Page 34 of Wulf's Pack
Carl seems pleased with this and bows over their gripped hands. I choose that moment to join them. “You’re not hitting on my mate, are you Carl?”
Skylar jerks her hands back and stiffens before realizing I’m teasing. I wink at her. Carl gives me a hearty laugh. “You bet your ass I am. Seems only fair, seeing as how a person’s mated status has never stopped you from hitting on every underworlder in this city.”
I shrug. “Even the mated ones deserve some harmless attention every now and then.”
Carl snorts a laugh. “Harmless. Sure.”
My grin only grows. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll take a pint of Grizzly Beer.”
I pour a mug of the shifter alcohol for the bear and grin at Skylar after sliding the glass to Carl. “This man’s not bothering you, is he? He’s big. But I could take him.”
Carl roars with laughter. I don’t think he agrees with my assessment. I’m more dominant, but Carl is just so huge. It’d probably be a pretty even fight.
Skylar giggles, which sends a wave of pleasure through me. I love hearing her laugh. “Carl has sworn a life debt to me,” she says.
“I heard.”
Carl speaks before I can argue with him, not that I will. “I know she’s yours, and I know you can protect her, but she saved my life yesterday, and that’s not something I take lightly. You’re a fierce alpha, but she’s an omega without a pack. You could use all the extra hands you can get. I’d like to offer my services as her personal bodyguard.”
My wolf rises to the surface so quickly I don’t even know what’s happening before I’m in my fur and trying to claim Carl as pack.WHAT THE HELL!?I shout at my wolf, but he ignores me and bites Carl on the forearm, extending the pack invite.
Skylar gasps, and Carl’s mouth falls open. He’s frozen in shock. His eyes start to glow as his bear rises to the surface. I brace for an attack. He’s a good friend of mine, but I wouldn’t blame him if he comes after me for this. You don’t claim someone as pack without talking to them first, and he’s abear. Most shifters stick to their own kind to form packs. Or sleuth, in Carl’s case. Asking him to be pack could be seen as a huge insult. And worse, he’s like me, a loner.
I try to shift back, but my wolf won’t allow it until Carl accepts or rejects the pack bond.Shift back, damn it!
Strong protector. Good for pack.
I curse my wolf out until I feel a link snap into place.Alpha?
Shit! Carl, I’m so sorry! You don’t have to?—
I’m honored.
My wolf howls in victory and is so damn smug I wish I could punch him in the face. Finally, he lets me shift.
I collapse against the counter. I’m horrified by what just happened. I had zero control. I couldn’t even fight my wolf. He was 100 percent driving the bus, and I was locked in the trunk. I’ve never been so helpless to my beast before. I hate that he can just take over like that.
I don’t realize how violently I’m shaking until Skylar places her hand on my arm. “Wulf,” she murmurs. “It’s okay.”
I shake my head, as if that could erase what just happened. “It’s not okay. I had no control. None.” I gulp and finally look at Carl. “I’m so sorry. My wolf is—something’s wrong with him. You’re the sixth shifter I’ve claimed as pack today. You don’t have to accept. I would never…” I yank at my hair and slam my fist down on the bar. “Damn it!”
Skylar’s sweet honeysuckle scent wraps around me like a warm blanket, calming my panic and frustration. Carl must feel it too, because his eyes lose their shifter glow. He places his handdown on my forearm and calmly says, “Easy, brother. We’ll get you sorted.”
I meet his eyes. His face is grave. “Carl—” I croak. “I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t have to accept.”
“Just because you’ve offered a life debt, doesn’t mean you have to?—”
“I didn’t accept out of obligation. I’m honored to join you.”
“But you’re a loner. And I’m a wolf.”
He gives me a stern stare. “You’re a good man, a strong alpha, and there isn’t a shifter I trust more in all Michigan. You have my allegiance, Alpha. Unless…you’d like to rescind the offer?”
I honestly don’t know what I want. I don’t understand what’s happening to me. But Carl has accepted my pack bond, and I won’t insult him with a rejection. I shake my head again, still scrambling to regain my thoughts. “If you’re willing, I’m grateful to have you. I’m sorry it didn’t happen in a conventional way. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
