“Well, I’ll go change and find you.” Egan stared the alpha down. “It’d be good for your pack to meet me as well. I’ll be there as long as those four are.”
It amazed me how much of a true friend Egan had turned out to be. There was no doubt in my mind he had our backs.
“Fine.” Titan lifted a hand. “You can follow our scents, right?”
“Yeah, I can.” Egan glanced at me before turning toward the house. “I won’t be long.”
Our group watched Egan head back toward the vampire house, and soon, he was out of sight.
I linked with the other three. Even though they seem good-intentioned, don’t let your guard down. Maybe the alpha planned to surprise us even though it would be difficult.
“All right, let’s get moving.” Titan walked past his wolves, heading straight down the middle.
The four of us fell into step behind him, and the rest of the wolves took up the rear. A few sniffed, taking in our scents, but none came off as threatening.
The woods were brimming with animals, more so now than they’d been at night. Scents of deer, rabbits, foxes, and so many others intermingled in the air. Even the woods back home didn’t have as much wildlife as here. “How big is your pack?” It couldn’t be as large as I’d initially expected.
“My pack sits at one hundred and three.” Titan spouted the number off like I’d asked him his name. “Why do you ask?”
“Wow, really?” Then they had to eat something beyond the animals in the woods. “The woods are thriving.”
“Ah … yes.” He grinned proudly. “That’s because we only take what’s absolutely necessary and nothing more. We don’t kill for fun.”
That was something Dad and his cronies regularly did. They enjoyed hunting and didn’t mind wasting. “That’s noble.”
“How big is your pack?” Titan asked as he walked lazily like he didn’t have a care in the world.
I didn’t want to tell him, but it wasn’t like I could refuse. I’d just asked him the same question. “We have four.”
“Four?” That made him stop mid-step and glance at us. “This is your entire pack?”
“Yeah, so what?” Roxy crossed her arms, sticking up for me. “We might be small, but we’re mighty.”
Is that a big deal? Donovan took my hand.
Kind of. I didn’t want to lie to them. It means he knows we’re a new pack.
Axel stood close to Roxy, on high alert. Is a new pack such a bad thing?
It usually means we left a pack. Which could come off as suspicious, especially since fae were chasing after us. Which is not normal.
Whatever you do, do not tell them that you were bitten, Roxy added.
Can’t they tell? Donovan glanced over his shoulder at the twenty wolves following close behind.
No. The fact that Roxy hadn’t alerted me to anything odd with them this morning comforted me. You don’t have any disabilities.
Why does that matter? Axel asked.
Most people who are bitten don’t survive the change, and the ones who do usually have a deformity. It was a blessing that they didn’t have one.
How is that possible? Donovan sounded confused and slightly concerned. Does that mean something is wrong?
I suspect it’s because you were both already part wolf. That was what I had banked on the night we’d turned them. You already had an animal as part of you. All we did was allow them more control over your body. The ones who have problems are those who didn’t have an animal within them, to begin with. It changes their core senses and can’t convert it all in the time of the shift.
That actually makes sense, Roxy replied. I hadn’t thought of it like that.
“How long have you four been a pack?” Titan asked, interrupting our internal conversation.
“For a short while.” I didn’t want to answer that question directly. The more we revealed about how new we were, the more suspicious he’d be.
A clearing appeared in front of us, and I could already see several small cabins.
We were getting close to Titan’s pack.
He stopped in front of us and turned. “I’m taking you into my pack. The least you can do is answer my questions.”
“I’m not sure why it’s relevant.” I refused to be bullied by anyone any longer. I’d finally stood up to my father; it seemed asinine to stop holding my own now.
“Because I’m vouching for you.” Titan glared at me and clenched his hands. “By allowing you to meet my pack, I’m introducing your pack’s problems into mine, and I’d like to know what the hell is going on.”
Donovan lifted his chin. “We didn’t ask for your help.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Sarcasm laced Titan’s words. “Someone didn’t howl for help?”
“It was meant for the vampires.” I should’ve realized that was why they’d come. “Not you.”
“Nonetheless, we came and helped.” Titan’s nostrils flared with clear annoyance. “And by doing so, the fae are aware of us, which means they’ve lumped us in with you.”
A wolf behind us growled, unhappy with our uncooperativeness.
“So, what?” Hopefully, Egan would be there soon. We were getting in over our heads. “You’re going to attack us now?”
Titan’s shoulders straightened, and he faced me head-on. “Should we?”
A woman stepped from the clearing into view. “What’s going on out here?” She had shoulder-length blonde hair, was about my height, and had eyes that matched mine.
“I told you to stay back at the house until we got more information from them.” Titan tensed even more but didn’t face her. Instead, he stepped in front of me as if to block the woman from my view.
“And you know how well I like to listen.” She didn’t break stride as her voice came closer and became clearer.
“Winter, please go back.” The alpha closed his eyes as if he knew she wouldn’t listen.
“As your mate, I get to assist in pack affairs.” She tsked as she reached his side. When her gaze landed on mine, her eyes widened, and she stumbled as if she’d seen a ghost.
But I’d never seen this lady in my entire life, which meant she must know who I was. Once again, Daddy Dearest was a huge pain in my ass. There went any chance of working together.
Titan caught her and scowled at me. “What the hell did you just do?”
“Nothing.” This lady could easily pit her mate against me. It would only take one word through the pack link. Guys, get ready to run.
Axel linked as he stepped behind Roxy, ready to protect her. You realize there’s no way in hell we can get out of here.
We have to try. Donovan sounded focused. They might not expect a direct attack.
“Like hell—” Titan growled.
“No, she didn’t.” Winter pushed him out of her way and rubbed her eyes. “It can’t be …”
A few wolves appeared beside us, baring their teeth.
Great, this was going so well. “Look, I didn’t do anything to her.”
“Leave her alone.” Winter walked over to me, shooing the wolves away. “All of you, go back to the pack. We will be back there shortly.”
“Now—” Titan started, but Winter turned her icy stare on him.
“Do you need to go with them?” She spread her feet shoulder-width apart, ready for a battle.
“Dammit.” Titan frowned and looked at the twenty-nine wolves standing there, unsure what to do. “You heard her. Go.”
All of them took off without a moment’s hesitation, except for one. He hung back and whined for a second.
“It’s fine,” Titan reassured them. “Go ahead.”
A vein in Donovan’s neck bulged as he watched the strange woman. “I won’t let you hurt her.”
“I would never.” Her musky lavender scent filled my nose, and it smelled familiar. Her blue eyes took me in. “Sadie, is that really you?”
There it was. It confirmed my worst fear. Dad would be here within the hour. “Who are you?”
“Oh, God. It really is you.” Her hands shook as she reached for me but stopped. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “How is this possible?”
“Baby, you’re scaring me.” Titan stood next to her, and all his anger melted away and was replaced with concern. “Sadie is dead. You told me that.”
They thought I was dead? How did that make any sense?