you a home. A family. We’re small, but very strong.”

Her big, blue eyes bore into mine. “Are you saying you want me?” she asks so shyly it’s practically a whisper. “As your mate?”

The uncertainty in her voice makes me feel like shit.

It’s a complicated question. Do I want her?

Yes. She’s beautiful, and sweet. She’s not pushy like all the she-wolves who’ve thrown themselves at me over the years.

She’s not demanding. My wolf is so sure she’s the one that it’s impossible for me to ignore his feelings.

It’s not that I don’t want her. It’s just that a mate is a lot of responsibility, and I’ve been avoiding that my entire life.

And it’s so permanent. I hate to admit it, but I’m a total commitment- phobe.

But it’s done. I can’t ignore it, and I don’t want to make her feel rejected.

I take her hand. “You are my mate,” I promise.

I reach out slowly and brush her hair off her forehead, tucking it back behind her ear.

Her cheeks heat, and she chews on her lip.

The action has my eyes focusing on her mouth, and desire hits me.

I push it down. Now’s not the time to be lusting after her.

“I do want you. I’m just shocked. And really nervous, if you’ll believe it.

I’ve been a lone wolf for a very long time.

I’m afraid I’m going to fumble my way through this relationship for a while.

” I crack a smile and add, “You’ll have to tell me when I’m being an ass. ”

“Or a chickenshit,” Rook adds with a chuckle.

I glare at him, but my annoyance disappears when Skylar cracks a smile. I give her a small, dry grin in return and shrug. “Brothers.” I roll my eyes. “They’re the worst.”

“But brothers-in-law are the best,” Rook says, winking at my mate.

With the tension completely broken, Oliver stands up. “If things are under control now, I really should get back to work.” He pauses and then adds, “Actually, you should both come with me. You know Nora will kill you if you don’t stop by to introduce your mate. Ren, too, for that matter.”

The man is not wrong. Nora will be more excited than Charlie that I have a mate. Though, she’s going to laugh her ass off about it. She’s always giving me shit about my eternal bachelorhood.

I stand and hold out my hand to Skylar. She blushes as she takes it.

I pull her to her feet, and she surprises me when she doesn’t let go of my hand.

My wolf is ridiculously thrilled by this.

I mentally roll my eyes at him, but deep down I’m pleased too.

It’s a bit ridiculous, being so excited that a woman is holding my hand. What am I, thirteen?

“Nora?” Skylar asks curiously, pulling me from my thoughts.

Oliver beams at her. “My mate.”

“And mine,” Rook says.

Charlie raises his hand. “Mine too.”

Skylar opens her mouth to say something, then closes it again. Staring, perplexed, at the three men. I chuckle at her bewildered expression. Nora’s situation has that effect on people. “Nora’s a siren and has five mates,” I explain.

Skylar’s eyes nearly pop out of her head.

Charlie laughs. “You have to see it to understand it, but it works.”

“Nora’s going to be thrilled you’ve joined us,” Oliver says. “She’s the only female in our clan. Well, aside from you now.”

Skylar looks nervous, so I squeeze her hand. “She’s the kindest woman you’ll ever meet. You’re going to love her.”

At least, I hope she does. Because of Nora’s siren’s nature and her natural allure to all the men around her, females tend to dislike her.

She’s only got a couple of girlfriends. I really hope Skylar likes her.

They have a lot in common with their traumatic pasts.

If anyone can make Skylar feel welcome and safe, it’ll be Nora.

“How big is your clan?” Skylar asks.

“There are ten of us,” Rook says. He nudges me in the side. “We all live together, except for this guy. He’s got his own place. Claims he needs his space.”

I huff. I know they’d all prefer I move in with them; I just can’t do it. My wolf really does need the space, but that’s not the only reason. “Nothing wrong with not wanting to share a bedroom wall with my newly mated brother. My shifter hearing is way too good for that.”

I gag, and the tiniest, cutest giggle escapes from Skylar. The sound of it punches me in the chest. That giggle is going to own me. I have no doubt.

“All right, we’ll stop by to see Nora on our way home.” I squeeze Skylar’s hand again. “You don’t mind, do you? She really will be disappointed if we don’t. Then, I promise to feed you and let you rest.”

She nods and gives me a small smile. “I’d like to meet her.”

“Great. Let’s go.”

I lead her toward the door, still holding her hand. She gives me a side glance, as if she wants to say something and isn’t sure she should. “What is it?” I ask.

She chews on her lip and glances around at all my clan brothers before meeting my waiting gaze again. “Um…” She hesitates again before blurting out, “Is your name really Wulf?”

There’s a moment of silence, and then my clan brothers all explode with laughter. Terrance’s booming voice vibrates the whole room. My face falls flat, and I give my annoying clan mates a dry look. “Laugh it up, assholes.”

Wulf the werewolf. Yeah. I know.

When I look at Skylar again, she’s got her lips sucked into her teeth, trying her damnedest not to laugh. It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen, and I crack a smile despite myself. “I had cruel parents.”

A real laugh escapes her, and the moment I hear it, I know I’m in trouble. The sound clamps around my heart like a ball and chain. This beautiful woman is going to change me, whether I want her to or not.

My wolf paces smugly in my mind. Yes. Mate.

I groan at his one-track mind and force my fears aside. I may not have asked for a mate, but I’ve got one now, and she needs me to take care of her. I plop my hand on her head and ruffle her hair. “Come on, little mate. Let’s go meet the rest of the clan.”