Chapter 5 #2
“You’re right,” he said, and I wasn’t sure who he was answering.
“I’ve made few changes within the Hollow because of what you’ve lost and what has happened.
” He nodded thoughtfully. “It’s my fault, I am the reason the patrol last night didn’t know how to react to a surprise attack.
” Wolfe turned to Brand, who looked like the perfect soldier standing there, back straight, feet apart, shoulders squared, arms behind his back.
“Running routes until you’re exhausted and half-dead is not a way to train to be good at patrol,” Wolfe said softly.
“It’s a way to instill discipline.” He looked between the two packs. “Without discipline, we are nothing.”
I saw him turn and look to where the druid still stood.
“Your traditions are not what have made you weak; it’s complacency.
It’s lack of discipline.” Wolfe looked at me once more, and I saw the assessing look in his eye, and I braced myself for what was coming next, knowing I wouldn’t like it. “Brand?”
“Alpha.”
“Training starts tonight,” Wolfe told him. “Gloves off.”
Brand’s lips twitched. “All of them?”
“All who are still able,” Wolfe confirmed.
“Anyone who can still shift can fight,” Brand said with conviction.
Wolfe nodded, ignoring the squawks of protest from some of the oldest shifters. “Agreed.” His gaze flicked to Ezra, then the back of the room. “Ezra and Lewis will show you where the truly testing training routes are within the Hollow.”
Brand nodded. “Alpha.”
“Killian?” Wolfe’s voice was a low, dangerous thing, and my spine straightened in nervous apprehension.
“Alpha?” Killian didn’t move, he simply waited.
“Go to Stonefang, tell Diesel it’s time.” Wolfe watched me. “My mate will accompany you.”
Killian didn’t respond, but he might have been the only one in the room who didn’t seem to react. I knew my jaw had dropped.
“Why are you sending Rowen away?”
I didn’t look to know it was Henry who had spoken.
Wolfe was looking over everyone, his attention on the pack doors, and when I turned, I saw the druid was gone.
“I’m not sending her away,” he told them. “There are shifters at Stonefang that Rowen needs to meet; they should meet their alpha’s mate, and this is the best time for that to happen.”
“Is it?” I was on my feet. Careful not to cause a scene, but still…what the actual hell?
“Ezra made very valid points,” Wolfe said easily. “Enlightening points.” Wolfe looked at the older shifter and dipped his head in acknowledgment. “This is what is best for the pack right now.” Wolfe turned away. “Elder Murrow, a word.”
That’s it? I raged through the bond. You’re packing me off with Killian, and I don’t get to say anything?
I am sure there is plenty you will say. Wolfe’s voice was calm. Ezra didn’t speak an untruth. The pack is too interested in our drama, so let’s remove the issue and give them time to focus on what they need to do to stay alive.
They can do that with me here!
Well then, I need to focus on my pack, and I can’t do that with you here.
The coldness which followed told me he had closed me to his mindlink. Killian stood in front of me; he looked as pissed off as I felt.
“I’m leaving in ten minutes. Pack lightly, I only have room in my pack for one change of clothes.
” He smiled at me, but it was not friendly.
“I hear you’re the fastest shifter in the pack.
Should be a good race.” He looked over his shoulder at his alpha.
“I’ll meet you at the alpha’s house. Don’t be late. ”
“It’s my house too, asshole,” I muttered as he walked away.
“Um…”
I turned my glare to Ezra. “I think you said enough,” I snapped and saw him wince, and I felt a little bit of wind come out of my sails. “Not everything you said was untrue,” I admitted.
“Remember you said it was a good time for a break for Henry when he needed it? Maybe it’ll be the same for you.” The old shifter gave me a hopeful look.
“I’ll see you when I get back.” I walked out of the pack hall, with a lot of good lucks and see you soons following me out. No wish you weren’t going. If I didn’t know better, I’d say some were happy to see me go.
The one day I get drunk, I get banished to another pack, with a shifter who hated me.
Fuck my life. No. Fuck Wolfe.
At home, I picked out underwear, pants, and a few shirts. I didn’t care what Killian said, I’d pack what I wanted. In the bathroom, my claws extended and tore through Wolfe’s shirt as I took it off. I didn’t care as I dropped it on the bathroom floor. Asshole.
I brushed my teeth and splashed my face with water. I had no alcohol in my system anymore, but that didn’t mean I was awake enough to run a race against Killian.
When I came out of the bathroom, Wolfe was standing in the bedroom doorway.
“Banishment?”
He laughed. He laughed. “Dramatic.” He walked towards me.
“You need to see Stonefang; you need to meet the ones you never met before. And…” He looked down at me while I stood vibrating with rage in front of him.
“If it means you’re out of harm’s way when the next attack comes, I’m okay with that too. ”
I blinked. “You’re sending me away to protect me?”
Wolfe reached out, his hand sliding around the back of my neck, fingers smooth and firm as he pulled me forward. “Shut up and kiss me goodbye, woman.”
He kissed me.
Hard.
Messy.
Too much teeth and not enough air. His body slammed into mine like he wanted to burn me alive, and I let him. I welcomed it. One hand tangled in my hair, the other gripped my hip, anchoring me to him through sheer force.
I kissed him back, and I hated myself for it. My hands ran up his chest, around his neck, and I pulled his head down more to me. Our tongues fought each other as we kissed, and with every taste he took of me, I tasted him back.
We didn’t breathe. Didn’t think.
Just burned.
Wolfe pulled back first. Just enough to break the seal of our mouths. His breath hitched against mine.
“This isn’t the right time,” he said, his voice unsteady.
“I know.”
I stepped away, and he let me. Because if he didn’t, I wouldn’t, and we’d be fucking on the bedroom floor, and he was right, this wasn’t the right time for this.
It wasn’t the right time for us.
A firm knock sounded outside, and Wolfe’s glare at the front of the house made me smile.
I reached out for his hand, and he took it readily. “Don’t do anything too radical while I’m gone?”
“I promise I won’t burn the druid at the stake.”
A burst of surprised laughter escaped me. “Oh, Goddess, I don’t fancy your chances against a fight with the druid.”
“Me neither.” Wolfe quickly ran his eyes over me. “Where’s my shirt?”
“I ripped it off.”
His top lip curled upward. “Hurry back so I can rip everything off.”
Heat bloomed between us, and we both took a step forward.
“Rowen!” Killian called sharply. “Let’s move out, soldier, daylight’s wasting.”
I grabbed my small pile of clothes and hurried out of the room. Killian stood with an open backpack, and Axel stood beside him.
“In here.” When I put my clothes in, he tightened the backpack and then, in swift, efficient movements, he stripped.
His large brown wolf stood patiently while Axel attached the pack to a harness, and then both looked away, and I took that as my signal to shift, wondering at the strangeness.
I shed my clothes and then shed my human form.
Killian didn’t wait to see if I was ready; he just took off running, and I raced after him.
I didn’t look back.