Read Raber Wolf Pack Book Three Online

Authors: Ryan Michele

Tags: #romance

Raber Wolf Pack Book Three (5 page)

BOOK: Raber Wolf Pack Book Three
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“I…I found it on the ground while I was out for a run. I picked it up and a couple of minutes later they were chasing me. They cornered me. One turned to human-form and demanded I hand it over. I was going to do it, but realized quickly that no matter what I did, they were going to kill me.” Fury like none I’ve ever experienced bubbles through my veins like hot lava. No one. And I mean
no one
, lays a hand on Sabrea. “The one wolf got on me and slashed me a few times. I tried to defend myself, but it didn’t do much good.”

“Why didn’t you shift?” Xavier calms his voice just a touch, sensing her apprehension in speaking with him. For that, I’m appreciative. Zara is really rubbing off on him.

Her eyes dart to me, regret filling them. “I can’t. I was born this way and no one knows why. I shifted three times and then after that, nothing. My wolf is trapped inside of me and can’t escape. My parents took me to doctors, witches, and wizards but they never could figure out what is wrong with me.” She hangs her head, defeat written all over her body.

I sweep her in my arms; she resists at first, but then melts into me. Silent tears fall from her eyes and I have to wonder if this has been a fear of hers. That her mate wouldn’t accept that she is different. “There is nothing wrong with you. Shit happens and you figure out a way to deal,” I say, squeezing her tightly. “Xavier, we need to get the pack out here to cover the woods.”

“Already on it.” Xavier shifts back to wolf and I feel him through the pack link as he trots off to the wolf he captured. The cavalry should be here soon.

“I really need to go home.” Sabrea tries to pull out of my arms, but I don’t allow it as I tighten my grip around her. I won’t let her run from me. Ever.

“I’ll take you to your old den to get the things you need, but then you come home with me. Sleep in my bed next to me. Do you understand?” I tried to be gentle in my words, but they came out a bit rougher than I intended.

“I can’t.”

Tears fall onto my arm that’s cradling her and for the first time in a really long time, my heart breaks for someone. Damn, I hate this feeling.

“Why?”

She shakes her head. “I also don’t have an ear.” While this is shocking, it’s not anything that would keep me away from my mate.

“And…?” I prompt. She looks up at me like I’ve grown twelve heads with snakes coming out of them. Damn, she really was freaked that I wouldn’t accept her as she is. “I don’t give a shit about any of that. You are my mate and that’s all that matters.” It crushes my heart that she feels like this, and probably has since she found out she couldn’t shift. That had to be weighing heavily on her.

“You don’t?” Surprise lights her words and it pisses me off that she has thought this way about herself. That she didn’t feel worthy. She is, and I’ll make damn sure I show her that.

“No, I don’t. We’re going to go over to the library.” She flinches at the word. I know she had to smell me there and must have purposefully stayed away. Damn. “Our SUV’s parked there. We’ll drive to your old den. I can meet your parents, old pack, and then I’m taking you home.” She has no idea what the hell she has in store for her. I really don’t want to drop the ‘you’re part of a legacy’ bomb on her right now. She has enough going on in that head of hers.

“Really?” she asks and I blow out a breath, trying to keep my temper in check.

“Yes, really. Let’s go.”

 

 

FROM THE OUTSIDE,
her parents’ place is similar to our den, though they don’t have the large stone walls circling the property. They don’t seem to have any security for that matter, not even a camera. What the hell? All wolves should have at least some protection.

As soon as the SUV comes to a stop, several wolves in human-form step out the front door to greet us, or maybe condemn us—I’m not sure yet. One I instantly know is Sabrea’s mom. She is the mirror image of my mate. Shit. The male in front of the group is the alpha. At six foot plus, huge shoulders and power radiating off of him, he’s not hard to pick out.

“Welcoming committee?” I ask jokingly. The most amazing sound fills the vehicle. Her chuckle. Damn, can’t wait to hear her laugh. Never thought a woman’s chuckle would knock me on my ass, but hers does.

“Something like that.” She pulls in a deep breath. “You sure about this, Thor?” she asks apprehensively.

I grab her hand and place a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist, inhaling her scent as it invades every cell of my body. “Absolutely. You are mine.” Her eyes flare and I love it.

She nods with resolve. “Let’s do this.”

I give her another soft squeeze, release her hand, and exit the SUV. I head straight around to her just as she hops out of the truck and wrap my arm protectively around her. She’s tense but I guess that is to be expected.

“Oh Heavens! Sabrea!” Her mother rushes toward us.

It is a totally called-for reaction considering Sabrea’s clothes are covered in blood and ripped to shreds. I should have given her my shirt. Shit, I fucking suck at this mating thing. I’ll need to get my shit together and learn fast. I take the shirt from my body and, without words, pull it over Sabrea’s head. She puts her hands through the holes, not making a sound.

The man beside her mother, Sabrea’s father I assume, puts his arm out and halts her. I give them a soft nod, letting them know that I see them and acknowledge them, but head straight to the alpha. It is completely disrespectful for me to do anything else even though they are my mate’s parents.

I stick my hand out to the imposing man. “Thor, Gamma from the Raber pack.”

He clasps my hand in a tight grip, firm and confident. I keep my gaze on him, my arm still wrapped around Sabrea. There is no reason for any of this to not go smoothly, but after all the shit that’s gone down these last weeks, Heavens only knows.

“Duke, Alpha of the Sanford pack.” He releases my grip and his eyes dart to Sabrea as he snarls at me. I am totally on guard, but not surprised by his reaction. “What happened?” he barks, deep and fierce.

Sabrea clears her throat as I give her a soft squeeze, hopefully reassuring her in the process. I want to speak for her, but at this moment, she is addressing her alpha. Soon-to-be former alpha, but I need to roll with it. “I was attacked in the woods when I was out for a run. Thor and his pack saved me.” Her eyes glint up to mine. “And he’s my mate.” She turns toward her parents. “Remember when Marvin said I smelled him before?” They nod in understanding. “Here he is.” She singsongs the last part, like she’s won a damn prize. If anything, I think it’s the other way around.

“Oh, sweetheart! I’m so happy for you!” her mother exclaims. I want to chuckle and not in a good way. She won’t be happy when she finds out the shitstorm I’m bringing her daughter into. Heavens help us.

I bow my head to the alpha out of respect. “I mean no harm to your pack. Sabrea just wanted to come and get some of her things before we go home.” I’m not a pussy by any means, but I also know what it means to enter someone else’s territory. I won’t shit on that because I’d rip a male’s throat out for doing it on our territory.

“It’s an honor to have you here, Thor. Please come in. Sabrea’s parents filled me in on the meeting today and I want to know exactly what’s going on and why she was hurt,” Duke says firmly, giving no room for argument.

“Absolutely,” I say as Sabrea shivers beside me and I’m not gonna lie, my first thought is, how was she treated? I know how Zara was treated and that shit isn’t right. But looking into her parents’ teary eyes, I know that is not the case here. Sabrea is loved.

“Come. Follow me to my office.” He nods to us and her parents, and we make our way into their den, passing a large living room and entering a kitchen. Other wolves nod as we walk by, and I don’t sense any distrust or impending confrontation from them as I lift my chin back to them.

“Oh my Heavens. This is not your mate. He’s way too hot for you,” a female sneers from the kitchen island.

I come to a dead stop, halting Sabrea’s movements as well, my eyes breathing fire on this female. Who in the hell does she think she is? She takes a step back at my look, but doesn’t seem to want to stop. Guess I spoke too soon about the no confrontation part.

“You can be my mate. I’ll show you a good time.” She tries for seductive, but falls horribly short.

Sabrea releases my hand and at lightning speed, grabs the girl by her throat and pushes her up against a wall. I stand there stunned by Sabrea’s swiftness. Wolves in human-form are not that fast, but she is. A sense of pride washes over me.

“Sydney. Don’t make me kill you. I will. Don’t talk to him. Don’t look at him. Don’t breathe the same air as him.” Sabrea’s grip tightens as the female’s eyes bulge. “Do you understand?”

The female’s claws come out and I move to intercept, but Sabrea picks her up and throws her across the room. She lands on a table and chairs, crashing against them and toppling them over. Napkin containers and salt and paper shakers fall to the floor and scatter around.

“I told you and I mean it, Sydney. Only warning,” Sabrea growls and my dick hardens at the sound. Hell yes, that’s hot. Sabrea stands there for a moment and I watch her shoulders rise and fall like she’s trying to breathe calmly.

Sabrea walks over to me, the anger gone from her eyes and a bit of shyness replacing it. “That was my sister.” She shrugs. “She likes to push my buttons.”

I laugh, hard and deep. It’s been so long since I have that it sounds a bit foreign to me but I go with it. Damn, she’s got fire. She’s going to fit in with Kenly and Zara just fine.

I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her head. “Noted. Don’t push buttons.”

She looks up, giving me the most dazzling smile I’ve ever seen on a female. I’ve been with a lot of females, but not one of them compares to Sabrea. My mate. My future. Fuck, I’m getting all sappy.

“You won’t keep her. She can’t shift and she’s missing an ear!” the sister yells from the other side of the room, and the only thing halting me is the soft hand that was just placed on my chest, sending electrical currents straight to my heart. I love the heat from her touch.

“Enough!” The alpha’s voice reverberates through the room and a silent hush goes over it. He and Xavier would get along nicely. “You will shut your mouth, little pup. Do you understand?” He doesn’t bother approaching, just demands it from his spot with a deadly look in his eye.

“Fine,” she huffs, getting up from the floor. This female has a serious death wish. Xavier would have taught her then and there what it means to have respect for your Alpha.

“Come,” Duke commands, but I take a moment. Not out of disrespect to him, but out of respect for Sabrea.

“Sydney, is it? Sabrea may not shift and may not have an ear, but from being with her just a short time, I already know she has more integrity and compassion than you’ll ever have in your lifetime. Remember that.” I pull Sabrea along with me, a small smile playing on her lips, and enter Duke’s office right behind him. Wood paneling with wood floors. Pictures and books line the walls and several chairs sit around a large desk holding a computer and tons of papers and cluttered files.

“Please, have a seat.” He gestures with his arm to the chairs in front of the desk.

“I don’t mean to speak out of turn, Duke, but I’d like to introduce myself to Sabrea’s parents.” Again, all about respect.

A small smirk plays on his lips. “Of course.”

I turn to the two who brought my mate into the world. Her father looks at me with watery eyes. This is gutting him. Damn. I move in front of him and hold out my hand. “Hello, sir. I’m Thor, Gamma of the Raber pack and your daughter’s mate.”

He takes my hand in a firm grip, shaking it. “Alex. Nice to meet you.” He lets go and steps next to his mate. “This is my mate and Sabrea’s mother, Sarah.” I hold out my hand to her and she takes it in a firm shake as well.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” You know what they say, you can catch more flies with honey, or whatever. Anyway she seems pretty decent.

“Nice to meet you, Thor. I have to say, I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly.” She looks to her daughter. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, Mom. I already talked to him. We’re good.” Sarah places her hand over her mouth, seeming to try to hold in tears.

“Please,” Duke says, bringing us back to the task at hand. We sit, but Sabrea is too far away. Sure, it’s maybe a foot, but a foot too much. I pull her chair right up against mine and place my arm around her back, my fingers tangling in her hair. I need to feel her, be close to her, something I’ve never experienced before, but it comes so natural.

“First, tell us what happened in the woods,” Duke states.

Sabrea lets out a large breath and then tells them exactly what happened. Her mother has tears staining her face. When Sabrea stops, I take over and tell them about our healer and that our alpha has one of the wolves. They take it all in stride.

“Let’s talk about your visit today, Sabrea,” Duke says and I turn to her. This should be interesting. “I heard you saw Marvin today.” My body tenses this time. Shit. She already knows. “Your parents tell me that you needed to meet your mate, guess we can check that one off the list.” He gives her a soft smile and my wolf inside growls. Down boy. “The last part…” He stops.

BOOK: Raber Wolf Pack Book Three
5.47Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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