“What the hell does that mean?”
Her spine straightened. “I’m tired of coming back here and throwing myself at a dead-end. There’s nothing here for me anymore. Both my parents have moved to Florida with some of the elders from the pack.” She shrugged. “I’ve been offered full residency at one of the top hospitals in Kansas City. I’m taking it.”
I watched her fight tears but couldn’t find the words to ask her to stay. Maybe if she were hundreds of miles away, I’d get my shit straight, and we’d be better. I wasn’t the wolf for her. A nice human man would be perfect for her needs.
A low vibrating growl came from deep within my chest. Laikyn ignored it and me, walking out the door without a backward glance. It was for the best. I’d only destroy what was left of her heart.
The door at the other end of the gym opened, with Wyck entering. “Yo, alpha, we got a problem.”
I tipped my head back, wanting to howl at the moon and toss my hands up in the air. “What the fuck now, Wyck?”
“You’d better follow me.”
Ripping the tape off my knuckles, I dropped the bloodied bandages in the trash, keeping the wince to myself. It was my job to protect the pack, no matter how much I wanted one little wolf who made me think of summer nights, and no matter how much my heart ached at the hurt I’d caused her.
We entered the set of rooms we’d put Carly in, who was related to the McCartneys. I still wasn’t sure what to do with her. The true remorse that wafted off of her always hit me like a punch. She’d been a font of information, once she’d realized herleader was a psychotic bitch who’d planned to kill her. I thanked the Phantom Team of Rowan’s for their help. They brought the computer and hooked it up in our captives’ kitchen area. The details we were still deciphering boggled us all. With Wyck’s help, she was recovering and seemed to be opening up to the pack more and more. I anticipated that once Carly was healed enough inside and able to shift, we’d have an excellent new pack member.
“What’s up?” I asked, looking around the room.
Carly wrung her hands. “She implanted a tracker in all of us. Like fucking pets. I…I’m soo sorry, alpha. I think I did it to Breezy, in the injection I gave her that was supposed to be a paralyzer. In the notes, it states that the tracking device was successfully implanted in the subject, with the date and location noted as here at the clubhouse. That can only mean I did it. There are also my initials next to it as the administrator. I swear, I didn’t know. I want it out of me.” Her voice cracked.
I stared as Wyck gathered the crying woman into his arms. Soothing words I’d never thought to hear from the African American—most men were scared to look him in the eye—amazed me when they flowed from him with ease. It was clear he was trying desperately to soothe her, and by the looks of things, Wyck didn’t look at her as a little sister.
“Calm down, little wolf. We’ll figure it out.”
Damn, I wish I hadn’t run Laikyn off, but we didn’t need her. Now, I had to call my best friend and inform him of the little surprise hidden in his mate. Hell, why was I the one to do all the hard work? It sucked being the alpha sometimes.
“I’m gonna reach out to Xan. Shit is gonna hit the fan, boys and girls.” I reached out and ran my hand down Carly’s shoulder, glaring over her head at the possessive snarl coming out of Wyck’s throat.
“Back the fuck up, Wyck,” I ordered through our link.
“There is something about her that brings out all my primal instincts.” That was about as good an apology as I was going to get.
“I get it, but don’t challenge me again. I’ll fuck you up and teach you why I’m the alpha. You want to bull up, let’s do it. Otherwise, chill.”
Wyck dropped his eyes. It was enough for my wolf and me. I left the room, anger simmering in my blood at the thought of the conversation I was going to have with Xan.
“Shit, I do not need this.”
Inside my newly reclaimed office, I went into the bathroom and stripped. The faces of the pack I’d passed on my way were a blur. I put off calling Xan until I was cleaned up and refreshed. I was not pussing out, just giving myself a few moments before the inevitable explosion.
Unfortunately, even being clean didn’t make the job easier. I grabbed a glass and poured myself a drink, taking the entire bottle back to my desk. Damn, this fucking situation was making me sick. Breezy, Lyric, and Taya had been through too much. The women of my pack were supposed to be protected. What kind of leader was I that I couldn’t keep my pack safe?
I swallowed the amber liquid. The fiery burn felt good going down my throat. I picked up the phone and punched in Xan’s cell. The wait for my second to answer led me to believe the other man was otherwise engaged. A notion my neglected cock wasn’t happy with.
“Hey, Kell, what’s up?” Xan’s voice sounded strained.
“You with Breezy?” I asked instead of answering.
Xan grunted. “Of course I am.”
“Hiya, Kellen.” Breezy giggled loud enough that I could hear her.
“Put the phone on speaker, since I know you both will want to hear this.” I filled my glass with more Maker’s Mark. The rate I was going, I should buy stock in the company.
“Okay, it’s on. You’re making me nervous,” Xan announced, the shuffling of fabric loud through the phone.
“Hush, let the man speak, Xan.”
