Page 21 of Wulf's Pack
She glances at me over her shoulder. “I stole a silver knife when I left. I was able to catch a ride with a human woman who was sympathetic toward underworlders. I explained what I needed, and she made the cut. I felt the bond break, and he’s not in my head anymore.”
I lift my hand to the mark, but I don’t touch her skin no matter how enticing her bare back is. The solid line through the bite mark is now just a scar, but it goes all the way through like it’s supposed to. I breathe a sigh of relief.
Pack bonds are formed when an alpha, in their shifted form, bites another shifter with the intent to claim them. The bitten shifter has the choice to accept the connection, and once they do, the bond is formed. The alpha then has a physical and mental link to the new pack member. They can feel you if they concentrate—your emotions and pain. They’ll know if you’re hurt or dying. They speak to you mentally, and can even lend you their alpha strength. To break the bond, you have to break the magic. The only way to do that is to use a silver knife or have your current alpha or a new alpha slash through your pack mark.
“Why did you accept his bond in the first place?” I can’t fathom a reason she would willingly bond herself to such a monster.
Skylar lowers her shirt and steps up to the dresser, looking at the handful of framed photographs Nora keeps there. “It’s a long story,” she says quietly. “When my alpha found me, I was in a terrible situation. He offered to take me away from it. He was charming and kind. It felt like he was rescuing me. He offered the pack bond, and I eagerly accepted it.”
Skylar shudders again and rubs her hands over her arms as if trying to scrub away chills. “It was only after he brought me home and tried to force a mate bond on me that I learned his true nature. By then, it was too late. He owned me.”
This just keeps getting worse. “He tried to force a mate bond?”
“Many times. When my wolf never accepted it, he blamed me. It didn’t matter how much he tortured me, or how long he starved me. My wolf always refused him.” She glances at me again. “I suppose now I know why. She knew you were out there.”
My wolf snarls in my mind, but I manage to keep quiet this time. I clench my jaw so hard my head cramps, and my fingernails bite into the palms of my hands. I’m shaking so badly, it’s all I can do not to shift.
Sensing my distress, Skylar turns to me. She steps up to me and gently runs the backs of her fingers down the side of my face. I clasp her hand before she can pull away and keep it pressed against my cheek. My eyes fall shut. Warmth and calm seep into me through her touch, soothing my soul. I take a deep breath, and suddenly I’m the one shuddering. “I’m free of him,” she says as if to reassure me. “I’m safe now.”
“Yes. Safe,” I say. I can only get simple words out with my wolf sharing the driver’s seat. “I protect.”
Skylar’s stomach growls, breaking me from the trance she has me under. I open my eyes just in time to see her blush. “Go take your shower. I’ll make us some dinner.”
Nora pulls a pair of pajamas from her dresser and leads Skylar into the bathroom. I use the moment to get control of myself. I’m a wreck. Everything’s turned upside down. I have no idea how to be all that Skylar needs—all that she deserves. But I’m determined to do it. It’s like my whole mindset has done a complete 180 in the span of a few hours. What I always thought was a terrible idea suddenly makes so much sense.
I never thought I could be happy with a mate, but I already crave her. She’s so different from every other wolf I’ve ever met. Meek, but with an obvious inner strength. She survived years of torture without losing herself. She saved herself even while beaten half to death. She stepped in to help Carl with grace and confidence. There is no ego. There is no aggression. I find it so attractive. It’s like she was made for me.She was. The moon goddess fated us.
The shower turns on, and Nora reappears at my side. I expect some teasing, but I get compassion. I shouldn’t be surprised. Nora is excellent at reading people, and I’m in no mood for games. She slides her arm around my waist, squeezing me in a side hug. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and lean my cheek on the top of her head. “You doing okay?” she asks softly.
I sigh. “I don’t even know.”
“If you need to talk about it, I’m here.”
I swallow a lump in my throat. “I think I just need time to wrap my head around it.”
She leads me out of the room toward the kitchen. “You can decompress a little while you make your mate some dinner. Grilled chicken, bacon, ranch sandwiches sound good?”
I glance down at her with a wry smile. “Are you asking me to make them for you?”
She grins at me. “Well, I mean, if you’re already going to be making one for Skylar, what’s one more?”
She bats her lashes playfully, and I laugh. Nora isn’t much of a cook. She’s trying to get better, but any time she can finagle a meal out of one of us, she will.
The rest of the evening is more relaxing. Nora talks about life with our clan while Skylar devours her sandwich like she hasn’t eaten a meal in ages. I make a mental promise to feed her well and often. After that, she goes right to bed. It’s not that late, but she had a lot of healing magic done on her, and I don’t know how long it’s been since she felt safe while sleeping.
I lie awake for hours, trying to process my new reality. I need to come up with a plan, but I’m not even sure where to start. Hopefully, things will fall into place on their own. I don’t know when I finally pass out, but I must sleep hard because I don’t wake up until breakfast is nearly ready.
Laughter spills into the hallway from the kitchen. When I enter the room, I smile to myself. Charlie is sitting at a massive table reading the news on a tablet. Enzo is leaning against the counter nursing a cup of coffee, Nora and Oliver are setting dishes and utensils on the table. Rook and Terrance stand at the stove. Rook is pouring batter onto a griddle, and Terrance is stirring a huge pan of scrambled eggs. Mountains of pancakes and bacon are piled up in dishes beside them.
Ren is at the fridge, and when he starts to drink directly from a carton of orange juice, Nora smacks him and takes the juice from his hands. “Stop it, you heathen. Use a glass.”
It’s all very domestic, and for once, a wistful feeling sweeps through me. I can feel the unity. Our clan really is a family. I know I’m part of it, but seeing them together like this, for the first time, I feel like I might be missing out on something I never knew I needed. My life at home suddenly seems very lonely. Will Skylar want this? Most wolves need a pack. True lone wolves are rare. I might have to seriously consider moving into the den.
“Afternoon, sleepyhead!” Nora chirps.
“Morning. Anyone see Skylar yet?”
Nora nods. “I knocked on her door five minutes ago to let her know breakfast is ready. She’ll be out here in a minute.”
