Page 117 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

Jace looked at me like I’d gone insane. “Why would you come out? There was a fight happening.”

I gestured to Kyro. “He was badly injured. I couldn’t just sit inside until you got here. I had to help him.”

“She healed me,” Kyro agreed. “She helped me, Jace.”

His words sent a jolt of warmth through me and reinforced my belief that I’d done the right thing.

Jace ran a hand through his hair. “He probably would have healed eventually. It’s what we do. I’d rather be sure you’re safe inside.”

“There was no way I could have known how bad it was. He was leaking blood like a sieve, writhing in pain, and I could help. So I did.” I sat back on my heels and crossed my arms. “I’m not apologizing for helping one of your pack members.”

Jace opened his mouth to argue some more, but Waylan stepped between us. Rather than making it look like he was blatantly trying to stop us from yelling at each other, he addressed Tank.

“What happened to Kyro?”

Tank heaved a sigh and gestured toward the trees. “Kyro and I were walking up to take a seat on the porch. You and Jace had just left. Like I told you, it was less than a minute or two after you were out of sight. Kyro froze, sniffed the air. Said he scented a shifter who wasn’t from our pack. Before I could say anything, two wolves came bolting out of the woods like their tails were on fire and their heads were catching.”

“They were out of their minds, Jace,” Kyro said. He was still sitting on the ground. “Their eyes were crazed.”

“I killed one,” Tank said. “Then I ran inside to make sure Kirsten was okay and defend her if the other wolf got inside somehow. He got a good hit in on Kyro, so I came back out, fought him off, and he tucked tail and ran.” Tank shook his head. “Even when he ran, I could see he didn’t want to. It was like he wanted to keep fighting, even though he knew he was gonna lose. So much rage, man. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Are they Eren’s wolves?” I asked. I didn’t know who else would have sent them, but I had to know for sure.

Jace walked over to the dead wolf and nudged it with his foot. “It definitely smells like one of his, but…” he trailed off and stared at the wolf for a few seconds, sniffing the air. “There’s something weird about it. Off. It’s stronger, somehow.” Jace turned to Kyro. “Is that what you scented?”

Kyro got to his feet. “Yeah. I knew it wasn’t one of ours, but it was a little weird. I can’t quite place it.”

“I know why,” Waylan said, kneeling close to the dead body and taking a big whiff. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Shifters had increased senses like natural wolves, but still, the thought of sniffing a dead body made me want to gag.

“It smells feral,” Waylan said.

Jace stiffened, then gave a slow nod of his head.

“Feral?” Kyro yelped. “Seriously? I’ve never met up with a feral wolf.”

“It would explain why they fought like madmen,” Jace said. “Because they were mad.”

“What’s going on here?” I finally said.

“I’m not sure,” Jace said after exchanging another loaded look with Waylan. “But I’m gonna find out.”

A hand on my shoulder almost made me jump, but it was just Harley. “Let’s go inside,” she said. “I need a nice strong drink after that.”

Later that night, after the chaotic dust of the afternoon had settled and Jace, Waylan, and the two other men had disposed of the wolf carcass, I sat reading on the sofa in the living room. The sun had set as Harley and I ate a dinner of sandwiches and potato chips. After, she’d gone up to her room to rest and get settled in fully.

The front door opened, and I glanced up from the page to see Jace.

“Hey,” he said, walking over. “I’m sorry about earlier today.”

Holding my place with a finger, I laid my book on my lap. “You were kind of a dick,” I said with a teasing lilt.

Jace slumped onto the couch. “I freaked the fuck out when Tank called. You have to see it from my point of view. The day after you’re kidnapped, more shifters attack? At my own goddamned house? When I thought you might be in trouble again, that you could be hurt? I sort of lost it. I panicked, and when I got here and found everything all right, I… I had to get that nervous energy out somehow. I’m sorry. I apologized to Tank for shoving him.” He rubbed his hand over his face, the stubble on his cheeks rasping. “That’s not the kind of alpha I want to be. It’s not the kind of alpha I am. I was scared. That’s all.”

“No, I get that. A lot happened today and yesterday. I know how stressed I am, so you feel the same.” I leaned forward and put my free hand on his thigh. “But just because you’re scared doesn’t mean I have to stay in the background. I have skills, powers I’m learning to use. Powers that can help your pack. Like I helped Kyro today.”

“I don’t want you in danger again. All I want to do is protect you.” He chuckled. “That’s going to be hard with how stubborn you are.”

“Is Kyro okay?” I asked.

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