11. Devon

Clenching my jaw, I crouch in the underbrush along the edge of the compound. I dont like this. I dont like anything about this. My nose is filled with the scent of dozens of unfamiliar wolves. The invisible boundary line is just a few yards away from the tree line, but I can sense it just as keenly as if it were a solid brick wall.

Im not a fighter. Ive never been a fighter. Im the easygoing one. The one whos always trying to make everyone laugh. Im not cut out for this kind of thing.

But I can almost feel Rivers presence.

Hes somewhere in there. Alone. And Im not gonna leave him there. Not after seeing the look in his eyes when we first picked him up along the side of the road. The fear of whatever he was running from.

My gaze darts to the left where a large, steely gray wolf slowly pads toward me. His head is lowered, his sensitive nose taking in all the scents of our surroundings. Kyles impressive no matter what form hes in, but Ive almost forgotten just how stunning his wolf is.

He pauses beside me and looks at me with a questioning expression. I shake my head and exhale.

I havent seen any sign of him, I whisper. I havent seen any guards other than the ones at the gate, but with how many wolves are here, they dont really need to patrol the perimeter.

Kyle nods and turns his attention back to the compound. Hes just as worried as I am. Hes just better at hiding it. Hes always been good at projecting confidence. Thats why hes the leader, the one Frankie and I follow without question. Hes protected us through thick and thin, kept us together no matter what. So it hurts to see the concern on his canine features.

Hes worried about River, but I also know that hes battling with an internal decision.

How much risk is he willing to shoulder for someone who isnt one of us?

The big gray wolf shakes out his coat and turns away from the compound, slowly withdrawing back through the underbrush toward the road where we left the car. I hesitate to follow him. My wolf is internally howling in protest at the mere thought of leaving River there alone.

But theres nothing I can do by myself. If I want any chance of helping him, I need to trust Kyle. I need to follow his lead.

Reluctantly, I turn and follow after him.

Im sorry. I jog to his side, catching up to him. I know you dont like being here…getting involved in this.

Kyle looks over his shoulder at me and huffs in response. I cant tell if its a sound of agreement or disagreement.

I just...cant leave him here. I’m speaking to myself as much as to Kyle. I know we dont know him very well, but I feel like I owe him something. I dont know. Maybe its just my instincts telling me to protect him, but I cant ignore it.

Kyle stops and looks at me for a long moment. But before he can make another sound, his ears flick toward a noise I cant hear. He stiffens at some unseen danger, and Im immediately on alert. My wolf wants out, but I hold back. Shifting now could leave me vulnerable, depending on whats coming.

Kyles hackles rise as he growls low in his throat.

And then, I see them.

All around us.

Even if Id been shifted, Im not sure I wouldve noticed them until it was too late. Half a dozen wolves, all of them bearing the same dark brown fur, slowly emerge from the shadows. Theyre not as big as Kyle, but theyre definitely bigger than me. And theres a lot of them.

Shit, I mutter under my breath.

Thats a good word for it. A measured voice draws my attention, and I turn to see an older man standing nearby, flanked by wolves on either side. Youre definitely in deep shit.

Who are you? I demand, trying to sound braver than I feel.

My name is Charles. The man is staring right at me, almost through me. Im the Alpha of this pack. And youre trespassing on my land.

Were outside your boundary. I glance back to where the boundary line was.

Yes, but not by much. He shrugs as if that detail isn’t of his concern. And I cant have you sniffing around here. Not when your scent was clinging so thickly to my son when we recovered him this morning.

Your son? I frown, glancing at Kyle. You mean River?

Charles doesnt answer my question, but its obvious that Im right.

Drifters like you have no place here, Charles continues. And you certainly have no business with my son. I’ll give you one chance to leave. Go back to town, stay there if you like, but if I catch your scent within a mile of our compound again, you will not like what happens next.

The wolves around us bare their teeth and growl, adding menace to Charless threat.

Were not leaving without River, I say, holding my ground.

Kyles hackles are raised, his fangs bared as he snarls beside me. Hes not backing down either.

I think youll find that you dont have a choice, Charles says, narrowing his eyes at me. Either comply or die. Its as simple as that.

I swallow hard, unsure what to do. Ive never been in a fight in my life, and Im not sure I can take on even one of these wolves, let alone six of them.

Beside me, Kyle nudges my hand with his muzzle. His expression is still agitated, but hes dropped his tail and some of the fire has gone from his eyes. Hes giving up.

I close my eyes and exhale slowly. I know hes right. We cant win this fight. We have to retreat. For now.

Fine. I open my eyes and glare at Charles. Well leave.

Good. Charles smiles, nodding once. Im glad we could come to an understanding.

I turn away and start walking toward the road. Kyle follows after me, his head hanging low. I can tell hes not happy about this, but we both know hes right. This is our only option.

The pack of wolves shadow us all the way back to the station wagon. I open the door so Kyle can hop in the back seat, then I climb into the drivers seat. As I start the engine and turn the car back onto the road, a wave of nausea passes through me.

I cant believe were just giving up on River.

It feels like Im leaving part of myself behind.

After about a quarter mile, Kyle slowly shifts back into his human form. I can see his reflection in the rearview mirror, and he looks just as upset as I feel.

Were not giving up. His voice is hoarse from the shift as he gathers up his clothes and gets dressed in the cramped space. Were gonna figure out a way to get him back.

How? I want those words to be true, but I can’t imagine a way back in. Not after they have our scent on their radar. We barely even noticed them before they were on top of us. Theres too many of them for us to fight. Even if I were a better fighter, were outnumbered. We cant get him out.

Well find a way, Kyle insists. Were not leaving him there.

What if we cant? I ask, my voice cracking as I speak. What if we cant get him out?

Stop it, he snaps at me, forcing me out of my spiral of despair. You dont give up, remember? We never give up.

Hes not one of us, though. It’s true but doesn’t feel honest. I thought for sure youd be the one telling me we need to let this go. Keep out of something that doesnt involve us.

I know, but I cant just walk away from him. I dont know why, but...I cant.

You like him. I raise a brow at him in the mirror, finally feeling like we’re on the same page here. Dont you?

I... Kyle hesitates, then sighs heavily. I dont know. I dont know what it is. But after what you said, before the pack found us, I know you feel it too.

Yeah, I do. I can’t deny the draw I’ve felt to River since we first met. I dont know what it is either. But I feel like were meant to be with him. Like hes meant to be with us. Part of our pack.

Kyle meets my gaze and holds it in the mirror. So, were gonna get him back. No matter what it takes.

Fuck yeah! No matter what it takes.

I just hope were not making a promise we cant keep.