Page 25 of Alpha Bond

“It’s a hard world for our kind, isn’t it?” She looks at me. “Anyway, we’ve found a way to make things better.”

“It looks that way,” I agree as I take in the smiling faces and chattering families. “Your pack is nothing like anything I’ve ever heard of before. I asked Jagger about it, but…” I let out a breath. I suppose that if he’d been tightlipped, the doctor might be too.

“Oh, that’s just Jagger’s way. We’re not a secret society or anything. At least, not among shifters. Many of our people gravitated to us from other packs because they knew what we represented.” She leads me in the direction of a string of tented stalls with clothing displayed on rails. It looks just like a flea market.

“Really?” I tilt my head. “And what is that?”

“Sanctuary.” Doctor Bea smiles. “We take in those who have no place to go. Once they prove themselves, of course.”

My lips purse slightly as I think about this. “What wolf would have no place to go?” In our pack, every one of us was valued.

“Outcast alphas, mainly,” she replies. “Those who represented a threat within their own packs. Some leaders refuse to have anyone in their ranks who might fight for their position. Sometimes alpha males are thrown out before they reach maturity.”

“As pups?” My eyes are wide. We’ve reached the clothing stalls, and I tag along as she moves from one to the next.

“Hey, Doc,” someone calls out.

“Hiya, Wade!” she calls back before returning her attention to me. “Yes, as pups. Adolescents, mainly. Though sometimes they’re younger. Some can barely fend for themselves. Like Jagger was when he…” She trails off.

“Jagger came here as a pup?” I stare at her.

She gives a slow nod. “I’m probably speaking out of turn.”

“No!” I stop when I realize I responded too sharply. “I mean, I don’t think you’re being malicious or gossiping. And I think I should know this if I’m going to be staying with the man, don’t you?”

“That’s a matter of opinion,” she says drily. “Anyway, it might help you to understand some of his motivations. Jagger had nothing when he arrived here. Just a boy surviving on his wits out in a world that wasn’t designed for our kind.” She glances around us as if looking for something. I worry that she might not go on speaking. Until she continues, “I was just a young woman when he arrived, but I remember it so well. How terrified he was. And yet so brave. That grit he has. The fierce determination…he poured it into everything he did. It’s why he rose up the ranks of the patrol units so quickly. He seemed set on being useful to us. And protecting us seemed to be his main focus.”

“He wanted to take care of everyone,” I muse as we make our way through racks of clothing. It’s impossible not to be aware of the curious stares, but I try to ignore them.

“Exactly. He’d been given a home here. And he wanted to take care of it. Still does, I guess.”

I think about this for a moment. “Still,” I go on, “I can’t understand how you manage to have so many dominant wolves in one pack. Isn’t there constant fighting for position?”

“In the beginning, yes. But then the founders figured out a way to get around it. Our unmated alphas remain in the patrol teams and live in the single quarters. It’s their job to maintain the safety of our community, as well as to ensure that we always have what we need – provisions, materials, gas, household items, that kind of thing. They’re the ones who engage with the humans when it’s necessary.”

“They do the risky stuff?” I trail my fingertips along the bodice of a floral sundress. It’s the kind of thing I used to wear back home.

“Exactly.” Doctor Bea nods. “They’re more driven when it comes to things like that. Meanwhile, our mated pack members live here, in the family units. They have homes in which to raise their young, a safe environment. We even have a school.”

My brow furrows in amazement. “And still no fighting?”

“Nope.” She smiles. “Keep a wolf happy and loved, and they want to keep the status quo. They don’t want to mess with things by waging wars with other alphas. Which is why only a mated alpha can hold a high rank. We know we can trust them not to cause trouble. The same goes for our betas. They all have mates.”

I gnaw on my lip as I consider this. Back in Wildview, everyone had a family. But then again, we’d all been born into our pack, and our roles were established. I can’t imagine how things would have been handled if newcomers had begun to join us. What the doctor is saying starts to make sense.

“It sounds like a good system,” I say thoughtfully.

“Well, it works for us, at any rate. And after all that we’ve been through, nobody’s prepared to change things.” She stops talking as a tall blonde woman approaches us, waving a hand. “Raura!” Doctor Bea says brightly.

The new arrival smiles warmly, then eyes me with curiosity. “Hello, Doc. Who’s your friend?”

“This is Sierra.” The doctor rests a hand on my shoulder. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”

“The one the males are all talking about?” Raura winks at me, and my cheeks flush. “You’ve caused quite a stir.”

“I didn’t mean to. I’m just—”

“I’m teasing you. You’re welcome here. I’m Raura Pierce. Good to meet you.” She extends a hand. I take it.

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