Her features were serious, but her eyes glittered with amusement.
“Yes, I’m positive. I want to stay with your pack, and I swear I won’t be a leech! Tomorrow, I’ll start looking for a job and will find a way to be useful.” I hurried to assure her.
Monroe opened her mouth, but Cillian spoke first. “You will do no such thing. After everything my mate has gone through, it’ll be good for her to have another rabbit shifter to spend time with. You are a guest of our pack for as long as you wish to stay.”
Syrus was the next to speak. “I already messaged our accountant, and they’re setting up an account for you under an alias. It will cover your expenses and anything you need or want.” He jerked his chin toward my ragged backpack. “It appears you packed light, so I’m guessing you left a lot of your comfort items and necessities behind.”
I didn’t want to bring the mood down by telling them I didn’t really own comfort items since they didn’t fit the aesthetic Clarice had chosen for the mansion.
The unexpected kindness was nearly my undoing. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I whispered a soft thank you, knowing if I tried to say more, I’d break down completely.
“Once we’ve made sure you’re safe and not being hunted, if you still wish to work, we can easily find you a position in a field you enjoy,” Rig added.
“I don’t know what to say.” Grabbing the hem of my shirt, I surreptitiously wiped tears of relief and gratitude from the corners of my eyes. “I don’t deserve all this.”
Monroe reached out and caught my hand in hers. “We’re providing the basics you need to exist. You’ve been through so much, and you deserve so much more than how you were treated.”
Giving me a hug, Monroe stood and shooed everyone from the room to give me some space to shift without an audience.
Maybe rabbit’s feet were lucky. Because mine had led me to Bernice, and then straight to Monroe’s doorstep.
Ipaced the hallway and ran my hand through my hair. My inner wolf was usually a chill beast, but since we’d arrived, he’d been whining non-stop, and it was giving me anxiety.
“You all right, Coda?” Quin leaned against the wall, looking relaxed as ever.
I wasn’t fooled. He was rubbing a worn silver coin between his thumb and pointer finger. It was something he only did when anxious or stressed.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just…” I was unsure how to describe the strange emotions slamming against my heart and mind like a battering ram.
“Same, bro. Whatever this is, it’s making my wolf restless and setting him on edge.” Quin tilted his head back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. “Do you think it’s the whole prey versus predator thing?”
I paused mid-step. His question cleared the confusion from my mind and sent the unexpected truth surging through me.
A tremor traveled from my head to my boots, and my wolf released a mighty howl that rattled my skull. I got the distinct impression he was annoyed at how long it took me to figure things out.
“Coda?” Quin lifted an eyebrow.
But I didn’t get a chance to answer before we were interrupted.
“Guys? We’re ready!” Monroe called, but before we could take more than two steps toward the room, Cillian, Syrus, and Rig strode out of Cillian’s office.
Crossing their arms over their chest, the three intimidating wolves blocked the hall.
“Alpha. Betas.” I bowed my head, and Quin mirrored my movement.
“Before we let you two go into that room, we need to know you’ll be able to restrain yourself with Ellora in her rabbit form.” Alpha power rolled from Cillian, causing the wood beams inside the walls to crackle.
I didn’t dare look up. Cillian was the most respected alpha our pack had ever had, known for being reasonable and for his cool composure. But at that moment, he seemed nothing like himself. He was ready to snap our necks rather than risk letting us make Monroe cry.
As if our alpha wasn’t threatening enough, Rig and Syrus weren’t any more relaxed. The low bass growls rumbling from their chests caused my eardrums to vibrate painfully. Between the three of them, the threat of violence hung so thick in the air, I could practically taste the bitterness on my tongue.
“Alpha. We were at the burrows when Monroe shifted to her rabbit form and ran among the wolves. Our wolves had no desire to hunt her.” I closed my eyes, fighting against the warring desires of running from my alpha or pushing past the three imposing wolves so I could get to Ellora’s side.
“But you knew she belonged to us. Most wolves wouldn’t dare touch what belongs to their alpha,” Cillian rumbled. “So I’ll ask again. Is Ellora safe from your wolves?”
If my suspicions were correct, the only risk my wolf posed to Ellora was potentially drowning her in licks and cuddles.
Opening my eyes, I lifted my chin and stared at Cillian. “Yes, Alpha.”