The Challenge (The Pack 2)

“Its doubtful Trent would be allowed to join,” Anna answered, not looking at him. Trent nodded and my mouth dropped open.

“You knew this?”

“I’m an unmated male. Unpredictable and competition to any other male.”

“Caleb,” Anna confirmed.

“But Dylan,” I trailed off because it sounded like there was no chance for him either.

“Asylum is different. It’s done in times of emergency. Life or death,” Anna explained.

“And it is life or death,” Wren interrupted. “They will eventually kill him, especially if they catch him coming here to see me.”

“We can broach the subject at the next Council meeting,” Anna offered. “Ease them into the idea.”

“We don’t have time for that,” Wren pleaded desperately and Dylan hugged her awkwardly, patting her shoulder as he told her it would be okay.

“I can have my mom call a meeting today, maybe we can get them to agree in a few days,” Anna said apologetically. “Caleb is almost completely healed and if he agrees it will go a long way.”

“He can’t go back.” The male stepped from the shadows, his hands casually crossed in front of his privates as he stood there completely nude. I dropped my gaze to the ground as Trent bristled next to us. “I was told to follow him by the Alpha and report back. His life is forfeit if he returns.”

“Liam,” Dylan said happily, running over to the other male and hugging him. Liam raised one arm to return the hug and I jerked my eyes to his face as some of his parts were put on display.

“Dylan,” Liam acknowledged, a genuine smile on his face. “You’re going home with Wren today.”

“You come?” Dylan asked innocently and Liam’s smile tightened minutely.

“Not today,” he replied, shaking his head.

“Can’t he just stay at the motel like the other women?” I asked and Trent shook his head.

“No, he’d have to be accepted into the Navarre Pack for his own protection,” Anna answered. “Otherwise, Nicholas Hanley could show up at the motel and tear it apart to get to him. Probably kill him when he did.”

“She’s right,” Liam replied, nodding respectfully to Anna. “Dylan needs to be protected.” He glanced around guardedly. “He knows too much for the Alpha to ever let him live.”

“Why are you helping him?” Trent spoke up, asking the question I’d been wondering.

“We’re not all like them,” Liam sneered in disgust. “Some of us respect women. We want to be free.” His eyes met mine for a second and I gasped.

“You,” I breathed, stepping forward to get a closer look at his eyes. He stepped back warily and Trent grabbed my arm. “You saved me.”

Liam sniffed and then gave a jerky nod. “I thought I recognized that scent.” He glanced between me and Anna. “You’re not the female wolf.” I shook my head, wondering if that was the only reason he’d saved me. “Wouldn’t have mattered, that asshole got what was coming to him,” he muttered, shrugging, as he unintentionally answered my question.

He gazed at Trent and the grip he had on my arm. “He’s not your mate,” he said confidently, his eyes narrowing as his stare switched from Trent to Anna. “Interesting.” He glanced back at me. “Not all Hanleys are bad,” he informed me and I nodded as he jerked his head to Dylan and said, “Take care of him.”

He started to turn away and I shouted after him, “What about you?” After what he’d said, I was afraid the Hanley Alpha would kill him too.

His lip curled in a twisted smile. “I’ll be fine,” he promised right as he shimmered and a dirty brown wolf took his place. We watched him trot off as Trent scrubbed his hand over his face, sighing.

“This day just gets better and better.”

“You’ll help him,” Wren cried, her gaze shifting between the three of us. “You’ll protect my brother?”

I closed my eyes and Trent muttered, “Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t –”

“We’ll protect him,” I promised her.

“And she said it,” he grumbled, glaring at me. I shrugged, what else was I supposed to do?

“I need to talk to my mom,” Anna mentioned, sliding past Trent.

“You’re not going anywhere by yourself,” he warned, grasping her arm. She twisted but he didn’t release her. “There’s a wolf out there that knows exactly what you are. You’re not leaving my sight.”

“Anna, he’s right,” I echoed, ignoring the flash of betrayal on her face. “I think the guy has good intentions but we’re too close to the Hanley border. Let’s go back to the motel together. See if Dom and Caleb will meet us. Create a plan.”

Anna nodded shortly, tugging on her arm until Trent let go. She went to take the lead when Trent stopped her, this time touching her shoulder, and she jerked away from him with a gasp. He gestured for Wren and Dylan to go ahead, with Anna and I falling in the middle as he took the rear.