by T. S. Joyce
The man looked to be in his early twenties. He obviously hadn’t taken care of himself for an extended period of time. His dark hair was unwashed, and he was dangerously skinny for a werewolf. Talking to the pack had lightened his eyes, but one was an unnaturally light blue and the other light brown.
“What’s your name?” Dean asked quietly.
“Levi Wright, sir.”
“Where do you live right now?”
“I’m up in Boston.”
Aaah, now she could place the accent.
“But I don’t have a home there. I’ve been bouncing around since I was Changed. Don’t like the pack in Boston. Too much politics and drama between them. I hung with them for a couple weeks but decided they weren’t for me. I think my wolf would get damaged even more there, and I’m not so interested in that shit. I want to grow.”
“Who was your maker?”
“Couldn’t tell you, sir. I don’t remember being Turned. I was out at a park late at night. I was supposed to be meeting a girl, and that’s all I remember. I woke up in the woods, and I was…different. The Boston pack found me and told me the rules, but I just couldn’t find it in me to join up. Last year’s Summit was my first one, but I wasn’t ready to Pledge.”
“Everyone in our pack works and provides for themselves. You are welcome to come back with us for your trial period, but you need to get a job and hold it down and get a place of your own as soon as possible. We don’t need any more trouble. Our packs have a certain lifestyle and goals to maintain. If you can’t get on board with that, you won’t be accepted. Do you understand?”
Levi nodded, hope flickering in his wild eyes.
Dean jerked his head toward Grey. “Is this arrangement acceptable to you and your pack?”
Slowly, Grey nodded.
Dean turned back to Levi. “Before you get on a plane with us, you are going to have to clean yourself up.”
Levi stared at the ground and ran a hand across the scruff on his face. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t afford a cabin so I’ve been crashing in the woods.”
Rachel made a sympathetic clicking noise behind her teeth. “You will come with us and shower in our room. You can’t sleep inside with us—not yet. We have only just met you, and we have a lot to protect. We can set up a cot in the back of our cabin if you want it, though.”
The new wolf nodded and gave her a shy smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Do we need to send for any of your belongings in Boston?” Logan asked.
“No, everything I have is in my backpack. I had a jeep I was living out of, but I had to sell it to pay back a debt.”
Everyone had started noisily gathering to one side of the bonfire in preparation for the last event of Summit.
“Are you guys not going to Change and run with the others?” Levi asked.
“I am. I think most of us are, but the rest have to go to that meeting about Morgan,” Logan said. “You can come with us and run, and then head back to our room to shower afterward if you want.”
“Thanks, man.”
The group that was joining the Summit run made their way to the gathering packs near the bonfire. Marissa slid in beside Morgan and looped her arm in hers.
“Are you all right with this?” Marissa asked her.
“I guess. I trust Dean to make the right decision. I know he won’t let him in the pack if it puts any of us at risk. What about you?”
Marissa shrugged. “I sort of feel sorry for him. Especially now that I know he has been on his own this whole time without his maker or anything. He isn’t that dominant, and I was confused on why he would think he could challenge a wolf like Grey. I thought he was cocky, but now I think maybe he really didn’t understand any of that. I’m glad he isn’t joining our pack, though. Next door will be plenty close enough.”
“Agreed. Are you running with everyone else?”
Marissa sighed. “I guess. I know I’m not invited to your meeting, and I don’t want to sit by myself in the rooms. The safest place would be as a wolf with Logan and the rest of them. I know they won’t let anything happen to me.”
“I think so, too, and you might have fun. You never know.”
“Yeah, totally. Me, an unclaimed submissive with a hoard of testosterone-filled macho werewolves. Fun times.”
“You’ll be fine. The boys will watch out for you.”
“Mmm hmm, and two of those boys are the main problem.”
Morgan laughed. “Yeah, okay. They really can be obnoxious, huh?”
“Understatement of the century,” Marissa muttered as she walked off to join the group.
As she, Grey, Dean, and Rachel started making their way to the mess hall, the other alphas and their mates split off from the group at the bonfire and headed that direction, as well. A wave of dread washed over her. In just a few minutes, her private life would be put under a microscope. She would give her left kneecap to join Marissa and the others for a run.
“So Silver Wolf gets a meeting all about herself,” Alexis quipped from behind her. “Looks like you are getting exactly what you want once again, Morgan.”
Stupid Buttface Alexis. The name brought her happiness. Maybe she’d call her Stupid Buttface Alexis from now on. One tiny victory was all she wanted. “And what would that be, Alexis?”
“Attention, of course. All eyes on you, as usual.”
“No, that sounds like your thing. I don’t want to do this at all.”
“Hey, Morgan. How are you holding up?” Jonathan asked kindly, earning a smack on the arm from Alexis. He gave her a warning growl and told her, “I will dump you in the river, don’t touch me.” Ahh, romance with Stupid Buttface Alexis.
Morgan adjusted Lana on her hip and smiled tiredly. “I’ll be much better when this meeting is over.”
Alexis glared at Lana’s sleeping back. “Having children seems like a terrible inconvenience.”
Dean’s exasperated voice came from behind them. “Alexis, fuck off.”
She looked furiously between Dean and Morgan and stepped in front to effectively bring their little group to a halt.
“You have always chosen her,” Alexis spat. “I was loyal to you all of those years, and she comes in for a minute, and you don’t care about me at all anymore.”
Dean rubbed his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days.
Rachel spoke up. “Alexis, enough. It’s like arguing with a child every time you’re around. It’s time to grow up and move on. Leave Morgan alone. She isn’t even fighting you on anything.”
Alexis’s eyes blazed. “We’ll see about that,” she promised before she spun on her heal and stormed off. Jonathan rolled his eyes to the stars, and fell into step beside her.
Morgan sighed dramatically. “She makes me want to take a nap.”
“Me too,” Grey said with a tired smile on his face.
Dean chuckled. “Me, three.”
“Me, four.” Rachel held the door to the mess hall open for them. “I don’t know how Jonathan isn’t in a coma already.”
“At this point?” Jonathan muttered, frowning at Alexis as she stomped away, “I would pay someone to knock me into a coma.”
Chapter Eleven
Forty wolves gathered in the chairs in front of the podium. Most of the pack alphas were there, and about half of them had their mates with them as well. Marcus motioned Grey and Morgan to a couple of chairs placed on the stage near where he stood. Rachel took Lana from Morgan’s arms and pulled up chairs to sit with Dean and the others. Wolf squirmed uncomfortably, and tingles assaulted his arms at the first signs of a Change. He swallowed hard and tried to reason with the beast, but so much dominance in one room was more than Wolf was willing to deal with.
Morgan’s eyes had lightened to their brilliant purple. She had always thought she looked scary. More zombie than exotic beauty, she would say, but she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Especially with her wolf so close to the surface. Her dark hair and thick dark lashes always made the
vibrant color of her bottomless eyes stand out even more.
Her nerves were likely to blame for the glimpse into her animal. Her eyes had been the deep blue of storm clouds most of the day as she had relaxed into her surroundings. As they took their seats stage-center, Marcus rapped on the podium to quiet everyone down and start the meeting. In the front row were four older wolves—the Old Ones. He nodded respectfully to them and received the same in return.
Marcus began. “As you all know, we are here to discuss Silver Wolf and what the reemergence of her kind means for our future. You are all to take the information you gain in this meeting to your packs so there won’t be any more misunderstandings in the future.”
When a wolf in the back raised his hand, Marcus pointed his gavel at him.
“What kind of misunderstandings are you talking about? We haven’t heard much about her and have been left out of the loop.”
“Fair question. Grey, would you like to describe what has been going on in your territory?”
Grey took the podium. “I received formal challenges before Morgan accepted me as her mate. I understood and accepted those challenges, as they were done according to pack laws. However, after I claimed her, wolves kept showing up on our property. Even after they knew she was claimed, they still challenged me. Those, I didn’t accept. She was already mine, and I, hers. One left willingly but the day we came back from an overnight stay, the North Ogden, Baton Rouge, and Little Rock packs were waiting for us. They attacked both Dallas packs unprovoked, even after I explained to them that Morgan was claimed. The fight was a blood bath with losses on both sides. There is no reason to issue a challenge for her anymore because she has made her choice. I will not be lenient on anyone else showing up in my territory wanting to fight for her. She is mine.”
The last part came out as a snarl, and he shook his head. Warm, content tendrils wafted over their bond, and he looked far enough to his left to find Morgan focused on him. Wolf settled, but not enough for him to find words again.
Morgan stood and took a deep breath. “Rachel, can you take Lana outside?”
Rachel nodded and headed for the door without a word.
Marcus’s eyebrows shot straight up into his hairline. “The child should be present at this meeting. What is discussed here today affects her future, too.”
“Lana, my niece and ward, is old enough now to catch onto what is said. It is bad enough this discussion has to be had in front of complete strangers, but we will decide the best time to tell her about all of this. She is too young for this discussion, and we aren’t ready.”
When Marcus nodded and the door shut firmly behind Rachel, Morgan began. “Grey didn’t mention something else that happened to me, I’m assuming out of respect for my privacy. I was kidnapped by the Southern Montana pack, and my niece was used as bait.” Her voice shook, and it only got worse after the crowd’s uncertain reaction to the mention of the now-deceased Montana pack. “I was held in a basement while the alpha planned to claim me against my will. I was beaten.” She shook her head and looked at Grey as a tear made its way down her cheek. “I was undressed and abused by a man I didn’t know because of what I am, and then I was chained to a wall by the neck and hurt. If I Changed to defend myself, the metal collar on my neck would’ve killed me.”
A rumble of voices burst forth from the crowd, some in anger, but most in disbelief. Some of the women’s eyes filled for what Morgan had been through. Dean had his head in his hands, and Grey rubbed his hands angrily through his hair. She didn’t like talking about Montana, and he hated that she had to talk about it now, in front of all of these people she didn’t know.
When the crowd quieted down, she continued. “Grey saved my niece. He made sure she was safe, and he and the Dallas pack tracked me down and rescued me from those monsters. He was made for me. I love him, and I choose him. I will never want anyone else. I just want our pack left alone. I want....” She swallowed hard, and lifted her voice. “I feel like I paid my dues. I didn’t ask to be a Silver Wolf, and it’s done me no favors. It’s gotten me hurt, it’s gotten the people I love hurt, it’s put my niece in danger and changed my entire life. Some for the better.” She smiled at Grey. “But most of it has been rough. The Dallas packs have earned peace.”
The crowd was quiet for only a moment before a man near the middle spoke up. “What is so important about a Silver Wolf? Why do these wolves want you so badly they would go to these extremes?”
Marcus gestured for Morgan to sit back down. Grey put his arm around her shoulders and rubbed the outline of her brand absently. Wolf wanted to hoist her over his shoulder and run from the pain, but this had to be done. He kissed her hand softly. Strong, brave mate. God, he loved her.
“From the research we have gathered,” Marcus said, “and I’m sure many have been able to find texts, as well, so please add your knowledge if I leave anything out, the Silver Wolves were an ancient and thriving clan up until the early eighteenth century. They had outgrown their sanctuary in France and started branching out to other packs. Some of the females were able to bear full-blooded werewolf offspring, making them the only breeding werewolves in our known history. They were slaughtered by humans, and any who fled were hunted by vampires to rid our race of breeders. The wolves were all white, even the males, and the females had light blue or purple eyes to signify they were born of this Silver Wolf Clan. They were thought to be completely extinct until Morgan was Turned.”
“So the important question is, can she have children?” One of the alphas’ mates asked.
“Of course, she can,” one of the men said. “Can’t you smell her? I haven’t ever smelled another female like her. She’s ripe.”
Huh. Wolf thought of nine ways to make him die.
“We can’t be sure until she does or doesn’t have a pup,” Marcus interrupted.
“Yes, but obviously she has a responsibility to carry on the line. Is she even planning on trying for a baby?” another woman shouted over the crowd.
Marcus looked to Morgan with his eyebrows drawn up in silent question. Grey was wondering the same. Of all of the conversations they had, this wasn’t one of them. They had only been married a week, and they had both done a bang-up job of dancing around the subject.
She remained seated but nodded her head. “I’m willing to try for a child. I understand the importance of having children to better our future, but I want a child for many more reasons than that. I want a child who looks like my mate, who can be a sibling to Lana. I want a baby to raise, who I will shower with love. I want a baby because I think I can be a good mom, and give a child a good and happy life, where he or she will know without the shadow of a doubt that they are loved. That they are important, and not just because they’re a Silver Wolf, but because they are themselves. That being said, I honestly don’t know if I can have them, and I feel all of this pressure on me.”
Her brilliant eyes searched his face, but she didn’t need to worry about anything. He nodded to comfort her. We’ve got you, Wolf whispered.
“What about your niece? She would have the Silver Wolf genetics also, right?” A short, stout man with a beard asked.
“When will she be Turned?” another alpha called out. “And who will be able to claim her when she is old enough?”
Grey stood up so quickly, his chair crashed behind him. “Lana doesn’t have to be Turned. Anyone who tries to force the issue will have me breathing down your fucking neck.”
He glared into the audience, meeting the eyes of those who dared to stare back at him. Power and anger radiated from his skin and into the crowd like a hailstorm.
Morgan’s soft voice came from behind. “We have to know Lana is safe. Surely, you can understand where we are coming from. You have to see you can’t Turn a child. She is just five years old, and it is cruel to even suggest it. We have agreed to try for a baby, which is something we hadn’t originally planned on or talked about. You will all have to be patient on what my niece decides about being Tur
ned until she is older. We will not negotiate or discuss that anymore. Turn her and die. It’s as simple as that.”
“I have a question,” Alexis asked from the back row.
Shhhhit. Wolf judged the distance from where he sat to the tripping pulse of the artery in her neck. No good. He wouldn’t be fast enough with the other wolves in the way.
Alexis stood with a raised hand as if she was in kindergarten. She waited until everyone stopped talking. “What if Morgan can breed, but Grey cannot? I mean, what if Demon Wolf isn’t able to have children? Has anyone considered that? Are we to put the fate of an entire werewolf super race into the hands of one male? If he isn’t able to get her pregnant, should they be allowed to give up on the entire Silver Wolf line?”
The crowd murmured quietly amongst themselves as the implications of what Alexis said sunk in. A slow fury overcame him. Too much. This was all too much. If that conniving she-wolf was wise, she would go into hiding immediately after this meeting.
Morgan’s gaze was stunned as she stared at the Old Ones on the front row. They were the leaders and enforcers of the werewolves, and whatever they said would be law. And now, for the first time since they had started the meeting, the Old Ones were talking amongst themselves. It wasn’t a good sign.
Alexis continued as a wicked smile spread across her face. “I move that Silver Wolf should be bred by multiple males to ensure she gets pregnant.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Morgan yelled, face contorting and taking on wolfish features. Grey threw a chair out of his way and it crashed into the wall. Jonathan placed himself in front of Alexis, but it wouldn’t save her from Wolf.
In a low, gravelly voice, Grey bit out to Jonathan, “You would defend her? Really?”
The whites of Jonathan’s eyes showed. “She is making a point. Now, I agree it isn’t coming from the right place, but it’s still a point.”
“You,” Grey bit out, his gaze focused on Alexis who was now cowering behind her alpha. “You would listen to Morgan tell you what happened to her in Montana, about that monster and his plans to take her body against her will, and you’re really suggesting we make it into pack law. What if she told you she didn’t want any more children?” he yelled into the crowd. “Would you lock her in a basement and have turns with her until she gave you what you wanted? You act shocked when she tells you her story, but then you’re actually considering giving her to multiple men? It’s. Her. Body! Not yours! You people call me Demon Wolf. You call me Monster. I’m not the monster here.” He looked around the room and finally pointed at Alexis. “You are.”