Pack Beta (Were Chronicles Book 11) by Crissy Smith Page B

chair, he nodded to his boss. There wasn’t much Chase could do about the past. He’d just have to accept that even as Beta, he didn’t know everything about his Pack.
    “So why are they coming after Marcus now?” Max asked.
    “And who are they ?” Kayla added.
    “Just like we’ve always fought to protect, there have been those who have known about the non-humans and are hell-bent on destroying us. We call them the Hunters. And we’ve been battling them a long time,” Angel told them.
    “This group that you’re part of,” Alex spoke for the first time. “What do you call yourselves?”
    Angel turned to him and smiled. “We’re the Guardians, of course.”
    Alex shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Chase couldn’t make out what he’d said but by the rise of Angel’s eyebrows, she’d obviously heard Alex.
    “And these Hunters are after my dad?” Kayla asked quietly.
    “So it seems. That’s why I think you and Randy were followed the other night. That was right before the attack on your dad. If they’d gotten you then they would have used you to bring your father out in the open.”
    Now that they had the connection to Marcus and Kayla’s attack, they could start planning a resolution.
    Of course, that sounded a lot simpler than it really was. But there had to be a way to end this quietly and without disturbing the Pack. “What does this all mean for the Pack?” he asked, looking at his Alpha. It was his job to make sure none of what was happening affected their families.
    “That’s the long-term problem,” Angel answered.
    From the corner of his eye, he saw Max stiffen.
    “What do you mean?” his brother asked with a growl.
    “The Hunters know where Marcus is. Even though you all haven’t made your status public, there is a good chance they know you’re shifters. Their entire purpose is to eliminate your kind.”
    “They’ll come after the Pack?” Chase pressed. He wanted her to say the words.
    “Yes, I believe so.”
    The loud rumble that came from Max was full of anger. His brother jumped to his feet and started to pace. Cassie looked scared, with her knees pulled up to her chest.
    Staying hidden was all the Pack had going for them. Their numbers weren’t large and they didn’t have enough guards for everyone. Running his hand roughly over his face, Chase knew he had to think of something, some way to defend the people he loved.
    “Does the Council know about you and the Hunters?” he questioned. If Kurt and Clint had prior knowledge, maybe he could call them back.
    “They are aware of our existence, although they do not work closely with us. They prefer to handle their own affairs,” Angela said.
    That was interesting, Chase mused. The Wolf Council was all about insuring the survival of the wolf shifters. They even collaborated with the Shifter Coalition.
    “Not all of our organization is made up of shifters.” She waved a hand at herself.
    Since Chase was certain there was something off about Angel and her brother, her statement opened the door for him. “You are not one hundred percent human,” he guessed. “Just what exactly are you?”
    Angel faced him. The change in her demeanor was immediate and obvious. The fierceness in her gaze might have worried him if Max and Alex hadn’t stepped closer to him. “I don’t believe that is any of your business.”
    “You are staying in my home. I think we have a right to know,” Alex argued.
    Possibilities ran through his head but he couldn’t settle on how Angel and her brother were different. Every shifter, wolf or other species had a unique scent to them. Chase might not always know from the aroma what animal they were but the shifter connection was always there.
    Angel and Justin had no scents. He had never come across that ability before in his entire life. Humans picked up traces of their environment giving each a unique odor. So he was just as eager for answers.
    “Why won’t you just tell us?”