Page 14 of Claimed

“There’s not much to tell. The guards tried to make me shift and stabbed me in my side. They thought I was dead, so I used that chance to run.”

“Why did they want you to shift?” Bain asks, his eyes flashing with something dark.

I swallow the lump in my throat and shrug, which makes him narrow his eyes at me. Somehow, he can tell I know the answer and just don’t want to tell him.

“Were none of the doors locked?” Gage asks. “Or closed?”

I stare at the phone as I try to remember that day. “When they thought I was dead, they left me alone in the lab. I knew that the doors opened with a key card, and sometimes there was one sitting on the table. I managed to find one and grip it in my teeth, through my muzzle. When I held it to the door, it popped open a few inches, enough that I was able to pull it open. I found some stairs that led me up, since I had a feeling I was underground, and at the top was a door marked exit. The card worked, and the door opened. I ran across the open clearing into the forest.” I shrug as I glance at Gage. “Then I just kept running.”

“What did the key card look like?” he asks.

“It was dark blue with a yellow symbol on it. But I can’t remember what it was now. I was just focused on getting out of there and running.”

“How long did you run for?” Bain asks.

“Umm. Three weeks? I think. I was a little delirious by the end, so I’m not really sure.”

“You ran for three weeks with a muzzle on and a stab wound?” Bain asks angrily, and I lower the phone to look at him fully.

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“He’s not upset with you,” Maddox clarifies. “He’s upset that you had to do that.”

“I’m proud of you,” Bain says, surprising me. “I’m proud that you did what you needed to do to get away from them.”

I feel my cheeks heat at the compliment, and, unsure what to do with the praise, I lower my eyes to where their large hands grip my legs.

“You know you’re pretty cute when you blush,” Chase says, making me look at his handsome, grinning face.

“Cute?” I ask. “Is that a good thing?”

“Definitely.” He nods, his smile growing bigger.

“Is there anything you want to ask us?” I turn to Maddox, and he offers me a soft smile. “I imagine there are a lot of questions you have for us? I think we kind of took over last time, and I want to make sure you have a chance to ask before we leave for Starfall Haven.”

I did have a long list of questions, but now that I’m face-to-face, most of them have disappeared. “I was wondering about your pack,” I tell him.

“Our pack,” Gage corrects, squeezing me a little.

“Our pack,” I say with a nod. “I didn’t know they could be all alphas. I thought they needed betas in them too? And how is it that you have a pack inside another pack?”

“Ah,” Maddox says in understanding. “That is confusing, even for us,” he says with a soft chuckle. “My father used to be the Westgrove alpha, and ever since I was born, everyone knew I would take over as alpha of the pack one day. But he died when I was too young to lead, so my uncle, Marcus Kane, led in my place. When I turned eighteen, he never handed it over, but I also never asked to take it.”

“Why not?” I ask, thankful I’m finally able to speak.

He shrugs. “I don’t know. After my parents died, it didn’t feel like my pack anymore. When I met Bain on the edge of Westgrove territory, we just clicked. I somehow knew he was supposed to be a part of my family. The same happened with Gage and then the twins. When Kane questioned us living together, which is unusual, I told him they were part of my personal pack, the Silverstorm Pack.”

“Is that your last name?” I ask for clarity, and he nods.

“Yes. Kane didn’t like it, especially because he and my father were half-brothers, so they had different last names. But I told him we would help as enforcers, and I think he was just so happy to not have to give up Westgrove to me that he allowed it.”

“So this pack is unusual. Other packs aren’t like this?”

“None that we know of,” Gage confirms.

I consider that for a moment and wonder if they will ever want to bring anyone else into our pack. “What if—” I cut myself off, unsure I can actually ask the question.

“Go on,” Maddox says, rubbing my thigh gently. “You can ask us anything.”