Page 7 of Wulf's Pack
“It’s my collar,” she mumbles. Her hand goes to a choker around her neck. “It suppresses my wolf and keeps me from shifting.”
The choker is thick and black with lace and diamonds. It’s pretty. I thought it was just a piece of jewelry. I don’t like that she calls it a collar, as though she’s some kind of kept pet.
Rook voices the question running through my mind. “Why would you wear that?”
Skylar gulps, still fingering the offending accessory. “It’s magical. Only my alpha can take it off.”
“Your alpha put that on you?” Charlie asks, and he sounds as horrified as I feel. “Why?”
Skylar looks away in shame. “He put it on me before every beating. He didn’t want me to be able to heal quickly. He wanted me to feel the pain.”
My wolf snarls so hard that I can’t keep the sound contained. When it erupts from my chest, it shocks all of us, me most of all. Yeah, I’m attracted to the woman, but I usually have more control than this. My wolf is on edge right now in a way that makes no sense. He wants blood. I’m too furious to think straight, and I let another growl slip. “Who is your alpha?” I demand. “I’ll kill him.”
Skylar shrinks back in fear. Rook, looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind, grips my arm. “Relax, brother. She’s clearly seen enough violence,” he says, low and calm. “She needs a gentle hand right now.”
I focus on Skylar again. The blood has drained from her pale face, and the smell of her fear permeates the air around us. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Sorry. My wolf’s upset at seeing you hurt.”
She ducks her head, but then forces herself to meet my eyes. “It’s okay,” she says quietly.
Charlie’s quiet murmur breaks up the tension. He’s speaking into his phone. “Oliver? We have an emergency. Can you come to the club? Now?”
I take another breath. Oliver. That’s good. He’ll help. Oliver is the most powerful sorcerer in the Midwest, arguably in the country. If anyone can remove that horrid collar, it’ll be him.
A group of impatient underworlders start calling out to me, demanding service. I don’t want to walk away from Skylar, but things will get rowdy if I don’t start filling drinks again. Charlie gives me an all-too-understanding look. He knows how much I’m struggling to leave her, because he can feel my interest. I want to be mad. I want to deny the feelings that for reasonsunknown go far beyond attraction. But when Charlie promises to stay with her, I feel immense relief.
Once I’m back to serving drinks, my favorite succubus—and one of my closest friends— slinks up to the bar, giving me a curious smile. “Good evening, Wulf. Can I get a sidhe hurricane, darling?”
“Anything for you, Cecile.”
While I get to work making her drink, she nods her head toward Skylar. “She’s beautiful.”
I follow her gaze, unable to help myself from stealing another glance at Skylar. Charlie’s chatting about the city and keeping her distracted. I find it strangely conflicting. I’m glad he’s being friendly and making her feel welcome, but he’s too good-looking. Too charming. Too friendly. My wolf doesn’t want the competition.
“Is she yours?”
I startle at the question and focus back on Cecile. “What? No.”
My wolf disagrees.Mine.
The thought is so fierce I fumble the glass in my hand. He can’t possibly be claiming a she-wolf. Especially not one I’ve only just met. He can’t even feel her wolf.
Cecile’s tinkling laugh has me gritting my teeth and turning my cheeks ruddy. “Just feeling a bit protective,” I grumble, knowing it’s only a half-truth. “She’s new in town and had a bit of trouble.”
Cecile sighs. I can’t tell if she believes me or not. I say nothing else as I finish mixing her drink. I quietly pass it over and get busy with the growing crowd of customers. I’m grateful for the work. It’s just the distraction I need from the fact that my wolf seems to think Skylar is ours. I don’t know what to make of it. He’s never even shown interest in a she-wolf. Ninety-seven yearsand not a single nudge toward my own kind. That he feels so determined right now is terrifying.
I try to ignore my wolf’s impatience to talk to Skylar again and focus on serving drinks, but when Enzo arrives, there’s no staying focused. I meet Rook, Charlie, and Skylar just as Enzo joins us.
Enzo is the most mild-mannered man I’ve ever met. It’s his shaman nature and love of meditation that keeps him in a constant state of serenity. Though, living with our lively clan has brought him out of his shell a bit more than most shamans.
Skylar starts to slip off her stool, but Rook, Charlie, and I all stop her. “Please, don’t get up,” Enzo says in a soft voice that bleeds compassion. “There is no need to cause yourself more pain.”
That’s the thing about shamans. They’re such great healers because they have some empathic abilities. They can feel your pain and know instinctively where your injuries are. Judging from Enzo’s level of compassion, Skylar is in a great deal more pain than she’s letting on.
“Enzo, this is Skylar,” Charlie says, moving away from Skylar’s side so that Enzo can take his place. “Skylar, Enzo is a shaman healer. He can help.”
Skylar’s lips part on a quiet gasp. Her surprise is understandable. Shamans generally stay in their temples and are very selective about who they will heal. Enzo left his people because he never agreed with the snobbery. He’s a good guy.
Enzo bows to her and then holds his hands out. His movements are slow, as if he senses trauma. “May I heal your injuries? It will require my touch.”
