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Outside The Pack (Mated To The Night Book 1) 70
23BRYNOver the next two days, I took full advantage of every moment of my newfound freedom. When I wasn’t in the kitchens or working in the garden, I was in the library reading.In the afternoon of my second day of freedom, Pax came by to visit me with his mother, Lillian. Lillian informed me that there was a stash of board games hidden in a compartment of one of the chairs, so Pax and I had a fun time searching for them. Then we played checkers while Lillian relaxed with a book.“Tomorrow, I’m going to shift in front of the whole pack,” he said. “You’re still coming, right?”“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.” I saw an easy strategy to win the game, but I chose to move my piece elsewhere to give Pax the win.“Yay!” Pax threw up his arms and beamed at me. “I can’t wait to show you my wolf!”“And I can’t wait to see him.” When I noticed he was debating where to place the next piece, I said, “Oh, no! You better not move to that spot there, or I’ll be in trouble.
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I must have lost track of time. I left the women to finish up and grabbed my jacket from the hook. Pax took my hand, and we ran out of the mess hall together. We gathered near the Elders’ cabin on the flat ground because there was plenty of space for the kids to wolf out.Pax let go of my hand and ran to the center with the other pups. I stood with the crowd of adults, my hands at my side. The first few shifts were always rough on young pups. But once they got the hang of it, they were so excited they tended to destroy tons of clothes while they practiced and showed off.Pax was one of the last to reveal his shift. It wasn’t because he was nervous—on the contrary, he was waiting to have most of the crowd’s attention so he could hop and dance around, working everyone up into an excited cheer. I laughed along, wondering when the shy, self-conscious boy I’d met had become such a ham.A deep, rumbling laugh sounded from behind me. I turned my head, but I knew Night was standing there. He
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All my life, the only physical affection I had ever received had come from my mom, who hugged and loved on me as often as I let her, and the pups I babysat who didn’t know any better. The Kings’ wolves, however, avoided touching me like I was dirty.But that had changed when I arrived here. Tavi practically threw herself at me at every opportunity, jumping at the possibility of holding my hand or hugging me. Jasper reached for me every once in a while too, and even Night seemed to touch my arm or my wrist when we were close. I used to watch how affectionate the Kings’ wolves were with each other and crave even a taste of the same treatment.But here, with the Wargs, I finally knew what it was like to touch and be touched by someone I cared about, someone who wasn’t my mom, and it felt like a door opening for me.When Lillian let go, she smiled at me once more before turning to her son. “Pax, it’s time to go home.”Pax whined, stomping his feet.“Pax, honey, don’t make me say it a seco
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“I hear you,” I said, “but for now, we should focus on how we plan on retaliating against the Kings for Iggy.”We’d buried Iggy in a plot of land in her favorite section of the forest. It was a small ceremony—just her family, me, Dom, and Iggy’s close friends. It was the first time I had seen Iggy’s family since I broke the news of her death, and the first thing they’d asked me was what I was going to do about her death. They rightfully wanted some retribution for their loss.Dom sighed. “Alright, what do you propose?”“We could do the same thing they did—send a special team to attack them while they’re unawares.”“I don’t know. I don’t think that’s direct enough.”“That’s fair.” I would never attack children, expectant mothers, or their infirmaries directly, but it was hard to know exactly how to respond when Iggy had meant so much to the community, and to me, as a member of my inner circle. “We could target someone who Troy keeps close to him.”“An assassination,” Dom said with a no
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“You kidnap a girl and try to make her life miserable, only for her to turn out to be your mate!” Dom dissolved into laughter again.Mate? The word was like a silent explosion in my head. My wolf began to pant and hop around like the word had summoned him.“No,” I said. “What? No, that’s ridiculous. Bryn is a human woman, Dom. There’s never been a real mate pair between a wolf and a human. Ever.”“Uh huh.” Dom smirked.“It’s more likely that it’s just stress about blowing the mission to kill Troy when I had the chance. Now I’ve got the stress of this human and of trying to figure out how to keep our pack safe. That’s all.”“Oh, yeah, I’m sure that’s it.”“Don’t fuck with me, Dom. I’m telling you, it isn’t like that.”“Yeah? Then why were you about ready to shift when I mentioned a particular young wolf’s name?”I clenched my hand so tight that the beer bottle shattered in my hand, spraying blood and beer over the table. Fortunately, it was mostly empty. Dom pursed his lips to keep fro
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As I moved, I realized how easy it would be for me to escape. It was still light out, and no one was coming after me despite Night, Dom, and Violet’s warnings that there were sentries always keeping an eye on me. It was a beautiful day, and I could run for miles without anyone knowing I was gone. My pace slowed as I thought about leaving the Wargs’ compound behind. It didn’t sit well with me to leave everyone I’d come to know.Ahead of me, the wolf looked back my way, seemingly asking me to hurry up.I’ll just see what this wolf wants, I reasoned. Then maybe I can think clearly about this.With my mind temporarily settled, I increased my speed and continued following the wolf deeper into the woods. Before long, the dense trees parted to reveal the craggy maw of a small cave. The wolf sat beside it. It looked at the cave’s dark entrance, at me, and then back again. It wants me to go inside, but why?“Why did you bring me here?” I asked it. I hoped it would shift or give some other indi
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I decided that now was as good a time as any to sort out my thoughts on escaping, on heading home. I missed Mom so badly that my stomach ached, but I couldn’t see myself going back there. Not willingly, anyway. The way Troy treated me and his threats—which I knew he intended to make good on—were too frightening. The Wargs pack had made me feel welcome and had given me a place I felt with increasing certainty was my home.I dropped the idea of trying to find my way back to my mom. I knew I would be miserable leaving behind all the relationships I’d formed with the Wargs, especially with Pax, Jasper, Tavi, Dom, Violet…and even Night.I’d made my decision to stay, but now I needed to figure out what to do about the large problem snoozing at my feet. It was getting dark, and soon there wouldn’t be enough light for me to find my way back. My only options were to leave the wolf behind and get help or to stay and get stuck here overnight. I can’t do this on my own. I need another shifter to
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I put my nose to the ground. The moment I picked up her scent on the soil, I launched into the forest, eager to follow it before it dissipated.“I’ll go find the other trackers,” Tavi called after us, which was good. I was far too focused to try and reach them myself.The deeper into the woods we went, the more I had to fight the feeling that Bryn might really have run off—that she’d played all of us this entire time. This path would have taken her to the river, and after she crossed it, she would be in Kings’ territory again.Damn. This was why I didn’t trust anyone. Why would I ever open up my heart when I had been burned countless times before? I was stupid to think that I could let her in, to believe that she might be my mate like Dom had said.Dom pushed his way into my mind. “The rain is getting worse and worse by the mile,” he said. “Something might have happened to Bryn. How would she know to take these paths? It’s possible that she’s been taken or lured away somehow…though, I
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“If the mates go too long without claiming, it will be as if they were rejected. Their hearts will break, they’ll never recover, and terrible, mystical shit will happen to them. I don’t remember all of the specifics, but I know that what you’re doing is fucked up.”I rubbed my chest where Dom had shoved me, my thoughts spiraling down and down into the depths of my fears. “Bryn hadn’t shifted yet,” I found myself saying. “Not on that first night. I wanted to explain to her that she was my mate and what that meant for us, but I didn’t get the chance before we ended up in bed together.”“And then?” Dom asked. “We both know the two of you have had sex after, so why not bite her during one of those times?”I hesitated. “I just…it didn’t feel like the right time. I was intent on getting her to shift and teaching her about her wolf. Bryn only recently learned that she’s descended from the pack mothers. I thought claiming her would be putting too much on her plate.”Dom growled again. “That’s
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But Violet was shaking her head. “Neither of us can answer that for you. It wouldn’t be our place.”Tavi stood up to grab a few tissues and brought them back for me. “Anyone can see that Night would break his own legs if it meant he could do something for you, Bryn,” Tavi added. “But, I mean, I think you have to ask him yourself. That’s how relationships work.”Oh. It sounded so simple when they put it so plainly. I had been in my head, so worried that I had done something wrong that I hadn’t even considered that I might be able to talk to Night about this. Another tear slipped down my face, but I caught it with my tissue. I wiped my face while Violet stood to get some more tea.Tavi leaned in while Violet rummaged around in the kitchen. “So, Bryn,” she whispered, “how was it? I mean, like, was it as amazing as those books you’ve been reading?”My eyes widened.She giggled. “I borrowed one or two from your room while you were with him. No wonder you were so focused on reading.”My fac
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I chuckled and touched his cheek. “I know, don’t worry. Time will pass by so quickly, you won’t even notice I’m gone.”“Ha. Not a chance of that.” He kissed me once, briefly, and then again more deeply. When he pulled away, my eyes felt heavy, and desire began to kindle deep inside me. He licked his lips, his eyes glowing. “Are you sure you want this?”Oh, but it was so tempting to say no so he could carry me back to bed. I forced myself to nod and gave him a smile. “I’ll see you soon, Night.” I hopped up to kiss his cheek, and then I quickly went inside, avoiding those large, warm hands before he could kiss me again or otherwise tempt me away from my goal.Tavi and Violet were waiting for me at the dining table. I had seen Violet a few times since Night and I had mated, but I hadn’t seen Tavi since the day Night rescued me from those ferals. So when Tavi hopped onto her feet, almost knocking over her chair, I rushed to meet her. We embraced tightly, and Tavi was already emotional.“I
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She believed it was her fault that I had suffered so much in the Kings’ pack, that in shielding my mind, she had also cut me off from the strength I needed to protect myself from Troy and the Terrible T’s.That’s so silly, I thought as the shift completed. How could I hate the wolf that sacrificed so much to keep me safe?My wolf tapped her front paws in the grass and turned in a circle, a kind of happy dance that made me laugh.Behind me, I heard Night suck in a deep breath. He looked different through the eyes of my wolf. He was still gorgeous, perfect, and mine, but there was something else too. He was surrounded by warm light, a halo that brought him into glorious, wonderful focus.Mate. My wolf’s voice was clear as a bell to me. She said it again, louder, and I wondered if it was true. If he was my true mate, then it made sense that even when we had tried to hate each other, it was impossible for us to stay away from each other—impossible not to feel something when in each other’
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“I want you to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and reach out to her,” he said. “When you find her, don’t be afraid to let her in and to make her an equal in your mind. You have to let her know that you trust her. Don’t be scared. I’ll be here with you the entire time.”I nodded and closed my eyes. I tried to push out my noisy thoughts—especially the horny ones about Night—and reach out for my wolf. It didn’t take long to find her; she rushed up to me, panting hard, as though she were just as eager to get to know me. It was a bit startling at first, how quickly my wolf responded, but I tried not to flinch or turn away.I took a few deep breaths to relax, and then I opened myself up to my wolf. She purred in response, and I smiled. She was like the presence of a dear friend in my mind, like a warm memory. Though the process was a bit intimidating at first, I found I liked leaving myself open to my wolf, who already felt so familiar to me even though I’d only known her for a short time.
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We sat next to each other at his dining table to enjoy the assorted dishes he had retrieved from the mess hall. There had been some extra sausage links and pancakes from breakfast, but the cooks on duty had also begun to prepare chicken potpie. Though it was technically against the rules for them to serve lunch so early, everyone was all smiles and eager to please us, according to Night.“Why’s that?” I asked around a mouthful of pancake. “Did you exert your Alpha privileges?”He smiled and brushed a stray crumb from my cheek, sending goosebumps down my back. His touch had been so heated in the shower, but now it was feather-light. Almost not there at all. “No,” he replied. “It’s because they know you and I are together.”“Oh, I see.” Now that I possessed the heightened senses of a shifter, it should have been obvious to me that they would be able to tell just from being near him. It made me feel so wonderful to know that the others accepted our relationship. That I belonged.Amusemen
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I pictured Mom’s smile and the scent of lavender that seemed to cling to her hair no matter which herbs or vegetables she picked. I thought of her voice, her hugs, and her warmth. I wondered what she would think about me being a shifter.I missed her terribly. Perhaps I would see her again when Night confronted Troy, but who knew when that would happen? It could be weeks or even months from now. I could probably ask Night about his plans, but I didn’t want to dwell on that right now.I closed my eyes and let the hot water slide down my skin and calm my feverish thoughts. I reached for the soap and began to scrub up. Suddenly, I paused, feeling a tug in my chest. I smelled Night as if he was right here with me. I pulled the curtain, eager to see him, but he wasn’t in the bathroom with me. If I concentrated a bit harder, I could hear his footsteps coming up to the porch. I smiled, pleased that he would be with me again soon. My senses had sharpened since I shifted, but it seemed they we
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“Bryn.” This time it was Violet’s voice pulling me back. “Could you describe the wolf for us?” Violet asked.I nodded. Now that I was sure it hadn’t just been in my mind, I was able to give a detailed description of the wolf’s russet-brown coat, the slice in its left ear, and the piercing white eyes that were like melted silver and snow.Violet pressed a hand to her mouth, and the Elder’s mumbling grew more intense. I turned, sending a worried look at Night, but his handsome face and steady gaze calmed me.Finally, Violet held up her hands for silence. The Elders immediately went quiet. My wolf whined within me, pacing back and forth. It was such a bizarre feeling to feel another consciousness within me, but it was so amazing at the same time.Violet looked into each of the Elder’s faces, and they all nodded. She took a deep breath and returned her attention to me. “You mentioned something about seeing a wolf when Night returned with you.”“I did?”Violet nodded. “The Elders and I tal
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Soon, two older gentlemen and one elderly woman walked inside without pausing to knock. The first man was bald. An old, brown scar ripped across the top of his head. I knew better than to stare, but I was curious about how he’d received what could have been a mortal wound. The second man had tufts of gray hair starting at his temples, which wrapped around to meet at the back of his head. The woman had a full head of gorgeous hair that was almost as white as Violet’s. She kept it short and curly—it looked like a cotton ball on top of her head.They began to seat themselves at the table but needed another chair. I started to grab a chair from the living room, but Night caught my wrist. He pulled me to his side and sat me in his lap. It was an unorthodox way of providing an extra chair, but I wasn’t upset; I was just as eager to stay close to him. I leaned back into his chest, and he immediately wrapped his arms around me.The Elders smiled at us, not at all perturbed by our public Displ
