Page 38 of Curvy Alpha Bride
“No, you couldn’t have,” Ivan mutters, and Xavier’s eyes swivel over to him.
“I’m going to need you to explain this to me, very thoroughly,” Xavier says menacingly. His fingers twitch as he looks around at the elders, as if he wants to tear them all apart.
“What about Dove?” I ask, my fear finally overcoming me. “What happened to her? Shouldn’t we try to find her?”
The entire group turns to look at me, and on the faces of the elders is absolute shock.
“What are you doing here?” Rhiannon screams. “You shouldn’t be out here!”
“For fuck’s sake!” Ivan yells. “You can’t run around without protection!”
The elders surround us and start pushing me down the track. Xavier wraps an arm around me, and they shove him as well.
The rest of the townsfolk watch us go, some of them with shock or fear, others with resignation. Dove’s mother continues to wail with loss, and her voice is like a lament that spreads through the valley to be heard all the way to Kootenai Peak.
“What are you doing?” I demand, trying to plant my feet. “Stop this crap right now, and talk to me.”
“Can’t,” Ninette says, grabbing my arm and sidling up against me to keep me moving. “We have to get you back to the cabin—now.”
“This is bullshit!” Xavier yells. “Stop!”
They don’t stop. Rhiannon grabs my other arm, and Eileen steps up behind me and puts her hand against my lower back. I try to plant my feet, but they keep pulling and shoving me, and I can’t resist them.
Xavier growls as Ivan shoves him forward. Before he can strike back, Hector pushes him from the other side, almost knocking him off his feet. Xavier sees that the other women have marched me further up the track and runs to keep up. Ivan, Hector, Finnah, and Serra all follow him closely.
“Let go of her!” he yells, trying to get between the women.
“Can’t do that, son,” Rhiannon mutters, gripping my arm even tighter. “Just keep moving.”
“Why?” Xavier almost screams. He stops and turns around, only to be faced with the other elders again as they close ranks and advance. “What the fuck,” he growls.
“We need to get you back to the cabin,” Serra says. “Just do as you’re told.”
“I will not!” he roars. “I’m not taking another step until you fucking talk to me! I should be out there in the woods right now, looking for Dove. All of us should be!”
“Dove is dead,” Finnah says, her voice dull. “And if you want to protect the rest of the pack, then you’ll listen to us.”
“Dead?” The wail breaks out of my throat, and I struggle against the women. “What happened to her?”
The elders look at me, but none of them speaks.
“I heard screaming,” Xavier says, jogging to catch up with me. “I went out to find out what it was, and found the townsfolk going crazy.”
“This is beyond fucking crazy!” I cry, struggling against the women. Rhiannon and Ninette grip my arms even tighter, dragging me as Eileen pushes against my back.
“That’s it!” Xavier yells, shoving at the women. “Let her go, right fucking now!”
Ivan shifts into his wolf shape and leaps at Xavier, knocking him off his feet. Hector shifts as well and flanks Ivan, stalking around Xavier, where he sits on the ground. Neither of them has their teeth bared, but the hard look in their eyes plainly says they’ll hurt him if they have to.
Xavier looks ready to shift and fight as Serra and Finnah step up behind the others, holding hands and staring down at Xavier. Finnah’s face is full of sorrow, while Serra looks cold and determined.
“We don’t want to hurt you,” Serra says to her nephew. “But we will. We are putting Mabel back in that cabin, and you can’t stop us. Be smart, and just go with her.”
Xavier glares at her for a moment, then switches his gaze to Finnah. I see her lip tremble and her eyes fill with tears, but she grips her sister’s hand even tighter.
“Mom?” he whispers.
The way he utters the word almost breaks my heart. There is so much pain and confusion in his voice, and it isn’t just about today’s events.
