Free Wolf's Strength by Ambrielle Kirk Page B

this was never meant to be?”
    “How do you know Nathan wasn’t supposed to rank?” Senior Valentine asked.
    “I’m not stupid. I asked to see the proof before I agreed. There was no badge designating Nathan as an Elite leader. Tristan ordered one to be made that same night.”
    “This is crazy.” Her father shook his head.
    “This is what you wanted. You wanted to keep our family name high in the rankings. Imagine if Nathan didn’t rank that night. We know leader positions only become available once every other blue moon. When someone dies. When someone retires. Or when the title is stripped. Those things don’t happen often. Your Crew thirty-eight would’ve been handed to someone else, Father.”
    “No.”
    Both her father and brother were in complete denial. Even her brother’s face was expressionless, and his gaze shifted left and right, not focusing on anything. She wanted to hear from her brother the most.
    “I’m out!” she exclaimed. “Don’t expect to hear from me for a few days. I need some time to think.”
    Her father’s eyes were darkened slits by now. “I hope you return with your good sense.”
    “I never said I would return,” she said, meeting his gaze.
    Her father’s expression softened and a visible lump rose on his throat.
    “It’s forbidden,” Nathan said.
    “I’m no one’s prisoner,” Naomi replied and turned swiftly, heading for the door.
    Nathan was hot on her tail. She picked up the duffle bag with her meager belongings and strapped it to her back.
    “You can’t be serious. What are you doing?” Nathan grabbed her forearm, stopping her in the foyer.
    “Something I should’ve done a long time ago.” She jerked her arm away from him and opened the door. If she stayed a moment longer, she would change her mind again. And then what? Spend another few years in this Compound with high ranks and honors that meant nothing outside of these walls. One thing she was not was a traitor. She pledged allegiance to her Pack long ago, but how could she protect them if the limits of her position bound her?
    She’d accept her punishment later, but they had to catch her first.
    “Where are you going?”
    “AWOL.”
    “Naomi!” Nathan’s voice grew more distant as she reached the paved road leading toward the Arnou residences. “Naomi, wait! Please!”
    He never begged. Never said please. He was always the leader and never the follower. That simple word gave her pause, and she stopped and turned.
    Nathan ran out to meet her on the road. “If you’re going to get through the barbed fence, you’ll need this.” He picked up her free hand and placed into it a handmade knife in a shield.
    “Thank you.” She squeezed his hand in a warm gesture as she accepted his token, and then she clipped it to her Belt.
    “I wish I’d done this years ago, Naomi. My path was carved for me before I had a chance to make my decision. What would’ve happened if I’d gone against the grain and broken the tradition?”
    She slid her palm against his brother’s cheek. “No one has the answer to that. Live your life for today.”
    “I’m not like you.” He shook his head. “My bark wasn’t loud enough to speak against a leader whom I respect and whose visions I’ve grown to admire.”
    Naomi smiled. “Then you are loyal to your leader and to your people, and that is something you should be honored for. But remember something, Brother, the strength of a wolf isn’t measured in the timbre of his growl.”
    Nathan’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something else, but Naomi turned and left. If he uttered one more word, especially if it pertained to loyalty, she would have changed her mind.
    She ran. Her strides ate the distance as fast as her breath could catch up to her. The wolf that shared her soul always had been rebellious, so the animal inside Naomi rejoiced as she sought out their freedom.

Chapter Nine
     
    “Why won’t you come out?” Dawson Caedmon asked.
    Elisa turned and