2. Roen
ROEN
A member of my pack is in trouble.
Everything felt normal when I crossed into our territory twenty minutes ago.
After a trip out of town to pick up supplies and spend a night at the club, nothing is better than coming home.
Being close enough to sense my pack again.
To smell dirt wet with fresh rain and the tangy sap on the trees.
To feel the salty mist from the ocean bordering our land.
Then it hit me.
Fear. Pain. Exhaustion.
Usually, the pack bond is subtle when I’m not in wolf form, but this time it came like a physical punch to the chest. I can feel every erratic heartbeat pounding under my ribcage.
Olivia would have called if we were under attack. What’s going on?
I step on the gas and speed closer. It’s pouring rain, too dark to see much with my human eyes, but I’ll get there faster in a vehicle.
The emotions are so overwhelming that I can’t pinpoint who it is, but I know they belong to me. An alpha’s bond is never wrong. I hone my senses and scan for unfamiliar wolves.
A small distance away, I sense three of our younger members: Shane, Cleo, and Tiff. Figures they’d be the ones to find trouble. Why are they pacing around? They’re nervous, but not afraid. Not in pain.
Not like the one who called for me.
The one who needs me.
I catch the scent more clearly as I get closer. For some reason, I still can’t place their name. But I know her . I know she’s mine.
It must be the heightened anxiety that’s muddling my senses. Or maybe I stayed away too long this time. How could I forget the scent of my own pack member?
My hands tighten around the wheel. Her fear becomes almost unbearable as I race ahead. I spot a trail of crushed grass veering into the forest and hurry to pull over.
Rain soaks me as soon as I jump out of the car. I reach out to Shane for help, but he seems hesitant. His wolf’s golden eyes peek out at me from the woods, along with two pairs of green. Shane tips his nose toward the path, then backs off. I sense Tiff’s guilt, Cleo’s worry. They’re okay.
She’s not.
Wait. I stop just as I’m about to shift.
Human. She’s a human.
I’d been too focused on her panic to notice, but the subtle difference in scent is unmistakable. That shouldn’t be possible—a pack bond only works between wolves. But somehow, she’s one of mine.
It doesn’t matter right now. She needs help.
Stepping through the weeds, I find a car crunched into the trunk of a large tree with another smashed against the driver’s side. The sharp edge of my own panic cuts through hers. Humans aren’t built for accidents like that.
I rush to the side I can access and try the passenger door handle. It’s slick from rain, and locked. Condensation covers the windows, making it so I can’t see inside.
Her fear heightens.
“Saw a car in the ditch,” I call. “Didn’t want to leave you here.” My voice comes out gritty and rough. Too raw.
Silence.
“You hurt?” I try again.
“Be careful. Something’s out there,” she answers.
Sweet goddess. That voice. All I can focus on is getting to her. Hearing her voice again. Making sure she’ll be okay.
“Storm’s bad. You need to get out of the rain.”
“Yeah…” Her voice cracks, and my heart splits in two. “There’s something else outside,” she repeats.
I glance back into the woods. Oh.
Before I can restrain myself, a wave of anger lashes out at my own pack. They caused this. They hurt her.
Tiff whines. Cleo moves in front of him. Shane stops pacing in the trees nearby and looks me square in the eyes. Then he lowers his head and whines, too.
I snap myself out of it and turn back to the human. “I won’t let anything hurt you. I promise.”
Another silent pause.
Guilt floods me. They wouldn’t have done this on purpose. I force myself to calm down, then reach out to the others again. I reassure them that I’ve got things under control, and I’m glad they stuck around to help. Being the smart kids they are, they run home, probably to inform the others.
“I think…I hit my head.” As soon as she speaks, all my attention is back on her.
“Can you unlock the door?”
“Uh…” There’s movement inside the vehicle. “The button got jammed. And I can’t reach the other door.”
“I’ll break the window. Cover yourself. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Okay.” A pause. “I’m ready.”
I expect it to take a couple of tries, but my fist cracks through with one swing.
Shards of splintered glass cut into my skin.
Blood starts to run down my forearm, but pain is the last thing on my mind.
My whole body freezes as I catch sight of her.
Frizzy corkscrews of black hair tucked back with a navy scarf.
Smooth, brown skin. Dark eyes dilated from shock.
Soft cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips.
I can’t look away.
“You’re gonna be okay.” I don’t know why the fuck I think she’ll trust a scruffy, bearded stranger who appeared out of nowhere, but I feel her calming. “Do you need help getting out?”
She nods and takes a deep breath. Her body is wedged so tightly against the steering wheel that she hardly has room to breathe. The seat belt is digging into her thighs and chest. A hoodie and what looks like leggings will at least protect her from the chill of the rain.
“Think you can get the seat belt loose?” she asks. “It did its job, but now it’s too tight and I can’t get it off.”
“Yeah, let me just...” I find the lock from the inside of the door and wrench it loose, almost breaking the door.
Her scent gets stronger as I lean over the passenger seat.
Fuck, it’s distracting. Behind the spike of adrenaline are notes of sweet herbs and lavender.
And faintly, something deeper. Something I’ll never be able to get enough of.
I keep myself from sniffing her like a pup in heat and search for the button to release the seatbelt. My fingers have to slide along her thigh, and I feel just how soft she is. How easy it’d be to rip off the thin fabric, this pointless barrier.
Dammit. My dick is hard. This is not appropriate.
But it’d be so satisfying to touch her skin, sink in my canines, and claim her. Spread those sinfully thick thighs and confirm my suspicion that she tastes even better than she smells…
A growl rises from the back of my throat.
She startles. The seat belt finally clicks open, but she presses herself further against the opposite wall. “I told you something’s out there.” Her eyes widen, and the scent of her fear returns.
I hold back a curse. I didn’t mean to scare her. What the hell has gotten into me?
I back out of the car, leaving the seat soaked from rain dripping off my hair and shirt. It aches to stop touching her. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
She gives me a funny look.
I attempt a friendly smile. “What’s your name?”
She bites her lip, and one corner of her mouth curves. I have to hold in another growl.
“Nova.”
“Roen,” I offer.
Then it’s like a light clicks on in her head. “Dr. Campbell, I mean, Olivia! I was on my way to meet her. I should try calling, she might be able to come get me–”
“You know Olivia?’
We both stare at each other.
Nova .
That’s why I needed to be back tonight. Oliva had been harping on me to let her hire someone to cover the dental side of the clinic—a professional doctor who could help take care of our growing numbers.
It took me months to finally relent, but only on the condition that we hire them on a trial basis and they stay with me in the pack house until we determine if they’re trustworthy.
Nothing in our human forms would cause suspicion besides a few sharp teeth, and everyone agreed to keep our true nature a secret.
“You’re Nova Sterling, as in the new doctor?”
She nods.
This woman, this human that inexplicably made me lose control, is moving in with my pack?