Page 21 of Claimed
“Are you the pack’s alpha?” Maddox asks. “I was hoping to speak with him.”
“The pack?” Cody asks with a frown. “No, there are no packs here.”
“What do you mean?” Hunter asks in confusion.
“There are no packs in Starfall Haven.”
“But… wouldn’t that make you a rogue?” Gage asks, a frown pinching his brow.
Cody lets out a loud laugh and shakes his head in amusement. “We don’t use that term here. It’s a little antiquated.”
“What term do you use?” Hunter asks and Cody just shrugs.
“Wolf shifter.”
“But won’t you go feral?” Gage asks, still confused by the whole thing.
“You guys really are new to town,” Cody says with a little surprise. “What they tell us out there, outside of Starfall Haven, is a sack of shit. Wolves go feral from staying in their wolf form too long, combined with a lack of human contact.”
Chase glances at me, and I press a little tighter into Bain’s side. Although I was bound to my wolf form for five years, I saw the human guards multiple times a day. Is that what kept me from going feral?
“And wolves don’t need to live in packs. I haven’t been in one since I was eighteen, and I’m much better for it,” Cody says proudly.
“Is there somewhere we could find out more information like this?” Gage asks. “Like, is it written in a book or something? I’ve never heard anything like that before.”
“Ah, that would be because of the town spell.”
“What spell?” Bain asks, pulling me a little closer.
“Several witches and warlocks are responsible for the town barrier, the one you no doubt felt when you came to town,” Cody explains as the guys nod. “They also created a spell that prevents anyone from talking about Starfall Haven to anyone who doesn’t already know about it, outside of the barrier. And that includes not being able to post anything online or take any books out of town.”
“That’s why I couldn't find any record of it,” Gage says with wide eyes.
“Exactly! Luckily, we have some great books in the library written by past citizens of the town.”
“Where’s the library?” Gage asks excitedly.
“It’s on Oak Street. Big building with lots of glass, you can’t miss it.”
“Thank you for all your help,” Maddox tells him.
“Yeah, no worries. I hope you enjoy it here. If you have any more questions, I’m happy to help. If I’m not here, you can find me at Mickey’s most evenings. That’s a bar on Maple, two blocks South. Enjoy your dinner,” he says as Grace appears with trays full of food.
The guys discuss what Cody revealed while scarfing down their meals.
Bain and Maddox take turns cutting up food and hand-feeding me. I find it amusing. I could easily eat off a plate, and I somehow don’t think manners are the reason they want to feed me themselves. Every time I take a piece of food from their fingers, I see a crinkle at the corner of their eyes. This makes them happy.
“I vote for a nap before we visit the realtor,” Chase says, rubbing his belly.
“Oh, Peggy’s office is closed Sundays,” Grace says, appearing to grab some of the empty plates. “She’ll be open at nine tomorrow, though.”
“Thanks,” Maddox says with a nod. “I guess that settles it,” he says, glancing at each of us. “We may as well go back to the hotel and relax. The sun is setting, and I don’t feel comfortable being out in a town where vampires run freely. We know nothing about them or how to stay off their radar yet.”
“Agreed. Let’s get Cherry safe,” Chase says, climbing out of the booth. I watch Gage pull out his wallet and head to the cash desk to pay. Not wanting him to be on his own, I quickly follow him, pressing the side of my head against his leg when I reach his side.
He smiles down at me and strokes my head as he uses his other hand to pay the bill with his credit card. “Alright, let’s go,” he says when he finishes, ushering me to go ahead of him. I see Bain waiting at the front door for me and make sure to rub against his leg as I pass him and step outside.
When we step into our hotel room, I take a moment to look around as Maddox opens the adjoining door to the second room and figures out a way to prop it open.
