CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

I had even forgotten to notice the one man in the group that sat injured, and as we talked; groaned in pain.

“What happened to you?” I asked, craning my neck to him slowly.

The question wasn't anywhere near from a place of empathy, but rather from trying to change the subject. And a hopefully not futile endeavor to regain authority.

The man in question held his hands to his stomach and close to his ribs. He was shirtless and bandages had been wrapped around him like a fighter's knuckle guard.

The space under his palm showed red and he looked from his wound then up to me, sharply.

“It's nothing Alpha...I'll be fine…” he answered pert, with his face contact.

I could sense he didn't want to be seen as weak.

“Bunch of those wolves attacked this morning and I was part of the first watch…” he explained “We clashed and I got a little gash in the process.”

The man's face was a reddish brown and his hair was matted. I could see scratches and bruises all over him and it was obvious he wasn't