Page 27 of Wolf's Chance

“Shifter.”

Cannon frowned, stooping to pick up part of the ruined frame. “You?”

“No.”

My answer was too quick for the sharp alpha in front of me. “Who?”

Fuck, I didn’t want to answer this. “Why are you here, Alpha?”

“Who was the shifter, Caleb?”

“How do you know who I am?”

Cannon leveled me with a look but blew out a breath. “Things have changed since you last checked in with a pack.” I almost told him I never checked in with a pack, but I was aware that this alpha already knew that. “There’s a lot of shit that’s happened before, there’s a lot still to come, but the Pack Council knows that.”

“Things really must have changed,” I scoffed. “Those old farts know fuck all usually.”

It was the first time the man in front of me genuinely smiled. “As I said, things are changing.” Cannon’s gaze swept the area where we were standing. “You’re a lone wolf,” he said, his voice softened. “It’s admirable to go it alone.”

“But?” I knew it was coming; it usually did when I met another of my kind.

“But how long beforelonebecomesrogue?”

“I like my own company,” I told him simply. “I’m alone by choice.”

“Not by choice,” Cannon corrected me. “The death of your family, your pack, you never chose that.”

“Fuck you.”

Cannon’s mouth twitched in a semblance of a smile. “Your fire fuels your temper.”

“You have no right to talk to me about my family.”

“You’re right, I don’t.” The piece of charred wood tapped off his palm. “Who was in the painting?”

“Why are you here?”

“Who is the woman in the store?” Cannon cocked his head to the side. “Who is she to you?”

“She’s no one.”

“Another lie.” His humor was gone. Instead, he looked ready to take me out, and I did not doubt that he could. “Start speaking truths, Caleb, or the next person I speak to will be her.”

My instinct was to attack, but the movement behind me was the first time that I knew that we weren’t alone. Turning, I saw the sharp watchful gazes of the two shifters who emerged from the trees.

“Luna, you guys are good,” I complimented them as my wolf prowled closer to the surface.

“We’re pack,” Cannon reminded me from where he stood behind me. “And you look ready to run,” he added dryly. “Why are you here?”

The fight left me. He was an alpha, his pack was with him, and although I knew I could defend myself, I also knew I couldn’t beat them. Him. I wouldn’t beat an alpha like him. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Something drew me here.”

“The woman?”

Why deny it? He probably already knew. “Yes.”

“She made the picture?”

“Painting,” I corrected. “She did.”

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