Page 56 of Wolf Trapped
“Yes, I don’t really like this place anymore.” She shakes her head. Wringing her hands together.
“You don’t ever have to come back out here.” I squeeze her knee and rest my hand there. It feels good and right to casually touch her like this.
“That won’t do anyone any good. I’m going to have to face it.” She sighs and peers out the window.
“I don’t like the place either, mate. It was a safe place for you where you got a little freedom.” I will never admit how much I hated locking her in the bedroom to anyone.
I knew it was a ridiculous safety measure but it kept her alive. Had she been wandering around pack lands, Carter could have gotten her at any time. That is unacceptable to me.
“You really did bring me out here for my benefit, didn’t you?” she chews her lip.
“I did,” I say softly, not bothering to elaborate. I already told her my reasons in the heat of the moment, and it irritates me that she is still questioning me. I don’t say things unless I mean them.
The silence stretches in the truck as we rumble over the dirt road to the pack house. “Shit. I’m going to have to send Angela back for our things.” I grumble. We left everything behind in our hurry to get out of there.
“It’s okay; we have other things on our minds.” She whispers, still staring out the window.
I nod, but she doesn’t see it. We bump along the road for an hour before the pack house comes into view, and I blow out a relieved breath. “We’re home.”
Jara looks up, smiling. “Yeah, home.” She sighs, sitting up straighter.
Hearing the words from her beautiful mouth has something in my chest cracking open. Does she think of the pack as her home? What a fucking relief because that is what I want to give her. I want to give her a home.
“Let’s get inside and call Kyle. I have a feeling he will be expecting my call,” I growl. The mother fucker should be fucking scared.
“What are you going to do, Archer? All of this isn’t worth a war between the packs.” Jara says, unclipping her seatbelt and turning to face me fully.
“He will meet with me at the border when we go on our hunt, or we will storm his pack and demand answers. This will not fucking stand. I will not let him go unpunished.” I stare back at her. The fact that I could have lost her riding me hard. She is my mate. They don’t get to take her away from me because they want my pack. They can’t have it, and they can’t have her.
Jara’s hand covers mine on her knee, and she squeezes it.
“Can we at least give him the opportunity to make things right? Maybe if he makes a blood oath?” she suggests, and I cock my head to the side in thought.
It could keep us from going to war, and the council may see it as an act of mercy and strength.
“You’re right, mate. I will think about it.” I nod, turning my hand on her knee over and squeezing her hand. “That is very wise, Jara, and more than the alpha deserves.”
“I’m not out for vengeance, Archer. I’m looking out for what’s best for this pack… our pack.”
I place a quick kiss on her temple, loving the sound of that. Our pack is right. I will always share this pack with her as my alpha female.
“Let’s go inside and plan a hunt. Kyle won’t know what hit him.” I squeeze her hand again and open the door. Jara waits for me in the passenger seat, and I grin. She is finally getting it. She knows that I just want to take care of her. I smile as I open the door and help her from the truck as the others come striding to the house.
They are shifted back to human and have tense expressions on their faces.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. I can’t handle one more fucking thing.
“Nothing. It’s just that none of us are looking forward to telling the pack that Carter tried to murder our alpha female.” Patrick says softly. “Libby will be devastated, so I refuse to tell her. I hope it’s fine that she and my mate don’t come to the meeting.” He lowers his eyes.
“Of course. I don’t need the cubs at the meeting.” I agree. This is a dark time, and I want to keep them innocent as long as possible.
“I need to change for the meeting.” Jara squeezes my arm before walking into the house. I watch her go, not wanting her out of my sight even though the threat has been neutralized.
“How is she?” Angela asks, nodding to her retreating back.
“I think she’s a bit shaken up, but she’s strong. She will manage, I hope.” She was okay when we were mating, but she has been despondent in the light of day. Maybe it’s just idle hands and fear bringing this out of her.
“I’m sure she will be fine.” Angela sighs, scrubbing a hand over her face.
