The vehicle pulled up to the entrance of the small packhouse. It wasn’t much, but they weren’t a big outfit yet. The Shadow Pack was selective about who they allowed in, because there wasn’t room for egos or selfish fools.
“We’re here. Come on, we’ll show you around. Let you meet the guys.” Everyone piled from the vehicle as Ben announced this. However, it all came to a stop when a guy ran down the front steps to meet them.
“Ty, we have a bit of a situation inside that needs your undivided attention.” He came to a stop, looking very flustered. “We’ve tried to keep them out of the way and quiet, but they’ll only talk to you.”
“Eric, what are you talking about?” Ty tried to figure out what Eric was talking about in such a vague fashion. It wasn’t easy with how distracted he was by the blanket covered minx beside him. She wasn’t giving him an inch to work with, and he was desperate to get her in private. The blanket he held up around himself wasn’t hiding all that much itself.
“You need to come in and see for yourself. It appears our arrival has stirred up more than the Hollow Wood Alpha’s wrath. Hi, sorry didn’t see you standing there behind him.”
“Eric, quit flirting with your soon-to-be Luna, or this Alpha’s wrath will become apparent. Can this wait until I’ve found clothes?” Her identity got Eric’s attention, before the comment about needing clothing. Ty’d used that alpha tone again, but it appeared to Rose he didn’t use the alpha’s voice of authority on his pack very often. This was unreal for Rose, and she looked at Jules. She needed to gauge what was happening and hoped Jules wouldn’t lead her astray again. Jules looked as wide-eyed and confused as Rose did. Neither felt very comfortable.
Eric’s eyes widened a little in surprise. “This is her?” He gave his head a little shake to correct himself. It was a dog like shaking off the water after it got out of a lake. He must have done this to reset his thoughts in Rose’s estimation. “Oh, uh, sorry ma’am. Welcome to your new home. I wish it was more, but we didn’t have time to prepare for your presence.”
Those words were not what she was expecting to hear, nor see the man stand at attention like a soldier. Then he just stood there waiting for something. Instructions maybe? Acceptance of his apology? Rose wasn’t sure at all what she was supposed to do.
“Ty, what is going on? This isn’t making any sense. I want to go home. Or leave this place all together. I don’t care where I go right now, just away from here where people are sane. There is a place like that, isn’t there?” She didn’t know what else to say. Eric’s mouth dropped open at her words. Clearly, she’d said something wrong, and it was the last thing Eric expected her to say.
“Rose, stop it. You’re safe here and there’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll handle whatever it is. There’s nothing here I’d let harm you that includes your father. He should have been dealt with years ago by someone else. Why they waited this long, I don’t know. But I aim to fix it.” Ty looked angry, but he wasn’t yelling or taking that anger out on anyone. He wasn’t destroying things, either. He was nothing like her father. Now she wondered if Ty was correct. What little her father said about him didn’t match what she was seeing before her. So, how much did her father tell her were lies or omissions?
“As far as I can tell, they were waiting for us to come and do the job for them. Your uncle didn’t want excessive carnage on everyone’s hands from you taking control a third time. That’s why he sent us away to finish our training. Keep us out of sight and off Angles’ mind.” Ben reminded Ty before he got ahead of himself. Truthfully, there were only so many wolves strong enough to take on Russell. None of which, lived within the region and didn’t want anything to do with this isolated community. Russell was the big fish in a little pond, and he liked to lord that over others by pretending to be their saviour and protector.
“True, though it could have been done better than it was, but we’ll work with what we’ve been dealt. Now I need to find some pants.” Ty knew he didn’t want to deal with anything if it meant Rose wasn’t in his presence. Fine, he’d deal with this quickly and then have Rose all to himself after that.
“I guess you also need to get in there and deal with whatever has Eric in a panic. I’m pretty sure Jules will agree with me when I say. I’ll probably feel better with some clothes on. After all, we’re standing here in a blanket and a swimsuit.” Rose could live with a large t-shirt. Now that had some appeal if it was Ty’s shirt. Her thoughts went to wrapping herself up in one of his shirts with his scent clinging to it. She was glad that the blanket was there to keep prying eyes off all her curves and not to keep her warm. Jules must think the same thing.
“Yeah, yeah. Come on then, let’s get this over with and see what is going on in there. I’ll try to get it done with as quickly as I can. But I can’t guarantee how fast that will be since I haven’t been told exactly what’s going on.” Ty was annoyed for several reasons, but clearly Eric didn’t want to affect Ty’s decision making on whatever the problem was inside.
They made their way slowly toward the packhouse. Ty was dreading this part. Nothing inside was ready for anyone. Though he hoped the guys would get things habitable by this evening. But he wouldn’t hold out much hope for that.
The small group followed Ty up the few stairs into the packhouse. It was chaos. Clearly, they were moving into the space. Boxes and bags were everywhere, and the furniture needed to be setup properly in the building. Large men were busy dealing with this, while in what Rose believed would be the dining room, a group of people she knew very well grumpily harassed several other men. The men didn’t respond; they stood there as if they were on guard and didn’t answer anyone’s insistent questions. She had to be careful not to get the blanket caught on anything on the way there. “What is going on here?” Ty didn’t waste a moment. His tone went straight to that of an alpha. It told everyone in the room, he would not accept any back talk or disrespect. The fact he wore only a blanket didn’t matter a bit. What Rose liked was that he chose not to focus that tone on an individual. He used it to take command of the room and to cut through the chaos. “Why are you all here? Can you not see
Rose let Tyler guide her through the packhouse. She didn’t remember this place being here before, but it didn’t smell like new construction. What pack used this as their home? Where had they gone? She was pondering this as he guided her up the stairs and into an apartment at the end of the corridor. The place was massive and looked like it was in fairly good condition. The apartment itself was fully furnished and ready to live in. “When the guys realized I was bringing you home, they insisted on having this ready for you.” “The guys? A pack of rogue male wolves thought to have a place for me to sleep ready. Now, I can safely say I’ve heard everything.” Rose raised an eyebrow and looked over her shoulder with a slight smile. She dared him to continue claiming that story as the truth. “We are far from animals, Rose. You’ll find we’re quite reasonable and civilized. Though if you keep looking at me, like I might not stay civilized.” A lazy feral smile
They were mating. Rose didn’t care about anything but how right this felt. Ty leaned over her now and her nose was buried in the base of his throat. Her senses were on overload. His chest kept her breasts wanting more, his shaft pushed her core toward new heights of pleasure. His hands held her wrists on either side of her head. Ty’s head was against her throat. She could feel his wolf so close to the surface as it drew hers out. “Not like this. We aren’t a couple of humans. We’re going to do this right.” Suddenly he pulled away and was moving her. She barely had time to register the hollow abandoned feel of him leaving her body open, exposed, and wanting. “Ty. Please! I need to end this.” “Not yet. Soon, baby. I’ll give it to you like you really need it.” No guy was ever this dominate with her before this, and she thrilled at knowing he planned more. Ty placed her on her hands and knees, her buttock up and her thighs wide. Then he was back
Ty opened the door, unhappy at being interrupted. What greeted him on the other side was the last thing he expected. Ben stood there with just as unhappy a look on his face as he had. “What’s wrong now? We’re busy. Is the packhouse on fire?” “No, but your uncle is asking for permission to enter your territory to talk to you about something. Before you ask, he won’t say, and he doesn’t look thrilled.” “Bad timing. Fine, she’s asleep, anyway. I’ll leave her a note. This better not take long. What does he want now? Stay there. I just need some pants.” Ty left Ben at the door. He took a notepad from the nightstand and wrote a note for Rose. With it on the pillow beside her in case she woke up, he left the room and followed Ben. “What did you do with Jules?” “I may have locked her in my room. Just like you, only she wasn’t asleep. I’m surprised we can’t hear her yelling at me through the door still. I guess the apartments are soundproof for each
Ben stayed back well out of the way of the two alphas as they argued on the front lawn of their new packhouse. Ty at least gave a good show of strength, even if some of what he was standing up for was iffy. But Ben could only tell him so many times before it became nagging or fear mongering. However, who would have thought that both girls would be their mates, and he dreaded going up there to him? She was not happy with him right now for locking her in his apartment. That temper of hers would be fun to turn into passion. Yup, he was smitten really good. Ty’s uncle finally left with a nod to Ben, and an angry huff for Ty. Nothing really was solved by his visit. But at least now they’d gotten a warning out to the town and local packs to prepare for this war. Ben’s mind went in several directions with thoughts of security, among other things. He’d need to speak to Jay and make sure that there were enough people on guard duty at all times. It wasn’t just the mai
Rose awoke to hear muffled yelling and a piece of paper that read, “I’ll be back.” Who writes something that vague? Tyler did. It appeared he was nowhere to be found in the apartment and the door to leave by would not open. Rose was bound and determined not to panic yet, but someone was going to have to help him if he didn’t give her some answers when he got back. What was the yelling about? When she finally located a window that faced where the yelling was coming from, she saw a Jeep leaving rapidly and Tyler returning to his pack’s house. She couldn’t tell at this distance his mood beyond he wasn’t happy by the way he stalked toward the house. Gods. He’d bitten her while they were… Her father was going to kill him for ruining any chances of benefiting from having a daughter. She wasn’t sure Ty understood stood that. This would come back to bite them on the backside if they weren’t careful. She wanted to hate him for being selfish, but how much more did
Jules couldn’t believe it. He’d mated with her. Got a phone call he picked up and then left. To add fuel to the fire, he didn’t tell her where he was going, or when he’d be back. He locked the door and walked away, leaving her stranded in his rooms, naked, alone, and mated to a stranger. She was going crazy. Yes, she was attracted to him, and she’d desperately wanted to have some adult playtime with him. But she didn’t sign up for mating with him. Gods, what was she going to tell Rose? Where was she? Was she okay? Jules was going crazy. Things made sense one minute and then not the next. Rose could be in danger. What were Ty’s intentions toward Rose? Was Rose safe? Was she safe? Jules was going crazy. She needed answers. The one time she didn’t have her phone to get those answers. Her father told her she’d sink or swim on her own because he wouldn’t come to save her. Ben better get his butt back here and explain himself. She could feel the c
Rose couldn’t believe Ty. “When did you plan on telling this to me? Do I have any say in this? Or am I just a bystander?” “You’re the one. My mate. I’m not going to let you be hurt by anyone. My plans will return the pack to me, and the guilty will be brought to justice. Rose, I’ve planned this for a long time. He won’t get away from this. I don’t want war, but we are ready to fight if we must. Your father is known as a twisted soul, but no one can prove what he did. I know where the bodies are, and it’s not enough. Rose, it’s not enough.” Rose could see the conflict in his whole being. His hate and frustration mixed and expanded his conflict into what drove him now. “I won’t let you destroy what this place was built upon.” Rose couldn’t believe how thick headed he was. Did she see how blind he was to what a war would do to this town? Most of the packs survived on shoe-string budgets. They didn’t have any money to maintaining a personal pack defence. That’s why they po