Page 120 of Starting a New Life

“Not you,” the official said, sparing me no more than a short glance. He nestled his glasses, giving the guy still holding onto Connie a hard look. “This fight is over. Doubly so. Alpha Otto of Green Creek Bay voided any claims over Conrad Wood the moment he lost. Also, a formal investigation will be launched against Alpha Otto for allegations of illegal weapon use.” He nodded, scrunching up his nose, which made his glasses slide down a bit. “Now, I advise you to let go of Alpha Grayson’s charge lest you want the Council to launch an investigation into your character too.”

His fingers twitched, face pulled into a snarl.

“You’re a coward,” he spat at Connie. “A fucking pathetic weakling. Letting others fight because you can’t.”

I growled low in my throat, the warning clear as my teeth sunk deeper into the bone until it audibly cracked. The wolf’s face turned ashen, his hand opening involuntarily. I pushed him out of the way with my snout and positioned myself between Connie and the guy, snarling at him. Shifters surrounded us. Rhett, Paul, but others from Otto’s pack too.

We needed to make our exit. Fast.

Things were going south here.

“I think it’s best we leave,” Oakley said, his voice deep and calm even in the middle of all this tension and chaos. He stepped up next to Connie, his broad body shielding our pup from his former pack.

“Yes.” The official nodded, his wire-rimmed glasses sliding down his nose. His pulse fluttered, eyes nervously darting around as more and more shifters closed in. We retreated slowly, walking backward, rounding the packhouse on our way to our pickups, eyes never leaving Otto’s wolves.

Nix, I thought, body tight. My side ached, but the sharp pain from the cut had lessened. I’d been supposed to draw out the fight, but that fucking knife had ruined everything. Prolonging a fight while one party was armed was impossible.

The bond vibrated, warmth filling my chest. A tingle spread through my body, and within seconds the ache in my stomach was completely gone. I turned my head to look at the truck, even though I shouldn’t be able to see anything. But there. For a moment, a hand became visible, pale fingers waving at me.

Relief hit me, my legs buckling for the briefest moment. Then I turned back to the shifters in front of us.

One of them took a quick step forward, and I growled in warning. His eyes widened as he raised his hand.

“I just…” He looked at Connie, then at me, biting his lip. “Is Nick okay?”

Connie looked at the man, and the barest hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “He’s fine and safe.”

The wolf blew out a breath and nodded before stepping back, letting the mass of shifters swallow him. He didn’t partake in herding us to the cars.

Oakley and Connie reached my pickup first, and Oak didn’t waste any time, immediately ripping the door open and ushering Connie inside.

“Hop in, I’m driving,” Rhett said, opening the driver’s door.

I let out one last snarl, warning the Green Creek Bay Wolves to stay back while urging my own pack to hurry up. I was the Alpha. It was my duty to make sure everyone was getting out okay.

Warmth caressed me, the air around me heating up. Rhett smirked at me, his eyes darting to the bed of the truck. Nix had done something.

I waited until everyone was situated in the cars before hopping in myself.

It only took seconds for Rhett to follow.

The driver’s door slammed shut with an air of finality, and the truck’s engine came howling to life, the headlights illuminating the crowd of shifters in front of the packhouse, their snarls filling the air.

Our cars slowly turned onto the street, driving out of Green Creek Bay territory. Wolves followed us, chasing through the woods next to us, their fur flashing here and there between trees and brush.

I shifted back and looked down, checking my body for the injuries I’d sustained.

“What the fuck?”

Rhett turned his head, his eyes widening as he took me in, eyebrows climbing until they disappeared under his hair. “You don’t even have a scratch! How is that possible? I mean, we heal fast, but that fucker sliced open your stomach! I was afraid you’d bleed out, but the wound is gone. What about your shoulder?”

I rubbed the spot where Otto had stabbed me with the scalpel. I remembered the pain, the blinding hot burn of metal slicing through flesh, but… nothing. No scabbed-over wound, not even a fucking scar.

“Is that Nix’s doing?”

I shrugged, helplessly looking at the wounds that were supposed to be there. “It has to be. But how?”

Rhett gave me a smile.