Page 13 of Wild Wolf

Plunger could do what he liked and I didn’t really give a shit, but Pudding was good people. I wouldn’t have been able to orchestrate anything about the change in plans for our escape once the riot had begun if it hadn’t been for him and I didn’t want to see him getting captured and locked away again, but I also couldn’t keep him with us.

“I have family who live in the Wasted Mountains. We like to spend weeks or even months there roaming the wilds in our Order forms. There are good caves there. Good rivers too.”

I smiled, not in the least bit surprised that Pudding enjoyed spending extended periods of time in his Order form. And I seriously doubted the FIB would stand much chance of locating a Bear in the woods.

“That sounds like a great idea,” I told him, offering him a hand to shake and realising this would be goodbye.

Pudding gave me a slow smile, setting aside his demolished plate of pie and getting to his feet so he towered over me.

He ignored my hand and drew me into an embrace instead, enveloping me in his huge body and patting me roughly on the head.

“You’re a good hound,” he said, drawing a smile to my lips. “I will not forget this boon you have granted me. And I will be your loyal friend if ever you are in need of one.”

“Dante can give you some stardust so you can leave once you pass through the wards,” I told him. They’d been dropped on the night of the escape so that we could arrive here quickly but Dante had put them all back in place now, making sure that no one could arrive here unannounced as usual.

“Yes,” he agreed. “Goodbye, hound.”

“Goodbye, Pud.” I gave him a final squeeze and we broke apart, heading back out of the cellar and exchanging one last look before he lumbered away towards the vineyards where Dante was partying with the pack, and I turned back to the house.

I found Esme lurking in the kitchen, her eyes wide as I approached, a low whine sounding in the back of her throat.

“You’re sending me away?” she asked, looking like a kicked puppy and making me feel like shit. I was her Alpha and I was abandoning her. But keeping her with me would only bring her closer to danger.

“Just for a little while,” I promised her. “We have a pack house in Tucana, up in the northeast of the kingdom – ever heard of it?”

“Isn’t it that fancy town near Zodiac Academy where all the preppy assholes go to drink on the weekends?” she asked, looking utterly unenthusiastic about the place.

“It is. We have some business going down there – where there are preppy assholes there’s plenty of money, after all. And the pack there are pretty cool too – they have moon runs on the beach and party like it’s their last night on earth every damn night. There’s mountains and forests and the sky is so dark up there away from the big cities that I swear the moon shines brighter than in any other part of Solaria. I think you’d like it.”

Her expression lightened at my description and she nodded slowly. “If that’s what will make you happy, Alpha,” she said.

“Knowing you’re safe and free will make me happy,” I agreed. “And Louie said he will go with you, show you the ropes and stay up there for a few months too.” It hadn’t escaped my notice that Esme had been giving my cousin Louie the big eyes since we’d arrived back here and I figured the promise of his company would sweeten the deal for her.

As I’d guessed, her eyes brightened considerably at that announcement and she threw herself at me, a low howl escaping her as she hugged me tightly in farewell.

I found Ethan in the heart of the party taking place out by the vineyards, many of my cousins, second cousins, third cousins and assorted family friends all batting their eyelashes at him and working to gain the attention of this new and interesting Alpha.

He was drinking a beer with Dante, not seeming to notice any of his admirers but shoved to his feet at the sight of me approaching.

“Did you find what we need, love? Do you know where he is?” he asked me, striding over to close the distance between us, and some of the tension in me spilled away as he cupped my jaw in his rough palm.

“I’m working on it,” I replied, taking his hand in mine. “I’ve got the others in the TV room so we can figure out where to go from here.”

“You don’t want to stay and party with us, lupa?” Dante asked me, his knowing gaze straying over my expression. Of course the pack had turned out in full to see me off again, but I couldn’t stomach a night of partying while Roary was still locked up somewhere, and we both knew it.

“I think it’s better if we leave now,” I told him, though I could admit that my heart hurt to be parted from this place and my famiglia again so soon. But it wasn’t home without Roary and I didn’t deserve to enjoy it until I had him here with us.

Dante nodded. “Leon wants to help but the FIB are tailing him while they search for Roary themselves. I think he would be better off causing a distraction and keeping their eyes away from whatever it is you’re doing than coming with you and potentially drawing more heat your way.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “He should keep the FIB looking in another direction while we hunt. I’ll get Roary back and then we can all be together again, the way we should be,” I swore powerfully and Dante nodded his agreement, handing me a pouch of stardust.

“I know you will. A morte e ritorno, Rosa.”

“A morte e ritorno,” I replied.

Dante clapped a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Do better, stronzo. Or you might end up wishing I still had no idea who you are.”

Ethan raised his chin to that challenge but didn’t disagree with it. “I will,” he said. “You’ll see.”

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