Page 7 of Pack Captive

From the last Caller of my people, to a prisoner. If the Vesperan Warriors were still alive, they would never have stood for this.

I cast a harsh look at Fenn, but he refused to meet my eyes for long.

“Think of the pups, Ayla,” he whispered.

“You have no idea who this pack is.” My voice was flat and deadly, and I made no effort to lower it. “They could belong to Fenris.”

At that, the Alpha’s head shot up.

He abandoned the wolf he’d been talking to—probably debating what to plunder from the remains of our temple—and strode over to me.

I looked up, and he reached out and took my chin.

His touch was gentle. I hadn’t expected that.

This close, the sky blue of his eyes was actually edged with gray. I expected him to be furious, but instead he stroked my chin with his thumb.

“I would die before I gave us up to Fenris,” he told me. “Your pack is safe with us. They’re mine to care for now.”

For a moment, I considered that maybe he was telling the truth. That he would save the last of Pack Vesper.

But then he smiled again. “As are you, my new Caller.”

Rage boiled in my veins.

“Which pack are you?” I demanded.

“Pack Azura,” the Second cut in. He watched us closely, those glittering dark eyes lingering on the way the Alpha gripped my chin.

My stomach dropped to my toes.

Azura was one of the largest packs left that hadn’t been taken and forcibly converted by Fenris.

From the moment they’d found us, we hadn’t stood a chance. The Azurans held the remains of an entire ancient wolf city, and multiple packs had joined together under them to create a force to rival Fenris.

In fact, they were theonlypack who could still rival Fenris.

I realized the Alpha was still looking at me, examining my face. My cheeks burned in discomfort at the close proximity and blatant interest he showed.

“What’s your name, Caller?” he asked, still not letting me go.

I debated with myself for a second, if this presumptuous Alpha deserved to know at all.

But Fenn was giving me a pleading look. The rest of Vesper’s future rested on how well this Alpha liked us.

I finally answered, muttering my name.

“Ayla,” he repeated, still holding my face. He seemed like he was about to ask me something else, but a sudden commotion amongst his pack interrupted the moment.

I looked up, following his gaze.

Once again, I had completely failed. His wolves were leading my people back into the valley they’d tried to escape from.

The Azurans opened to make room for them, surrounding them like a wall of safety. Maybe to them, theydidrepresent safety, the kind they’d never known since Fenris had come to power.

After all, I’d been the one who wasn’t strong enough to keep our warriors alive.

My pack followed them willingly, but I couldn’t be angry in the slightest. Azura was their best chance of survival, and I would do anything to ensure the pups lived.

---