chapter seven

“That went better than I thought it would,” Erin said as we sat down in her room, but I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was on Gregory, who was probably asleep in the next room. After Turner had put me in his care, he had moved me out of the shabby room I’d been staying in and into their own home.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve been used to being researched all my life, so this is child’s play compared to what I’ve experienced,” I reassured her.

“You still haven’t told me your story,” Erin said.

“Nothing is interesting to tell,” I said. The events after the horrible ones that followed my forced marriage to Jordan came flooding back into my mind.

“I think I should sleep. It’s been a long day,” I said, lying down on the bed.

***

I found myself back in the bushes surrounding my house, and suddenly the goons appeared again. This time, the wolves were tall—the size of horses—and larger than hippopotamuses. Scared, I turned and ran, and they followed, surrounding me with every step they took.

I screamed for help as I ran, my heart beating fast. I turned to see how much distance I had gained from them and immediately tripped over a tree trunk. Before I could get up, I found that the wolves had developed hands and were grabbing me, trying to drag me down.

Just then, Jordan appeared.

“You have been a very bad girl, haven’t you? But your little adventure is over, and now you will pay the ultimate price,” he said. He drew his claws and lunged at me.

“Get the fuck up!” Erin shouted, dragging me out of the forest and into her bedroom.

I was dazed for a moment before I remembered.

“You were screaming. Bad dream?” she asked.

“Nightmares, I think,” I replied, getting out of bed before she could ask more.

I walked into the bathroom to take a shower, and as the cold water dripped down my body, I couldn’t help but think about that night. That was when I remembered—

—When the alpha saved me. His wolf killed two of the goons before he appeared. That was the first time I had ever seen something like that, and I decided to ask Erin about it.

As soon as I left the shower and got dressed, I went and sat beside Erin, who was on one side of the room with some herbs, probably studying them.

“I want to ask you about something,” I said, sitting beside her.

“What?” she asked, not looking up from the herbs.

“So, the night Turner saved me… I saw him standing with his wolf beside him. Like he was literally separated from his wolf.”

“Are you sure?” Erin asked immediately, looking up.

“I’m pretty sure,” I replied.

“Maybe you were having hallucinations. But I’ve read about separated wolves somewhere before. I’m not sure how it’s done—or if it’s even real,” she said.

“Maybe we should ask your brother, if he knows something,” I suggested.

“No, we won’t. If word gets to Turner that you’re asking questions, he might think you’re a spy and send you away. I think you should keep quiet about it. It’s probably a fragment of your imagination and not worth getting kicked out for,” she advised.

I nodded, leaving the room and bumping straight into a sweaty, shirtless Gregory coming into the house. For a moment, I was lost, staring at his abs and muscles.

“Hi. Did you just wake up?” he asked, giving me a warm smile.

“No, it’s been a while,” I replied.

“Okay,” he said, about to leave, then suddenly turned back. “And hey, I’m sorry about what happened last night. You’re new to the pack, and people still have their reservations about you.”

“It’s fine. I’m used to that kind of thing,” I said.

“Nobody should have to be used to that. And we can do something about it,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“A few weeks ago, one of the deltas died and hasn’t been replaced. You can take at least that slot. I think you’re strong—you’ll have to train again.”

He suggested it.

“Girls are allowed to be one of the deltas here?” I asked, having forgotten the incident at the gym where the girls were training with the boys.

“Erin didn’t tell you? Here, everyone is equal—man and woman,” he said.

“Okay… I’d like to join.”