Page 110 of The Weakest Wolf

So what is it Galen Hunt? Like or like-like? And why can’t I bring myself to ask?

I raise my eyebrow. “And how long can I expect that to last?”

His next glance is so blank that I suspect there’s more he’s keeping from me. “A while.”

I stare at his profile. “You don’t have another surprise waiting for me when we get to your pack, do you?”

“Like what?”

Like asking me to be your mate, because I have no idea how a pack would deal with the thought of a submissive being the highest-ranked female. And what would this alpha shifter, Chloe who Galen says he has no interest in think about that?

That’s a terrifying prospect. Me leading a pack?

No. It’s something else.

It has to be.

I turn away. “Nothing. Just curious.”

Galen drives in silence for the next several miles while I take in the open fields beside the highway. The sun is so bright and hot, I’ve never felt anything like it. Kansas. Who would’ve thought I’d ever be driving through Kansas one day?

Once or twice, I feel his eyes on me, but he doesn’t ask me what I’m thinking as I fiddle with the necklace around my neck.

“You’ll like everyone, Sierra,” Galen murmurs. “Just as everyone will like you.”

Not every shifter can be like the Stones. I know that. In my headandin my heart. But even though I tell myself that, I’m afraid something will go wrong. That I’ll taint Galen’s pack with the same evil I left behind.

I don’t know how to be in a pack. Not one that isn’t as messed up as the Stones. And what if I don’t fit? What if I never fit?

“Sierra?”

My smile is one I’ve had years to practice. “I know.”

Galen glances over at me. His furrowed brow tells me he’s not buying my smile. “But?”

“But nothing. Everything will be fine.”

Or it won’t and I’ll have to leave.

“Baby…”

I put more effort into my smile, at the same time I slow my racing heart before Galen realizes just how hard I’m trying not to think about all the things that could go wrong. “It’s just going to be different. That’s all.”

“It’ll be good. All of it. And our pack runs are nothing like what happened back there. They’re fun. We all…” Galen keeps talking but I stop listening

Shit. I didn’t even think about that.

I’m going to shift and they’re going to meet my wolf. Mysubmissivewolf. The part of me I haven’t let anyone see. I ran away before the last pack run in Dexter. If I do that in Upstate New York, it’s just going to make things awkward for everyone. “Galen?”

He squeezes my hand. “Yeah?”

“About your pack—” I stop talking when a sign draws my attention. I stare at it until Galen passes it and even then, I’m sure I still see it.

“About my pack…?” he echoes when I don’t continue.

I shift to face Galen, taking in his profile. “If we take a few days longer to get there, will that cause any problems?”

He turns to me with a frown. “Why?” his eyes dip to my ribs. “Is something wrong? Do you need to stop?”

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