Page 10 of Alpha Bond

“Sure.” I nod, falling into step beside him as he sets off again.

“So where are your pack lands, Sierra Barr?” He slants a look my way. His strides are long and purposeful. It’s all I can do to keep pace. Especially since I’m still barefoot and the road is pitted. I’d had to pick more than one shard of glass from my feet while I’d been hiding out in that stinking heap.

“Upland.” I use the term our people have always applied to our territory in the hills.

“Upland?” He falters, frowning down at me. “You mean the mountains?”

I nod. “The humans call it the Appalachians.”

He stops completely now. “You’re wild?”

“What do you mean ‘wild’?” I frown back at him.

“Wild. Not urban. Not a city wolf.”

“Well, sure…isn’t that the way we live?” I’m really wishing he wouldn’t keep asking these things. I’m finding it harder and harder to walk and talk at the same time.

“No,” he scoffs. “Not that I’ve ever known. I mean…I’ve heard of it. Just… What the hell are you doing all the way out in the Rust Belt?”

I can’t answer that. Not without revealing more than I wish to. Without telling him about how Rack’s men descended on us. Just the way they do every decade or so, taking all of our mate-ready females. Who knows what’s left of Wildview? If there are still others there, there’s no way I’m telling this stranger about it. Nobody would be safe.

“I’m…lost.”

“No kidding. How did you come to be lost?” He’s walking steadily once more, and try as I might, I’m falling behind. Though considering how badly I want this conversation to be over, that’s not a bad thing.

“I told you. Some guys picked me up. I escaped.” It’s a shaky story. But he could be cutting me some slack. I’m a victim here, after all. I just wish I could tell him the extent of it. Maybe then he’d be less suspicious. Less inclined to doubt what I’m telling him. I jog a few steps to pull up alongside him again.

“Some guys, huh?” He gives me another one of those slant-eyed glances.

Tell him about Rack…

I feel the throbbing in my neck and tug the filthy cloth more firmly around my throat. This wound should be healing. I’m a wolf. It should have closed up overnight. But though the skin has puckered and drawn together, it still feels as if something is gnawing into me. I shudder again. My teeth chatter. It’s not the cold. It’s the damn fever. My wolf isn’t fighting it…she’s too far from the surface. I can’t shift. Can’t fend for myself out here. I don’t know why.

I’m weak.

What if I tell him about Rack, and he turns me over to him? Maybe there’s a reward. Why was he out in that place anyhow?

“Why were you here today?” I narrow my eyes on him.

“Patrol. Team got a report of strange activity. I’m guessing that was you.” He gives a deep sniff. That beautiful lip curls again. Alphas aren’t partial to each other’s scent. And there’s no doubt he’s alpha. “Can’t be too careful, though. Those guys of yours might be back.”

“They’re not my guys,” I mutter. If only he knew how totallynotmy guys they were.

“Whatever. We don’t want them on our tail.” His jaw sets as he looks ahead. It occurs to me that he’s as reluctant to have a group of strange males heading to his home as I would be. Though maybe I have a better reason.

Mama…Pops.

I swallow down a lump in my throat. “You’re right.” My voice is hoarse. For more than one reason. Emotion chokes me as surely exhaustion does. When he doesn’t press for more information, I’m relieved. I need to save my breath if I’m going to get to wherever we’re going.

And I can only pray that it’s safer than where I’ve just come from.

Chapter 6

Jagger

About an hour down the track, I hear a strange sighing sound and turn just in time to see her knees buckle. I spin around and grab her a moment before she hits the ground.

Well, fuck.

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