Page 10 of Starting a New Life

We’d run them off.

For now, my wolf supplied angrily, his snarls filling my head. But how long will it last this time?

That was a good question, one I didn’t have an answer to.

“Seriously, Gray? Pissing on the ground like a common dog?” Rhett asked while slipping into a pair of sweatpants. He shook his head in a mix of exasperation and bemusement.

“It was an impulse decision.”

Actually, it hadn’t been much of a conscious decision at all, but a mix of my pissed-off wolf, the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and my own very strained self-control.

“Very manly, Alpha. You definitely showed them,” Angelo said with a deep chuckle, his amber eyes flashing at me.

“Hey, it was your fault he pissed himself.”

Puffing out his chest, he gave me a wide grin and wiped a strand of his tightly curled hair out of his eyes. “Damn right it was.”

“So, indirectly, you’re responsible for what I did.”

“I’m responsible for your lack of self—or should I say bladder—control?”

Rolling my eyes, I lunged at the other man, putting him in a headlock. “You were saying?”

“Uhm… please release me, oh mighty Alpha?”

Laughing, I let go of the other man, my insides warming at the easy, carefree way he ribbed and teased me. My wolf preened, internally licking his front paw in satisfaction.

This was what a pack was supposed to be like.

Camaraderie, good-natured ribbing, like a family.

A good Alpha didn’t need to reign with fear.

Even if it meant catching flack for maybe marking one’s territory like a real animal.

I watched Angelo disappear inside the packhouse, followed by Paul, Sonja, and Heath, until only Rhett and I were left on the porch. Steam rose from my body as my sweat evaporated in the freezing air. It was fucking cold, but a part of me loved the feeling of the frigid air hitting my hot body, so I didn’t bother with a shirt before I walked over to one of the lounge chairs.

I’d need to return to my office soon, but I wanted to let the calm of my surroundings ground me a little more before I did, and I knew Rhett wouldn’t mind debriefing here.

“That was the fifth time in four weeks,” I told Rhett and sighed.

“And the time between the breaches is getting shorter,” he said, his eyes full of worry as he plopped down on the wooden patio next to me.

Staring right ahead at the tree line, I let out another sigh.

“They are. I just… I don’t understand what they’re trying to achieve. Why are they doing this?”

Rhett shrugged, his forehead furrowed into a deep frown.

We’d been over this before, time and time again, but we’d never found an answer.

“Let’s recap everything again,” Rhett said in his logical, calm, and organized manner.

I finally had my best friend back. He’d been a mess after he’d found his mate. Impulsive, frazzled—it had been glorious. Even though having to step up and be the voice of reason had sucked. However, seeing my friend behaving in a way he never had before was worth it.

“Okay. We know there are at least five wolves intruding on our territory. No, wait. It’s six now. Today’s second wolf was new. They cross the barrier in groups of two. They’re getting bolder, heading further into our territory, and the time between each breach is getting shorter. However, they’re keeping to the woods, far away from any form of civilization, and haven’t even attempted to get close to town or our packhouse. Also, there still haven’t been direct threats against us,” Rhett summarized.

“You’re forgetting the fact that they feel like enemies,” I said.