Page 32 of Rogue Wolf

Then the others would know she’d rebelled against him.

“I’ll drive back.” Driving would be dangerous after her head injury. But it wasn’t far to the clubhouse, and she didn’t want the others to find out what she’d done. Once more, she’d put them all at risk.

What if Kodiak had been hurt in the fight with Amdis? More than ever, she needed him to protect her. He obviously couldn’t do that if he was injured, or worse.

“Like hell, you will,” growled Kodiak as they left the apartment, he sent a text, then locked the door behind them. “You’re hurt and in no condition to drive.”

“I’ll be fine.” She bumped into him accidentally, and her vision blurred from the sudden movement.

“In a few days, maybe.” He took the bag and wrapped his arm around her, guiding her to the elevator. “Someone’s already on their way, they’ll be here before the sun sets.”

She’d really fucked up this time. Would the pack hold it against her? Would this be the reason they'd been looking for, the thing that would stop her from becoming one of them?

CHAPTER 8

Kodiak

The pack was even more vulnerable after Tamaska’s act of defiance. Kodiak’s muscles were permanently tense, and his head throbbed.

Tamaska had been sent to his room to rest in disgrace. He hated doing that, treating her like a child, but it showed the others that even if she became his mate, he wasn’t playing favorites.

Roan who had some medical experience, was assigned to check on her. Kodiak also sent Ash to keep watch. He couldn't trust Tamaska not to do something impetuous and hot-headed.

She was human. Even if there was more to her, she was essentially human, it’s how she thought, how she’d been brought up, so he couldn’t expect her to magically obey unspoken shifter laws and rules.

But sending Ash served another purpose; it would give her extra time to continue researching the Blood Opal and Tamaska's transformation.

The pack needed to get on the road, and they would, as soon as Fern returned with Onai’s car.

They’d have to clean the carpets tomorrow. Anger still beat in his veins, whispering it was a waste of time to bother with the carpet cleaners.

Tamaska’s recklessness put her at risk, as well as her being accepted by the pack.

Now would be the perfect time for the vampires to attack, even with clubhouse security up and running, thanks to Channing’s hard work, and the fencing electrified, if enough came, if they managed to overrun their system, it could well mean the end of the pack. The pack remained vulnerable as long as their enemies had the Blood Opal.

Kodiak couldn’t wait to get away from the clubhouse, the constant reminder of how the vampires had defeated them.

But it wouldn’t be any easier at the hut, not when they were going there to bury the dead.

Kodiak glanced out of the living room window.

“Again, why can’t we go?” asked Moki, still painting. The pack members had done what Kodiak had asked, and they were nearly finished with the final coat.

Kodiak let the curtain fall back over the window. “We need the car. Or do you want to stay here on vampire watch?”

“I’d like to pay my respects to the dead and you as the new alpha.”

“Good.” He didn’t entirely believe Moki. But, so far, Moki was toeing the line, which was good enough for now.

The young shifter held Kodiak’s gaze before turning back to his painting. He might be a pain but he wasn’t the only one who’d voiced discontent over the fact that Tamaska needed to be rescued from yet another vampire.

The pack didn’t want her around, especially if she wouldn’t obey the pack rules and follow him—the alpha. He heard their whispers. She was putting his leadership at risk.

Even as she didn’t mean to.

Kodiak would have to think of something smart to convince the others of her value to the pack. Fuck, he was going to have to convince himself.

It wasn’t just the anger or the fact she’d got herself into trouble. And for him it wasn’t value. She had great value in many areas, but packlife might not be for her. It even happened for shifters who took off to integrate into the human world or just roam. Some weren’t born for the pack.

---