Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2)
Read Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2) Online
Authors: Sonja Morelle
BOUND TO THE TRIBE
BOUND TO THE PACK BOOK 2
A Shifter Romance
Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2)
Sonja Morelle
Copyright © 2015 Sonja Morelle
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Liam
T
he small group of wolves passed by below our vantage point while we all held our breath. The wind continued to blow in our favor, carrying their scents to us and not the other way around. That would be inconvenient.
At best.
The pack below smelled bored and distracted, a much better bouquet than alert and focused. They still weren’t looking for us. Luck had been with us all day, allowing us to avoid the patrols as we made our way back down the hills to Jen’s car and our uncertain future.
Troy was scouting our way and, while I usually couldn’t trust him to do anything right, it was in his own best interest not to get caught as well. He was just as guilty as I was. Well, almost as guilty.
Last night had been a disaster.
Movement beside me brought my thoughts back to the present, it was dangerous to let my mind wander right now.
“That was close, not nearly as bad as the last though,” Kristen whispered under her breath as she settled back, relaxing slightly as our potential pursuers passed out of view.
I nodded in response but kept my eyes focused on the area they had disappeared into, just to be sure we were safe. My sister wasn’t wrong, the other group had practically been upon us last time. I’m sure one of them had heard Jen sigh in relief before they were out of earshot. Fortunately a strong breeze had come through at the same time, masking the sound.
“Are they gone?” Jen asked quietly from behind us.
It wasn’t quietly enough and I suppressed a wince as I searched for signs that the wolves were coming back before turning to face her. She was already wilting under Kris’s flat stare while she crouched even lower behind us.
Jen was the only human in our little group of fugitives and she still didn’t seem to understand how far noise carried. She was smart and learning quickly about the world of shifters and our abilities, but this wasn’t the time for her to practice. We needed to get away, unseen preferably.
The scent of a cougar was brought in on the shifting wind and I tensed, preparing for bad news, long before the animal became visible. Padding into view just enough for Kris and I to see him, Troy pawed the ground in the shifter sign for ‘all clear ahead’ before moving back into the underbrush.
Kris’s gaze followed him and the scent of frustration came from her briefly before she got it under control. Something was going on there that I'd need to ask her about if I ever have the chance. They weren’t behaving like freshly bonded mates, far from it.
Freshly bonded mates.
I looked back at Jen, now my own mate, and felt a fresh wave of panic wash over me. Bonding her hadn’t been intentional, not that I’d change it for the world, but it was why we were all hiding right now. My goal was to get her home safely, before the tribe came for me.
Before I was executed.
My only thoughts were to keep her safe from it all. She had no idea what she was getting into, even if she had come along willingly. I knew what it could mean. I knew and I did it anyway. Maybe I really was a monster after all.
“It is time for us to move, the way ahead is clear.” My soft words brought her eyes up to meet my own and I let myself get lost in them for a time. If I was to be executed for something, I was going to enjoy every moment of it before I was taken.
She nodded and stood up slowly, making no noise as she moved. She’d gotten much better at that already. I turned and knelt in front of her, pulling a sigh from her lips as I did so. She was embarrassed that I had to carry her, but if I didn’t we wouldn’t be able to move quickly enough.
She had protested at first, saying she was far too heavy for me to carry her a few feet, let alone the miles to her car. She had clearly forgotten my strength; my muscles weren’t just for show, and she was like a feather on my back. A beautiful and exotic feather that wrapped her arms and legs around me while nuzzling my neck.
It was glorious.
Once she had settled into a comfortable position I stood and followed after Troy. Trotting, then jogging, and soon running quickly through the forest, Kris at my side in the unlikely chance I’d lose my footing. Neither of us wanted Jen to be hurt in any way.
The distance was covered swiftly, no further packs came near our path, and I felt fueled by new reserves of energy I never knew I had. The need to protect my mate gave me strength to continue long past when I should have collapsed.
Even Kristen was panting from the exertion and she only carried the light backpack Jen had brought with her. I barely felt winded.
We made it to the cars in record time. Well, a record in human form. Dozens of miles through raw woodlands in half a day, having left just after sunrise and arrived just before sunset.
The only cars left in the clearing were Jen’s and Kristen’s, all of the others had likely been owned by shifters who had run back on four legs and been long gone.
Troy stepped out of the underbrush again, letting himself be seen. He had prudently stayed downwind and kept watch over the area. Kristen went over to him, opening the pack to take out his clothes as she went. I’d take care of my mate while she took care of hers.
It was ridiculous that
she
would have to take care of
him
, but not surprising. He was a far cry from alpha material and, frankly, a far cry from even being a man at all, really. And now he was what the humans would call my ‘brother-in-law.' Great.
I let out a sign and slowly lowered my precious cargo to the ground. “All right, Jen, we’re going to have to get to your place quickly and pack. If we’re gone before full dark, so much the better.” Preparing to let her go I felt her slipping lower. “Jen?”
Turning to look behind at her, all other thoughts fled. She was pale, far too pale, and her eyelids fluttered. Panic seized me for a moment as I strained to hear her heartbeat. It was there, and strong, so was her breathing. What was wrong?
“Kris!” I called as loudly as I dared and heard her coming over quickly soon after.
“Liam! What happened?! Is she ok?” Kristen was as concerned as I was. That wasn’t good. She had lived with humans for years, if she hadn’t seen this before then this could be bad. Really bad.
“I had hoped you could tell me. When I set her down she nearly collapsed.” Taking her to a hospital might be the best option for her, though being seen would cost me my life. It would be worth the price if she would be all right.
“I know what you’re thinking, brother. We can’t, not yet.” Kristen’s voice was calming, bringing me down from full on panic to a mere hysteria.
Troy stepped out from behind Kris’s car, now human and full clothed. “What are you both...” His voice trailed off and a sharp sting of anger wafted off of him as he hissed “What did you do to her?”
“Guys, this isn’t the time or the place. We need to leave immediately. Or sooner.” Kristen was still worried about Jen but she was right. “Troy, take my car and go to my place. Pack what you think I’ll need and then go to yours. I’ll take Jen’s car and bring her and Liam to her home. If you haven’t heard from me before you’re done packing your own things, come meet us at Jen’s.”
Troy listened, not taking his eyes from Jen’s prone form. Shooting me a glare, he nodded before turning away he stalked off to Kris’s car.
“Liam, get her into the back of the car. I’ll drive.”
Thoughts consumed by Jen, I carried her over and placed her tenderly across the back seat. I brushed a few stray hairs from her face and wondered what had happened. To her, to all of us.
Bonding a mate should be a time of celebration, not a day spent wrapped in panic and fear. An execution awaited me and now the health of the human I loved was failing for some unknown reason.
Nothing was as it should be.
Jen
V
oices were raised around me, waking me from some much needed sleep. I
had
needed sleep, right? But why am I on my couch, fully clothed? I don’t even remember lying down, why wouldn’t I have just gone to my bed?
The sound of my name caught my attention and pulled me fully awake.
“What Jen
needs
is for us to bring her to a hospital.” Liam’s voice was strong but worried.
Why would I need to go to a hospital? Now fully awake I sat up to see what was going on. After a couple failed attempts I manage to lit myself. Maybe I wasn’t fully awake so much as not passed out anymore. I felt drained, weak, and positively ravenous.
“Liam, she’s been looking better already just resting, what she needs is some more time to recover from whatever it is.” Kristen was worried too, but not as bad. Both were sitting at my kitchen table, facing each other. With their super powered senses I was surprised neither of them had seen me yet.
“Sister, for better or ill she is my bond mate. I
will
see that she is properly taken care of.” Liam was definitely worried. He stood and looked ready to walk right through Kris if she got in his way.
Time to diffuse the situation. Whatever it was. “Don’t I get a say in this?” The words croaked out of me, dripping sleep and exhaustion. It was worth it to see their reactions.
Both heads whipped over to look at me, Liam turned so fast he winced and put a hand to his neck. Kris exhaled and deflated a bit before a smile grew on her face. Liam just redoubled his worry.
Stepping towards me, rubbing his neck, he came around the couch and crouched down in front of me, face etched with worry. He slowly raised a hand to cup my face and I felt myself melt into it, a tired smile spreading over me. A sad grin found its way onto Liam before he looked away. “Please accept my apologies Jen. I have already failed to protect you,” he said simply, stupidly.
“Save me from what? A cold? Or the nap?” Whatever was going on seemed to be more than he could handle. What
had
happened?
Kristen answered the question before it left my lips. “When we got to the car you were unconscious. We couldn’t wake you up, Liam was a mess. Still is, really.” Her voice held a hint of her usual mirth. She was trying to cheer Liam up but her heart wasn’t in it, not fully. I really must have scared them both pretty badly.
Liam reached down to hold my hands in his. “What is the last thing that you can remember?” Now that it was obvious I was feeling better, some strength returned to his voice.
“Well... we had left that last patrol behind, at least I think it was the last. The one far below us when Kris glared at me?” Kris caught my eye and grinned, Liam nodded so I continued. “So we were running, well, Liam was. And running, and running, and then, to switch it up, he ran some more.” I grinned and managed to get a smile out Liam before I continued. “I started to feel a little cold, then drowsy, like I had been running too. Come to think of it, my legs are a bit sore, did I do any running?” They both shook their heads. “Anyway, I felt tired, and the next thing I knew I was waking up here.”
Liam squeezed my hands before looking over at Kris. “Sister, you are the human expert. Do you have any knowledge of situations like this?”
“It sounds like everything just caught up with her. Days of stress, hiking, and being outside in the fresh air. Oh, and the small matter of bonding a shifter just
might
have tuckered her out a tad.” Kristen seemed to have recovered fully, her usual snark showing through.
Interrupting our discussion, my stomach gave a rumble so loud and long I was fairly sure the floor shook. Smooth as always, Jen.
The effect it had on Liam was immediate, causing him to leap up and practically fly to the kitchen. “What food do you require? I will prepare it for you,” Liam’s voice called back. The idea of him attempting to use human tools to cook was both amusing and terrifying. He’d burn the house down in minutes. Plus, I couldn’t wait for a meal to cook, I needed food
now.
“Meat, I’m definitely craving meat. Is there any of that venison left?” The thought of some of the flame roasted deer had my mouth watering.
“Some, I’ll prepare the remainder for you.” The sound of Liam opening and rummaging through the fridge came soon after his words. He must be running back there, literally.