Page 46 of Wolf Trapped
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My wolf tears through the trees as we search for the scent that stalked our mate this afternoon. He snarls at the thought of anyone stalking her, trying to harm her. The trail has gone cold, though.
Fuck. Where the hell is he hiding? It’s got to be right under my nose, but if Jara is correct, he could stay in his territory.
I turn away from the border between our territories and make my way closer to the village. It’s not too late. I want to check on the patrols. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea to leave my mate alone at the cabin so soon after the wolf had shown up, but my wolf was getting antsy.
Guilt eats at me a bit. This is my fault. It’s also that wolf terrorizing us, fault. If my wolf was getting antsy after one day, it’s no wonder Jara’s wolf is practically feral.
We need to take a few more runs together to get her wolf to trust me again. Angela and Jordan told me this could damage her. I hate it, but it was necessary. Maybe she’s right, and I should have just locked her in the house, though, so she at least had more space.
Halfway to the village, a twig snaps feet from me, and I slow my pace. It could just be an animal, but I crouch anyway, ready to pounce if necessary. My black coat camouflages me in the dark of night. The wolf sniffs the air as he walks right past me without seeing me, and I growl.Carter. What the fuck are you doing patrolling right now?
Alpha?The gray wolf stops and turns to where I am crouched.
I nearly took you out, thinking you were the rogue because I ordered you to rest.
I rested all day. John was about to drop, so I took over the rest of his shift. Patrick has a family that needs him, and Alex has been on his feet for more than a day. I was the obvious choice.
You were also injured a little over a day ago.I’m seriously going to lose my shit if these men don’t stop running themselves into the ground.Why are you alone? Where is the rest of your patrol?
We split off for a bit.He ducks his head, knowing I’m about to get seriously pissed. The whole reason for doubling the patrol is so no one is out on their own.
What the fuck, Carter? You know the rules of patrol. Get back to your team. What if I had been the wolf we were hunting, and you had no backup?I snarl through the link. Not only is he going to run himself into the ground, but he’s playing Russian Roulette with a crazy fucking rogue. Or, if what Jara believes, a wolf from Kyle’s pack hell-bent on taking us all out.
Yes, alpha.He nods his wolfy head and takes off to the northern border. I turn on my heel, making my way to the village. A howl has my hackles rising and my head turning south. That was John’s howl. What the fuck is going on?
I change directions once again, reaching out to him through the link.John, I thought you were resting.
Alpha? What do you mean? I have been on patrol since you told me to be the lead.
What’s wrong? Were you attacked?I race between the trees the branches snag in my fur as I pass.
We were split up a bit, but still, within a distance we could help if there was a problem. Alpha, you are not going to believe what Rocky just told me.John sounds nervous but maybe whatever Rocky said was wrong.
I’m on my way. Is someone taking him to the healer?
Zack is carrying him there now. Are you close?
I’ll be there in ten minutes. You both meet me there. I need a report.I bark into the link and go back the way I came. I need to get to the healer. I need to hear what Rocky has to say from his own mouth about who it was that attacked him. I have a feeling I am not going to like this at all.
When I get to Marie’s cabin, Zack is pacing outside, and I shift, grabbing a pair of athletic shorts she keeps outside on the porch. There is a greater chance that we are shifted when we come to her, and she doesn’t particularly like having naked shifters in her home, which I don’t blame her for one bit.
“What happened, Zack?” I ask, startling the shifter. He’s so deep inside his own head that he doesn’t hear me, and his eyes widen.
“Alpha, you’re not going to believe it. I don’t believe it, and I saw with my own eyes.” He runs a hand through his blond hair.
“What is it?” I growl. People need to stop beating around the bush.
“We were patrolling just a few hundred yards ahead of John and Kevin. They wanted to be able to watch our backs as we made our way through the territory. Rocky barked, and I spun, but before I could do anything, a wolf was on his back. Rocky was able to shake him off, but there was a large gash in his neck. We were close to Kyle’s pack lands to the south, and I don’t know if we were keeping him from his original target, but he attacked.”
“Who attacked you?” I ask angrily.
“Alpha, it was Carter.” He sighs, looking away from me.
What the fuck? There is no way Carter is the wolf who has been attacking my people. He has to be mistaken.
