Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(12)

“It’s a lot to take in at once, Holden,” she said then pulled back from him. She scooted off the stool and stood by his side. She was so tiny compared to him, but he knew the strength within her. She couldn’t be anything but strong to survive the torture she’d endured. If taking back a semblance of control helped her survive the memories, then he’d try to make it happen.

A knock at the door interrupted them. “That would be Soren, my Beta.”

She wrapped her arms around herself and looked toward the front door. “Your second in command?”

“Yes. He’s also my best friend and pissed as hell about what I risked.”

“Meaning he doesn’t like me.”

Yes. “He doesn’t know you.”

“You don’t know me,” she said dryly.

“I’m trying to,” he countered.

She rolled her shoulders back. “So there is the Alpha and Beta. Anything else I should know?”

“Tons,” he said with a laugh. “But we’ll get there. There is usually an Omega within a Pack, a healer of physical and emotional needs. However, our Pack is lacking one. Hard to complete the set when we can’t meet new wolves over time.”

Soren knocked again, this time louder, and Holden held out a hand. “We need to face the Pack. They’re out there and will want to know what we’re doing.” He tugged her close and looked down at her. “You need to stand by my side and don’t fight me. I know you want to scream and rage for what I did to you, but that will need to stay between us. We can’t look as if we aren’t united. If we do, the Pack will fracture.”

“That sounds so political.”

“It is. We have our own rules and problems within the den. Add in the SAU and what could happen outside these walls? It’s a shitstorm. That’s why I need you to at least pretend you are happy by my side. You don’t have to lie and say you love me and want that future with all of your heart, but don’t tell the others you’d rather have died than be one of us.”

She sucked in a breath. “I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“You’re an idiot. Don’t put words into my mouth. I might not be happy I had no choice, and I might be confused as hell, but I am not going to let others get hurt because I’m confused. Now, let’s go see this horde of scary, dangerous wolves so I can get my flesh burned and hide from the humans who tried to kill me. Because that sounds like a fun way to spend the day.”

He snorted then pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She hesitated a moment, before sinking into his hold. She used humor and sarcasm to get her through the pain, but he knew the agony lay right beneath the surface. The fact she felt so good in his arms meant he’d have to deal with his own feelings as soon as he took care of his Pack.

As always, Pack first, Alpha second.

Holden pulled her toward the door and opened it, his wolf once again at the surface. Soren stood on the other side, his face grim, his hands fisted at his side.

“Ready?”

“Yes,” Holden lied. He looked down at Ariel who had squared her shoulders, her gaze on the people behind Soren. “Come, Ariel.” Time to face the consequences of his decision to save her life… and to find a slice of what happiness he could.

He stepped past Soren, Ariel by his side, and met the gazes of the wolves that he called his own. Some openly gawked at the woman at his side, others smiled or glared. Their emotions ran the gamut, and he knew he’d have to defend his choice of not only a mate, but what he’d done to save her life.

He’d broken Pack law, and now he would have to face Pack judgment.

“This is Ariel. My mate.” Grumbles and shouts rang from the others, but he held up his hand. They soon quieted. “The humans left her nearly dead. It was the only way to save the woman my wolf has chosen as his own. I will not regret what I have done, but I will ask for your patience.”

“The humans will kill us!” Ana called out.

“Not if we hide her,” Theo said, surprising the hell out of Holden.

“Is she really yours?” Mandy, a submissive asked, her eyes downcast.

“Yes, she is really mine.”

“Then we will protect her,” Mandy whispered then leaned into Theo. The two of them were friends only, but the dominants and submissives always cared for one another. The fact that this submissive was the one to say what she did spoke volumes about her own strength.

Soren came to his side, the flash of metal in his hand making Holden wince. “Are you ready?” his Beta asked Ariel, ignoring Holden all together. It seemed his best friend wasn’t happy with him at all.

Holden turned Ariel in his arms so she was forced to look up at him. “We need to collar you and brand you quickly. The Pack ink can come later because the humans don’t look for it, same as the mating ink. But we need to do the rest now.”

She let out a breath then met his gaze. “I guess I should get used to my new normal.”

“I guess so.” Soren held out the collar and Holden took it in his hands. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, so low that only she and Soren would have been able to hear.

“Don’t be. Not for this.” Her gaze remained on his as he snapped the metal in place. The collar was more than a way for the humans to know who could shift. It was the embodiment of all that his people hated. It showed the world they were animals locked in cages. That they had no freedom and lived on the whim of a government that considered them nothing more than a blood bank in case the Verona Virus hit again. His hand traced over the cool metal on her overheated skin, and he held back a sigh.