Page 51 of Redeemed Wolf

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. I took comfort in the certainty I felt coming off him. My wolf, too, seemed to believe it was true.

Silas leaned in and kissed the side of my head. “Come on, we’d better get on the road. I need to get there before the rest of them. Don’t want my pack thinking they’re being invaded.”

We climbed into the truck, Pacey helping Vesta into the back before climbing in beside her, and as we pulled down the road, I looked over my shoulder at the camp we were leaving behind. I hoped we could return one day. This was their home, and yet they hadn’t hesitated to give it up for me and my siblings.

It wasn’t a long drive once we got back to the highway. Through the blurred landscape, I swore I could see flashes of gray and white and black fur through the trees. The wolves might’ve been supernaturally fast, but the truck was faster.

Silas eased off the gas as we came to a town. It wasn’t very large, not even by Grim Wilds’ camp standards. The highway cut through the center of town, with smaller roads bisecting it, leading to residential areas. The main stretch was lined with businesses—a grocery store, a laundromat, a gas station, a pizza place. And while it was pretty plain, no decorations or statues or much personality of any kind, I couldn’t help but think that the place had potential.

“Sorry about this,” Silas said with a sigh as he pulled into a parking lot of a community center and turned off the engine. “You might want to cover your ears.” Then he set his palm on the middle of the steering wheel and laid on the horn. He held it for a good ten seconds, and my ears rang in the sudden silenceafterward. “There, that should get their attention,” he said with a smirk as he hopped out.

I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, but soon enough, I saw movement from the house closest to the right. A gruff-looking alpha stepped out of his house, his upper lip curled in a sneer. “Look who decided to show up,” he snarled as he walked across the small strip of grass to the concrete parking pad. “I was starting to hope you’d abandoned us.”

“Watch your mouth, Samson,” Pacey snapped as he helped Vesta down from the truck, surprisingly gentle with her for such a big man. “That’s your Alpha you’re talking to.”

“Barely,” Samson growled back.

Silas plastered a tight smile on his face, but otherwise, didn’t show any sign that the man’s attitude bothered him. “Nice to be back. I have some news, so I need everyone in the gym.” He turned in a circle and raised his voice to address the others who had begun to trickle from their homes. “The Grim Wilds pack are on their way. I invited them, so I’ll remind everyone that they are to be treated as guests.”

“Oh goody,” Samson muttered. “Because they were such a joy the last time they were here.” He bumped Silas’s shoulder on the way into the building.

I saw a few more frowns, but more than that, I saw a lot of relieved expressions, mostly from omegas. A few welcomed Silas personally, and he addressed them each by name, asking after their children or mates. I wasn’t familiar with pack dynamics—after a life in a lab, I wouldn’t have been able to measure what was going on even if I could control my shift—so I turned to Pacey who was watching over Silas with a wary eye.

“What’s with them?” I asked as quietly as I could.

Pacey looked to see where my gaze was following Samson’s retreating back with a couple of his buddies. “The old Alphachose to run things differently, and there are still a few who preferred things the old way. Change is hard.”

We stood outside until most of the town had gone inside. Shan and the others came down the street as a group, and I wondered if they had intentionally waited, watching from the trees to see how things would go down. I was surprised to see them dressed.

“Hope you don’t mind, we stopped by your place and borrowed some clothes.” Tristan smirked, plucking at a well-worn t-shirt.

Silas narrowed his eyes. “That’s my favorite shirt,” he griped.

“I’ll be careful with it—unless, of course, it can’t handle my massive muscles.” He flexed, and the soft fabric stretched dangerously taut.

Dylan flicked his ear. “Play nice,” he scolded.

Inside the small gymnasium, the air was hot and sticky with this many warm bodies crammed into the space. Silas grabbed a plastic crate from the office and turned it upside down to stand on it, lifting his head above the crowd. “Can I get everyone’s attention?”

I swore Samson and his group of shit-disturbers spoke louder just to make a point. Pacey stuck two fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle. “Shut your yaps! Your Alpha is speaking,” he shouted.

While everyone settled, although grudgingly, I saw a few smirks from others at the alphas being taken down a peg.

Silas nodded to Pacey in thanks and turned to look over the crowd. “I have invited Shan and his pack to stay with us.”

“For how long?” someone shouted from the back.

A muscle ticked in Silas’s jaw, his eyes fiery, but otherwise, he was a picture of calm. “For as long as they need,” he said in an even tone.

Samson snorted, tilting his chin up in defiance. “You think you can just open our doors and let in the riffraff, while they eat our food, drain our resources?”

“I letyoustay, don’t I?” Silas arched an eyebrow, clenching his hands at his sides to hide his claws, and my own palms pricked in reply.

Samson’s nostrils flared, no doubt picking up the change in the air. We could all feel it. Others shifted nervously, a few of them backing away from Samson to show they weren’t with him. He was treading on dangerous ground, but I knew he wouldn’t back down. He was the type of man to keep pushing, testing his boundaries. “You’re going to bring doom on us all,” he muttered.

Silas stepped down from the crate and walked slowly over to stand in front of Samson, far too close for the man to be comfortable. I saw the bob of his Adam’s apple as he gulped.

“They are our friends and allies, and they need our help. For no other reason than that, we will provide it.” Silas got impossibly closer, their bodies nearly touching. “Unless… you think you can do better? Are you saying you want to fight me for leadership?” He stared at Samson with the weight of his status as Alpha bearing down on him until he was forced to lower his eyes.

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