Free Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2) by Sonja Morelle Page A

Kris calmly. I had to rub my nose at the onslaught and caught Ian doing the same out of the corner of my eye.
    The silence drew out uncomfortably before Kris said simply, “He isn’t coming.”
    “I see,” Ian nodded. “So those rumors are true as well. It certainly explains his enthusiasm in helping us find you all.” Seeing the effect his words were having he continued to press on, instinctively exploiting what he saw as weakness. “Seems you may have to take notes from your brother on how to pick a mate, then. Ironic, isn’t it?”
    She stood up, furious, face twisted in anger and loss. “Don’t you dare!” The words hissed out of her.
    I needed to step in, but how? Kris would not appreciate it in the slightest and Ian was still my alpha. Locked in indecision, I watched with a sense of dread as Jen stood up and whirled on Ian.
    “Hey! That’s totally out of line!” She stared challengingly at him. “Who the hell do you think you are?!”
    Kristen was startled out of her anger as I cursed inwardly. Jen really had no idea that Ian was important; an alpha, not just some run of the mill shifter like those she had been meeting till this point.
    This was bad.
    “Girl,” Ian said softly, an edge of danger coating his words, “This is none of your business.”
    “She’s my best friend and she’s just gone through some serious shit.” Jen stared at Ian defiantly. “I’m making it my business.”
    I wondered where this fire was coming from, Jen had never flared up like this that I knew of.
    “Jen, it’s fine. Really,” Kristen spoke, hoping to diffuse the suddenly dangerous situation.
    “No.” Jen’s anger continued to rise. “It’s not fine, not even slightly.”
    “I could beat you senseless, child,” Ian continued to speak softly as he stood to his considerable height. He felt he was being challenged. This was going from bad to worst. Fast.
    “And?” Jen actually took a step closer to the angry alpha, and he blinked. A small thing, blinking, but it spoke volumes. This was likely the first time in his entire life that anything had come closer to him while it was the target of his anger.
    “What do you mean, ‘and?’” Ian asked, surprised.
    I prepared myself. There was no way I could fight Ian purely in human form, and Kristen wouldn’t be able to help much either. Not to mention that any noise would draw in the rest of our guards.
    “Jen.” I had to try diplomacy, it was our only hope of getting her through the night unscathed, but she just talked right over me.
    “What I mean,” she continued, staring at Ian, who actually seemed off balance, “Is so what if you could kick my ass? Just because you’re bigger, stronger, or just more violent doesn’t mean that what you say is right.” There was no fear in Jen, only a righteous anger.
    Ian was truly confused now. In the shifter world being bigger, stronger, or more violent did make his words right. And he was all three and an alpha as well. His word was unquestioned law.
    I moved quickly, putting myself between them as Kris jumped over the fire and pulled Jen back. Ian was surprisingly fast for his age, though and he didn’t have to move far. Unfortunately, I was completely unprepared for him and looked on uselessly...
    As he laughed.
    Head thrown back, arms wide, he turned in a slow circle where he stood as gales of genuine laughter poured out of him. Looking back, I saw Kris and Jen both starting at me in shock.
    This was unexpected.
    Relaxing slightly, I stepped back towards Jen as Ian laughed himself hoarse before plopping back down by the fire.
    “Liam,” Ian spoke, still shaking with laughter and wiping tears from his eyes, “Bring her with you before the council, it’s your right and she is nothing like what we expect humans to be.”
    He regarded her warmly before turning to me and continuing, “Put her in front of the council and she’ll win your fight for you. Probably leave as the first human alpha as well.”
    The