Free Wolf Pack by Crissy Smith

about babysitting for the next four pack runs being threatened.”
    “That’ll do it,” Kendra replied.
    “The good news is that Dean’s friends circled around to search for him. They came across the attack and managed to stop it. The best part is that they gave a good description of the ones responsible for the assault. Including the one who was obviously there against his will,” Zak said.
    “Trent,” she guessed.
    “That’s what we think,” Zak responded.
    “I need to talk to Dean’s friends,” Kendra said.
    “In the kitchen with your Alpha.” Zak nodded toward the house.
    Kendra turned to Cole. “I have to go,” she told him.
    “Yeah, go.”
    She smiled at him quickly before she took off. He looked over at Zak and found his friend grinning. “What?” he asked.
    “It seems like the two of you made up,” Zak stated.
    “Yeah,” he agreed but didn’t elaborate.
    “Take a walk with me,” Zak said as he slung his arm around Cole’s shoulder.
    They walked farther from the house. Even with the violence from earlier there was still such a strong sense of peace on the property that the wolf side of him was calmer and happy. Cole wasn’t sure why he felt that here, when not even his birth pack had given him the same feeling. This was all confusing and weird, but he needed to think about it later.
    “So you seem plenty comfortable in pack territory for a lone wolf,” Zak said.
    Or maybe he’d have to talk about it now. “What’s your point?”
    “Every time someone brings up the pack you get all twitchy,” Zak answered.
    “I don’t get twitchy,” he argued.
    “Yeah, bro,” Zak said. “You do.”
    Cole wanted to be mad but he couldn’t be. “Okay, maybe.”
    “But now you’re sleeping with a shifter inside the inner circle,” Zak said.
    “It’s complicated.” And wasn’t that the truth.
    “Yeah,” Zak agreed. “However, I gotta say, man. I think you and Kendra look great together. She’s a strong match for you.”
    “Thanks. I acted like a jerk earlier but she seems to have forgiven me.”
    “I like her. So does everyone else,” Zak told him.
    “Then why do you look like you have more to say?” he asked.
    Zak frowned. He turned Cole to face out into the woods. “This isn’t as simple as we first thought. The attacks are happening with more frequency and are now affecting the pack, all of the pack. Either Taylor is involved or he’s the real target. No matter which way you look at it—Kendra is in danger.”
    He hadn’t thought about that.
    “I think I have a feeling that one of the reasons you stay away from the pack is because you don’t think you fit in. You could be an Alpha but you don’t want to. It’s hard for you to follow another Alpha too,” Zak said.
    “How do you know?” he questioned.
    “Because it takes one to know one,” Zak whispered.
    His friend was right. “I’ll protect her, I’ll protect them all.”
    “That’s what I thought,” Zak said with a smile. “You don’t have to do it alone.”
    Cole gripped Zak’s shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
    “It’s not just me,” Zak said. “The others are all out there searching for the scents from the assault. So we’ve got birds, felines, bears and a coyote out there tracking. The smells should still be fresh enough that they pick up on something.”
    “Then what are we waiting for?” Cole asked.
    “Easy, man,” Zak said. “Let Kendra talk to the witnesses and then we’ll join the others. I’ll check in with Jamie and we’ll meet up with them when she’s ready.”
    “Thanks.” As Zak walked away Cole went back to staring into the trees. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The rustle of the leaves overhead was all he could hear until the slight break of a twig sounded.
    Cole opened his eyes and turned his head slightly to the right. He could see Zak on the phone with his back to the woods. No help there. He pressed his lips together to hold in a snarl. He could smell the slight