Cherry #3
“Oh, Ezra,” Juliet says, batting gently at his chest. “You flatter me.”
“Of course. Is there any other way to treat such a perfect creature?” He smiles at her with clear appreciation before he glances at me.
“We should be on our way,” Maddox says as he starts to move around them.
As I pass her, a small growl escapes me, and she gasps dramatically. “Did you hear that? She is positively feral! I can’t believe Alpha Kane is letting this wild creature walk around like she’s not a dangerous rogue.”
“First of all,” Chase grits out, spinning to face her, “Kane doesn’t let us do anything. We’re our own pack, and we make our own decisions. And second of all, she is not feral or dangerous.”
“Then how do you explain her behavior?” she asks, waving her hand close to my face. I can’t help but snap at it, making her shriek as she yanks it back in alarm. “See!?” she exclaims.
“Stop treating her like some wild dog,” Hunter says angrily as Bain’s large hand sinks into the fur on the back of my neck, grounding me to him.
“I’m treating her that way because she’s acting like one!” Juliet yells back. “I’m going to tell Alpha Kane that if she’s staying here, she needs to be muzzled at all times.”
A pained whine leaves me as I step back. Suddenly, visions of my captivity flash through my mind. I must have worn that muzzle hundreds of times, and when I ran, it was almost the death of me, not allowing me to eat.
The thought of ever having to wear one again sends my mind spiraling. The mournful cry of a wolf in the distance drowns out all other noise.
Flashes of Dr. J and the lab press in, reminding me of all the pain and torture that wearing that muzzle meant. I can’t survive that again. Especially not after finally finding some good in the world. Wearing a muzzle again would break me, I know it would. I’m not strong, I’m weak, damaged.
Broken.
The sound of the wolf cry breaks through the memories, and I realize it’s me, I’m the one howling. I manage to stop, for just a moment, and that’s enough for other sounds to reach me.
“It’s okay, we’ve got you,” Maddox’s soothing voice tells me from very close to my ear. I think he’s holding me right now. I inhale deeply and let his cedar, leather, and ash scent wrap around me.
“Drive faster!” Chase yells from somewhere close by.
“I’m going as fast as I can!” Gage says in frustration.
I open my eyes and pull my head back, finding myself in Maddox’s lap, his arms wrapped around me as he holds me tightly. We’re in the middle row of seats in the SUV, and when I glance through the front windshield, I see we’re pulling into our driveway.
I don’t remember how I got into the vehicle or the drive home.
“Hey, little wolf,” Maddox says, stroking my face. I glance up at him. “Are you feeling a little better?” Unable to speak, I dip my chin. He kisses the top of my head as Gage parks the vehicle.
I feel him grow tense right before Bain swears. “Fuck.”
“I’ll stay here with her, you go check it out,” Maddox tells him, and even though I have no idea what they’re talking about, I’m pleased they didn’t say that through the pack bond.
Lifting my nose, I try to see if I can smell anything, but all I smell are my pack's intoxicating scents, so I drop my head back to Maddox’s chest.
“You can’t smell that?” Gage asks, looking back at me as Bain, Chase, and Hunter all jump out of the SUV and head toward the front door. I give my head a little shake, and Gage frowns at me.
I wish I knew what he was thinking. I tilt my head at him, hoping he’ll elaborate. Luckily, Maddox asks for me. “That’s unusual, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Gage says, before he turns to look at where the others are standing at the front door, staring at something on the ground. “Any wolf, shifter or not, should be able to smell that half a mile away.” He looks back at me and presses his lips together in a tight line.
“Any theories?” Maddox asks.
“No. The only thing that makes sense is that something was done to her to make that happen.” An involuntary whine escapes me, and Maddox holds me tighter, pressing his lips to the top of my head as we all watch the other three lift something up off the front step and walk around the back of the house, out of view.
I want to know what they found. What has them so concerned? It can’t just be because I couldn't smell it.
After a few minutes, we exit the vehicle, and Maddox leads me into the house. And when the others come in with no mention of what they found on the doorstep, worry starts to fill me.
What if I’m never able to shift? I’ll never truly be a part of this pack if I can’t speak to them, ask questions, and tell them about myself. Maybe those women in town who called me their pet weren’t too far off.
What kind of pack mate am I if I can’t even contribute?
My wolf isn’t even skilled enough to hunt, patrol, or track. I’m literally useless to them.
A sense of worry starts to expand in my stomach as the worst question of all floods my mind.
What happens when they realize that I bring nothing but danger to their pack?