Page 59 of Wulf's Pack
Skylar squeezes my hand. “Do you carry a tranq gun on you?” she asks someone, but I’m too distracted to focus on her conversation. I don’t hear an answer.
“Shoot him.”
“What?”
“Shoot him! Please!”
My wolf finally wins the struggle, and I shift. I let out a growl, issuing a challenge, but Skylar’s power is slowing me down so much I can’t act. I can barely get to my feet.
I feel a sharp sting, and before I can figure out what it was, I fade out of consciousness.
Chapter
Nineteen
Iwake with a raging headache and nausea twisting my stomach. My mouth is dry as cotton. I’m disoriented. I shake off the feeling of deep sleep and take in my surroundings. I’m in a cell. The floor and walls are made of concrete, and the bars are made of silver. It’s well-lit and clean, not some dingy dungeon, but I’m still locked up.
I battle panic and confusion until my memories come back to me. I was at the Santa Fe pack social. I tried to challenge the alpha.Shit!I can’t remember exactly what happened. Did we fight? Was it bad? Obviously, I lost. At least I’m not dead. I’m still in my wolf form, and if I was hurt in a fight, I’ve been out long enough to heal. There’s no matted blood in my fur.
Where is Skylar? Would they have hurt her? Is she in a cell too?Skylar?I call out through our bond.Are you there?
Skylar’s voice immediately fills my head.Good morning, sleepyhead! You awake?
Skylar?She sounds fine, but I can’t calm my worry.Are you okay? Where are you? What happened?
It’s all right, Wulf. Everything’s okay.I hear a mental giggle in her reply. She sounds more than just relaxed. She sounds comfortable. Happy. I let out a deep sigh of relief.
We’re in the alpha’s house. I’m upstairs. I was downstairs, pacing a hole in the floor for hours waiting for you to wake up, but Luna Grant convinced me to eventually get some sleep. I’ve been chatting with Quinn since I woke up. Hang on. We’re on our way down.
There’s a cot with a blanket and pillow and a set of clothes waiting for me. It’s a nice gesture and gives me hope that I haven’t burned any bridges too badly. I pull on the sweats, and by the time I slip the T-shirt over my head, a door opens, and several pairs of footsteps tromp downstairs. I can’t see a whole room. Across from me, there’s a cell that mirrors the one I’m in. The cells are at the end of a hall. Alpha Grant, Skylar, and Quinn’s mate, Leia, come to a stop in front of my cell. None of them look pissed. Skylar is smiling. “Good to see you awake,” she says.
I resist the urge to push my hands through the silver bars to reach my mate. I’d risk it just to feel her touch, but she’d be upset if I needlessly burned myself on the bars. “What happened? Did you manage to knock me out?”
Guilt washes over her face. “I couldn’t sedate you enough. I asked Leia to tranq you.”
I blow out a long puff of air. I hate seeing her guilt. “You did the right thing.”
I shift my gaze to Alpha Grant, feeling more contrite than I ever have in my life. “Did I challenge you? My memory is fuzzy.”
A weight lifts from me when Alpha Grant gives me a look full of sympathy. “Not officially. Your mate acted quickly.”
As relieved as I am that we avoided disaster, I feel terrible, and I’m completely humiliated. “I’m so sorry,” I tell Alpha Grant. “You showed us such generous hospitality, and I nearly issued an alpha challenge. I hope you know I would never?—”
Alpha Grant raises a hand to cut me off. “I get it. I was having a hard time fully understanding your situation, but I can see why you’re so worried now.”
My shoulders slump.
“Can we let him out?” Skylar asks.
Alpha Grant gives me a once-over. “How are you feeling? How is your wolf?”
I search inside me for my wolf. He’s as embarrassed as I am, but not because he was going to challenge the alpha. He’s embarrassed that he was stopped before he could even fight. He was taken out by a stupid tranquilizer dart. He’s sitting in a cell. He’s also a little hurt by our mate. He doesn’t understand why she wouldn’t want him to take charge of a pack for her.
“I’m good. My wolf has been sufficiently humbled.”
Alpha Grant cocks an eyebrow. “No more challenges?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. He took a hit to his pride. He’s licking his wounds.”
