Page 72 of Fated to the Feral Wolf

“Of course, Alpha.” I stepped to the side, letting Reed and a reluctant Gael exit first. “What can I help you with?” My hands dropped to link behind my back as I assumed the military rest stance out of old habit.

“Have you considered coming back as an enforcer? I know Julius and Gael would welcome the help, and you’re experienced.”

I rocked back on my heels, considering. It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. Part of me wanted to say no, that I needed to focus on Shay. But I knew her, and I knew how deep her love for her friends ran. She would want to help and want me to do anything and everything I could to keep them safe.

“I’ll need some time to think it over, but I’ll get back to you.”

“Thank you.” He nodded again and rose, clapping me on the back as we strode out the door, the two of us both eager to see our mates.

FORTY-FOUR

Shay

“Brielle?” My head snapped up from my spinach salad at the unfamiliar voice. The she-wolf who’d approached our table seemed timid, almost afraid of us. She was a petite redhead, wearing jeans and a light hoodie that saidRun Wildon the front.

“Yes?” Brielle’s tone was kind, not an ounce of worry evident as she addressed the small female.

“Excuse me, I’m so sorry to bother you. But you’ve been in your rooms since you’ve been back, and, well—” She picked at her thumbnail with her pointer finger, and I noticed that the digit was red and agitated, as if she’d been picking at the cuticle for a while.Verynervous, then. But why? I took as unobtrusive a drag of her scent as I could, and it suddenly made sense.

Anxiety. My own shoulders loosened as soon as I pegged it. She could probably feel the dominance rolling off these four males from a mile off, and as far as I could tell she wasmaybea nu in the pack hierarchy. Not much stronger than Bri, anyway.

“Do you have a medical concern? I was previously the pack’s healer, but I’ve heard there’s a fill-in since I was mated into another pack.”

“Er, yes. It’s me. I’m the fill-in, Olivia.” She pasted on a forced smile, half lifted her hand as if for a shake, then seemed to think better of it. “It’s just… I’m primarily an herbalist, and I’ve heard that you haveactualmedical training, as well as the best maternal-infant survival rates of any healer in the state. I was wondering—and I know it’s a big ask—but could I maybe be your apprentice? I’ve only been an assistant healer for a year in my old pack, and there’s a lot that I don’t know.”

Brielle frowned over at Kane before letting the expression sweep our group. Our insular, private group of people who knew her secret. This girl—no matter how sweet—was a safety risk, and beyond that, letting her into our circle could put a target on her as well.

“I’m not sure that’s?—”

“Please don’t say no. Even if you’re only here a few more days, I’d love anything you can share with me. I want to serve my pack well, but it’s difficult when I don’t know… actually, a lot of things. Your notes have been incredibly helpful, so I know I could learn a lot from you. Please.” She stammered to a halt, a rampant blush creeping up her neck.

She might have been a nu or lower, but she had gumption. I instantly liked her.

“We’ll probably only be here a few more days, but I don’t see why I couldn’t swing by the healer’s clinic and show you some things.” Brielle smiled warmly at Olivia, who nearly fainted in obvious relief.

“Thank you so much. I’ll let you get back to your lunch,” she said, already backing away.

“That’s a bad idea,” Gael groused as soon as the little she-wolf was out of earshot.

“Think she’s undercover with the ODL?” Bri teased, then a little wrinkle formed between her eyebrows. “They don’t even employ wolves, do they?”

“No, they don’t,” Dirge said, shooting my friend an amusedlook. “Even if they tried, there’s not a wolf alive who’d take the job of murdering our children. Gael’s just an unfriendly ass.”

“It was nice of you to offer to help.” Leigh said, taking an imperious sniff and a testy bite of her big, greasy cheeseburger.

“Well, she seems sincere. And I always love someone willing to talk medicine.” There was an excited gleam in her eyes.

“Just don’t get too close,” Gael persisted, ignoring everyone’s eye rolls. “We don’t need any safety risks, and if she figures out”—he dropped his voice so low, even I could barely hear him from right across the table—“the truth of your nature, she could be the weak spot the ODL finds and leverages.”

“Considering I’ve lived my entire life as a psi and we had to travel to see a centuries-old bear shifter to get confirmation, I think my secret’s fairly safe.” Brielle cocked an eyebrow at Gael, as if testing to see if he’d challenge her directly.

Gael ducked his head, whether in deference or resignation, it was hard to tell. But he didn’t take another bite of his steak, and it wasn’t lost on me thathisshoulders were still tight as barbed-wire cattle fence.

Maybe I should go to the clinic with her.Just to be safe.

The clinic stank of antiseptic,which was far too sharp for my wolf’s nose. Frankly, I was bored out of my skull as I sat on the paper-covered cot and watched Brielle and Olivia with their heads bent over an endless string of random tools, herbs, and notes, but after an entire morning of watching Leigh debate if she should box her shoes by color or by style, it was a welcome reprieve. We just wouldn’t tell Leigh until we were back on Blackwater land that I’d stuffed all her leggings into one box instead of sorting them by season. What in the blue blazes did that even mean?

I didn’t know, and I didn’t intend to find out.

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