The Lone Wolf's Rejected Mate (Five Packs #3)(43)

But, for the first time since he was dragged out of me at age nine, he doesn’t launch himself into action. He kicks the last loop of chain from his foreleg. He’s free, but he doesn’t race for the kid’s wolf. He stalks toward him, unhurried, until he’s looming above the quaking mound of fur.

My wolf sniffs at the piss-scented ball. The fear is as thick as soup, and for a second, I can feel the rage threaten to overtake him again, but for the first time, he shakes himself off.

What is he thinking?

I can’t tell. I’ve never been able to.

He snaps his teeth one last time at the kid, and as if he’s lost interest, he strolls away, plops his ass down, and thwaps his tail against the ground. I don’t waste a second seizing our skin. He doesn’t fight me.

I hop to my feet, striding towards Killian, adrenaline pumping.

“Come down here so I can beat your ass,” I holler up at him. His expression is stuck between smug and boggled.

“I told you,” he says as he swings himself down.

“You couldn’t have known.” My blood is roaring in my ears.

He barks a laugh. “To be honest, I didn’t, but I figured the odds were better than even.”

The kid has taken his skin back, and he’s rising on wobbling legs, pale as a ghost.

“I could’ve killed him.” I slam Killian in the shoulder with an open palm. He shoves me back. Our eyes meet, and there’s a second when we decide whether we want to keep it going while our wolves posture by rattling our chests, but I guess neither of us are that invested.

We turn away from each other. I walk it off, hands on my hips, while Killian snags the kid around the neck and ruffles his hair. Lucan tries to yank himself loose to no avail.

"You almost got me killed," he says, incredulous.

Killian chuckles like he’s been given a compliment. “You just stared death in the face, kid. I bet those yips are gone. Ivo and Tye don’t look so scary now, eh?”

Lucan looks completely unimpressed by his logic, which amuses Killian even more.

“Come on.” He claps the kid on the back. “Let’s go back to camp and get a soak and a steam. Get that fear stink off your skin.”

I’m still reeling from what happened, so they’re almost to the trail before I remember that I’ve got something for her. For Mari. Once I light the bog worm carcass up, I’m going to be stuck here for the next day or so making sure it doesn’t start a forest fire.

“Hold up,” I call to Killian. “I’ve got something for her.” She’ll need something for later this week.

I trot to the fridge I’ve got behind the shelter. It feels wasteful to have a generator just for a fridge, but I need a place to store the meat before I can get it down to camp. I have plans to eventually wire the structure in the trees for electricity, but that’s in the future.

“Here.” I toss a few wrapped steaks to Killian. “Tell her if she doesn’t cook it today she should freeze it. It’s on its third day.”

Killian nods, but Lucan’s checking out the package, a strange expression on his still-blanched face. “You’re the one who gives Mari meat?”

I tense, but I nod.

“I can put it in the freezer for you,” the kid offers.

“Killian can give it to her.” I can hear my wolf in my voice. I guess I might not want the kid dead, but I don’t have to like the fact that he spends part of his days with her.

“It’s just that Mari’s not around today, right? She’s gone to town.”

I stalk forward, closing the space between us in seconds. The kid freezes, fear blowing out his pupils.

“What is she doing in town?” I ask, the question barely audible above my wolf’s growling. “It’s not market day.”

“W-well, I mean, she’s got a d-date, right?”

Every fight instinct inside me triggers. My chest swells. Blood rushes to my extremities. My wolf’s growls rattle my voice box. I dig my sprung claws into the meat of my palms.

I’ve gone over this with myself a thousand times. If she wants another male, I have no right to do shit about it. She deserves to be happy. I have no claim. My gut plummets, and in this instant, I recognize how many times I’ve lied to myself.

Killian asks the question since I can’t speak above the snarling in my throat. “Who is she meeting?”

“S-some guy from Salt Mountain. They’re just getting coffee. Her girls are going with her.”

I stand in place, fighting for breath, to beat back the blind aggression seizing my brain. I’ve told myself what I’ll do when this happens. Nothing. I’ll do nothing.

I’m going to puke.

“What guy from Salt Mountain?” Killian presses.

“I don’t remember—” Lucan’s eyes dart from me to Killian to the trail back to camp. His wolf is telling him to run. “Shit. Lenox! That’s his name. Lenox.” Lucan exhales a sigh in relief.

I’ve told myself that if she finds a male, I’ll let her be. I won’t stop someone else from giving her what I can’t. I’ll deal with it. Deal with this feeling the same as I would deal with getting my leg ripped off.

“We need to go to town now,” Killian meets my eyes.

I clench my fists, desperately summoning the strength to make myself tell him to leave her be, let her be happy.