Page 5 of Broken Wolf

Idiots.

“Do you like living?” I mocked them before thumbing over my shoulder to Freddie. “That’s her dad.”

They all went pale as he stepped up next to me and crossed his arms over his expansive chest.

Ashley snorted. “I could lay their asses out on my own with the way I train, Alpha. And I want this job of packs coordinator when I graduate. I appreciate the chance you’re giving me at this internship over the summer. I won’t let anyone make me look bad, especially not some idiots who can’t follow your very basic rules.”

Damn. Like dayumn, girl. I saw Hagan and a few others trying to smother a smirk or snort.

I looked over to the parents. “Just like work detail or if they were in the military, they will not have their phones on them while they are working. They can contact you when they’re done for the day, but mostly they will be crashing. Ashley will be with them and will give you her phone number for emergencies only.”

Ashley went to do that but then glanced over at the media. “I will tell them the number once we’re inside and make sure they text it to you and you only.”

“Even smarter.” I glanced at my watch. “Grab your bags and let’s get going. Ashley has others she’s already managing this summer and you’re joining them and this schedule. You’re on her time now. Don’t fuck it up because then you will get me and you don’t want that. You get me and you get kicked out, savvy?”

“Yes, Alpha,” they all said.

I let out a growl and they about tripped over themselves to the SUVs to get their bags. Idiots. When I told them to move—they needed to fucking move.

We ended up pushing things inside away from the media, and I talked with the parents a few minutes as the guys stored their gear in the three-bedroom apartment they’d be sharing. Then they came back downstairs and gave their parents a quick goodbye before being whisked off to start.

Much to the shock of all of them.

“We have a lot going on,” I reminded the parents. “I told you that you didn’t have to make the drive to deliver them.”

“We wanted to and came to show our support that this wasn’t something we would fight against,” one of the dads said. “And say to your face that we’re sorry that our son was part of making the pack look bad. We’re sorry we didn’t raise him better.”

I shook his hand and smiled. “He did something totally normal and stupid kids do. His human college friends do it too often. We just have to make an example of it. Getting behind the wheel is too dangerous, and the kids can’t drink underage when wolves. Hopefully, this will make it clear that the pack takes the rules seriously and they won’t make other stupid mistakes.”

“You won’t really kick them out if they do, right, Alpha?” one of the other moms asked.

“Depends on the rule,” I told her honestly. “If he gets in an accident while speeding a bit—that happens. He could have gotten in it when he wasn’t—his fault or not. He gets piss drunk in a club and risks humans—that’s different.” I sighed when they looked worried. “There might be other steps, or they might be here under my eyes for a while away from whatever influences.”

“That’s fair,” she accepted. “And we support punishments. It’s just kicking them out when the other packs are—you know how horrible they are. Punish him however you want but please, just don’t kick him out. We can smack him back into line. We all make mistakes.”

I nodded that I heard her and I wasn’t a rash person, but it really depended on what people did and if there was a pattern. People had to show remorse and that they were willing to correct the behavior. I had others to think of besides her son.

I had my son to protect too. My brothers. The men I loved.

And a lot of people who mattered just as much as one person who fucked up.

What else was there really to say?

The media were shouting for me when I walked them out and went to get to my day, so I swung over to them.

“Don’t you think you’re going too far with kids, Chief Thomas?” someone demanded.

“No, and they’re not kids,” I said firmly. “We might call them college kids, but they’re legal adults. They can vote. They can buy a gun. They’re not kids. They’re also my responsibility as Alpha and reflect upon me and this pack. They made a mistake, and they will pay for the flak it’s put on all of us.”

“Who else is on this work detail?” someone else asked. “You said there were others. What did they do?”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Why? So you can drag the pack through mud? Give more air to the people spewing crap that we’re all too rabid and horrible to have in Chicago or the US?”

She flinched, blinking at me with wide eyes before frowning. “No, but you’re right, that is how people would spin it around. I’m sorry.” She nodded when it was my turn to be shocked. “I was trying to ask what else you take so seriously and work with your packs on more than humans.” She shrugged when the other reporters gave her confused or shit looks.

“I’m confused like some of them,” I admitted, thinking I knew where her head was but not sure.

She realized I was serious and snickered. “Those are White college guys from Wisconsin. If they weren’t wolves, everyone would have given them a pass on everything and the typical ‘boys will be boys’ bull. Not to ruin their futures by punishing them for their mistakes. All of that which I hate. I’m impressed you’re taking it so seriously and making them work real penance.

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