Page 117 of The Pack

Logan took the lead, and we followed him and his pack through the ruined streets. They moved with quiet confidence, all together as one. They didn’t speak, but their presence was enough to make me feel safer.

When the crumbling remnants of an old two-story pub came into view, my heart twisted. Its faded sign readThe Lucky Clover, carved right into the brick and concrete façade. The once-welcoming facade was now dark and overgrown, but it was standing, its walls weathered and its roof mostly undamaged.

“This is it?” Killian asked, his fiery hair catching the faint light filtering through the haze.

Logan glanced back, his lips curving into a smirk. “It’s better inside than it looks outside.”

Inside, the pub was surprisingly well-preserved. The air smelled faintly of damp wood and old smoke, but it was warm, the faint glow of a fire crackling in the corner fireplace. Tables and chairs had been pushed to the sides, replaced by bedding made from scavenged blankets and furs. A few shelves were lined with cansof food and supplies, and a rusted keg stood propped in the corner.

“It’s not much,” Logan admitted as he led us inside, his voice tinged with pride despite his words. “But it’s safe enough.”

One by one, his pack shifted back into human form, their movements fluid and unhurried.

“This is Aidan,” Logan said, gesturing to a tall, broad-shouldered man with short-cropped dark hair and a faint Irish brogue. “He’s the second in command.”

Aidan gave a curt nod, his piercing green eyes scanning us before settling on Magnus. “Your pack fought well,” he said, his tone low and respectful.

“Thanks,” Magnus replied, his tone direct.

“That’s Jamie,” Logan continued, motioning to a wiry man with reddish-blond hair and a strong Scottish accent. “Fastest runner in the group.”

Jamie grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Fast, aye, and I’m even better at getting in and out without being seen.”

“That’s Edward,” Logan said, nodding toward a dark-haired Englishman with an air of quiet intelligence. “He’s our strategist.”

Edward inclined his head, his charcoal gray eyes flicking toward Magnus and then me.

“And that’s Declan,” Logan finished, pointing to a muscular Irishman with a shaved head and a faint scar running down his jaw. “He’s the one you want beside you in a fight.”

Declan smirked, his voice low and rough. “And the one you don’t want to piss off.”

“Noted,” Killian replied, with his signature grin on proud display.

CHAPTER 26

Killian

Zara had spent the past several hours catching up with her brother, but as night fell and it grew later, I noticed that her head was nodding slightly, and her eyes were fluttering as if she were trying to keep them open. Every so often, she would jerk herself awake.

I leaned against the edge of the table, my arms crossed as I watched her. She was dead on her feet but too stubborn to admit it.

“She’s about to keel over,” I muttered, loud enough for the others to hear.

Magnus turned, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at her. “She’s running on fumes,” he said, his voice low.

“I’m fine,” Zara said quickly, straightening up and trying to look more alert.

I grinned, leaning toward her. “No, you’re not, lass. You look like you’re two seconds from passing out.”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “The apartment upstairs is clean enough,” he said. “There’s a rain barrel rigged to the downspout on the roof. It’s not much, but it’ll give you a cold shower if you need it.” Logan shrugged. “Better than staying covered in blood.”

Magnus nodded. “It’ll do just fine. Thanks for the hospitality.”

I turned back to Zara, who was still sitting, her expression hovering somewhere between annoyance and exhaustion. “Up you go, lass,” I said, offering her my hand.

She sighed, but she took it, her smaller hand gripping mine as I pulled her to her feet. She swayed slightly, and I placed a hand on her back to help steady her.

The apartment upstairs was surprisingly intact. The furniture was old, but sturdy, the walls scuffed, but solid. A small table sat near the window, and a king-sized bed was pushed into the corner, its sheets faded, but clean.

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