Heart of the Pack

by Jenny Frame

  “It looks as if Leroux is mutilating them, not just killing. Why?” Caden said.

  Dante folded her arms and continued looking at the screen. “She doesn’t value human life, and because she feels weak at the moment, she wants to feel powerful for the few seconds it takes to tear a human apart. She’s drawing unwanted attention to our kind, and that worries me.”

  She knew exactly what Dante was trying to say to her. “Alpha, please forgive me for my behavior today. I would never challenge you, and I would never risk our world by letting a human into my confidence. Today was…I was…”

  Dante turned and grasped her Second by the shoulders, and looked her straight in the eye. “Today you were reacting to your natural programming, the very essence of your DNA. Protect your mate.”

  “I wasn’t, Alpha. She’s not my mate—I barely know her. I promise you I’m telling you the truth,” Caden said desperately.

  “I know you’d never lie to me, Cade, but your wolf sees her as your mate. I saw it when she tripped into your arms that first day.”

  Caden shook her head. “No, she can’t be. Not a human.”

  Dante pulled her closer, so their foreheads were touching. “Cade, you are my best friend, my Second, and I love you. I can feel your heart warring with your head when I see you together. How did you feel when you found her injured today?”

  Caden thought back to the afternoon and felt pain and the utter panic all over again. “I felt out of control. Like I would tear apart anything that came near her. She makes me feel out of control, Alpha, but she’s a human. How can I feel this?”

  Dante let her go and walked over to the large screen. “Who knows how and why the Great Mother pairs us up as mates? The only thing I’m certain of is that your wolf is never wrong. As Eden reminded me, there have been humans who have joined the pack before. It is a risk—one that would need to be considered carefully.”

  Caden felt the pressure building inside her as Dante spoke, until she could hold it in no longer. “No,” she shouted.

  Dante looked at her sharply. “No?”

  “I’m sorry for shouting, Alpha, but no. I won’t put the pack at risk, especially now. The pack comes before everything. Lena is my friend and will stay my friend. I can control my feelings.”

  “If that is your wish.”

  They could both hear the elite wolves descending the stairs to the war room.

  “It is, Alpha. I will always remain unmated.”

  Dante walked toward her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “If that is your wish, I shall say no more unless you wish to discuss it again, but remember, my door is always open to you, Second.”

  “Thank you, Alpha.”

  Dante stood behind her seat at the head of the conference table. “One thing, Second. When a mate comes along, we have little say in how we act and feel. Nature is a formidable foe to battle, but if you are determined to fight it, just be careful one or both of you do not get hurt.”

  Lena couldn’t love me, and I could never hurt her.

  The elite wolves entered, bringing their discussion to an end.

  *

  “We followed Leroux’s scent across four counties and lost her in Lennoxtown. We believed she was heading north, but then her scent became erratic,” Flash explained to the elite wolves.

  “Blaze? What’s your opinion?” Dante asked.

  The sheriff sat forward in his seat and stroked his chin. “It matches the pattern of murders. North, then spreading out beyond Lennoxtown. It makes sense, if she’s still recovering from injury, to head back to Lupa pack land and gather her forces.”

  “Second?

  “She could easily board a bus or train bound for Canada without raising too many eyebrows.”

  “Hmm…” Dante stood and walked toward the large screen which had a map of the murders and Leroux’s movements on it. “Perhaps it fits too perfectly. Leroux is a weaker Alpha, a weaker fighter, but she has cunning in abundance. She is a careful planner and used Suzy Mitchell to get exactly what she wanted. She also has an ego, and running away does not sit easy with those attributes.”

  “You think there is more going on here, Alpha?” Caden asked.

  Dante looked at the picture of Leroux on the screen, and her claws started to extend from her fingertips. She drew a long claw across her face and said, “I may be wrong, but I don’t believe Leroux’s only plan would be to gather her wolves for an all-out attack. She is more subtle than that.”

  She turned around to face her wolves. “Until we know more, I want guards to remain around my den, and I want each of you to continue to lead patrols with your own sections, and report to Caden. Blaze and Xander, you’re out in the community talking with my wolves. Keep your ears to the ground and listen out for anything unusual. Any strangers around town, anything unusual at all, report back to either Caden or me. That goes for all of you. Understand?”

  The elite wolves stood and said, “Yes, Alpha.”

  “Good hunting, Wolves.”

  With a salute, they replied, “Good hunting, Alpha.”

  “Dismissed.”

  *

  Leroux lugged a heavy trash bag down to the harbor edge, under the cover of darkness. She pushed the bag into the water, and it splashed before quickly sinking to the depths. “Hope you enjoy being fish food, Human.”

  She walked back up to the small fishing shack she had commandeered. Inside, there was food cooking on the small stove, which the fisherman had been tending to when Leroux attacked him. She pulled the food off the burner and sniffed. “Processed human muck.”

  Her hunger overcame her revulsion.

  Leroux took the food over to a worn armchair and began to shovel it into her mouth. Her phone rang, and she said, “Speak.”

  “Leroux? It’s Kurtis.”

  “It’s Alpha to you, Wolf. You only have one Alpha now.”

  “Of course, Alpha. Have you found a base?”

  Leroux looked around the small shack, with the blood of the fisherman splattered across the wall. “Yes, a temporary base. When my wolves arrive they will set up a more permanent position. I need money. Wire me some straight away. This is your chance to prove your loyalty, Kurtis. If you bring any Wolfgang wolves to my door, you and your family’s lives are forfeit. Do we understand each other?”

  There was a silence on the end of the phone until Kurtis croaked, “Yes, Alpha.”

  She ended the call and sneered, “Dante and Caden? You won’t know what hit you.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The next morning, Dr. Jaycen made his rounds and was happy enough with her progress to release Lena that day. The nurses helped her get washed and dressed, and she sat in the chair by the bed, ready to be picked up by Caden.

  She was just checking the messages on her cell phone when Nurse Skye popped her head round the door and said, “Ms. Miller? You have visitors.”

  When Eden and Stella walked through the door, Lena jumped up in surprise. “Mrs. Wolfgang?”

  Eden smiled warmly. “It’s Eden, please. I hope you don’t mind Stella and me coming to see you, but Caden told me about your accident at the ranch, and I wanted to see how you were.”

  “That’s kind of you. Please sit down.” Stella brought a couple of chairs over for herself and Eden.

  Both Eden and Stella were what Lena considered effortlessly beautiful, Eden in a simple dress, with a few pieces of jewelry, and Stella in a beautiful skirt and silk blouse. This was the type of woman Caden would want, Lena thought sadly.

  “So, how are you, Ms. Miller?”

  She cradled her arm self-consciously. She was embarrassed by it, as it was a testament to her own foolishness. “Please, call me Lena. I’ll be fine. If I hadn’t been so foolish, it would never have happened. I saw the horse and had to go and talk to it when I should have been working on the books. Caden did warn me before to wear more sensible footwear, but of course I didn’t listen, and over I went in the animal muck, and—”

  Eden smiled sweet
ly. “Lena, don’t be hard on yourself. I don’t know how many times I’ve ended up on my behind when I’ve been dropping Dion at the farm, and I refuse to wear those big clunky boots Dante and Caden wear while they’re there.”

  Stella nodded and held her hand by her mouth, stage-whispering, “I try to go there as little as possible.”

  The three women laughed, and Eden said, “See? Don’t feel bad. Our partners may find rolling in mud fun, but we do not.”

  “Thank you for understanding, but you can assure Ms. Wolfgang that I’ll be back at the ranch office tomorrow.”

  “Oh no, you won’t. I won’t hear of it. You’re to take the rest of the week off and see how things are. Dante told me to make sure you took enough time to get better. Your assignment with us is as long as it takes, so that means take your time. I’ll get Caden to make sure you do.”

  Lena was touched. Everyone she encountered in Wolfgang County had been so kind to her. The feeling of community spirit permeated the town and its people, starting with those at the top.

  Stella retrieved a beribboned box from her bag and handed it over to Lena. “Eden and I thought you’d enjoy something sweet to eat while you recuperate.”

  Chocolates. “That’s very kind of you both. Thank you.” Lena accepted the gift and imagined how good they would taste. One more thing she would have to deny herself.

  “They’re from a local chocolate store—they hand-make everything, and these are a favorite of a certain tall, good-looking ranch manager, so I’m told,” Eden hinted.

  Caden. Lena imagined waking up in her arms yesterday, and feeling so safe and protected. It had only been a night, but she missed Caden terribly.

  “I see you have some beautiful flowers there,” Eden said.

  “Oh yes. Aren’t they lovely? Caden got them for me, and this cute plush wolf, and a beautiful wolf pen. She’s so kind.” Lena beamed.

  “Caden bought flowers?” Stella asked.

  Lena nodded.

  “And a wolf stuffed animal?” Eden added in surprise.

  “Well, yes. Is there something wrong with that?” Lena fiddled with her glasses nervously.

  Eden leaned forward and placed her hand on Lena’s knee. “Oh no, not at all. It’s only that our Caden isn’t known for doing that kind of thing. She must think you’re a very special friend.”

  Lena’s heart started to race. It didn’t mean anything. Caden felt sorry for her. Nothing more.

  When Eden got so close, Lena noticed a moonstone similar to the one Caden had given her was mounted in Eden’s necklace and ring. A quick look over to Stella, and she found the same in her ring.

  “Excuse me for asking, but could you tell me about the stone in your jewelry? It’s very unusual.”

  Eden held out her ring finger. “This? Oh, it’s moonstone. It’s traditionally a stone used for wedding rings, love tokens, things like that. Why do you ask?”

  Lena opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She thought of the moonstone, in her purse, that Caden had given her, and wondered what she’d meant by giving her that gift.

  “Lena? Why do you ask?”

  “I’ve seen a few people wearing the stone and wondered what it was, that’s all. It’s beautiful.”

  *

  Caden arrived at the hospital midmorning, determined to give Lena a ride home, and nothing more. She had promised herself that she would see as little of her as possible in order to try to control her growing feelings.

  She tipped her hat to some of the hospital staff she passed, and stopped at the nurses’ station. The nurse on duty looked up and smiled. “Second, good morning.”

  “Morning, Nurse Skye. Is Selena Miller to be released today?”

  “Yes, Second. She responded well overnight and shows no sign of infection. She’s all ready for you and the doctor has left human medication for her to take.”

  “Excellent. Thank you.” Caden turned to leave the nurses’ station when Nurse Skye stopped her.

  “Second? There’s just one thing I wanted to mention, and perhaps you can help.”

  “What is it, Nurse?”

  “We couldn’t get Ms. Miller to eat, and it worried me. An animal in good health should not refuse food, and Dr. Jaycen had left dietary instructions that she was to be given milk and plenty of meat to aid recovery. She refused to eat last night and this morning, saying she would eat at home. We weren’t sure what to do.”

  Caden sighed and scrubbed her face with her hands. I need to make you see how perfect you are. “I’ll take care of it. Thank you for letting me know, Skye.” Caden knew this meant spending time with Lena, and becoming closer, but she had no choice. Lena’s welfare was more important than her feelings.

  *

  Caden helped Lena up into the passenger seat of her truck and put the seat belt on for her. “Is that all right? Your arm’s not too sore?”

  “It’s okay. I can take my pain meds when I get home.”

  She knew that meant Lena was sore, so she jumped into the driver’s side quickly and started to drive.

  Lena pushed her glasses up on her nose. “This is kind of you, Caden. You didn’t have to do this.”

  Caden looked around and smiled. “Of course I did. You were injured on Venator property, and I am Second…in command, so to speak, in our business. Besides, we in Wolfgang County always look after each other. Which reminds me”—she pressed the call button on her center console—“call New Moon.”

  Lena looked at her questioningly. “What?”

  Caden placed a finger to her lips.

  “New Moon Bar and Grill, how can I help you?”

  “Hi, Judy, it’s Caden. Can I make an order and have it delivered to apartment six in the River View building?”

  “No problem, Second. What can I get you?”

  She looked at Lena and smiled, hoping she wouldn’t be asked about that slip. “Could I have two bumper breakfast plates, two orders of pancakes, and hang on a minute…”

  Caden muted the call and asked, “Lena? Do you prefer strawberry, banana, chocolate, or vanilla?”

  “Strawberry, I guess…but why?”

  “Hi, Judy, we’ll have two extra-extra-large shakes, one strawberry, one chocolate with caramel syrup.”

  “No problem, Cade, I’ll have it sent in thirty minutes, tops.”

  “Thanks, Judy.”

  When she ended the call, Lena said, “Why did you order all that food?”

  Caden turned around in her seat to face Lena. “Dr. Jaycen told me how important food and milk are in curing injured…ah, people, and Nurse Skye told me you hadn’t eaten the food they offered you.”

  Lena sighed and lowered her head, allowing her hair to hide her face. “You know I can’t eat things like that. I told you I was trying to lose weight. I can’t eat fatty meats and full-fat milk.”

  “I promised Nurse Skye I would get you to eat well, so since I can’t cook, and you can’t cook with your arm, I thought we’d get some food delivered.”

  Lena was fuming inside but didn’t have the courage to say anything. Food was the one thing in her life she had control over, and she didn’t like having what she ate dictated to her. She turned away and stared out the truck window.

  “I just want you to get better, Lena. Let’s talk about it when I get you home.” Caden drove off, both of them in silence.

  *

  Lena sat down at her small kitchen table while Caden put her bags in the bedroom. They hadn’t spoken, apart from Caden asking and Lena instructing where to put the bags. Lena was annoyed at Caden’s dominating commands. It was bad enough that she had to put up with that from her family. She thought her new friendship with Caden could be different.

  Maybe it was her. Maybe people saw someone who needed to be controlled.

  The doorbell chimed and Caden hurried to answer it. Lena watched carefully and saw the delivery boy put his fist to her chest and say, “Second, here is your food.”

  She couldn’t understand why everyone kept calli
ng Caden Second. It was odd. Lena’s eyes followed Caden’s hand to her back pocket as she took out her wallet to pay for the food. Her eyes lingered over Caden’s muscular, solid backside, and she felt a hot flush right to her core. In her mind, she saw an image of that muscular backside undulating and thrusting…

  “Lena? Lena, are you okay?” Caden’s voice knocked her from her thoughts.

  “What? Oh yes, fine.” She felt the deep heat climb up her neck to her cheeks.

  Caden threw her Stetson onto the table and put the food containers down. She kneeled at Lena’s side and said, “Listen, I’m sorry if you felt I was being…controlling.” She dropped her head with a sigh, clearly struggling to explain herself. “I’m used to giving out orders and people following them—it’s the way things are done here—but I only wanted to help you heal. The nurse and the doctor said you have to eat.”

  Lena looked down and rubbed her cast, as if that could soothe it. “I know you mean well, but if I eat things like that I’ll never lose weight. I have my father’s birthday party in two weeks, and if I haven’t lost more…” She shrugged. How could she explain?

  Caden placed her finger underneath Lena’s chin and gently raised her head. “Why do you worry so much about losing weight, and what you eat?”

  “Because I’m fat. I have fat hips, fat thighs, and a huge butt. That’s why,” Lena shouted and ran off crying to her bedroom.

  Caden was shocked and had no idea how to handle an upset submissive female. She was totally outside her realm of experience. She paced, not knowing what she should do for the best. This was why she was meant to be a lone wolf. She had no idea what to say and do around submissives.

  Caden looked over at the table with the food growing cold and decided she had to do something. She knocked at the bedroom door and walked in to find Lena wiping her eyes, holding on to her bear.

  Thank you, Mater, she hasn’t noticed. She had placed the mended bear back where she’d found it, while putting Lena’s bags in her room.

  “Lena, I’m sorry I upset you—”

  “No, I’m sorry. I should never have had an outburst like that in front of you.” Lena put her glasses back on and visibly pulled herself together. “Can we please forget it? I really don’t want to talk about it.”