Page 12 of Fated to the Feral Wolf

I watched as she hugged the alpha, Kane, who I’d watched grow up. The memories came rushing back of the dark-headed boy who laughed too loudly for the responsibilities he would one day bear. The memories shocked me with their clarity. Nothing had been clear except pain for so long.

Until Shay.

The two of them pulled apart, and Shay leapt at me with excitement. “You did it! You did it, Dirge!” She wrapped me in a hug so tight, she nearly choked me. But rather than dislodge her, I pushed her forward, letting her back meet the concrete as I laved sandpaper kisses over her cheeks and forehead.

“Eww, Dirge!” She laughed, the first time I’d heard the sound, and I stopped licking just to listen, to appreciate the unbridled joy of it.

Something fundamental inside me shifted.

NINE

Shay

It was even harder leaving Dirge in the cell the second time, but I did it with renewed determination.

“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d have called you a liar,” Julius said as we walked through the door into the monitoring room.

“Can we let him out?” I didn’t wait for a lengthy discussion or for people to start second-guessing what they’d seen. I needed him out. I needed him with me.

“We will vote on it,” Kane said, laying a gentle hand on my shoulder before crossing to Brielle’s waiting arms. She stared up at him with adoration.

“Have I told you lately that I don’t like it when you put yourself in danger? That was terrifying to watch.”

“I know, baby, but I could cow his wolf if I had to. This is part of being Alpha.” He stroked her cheek reverently, the tender sight making my stomach tighten with jealousy. I was so proud of my friend for overcoming the odds and claiming her mate. But I wanted that for myself too, so badly it hurt.

Brielle leaned into his touch, even as the two of them turned together to face the rest of the group.

“All in favor of allowing a trial release period?” Kane posed the question with no further fanfare.

Reed and Brielle lifted their hands immediately, and I did too, though I likely didn’t get a vote. Technically, I wasn’t evenpartof Pack Blackwater, but I didn’t care. The rest of the hands were slower to go up, but in the end, every one went up, except Julius’s.

“I’m not saying no, but he needs a guard at all times until he’s no longer feral and they’re bonded.”

“I will personally take responsibility for him.” Gael stepped forward, shocking me in the process. I didn’t know him well—only observing the crazy, angry chemistry between him and Leigh—but the grateful look Reed sent him told me everything I needed to know. He was no hopeless romantic, but he’d do anything for his pack.

Julius nodded, then lifted two fingers to signal his consent.

I headed straight for the hall, not waiting for anyone to change their minds.

Kane called after me, “Five, eight, two?—”

“Six, eight, nine, I know!” I called back over my shoulder, already punching in the code.

They didn’t need to know that Dirge was getting out tonight, whether they voted for it or not.

An hour later,I was back in bed, Dirge lying plastered to my uninjured side and growling lightly at John Henry, who wanted to check my wound since I’d escaped my room earlier.

“I feel okay, just tired,” I reassured the displeased healer.

“I understand, but your body can’t process wolfsbane, and you’re not healing at normal speed. Things like pulled stitches matter when you’re healing at human rates.”

I lifted the bottom of my shirt and frowned down at thebright red bloom of blood on my bandage. I hadn’t even noticed, but it probably needed changing. I cast a glance at Dirge, whose hackles were raised as he tried to engage the man in a staring contest. John Henry was carefully keeping his eyes averted, and the whole thing would’ve been comical if I didn’t need his help.

“Can Brielle check it?” Leigh asked from her post in the corner chair. “She was grabbing our lunch, but she’s trained, and maybe Fido will be a little less touchy about a female doc.” Her pose was casual but alert, one arm slung around her knee, the other foot bouncing on the ground with boredom. She didn’t fully trust Dirge yet, and I couldn’t blame her, really.

The glowing red eyes were unnerving.

“Don’t call him Fido, Leigh.” I stroked down his back again, ignoring the filth in favor of connection. But we’d have to get him cleaned up somehow, and soon.

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