Page 33 of To Challenge a Wolf

“Is he alive?” Aaron said.

“Uh, no.”

For a moment, Aaron was quiet. Then he nodded at the lifeless form on the ground, which Johnson and Dyer seemed to have forgotten in their fear. “Take your alpha with you.”

They obeyed, lifting Drew between them despite Johnson’s limp and Dyer’s hand, crushed by Rhett’s jaws.

Aaron turned to the rest of the pack. “Now we escort these two off pack land.” Then his eyes narrowed toward Ezra. “You okay, Ezra?”

“I’m coming, Aaron,” Ezra said. His eyes were slightly glazed, but his scent was strong. “I’m seeing this through.”

Robert nodded. “We need to, all of us.”

Led by Malachi, the wolves herded the rogues out. They were a silent company, moving through the forest without needing stealth, yet boiling with such rage, Rhett half expected one of them to snap and throw a punch at Johnson or Dyer. Especially Trevor, whose ease toward the mercs had been replaced with a low furious sort of purr.

The rogues had set up camp just on the other side of Rhett’s own property line. Inside their camper van were the drone and several rifles, all of which Patrick, Cassius, and Ezra crushed with their hands. By then Ezra’s cedar essence was becoming increasingly anxious.

The pack walked in formation behind the van until it reached the main road. When the rogues had driven away, Ezra gave a shudder. “Is it over?”

“Sure thing, bro,” Trevor said.

“Oh.” Ezra dug his knuckles into the center of his chest. “Okay.”

“You need a minute, son,” Robert said. “I think I do too.”

The pack retreated from view of the public road and sat in the grass halfway back to Rhett’s land. Rhett paced, chafing at the idleness, especially in this form, which…was starting to confuse him. He should be in human form now. No—he shouldn’t have been able to change in the first place.

Alphabound.

The word rang in his head again. He did feel strangely attached, almost leashed to Malachi. He’d ignored it while dealing with the mercenaries’ departure, but now he couldn’t seem to pace more than a dozen feet away before he had to return to Malachi’s side.My alpha. Bound to my alpha. My form…is bound to…

His wolf-brain never made words easily. He couldn’t solve the puzzle now. He’d solve it when he had changed form again. He padded around to stand before Malachi as though offering himself for inspection. Maybe this was how he could regain human form. He wanted to speak to the other wolves.

Malachi cocked his head and gave a low, questioning growl.

Rhett yipped. A question for a question.I don’t know, alpha. Help?

Malachi bumped heads with him. Nothing happened.

Rhett gave another yip.Help please. Change back please. No, I’m not being clear, but I can’t. I’m wolf. Confused wolf.

Malachi responded with a bark, and the meaning of it rang in Rhett’s brain though the words were more instinct than letters and syllables.You are alphabound. You may choose.

Ah. Choose. Yes. His body surged with the sudden energy output as he simply decided he wanted to change form…and did. In a few seconds, he stood in front of his fellow wolves in his human form.

Naked.

“Whoa!” Aaron jumped, startled, then turned away. He was nearly as modest as Malachi.

Rhett couldn’t help it: all the tension burst out of him in a laugh. “Yeah, definitely the scariest thing that’s happened in the last few hours—y’all seeing some unexpected nudity.”

Aaron still didn’t look at him, which was fairly ridiculous given how many full moons they’d experienced together. Nobody flaunted nakedness at the paddock, but scrambling for clothes had happened to everyone once or twice.

“How did you change form?” Aaron said.

“I have no idea. Uh…” He wouldn’t get cold, but maybe this was a little awkward after all. “Guess nobody’s wearing two pairs of jeans.”

“Mal left his clothes back along the trail,” Ezra said. “You could wear those.”

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