Chapter 3 - Evan

There's a certain tranquility in tending to the pack's herb garden. The smell of soil, the warm sun on your face, the satisfaction of planting new seeds, and the excitement of waiting to see how your plants grow. I don't get to enjoy it as much as I'd like. Running a pack keeps me busy, and I have to delegate the more pleasurable tasks to others. But today, I'm making an exception.

It's not often that I get a break, but I sent Rafe into the city to pick up some lumber for the greenhouse we're building on the eastern part of our territory. I'm enjoying the breather while I have the opportunity. My brother means well, but he can be a lot to handle sometimes. He's been on edge lately, and it's made him more temperamental than usual. I've been trying to give him space, but he's been pushing back to the point I've had to put him in his place a few times.

I finish planting the row of basil seeds and take a step back, wiping my brow. It's hot today, and the sun is beating down on my back. I look down at my dirt-covered hands, admiring the satisfying messiness of it all. It represents growth and productivity, two things I'm passionate about.

I glance around, taking in the rest of the garden. The rows of tomato plants are growing strong, and the lettuce is starting to sprout. Everything's coming together, but I can't wait until the greenhouse is finished and I can start growing even more herbs and vegetables that will help us stay healthy and thrive. Meat is great, but a little variety is always nice.

I could spend all day here, losing myself in the simplicity of it, but I've got other things to attend to. With a sigh, I grab the gardening tools and carry them over to the shed, stowing them away for later before I head inside the communal dining hall, where a few members of our pack are already gathered for lunch.

So many other packs have modernized and adopted the idea of blending in with human society and integrating into their towns, but I think it's better for us to stay connected to our roots. Green Lake is more isolated, and we operate more like a commune, closer to how shifter packs used to be. We have electricity and running water, but otherwise, we live pretty simply.

Shawna, our pack chef, is busy prepping the food for lunch. If my nose is right, and it usually is, today's menu includes roasted chicken, baked potatoes, and steamed broccoli. The delicious aromas waft through the air, making my stomach growl and my mouth water. She's one hell of a cook, that's for sure.

"Lunch is almost ready," Shawna announces with a smile, wiping her hands on her apron. "Why don't you take a seat, alpha? I'll bring your plate over in a minute."

I nod and move to the far end of the room, taking a seat at the head of the table. Shawna's boyfriend Guy is sitting next to me, and he gives me a respectful nod. Guy is an excellent member of our pack. He's always been respectful and hard-working, even if he is a little bit of a loudmouth.

Shawna and Guy are polar opposites, but somehow, they balance each other out. She's soft-spoken and reserved, while he's outgoing and brash. The one thing they have in common is their unquestionable loyalty. They'd do anything for each other and for our pack, and that's all that really matters.

"Afternoon, alpha." Guy nods to my hands, which are still covered in dirt. "Busy morning?"

I nod, wiping my palms on a cloth napkin. "Just working in the garden. Can't expect Shawna to work her magic without the proper ingredients, right?"

Guy chuckles and takes a sip of his water. "She does make some damn good food. Never tasted anything like it."

I'm about to respond when the doors to the dining hall burst open and Rafe strolls in. I glance at my watch, noting how early he is. He shouldn't be back for a few more hours. He struts over to the table with a shit-eating grin on his face, looking very pleased with himself as he snatches Guy's glass of water and chugs it down.

"Thirsty, are we?" Guy arches an eyebrow at him.

Rafe smirks and hands him back the empty glass. "Parched."

"Did you get the lumber?" I ask.

"Nope, but I did find you something even better," he says.

I'm not sure I like the sound of that, and when Rafe brings his thumb and index fingers to his lips and lets out a shrill whistle, I'm on my feet immediately. Something tells me whatever stunt he's pulled this time is going to piss me off even more than usual.

Two of my largest packmates appear in the doorway, hauling a young woman with them. Her wrists are bound in front of her and her mouth is gagged, but it doesn't stop her from putting up a fight. She struggles against the men's grips, kicking and thrashing. The girl has to know she's no match for them, given how small she is, but that doesn't seem to deter her one bit.

I narrow my eyes, taking in the sight of her. She's blond with wide, terrified green eyes and a slender, delicate build. Her scent reaches me, and I can tell immediately that she's a shifter. The smell of her fear is so strong, I can almost taste it, but when my men toss her at my feet, she lifts her chin and glares up at me.

Her jeans and T-shirt are dirty and torn, and her hair is a tangled mess of curls. She looks like she's been through hell, but her defiance makes my cock twitch in a way that it probably shouldn't.

"What the fuck is this, Rafe?" I growl. "I asked you to pick up lumber. I did not ask you to kidnap a female shifter and bring her back here."

My brother's eyes are shining with a dangerous sort of glee. "Come on, we talked about this, remember? We said we were going to nab a bitch from Stardust Hollow. The van got a flat just outside their territory, and when I was fixing it, I caught her scent. It was a perfect opportunity. She was just wandering around all alone. It was too good to pass up."

I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to knock his ass out right in front of everyone. Jesus Christ. Any minute now, we could have Ram at our door, demanding blood. What was he thinking?

"We had a plan, Rafe. A detailed plan, which you just disregarded. You and I were going to go out there tonight and select a female."

"But look at her!" Rafe exclaims, gesturing to the woman who's still kneeling on the ground at my feet. "She's perfect. Just give her a sniff. She's a virgin, Evan. You can smell it. And she's a pure shifter, no hint of human about her at all. Everything the curse requires and then some. She's a gift from the universe, brother."

The scent of her hits me again, and Rafe is right. I can smell her virginity and her pure wolf blood. She's exactly what we need, but it doesn't change the fact that my brother is a hot-headed moron who can't follow simple instructions.

She tries to stand up, but she's clearly weak and dizzy from the silver cuffs that are still locked around her wrists. Gene, one of my wolves who brought her in here, kicks at her, snickering as he says, "Get back down there, Stardust Hollow scum. Show some respect for the alpha."

My wolf stirs, curling my lips back in a snarl. A rush of protective instinct floods through me, and before I know what I'm doing, I've got the wolf by the collar, hauling him away from her. "Do not touch her," I hiss.

"Whoa," Rafe chuckles. "All right, Gene, back off. I guess our alpha has claimed his prize."

I release Gene, shoving him backward. The others laugh, and the blonde at my feet flinches when I hold out my hand to her. "Up," I command.

For a second, I think she's going to ignore me and refuse to cooperate. But after a moment, she takes my hand, and I help her to her feet. When she's standing, I untie the gag and toss the fabric to the floor.

"My name is Evan Woods," I tell her. "I'm the alpha of Green Lake Pack."

Her eyes widen, and I know she recognizes my name. My brother and I are infamous. Everyone knows about the cursed Woods brothers.

It's hard to miss the way she stiffens. "You can't keep me here," she says. "My pack will come looking for me. They'll find me."

I don't bother correcting her. She knows as well as I do that the likelihood of her pack tracing her here is slim. She's a smart girl. I can see the gears turning in her head. She's already trying to figure a way out of this, but she'll soon learn there is no escape.

"What's your name, sweetheart?" I ask.

"Mia. Mia Oliver."

The sound of her voice sets something off inside me, and my wolf howls in response. It's like she's calling to me. Like her wolf is calling to mine. I don't know if it's the fact that she's the key to stopping this curse or if it's something deeper, but the vulnerability I feel when I look at her doesn't settle well with me.

The longer I stand here looking at her, the stronger the urge to claim her becomes. The last thing I need is anyone in my pack witnessing a moment of weakness, especially Rafe. I won't give him any more reason to question my ability to lead.

"Take the cuffs off," I command, keeping my gaze trained on Mia.

Rafe doesn't move, and when I turn to glare at him, he smirks and takes his sweet-ass time pulling the gloves on his hands to do as I asked so the silver doesn't burn his skin. Mia winces, and a low, guttural growl slips from between my teeth as she rubs at the raw skin. I don't understand why, but I want to punch Rafe in the fucking face for hurting her.

Christ, what the hell is going on with me? I need to get away from her before I lose my shit.

"Shawna!" I shout.

My cook, who has been watching the scene unfold from the sidelines, nods and steps forward. "Yes, alpha."

"Feed this woman and get her some clean clothes," I order. "Then give her a room, a shower, and something to do until I figure out what to do with her."

"Yes, sir." Shawna nods again, beckoning Mia forward. She leads her out of the dining hall, and just before they disappear through the doorway, I call after Shawna again.

"No one is to lay a finger on her. You keep her in your sight at all times."

"Yes, alpha," Shawna replies, guiding the woman down the hallway.

When they're gone, I round on my brother, slamming him up against the wall. "I swear to God, Rafe, if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I will tear your throat out."

"Hey, come on, man," Rafe laughs, but there's a flash of unease in his eyes. "I got us a female, didn't I? A perfect one, just like we planned. I thought you'd be happy."

I snarl at him. "How happy do you think I'm going to be when Ram comes breaking our door down? You don't do anything without my permission. You don't think. You don't act. You. Wait. For. Me."

"Fine, fine," Rafe grumbles. "Whatever you say, alpha ."

He says it mockingly, and my anger rises up, a snarl rising from my throat. Guy and Gene look like they're about to intervene, but then they think better of it. Rafe knows the line. He's toeing it, and he knows it.

"Now, get the fuck out of my sight before I forget you're my brother and do something we'll both regret," I snap.

He smirks at me, but his expression is a little less sure than before. He slinks out of the room, and the other men leave with him. When they're gone, I let out a shaky breath. I don't know what came over me. The wolf inside me is clawing to the surface, desperate to get out. Something about that girl, Mia, has triggered a primal instinct in me.

Shawna had better take damn good care of her, or she'll have me to deal with. And that's a promise.