Page 28 of Banished From the Pack

“Dang,” Ethan says. “So, you’ve never met anyone like us? No wolves? Only humans?”

I shake my head. “No humans or wolves. Just me and Mama, though sometimes I’d see panther shifters fishing or hunting. We saw ogres sometimes, and there’s a swamp monster that’s pretty scary. And bog hags, but they run if you try to talk to them.”

“You talk to the others?” Warrick asks.

I shake my head. “I’d never talked to anyone but Mama and myself until a couple of days ago, when I was summoned.”

My stomach lets out another growl.

“Look, she hasn’t eaten a thing,” Callen says. “Please eat. We’ll stop assaulting you with questions.”

I look at each man and the tools they’re using to consume the stew. I pick up mine, clutching it in my fist, and dip it into my bowl. I lift it to my mouth like they are, but the slippery food slides right off and splatters back into my bowl.

“Never used a spoon, either?” Ethan asks, laughing.

I shake my head.

“Don’t worry, you’ll fit right in here,” Callan says. “Spoons are entirely optional.” With a smile, he drops his spoon and picks up his bowl, lifting it to his mouth to slurp from the edge.

That’s what I did with Mama on the occasion we ate from bowls. I’m instantly relieved that they know the logical way to eat, and I’m so hungry I don’t want to pick up one tiny bite at a time with the spoon instrument. I pick up my bowl and let the food pour into my mouth. I chew, slurp and devour the meat and bones and broth.

Ethan laughs again, only this time it’s a wheezing belly laugh. “Would you look at that? She’s completely uncivilized.”

I pause, setting my bowl down and wiping my mouth on the back of my hand. I’m ready to bolt, but one look from Warrick has me sinking back to the seat, pinned by some force I can’t explain. My wolf whines inside me, but it’s not exactly fear she’s feeling. It’s as if I’m being silently forced to obey.

“Don’t worry, Luna,” Callan says. “We’re all uncivilized, too.”

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” Ethan says to his brother. “It’s cute. I like her.”

“Of course you do,” Callan grumbles.

Ethan turns to me, setting his huge hand on mine. It covers my whole hand like a wolf paw would. “If we have a problem, we take care of it with fists, not words. Don’t take anything we say the wrong way, pup, and you’ll fit right in.”

Chapter Eleven

Ethan

As I edge away from the table, I crack my knuckles with my thumbs, keeping my gaze pinned on Warrick. I goofed around with Luna too much, and now Warrick is pissed. I hope to put off the ass-chewing that’s sure to come my way for as long as I can.

“You must be tired, Luna,” I say, my gaze flicking back and forth between Luna and my Alpha.

Warrick busies himself with rolling a cigarette, but I know he’s tracking my every move.

“You want me to sleep here?” she says, wiping her mouth with her sleeve and setting down her empty bowl.

“Got somewhere better to go?” I ask.

“No. Now that Mama’s gone…” Her voice trails off, and she sniffles.

“Head on into the bedroom, and I’ll be there in a second,” I say, trying to be helpful by clearing the dinner dishes.

Warrick strikes a match against the table and lights his smoke.

Luna stands, coughs at the tobacco, and shuffles out of the room, looking like a lost kitten. And if there’s one thing I’m good at it, it’s taking care of the kitty.

As I push aside the Java Jolt cups lining the counter, making space for the bowls and spoons, Callan comes up behind me.

“Don’t you fucking touch her,” he growls.