Page 23 of Bullied By the Alpha Wolf

“Fucking hell,” I grumbled. “And, of course, I’m starving now.”

It had been years since I’d been so worked up that I had to shift like that and even longer since I’d been dumb enough to fall asleep outside. Predators—both human and wolf alike—stalked these woods, and I knew that real threats wouldn’t care if they were breaking the rules of territory.

I needed to get back. Fast.

Looking around me, I determined where I’d run off to in my somewhat fugue state. I matched the direction of the Collins compound in relation to the sun. I’d run quite a ways, and the only way I was going to get back to the house in decent time was if I shifted again.

I also didn’t have clothes, so there was that.

Letting my wolf take over again, I shifted, landing on all fours as black fur sprouted all over me. I took off running for the house and prayed to anything that was listening I’d be able to sneak in unnoticed.

***

When I got back to the main house, snagging the hidden set of clothes I’d stashed in a safe place near the back door, I was just pulling my shirt over my head when the commotion in the foyer hit my ears. Lupe’s voice sounded over the murmuring of the other wolves, and I rushed forward to see what all the fuss was about.

As soon as I arrived, the pack settled some, and I worked to send out a wave of calming energy. Agatha and Fleur held each other close, tears staining their faces as I approached. I smoothed a hand over Aggie’s shoulder, and the sharp snap of grief that flooded out of her was nearly too much to stand.

“What’s happened?”

Lupe stepped forward, lowering his head toward me. “Two more wolves have been found, Alpha. Colt and Hunter. They…”

He stepped closer to me, leaning in and whispering directly into my ear, knowing very well how well wolves could hear.

“They tore each other to pieces, Kaiden. It…it smelled like before. The drugs.”

I yanked my head back, my stare landing on Aggie and Fleur in horror. They’d lost their children—overnight. Aggie’s son, Colt, was only sixteen, and Fleur’s Hunter was seventeen. The two of them had been friends since they were babies, according to the women’s numerous tales. The boys had grown up together, practically swapping pacifiers.

The ache filling their hearts rolled off them in waves. I could smell the bitter char coloring their scents, and…fuck, this had to stop.

“Sunny,” I turned to the kind woman, still young for a wolf but mature enough to be twice her age, “would you please take them somewhere to be alone? They don’t need to deal with all this.”

Aggie shot her head up from Fleur’s shoulder, looking me dead in the eye as the sobs racked through her.

“My boy…C-colt, can you bring…”

She couldn’t finish, but I knew what she needed. It was already on my mind as well. Stepping to her slowly, I laid a gentle hand on her shoulder again, meeting her eyes and not hiding the remorse I felt for her son.

“I will make sure that they are both brought back home and prepared to meet their ancestors. We will not leave them alone.”

The tears flowed harder, streaming down her face, but I could feel the gratitude coming off her—off Fleur as well.

Poor Fleur looked like she was still in shock. She held Aggie, unblinking and her gaze unfocused. She’d detached from the reality before her because it was too much to take, and I didn’t blame her for a single second. When it hit her, and it would, it would hit her all the harder, but Fleur would have her packmates around her to lend their strength.

Sunny joined me at their sides, laying her hands on them both. “Let’s let them get things ready. We’ll choke down a cup of tea, okay?”

Her light voice was so quiet, this gentle nudge to get the women to move to the kitchen so that I could deal with getting the wolves’ bodies taken care of.

I nodded at Sunny, patting her shoulder and sending a rush of gratitude and appreciation in her direction. When she looked up at me, I silently mouthed, “Thank you.”

She nodded back and then took the pair to the kitchen for that tea.

Returning my attention to Lupe, I met his eyes as I felt the presence of the other wolves around me. They were all so concerned about what was happening, and I couldn’t have this meeting with them around.

“Pack,” I spoke with authority, still holding Lupe’s soulful brown eyes, “please allow my beta and I the time to collect the remains for proper burial and to discuss our next steps. I’ll send for you all when I have a plan of action ready to present.”

I could sense their hesitation, their want to know what we would be discussing, and I pushed a bit of the alpha command into them, just enough to let them know I was serious. They each nodded their acceptance, and after a few moments, the front hall cleared of everyone but me and Lupe.

“Tell me more about what you saw. Don’t spare the details.”

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