Page 29 of Sawyer
Garth snarled again, but there was hesitation in his movements now. He glanced at me, then at Lee.
Garth knew he was outmatched. I pressed my advantage, snapping at him until he backed down, his tail lowering in submission.
With one final growl, I stepped forward, asserting my dominance, making it clear that this fight was over.
Garth held my gaze for before finally slinking away, his ears pinned back in defeat.
I shifted back, my body aching from the quick change. I donned my clothes.
My leg was throbbing but I gritted my teeth and turned to Lee, who was still in his wolf form, panting heavily.
“Shift back, Lee,” I said, my voice firm but not unkind. “It’s over.”
He obeyed, his body shrinking and reshaping until he stood before me, a weary old man with too many battles behind him.
“Thank you, Sawyer,” he said, his voice rough with exhaustion. “I don’t know what got into him.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I replied, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “What matters is that you’re okay. Go inside, get some rest.”
As Lee walked away, I turned back to Gordon, who still held Benny in his arms. The little dog was squirming, eager to get back to me.
“Nice job,” Gordon said, handing Benny back to me.
I took him, feeling the warmth of his small body against mine, and a sense of relief washed over me.
“Thanks,” I replied, my voice softer now. “Let’s keep this between us for now, alright? Cooper doesn’t need to know.”
Gordon nodded. As we made our way back to the pack house, Benny nestled against me, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I’d done it.
I’d handled the situation without needing to call Cooper, proving to myself that I was ready for the responsibilities that came with being second-in-command.
After dropping Lee off with Devon, our pack healer, I returned to the dining hall, trying to shake off the tension from earlier.
The night had been quiet so far, but my nerves were on edge, coiled tight like a spring ready to snap.
I couldn’t stop thinking about my leg, how it had slowed me down during the fight.
If I was being honest, I’d gotten lucky. Garth had backed down, but I knew it wasn’t out of respect or fear.
He saw the odds—Lee and I together—and knew he’d lose. But if it had been just me…
I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the wave of frustration that washed over me. Garth was becoming a real problem.
Maybe keeping this incident from Cooper wasn’t the smartest idea, but I didn’t want to ruin his night with Miles.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was out of my depth.
As I made my way back to the dining hall, the air felt charged, thick with unease.
Some of the pack members were still there, finishing up their meals, chatting quietly.
But there was a tension in the room, a sense that everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
My eyes scanned the room, making sure everything was in order, when the door swung open.
Garth stepped inside, his presence like a dark cloud rolling in.
The room stilled, and I noticed several pack members tense up, their eyes flicking nervously between Garth and me.