Page 79 of To Challenge a Wolf

Rhett growled. His hands formed fists.

“Rhett,” Malachi said, “Trevor has not threatened your mate.”

“Mine.”

“Wow, this wolf’s possessive streak is off the charts,” Trevor said. Then the mischief faded from his scent and his smile. “I’m glad, Rhett. Malachi’s not the only one you’ve had worried lately.”

Why hadn’t he sent the Sterlings home? Why hadn’t he sent all of them home? He stayed on his feet while fresh fever seemed to course through him. Too hot. His chest was heaving as though he’d run for an hour.

Malachi ignored his aggressive stance. Calmly he said, “Do you know anything about the psychological aspect of your training?”

“Psychological?” He’d been beaten or bitten when he couldn’t stay ahead of the trainer, but that was physical. Oh… “You mean mastering my affect.”

Malachi’s amber eyes glowed for a moment. “That could be what he called it. There’s a record in the lore of an experiment done on wolves in the 1930s. Human scientists were trying to determine the extent of our ‘aggressive’ nature and whether we could be cured of it. Over time, they used negative reinforcement on these wolves until they had essentially programmed them out of any and all emotional reactions.”

A human science experiment? “No humans did this to me. Stone did.”

“I believe he modeled what’s written in the lore.”

“Well, wherever the idea came from, not feeling every little thing the way y’all do is an advantage.”

He didn’t know why he had to explain and justify himself to pack. He didn’t know why every fiber of his body was screaming at the danger of someone knowing what was going on inside him.

“There are disadvantages as well,” Malachi said. “The wolf subjects didn’t all respond the same way. Some of them could no longer attach to a pack. Their health failed, and several of them died.”

Rhett raised his hand. “Not dead. Attached to a pack.”

“Thank fate, yes.”

“Well, why could I then, if it’s as bad as you’re saying?”

Old words from Malachi came back to him.“Alphas suffer most in loss…. With the greatest power come the strongest bonds, the greatest grief.”

“Oh, I get it,” he said. “The wolves who died through lack of attachment weren’t alphas. My alpha nature managed to attach anyway.”

“I believe so,” Malachi said.

“Hold on.” Trevor raised one hand like a pup in school. “Yourwhat?”

“Malachi’s been telling me for years I’m an alpha wolf,” Rhett said. “A few days ago I decided to believe him.”

Trevor’s eyebrows shot up in deliberate exaggeration. He lowered his hand. “I have questions.”

“Later,” Rhett said. “Malachi, are you thinking all this also has something to do with Vivian? It doesn’t.”

Malachi held his gaze with a steady challenge.Be honest.

He had sent his mate away as though she weren’t his. He’d told her he felt nothing for her. His expression flattened as the enormity of what he’d done tried to knock him over. He paced up and down the porch.

“Is your fever already gone?” April said.

“Gone or going. I’m fine now.” He paused his prowling stride long enough to meet her eyes. “Thanks.”

“Of course.”

More pacing. Then he halted and faced Malachi. “You’ve got more on your mind. More theories from the lore.”

Malachi nodded. “But how much I say in front of others is up to you.”

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