Page 61 of Pack Kasen: Part 1

“She needs to go back in the cage, Gregor.”

“Does she?”

He gives me a long, probing look that almost tempts me to break eye contact.

I’ve seen that look when I was not quite a pup out of the schoolroom, but close. He isn’t just a healer, he’s the pack teacher who has taught almost all of us.

Here, in Burning Wood, life is relatively easy. We have little to fear, few enemies, and trouble easily handled by my enforcers and me. We know what the rules are and we stick to them. But in the cities, it’s different.

Humans do not always follow rules, so it’s important the young read the same history books the regular humans do, and know, not only what they are capable of, but of how dangerous they can be.

It’s why shifters stay in packs. To be a lone wolf in a city is to be a potential prey to so many different kinds of predators.

Which reminds me, I have to tell Finan to stop sharing so many of our secrets with Kat.

And then it hits me.

I called her by her name and this is not the first time I’ve done it. I did it when I thought she would die.

“I take it from your unblinking stare that you’ve had an important revelation.” Gregor's amused tone pulls me from my thoughts. “Or perhaps you are finally beginning to listen to me.”

I scowl at him and point my chin at the feral. “How long will it take her to heal?”

He shrugs. “Perhaps an hour. She will heal slowly because of the chain and the cage.”

More disapproval hardens his tone.

I ignore it.

The last time a feral got free here, people died. I’m Alpha here. This is my pack, and I’m responsible for protecting them. I can’t afford to take a chance and make the wrong call.

I back up, pulling the door open. Finan is standing just outside, in the hallway. He straightens when I stick my head out. “Finan. Get the chain.”

Gregor sighs loudly as Finan walks away.

I don’t have long to wait before Finan returns with both pieces of the chain.

As he hands it to me, his palms are slightly reddened, a result of the silver in it that is just bearable to hold but is uncomfortable to hold for long.

I take the smaller piece and loop it around the ferals wrist and the bed frame. I do it tight. She won’t be able to shift while it’s touching her skin. When I’m finished, I look at Gregor, who is doing nothing to hide his disapproval. This is his domain, but this is no ordinary patient of his, and I’m not taking any chances.

“I’m leaving a couple of enforcers outside the bunkhouse. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

“She isn’t a threat, Aren,” he says.

I walk away. “That’s not a risk I want to take.”

I take the longer piece of the chain that Finan brought with me.

Outside the bunkhouse, I howl. Less than a minute later, Cruz and Wes jog toward us from the house.

I point directly outside the bunkhouse door. “Stay guard. The feral is unconscious and chained to the bed, but if she wakes, she will try to escape out of this door or the window. Watch both.”

They nod and I walk toward the house, Finan falling in beside me.

“Where is Marisa?” I ask him.

“Inside with Silas.”

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