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“Good,” I say feigning indifference. It still seems impossible—that Cal and East and River want their pack to know they have claimed me. Part of me is trying to push the thought out of my mind because every time I latch on to something good, it is taken from me.
What if I express to Cal and River and East that I am not only theirs, but they are mine? What if I say that and then everything is ruined? Just. Like. Always.
I’m protecting my heart… not believing anything so good is truly within my grasp.
“It’s okay to be nervous, Rem,” East whispers. “Malik is intimidating.”
My eyes follow his and land on the leader. Malik is telling everyone gathered about a new patrolling protocol, hands rise as he fields questions about the territory and their partnership with the local police department.
“There was a recent death on the outskirts of our territory,” Malik explains. “A man was killed; his neck was broken. He had placed a call to 9-1-1, reporting an intruder, and when the police arrived, he was dead.”
My back goes rigid, I clench my teeth. Ray.
“Was anyone with him?” a man in the crowd asks. “Do they have a suspect?”
“The woman living with the victim says a woman broke in, demanding money, and the intruder fought him, and ultimately killed him.”
Another hand is raised. “So, a killer is on the loose?”
Maxon nods. “Yes, the police force is on high alert, and they have met with me, to explain the situation since we take tourists out in the woods, where a killer may be hiding.”
The room roars to life, everyone talking amongst themselves. Beside me, River shakes his head. “That’s why Rem can’t go out alone.”
“Agreed,” East says, running a hand over my back.
“Another item on the agenda is the situation regarding the grizzly,” Malik tells the room once it has quieted down.
My ears perk up at the mention of the bear. Sitting up straight, I hone in on Malik’s words.
“While I haven’t seen the grizzly myself, she has been spotted by dozens of pack members. Surprisingly she has not posed a threat to a single person, in human form, or in wolf form. In fact, she was seen this morning helping Lucas Grant’s youngest boy from a tree where he had gotten stuck. And last week she let Mark Day’s daughter, Lilia, ride on her back, of all things.”
The room is abuzz, and I turn to the men, frowning. “What the hell?” I whisper to Cal. “Who would let their kid get on the back of a bear?”
“In full disclosure,” a man says, standing. “We did not condone Lilia to get on a bear’s back! She was outside, and we saw her from the window. It was a shock to us, to say the least.”
Malik waves his hand, quieting the room. “If there are further reports of this bear, or any bear in our territory, please notify a patrolman immediately so we can take control of the situation. But in the meantime, as far as we know, there is no reason to be alarmed.”
My throat is dry—the bear has come after me three times. Never in a gentle way.
I can’t not say something—I need to warn them.
Standing, I push my hand in the air. Callum tugs on my other hand, urging me to sit, but I can’t just stand by, hearing about children playing with bears.
Clearing my voice, I say, “Excuse me. I have a report to make about the bear.”
18
Remedy
Malik narrows his eyes and everyone in the room turns to look at me. I feel my face grow hot, but I can’t be shy now. Now is the time to speak up, use my voice for good.
“And who might you be?” the pack leader asks, drawing closer to me.
My ring finger seems to burn suddenly. I’m sweating and anxious, meeting the pack leader is intimidating. “I’m, um, I’m Remedy.”
“And who brought you here?” he asks, stepping closer.
I look over at my men. The men who have claimed me as their mate, who took me into their fold. “Callum and River and East.”
My men choose this moment to stand, and I’m grateful. The calculating look of Malik is nearly too much to bear.
Malik nears me, his eyes gritty and demanding—nothing like the eyes of the wolves I have run through the woods with. Those wolves had eyes that penetrated my very soul.
“You three,” Malik says with a rumble. “Have you forgotten where we stand?”
“We’re still members of this pack, you can’t deny us that,” Cal says. “And we told you we want to return to the old ways.”
The room fills with chatter and I feel my heartbeat quicken.
“And have you? Returned to the old ways?” Malik asks, condescension dripping from his voice.
I raise my eyebrows. “I didn’t stand up to get approval of our relationship,” I say, crossing my arms, emboldened. “I stood up to tell you, you’re wrong about the bear.”
