Page 63 of The Hunter's Heart

“Thanks.”

Lucian let his nature out entirely, and the berserker took over. His body morphed to the tall, muscular creature, his clawed feet digging into the ground for a brief moment as he lifted his head and searched the night. The moment the barking howl came again, Lucian pinpointed the sound and raced into the woods. Branches slapped at his skin, but he ignored them as he rushed toward the distressed wolf.

The noise became louder as he drew close to the wolf, and when he reached the creek, he saw a wolf backed up against a tree with a coyote snapping and growling nearby. He leaped over the creek and stepped between them, baring his sharp teeth and roaring at the coyote. The beast took one look at his red, glowing eyes and the menace in his roar and turned tail, taking off in the opposite direction.

He waited until he was sure the coyote was gone, and then he turned and knelt in front of the wolf. He scented and found it to be the young female, Randi. Judging by the heavy smell of blood, she’d been injured. His berserker eased away, and Lucian lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the alphas’ house. By the time he reached the edge of the woods, pack members were returning and shifting.

Brynn rushed from the deck.

“Oh Lucian! You found her! What happened?”

Acksel met them as Lucian stopped in the yard. “I don’t know. I found her on the other side of the creek. She’s bleeding, and there was a coyote trying to get her.”

Acksel looked past Lucian. “Coyote? A shifter?”

Lucian shook his head. “Natural. It was pretty scrawny, I think it must’ve been on its own or maybe young. I scared it off.”

“Good.” He looked over his shoulder and said, “Where’s Ren?

Sam shrugged. “I haven’t seen him since before the hunt.”

“He’s probably still out hunting. Sam, grab some protectors and patrol the woods all the way out to the edge of our territory. Make sure the coyote isn’t hanging around.”

“If he stuck around after seeing Lucian’s berserker, then he’s got a death wish,” Sam said.

Lucian agreed.

Acksel said, “Randi, stay in your shift. You’ll heal faster. Lucian, you can carry her into our house. I’ll send for Doc.”

Lucian followed Brynn into the house, where she spread a blanket on the couch for him to put the young wolf on. She whined when he set her down, and he rested his hand on her head and said, “You did the right thing, Randi. You were in trouble and you called for help. You’re safe now, and that’s all that matters.”

“The question is, why was she alone, though?” Brynn said. “Acksel doesn’t allow any wolves to go off on their own.”

“Maybe she got separated from her group,” he offered.

“Thank you for finding her,” Brynn said.

“Just doing my job.”

“I know. I’m so glad that you and Mia are together and can both be in the pack.”

“I’m pretty happy myself, Alpha.”

She smiled. “You can call me Brynn unless bossy-pants is around.”

“Could you not call me names, woman?” Acksel said as he walked into the room.

“You are, though,” she said.

He grunted. “Randi’s cousins were hunting with her, and apparently they were chasing some deer and got separated. They didn’t realize she wasn’t with them and went to look for her, but couldn’t find her. When she shifts back, we’ll see what the real story is, but it sounds like a young wolf got turned around in the dark, and that happens to the best of us sometimes.”

“Yeah, like when you forget where you park at the mall,” Brynn quipped.

“Woman,” Acksel said, his voice tipping to a growl.

“Don’t growl. You know you love me.”

“It’s true. Still…I’m the alpha.”

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