Page 25 of Wulf's Pack
There is no lie in their story. They’ve been truthful since they approached us. Part of me wants to take Skylar away from here.To keep her hidden and safe. If she helps this family, word will spread. It could put her in more danger, and even more shifters will come to her with desperate requests. But I already know Skylar well enough to know she won’t turn these people down. She has such a pure heart and the soul of an omega. I can’t do anything that would suppress that side of her. It would hurt her to even try.
“Of course I’ll help,” she says right on cue. “I can’t promise it will work. I’ve failed as much as I’ve been successful in the past. But I will try.”
My head whips toward her. She’s done this before? When? Where?
“You have experience with this?” Illren asks, as surprised as I am. We need to learn more about my mate and her life before she showed up at the club, asking for the alpha of Detroit.
Skylar looks away and nods once. “It was part of my job for my old alpha. He knew all of my capabilities and used all of them to his advantage. He was no stranger to torturing people with silver and wolfsbane and using me to bring them back from the madness. It was an effective tool.”
“Interesting,” Illren says, as if he’s considering adding that tactic to his own arsenal. Sometimes the faerie can be creepy.
I’m not as calm about it. I start to shake with the need to shift. I’ve never wanted to kill someone more than I want to rip her old alpha to shreds. Skylar grips my forearm. “It’s okay, Wulf. I’m not there anymore, and thanks to Victor, I have excellent control of my gifts. I can probably help this family.”
“Victor?” Illren asks, perking up. I wonder if that will be enough for him to find this man.
Skylar doesn’t answer him. She’s completely focused on the family in front of us. A small cry escapes the mother, and she and her daughter-in-law fling their arms around one another.Hope wafts off them. “We’ll give you anything,” the man says, wringing his hands.
Skylar gives him a soft smile. “I don’t need anything. Take me to him, and I’ll do what I can.”
Chapter
Eight
After introductions—the parents are Matthew and Elise, and the feral’s mate is Sophia—we follow the family to a small rundown home in a not-so-great neighborhood. Detroit has pockets of nice areas, but it also has places like this. I think we’re in the heart of East Side demon horde territory. I don’t like the thought of these wolves living here. It’s not safe. My wolf stirs, agreeing wholeheartedly.
I’m not a selfish man. Nor am I uncaring. But I’ve never been particularly concerned for strangers either. Being a lone wolf, I mind my own business especially where other shifters are concerned. I hate shifter politics. So the fierce feeling that I need to help these people and protect them catches me off guard. It’s so shocking that I stumble to a stop and grip at my chest. My wolf is pacing, on edge. Demanding something of me that I don’t understand.
Illren stops and frowns at me. “What?” he barks.
“Wulf?” Nora asks, echoing Illren’s concern.
I shake my head. “I don’t know.” I glance at the family leading us up the driveway to this house that is nowhere near good enough for them. “You live here?”
The women blush, and Matthew lifts his chin defensively. “We weren’t exactly prepared to leave the pack when we were forced out. We all worked for the pack. We had to find new jobs where we could. It’s not much, but we make do.”
I scan the street and see a couple of men lingering in front of a car a few houses down. They’re watching us with an interest that has my hackles raising. “It’s not safe here.” I surprise everyone when that comes out as a demanding growl. Myself more than anyone. What is going on with me?
“We have no choice,” Matthew mumbles, dropping his gaze to my chest when he can’t match my dominance. “Preston protects us. We were bothered at first, but people learned quickly that a semi-feral wolf is nothing to mess with. Our neighbors mostly leave us alone now.”
I grind my teeth, only slightly appeased. Illren and Nora are still watching me like I’ve grown a second head. Skylar looks confused, but concerned. I wish I had answers for them, but I’m baffled. I push the protective instincts down as much as I can and grumble for everyone to get inside.
The house is old, but it’s tidy and as clean as I imagine they can get it. My wolf huffs, still angered by the state of their neighborhood, but appeased a little to know they aren’t living in filth or a condemned structure.
The moment we get inside, a ferocious snarl rips through the air. I have no control when my wolf takes over. I shift right out of my clothes and push myself in front of Skylar. I can hear the madness in the growls coming from the back of the house. It sounds like someone or something is slamming against a cage.
Skylar buries her hand in the fur of my neck, but it’s not because she’s scared. She’s got the same steady confidence she showed when she helped Carl. I settle at her touch and lean against her legs.
Sophia rushes off while Matthew and Elise give us apologetic grimaces. “I’m sorry,” Matthew says. “I should have explained before. He’s contained. You’re safe.”
We round the corner to the family room, and I nearly howl in outrage. Preston is wild with rage and slamming himself into the walls of a large metal crate strong enough to hold a shifter. Sophia is kneeling beside it, clinging to the metal sides, sticking her fingers through the bars and whispering to the wolf.
“You crate him?” Nora asks, startled.
All three of them wince. “Only when Sophia has to leave the house,” Elise admits. Her cheeks heat with shame, and her wide eyes plead with us for understanding. “If we don’t, Preston follows her, and he will attack anyone who comes near her. It’s dangerous.”
I growl. The poor wolf shouldn’t be subjected to this. He should have been put down.
“I almost never leave,” Sophia says, clinging to the side of the cage. Tears streak down her face again. “I got a job I can do from home. I’m with him as much as possible, and like I said, he’s content as long as I’m nearby. He’s only like this because there are strangers in the house.” She gulps and looks at Skylar. “Can you help him?”
