Page 46 of Untamed

"Let's go," she says quietly.

We join a small crowd, about three families that live up here. Maybe twenty people in all.

They don't make eye contact with us. Twisted sorrow is held deep in the set of their shoulders. They know the chances of seeing their homes again are next to nothing. Rogue wolves recognize me as alpha and not one of them is comfortable with that, but they know that this little caravan is safer than venturing out on their own.

The silverback eyes up each and every one of them. Even the two pups in the arms of their mothers. These wolves may follow us to RustClaw, and duty is forged deep in us. Protect the pack, first, then these stragglers.

Satisfied that, at least for now, none of these wolves pose a threat, we begin the trek to the trucks thirty miles away.

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Willa

I climb right off of Mactiir when I smell the blood. Backing away a step, I look him over. I don't see any wounds, any blood from him, or anything else, but there's definitely a scent of hurt and maybe... fear?

He must see my quizzical look because he immediately starts to explain. "I was talking to some wolves who came onto our territory from an enemy pack.

Enemy?Enemy; adversary, foe, rival.

Mactiir has enemies. I'm not sure why that surprises me. He'sPack...or, well, part of a pack. My she-wolf shifts on her feet, restless. An enemy pack, I think silently. This pack is huge. Is the enemy pack this large? How many enemies does Mactiir have?

I back up a step when Mactiir lifts his hand to touch me. Frowning, I walk to the fireplace in the grand room. It's as far as I can go with the chain.

The stone fireplace is massive, stretching high to the ceiling. It's large enough around that if I lay down, I think I would just barely be longer than its base. Cool and smelling only faintly of woodsmoke, the opening is large enough to squeeze into.

Everything in this house is too large. Why does it have to be this big? Who lives here, other than the two older males and the pup? I know Mactiir told me, but his words don't make sense most of the time.

I feel his hands on my waist as he reattaches the chain to himself. I frown at his hands. Covered in a few scars, too big, just like this house. He brings that awful scent with him.

But it's not just wolves I smell. What is that scent on him? I don't realize I'm biting my lip until Mactiir gently pulls it away from my teeth. "I have everything under control, my luna. Don't worry about this."

Well, now I'm worried. Isn't that the worst thing you can tell someone? Do not worry? I know nothing about these wolves, and just because my body yearns for this male doesn't mean that I can trust him.

Goddess, Iyearnfor Mactiir? Big, dumb, Ogre-Mactiir?Yearn; ache, crave, hunger. I'm in trouble.

"Qitsuk, let's go, my Bliss."

He holds out his hand for me. Tentatively, I place mine in his. My traitorous body yields to his touch. Even my she-wolf has backed down on her aggressive stance. Now she just eyes him with a wariness of a female who doesn't recognize any male as friendly. They are all unknown, too strong, too risky.

"Where are you taking her?" Blue-Star walks into the house. The same stench fouling the air with Mactiir is clinging to Blue-Star.

I feel Mactiir go still. His fingers tighten on mine, and I can feel his walnut-eyes gaze on the side of my face. I don't look at him. I'm already giving him more than I want to. Instead, I keep looking at Blue-Star.

"We're going into town, Rhet," Mactiir responds. "I have to get to the packhouse and arrange for a team to head north to help Alpha Jax."

Blue-Star nods. "We'll go with you. Bea and Gaia need a ride. Fire is getting out of control, according to the latest report. Is that where Jax was last?"

"Yes. With Devel's team."

Blue-Star runs a hand down his face. His eyes have darkened to the color of the night sky.

"Is it pushing them east towards FeraxMaw?" he asks Mactiir.

The feeling of tension is heightening. My she-wolf's ridge fur is rising, her shoulders bunching in readiness.

Remember, Willa.FeraxMaw. Purple had mentioned them too. Is this the enemy pack? FeraxMaw, FeraxMaw. Don't make up another name for them. There's more than one pack, and FeraxMaw is the enemy pack of Mactiir.Remember.

The dark male walks inside the house just a moment after Blue-Star. "Last communication was an hour ago. Devel's team is at least an hour south," he replies, jumping into the conversation.

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