Page 82 of Bound

My heart feels like it’s been ripped to shreds, and only the hope of her resurrection is keeping it together. I’m not sure what I’d do if she doesn’t come back this time.

After a few minutes, we grow quiet and the other four shift. But my wolf won’t let me. Instead, he lies along her side, not willing to be apart from her, even in death.

“She saved me,” Hunter says, his voice cracking. Chase yanks him into his arms, hugging him tightly as he tries to reassure him.

“I know how you’re feeling, brother. She did the same for me in the forest, remember?”

I can’t believe we’ve lost her.Again.I was right there with her in the yard, and it still wasn’t enough. I hadn’t been expecting a pack of rogue wolves to attack like that. It doesn’teven make sense. Rogues don’t have packs, that's what makes them rogues, and what turns them feral.

So how are they all working together? And why?

“Maddox? Is everything alright?”

I jump up, standing over Red’s body as I growl at the man who’s just stepped inside our back door,Kane.

Several of his men step inside to flank him.

“Uncle, what are you doing here?” Maddox asks with carefully restrained anger as he gets to his feet and moves to my side.

“I heard the commotion, so we came right away to see if we could help.” He gestures outside as he adds, “I see you have the rogues under control, though. Good job.”

“If you don’t mind, we’re busy at the moment,” Maddox says, clearly not ready for this confrontation on the heels of losing Red.

Kane’s eyes move down to the body I’m protecting, and I let out a warning growl. He doesn’t seem surprised or upset by the sight.

“My condolences, nephew. Why don’t you let me help? I can take care of the funeral and burial, and give your pack time to grieve."

My growl increases in warning.

“Calm down, Bain. I’m not letting him anywhere near her,”Maddox tells me through the bond. I silence my wolf, but keep my teeth bared.

“We will take care of it ourselves.”

Kane’s lips press together in agitation before he tries to mask his expression. “I hate to quote pack policy to you, son, but you know it’s my job as alpha to make sure she is buried properly.”

Maddox steps forward, the anger now rolling off him in waves. The calm, collected Maddox is nowhere in sight. “Youare not heralpha,Iam,” he seethes. “And nobody will be touching her but us.”

“Come now, Maddox. Don’t let emotion cloud your judgment.”

The tension in the room triples as Maddox steps forward, his alpha energy literally filling the room. My fur practically stands on end as he stares his uncle down.

“Why did you do it?” Maddox asks, holding on to his last sliver of calm to get the question out. When Kane frowns, he pushes, “Why did you try to have her killed?”

“I didn’t?—”

“Don’t lie to me,Kane. The human told me you hired him. We confirmed it when we found your number in his phone. And now this,” he says, gesturing to the dead rogue and Red lying on our kitchen floor. “You send rogue wolves intomyhome to attackmypack?”

I watch Kane's lips twitch, as if he’s considering lying once more, but then, he lifts his chin, and his expression fills with annoyance.

“I don’t want to harm you or the other alphas. I just need the red wolf.”

“Why?” Maddox growls out, his hands fisted so tightly at his sides, I worry he’ll shift and impale his hands on his own claws.

Kane hesitates for a moment before he speaks. “I guess since she’s dead, there’s no harm in telling you. She’s a rogue, Maddox. She escaped from a facility that is trying to treat rogues, to fix them and stop them from going feral, but she escaped before they could finish the treatments. They offered a reward for her return.”

I wish Red were awake right now to confirm or deny this. It wouldn’t change that she’s part of our pack, but itwould explain where she’s been. Although, I imagine this facility isn’t as righteous as Kane is making it out to be.

“They still want her body, even if she’s dead,” he continues.