Page 57 of Bound

Hunter follows Maddox and Chase moves to my left, with Gage ten feet to my right, swerving through the trees and Bain behind me.

We move at a light pace until the sound of other wolveshowling and barking starts to reach my ears. My guys all move in closer, Chase’s shoulder bumping mine with each step, and I can practically feel Bain’s breath on my tail.

Nerves start to fill me at the thought of being around other wolves. I’ve never even met any others before. When we enter the clearing, all the other wolves grow silent as they all look in our direction. I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I try not to cower and instead hold my head high, reminding myself I have a right to be here too.

A large gray wolf steps into the center of the clearing. I can immediately tell it’s Alpha Kane. He looks down at me for a moment before glancing at the others. A slim, black wolf comes prancing up beside him, and something about her presence tells me this must be Juliet.

Slowly, she steps toward Maddox. Although he may be shorter than your average alpha in human form, his wolf form was almost as large as Bain’s, and he was larger than any other wolf here. Something I think her wolf appreciated, even if her human side was less than impressed with him.

Her tail swishes back and forth as she approaches him, and although I literally have no idea what is happening right now, a cold fury fills me. The need to keep her away from what is mine drives me forward as I quickly dart between Hunter and Maddox and snap at her legs.

She jumps backward, looking at me in shock and confusion as I position myself in front of Maddox and growl at her.

I keep my body poised for attack in case she tries anything and wait. Alpha Kane steps up to her side and looks down at me, as a small growl erupts from his lips.

Suddenly, Maddox literally steps over me with Hunter at his side, their own growls echoing loudly throughout the clearing. Kane’s growl cuts off immediately as he seems to step down. Hunterand Maddox grow quiet, although they make no attempt to move.

Suddenly, Alpha Kane barks, then I watch as he turns and runs into the forest, the pack moving steadily behind him. Juliet gives us a quick glance before she takes off as well.

Once they are all gone, Maddox moves from where he’s standing over me so he can look me in the face. Whatever he’s looking for there, I think he finds. Then he rubs his head against mine, telling me he isn’t mad about what I did; in fact, I think he appreciates it.

Chase presses against my side, rubbing his head into my neck before barking and taking off after the pack. Bain bumps his head against my flank to get me moving, then we’re all running through the forest together again.

I try to let their presence calm me. A pack run should be fun and enjoyable. The five of them won’t let anything happen to me. I keep reminding myself of that as we move through the trees, and eventually I start to relax, enjoying the feeling of the earth beneath my paws and the trees flying past us as I pick up speed.

Thirty minutes into the run, we stop at a creek for a drink. Maddox keeps the six of us a little upstream from the rest of the pack, clearly not wanting anyone to get near us. I appreciate it. The rest of them don’t feel like a pack, not to me. And I have a strange suspicion that my guys feel the same way.

I’ve noticed they don’t seem to have any friends, and even now, none of them are going anywhere near the other wolves.

We set off again and my guys continue to surround me as we move through the trees. After an hour, I feel Maddox steering us in another direction, and realize we’re heading home.

Happiness fills me, knowing we’re done with theothers and get to go back to the safe sanctuary of our home. After only a little under two weeks, it already feels like that—home.

In my excitement, I pick up my speed, trying to pass Hunter. He seems surprised to see me at his side, but I feel his wolf's happiness as he pushes to match my speed as we cause Maddox to pick up his pace to stay in the lead.

When we burst from the trees into our backyard, Chase barks happily from behind me, and I push myself faster, aiming for the back door.

I push ahead of Hunter and start to gain on Maddox. He looks back and I swear I see him smirk. I have a feeling he’s letting me catch up to him, but I don’t care. At this moment, I’m just enjoying running at my top speed.

Thirty paces from the house, just as I start to pull up to Maddox’s side, he suddenly turns and pounces on me, causing us to roll in the grass. We come to a stop with me on my back, and his much larger body lying over mine.

He growls in warning, and I freeze. He can’t be mad I was about to overtake him, can he? When I turn my head, I realize he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at the back door, his teeth bared.

Bain and Chase move slowly toward the house as Maddox gets off ‌me. Gage and Hunter surround me as I roll to my stomach, but I stay low, sensing they don’t want me to move.

Is there someone in our house?

Chase switches to his human form, giving me a view of his impressive ass, before he grabs his previously discarded sweatpants and pulls them on. Bain stays in his wolf form, waiting for Chase to open the door for him.

They enter, and I hold my breath, waiting for any sign that something is wrong.

After a couple of minutes, Maddox suddenly shifts from where he’s standing at my side. “The coast is clear, we can goin.” His fingers touch my back and, without looking at him, I stand and follow Hunter to the house.

I step inside as they change into their human forms and throw on pants. I find Bain and Chase inside, already dressed.

“I don’t recognize the scent,” Bain says as the others join us in the kitchen.

“Me neither,” Maddox says with a frown as Hunter grabs a large bowl and fills it with water, and sets it down for me. I lap it up slowly while listening to them. I appreciate them speaking out loud so I can hear, instead of using the pack bond.