“Well, induct me into the pack, then you can track me like you do everyone else,” I teased, slipping out of his hold and making my way over to Greta. This was a conversation that never seemed to end. One Elder had once declared it unsafe to brand a human into the pack, and ever since, no one had seriously considered whether humans could handle it. Yet, they’d get upset if I didn’t answer my phone immediately. The truth was, I was terrible at carrying my phone during runs or workouts. Unlike most humans, I wasn’t glued to it. Growing up in a wolf pack where mindlinking was normal, we didn’t rely on cell phones for everyday communication.
“They still haven’t brought you into the pack?” Greta whispered as she guided me inside the training area. “With how protective they are of you, I would have thought that would be a priority.”
“Nope. Not even after last year.”
“What happened last year?” she asked, moving me to the side with the other females as we began stretching. Though I was still warm from my run and soccer game with the pups, the slow movements helped me clear my mind for what lay ahead in training.
“I was kidnapped,” I said simply, shrugging. In a pack this large, led by a formidable Alpha like Ryker, there were always threats lurking.
“Wait, you were kidnapped?” Greta’s voice was filled with shock.
“Yeah. Some rogues figured I’d be an easy target for ransom since I’m human.” I shrugged again, trying to make light of it.
“What did Alpha Jeremiah do when he found you?” she asked, eyes wide.
That question always made my blood boil. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was human or because I was a female, but it was the one thing everyone wanted to know: how was I saved? I couldn’t suppress the low growl of frustration that escaped me.
My expression must have betrayed my irritation because Greta raised an eyebrow, silently asking me to explain before jumping to conclusions. Instead of pressing further, she gave me a quick, light slap on the arm**an odd gesture of understanding that allowed me to speak.
“No one found me,” I ground out through clenched teeth. “None of them did. The rogues thought I’d be too weak to fight back and only tied my wrists loosely with an old rope. When one of them brought me water, I kicked him in the teeth and strangled him. Then only one responded to the noise, so I did the same. The third tried to fight back and landed a couple of punches before I took him down too. I was only gone for two days and managed to make it back to the border, where the guys picked me up. It’s a sore subject for everyone, so no one talks about it.”
“Damn, alright. Note to self: never anger the human,” one of the girls, Tanya, joked, breaking the thick tension hanging in the air.
Her comment brought a much-needed release, and finally, we could dive into the workout. Still, they didn’t hold back**they bombarded me with questions throughout the entire session. Despite the constant chatter, the training was incredible. I haven’t worked up such a sweat or felt this exhausted in a long time. I could already tell I’d be nursing a few bruises tomorrow as proof of the effort.
Once we wrapped up, we moved over to where the guys had formed a tight circle around Gamma Bennet and, I think, Delta Danny. They were moving so quickly it was hard to keep track, but it looked like some kind of wrestling drill, where the goal was to pin your opponent flat on the ground. No headlocks or anything too aggressive**just fluid, controlled grappling. Watching them was hypnotic.
Both men were stunning, and I wasn’t just imagining things because of my hormones. Their bodies were sculpted perfectly**muscles toned and defined in all the right places. And, of course, they wore nothing but basketball shorts, seemingly for our benefit. Honestly, I needed to get my lady parts under control and let my warrior instincts take charge again. It was like I’d never seen fit werewolves train before**or gotten laid. There was something about these guys that threw me off balance.
Neither could quite get the upper hand. Gamma Bennet had a slight size advantage, but Danny was quick and flexible, slipping out of holds like a slippery bar of soap. It was clearly frustrating Bennet. They went back and forth for several minutes until someone near me shouted, “TIME!”
The sudden yell startled me, pulling me out of my trance.
“Who’s next?” Beta Josh asked, scanning the group. “Kennedy, you up for the challenge?”
My eyes widened as everyone turned to look at me. Panic bubbled up**I felt like I might pee my pants and bolt**but thankfully, my ego held strong. I managed to reply with more confidence than I felt. “Sure, why not?”
I stepped into the circle beside him.
“Hey! I didn’t know she was an option,” Danny whined, fake-pouting. “Honestly, I’d rather roll around with her than Bennet.” He wiggled his eyebrow, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with the others.
“Everyone’s fair game,” Alpha Ryker said, his voice laced with teasing as the first hint of a smile appeared on his face all day. He reserved those rare moments of warmth mostly for his sister.
Josh stood up, poised and ready. “Actually, Alpha, we haven’t seen you partner up yet. Why don’t you step in?”
His smirk made me feel like I’d just been played, and a flicker of irritation sparked inside me.
A brief, unreadable look passed between the two men, but Ryker didn’t budge. Crossing my arms, my frustration grew. I understood that being human made me a novelty, but I didn’t want to be treated like a sideshow or the punchline of some joke. I worked hard every day to keep up with these guys, and I was already plotting mental revenge on Josh for his cheek.
The room felt charged with unspoken challenges, and I was determined to prove I belonged here, no matter what.
Ryker
Why was he so anxious about her? Why was she alone if no one could reach her? And why on earth was she unreachable? He admitted he hated it when she vanished like that. Did she do this often? My thoughts spiraled out of control, my chest tightening with a surge of panic at the idea of her being lost**when she was right here, just beyond my sight. I longed to rush to her side, to wrap my arms around her, to soothe both myself and the restless wolf inside me. But we couldn’t**not yet. My mate was safe within my pack, yet she had been alone, unprotected, and no one knew where she was.
Damn it! I drew a slow, steady breath, inhaling deeply and then exhaling, trying to steady my racing heart. I had to keep calm; otherwise, I risked shifting uncontrollably. It had been ages since my first shift, and I was determined not to lose control now. I kept telling my wolf that no one outside the pack knew she was ours**and this was not how she was going to find out, if I even chose to tell her at all.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.