I lifted my snout to the sky and howled.
Somewhere, at least a mile away, I heard another wolf howl back. Distant, but recognizable.
My fur raised, instantly recognizing the sound. My alpha.
Shit. So I was still on pack land. I should’ve known I’d end up back here. My wolf had stuck to the familiar. Well, I guessed my wolf made the choice for me–I’d let myself be put down. Maybe then I’d finally get some peace.
I’d rather it was my own pack members, anyway.
Another howl sounded from the same direction, and I stood, feeling forcefully compelled to go to him.
I howled again, in answer and started running in the direction of the other wolves.
It took twenty minutes, maybe more, over rocky and snow covered terrain before I found them–or maybe they found me through our call and answer system of howling.
We met in a saddle at the top of the mountain behind Rob’s house. I knew my wolf pack. Recognized their wolves. Rob, my alpha. Willow, his luna. Levi, Johnny, Clint, Rand, Colton, Boyd and–fuck. Ace and Roy were here, too.
I wished to fate they weren’t. I didn’t want them to have to watch their brother die at the jaws of their alpha.
Levi trotted through the snow to stand beside me, then Rob jerked his head around and turned and headed in the direction from where he’d come. The others turned as well. I knew what this meant, what was required. I had to follow. I didn’t have any choice, especially with Levi at my side. With Johnny here, maybe he’d mete out shifter justice quickly. I killed someone in the human world. I would finally get what I deserved.
34
SUMMER
* * *
Marina set a cookie sheet of fresh-baked peanut butter chocolate chip cookies she’d just pulled from the oven on the huge farm table in Rob’s kitchen to cool, but I had zero interest in the delicious treat.
I paced the length of the large kitchen, my socks slippery on the wood floor.
“Rob and the others have gone after him,” Marina said. “They’ll find him.”
I nodded, but her words, meant to be reassuring, did nothing to stop the tight contraction of muscles up under my ribs.
Just then, Natalie’s phone buzzed with a text. I spun to face her, wringing my hands.
“It’s Rand,” she said, looking at it.
I lunged to look over her shoulder.
We found him. Rob brought him to the pack cabin to discuss things.
“Discuss things?” I asked. “What does he mean by that?”
Natalie and Marina shared a look.
“What?” I demanded. My heart was in my throat. I didn’t like that look.
“Well, I don’t know exactly. But it sounds like this is a pack thing. They have to take care of it in a specific way,” Natalie explained.
“It?” I narrowed my eyes, not liking how that sounded. “What do you mean by a specific way?”
Neither woman said anything, and I wanted to strangle them both.
“What do you mean a specific way?” I demanded again.
“No, it’s probably nothing,” Natalie said, but I noticed a crease between her brows.
