The Pack Girl's Retribution (Sequel to The Pack's Girl)

My Favorite Brother

Killian scooped me up and put me on his knee.

"Look at this face." He caught my chin and turned it side to side as if to display my lovely angles.

I turned my head in pretty poses as if to show my innocent, sweetness.

"Oh, I see it." Aviari said. "She's a tiny, evil, blonde version of you. Equally as dreadful."

Killian clucked in mock outrage.

Both my little brothers were snickering behind their hands.

I shot them a venomous look then remembered I was supposed to be revealing how angelic I was.

Least that's what Killian always said.

That's why he's, my favorite.

"Fair bit of demon in her." Aviari teased. Giving me a broad grin.

"Not in the least!" Killian defended "She's virtually perfect!" Killian said. Giving me a wink through one of his laughing blue eyes.

***

Aviari had walked back to the table still laughing and picked up a bit of roasted boar and bread. Opening his mouth for a bite when the door was tossed open.

I'd thought mom and dad were sleeping, so I was very surprised when they burst through the front door. Chests heaving as if they'd ran together the whole way back. My eyes shot across the table at my two younger brothers seeing the worry on their faces as they ducked like frightened pups.

"What is it, dad?" Killian asked. Setting me on his feet. As the oldest of us, he was the one dad relied on most.

We all knew that.

Killian walked behind me to get closer to them.

But I could catch what dad was saying. He put a hand on Killian's shoulder. "There are NightHunters in the area. Sent by King Detry undoubtedly."

"This close to Gallions Main Territory?" Killian sounded shocked.

"I'm surprised too, Son."

"You want me to take out a hunting party?"

"No."

"Dad?" Killian's black brows lowered over his eyes. "You know how strong I am."

"You're unique, Son." Dad said under his breath. "Best of both me and your mother. Too precious to feed to the NightHunters. You're utterly unique."

Aviari grunted behind Killian.

"You know how important you are as well." Dad reassured. His hand moving to his blonde son. As light as his big brother was dark. They

were only a year apart and were very close.

I felt arms wrapping my shoulders comfortingly and realized BailaLae was back there.

"I need to separate my heirs, just in-case." Dad explained.

I whimpered at the idea of dad making us split up. Who would go where?

Is he sending me away?

"BailaLae!" My mom stepped around the men to see my sister. "Come here, Honey."

The sunlight pouring in the doorway framed my mother's hair. As blonde as BailaLae, mine and Aviari's. All the rest of us mimicked dad's black-haired coloring.

BailaLae walked from me on leaden feet. I caught at her wrist. Clinging to it. Sensing that something was very wrong. And feeling very much like I wouldn't see her again.

I sat bolt upright in my bed in the cottage with the

Hayden brothers.

"What is it?" Vanquish asked urgently, looking at me over his shoulder.

"What did you see?" Hunter chimed in.

I didn't know how to explain all of it. I knew instinctively that I'd been right. I hadn't seen BailaLae after that sunny spring morning. It was the last day I'd seen all my older siblings.

Older siblings.

I knew my little brothers had been murdered.

What'd happened to my older ones?

Had the NightHunters gotten them too? I instinctively knew something that I should not have.

Killian is not.

I knew it might be possible for someone to kill Aviari if they could get close enough before he made them. But he's dangerous.

And BailaLae was so sweet and trusting she'd be easily murdered but Killian...Killian was a nearly indestructible animal.

I didn't know how I knew it. Couldn't prove it. Couldn't explain it.

But I was dead certain.

***

The next morning, I was up with first light. Creeping out of the pile of males to sneak down to the river before the rest of the females awoke.

Samantha and Jaecar were down there so I prepared to turn back but Samantha calling to me stopped me.

"Don't go Vanna Rae! He's just washing my hair." She giggled.

"We are just about done here." Jaecar shared a hidden smile with his mate.

And she cast him a look that said they'd already done a fair bit more than that.

For a half a second, I wondered how many of us had made love to our mates by the river.

Realistically, probably all of us. Probably

more than once.

In my mind I envisioned writhing bodies in every corner of the clearing around the river. Picturing males atop their females. Laying over them or mounting them on all fours like wolves.

I imagined that's what it could be like under a Mating Moon if the females no longer feared the males and if there was no risk of other males slaughtering a mated male to steal his she-wolf for their own.

We could never be peaceful like that. I knew. It was the nature of wolves to always be in conflict.

Somewhere far off I could hear a woman's voice telling me so. I saw glimpses of sunlight tangling in her hair as she sat over me. The sun brightening across her face until it was blinding.

But I still recognized the voice from my dream. My mother.

But she'd spoke of wolves as if she wasn't one.

My father had taken a human as a mate. That seemed shocking since wolves taking humans for partners had been outlawed for longer than anyone could remember. I couldn't envision him remaining an Alpha if his pack had known.

Unless she was something else. Which seemed the most plausible bet.

Not a wolf. But not human either.