Page 9 of Mated in Darkness

“Did the government come for your Pack too?” I asked, aware I didn’t know the history of this Pack.

The other man scowled. “They tried. We were one of the Packs that weren’t living out in the open, but it’s not like we can hide in a forest like some of you guys.”

I scowled. “Because you don’t have forests?”

He snorted. “We were on hill country, but it’s a little different than an actual Redwood forest.”

“True.” I paused. “They came after you then?”

He nodded as he pulled up onto a dirt road, and I could sense other wolves nearby. We must be nearing the center of their den, or at least the part they would allow me to see.

“They did. We didn’t let them get far. They didn’t come in as hard as they did with you, as they didn’t know much about us, but like they were doing with much of the wolves around the country, they were trying to set a precedent, give us a message. They weren’t able to.”

“I’m glad that you were able to protect yourself.”

“The Starlight Pack is stronger than most people think.”

“I knew you were strong. Why do you think I came alone and didn’t try to make my way in with another enforcer?”

“Because it would have been a sign of aggression. Maybe one day our Packs will be friendly enough that it won’t be an issue. But not now.”

“Maybe one day.”

“I mean, not all of us can inter-mate with another Pack so much that you and the Talons seem like you’re kissing cousins at this point.”

I scowled. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”

“Just saying.” He let a small smile escape before scowling again as he pulled in.

“This won’t take long. You meet with Riaz, and then we’ll help you find your Packmate. Our Packmate.”

My wolf bristled. “He’s not Starlight anymore. He hasn’t been for a while.”

“He’s family. You understand that.”

“I do. Let’s go find him.”

“But first, Riaz.”

Meeting a new Alpha wasn’t my favorite thing to do. Going through the dominance games with Brendan had been enough for the day, and I was going to have to deal with it again meeting the Alpha of the Starlight Pack.

I didn’t have time for this, and I couldn’t feel the pull towards Spencer, and that worried me.

I held onto whatever feeling I could and rolled my shoulders back, aware that others were watching me, but it didn’t feel hostile. More like curious.

I figured that was a good thing, and I made my way through, not meeting anyone’s gaze, mostly because I didn’t want to have to deal with the dominance challenge. We wouldn’t be able to help ourselves. We were wolves. It was in our nature.

We made our way around to a new development within the den, and I realized that no, we weren’t actually in the den itself. I hadn’t gone through any wards. We were on the outside of the den still, and I understood that. They didn’t want me within their den walls, at least not before I met the Alpha, and I was grateful that they had that kind of security. But they were building something outside of it, which was interesting. I looked at the shirtless man in front of me as he helped put up the side of a building, the others around him equally shirtless in the Texas heat, as they worked on the framing of what looked to be a small home.

The man with dark eyes and dark hair looked at me and raised a brow. “Kaylee then?” the man asked.

I didn’t meet his gaze. He was the Alpha, and he was far more dominant than me. I could feel it, but he also didn’t growl or show his wolf. He just set his tools down and picked up a towel to wipe the sweat off his body.

He was hot as hell, built, and any woman’s dream, but my wolf wanted nothing to do with him.

And considering my wolf wanted a mate and didn’t want to just scratch an itch, I listened to my wolf.

He was an attractive Alpha with strength in numbers and a cunning intelligence, from what I had heard, and my wolf didn’t want him.

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