Page 38 of Fated to the Feral Wolf

Before we could go hunting for drinks, though, the men appeared. To my surprise, Gael was at the front of the line. He stepped toward Leigh, but Dirge put himself between them, growling low in his throat.

“Easy. I’ve just got a soda for her.” Gael held up the green can. “Ice-cold ginger ale. I grabbed a few from the hangar fridge before we left.”

“Oh, good idea.” Brielle plucked the drink from his fingers and popped the tab before passing it to Leigh. Drink up, and then we’ll chase it with some water when you’re less queasy.”

Gael nodded as Leigh took a sip, then stepped back out intothe rain, leaving the shelter for us. He didn’t complain as the rain drenched him, and once again, I wondered what was going on between the two of them. But I didn’t have long to think about it because Kane walked up, phone pressed to his ear.

“Yes, myself plus my delegation of six pack members, and two air personnel. Nine total. Thank you. We’re waiting at the airstrip.” He hung up, finally looking at the paltry shelter. “They have a driver on the way to retrieve us and take us to pack lodging. The Alpha wants to speak with me, but they have enough beds for the night, and hot showers.”

“Thank you, Kane.” Brielle stood and pressed a kiss to his lips, hands going around his neck as he pulled her closer. I looked away, giving them a moment of privacy even as the sight of what I couldn’t have made my chest ache.

“I hear a vehicle.” Gael’s tone was sharp, alert—and everyone tensed as a small passenger van bump-bumped out of the forest, headlights blurred by the downpour.

“We trust these people, right?” I asked, the chill and nerves both combining to raise gooseflesh along my arms. The previous high alpha had been assassinated mere weeks ago, and now Kane was the new one, standing six feet from me. If someone came after him next, we were all in danger.

“We have no reason not to, but stay alert. We take no risks and we stay together.” Kane’s tone was calm but hard, brooking no arguments.

The van pulled right in front of the little shelter, a harried-looking middle-aged man with a receding hairline cranking down the window a few inches. “Heya, folks. Climb on in and we’ll get you dry as quick as we can.” He plastered on a smile to match his too-chipper tone, but ducked back from the window as rain splattered up.

We all piled in, the pilot and copilot last after securing the plane right on the airstrip. The ride was bumpy and dark, andLeigh was groaning quietly from her position on Brielle’s shoulder between sips of ginger ale.

Dirge and I took up an entire row of seats ourselves because the side aisle of the van wasn’t large enough to hold him.

“Nothing like the smell of wet fur, eh?” The driver chuckled, looking at us in the rearview mirror far longer than was comfortable. “Your man there doesn’t shift, even with a frog strangler like this?”

I shook my head, uncomfortable and unwilling to try to explain to this complete stranger our complex situation. Though… I’d have to get used to it. A nonshifting mate wasn’t a complication that was going away any time soon.

I bit my bottom lip and dropped my gaze, hoping he’d likewise drop the issue.

“Well then, my name’s Mick, and I’m one of Pack Effelin’s support staff. I understand you’re expected by Caesar, Alpha?”

“HighAlphaKane will be making brief introductions with Alpha Caesar,” Reed corrected, an unusual imperiousness lacing his tone as he addressed the male. “But we have been through quite a lot this evening, and we appreciate your pack’s understanding in granting us some privacy and rest.”

“Okie dokie, understood.” Mick’s smile turned forced, but he lapsed into blessed silence for the rest of the ride.

We pulled up in front of a small but well-maintained log cabin, a light on in the front window, with a woman visible running around frantically inside.

“Uh…” Leigh lifted her head, squinting.

“Oh, don’t worry. That’s just Marge. She’s another of our support staff, and she’s getting things prepared for you. Head on in, she won’t bite.” Mick began to whistle as we climbed out of the passenger van.

“So…” I looked anxiously from the van to the house, the stranger inside still darting back and forth.

Gael stepped forward, brushing past us and tromping upthe front steps. He rapped once on the door, hard, and then pushed it open. The woman inside let out a loud yelp, and then a quieter exchange took place just out of earshot.

“Gael will clear the cabin, and then the rest of you will wait here while Kane and I go speak with Alpha Caesar,” Reed said.

Brielle spoke up, a worried edge to her tone. “Shouldn’t Gael go with you too? We’ve never met this Alpha before, and we don’t know how safe it is. The two of you are strong, but three would be stronger.”

Reed smiled gently. “Kane will be fine, I promise. The most common method of taking out a powerful alpha is by using his mate. You are what needs protecting.” Reed graciously extended his gaze to all us females as he said that.

“I’m a strong fighter, Reed. And we have Dirge. If you need Gael, nobody will get past us,” I argued.

Reed just shook his head. “High Alpha’s orders, I’m afraid. But don’t worry. I don’t sense anyone with a tenth of Kane’s power anywhere within a half mile. He could probably flatten every alpha in this pack with his pinky finger.” He shot me a wink as Gael walked back to our group.

“It’s clear. Everyone inside.”

Brielle shared a quick goodbye kiss with Kane, and then the van pulled away.

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