Page 36 of Return to the Pack

Half an hour later, I park near the clearing, exit the truck, and forge my way through the woods to the land I gifted the vampires.

As I pass the area on which we should be building a home for Luna, my belly tightens. I’m still pissed at myself for giving that piece of property in particular to the vampires. But what can I say? I was desperate to get her back. I’d have given anything, and I did—I gave away the place we could have built the perfect place to raise our children and live comfortably with the triplets.

“You can’t change the past,” I grumble under my breath as I trek across the damp earth.

In the distance, I spy a building in construction. When I get closer, I pause, taking in the grandeur of what will soon be the vampire’s chief domain. It looks like a sweeping three-story mansion will quickly occupy this section of the preserve.

A strangled growl leaves my throat. “What an idiot,” I mutter. “I could have done better than to give them all this land.” Huffing out a lungful of breath, I stride in the direction of the three small cabins they presumably occupy.

A whoosh sounds and two vampires blur before me, blocking my path.

“This land is private,” Drake says as his body becomes opaque.

“As in, you can’t enter,” Evan says, stabbing my chest with his finger.

I shove away his hand, wincing at the jab that’s certain to leave a bruise. “I come in peace. I have news for you.”

“What kind of news?” Drake says. “Have you found our feeding stations?”

“No,” I say. “Is there somewhere we can sit down and do this in a civilized manner?”

Drake and Evan eye one another. I know tapping into the vampires need to appear the most sophisticated of the supernaturals will get me where I need to go. They think we’re a bunch of hot-headed animals, and they’re not wrong, but wolves have brains, too..

Drake gives a subtle lift of his chin to Even, giving him the go-ahead to speak.

“Those wolves attacked again last night,” Evan says. “They ransacked my house, so my dwelling isn’t up to the standard we’re used to. We wouldn’t dream of seeing guests in the shambles that remain.”

“They attacked again?” I demand, the hairs on my head, neck, and arms prickling in alarm.

“Yes,” Drake says. “And since you gave us your word, it isn’t you, we haven’t yet destroyed any pack members.”

“We wanted to,” Evan says, puffing out his chest.

“Evan,” Drake says in a low, menacing voice. “We spoke of this.” He places his hand on Evan’s shoulder, and Evan’s stance softens slightly.

“I know with certainty who’s responsible—it’s those mutant wolves I told you about,” I say, matching Evan’s puffed-up stance. No one’s going to bow up on me and intimidate me.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Drake says in a heart-chilling voice.

“What am I going to do about it? I’m doing all I can,” I say, throwing out my arms. “They’re not a part of my pack. What are you going to do about it? You should be able to destroy them without pack assistance. You certainly have no qualms about attacking my wolves.”

Evan looks down and shifts side to side. “We’ve tried.”

Drake’s nostrils flare.

“What happens when you try?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and narrowing my eyes.

“Those fucking wolves are monsters,” Drake says. “They’re impossibly strong and sneaky, too, for a beast so oversized. Somehow they managed to sneak up on us twice now.”

“Don’t you leave guards to watch?” I ask.

“We’re not used to having to resort to such fearful tactics,” Drake says, looking down his nose at me.

“And we need our repose,” Evan says.

“Ah,” I say, nodding. Vampires don’t do well in daylight, after all. Wolves prefer to hunt at night, too, but we don’t have to. And we certainly defend our land at all hours. “Well, you might start resorting to such fearful tactics. You might find them useful if you frame it differently in your mind. Like, these giant, dangerous maneating animals are roaming the woods, murdering everything in their path for reasons unknown, and we need to be watchful.”

“Don’t push me, mutt,” Drake threatens.