Page 25 of Tangled Fates

I lifted my head toward the sky and allowed Wolfy to take over. I transformed, rising tall above the grass as I tilted my head back and howled. I let out one last sob. One last earth-trembling howl of anguish before I had to screw my head back on straight.

But I wasn’t heading toward the pack.

I had more anger to get out of my system before I could head back there.

Come on, let’s go find something to destroy.

HELL, YEAH!

I leapt to where my father had been standing and sniffed the air. His cologne still hung onto the curtails of the breeze as it picked up, swirling around me and cloaking me in the residual warmth that got left behind. I drank it all in. I committed every single feeling and scent to memory. Now, more than ever, I needed his guidance. His education. His helping hand. And yet, all I had was his ghost.

A ghost that I had apparently conjured?

How did I even do that? Do you know, Wolfy?

NO FUCKING CLUE; NOW LET’S RIDE.

My wolf knew what direction the pack was in. I turned toward the southeast, sticking my nose into the air and sniffing just to make sure no one had followed me. The last thing I wanted was to share my father. The last thing I wanted was someone intruding on the very last memory I’d ever have of him. He was mine, despite what he may have been to his pack, and I wanted to make sure it stayed that way.

Then, I turned in the exact opposite direction and took off.

WEEEEE HOO!

Mile after mile shot behind me until there was nothing but me, Wolfy, and the forest around us. I smelled nothing. Heard nothing. Sensed nothing, except the stench of my own fury. I was angry. Angrier than I’d ever been in my entire life. And I knew I couldn’t leave the pack until I figured shit out. So, my father was dead at the hands of bear shifters? They’ll all pay with their fucking jugulars. But that comment he made about his wounds not healing.

I kept turning it over in my head as my claws dug into the dirt and pushed me onward.

YOUR BOND WITH THEM WILL GROW, YOU KNOW.

What? You going to convince me that I need those assholes?

YOU KNOW YOU DO.

I can’t tolerate one man, much less three. They’re better off.

THE MATING BOND WILL GROW, BUT IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU STRONGER.

And how exactly does that work?

BY ACCEPTING YOUR BOND WITH THEM.

What does that even mean?

I JUST KNOW THAT THEIR WOLVES COMPLIMENT ME. ESPECIALLY DEMON DOG. I LIKE DEMON DOG.

You can think about getting laid some other time.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX, MISS ‘I’VE ALREADY SLEPT WITH TWO.’

I only kissed Hudson, thank you very much.

YOU KNOW IT’S COMING, THOUGH. AND WHEN IT COMES, YOU’LL BE COMING, TOO.

Horny toad.

IDIOT.

I had to admit, my wolf had spunk, and I liked spunk. My wolf said things that made me think, and as I latched onto something that Wolfy had said, it drove my mind down a path I hadn’t considered. Would they really make me a better wolf? A better leader for the pack? Maybe that was why their wolves were the only ones that could help control me when mine flew off the handle.

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