Page 11 of Wolf Trapped
“Let’s finish dinner before Archer gets back.” I shrug though dread pools in my gut. Who are these people who are trespassing, and what do they want?
“That female drives me insane. You would think she would give up by now.” Angela grumbles. She picks the knife up off the cutting board and slams it down on the poor bell pepper she’s chopping.
“She thinks she has a shot if I end up like the others. She has no idea that’s not happening. In her delusional brain, she thinks it’s just a waiting game.” I stroll back over to the stove, flipping the steaks.
“Archer will never let that happen.” Angela shakes her head. The knife clangs repeatedly against the cutting board.
“We both know that.” I flip the other steak, the steam rises into the air again, and I wipe the sweat from my forehead.
There is something very wrong with that woman, but I can’t vocalize my suspicions without proof. She’s been here longer than I have and has the pack on her side.
No matter what Archer says, some pack members will side with her alpha female or not.
4
ARCHER
Acrack fills the air, and I turn to the sound of the twig snapping a hundred yards away. A breeze brings an unfamiliar scent to my nose, and I growl out a warning. There is an unknown wolf in my forest.
My wolf sprints in the direction of the sound, following the scent that is unfamiliar yet somehow familiar at the same time. What does that scent remind me of?
Whoever this is, they are clumsy. Their steps in the underbrush are loud in my ears. It makes it easy to follow their trail. As I move silently through the forest, branches slash across my snout and flank. I pay no attention to the sting. My only focus is tracking down the threat to my pack. I’m going to shred this wolf that dares to trespass on my pack.
I follow the wolf’s tracks to the cliffs and stop scanning the ridge but find nothing. The trail ends at the very spot I’m standing in, but no one is here. Where the fuck did it go?
The cool ocean breeze ruffles my fur and takes the scent of the strange wolf with it. I stalk over to the cliff’s edge peering down the massive drop. It’s not likely that the wolf jumped or fell to its death but is it wrong that I hope it did? It poses a danger to us, and I want that threat eliminated.
Did I imagine things because I’m stressed? Did I make up the smell in my nose? No. Not possible, but it seems impossible that a wolf as clumsy and loud as that one would simply vanish without a trace.
Turning, I trot back into the woods only to find Rochelle watching me with dread. Shit. She is the last person I want to deal with right now. “Alpha? Did you find the strange wolf? I came here to tell you about him after your mate disrespected me at the pack house.” Her eyes darken at the word mate.
I growl low in my throat, knowing that if anyone had been disrespected in that scenario, it was Jara and possibly Angela. With an internal sigh, I trot to the spot where I stash clothes.
I shift and dress quickly before turning on the female with my arms crossed over my bare chest. I don’t miss her perusal. I hate other women’s eyes on me. The only one who should be able to see me is Jara, but as a shifter, nudity is expected.
“My mate and the pack's alpha female did not disrespect you. I’m sure it was her if anyone was disrespected in that scenario.”
“But, Alpha, I just said I needed to speak with you, and she made me tell her why before she would tell me where you were.” She pouts, and I scoff already over this conversation.
Does she even believe the words she’s spewing? It’s getting more obvious every day that she has something very wrong with her.
“It is her right as an alpha female to question female shifters who seek out her mate. I will not tell you again not to disrespect my mate. You will be exiled next time I find out about something like this.” Her eyes glow with fury.
“You can’t be serious, Archer. She won’t last, just like the others. I know she won’t.” she stomps her foot like a petulant child.
“Are you threatening my mate, Rochelle?” I snarl. This female is on her last breath if she thinks I will allow anything or anyone to harm Jara. She is mine.
“Of course not, Alpha.” She says, baring her throat.
I don’t buy it for a second and wonder if Jara was on to something when she voiced concerns about Rochelle, but I shake off the thought. Everyone in the pack had said the same thing about Eloise the day she died.
It couldn’t have been anything more than what Rochelle said. Can it?
“Go to your home. There’s a strange wolf in the woods that could be dangerous.” I turn away from the female to remove my clothes and prepare to shift.
“Can you walk me? I don’t want to be alone in the woods if there’s a dangerous wolf in them.” She asks innocently, and I nearly scoff.
“Do you think I’m stupid, female?” I turn rage-filled eyes on the shifter. “You knowingly walked into these woods alone, having seen the strange shifter in them. I don’t buy the scared innocent act. Go home. Now.”
