Page 23 of Pack to the Wall

"It's pack," Zev said simply.

"What's it like?" Her voice held a note of longing that tugged at something deep within him. "Being part of a community like this. Where you all protect each other, and where everyone drops everything when someone needs help."

Zev studied Chrissy intently for a moment—how the moonlight caught the delicate curve of her neck, the perfect fullness of her lips, and the way her sundress clung to her curves. His wolf paced restlessly. Every protective instinct in his body had been triggered tonight—first by the missing pack pup, then by the fierce woman beside him who'd thrown herself into danger without hesitation.

"Maybe someday you'll know," he said, the words more revealing than he'd intended.

His nostrils flared as the scent of rain prickled his senses. Looking skyward, he saw dark clouds rolling in, threatening to unleash nature's fury. The island's storms were legendary—violent and swift, transforming placid terrain into deadly slides within minutes.

"Everyone needs to head back now." His voice carried the weight of command. "Storm's coming, and it's going to be a bad one."

The pack members scattered immediately, recognizing the authority in his tone. Only Jonah hesitated, turning back with panic flashing across his small face.

"My necklace! Grandpa's carving—I left it in the cave!" The boy's voice cracked with distress. "Please, Alpha, I need it!"

Zev's jaw tightened. He knew exactly what Jonah meant—a wooden wolf pendant the boy's grandfather had carved for Jonah before his passing. He crossed to Jonah in three swift strides, crouching to meet the child's eyes.

"I'll get it. You go home with your parents. Now." The command was firm but gentle. "These storms are dangerous, and your safety matters more than anything."

Jonah looked ready to protest until Zev's eyes flashed amber—a subtle reminder of who was in charge. The boy nodded meekly and rejoined his relieved parents.

"We're going back in, aren't we?" Chrissy asked as the others disappeared into the jungle.

Zev raised his eyebrows. "We?"

"Like hell I'm standing out here alone in this weather." Her green eyes sparked with defiance.

His wolf rumbled with approval at her inner fire. "Fine. But stay close to me again."

They slipped back into the cave, their movements practiced now after the first journey. Zev's enhanced vision picked out the wooden pendant almost immediately—nestled in the crevice where they'd found Jonah.

"Got it," he announced, tucking the carved wolf pendant into his pocket.

They retraced their steps quickly, aware of the darkening sky outside. As they approached the entrance, Zev's instincts triggered.

"Run," he ordered, grabbing her hand.

They burst from the cave mouth just as the heavens opened. The downpour was instantaneous, a vertical wall of water that soaked them within seconds. Visibility dropped to nothing as sheets of rain transformed the path into a slick mess. Zev felt rather than saw the ground that began to shift beneath them.

"Back!" He pulled Chrissy hard against his chest, spinning them both back toward the cave entrance. They stumbled inside, drenched and breathing hard.

"Holy shit," Chrissy gasped, water streaming from her hair down her neck and over the swell of her breasts beneath the thin fabric of her dress.

"Island storms don't mess around." Zev raked a hand through his wet hair, dragging it back from his forehead. The top four buttons of his shirt had come undone, revealing his bronzed skin and the muscular planes of his chest. "We'll have to wait it out. Usually passes in twenty minutes."

They moved deeper into the cave where it was dry, the sound of rain drumming against stone creating a primal rhythm. Chrissy wrung water from her hair, laughing softly.

"Well... not how I pictured our first date ending."

The word 'date' sent a jolt through him. His wolf prowled to the forefront, satisfied that she saw this night as something personal and intimate.

"Not how I pictured tonight going at all," he replied, unable to keep the hunger from his voice.

Chrissy studied him, her eyes traveling over his face with quiet intensity. "You really care about them, don't you? You didn't even hesitate tonight."

"They're my family." The simple truth rumbled from deep in his chest. "I'll always run into any storm for them."

She stepped closer, close enough that he could feel the heat of her body despite her wet clothes. "That's the kind of person I want to be around someday."

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