Seeking Pack Redemption by Eve Langlais Page A

was it the odd voice in her head, a voice she’d only heard recently that
said he would protect them. That he belonged to them. He is ours , the voice whispered. Trust him and the light-furred one. They are . . . Thea didn’t understand the next word because it was more of an image, a group of wolves, really, running, together like a big, furry family.  
    Madness.
Her captivity and pregnancy hormones obviously overtook common sense. One,
normal people didn’t hear voices. And two, she didn’t know these guys. Although
they seemed hell-bent on helping her escape, that didn’t mean she could
automatically trust them no matter what the little voice in her head said. Who
was to say they didn’t want her for nefarious reasons?
    Somehow I think their intentions are honorable. Her gut just knew from
the way they seemed determined to protect her against horrible odds to the way
the one named Darren carried her so gently. Only time would truly tell.
    She didn’t
know how long they ran, but she could certainly admire his stamina as his pace
never let up despite the way his heart pounded in his chest. From time to time,
his wolf friends would join them, only to veer off when the approaching sound
of snarls and crackling bushes alerted them to an imminent attack.
    It seemed
like they would run forever, chased and fighting. But suddenly they spilled onto
a riverbank or creek—she wasn’t sure, given it wasn’t superbly wide,
maybe twenty, thirty feet, but flowed rapidly over rocks downhill.
    The russet
wolf joined them and shifted. She averted her eyes from his nudity, but still
got a glimpse of pale skin covered in freckles.
    “Hand her
over,” said the stranger who’d shadowed their mad flight.
    Panicked,
she clung to Darren.
    “I’ve got
her,” Darren replied as he gave her a reassuring squeeze.
    “You’re
slowing down. Give yourself a break and let me carry her for a bit. We can
switch back again when we reach the cache at the forked tree.”
    She could
feel the reluctance in Darren’s body. He didn’t want to let her go, and she
didn’t want to leave the haven of his arms. But she also knew how tired he had
to be after their flight.
    “I’ll
walk,” she announced. As if to mock her, a howl rose from behind them from the
shadowy copse of trees.
    “Be
careful with her, Marc,” Darren said gruffly. “She’s pregnant.”
    The
redhead rolled his eyes. “I won’t let her bun in the oven come to any harm. Now
hand her over so we can get going again. The water will only stall them for so
long. I can’t believe we haven’t lost them yet considering the eau de pee-pee
we’re wearing.”
    “They’re
following her scent. Or were. I think the blood she was dripping has stopped
now that her wound’s clotted.”
    “I hope so
because there’s still way too many of them.” Marc held out his arms and waited.
    Darren
sighed. “I’m sorry, honey, but Marc’s right. I need to recuperate a little.
Don’t be scared. I know he’s not as good-looking as me, and smells like a
pregnant doe right now, but he’s harmless. And I’ll be right beside you.”
    “Next time
I get to wear the raccoon piss while you wear the aroma of pregnant prey.”
    “He who sprays
gets first choice,” Darren taunted. To her surprise, he pressed a chaste kiss
on her forehead before he handed her over.
    “See you
at the tree, Thea . And don’t worry, I’ll be right by
your side the entire way.” Darren backed away a few steps and changed into the
dark wolf of before. Marc, holding her cradled in his arms, stepped into the
stream, wading further and further until the water tickled her backside,
shockingly cold. With Darren’s wolf swimming alongside them, Marc, aided by the
current, floated and walked them down the hill in the chilly current.
    Not a word
was spoken. She couldn’t, with her teeth chattering from the cold. How he
endured immersed halfway, she didn’t know. Of Trent and the other wolf, there
was no sign.
    Did