Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(3)

His mother had loved that little stripe.

He repressed a growl and buried the pain of her loss. When the Verona virus had hit, most of his people were safe from the disease, but not the carriers. He’d lost his parents, his siblings…everyone.

A growl escaped his throat, and he shook his body like he’d stepped out of water, and ran. His paws slammed onto the ground, the force of the impact vibrating in his jaw, but he didn’t care. He had dirt between the pads of his feet, and a slight breeze through his fur. If he could ignore the stench of metal and burning electricity, he could almost forget that he lived within a cage.

He’d been running for only a few minutes when he scented another wolf.

Well, hell. He wasn’t in the mood for this, but Theo needed to get it out of his system. As Alpha, it was Holden’s job to help the younger, dominant wolves find their place within the Pack. That meant fielding dominance challenges and takedowns when necessary. Theo wouldn’t win tonight, but the wolf would be able to let his aggression out. Too much suppressed aggression within a system, and that system would break. Holden had seen firsthand what happened when a younger wolf not only didn’t learn to control their urges but didn’t learn to let them out, as well.

Holden lifted a lip in a snarl as Theo padded toward him. The younger wolf had grey, tan, and white patches, much like many of the wild Timberwolves outside the compound. Theo’s human side had finished growing, though Holden knew he would gain more muscle over time. However, Theo’s wolf wasn’t quite finished growing. Holden had a feeling Theo would soon be as large as Soren. That would be good for the Pack since they would need all the strength they could get in the coming months and years. Right then, though, Holden had more pressing matters on his mind.

He let out a warning growl, but Theo didn’t stop moving. The animal within Theo maintained control, and Holden would mold and shape that into a dominant wolf worth having in the Pack. Theo snarled but didn’t lower his gaze.

Challenge issued.

Theo pounced, a quick movement that surprised even Holden. It seemed the young wolf had some speed. Good, but not good enough. Holden moved out of the way at the last moment and nipped at Theo’s flank. The younger wolf snapped his large teeth, but Holden didn’t get bit. Instead, he threw his own body at Theo, smashing the young man into the dirt. Theo struggled, but couldn’t fight Holden’s greater size. Knowing it had to be done, Holden bit into the back of Theo’s neck, marking him has his lower. Pride swelled inside, even if it warred with frustration. Theo would make a good enforcer or tracker one day, once he’d found his calling. He just had to refine his balance with his wolf. They all had to do it, though Holden had accomplished it far younger than most.

When Theo relaxed in his hold, Holden released him and stood back. He nudged at the other wolf and they both shifted back, Theo panting in exertion.

“Feel better now?” Holden bit out. He’d needed his run and a dominance challenge hadn’t helped his wolf.

Theo ran a hand through his too-long hair and grimaced. “Sorry, Alpha. I…I tried to hold back.”

He waved him off. “Your wolf needed a fight. I get it. It’s what makes us wolves and not human. But, next time? Try Soren or someone else first.”

Theo let out a breath. “Yeah, I know. I just…I don’t know.”

Holden had a feeling he knew. Theo would one day be one hell of a strong wolf. Perhaps not as strong as Soren to be Beta, but he’d be up there. Theo’s wolf needed to seek out the strongest of them all, even if he was certain to lose. Holden understood it, but he didn’t have to like it.

“Go back to the center of the den and get tended to by one of the submissives.” Holden grinned as Theo flushed. “I meant your cuts and bruises, boy. You know those submissives hold the power while we just think we do.”

Theo raised a brow and stood up on shaky legs. “True. Sorry for fighting you.”

“Never be sorry for fighting when your wolf needs it. You did the smart thing. You waited until we were alone and not in the middle of the den center where someone would take it as a clear challenge, rather than just aggression.” He frowned. “If you’re still feeling it, talk with Soren about more duties. If you have all this energy, we might as well use it to our advantage.”

Theo snorted and ran a hand over his brand—an absentminded gesture that clawed at Holden. He remembered the day Theo had been branded. He remembered the day each of them had been.

The two of them stood naked in the middle of the forest, but it didn’t matter. At some point, he’d have to go back and find his clothes since his run had been cut short, and he didn’t know where Theo had left his before he’d shifted.

“Thanks for not making me truly bleed,” Theo said wryly.

Holden rolled his eyes, his wolf huffing. “Go to the submissives.”

Theo grinned then ran off, leaving Holden alone in the forest once again. The fight had helped him release some energy, but he still sat on the edge of control. Fighting or f*cking would help with that if the run didn’t, but he figured he wouldn’t be doing either tonight. Fighting Theo hadn’t been nearly enough. As for f*cking, he had to be careful when it came to females in the Pack. None of them called to his wolf so he wouldn’t be able to truly mate with them. Most of the others in the Pack could find a mate their wolves would tolerate, even if it weren’t a true mating; however, as Alpha, he needed the balance, a complete bond in every way that mattered.