Chapter 6

WREN

Luckily,the alpha Jack allowed us to pass, but the way he had first blocked us made my hackles rise.

On top of that, it felt weird to walk away from Chase. We barely knew him, and yet, close at Usman's side, I was suddenly aware of how lacking I was on my own.

I had always been easier with showing our relationship than he had been. I'd foolishly acted as though we were invincible, and yes, we promised to protect each other, but suddenly I felt like we'd been playing with fire.

How exactly was I supposed to stop someone like Jack? The unpleasant alpha was missing countless teeth, but I still knew I couldn't stop his bite. How the hell was I supposed to keep Manny safe?

I glanced at him, heart still racing from the way Jack had appeared in front of us. His hard glare had meant trouble. I'd almost thought he was planning something for a second, but he hadn't stopped us from going around him…

I held in a shudder at the thought of whether he'd meant what he said before, but Manny was poised, acting unbothered. It was a convincing act too, if not for the hint of anxiety in his gaze when our eyes met.

I wanted to reach out and take his hand, but for all I knew, Jack was still watching. Any of them could be and really, none of them could be trusted anymore.

In this world, the only trustworthy person was Manny and now, to my surprise, Chase too. How could I hold him so highly after a couple nights together? It didn't make any sense, but it was the truth. He felt safe and warm and loving, just like Manny. And he felt like he was mine the way that Manny was too.

My thoughts weren't making any sense. Nothing was.

Someone hit my shoulder hard as they passed and I paused, turning to see the omega passing scowling at me, letting me know she had done it on purpose.

For a moment, I stared, aware of all the things Manny had been worried about—that people weren't taking our relationship kindly. That they resented that we seemed so happy together when we shouldn't be.

"Let's just get to our tent," Manny muttered, tugging my arm.

I swallowed and nodded but as we reached it, my heart sank.

Together, we slowed to a stop, taking in the mess of what had been our home. Everything had been destroyed. The fabric had been shredded by sharp claws, and even the tent poles had been snapped.

Around us, others were gathering, eager for a show, a breakdown, a fight, some entertainment. And I couldn't help but give it to them.

"Who did this?" I demanded, spinning around to face those who had gathered.

Smirking faces met me, and anger flushed through my body.

Shae's grin caught my eye from the back, and I snarled, moving toward him just as Usman grabbed my arm, trying to stop me.

"Was it you?!" I demanded. "What is your fucking problem?!"

He started to laugh, his street roughened voice echoing as the blood rushed through my ears.

"Wren—" Usman warned, but before he could say more, another, even more unpleasant voice interrupted.

"I thought I told you both to come find me the next time you needed an alpha."

I froze, a chill traveling over me as I turned to face Jack. He was standing calmly over the wreckage of our tent, clearly unsurprised by it. Obviously he was responsible for it. Whether it was his own claws or if he got his lackey Shae to rip it up, it didn't matter. He was making a statement.

Instinctively, I moved in front of Usman, trying to block him. After all, he had been the one in need this time... he was the one that hadn't listened, right? My instincts told me wrong. That Jack had decided to put all his focus on both of us now. He had always acted like he owned the whole place. I had never expected him to start acting like he owned the people here too.

His cold gaze met mine and a rush of pheromones flooded the area. All his angry, unpleasant emotions hitting me and making me feel sick.

"Where did you take him?" he asked me.

"It's none of your business," I forced myself to say.

Manny's hands touched my back, then he came around me, still holding onto my jacket, but standing at my side.

"We don't want any trouble, Jack," he said, and pride filled me at the solidness of his voice.

"Then you should have come to me," he snarled. "Like I told you to."

"You don't own us," I snapped.

Jack growled and leaped toward us.

I didn't expect it or know what he was going to do in the least, but I reacted at once, arm flying out to grab Manny and feet stumbling back, taking him with me.

"What are you doing?" Manny demanded, seeking some reason in the scumbag as he swiped for us. "Come on Jack, just leave us alone!"

The crowd was oohing and some of them were laughing, and I hated the lot of them at the same moment that one of them finally shouted in solidarity, "Leave them alone!"

I glanced over, catching sight of batty old Missy, the tent city mama, looking ready to start fighting for us, but before she could, Jack leaped toward us again.

This time, I didn't stumble out of the way fast enough and his hand caught me by the arm in a crushing grip.

It took me a moment to follow what was happening. Pain shot through my bones, all the way to the shoulder. Usman shouted, jumping at Jack despite how much bigger the alpha was than him. Then suddenly, a loud roar filled the air, and my arm was wrenched free.

I stumbled, nearly falling as Usman caught me and then realized that we were free to run.

Spinning around, I saw Jack flat on his back, a massive alpha wolf on top of him, growling so harshly that spittle flew from his exposed fangs.

He was huge and familiar even in his wolf's form.

My heart sped up even faster. Still cradling my arm, I looked over at Usman with wide eyes.

He was staring at the wolf, at Chase, in shock and wonder, as usual, feeling the same things that I did.

Jack was cowering, suddenly looking weak and small with Chase over top of him and all I could think—even though it made no sense, was that Chase had come for us.

And sure enough, in the silence of the shocked crowd, Chase shifted back into his human form, fury twisting his handsome face into an expression he would never direct at us.

"Keep your filthy hands off of what's mine," he spat, and he didn't move from his position, pinning the other alpha until Jack spoke.

"They don't belong to you," he said, disdain dripping off his voice even though he was shaking.

"They do now," Chase snarled and finally, after a long, drawn-out moment, Jack ceded, looking away with a nod, hands rising in defeat.

Chase didn't release him at once though, and when he did, it was with a rough shove to make sure he stayed down. His gaze never left Jack as he straightened to his full height.

"Get your things," he said, leaving no room to argue. As though we would.

When neither of us moved, he finally turned, fixing his gaze on us. Those brown eyes, normally filled with such warmth were guarded and cold, but not toward us. As soon as he saw us, the warmth flickered back into them.

"Get your things," he repeated, softer this time.

"There's nothing left," Manny told him, gesturing to the ground.

Chase blinked, looking down as though just noticing the mess beneath his feet for the first time. His gaze darkened, jaw clenched, and he lifted his head.

"Then let's go," he said.

There was no way in hell we weren't following, but he came toward us, putting an arm around each of our shoulders, steering us through the shocked crowd.

I could hear murmuring already. We were probably going to be the talk of the riverside for months.

"Just like that bait wolf," someone whispered theatrically, and Manny snorted. I was pretty sure that it was Missy and looked at him with a raised brow, but he just shook his head, his gaze flying to Chase's face.

Chase sensed it at once and looked down at him. Something passed between them and when Chase looked at me next, I knew what it was even though I couldn't put it into words. Something had changed or formed between us. The three of us were like… a unit? A team? I wasn't sure but it felt like security, calmness and strength, and I liked the feeling.