“I will not hand over one of my wolves without knowing where they’ll be going.”
“She’s coming with me to my pack.”
Matt was quiet for a moment. “What have you heard?” In other words, how much did Ally’s protector know?
“I’ve been told that your Beta female is giving Ally problems, that she accused Ally of trying to kill her.”
“I haven’t cast Ally out. I doubt her guilt.” Matt was likely saying that now, since he was anxious that he might have offended someone who would seek vengeance. He had every reason to be anxious.
“Of course you do. And my friend will be happy to hear that. Just as he’ll be happy to hear that you didn’t cause any fuss about this.” Derren leaned forward. “Give her to me.”
Another nervous gulp. “I’ll send for her.”
CHAPTER THREE
Eyes had been glued to Ally as she made her way to the pack house. Most held hatred and accusation, while others held pity and disappointment. With those emotions battering her, the journey felt like walking through a cold mist. As usual, no one had said a single word to her. It was perfectly clear that, although she was still in the pack, she remained a social outcast.
Ally wondered if Matt had summoned her because Rachelle had laid more accusations at her door. Or maybe her punishment was about to increase. Zeke had told her that Matt didn’t want to banish her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t change his mind. Well, there was really only one way to find out.
Inside the pack house, she knocked on Matt’s office door, and quickly received a “Come in!”
Refusing to show any panic or anxiety, she straightened her shoulders and entered. And stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of two unfamiliar wolves. She studied the powerfully built male with the short bronze hair and indomitable look and her voice of intuition whispered, merciless. Yeah, Ally could see he was someone to be wary of. The blend of impatience, dubiousness, and distrust that seeped from him caused her scalp to prickle and itch.
Moving her attention to the dark, supremely masculine male beside him, Ally realized he wasn’t so unfamiliar after all. She’d seen him before in a juvenile detention facility long ago. His body had changed since then; he was taller, his shoulders had broadened, and his build was solid and defined. He was currently watchful, tense, and still; those brooding pools of dark velvet stared too hard, saw too much. His sensual mouth was set in a harsh line; it had a cruel edge to it that hadn’t been there years ago.
Back then, the teenage Ally had felt curious when she saw him. Now, a crushing carnal hunger licked over her skin, heated her blood, and pooled low in her stomach—it was instant, elemental, and made no sense.
Unlike his friend, he didn’t radiate emotion. He was so guarded that only brief flashes broke through that cool surface. Those flashes of suspiciousness, rancor, scorn, and confusion were enough to chill her skin. But that chill was eased by the sparks of a sensual hunger that made warmth bloom in places it had no right being.
It was a hunger she could see he resented.
He might be attracted to her, but he didn’t like it. That irritated her wolf, who—also having recognized him—had sat up, rapt by his dominance and self-assurance.
Suddenly his dark eyes slowly raked over her, lingering a little too long on her mouth. She refused to blush under his intense inspection. “He sent you,” she guessed. Cain. She doubted it was pure coincidence that a wolf who served time in juvie with Cain had come here.
A curt nod was all she received in response—the guy clearly wasn’t happy about it. Neither was she. Ally had been hoping that Cain wouldn’t hear about what had happened, given his violent way of handling things. He must have her more closely watched than she’d thought.
“I’m Derren Hudson.” His silky smooth voice slid over her, teasing her senses. “This is Eli Axton. We’re from the Mercury Pack.”
She’d heard a little about the pack—mostly that the Alpha was very powerful and very dangerous. “How much does . . . our mutual friend . . . know?”
“Everything.”
Shit. “I take it he relayed my story to you?”
Another sharp nod. “I’m here to take you with me.”
Yeah, she’d gathered that. “Where to?”
“My pack. Temporarily.”
And no doubt, Cain would deal with everything when he was released from jail.
Matt cleared his throat. “Ally, I just wanted to say that I always believed you were innocent. And I certainly don’t believe you attacked Rachelle last night.”