The Pack (The Pack 1)

“None of us wish to be here, but we can’t leave,” she replied, her hands rubbing together as she paced the room. “We have children and very little freedom.”

“But we’ve survived. Created allies. Found their weaknesses and exploited them,” she continued, her voice growing stronger with every word. “They tricked me here, they wanted information about my pack, my brother, my father. I was foolish,” she admitted, shame and loathing on her face. “But I won’t let them destroy my family, my son’s family.” Determination shone in her eyes as she stopped in front of me. “They think they’ll be easy to kill, to take down the Navarre pack and steal their lands, but they won’t. I know my brother.” I nodded, knowing she was right. Dominic would never let that happen. “The Hanleys have been planning their attack for a long time, and then you showed up.”

I tilted my head and she grinned. “Oh, you took them by surprise and then when Dominic killed two of the Hanleys, he made them wonder. You were the thing I prayed for.” I blinked at the thought of being the answer to someone’s prayers and she took my hands. “You can get the information to my brother, prepare them. They’re distracted right now,” she said in disgust as she gestured to the outside wall, indicating the men who’d kidnapped me. “We’ll get you out and Dominic can prepare.”

“There seems like a lot of ifs in your plan,” I informed her.

“No, we will get you out. You will make it back to my brother and when the fight comes it will be in my brother’s favor.” There was an eerie cadence to her words and I didn’t protest. I could only imagine her life here, and I would do whatever I could to help her.

“How am I supposed to escape?” I asked instead, figuring she had a plan.

“You’re going to run,” she stated baldly and I blinked.

“That’s it?”

“There are a few good men here. They are under alpha orders,” she paused since I must have looked confused. “An alpha’s order cannot be disobeyed,” she informed me. “Some of the men here disagree with how things are, but they are as trapped as the women. But they can look the other way, and Dylan is not bound by the alpha.” Her smile was satisfied as she told me that. “The alpha doesn’t know that.”

“Dylan can shift?”

Sam nodded, and my forehead wrinkled.

“But not all of the men are shifters, are they?”

“Not all, the ones who can’t, agree with how things are. They can all be gutted in my opinion,” Sam snarled, glaring out the window. “But there aren’t as many of those. The Hanleys prize shifters. If a child isn’t born with the right genes, they’re often killed.” I stared at her in horror and she nodded. “Wren has had two babies killed.”

I swallowed hard, the metallic taste of blood in my mouth making me gag.

“They will drink tonight and fight for the privilege of fucking you,” I jerked at the word fuck and she gave me a flat smile. “They will hurt you if we don’t succeed.” I nodded faintly, but determination was filling me. I would help these women and if that meant I had to do what they couldn’t, then I would. “But they’ll be distracted and that’s all we need. You’ll have to run and if you fail, we’re all doomed.”

“I won’t fail,” I promised her, and pride filled her eyes.

“You match him, you know. In fierceness. He needs that.” I nodded as she spoke and she curled a piece of paper into my hand. “Give this to him. It has what he needs to win.”

Shouts came through the walls and the sounds of fists slamming into one another. Darkness had fallen completely by then and nerves shook me. I knew what they were fighting over and my only chance was my own ability to run.

“Come with me,” I begged, suddenly desperate not to be the only chance these women had. “Come, run. We’ll make it together.”

She gave me a soft smile even as she shook her head.

“I can’t. I won’t leave Nicky behind and we’d slow you down too much. You can do this. I know it.” I nodded, accepting her words as my fear solidified into a solid knot of determination. She guided me to another room, a bedroom by the looks of it, and to the window. She pressed my backpack into my hand and I remembered suddenly that I wasn’t completely defenseless. I handed my backpack back to her and she gave me a puzzled frown.

“There’s a gun inside,” I murmured almost inaudibly, suddenly afraid they’d hear us right as I was about to make my escape. “Keep it. Use it.”

“You may need it,” she replied, her voice pitched just as low. I shook my head.