Page 41 of Wulf's Pack
I whirl around and glare down at Skylar. “No.” I’m not sure if it’s me or my wolf talking. “You’re not going back there. It’s too dangerous.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile. “I have to. It’s the only thing that will work. It’s possible he’s planning to come for me anyway. I’m sure he’s seen the news. I’ve grown up, but I’m still recognizably me.”
This just keeps getting worse and worse. My wolf rises to the surface. I shake with the need to shift. Skylar gets up and moves to stand right in front of me, blocking me from my restless pacing. She takes my hands and calms me until I’m thinking clearly again. My chest hurts at just the thought of bringing her to that man. “If I take you to him, what’s to stop him from just killing me and keeping you? I can’t fight off an entire vampire clan.”
Skylar shakes her head while never taking her eyes off mine. “Samuel is old school. He prides himself on being a man of his word. If I can make a deal with him, I trust him to keep his promise.”
“What kind of deal could you possibly make?” Carl asks.
She turns to look at him. “Him leaving me alone, for the name of the man who stole me from him and all the dirt I have on him.”
Skylar focuses on me again. “Samuel appreciates strength. He’ll be impressed if I have the courage to seek him out first and on his own turf. And, he’ll be enticed by my offer. He considered me his. Taking me was a grave insult to him, and losing his prized omega was probably a huge embarrassment. He’ll want that name. If I stick to my guns, he’ll make the deal.”
It’s hard to believe that the shy thing I met just yesterday is the same woman standing before me. She showed signs of an impressive inner strength, and I could tell she was a fighter. A survivor. But now that strength is radiating from her. It’s incredible.
I take her hands and pull her to me. She comes willingly. I place her hands on my chest and slide my arms around her waist. She blushes and looks away but doesn’t move. “I hate this plan,” I say softly.
She meets my gaze again. “It’ll work. I promise.”
I wish she wasn’t right. “I believe you. I just don’t like it.”
She gives me a smile that melts my heart. I could drown in her big, blue eyes. “You’ll be by my side the entire time.”
Carl stands up. “So will we.”
The whole pack echoes the sentiment.
Pride fills me, but I can’t let them all come. “I love that you’re willing, but we can’t all go.” I run my eyes over the Keller family. They’re such a good, wholesome family. I can’t let anything happen to them. A meeting with a vampire mob boss is no place for them. “You all have your strengths and are assets to this pack. I’m happy to have you, but none of you are very dominant or trained to fight. You’d be a liability if things don’t go our way.”
None of them look surprised by this, and even look a little relieved. “I need you here,” I tell them. “Preston, I need you to go through their financial records. You need to take anything you find to Nora at the FUA.”
Preston’s eyes widen. “Nora Jacobs?The director?”
I crack a smile. Nora is the sweetest, friendliest woman I’ve ever met, but she intimidates just about everyone on the planet. It drives her crazy. “Tell Ren—he’s the receptionist—that you’re part of my pack. They’ll take care of you, I promise. Tell them what’s going on with us. The whole situation. And tell them Skylar will give them an official statement when we get back.”
“Why don’t you just call them now?” Carl asks.
I smirk. “If my clan knows what we’re up to, they’ll never let us go alone, and then it would get tricky because half of them are employed by the FUA. It’s better they don’t know until it’s too late to stop us or get involved.”
“It needs to be me, anyway,” Skylar says. “If I come with a small army, especially if I bring half the FUA, he’ll never agree to see me. I can get away with one or two escorts, he’d expect that, especially if one of them is my mate.”
Heads nod all around. I really hate this plan, but that’s just my protective instincts wanting me to keep Skylar out of trouble’s reach. I know that’s impossible, though. I turn to the Kellers again. “While Preston’s busy with the financials, Matthew, I’d like you to get started on converting those storage rooms like you mentioned. We need an office for official pack business. Elise and Sophia, if you could finish getting your packing done so that we can clear your home and get you out of your house and all settled here, that would be helpful. Call my brother Rook to help you move all the furniture. I’m sure he and a few of the guys wouldn’t mind lending a hand. Rook needs to go through that storage room anyway. He’s got a ton of stuff stored here. He's going to need to clear it out.”
All four of them nod, and Matthew speaks for all of them with a soft “Yes, Alpha.”
I try not to wince. I’m going to have to get used to some level of special treatment. As much as I hate feeling like I lord over them, a pack needs a clear leader. The chain of command is important to keep everyone in line. Iamthe boss.
“Great.” I rub my hands together and eye my two newest pack members. They exchange glances. They know what’s coming. I have to officially give them ranks. Bree is slightly more dominant than Carl, but they’re close enough Carl might want to challenge Bree for the position of my beta. I really don’t want any animosity in the ranks. We’re too small to have contention and petty power disputes.
“Bree.” She sits up straight. “The position of beta is rightfully yours. Are you willing to serve in this capacity?”
She inclines her head. “Yes, Alpha. To the best of my ability.”
I wait to see if Carl will challenge and relax my shoulders when he doesn’t. He gives me a small smile, as if he knows what I’m worried about and is telling me it’s okay. “Carl, you’re officially my third, and I’m going to make you my head of security and chief enforcer. We’re a small pack, but protecting us is no small job.”
He sits up straight in his chair and puffs his chest out, proud to be so entrusted. “Of course, Alpha. I’m honored.”
I stare him down. He’s not going to like my next command very much. “Bree, you’ll come with Skylar and me. Carl, as head of security, I need you to stay behind with the pack.”
