Chapter 7

As Tatiana descended the stairs, her legs were still shaky. Unaware she was awake, Duncan popped out of one of the side rooms and nearly knocked her over. When his body connected with hers, it felt like a Mack Truck. He was hard as a rock. He caught her as she let out a yelp and stabilized her before she fell. His body’s warmth was so close, and his scent made Talia calm inside her. She felt a familiarity and comfort from him. Her disappointment grew as he lifted her upright and set her free. He absently ran his hand through his short, blonde hair.

“Sorry. I didn’t see you there. Are you okay?”

She stared back at his chiseled features. His human form was as impressive as his wolf form. Realizing he was still waiting for her to speak, she mumbled, “Yes, I am fine.”

He smiled at the corner of his mouth as he watched my cheeks burn red. Although having a fair complexion was lovely, it also meant that my embarrassment was vividly displayed to everyone. Sensing my discomfort, he looked away and tried to change the subject.

“Now that you are up and about, do you feel like eating something?”

She shook her head miserably. Her stomach twisted in knots, and the last thing she wanted was food. “ I need to go home. I have to organize my dad’s funeral, and I really need to get back to school. They are probably frantic, wondering where I am.”

He nodded, “We can organize that, but before you go, my mom...Ahem, Luna Carina wanted to discuss something with you.” His eyes lost focus, fluttered slightly, and refocused as he looked down at her.

He placed a warm hand on the small of her back as he guided her down the hall. “They are waiting for us in the office.”

Tatiana was confused. How did they know she was awake? That was who Duncan was, mind linking. She wanted to leave but had no energy to devise an excuse, so she sullenly followed Duncan down the hall.

Duncan mind linked his parents, telling them Tatiana was awake and he was bringing her to the office. She stood up and nervously ran her hands down the sides of her skirt, straightening the wrinkles.

“Let me do the talking.”

Bran huffed, “As always, dear,” and leaned back in his chair. He rested his elbows on the arms, making a triangle with his hands, and looked expectantly at the door.

As they entered, Tatiana looked miserable. Carina’s heart went out to her. She crossed the distance between them and put her arms around Tia. Tia hesitated but then leaned into the hug.

Carina led her to the oversized leather couch by the window and motioned for her to sit. Tatiana obliged.

She returned behind the Alpha’s desk and touched his shoulder.

“We know this has been a horrible time for you. There is nothing we can do to change the past, but we were hoping we might help your future.”

Still confused, Tatiana inspected all of their faces. How could they help her, and why were they so nice to her?

“We know your father was your only family and that you are not old enough to live on your own in human society. So we would like to offer you another option. We would like you to join the Kalaloch pack. You can live at the Packhouse with us.”

Tatiana looked stunned. She appeared to think it over for a moment.

“Why are you so nice to me? I am a stupid, hick rogue that has done nothing but cause pain to those I love. What could I possibly offer your pack but embarrassment?”

Taken aback by her outburst, Carina remained silent. Alpha Bran shifted forward in his seat and spoke. “It is not about what you can do for us. It is about what we can do for you. You are a child and a wolf, lost in the human world. As a pack leader, I would not set a good example if I threw you out to fend for yourself. I am also a father, and I would have to live with that. My Luna and my son both think you ended up here for a reason, which is good enough for me.”

Finding her words, Luna Carina continued, “For your safety and for legality, we will have to change your story a bit. You will be my niece from a midwestern pack who lost her family in a rogue attack. In town, I will also pose as your aunt. Luca has already arranged a sufficient paper trail to satisfy the police to grant us custody. The only question that remains is, what do you want, Tatiana?”

Tatiana’s head was spinning. Based on everything she understood about werewolf packs, this made absolutely no sense. She could not take this all in at the moment. However, much to her horror, her body began to tremble and sob. She nodded her head. It was all she could do.

It was enough for Duncan. He scooped her off the couch and announced, “We can finish this in the morning. She is exhausted and needs to sleep.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shirt as he carried her to her room. Despite feeling horrified and humiliated by her display in front of everybody, she calmed down slightly. She breathed in his scent and felt herself gain back her control. As he laid her on the bed, she pulled his neck closer. She only understood then that she did not want him to leave.

“Please, can you stay with me?”

He looked down at her tenderly and nodded. “Of Course”

He climbed into bed behind her and wrapped her in his arms. His warmth sent her off to sleep. Her last thought was, “I am part of a pack.”

After Tatiana and Duncan left the office, Bran looked at Carina. Her soft, flaming red hair cascaded down her shoulders. She looked as gorgeous as the first day he had met her.

“What the hell was that?”

She stared after them. “I honestly don’t know. Do you think our son can already sense she is his mate?”

“Not likely. Duncan hasn’t even come of age yet!”

Looking at him with her eyebrow raised, “Yes, but he is close. He just turned 17.”

Bran scowled. “I am getting pretty damn tired of the insubordination. If he does it in front of a pack member, I will force him to stand down.”

Letting out a laugh, she sat on his knee.

He shot her a dirty look. “I am glad you find it so amusing.”

“I am not laughing at you, my dear. However, I recall a cocky young wolf who also gave his Alpha a headache before he came of age.”

Bran looked up at her, a smile spreading across his face as he realized she was referring to him.

“Do you see any resemblance?” She quipped.

“Well, let’s hope the damn fool has enough sense to keep it in the Packhouse. Hormones make young wolves do idiotic things.”

Bran thought back to his mating hunt. He was wild once he caught her scent. He crashed through the forest, and his focus was on finding her. She caught sight of him first and circled back to pounce on him from above. Her smell saturated the air, tantalizing his senses as they tumbled and crashed through the undergrowth. If Duncan felt half the lust he felt back then, Moon Goddess, help us!

As Tatiana drifted to sleep, Duncan lay awake beside her. He held her close, feeling the steady rhythm of her breathing, a soothing cadence that synced with his own. The quiet peace of the moment settled over him, but a strange, unshakable feeling tugged at his mind, a restlessness he couldn’t ignore. The closer he was to her, the more his wolf, Dante, stirred, a possessive protectiveness growing stronger with each passing second.

But as he lay there, his mind-link flared with Luca’s sudden, urgent message.

“Duncan, we’ve got a problem.”

Duncan tensed, feeling Tatiana shift slightly in his arms as he mind-linked back. “What’s wrong?”

Luca’s voice was grave, tinged with concern. “The Hoh River pack. Vex has been asking around town about her. He’s too close, Duncan. If he finds her…”

“I understand. Set up a meeting with Dad and Mike. We need a plan.”

The connection broke as Duncan’s gaze shifted to Tatiana’s sleeping face. She was finally safe, finally beginning to trust, but the danger was closer than he’d realized. Vex would stop at nothing to get to her—and she was still uninitiated, her status unprotected, her loyalty in question.

Duncan’s jaw tightened as he looked at Tatiana, still peacefully sleeping in his arms. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his wolf growling low in his chest at the thought of Vex’s name.

“Not while I’m breathing,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

But as he lay back against the pillows, a subtle change in the air prickled his senses. The room felt heavier, and the silence was heavier than before. Dante stirred restlessly, his instincts snapping to attention.

The faintest sound—a whisper so soft it was almost imperceptible—drifted through the room, sending a chill down Duncan’s spine.

“She is not yours to protect.”

Duncan bolted upright, scanning the darkened room, his senses on high alert. The words had not come through the mind-link; they echoed faintly in the air as if spoken by something unseen.

He glanced at Tatiana, who was still sound asleep and breathing steadily. However, her wolf stirred uneasily in her mind, sensing the same presence.

Duncan’s fists were clenched, and his voice was a low growl. “Who’s there?”

The room remained still, but the whisper returned, a dark promise laced with malice.

“She belongs to me.”

The air suddenly lightened the oppressive weight, lifting as quickly as it had come. Duncan’s wolf surged forward, his teeth bared in silent fury.

“Over my dead body,” he snarled under his breath.

Tatiana stirred slightly in her sleep, her hand unconsciously gripping his shirt as if seeking comfort even in her dreams. Duncan held her closer, his resolve hardening.

Whatever had just happened, whoever was after her—he would stop them. No matter what it took.

For the first time, Duncan understood protecting Tatiana might cost him everything.