Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(25)

Ariel nodded, feeling slightly more relaxed in Mandy’s presence. Holden had explained Mandy’s roll as a submissive, and if Ariel hadn’t felt the affect for what it was, she wouldn’t have believed it. The woman had a caring nature and knew how to put people at ease. What a talent to have. Being able to fight and protect the Pack would be nice as a dominant, but Ariel held great respect for those who knew how to take care of the inner health of those close to them.

Ariel met each person, holding out her hand to them in hopes that they wouldn’t shun her. Every single one shook her hand while others hugged her close. She wasn’t sure what it meant, but she did feel a little bit more at ease. No one looked like they wanted to be her best friend, but at least they weren’t lashing out at her.

“And this is Claire,” Mandy said finally, an odd note to her voice. “I think you’ve met before, though.”

Ariel’s gaze shot up to the amazon’s face and held back a curse. “Hello, Claire.”

Claire didn’t respond. Instead, she folded her arms over her chest again and glared.

Mandy cleared her throat. “Each person in the Pack takes shifts in here as well as most of the other roles. This isn’t Claire's normal job, but everyone helps out where they can. We can’t leave the den, but we make the den as much of ours as we can.”

“I see. That’s nice.” Ariel knew she sounded off, but she couldn’t help it. The only time she’d met the other woman, she’d lashed out and claimed Holden as hers in every way but marking. From the look on Claire’s face, there was no love lost on Ariel’s account.

Ariel cleared her throat, knowing she needed to push the jealousy away. She still wasn’t sure if she truly believed in wolves choosing mates and a forever kind of future with one man, but she did know whose arms she’d slept in the night before. That counted for more than something she couldn’t quite comprehend.

“Holden said I’m going to do something similar over the next few weeks. That way I can see how the Pack runs. I’m glad I won’t be the only one moving from place to place.”

It was the truth, even if she’d forced a smile when she said it.

Claire narrowed her eyes. “I don’t get it. How could his wolf choose you? You’re not even a full shifter? A human hasn’t been changed in decades, yet he deemed you worthy? It doesn’t make sense. Holden risked all of our lives for you, and the lives of the countless shifters locked in cages because of humans like you, and you don’t even look like you care. You’re acting like this is just a new job or new day camp or something? Humans torture us, and we don’t get a choice in the matter. We don’t have rights. We have to lie down and watch those we love die at the hands of those who think they’re better than us. And here you are, looking like you’re one of us when you aren’t. You don’t shift. You grew up in a world where you had freedom; you were human. And now you’re taking our Alpha along for a ride.”

Ariel’s eyes widened at Claire’s tirade. So much hatred and yet not one word of it was because Ariel had taken Claire’s ex. Oh, that might have been the underlying motivation for her words, but Claire spoke as a shifter, not a woman scorned.

“I know I am not a full shifter yet because I haven't changed,” Ariel said slowly.

“And you might not ever be,” Claire snapped. “You could die during the first hunt because your body can’t take it. Did you even think about that? Did you think about the fact that you could harm our Alpha in the process? Because if you die, he’ll be a broken shell of a man. That’s how mates work. It’s not sparkly and pretty like human marriages. It actually means something. You’ll leave our Pack with a man who can’t protect us, all because you want to latch onto someone to protect you.”

Ariel blinked. She’d known the hunt would hurt her because it would be her first time shifting, but from the way Claire put it, it sounded as if there was a higher chance Ariel wouldn’t survive. Holden had mentioned the possibility, but he’d either lied about the percentage or Claire was trying to scare her.

Ariel had a feeling it was a little bit of both.

However, none of this meant Ariel had to sit back and take it. “I didn’t ask for this, Claire. The SAU took me from my home after raising me in their orphanage where I had no one, not even a Pack, to love me. The doctors tortured me, cut me up and injected me with so many different chemicals that I will never know exactly what they did to me. They tossed me over the fence like garbage and wanted to use my death to punish you. I didn’t get a choice in what Holden did, but I can’t regret it. I’m alive because of him, and I will always be grateful for that.”

“Claire, stop it,” Mandy said softly. The woman shook, and Ariel had a feeling it had to do with the other woman’s wolf not wanting confrontation. “Please.”

“Shut up, Mandy,” Claire spat. “Go back to following the dominants like a little puppy.”

Mandy winced and Ariel moved to stand in front of the little woman. “Hey, if you have a problem with me, you lash out at me. Not Mandy. I don’t know the full dynamics of your Pack, but being a bitch to someone who is just trying to help just makes you look bad.”

“Stay out of this. You aren’t Pack.”

Ariel held out her arm, the brand fully healed and her knew Pack tattoo freshly inked. “This begs to differ. I might have come from different circumstances than all of you, but that doesn’t give you the right to speak to me like you have. And do the math, Claire. A few of the older wolves here might have been changed while human for all you know. Many of the people here were alive to live outside the walls, your Alpha included. I might not be able to shift yet, but that doesn’t mean I’m nothing. I’m learning. I’m trying. That’s a hell of a lot more than you can say at this point.”