Page 38 of Claimed By the Wolf
“We just got in from guard duty,” Ryland complains, throwing his sheet aside to stand. He stifles a yawn.
“You should have thought about that before you let it get this bad in the first place,” I bark back. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing around here lately, but it stops. Today.”
“I’m not doing it,” Connor counters, turning around on his bed.
“Get up,” I intone again. “Now.”
Grumbling, the rest of the pack reluctantly shuffles off to do what they’re told, but Connor doesn’t move.
“Connor…”
“I’ll clean after I’ve slept,” he mumbles into the pillow. “You can’t expect us to clean after working all night. You’re not my father.”
He doesn’t get a chance to finish his protest. I have him by the scruff of the neck, flying out of bed and into the air. He lands with a thud against the far wall, gasping and panting.
He shifts, ready to battle me, his eyes flashing. I morph into my wolf body too, falling back onto my charcoal haunches. I’m in no mood to play today.
Connor comes for me, but he doesn’t get very far.
Brax pounces between us in his panther form, saving Connor’s life.
Snarling, I lunge for Connor again, and my subordinate backs away, teeth bared, but I read the fear in his eyes. He knows he went too far this time. His attitude has reached its summit after an entire week, and this is the end.
He’s done.
The commotion causes the rest of the pack to gather in the bunkroom, and three of my enforcers jump on Connor to subdue him. Connor shifts back to his human form.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Ryland cries, aghast as he looks nervously toward me. “Are you fucking crazy?”
Chest heaving, Connor spits at me, but he throws off his comrades and rushes for the door. I’m half-tempted to go after him, just to make an example out of him.
“Nox…” Brax looks at me as if he can read my thoughts.
I glance back at him, back in his human body, and reluctantly do the same.
“Get back to cleaning,” I order them. “I want this place spotless before anyone leaves for the day.”
No one argues, and there’s not a hint of grumbling as they leave the bunkroom to clean the rest of the packhouse.
Only Brax and I remain.
“You, too,” I snap at my best friend.
“Don’t talk to me that way,” he retorts. “I’m not your enemy.”
I snort and roll my eyes, flopping onto one of the unmade beds. “They’re out of control lately.”
“They don’t trust you,” Brax tells me bluntly. “I don’t blame them, either.”
The response makes me bristle. “I’ve never given them a reason not to trust me! I’ve done everything for the pack! I even gave away my fucking mate!”
He joins me on the mattress, perching on the far side of the bed. “You know why,” he counters. “You kept what was happening between you and Brynn from them, from me.”
The edge in his voice bothers me. He’s still not over it either.
“You don’t trust me?” I ask him, the question haunting me.
He doesn’t answer immediately, and my gut knots.
