Page 123 of A Wolf's Heart

“This is so weird.” I was at a complete loss for words. I reached my hand out, running my fingers through Max’s tan hair, fur? Nope, it was definitely human hair.

He jumped up, rubbing his head into my hand. Then, his body began to shake, the telltale snapping indicated he was shifting. My dog stood before me, rubbing his back against my legs. The clothes on the ground weren’t as ripped as they would have been if he was a full-grown wolf.

“Did he mean to do that?” I asked.

“No,” Rainor said. “This is why we haven’t been able to allow him to leave this area. Aside from the obvious dog traits and lack of any human etiquette, he can’t control his shifts. They used to be violent—he was afraid of them—however, now he has calmed down.”

I fell to my knees and Max sat in front of me. I threw my arms around him. He smelled different, he smelled like a shifter, but he felt like Max. “This whole time, I was in so much pain, and he was here. You knew he was alive?”

At least they had the decency to look somewhat ashamed. Well, except for Kage.

“It was the best decision at the time, for the pack.” He crossed his arms.

Max stayed in his dog form while I played with him. He had a few tennis balls, and the nurse walked with me to the area where I was able to play with him. Everything about him seemed the same, but as the nurse talked to me about what they had been working on, I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it.

I shared with her a few tips and insights about Max, how I trained with him, and we showed her a few tricks. My energy was quickly dwindling, but I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to bring him home, even though I already knew what the answer would be.

Max was a danger. Not only to himself, but to others around him. What if he shifted near a human? What if he shifted and became aggressive? Being reunited with me was something they were obviously working on, but it was something that wasn’t currently possible. No matter how much I wanted to be reckless and selfish, I knew this was for the better.

He liked his nurse, he had the whole arena to run around in, and he enjoyed his bed. He ran right to it before shifting back into human form and stretching his arms over his head. The nurse turned on a TV, and he lay there, watching.

“We use the shows to teach him human interaction,” the nurse said as she walked out of the room. “He has come a long way. It’s a lot to learn, but soon, he will be able to leave.”

“Thank you. For caring for him.” I smiled.

I was exhausted and a little glum by the time we left, but I had a bit of hope and a shred of happiness. I would have to make due for now.

We took the elevator up to the main floor, Rainor stating there was a car waiting for us. I found myself leaning into Weylin as I fought to keep my eyes open. “I could carry you,” Weylin whispered, kissing the top of my head.

“No, I’m fine. Just taking a rest and preparing myself for whatever else you guys have in store for me.” Weylin did nothing to hide his excitement through the bond, I didn’t have to use much imagination to know whathehad in store for me.

Something crossed my mind then.

“Kage, what was your father’s name?” I asked.

He glanced down at me, staring for a moment, as if trying to quickly come up with a reason as to why I was asked. I said nothing.

“Byron,” he finally said. “Byron Cridhe.”

I thought so.

The doors opened, and we stepped out onto the marble floor of the expansive reception area. Kage walked in front while Weylin and Rainor stayed on either side of me.

“It’s for Lila, Lila Evans,” someone said. All three men stiffened, but they didn’t stop walking.

I peered around Weylin at the man who stood at the reception desk. In his hands, he held a medium-sized box.

“Thank you, sir. I shall ensure she receives this.” The receptionist held a fake smile as she reached for the box, and even I could tell there was no way they were going to give that to me.

I sighed, quickly steeping away from the guys and walking towards the man. “I’m Lila,” I said. “I’ll take it.” I held my hands out to the harmless delivery man, but Weylin grabbed me, pulling me back.

The man knelt on one knee, bowing his head and holding the box up with two hands, as if he was presenting something magnificent to me.

“Security,” the receptionist called. Only, the gammas didn’t try to seize the man before us. They poured out of a room, lining up along the windows and blocking the entrance.

Instead, it was Kage that stepped forward, taking the box and handing it back behind him into Rainor’s hands. “Who are you?” he demanded.

I took a deep breath in, pulling in his scent. My body froze. He was a shifter, his scent unique and different, however it was the scent coming from the box that alarmed me. The damp, natural gas smell I had only ever picked up from one other place.

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