Page 1 of Wolf Trapped
1
JARA
“The incident happened weeks ago, Angela. We haven’t had anything like that happen since,” I huff as we stroll through the vibrant green trees of the pack lands.
“You know how the alpha is. He’s just being careful.” Angela pats my back in sympathy. She knows how difficult it is to be mated to the alpha.
“I haven’t seen my family for weeks, Angela.” I kick a rock a little harder than necessary, and it skitters into a nearby tree.
“Do you really want to go anywhere near Greyson’s pack?” She raises an eyebrow at me.
“It’s not about Greyson and his pack,” I say, rubbing my hands over my arms. Goosebumps cover them.
Why do I feel chilled when it’s so warm out?
I stop in my tracks. Something isn’t right. I peer around the forest. It’s silent, not a bird chirping or small animals rustling in the brush.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. Someone is watching me. I shake off the eerie feeling.
Angela turns back to me with a frown, probably wondering what the hell I’m doing, and I continue stepping slowly back up to her.
The pack is always watching, but this is different. There’s no one else around, but chills still rack my body.
“Do you feel that?” I scan the area looking for evidence that someone has been here but come up with nothing.
Birds begin chattering in the distance again, and a sound that usually calms me doesn’t have the same effect on me.
“Feel what?” Angela asks with a head shake. “It’s almost time for the pack run. Are you okay?”
“Never mind. It was probably just the breeze.” I pick up my pace and make my way through the forest again.
Angela’s skeptical expression is not lost on me. The day has been still and warm. There is no breeze at all.
Why don’t I just tell her about the weird feeling?
Archer.
Archer will use whatever he can to keep me here. He’s overbearing, and if he thinks someone is after me, he will lock me in my room again.
Our relationship is still precarious. I don’t know how we can ever get passed his possessiveness.
I step out into the clearing and breathe a sigh of relief. Pack members mill around the space, and the cubs race around the clearing, chasing each other in a game of tag. Their giggles fill me with happiness.
This pack is much different from my old pack. The parents watch the children with soft smiles on their faces. “You look like you feel better now.” Angela bumps my shoulder.
“The cubs are so free here. In my old pack, everyone was too afraid to let the cubs be cubs.” I shrug.
The kids race passed us, nearly knocking into us, and a laugh escapes as they call out their apologies. Libby stops in front of us, her cheeks flushed and breathing heavy.
“Hello, Libby. Are you ready to go on your first pack run today?” I crouch in front of the seven-year-old blonde girl. Some of the older cubs are participating in their first pack run today. Archer allows them to join the pack runs much earlier than Greyson does.
I need to stop comparing my new home to my old one, but I am still learning the ins and outs of being the alpha female of this pack.
“Yes, Alpha Jara.” She throws her thin arms in the air making her little ringlets bounce with her exuberance.
“Hey, none of that. Remember I told you to call me Jara? We’re friends, right?” I grin at her, and she nods her head.
“Sorry, Jara.” She lowers her eyes to the ground respectfully.
