Page 82 of Brutal Alpha Beast
We’re cut off when Lacey and Sawyer arrive.
“Lacey!” Danielle yells. “Finally, girl.”
***
The rest of the night continues somewhat peacefully. Although people are muttering and staring, no one says anything, at least not until toward the end of the night.
Moira approaches me, Danielle, and some of our pack mates as a whole group. I notice some of them are from Jasper’s pack, too.
We’re sitting around a small table, engaged in a debate about whether rabbits or foxes are easier to hunt.
“Obviously, it’s rabbits,” Danny says.
When I see the group coming, my blood turns cold.
“Hey, Moira, what do you think is easier to hunt, rabbits or foxes? Rabbits, right?” Danny asks her.
“Rabbits,” she says, looking coldly at Danielle.
Then she looks at me.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but you didn’t mention anything about it tonight, and there’s obviously a lot of us concerned with how Danielle’s been feeling.”
“Moira, leave it,” I command.
I don’t want to have to tell her I’ll report this to Sawyer—I don’t like to lead that way, but I will if she doesn’t stop.
“It’s fine,” Danielle says. “I appreciate the concern, but I assure you I’m monitoring myself carefully.”
“But how can you be, if we weren’t even officially told? I thought we were supposed to be on guard.” Another shifter says.
I get it, but just as I’m about to speak, Danny speaks for me.
“She rejects the curse just as much as we do,” he says.
We both glance at him, Danielle and I, completely shocked.
“But how will we know what to do?” One of Jasper’s shifters asks. “When we have no idea what’s going on. What if she threatens our safety?”
“She’s as much a part of this pack as any other shifter is,” I say. “And we’ll deal with it as we would if she were a wolf.”
We’re standing now, my pack mates and I, shielding Danielle as our allies shoot daggers with their eyes.
Noticing the commotion, more and more pack mates come to stand by our side.
I can’t help but feel proud. It means that Danielle and the pack, unknowingly, are already starting to make amends.
Soon, Sawyer and Jasper are there, clearing their throats, arms folded across their chest. Our group of allies looks sheepish. Looking Danielle up and down before slinking off.
If Jasper, Sawyer, and I don’t keep a watchful enough eye over these parties, too often, they can end up in brawls.
Curse or not, we’re hot-headed wolves.
***
“So, you’re telling me you don’t have to hold the pack’s hands, but you had to hold mine?”
Danielle laughs. “You just don’t get how magic works, do you?”
