CHAPTER TWO

VINCE

I shouldn’t.

Interfering in another pack’s matters is illegal, no matter how bad, especially when it involves the opposite sex. Only lone wolves are my concern, and she doesn’t seem to be one. I’m in wolf form; any involvement will be perceived as a threat. Barrett and I also do well to stay out of each other’s way.

She’s pregnant.’ Conan, my wolf, growls. 

I try to calm Conan, but when she cries for help, he does a projectile leap from our spot across the road, where the woman is being dragged away. He lands in front of Barrett, who halts with a daring glare at Conan. I quickly regain control and shift back.

“Stay out of this, Vince,” Barrett warns, his voice low.

“What’s her offense?” I ask quickly, eyeing the woman whose face is drenched in tears and sweat.

“It’s none of your business. Go back to your s…”

“I dare you, Barrett.” I snap, feeling Conan stir to break loose. “Say that name, and I’ll show you why my wolf is called Conan.”

Barrett falls quiet, the sound of the road ahead and chirping insects filling the seconds. 

Strays. That’s what my pack of lone wolves is called since I refuse to name us. But no werewolf that dared to say it in front of us lived to breathe their next word. Barrett knows better than to attempt it, which means his anger has overwhelmed him.

“This isn’t your business,” Barrett states and starts to drag the woman after him.

He’s right, and I don’t even know her.

You didn’t know any of them before helping.’ Conan yells in my head, and I wince.

I freeze in place as Barrett walks past me, but I feel a grip on my wrist. I shake it off without meeting her gaze, feeling Conan pace inside my head.

“Please.” She sobs.

My eyes collide with hers, and I almost lose my hold on Conan as he growls intensely. 

“Wait, Barrett.” My words are distinctly rushed.

“What?” He barks, eyes dark with rage.

‘Yes, snap. Shift.’ Conan snarls, pumped by the anticipated challenge.

I feel a pull on my wrist and lower my eyes to meet the woman’s. Streams of tears are flowing down her cheeks. I can’t leave her. Something tells me she may not survive what Barrett has planned for her at Malrock.

Barrett tugs at her, and the arm of her gown rips at the shoulder seam, revealing a hand way too skinny for a pregnant woman and a large scar close to her shoulder. There’s no doubt more are hidden underneath the gown.

Barrett doesn’t budge as he glances at the scar and back to my eyes. He tugs at her again, but this time, I clasp the woman’s hands, holding her firmly in place.

“You can’t take her back. You won’t.” I utter, my head scrambling for any excuse that’ll be enough to help her.

“And you’ll stop me?” Barrett’s protests

“Should I prove that I can?” I fire back confidently.

Suddenly, a grey wolf lunges out from behind Barrett, then two more from behind me. I smile, returning my gaze to Barrett.

“This is your challenge?” I muse.

I hear rustlings behind me and turn to see three wolves join the first two. I turn to Barrett again to see two wolves join the grey one. All their fangs are bare as they snarl at me. Barrett's smug grin shows his pride in anticipated victory.

“Brute force won’t help you now.” He boasts.

Then I remember, and my mouth stretches in a mischievous smile. Barrett’s brows tighten as I stare at him with derision.

“I’d like to collect the debt now, with her,” I state, gesturing to the woman and squaring my shoulders in triumph.

The snarling wolves seize and glare at Barrett, clueless. I observe the woman, whom I still don’t know by name, and her brows furrow in amazement. The grey wolf behind Barrett shifts into Gusto, his beta. He walks up to Barrett with no question in his eyes. He knows about it.

“This isn’t a case where you can play tricks, Vince,” Gusto mutters. “This situation for which you’re interfering is more complex than your debt.”

I huff, knowing he’s just trying to throw me off. But he knows how determined I can be. 

Then I recall the event in my head, smiling…

Barrett fell into the hands of hungry wolves six years ago. The pack had been struggling to find food after their territory was invaded five months prior. At the time, Barrett, a spoiled Alpha prince, was hunting alone when he accidentally tumbled down a steep hill into their territory.

The starving feral wolves were moments from ripping Barrett apart, and I mistook him for a distressed lone wolf. I intervened with a few pack members out with me on our occasional scouting, where we search for lone wolves to help.

After we saved Barrett, he was overjoyed and eagerly swore a blood oath to give me anything I asked once he became Alpha, even offering up to half his pack’s territory. I dismissed it, knowing it was just empty talk fueled by his relief from not being eaten alive.

As expected, Barrett came to me after his father died, asking that I nullify the blood oath, and offered land spanning several kilometers because, in his words, ‘I don’t want to be tied to anything uncertain.’ 

I rejected his offer, furious at his deceitfulness, and we’ve laid off each other’s backs ever since. 

“It was a blood oath, stupid,” I tell Gusto, who growls at me.

I bare my teeth in a mock grin, and Barrett slurps, displaying his panic. I look down at the woman who has now wiped her face, studying our exchange, and give her a slight one-eyed wink.

“You can’t do this,” Barrett states, sounding frustrated.

“Oh, yes, I can. And I’m doing just that.” I reassure him.

Barrett’s hand had slid off the woman’s by now, droplets of sweat beginning to crowd his forehead. He looks at Gusto and the other wolves, clearly unsure of his next move.

“She’s my mate.” Barrett declares.

My eyes become elastic as they seem not to stretch enough. I lower my gaze to the woman who is now gaping at Barrett. Didn’t see that coming, and I’m certain she didn’t either. I look back at Barrett and sigh, ready to accept defeat when the woman speaks.

“Was,” The woman utters, her voice shaky. “I was your mate. Until exactly seven months and four days ago.” 

Her voice has a defiant touch to it, and Conan whirls in my head, mesmerized by it. It has never happened before. Barrett’s brow knots, provoked by her confidence.

“That settles it then,” I announce, my voice loud with pride. “She’s coming with me.”

I lift her, looking at every wolf with ears up and heads low, either waiting for their alpha’s orders to pounce on me or to accept defeat, then to Barrett.

“I’ll come pick up what’s left of her things by the day after tomorrow,” I tell him. “Do well to get it all set.”

I turn to leave with the woman, and she stumbles. Instinctively, I lift her, holding her against my chest. As I stride past the wolves behind me earlier, they part without a sound. I don’t look over my shoulder, focusing on the woman now resting her head on my chest.

Stepping onto the road to head for my car, with mixed emotions clouding my mind, I whisper the only question that escapes the chaos.

“What’s your name?”

“Lori.” She whispers, then passes out.