The Alpha (The Pack 3)

Dad glanced over at me, “Wren?” My eyes rounded and Trent let out a curse. We’d forgotten all about Wren. In fact, I had no idea where she was, but when Trent started to yank the shirt over his head, I took a wild guess.

“She’s still in the forest searching for Dylan,” I answered as Trent tossed me his shirt. I caught it automatically, my nose wrinkling as his hand went to the snap on his jeans.

“Whoa there, son,” Dad cried, waving his hands. “No need to strip down.”

“I can track her faster in wolf form,” Trent stated, his hands hovering over the zipper of his jeans.

“Or, I could call her,” Dad replied, tugging his phone from his own pocket. He wiggled it. “Either way.”

I tossed Trent his shirt. “Let’s go with calling,” I told him. “Dad, I’m going to get Monster cleaned up and Trent will get Dylan some more clothes.” Trent gave me a look but didn’t protest as he jerked his head, indicating Dylan should follow him. Dylan gave one last wave to Monster before trudging after Trent. I was slightly surprised he hadn’t resisted my command, but shrugged it off as Monster slipped his hand in mine. Dad raised the phone to his ear as I heard a faint ringing come through and then a woman say, “Hello?”

It didn’t take Wren long to arrive back at the motel. She was only steps behind Trent as he came over with Dylan. I counted the steaks I’d drizzled with olive oil and hoped there were enough for all the big mouths I had to feed before shoving the two pans in the oven to broil. It would just have to be enough.

“Dylan,” Wren cried with relief as she hugged her brother. He stood there as she squeezed him, his hand coming up to pat her back. She held him away from her as she studied him, her gaze sharp and questioning as she scanned his head to toe. “You shifted back,” she said, a note in her voice catching my ear and causing me to turn and look. “What happened?”

Her question was directed at Trent and he shot me a hunted look, his hands going to his pockets in search of a sucker as he shrugged. I grabbed a handful of suckers out of a drawer and handed them to him, as I answered Wren.

“Dom guided Dylan back to the motel and Dylan was able to shift back,” I told her, glossing over pretty much everything. Monster’s head came up, but a subtle shake of my head had him closing his mouth. Wren’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, clearly she knew I wasn’t telling her everything, but really she didn’t need to know how close her brother had come to biting my head off.

“Cookies,” Dylan said, distracting Wren, and I exhaled. “Monster had cookies,” Dylan moved his hands to indicate a row. “Cookies in line,” he added and Wren nodded encouragingly.

“Even I’m not buying that story,” Dad whispered next to me, making me jump. “What aren’t you telling us?”

I shrugged, my lips pursed, as if I had no idea what he was talking about. He studied me for a moment, then sighed. “So long as whatever you’re keeping secret doesn’t affect any one’s safety, you can keep your silence, but, Jess,” I glanced up at the serious note I detected in his voice. “If you or Monster’s safety is in jeopardy, I need to know.” My gaze drifted to Dylan and the wide smile on his face and it was with complete honesty that I answered Dad.

“You don’t need to worry, Dad. I promise.”

“Okay, Bunny,” he replied, kissing my forehead. “But you might want to change, you have dirt all over your backside.”

I spun around trying to see what he was talking about and in the reflection from the refrigerator, I could see a wide smear of mud along my side and butt where I’d curled in the dirt. “Ugh, I’m gonna change. Take those out when it beeps,” I told him, pointing to the oven. “And I do mean, take them out. Don’t leave them an extra minute thinking they need more time. We’ll have over done steak,” I warned, walking away as he made a cross over his chest.

It only took me a few minutes to change, but I took extra time to comb my hair out and braid it. It was getting long, but so far I hadn’t found time to go get it cut. I wondered if Anna and Leah wanted to make a trip to town for a girl’s day, and then thought twice about it. I wasn’t sure Anna could play nice that long. I finished and opened the bathroom door to find Trent poking through the stuff on top of my dresser.

“That’s considered an invasion of privacy,” I informed him and he shot me a look as he rolled the lollipop in his mouth.