Page 124 of Untamed

I stare blankly at the picture in my hand. Anya was so young. This is Devel's business. Trafficking, kidnapping of young wolves. Knowing that Anya was taken years ago must grate at him.

"Gramps," and exasperated Ezra jogs over. "Roberta has a triage unit set up. You were supposed to get checked over."

"I ain't dead yet, pup. You want my caves, you'll have to wait."

"Yea, I want Roberta to make sure you're a ghost so I can claim your caves, Gramps. That's totally it. No concern for my ninety-four-year-old GrandFather sneaking off to war like a pup. That can't be it."

"Ain't that old. Ninety-two at most."

"It's only females who lie about their age, Gramps." The smirk on Ezra's face doesn't reach his eyes.

"How's Thjis?" I ask. I forgot all about my brother being shot. What sort of alpha am I? I glance at the photo again. What sort of alpha was my uncle? My Father?

"He'll recover despite himself. Medics really are the worst patients," Ezra says with a wry smile.

Elias nods. "Sarj shifted, Ezra," he says it abruptly as if he needs to spit the words out before they choke him. "He's MateLess."

Ezra's eyes slide shut. Grief flickers over his face. This has been a shitty day.

"He tried to Mark the little luna," comes an older, scratchy voice. "Went right for the prettiest, specialist one, eh? Not dumb, that idiot."

"Elias, enough," I warn the old male. The prettiest,specialistone ismine. I get a derisive snort in return.

"Told you she's yours. Get your britches on, youngling. Find Orion. Go with this one," he points at Devel. "He's not a complete idiot." Elias stomps away, bones creaking.

I look at Devel. "I need to settle my mate, yea?"

"Of course," his lips stretch in a grin. "Settle her. Better to hunt at night, anyway. Find somebritchesto wear, too."

38 - Cracking the Pot of Secrets

Willa

"What happened?" The Moon asks Old Alpha in a hushed voice. She isvoracious;insatiable, gluttonous, hungry... for answers. For the story she missed. But, she looks tired, the Moon. As tired as I feel. I'm glad she asked Old Alpha her question and not me. I can't concentrate on anything but the memory of Mactiir's fury-filled body pacing through lines of wolves after wolves with his walnut eyes promising death... A predator amongst his prey.

"Inuit killed his uncle and his cousins. He is the undisputed Mauja alpha," Old Alpha tells her.

"In is now an alpha," the Moon acknowledges. "I could sense it as the truck pulled in. And he brought his new packhere? I assume because of the FeraxMaw?"

"The BlueSnout, actually," Old Alpha casts a careful glance at Mama as she flinches.

"Did he have trouble with... you know?" the Moon asks in a hushed whisper.

"His shift? Yea, turned right into a HalfForm beast," Old Alpha replies abruptly. He looks a bit haunted as he side-eyes me up, "of course, this little one didn't seem to find it upsetting."

The Moon smiles at me. "Of course not."

I snuggle into Mama. Why do they think I would find Mactiir upsetting? Don't they understand him? He is the hunter of lost souls, of wolves who stray too far into the dark. You have to be a terrible thing to hunt terrible things.

"They.. ah... they've consummated their bond," Old Alpha looks at the ceiling instead of at the Moon.

"I can smell that, too," the Moon says with a hint of sharpness in her voice.

"Sheledhim, Lyri. No taking it out of In's hide, yea?" Old Alpha sounds resigned and amused. "No fear in our little luna. Lots of determination. No fear."

My she-wolf preens a little at Old Alpha's words. I'm less impressed. I was afraid of the Lake.

The Moon barks a short laugh. The sound is startling. I think maybe even to her.

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