Page 22 of Wolf Unleashed
When he shifted, he looked robust and relaxed despite being in what he’d once called enemy territory.Allies, through necessity,had been another phrase he’d used. Either way, it meant they all had to keep their guard up.
The corners of his mouth kicked up high. “That felt good. I really needed the run.”
How much more did he and Rafe need without ever speaking up? She was starting to hate how they gave up so much for her.
“To the west is Damien Black’s pack. A strong ally of my pack,” Tiernan said.
“Black. He’s the alpha who entered into the initial treaty with the DSA, before the other packs joined in,” she said, recalling what she’s learned about the treaty that obligated several of the larger packs to send shifters to the DSA for training. It was the program she’d entered, looking for a WSSO mole. She’d found the mole ultimately, and three shifters who quickly became the center of her life.
The price was being outed by the DSA. Agent Gallagher had uncovered her true identity, not simply as an undercover agent for the DSA, but as Woodrow Monroe’s daughter. Gallagher had gone out of his way to reveal that deadly fact to all of the shifters in the program. Now she had shifters and her father on her tail. And she wasn’t sure which one terrified her more.
“Damien spoke on behalf of my pack and Maddox’s. The DSA wouldn’t make a deal unless all three packs were on board. My alpha, Liam, gets along with both alphas, though he’s not too thrilled with either for many reasons. Damien is predictable, level-headed, more or less. Drake’s volatile, unpredictable, extremely bright, and just as dangerous. A bit crazy too, from what I’ve heard of him.”
“You’ve never met him?”
“Only once, but—” Tiernan stopped mid-sentence and pushed her behind him. “Rafe?’ he whispered.
“I heard. Five. Maybe more.”
Alyssa didn’t hear or see anything, but she trusted Rafe and Tiernan. She drew her gun until Tiernan placed his hand over hers. “Let me speak with them first.”
The moment she holstered her gun, growling filled the woods. They were surrounded, and she couldn’t see a damn thing despite the bright sunlight.
A flash of white fur moved ahead of her, and then a naked shifter appeared. Dark hair and deep brown eyes with a scowl that reminded her of Maddox. The tightness in his face and the clenched fists spoke of a lot of anger and hatred.
“Why are you here, scout?” The naked shifter crinkled his nose in disgust. “And with a human yet.”
“Her mate is one of your pack. A guard. Maddox,” Tiernan began, with a roughness to his voice that worried her.
“Maddox’s mate died a year ago, when the virus struck.”
“This female is his new mate. Alyssa. He blood-bonded her last month. Ask him yourself if you don’t believe me.”
“He would not take another mate, especially a human. He was forbidden from doing so, though taking a human and seeing the bond weaken him would be just punishment for what he did.”
“What did he do?” Rafe asked.
“Brought the virus here. Infected the pack.”
“He didn’t mean to,” Alyssa spoke up.
“And what would you know of it, human?”
“He told me. He was sick and not thinking clearly. You can’t blame him.”
The man stalked closer to her and scented the air even as Rafe stepped in front of her, cutting him off. “I can blame whoever I want. Maybe even you, female. It was your people who created the virus and killed off my family.”
His eyes tracked the movement of her hand going to her hip. “A gun?” he said, chuckling.
“Never underestimate a gun, Wes,” said another shifter as he emerged from the woods. This shifter was larger than the first and carried himself with an air of authority. The resemblance to Maddox was uncanny. The deep black eyes, broad shoulders, and squared jaw made her think it was Maddox for a brief moment.
“Who are you?” Alyssa dared, though the look in the shifter’s eyes sent a chill through her.
“This is Drake, Alyssa,” Tiernan answered from behind the alpha, who had enough confidence in his skills and his pack that he thought nothing of leaving his back vulnerable to Tiernan as he approached her. “Alpha of the Novak pack. An ally,” he added quickly, as if to remind Drake.
“An ally of your pack, scout. Which only means I have to give you a chance to explain why you’re trespassing on my land. But these two are not of your pack, especially the female.” Drake stepped up to her and scented inches from neck. “You smell divine, female.”
“She’s mated,” Rafe said, pushing her behind him with one arm.
