Page 54 of Alpha Chained
“You’ve found others like me?”
“Yes. It started with one – Sierra. She got away from one of the other packs that’s been working with Parker.” She strokes my thigh idly, and I love how naturally she touches me.
“There are packs working with Parker?” That surprises me.
“Just the one that we know of. They have their base at Leadmills. It’s another abandoned mill not far from us. We’ve kind of been at war with them for a while now.”
“Sounds exciting.” My tone is dry.
“Hardly. They’re disgusting – not worthy of the wolf blood in their veins.” Her features have darkened, two small grooves forming between her eyebrows.
“You said there were others? Other wolves who were rescued?” I guide her away from the path that seems to be leading her to anger.
“Yes. Savannah was next. She’s Sierra’s twin. She was abducted at the same time as her sister. They took the entire pack. Can you believe that?” Raura’s eyes are wide.
I think back to the dark moments when I’d lost my freedom. “Yes. I can believe it.”
“Anyway, we rescued Sierra from Leadmills – there’s actually a funny story attached to that.” She grins. “Gage, one of our alphas, thought she was Sierra, who’d already mated with Jagger, our pack Alpha by then, and—”
“Wait. You have more than one alpha?”
“Of course. We have lots. Half of our pack is made up of alpha wolves. We even have a few alpha females.”
Alpha females? I’ve heard of them but never met one.
I blink in astonishment. “But how do you do that? How do you avoid friction?”
She shrugs, stretching her feet into the footwell and flexing her legs. “Dunno. It just works, somehow. Maybe it’s because most of them have nowhere else to go. We’ve become a bit of a sanctuary for outcasts.”
“A sanctuary for outcasts,” I repeat softly. “A family for those who don’t have one. That’s pretty amazing.”
“I know, right?” Her voice has brightened. “What was your pack like?”
I pause for a while. “Normal.”
“Just…normal?” She chuckles. “I’m sure there must have been more to it. Come on, tell me what it was like to be you as a pup.”
I feel my jaw work as I think back. “It was…good. Aside from the lessons. My father took his role seriously and wanted me to be the same way.”
“A hard taskmaster, huh?” She turns in her seat slightly to face me, the seatbelt tightening across her shoulder. “And your mom?”
“She was wonderful. Gentle. Kind. And she smelled good. I don’t know why I remember that.” I smile wistfully.
“I bet she still does. She’s going to be so happy to see you’re okay.”
I shake my head, remaining silent.
“She won’t?”
I’m still silent.
“Is she…gone?”
“Yes. She’s gone. They’re all gone.” My throat feels dry when I try to swallow.
“All of them?” She’s incredulous. “Your whole pack?”
“Except for Willow.” My voice catches, so I clear my throat.