Page 36 of Wolf Unleashed
“Get rid of her now, Tiernan. She has no place here. Not with a human half that has no knowledge of being a shifter.”
“She’s my mate. We’re going to my cabin while she rests. Then we’ll leave.” Tiernan brushed by his brother, intentionally slamming his shoulder into his brother’s.
“She’s no good for you, Tiernan,” his brother called after him. “A half-breed will lead to your undoing.”
Rafe followed Tiernan, who barreled through the woods, stomping on every twig and branch in his path. For a quiet, surefooted scout, he was making as much noise as possible.
“At some point, you two will realize I’m not worth all this trouble,” Alyssa said.
“Bite your tongue. Or better yet, let me.” Rafe waggled his eyebrows.
She bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “Did I wake up in some alternate universe where you’re acting like Tiernan and he’s brooding like Maddox?”
“He’s allowed to brood. His brother’s being an ass. But while he broods, I have the honor of being the one who keeps your spirits up, at least until we figure out how to release your wolf.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Where is that optimism of yours, Artemis? I know I didn’t believe you before, but there’s evidence that you have a wolf in you. We just need to figure out how to free her.”
“I’m glad you finally believe me.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to believe you, but your scent, as divine as it is, says you’re human. And shifters shift during puberty. I can’t explain it, but I’ll help you find the answers you need.”
“Tiernan said he believed me, without proof.” She let her head fall back against his shoulder, not sure why she was pushing him.
“I’m not Tiernan.”
“No, and I don’t mean to compare, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“You’re guarded, Rafe, in a different way than Maddox. He’s afraid to show his emotions, afraid to hurt those he loves, but you… you’re afraid to show weakness, as if doing so will be your undoing.”
“It could be.”
“To others perhaps, but not to me, to us. We’re your family, your pack now.”
“She’s right,” Tiernan said from up ahead.
“Just lead the way, scout. Private conversation back here.”
“Stop being so hard on him. Better yet, let down your guard and smile.”
“Alphas don’t smile.”
“I’ve seen you smile, Rafe. Several times,” she said as she traced his lips with a finger.
“You have not.”
“Are you afraid word will get out and ruin your reputation?”
“Shifters don’t take an alpha who smiles seriously.”
“You mean your father doesn’t take you seriously.”
Rafe fell quiet for several minutes as he followed Tiernan, who had surged ahead. “My father has not recovered from the loss of Eero,” Rafe suddenly said. “Eero was his heir. I think my father blames me for Eero’s death. When the first shifter in our pack fell sick with the virus, my father sent me to secure the vaccine from Tiernan’s pack. I pushed my wolf hard. Made it to Greyson’s pack in record time, but I never even got close to the alpha here. I was escorted out of their territory.
“I panicked, didn’t know how I could return to my pack without the vaccine. I had failed. My father often told me that I didn’t have the mindset of an alpha, not like Eero. Eero wouldn’t have given up. So, I circled back, looking for a way past their guards. That’s when I discovered I was being followed.”
