discrepancies in the pack finances, so I have to go over everything with a fine-tooth comb and figure out exactly what the problems are.
His previous assessment that someone wants to harm the pack seems to be true, unfortunately. Although the pack, as a whole, has become more unified, strange things still seem to happen at random. A bunch of meat went missing after a hunt the other day and now there are strange withdrawals from one of our bank accounts.
I don’t know who would want to hurt the pack, but I plan to find out.
With a sigh, I reach for the paperwork and grab a highlighter. It’s time to get to the bottom of this.
***
Over the next few days, things settle into a new normal at the cave. The pack grows more unified as we continue to spend time together hunting and running. Tessa calms down and backs off of Red, which I’m grateful for. Soon the tension I’ve felt since taking over the pack begins to dissipate and I’m able to relax just a little.
It’s early morning about a month after I’ve taken control of the pack when Ryder and I decide to go on a run together. There are just two weeks left until Red and I have our mating ceremony and I’m anxious to run off some of the stress surrounding the planning.
Ryder and I don’t have a lot of time together, so we’re grateful for the chance to spend a morning bonding, running. Maybe we’ll hunt or just swim. I’m not sure. I just know that Ryder is one of my oldest friends, but something has been troubling him and I intend to find out what.
We leave Thorn in charge of the pack. The big guy can handle things without us. Then Ryder and I take off. Just outside the cave, we shift into our wolf forms and begin to run. There’s a light breeze in the clearing and I revel in the way the air rushes over my fur, then I move.
We race over rocks and under fallen trees, over creeks and around corners. My wolf feels satisfied like this. I feel good, strong. I feel in control. We aren’t talking right now, but we don’t have to. It’s enough to just be with my brother. Ryder always has my back and when we’re together, I can relax. For a little while, I don’t have to be the pack leader. I can just be the kid who grew up in a pack where he didn’t really belong and who still doesn’t really belong. I can just have fun.
Ryder and I race around for about half an hour before we stop. We both catch the scent at the same time. He cocks his head at me as he slows, and I nod, silently acknowledging what we’re about to do. There’s a deer nearby. It’s probably a big one, judging by the animal’s scent. I’m starving and I get the feeling Ryder is, too, so silently, we turn toward the smell.
Swiftly, carefully, we hunt our prey. We know that at the end of all this, there will be a delicious meal waiting for us. All the tension drains from my body as I relax at the thought of getting to eat fresh meat.
Ryder and I stalk the deer, carefully and quietly approaching the scent of the creature. I feel young again at this moment, ready for anything, reaching for the world at my fingertips. My stomach growls in anticipation and I begin to salivate, thinking of how good this meat is going to taste.
A lot may have changed over the years, but as the deer comes into focus and Ryder quietly circles around to the other side, I realize some things, namely my love for my brothers, will never change.
With a sharp nod of his head, Ryder motions for me that its time.
Together we go for the kill.
***
When Ryder and I finish, we go for a swim in a nearby swimming hole, then dry off in the sun on a couple of boulders.
“Did you find out what happened to the money?” He asks, and I shake my head.
“It’s been bothering me. I would have pegged Tessa as wanting the pack to fail. She’s the obvious choice. She really got screwed when Jeffrey died.”
“If he was even going to take her as a mate,” Ryder says.
“Well, yeah. He
His previous assessment that someone wants to harm the pack seems to be true, unfortunately. Although the pack, as a whole, has become more unified, strange things still seem to happen at random. A bunch of meat went missing after a hunt the other day and now there are strange withdrawals from one of our bank accounts.
I don’t know who would want to hurt the pack, but I plan to find out.
With a sigh, I reach for the paperwork and grab a highlighter. It’s time to get to the bottom of this.
***
Over the next few days, things settle into a new normal at the cave. The pack grows more unified as we continue to spend time together hunting and running. Tessa calms down and backs off of Red, which I’m grateful for. Soon the tension I’ve felt since taking over the pack begins to dissipate and I’m able to relax just a little.
It’s early morning about a month after I’ve taken control of the pack when Ryder and I decide to go on a run together. There are just two weeks left until Red and I have our mating ceremony and I’m anxious to run off some of the stress surrounding the planning.
Ryder and I don’t have a lot of time together, so we’re grateful for the chance to spend a morning bonding, running. Maybe we’ll hunt or just swim. I’m not sure. I just know that Ryder is one of my oldest friends, but something has been troubling him and I intend to find out what.
We leave Thorn in charge of the pack. The big guy can handle things without us. Then Ryder and I take off. Just outside the cave, we shift into our wolf forms and begin to run. There’s a light breeze in the clearing and I revel in the way the air rushes over my fur, then I move.
We race over rocks and under fallen trees, over creeks and around corners. My wolf feels satisfied like this. I feel good, strong. I feel in control. We aren’t talking right now, but we don’t have to. It’s enough to just be with my brother. Ryder always has my back and when we’re together, I can relax. For a little while, I don’t have to be the pack leader. I can just be the kid who grew up in a pack where he didn’t really belong and who still doesn’t really belong. I can just have fun.
Ryder and I race around for about half an hour before we stop. We both catch the scent at the same time. He cocks his head at me as he slows, and I nod, silently acknowledging what we’re about to do. There’s a deer nearby. It’s probably a big one, judging by the animal’s scent. I’m starving and I get the feeling Ryder is, too, so silently, we turn toward the smell.
Swiftly, carefully, we hunt our prey. We know that at the end of all this, there will be a delicious meal waiting for us. All the tension drains from my body as I relax at the thought of getting to eat fresh meat.
Ryder and I stalk the deer, carefully and quietly approaching the scent of the creature. I feel young again at this moment, ready for anything, reaching for the world at my fingertips. My stomach growls in anticipation and I begin to salivate, thinking of how good this meat is going to taste.
A lot may have changed over the years, but as the deer comes into focus and Ryder quietly circles around to the other side, I realize some things, namely my love for my brothers, will never change.
With a sharp nod of his head, Ryder motions for me that its time.
Together we go for the kill.
***
When Ryder and I finish, we go for a swim in a nearby swimming hole, then dry off in the sun on a couple of boulders.
“Did you find out what happened to the money?” He asks, and I shake my head.
“It’s been bothering me. I would have pegged Tessa as wanting the pack to fail. She’s the obvious choice. She really got screwed when Jeffrey died.”
“If he was even going to take her as a mate,” Ryder says.
“Well, yeah. He
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