Destiny of the Wolf: Pack Loyalty, #3

Chapter One

KARA

I was on edge today. Not for any reason I could put my finger on. The atmosphere around me, inside me, just felt tense, like the air before a storm.

Across from me, on the other side of the lawn, the pack Alpha, Allara, sat with her feet up, watching over the children running about. Although her body language was lazy, I could tell that she was on alert in the way that Alphas always were, scanning for threats over at the tree line and ensuring the safety of pack members, even while appearing relaxed.

Not that she could spring into action right now, though, even if something did turn up to threaten us. Not in her condition. The sundress she wore couldn’t hide her large, round belly. She chewed her bottom lip, deep in thought over something.

Reid, her mate, crossed the lawn to join her, carrying two large glasses of lemonade. Allara accepted one, smiling up at him with a softness she reserved only for him. He bent his head to press a kiss to her lips. His fingers were gentle as they slid through her hair. The way he treated her—as if she were made of glass and the most precious thing on earth—was surprising for such a big man.

Bitterness spiked through my chest and it only took me a second to realize what the feeling was.

Envy.

As Reid and Allara got to talking, I bent my head back over my needlework and tried to shake away the feeling.

Those two had always known they were fated to be together. Ever since we were kids. Back then it had made us all laugh, the way they were with each other.

Not now. Now, it made us all yearn for something similar to what they had.

Unlike Allara and Reid, though, I’d never had even an inkling of that feeling toward anyone in the pack. I’d never experienced the pull they all talked about. That unshakable certainty that this shifter was the one for me.

So, I kept to myself. The other members of the pack didn’t bother with me, which suited me just fine. It ran both ways; most of the time, I was happy enough in my own company.

Since my brother Jason had found his mate Tammy, I’d withdrawn even more. It wasn’t anyone’s fault I didn’t feel right in company anymore. Besides, it meant I had more time to work on my art. I should be happy about that.

I smoothed a hand over the pattern I was working on: dozens of trees embroidered in shades of green. The forest scene would eventually become part of a quilt for Allara’s baby. The room they had planned for him, or her, was spectacular. 

Yeah. I have all I need, right here.

Allara and Reid were still deep in conversation. Even from this distance, I could see they were arguing about something. Allara’s brow creased. It was an expression I knew well.

She doesn’t want to hear whatever he’s saying, but she knows he’s right.

Sure enough, a few moments later, Allara threw up her hands.

Fine, fine.

Reid sat back, satisfied, and I smothered a laugh. Allara wasn’t one to lose a fight and she wouldn’t take it well. Reid brushed his hand against hers, and she relented, tangling their fingers together. Like all their disagreements, it was over before it had really started.

I shook my head and returned to my embroidery.

Kids on the lawn played under the watchful eye of half a dozen shifters. Beyond the grass, a group of pack members emerged from the trees carrying a deer between them. No one would go hungry tonight.

At the other end of the village, the vegetable garden was blooming; come Fall, we would be laden with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Everything was exactly as it should be. And yet, there was something I couldn’t put my finger on... Why did I feel so unsettled?

Is it my imagination, or can I smell a storm on the horizon?

IT WAS LATE EVENING by the time Allara and I were alone and we could catch up properly. We sat on her porch together drinking iced tea and listening to the cicadas flitting in and out of the grass around the house.

Allara had one hand on her belly, and the other absently stirred her drink.

It’s any day now, Kara. She patted her stomach and grinned. "Ugh, I’m so done being pregnant."

I chuckled as I remembered how Tammy had gotten in the weeks leading up to her due date. Jason had been almost as bad as his partner, fussing over Tammy and the imminent event as if everything else in the world had come to a stop. Which I guess, for my brother and his mate, it had.

Setting foot in that house was like waiting for a bomb to go off toward the end. By the time baby Mae finally arrived, we were all at our wits’ end, only to be greeted with the most placid, easy-going kid ever.

Not for the first time, I wondered what Reid and Allara’s baby would be like. I took a sip of tea, hiding a little grin. Whether male or female, the coming bub was bound to be a leader of some kind. How’s Reid holding up?

Allara shrugged. A smile played about the corners of her mouth. "Put it this way, I’m gonna miss having him wait on me hand and foot. Though it has started to get a little ridiculous—he carried me into the bath yesterday. Like, actually ran me a bath and put me in it."

We both laughed aloud this time. How well Reid treated his mate came as no surprise to me. Few men looked at a woman the way Reid looked at Allara.

Her smile slowly faded, and her eyebrows pinched together. Honestly, I’m frustrated. Until this baby is born, I’m stranded here. It makes my business as Alpha kind of limiting.

Yeah. I put a comforting hand on her arm. I can imagine.

It wasn’t a situation an Alpha typically found themselves in, especially since most wolf shifter Alphas were male. As much as Allara had flourished in her role as pack leader, she now had a new priority: motherhood.

I’m gonna confess something... Allara turned to me, setting her drink down on a table next to her.

Her expression was serious, so I mirrored her posture.

This isn’t purely a social visit. I need to ask you a favour.

Oh?

Allara and I had been best friends since we were kids. We’d reconnected almost immediately after she’d returned to the pack, picking up right where we left off. The fact she was now my Alpha hadn’t changed that relationship between us. There was little I would refuse her.

I’ve been in contact with Elder Frey, from the Thornwood Clan. He’s been keeping things running round those parts, ever since... Allara’s face twisted with discomfort. Well, you know.

Right. Their Alpha’s passing.

I’d never met the Thornwood Alpha face to face, but over the years he’d nurtured an alliance with Allara’s father. News of his sudden, recent death had spread like wildfire to every shifter pack in the state.

Shifter packs fiercely guarded their secrets, especially upon the death of an Alpha. The risk for any pack was greatest just after an Alpha passed, and before the new leader was chosen. But the Thornwoods had been in open disarray for months now.

They haven’t chosen a new leader yet? I couldn’t keep the shock out of my voice. I’d never heard of such a thing—a pack running wild for so long with no sworn Alpha. How had they survived a takeover bid?

Allara’s face darked. Oh, they had chosen one. The Thornwood Alpha’s son was all set to inherit, but for some reason, on the day he was set to be sworn in, he took off.

He... what?

He ran off somewhere. Allara looked pissed, and I sensed it wasn’t a good idea to point out right this minute that she hadn’t embraced the role of Alpha with open arms at first, either. Instead, I tried to keep my face totally blank of emotion.

The truth is, Allara continued, hefting herself back in her chair with a heavy sigh, I’m worried. Jaime’s still out there, and the Thornwood pack—the one closest to our borders—currently has no Alpha. Honestly, I don’t know what Jaime’s capable of. If he stepped in and took over...

I caught a flicker of real fear in her expression.

I shared her fear. Jaime was unstable and if he stirred up trouble with our nearest neighbor, that trouble could spill over to us. I stared out at the clearing in front of us. Earlier that day, it had been full of kids playing chase, giggling and play-fighting with each other.

The thick line of trees at the edge of the grass seemed darker than usual, full of shadows. I knew it was simply my mind playing tricks, but it felt like danger could be lurking around every tree trunk or branch.

I shook the thought away.

So, what does this have to do with me? I asked.

Reid is going to meet with the Thornwood Clan, Allara said. Normally, I’d go with him, but I don’t feel strong enough at the moment. I want you to go in my place.

I stared at her, shocked. "What? Why me?"

Because I trust you, Allara said simply. And I don’t say that about many people. I need people I can trust right now. Your brother and Tammy are busy with Mae, and besides, you were my first choice.

She smiled and squeezed my hand.

But... I fumbled. I don’t know anything about politics!

It might have sounded like a feeble excuse, but it was true.

I wasn’t like Allara—bold, confident and strong. She’d left our village without a backward glance and lived for years in a strange city before returning to take up the role of pack leader. She was born for it. I’d always been content to spend my days here with my weaving and craftwork, making beautiful things for my community. 

I couldn’t just step into her role next to Reid and do the job well. I didn’t believe in myself that much, and I was positive no one else would, either. There was no way I could do it.

Kara. Allara caught my eye and held it in that instinctive, unyielding way that only an Alpha could. Damn. When she pinned me with that look, I knew I wouldn’t be able to refuse. Look at me, she insisted. "I know you can do this. I wouldn’t have asked you otherwise."

I opened my mouth and closed it a few times, discarding excuses that I knew she’d throw aside as soon as I uttered them out loud.

What if I messed up? One wrong move could wreck whatever alliance Allara wanted to build and make things worse for both clans.

But the look on her face told me that I couldn’t argue. Allara had already made up her mind. More than that, I could hardly disobey a direct order from my Alpha.

Fine. When do we leave? I mumbled.

Allara brightened immediately. She sat back in her chair, looking like a weight had been taken off her shoulders.

At least she’s confident. That makes one of us.

Tomorrow.

So soon? I almost squeaked. Allara caught my expression anyway and draped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing tight.

You’ll be perfect, Kara. A soft smile played around the corners of her mouth. You’ll see.

IT WAS STILL DARK OUTSIDE when my alarm started blaring, far louder than I expected it to be.

With a groan, I gave it a couple of smacks to turn it off. I rolled over, every muscle in my body tensed, and listened with bated breath for the sound of a baby crying. Had my alarm woken Mae?

There was nothing but silence from the rest of the house. I let out a long sigh of relief and allowed myself to relax into my pillows.

Tammy would never forgive me if I woke Mae up with my stupid alarm.

On the chair beneath the window, the bag I’d packed yesterday lay in wait. I glowered at it, but it didn’t burst into flames. It remained exactly where it was, mocking me. Ready to leave.

With a heavy sigh, I knew I couldn’t delay any longer. I clambered out of bed and threw on my clothes. I was meeting Reid outside in half an hour. I had just enough time to eat some toast and brush my teeth before he’d be here.

There was no point waking Jason and Tammy. I’d said my goodbyes to them yesterday, and with Mae well and truly making her beautiful presence felt, like all babies do, the sleep-deprived parents needed as