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Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 15
5BRYNThankfully, the third day of mourning was uneventful for me. All of my time was spent in the garden, the kitchen, or the root cellar. I was constantly washing, cutting, and sorting fruits and vegetables for the grand banquet meals. After the way I had come home—with bloody palms and a ruined dress, Mom no longer made me attend any of the events. Instead, when she got home from the third night’s festivities, she caught me up on everything that was going on. Mom told me about the dance held in the dining hall. All the pack families brought offerings of support and comfort to the Redwolf family, and afterward, the men got together to participate in a fight ring.Some part of me was curious about how these sorts of proceedings went because I was so rarely allowed to be part of them, but a much greater part of me was relieved that I could stay out of the line of sight of Troy and the Terrible T’s. On the third night, I’d gotten little sleep because the wolves were so loud as they fo
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 16
“The Camas are far too quiet and peaceful to want to move up the ranks, Bryn. And as for the Wargs, you already know that they are vicious, no better than feral wolves. It would be best for them if they stayed on their own territory because a challenge from them could mean all-out war.”I suppressed a shiver. Mom’s words, combined with such a somber warning…it sounded like an omen. Ferals were wolves without a real pack, sticking together in small groups. Creatures of opportunity, they were wild and territorial over the few scant miles of land they could claim between the pack territories. It was a harsh criticism for Mom to levy against the Wargs.I tried to remember what I knew of the wild Wargs pack and its Alpha, Night Shepherd. He was known as the crazed Alpha, a man who had some sick vendetta against the Kings’ pack because the Kings were on top. Every few months, Night’s hunters staged attacks against Kings’ wolves when they left the compound. It sounded terrifying, but the War
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 17
I was so engrossed in the task, immersed in the peaceful quiet of my thoughts, that I didn’t hear the faint sound of shifting soil as someone approached me from behind.Finished, I straightened, dusting my hands off on my work jeans. I could already imagine the vibrant colors that this next harvest would bring to the lot. It was brown and boring now, but in a few more weeks, that would change—I froze as I felt heat against my back. I knew it was Troy even before I turned to face him. My shoulder brushed his chest as I moved, and he shoved me away from him. I staggered but stopped short of losing my balance.“You’re not clean enough to touch me, human bitch,” he snapped.I stared at him, my blood rushing through my veins. “Why are you here?” I asked.“What do you mean? This is my territory now. All of this,” he gestured to the field that he had never put even a minute’s work into, “belongs to me. That includes the land, its resources, and everyone living on it.”I clenched my hands so
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 18
But when the rest of my pack heard of my intention to challenge Troy, they refused to let me go without a small army. After hearing the news that there were dozens of fighters—men and women—who wanted to join me on the mission to take over the Kings’ pack, I turned to my beta.“Do they think I can’t win?” I asked in a low voice.“Actually, they just care about you,” Dom replied. “Even if you do win, they’re worried that the Kings will attack and kill you if you don’t have enough people with you.I scoffed. “The Kings would be welcome to try.”Dom rolled his eyes. “I’m not surprised to hear you say that, Night, but that’s probably just your ego and your restless wolf talking.”I sighed, knowing he was probably right. I was eager to reclaim my birthright to help my pack. “I’m still not sure if having a big team with us is best,” I said. “If stealth is key, the smaller the group, the better.”“We trained this group ourselves, so you know they can be discreet.”That was also true. I knew
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 19
Gregor hadn’t been a good pack leader of the Wargs. Under Craig, Gregor’s father, the Wargs were thriving. We weren’t the ruling pack, but we were well on our way to becoming so. Unfortunately, that progress stagnated and even regressed after Craig died and Gregor became Alpha. Gregor’s short temper, arrogance, and outdated views on women made him a poor leader. The Wargs didn’t respect him, and instead of trying to repair that relationship with his pack, he abandoned everyone.He left the Wargs weakened, and when the next Alpha took over, a scummy wolf named Peter who had no idea how to lead, things became even worse for everyone. I challenged Peter as soon as I was strong enough and then performed a massive overhaul of the social hierarchy of the pack. I made things equal between the sexes, and if ever there were cases of domestic violence, the perpetrator was swiftly and severely dealt with. Though the Kings’ pack weren’t quite as ass-backward as the Wargs once were, it was clear t
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 20
Trying to articulate my scattered thoughts in front of my friend caused me to slip up. I cleared my throat, trying to smother the doubt that briefly flared to life deep within me. This was for pride, I assured myself, and for justice. My wolf growled in accordance. He, too, wanted his birthright—the land, the resources. At least my wolf understood me, even if I sometimes stumbled.I turned to Dom again. “Let’s go over our plan again, and I want this communicated to each of our fighters.”Dom nodded. “Of course.”“Tomorrow, during the challenge ceremony, we’ll go in from the back and sides of the compound, but we’ll stay hidden. When no challengers appear, I’ll show up at the last second. I just need you and the rest to get me inside without issue.”“At the last second, huh? Look at you. I never thought you’d be one for theatrics, Night.”I chuckled. “I just want to make a good impression.”Dom grinned. “I’ll let them know.” He slipped into the darkness, as quiet as a shadow. Moments l
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 21
I wanted to forget about Troy entirely and try to enjoy one last night before I ventured out on my own. At around midnight, the challenge ceremony would begin, and then those closest to Troy would have full run of the compound; but for now, everyone—the elderly, the mothers, the children—could sit down and enjoy each other’s company.I was looking forward to watching the young wolf pups enjoy the music and celebration. Other than Mom, the children were the best part about living in the pack. The little girls and boys were all so cute and so clumsy, and they weren’t nearly as put off by my humanity as their parents.Mom and I would get to dance carefree in the moonlight with the other women of the pack and eat delicious meals that neither of us had to prepare. The idea of being surrounded by such jovial, happy energy caused tears to push at the backs of my eyes. I tried to push them away, but a few wayward droplets escaped down my cheeks. I was going to run away from the only home I ha
Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 22
I thought the concept of being claimed was a really romantic one, but it was just one more difference between myself and my peers. The closest thing humans had to claiming was something called marriage, but they could separate after marriage. Wolves couldn’t do that.Mom and I headed inside the dining hall. Tonight’s food would be the most plentiful and the most succulent because it was the final day of mourning. I took a deep breath, and my eyes began to slip closed at the savory scents that filled the air. I didn’t need to have a shifter’s sense of smell to tell that there was deliciousness in my future.I loaded my plate high with vegetables that had been either simmered with salted meats or roasted over low flame. Main courses included braised beef, roasted poultry, and steamed fish. Mashed potatoes and rich, buttery gravy rounded out the meal. I intended to eat myself into a food coma. After Mom and I finished assembling our dinners, we looked around the packed dining hall for a
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