Changed: 2 (Wolf's Den) by Aline Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

Rachel and care for her.
    Shane—the temporary pack Beta until Declan reassumed the
position—strode into the dining area. He shook his shoulders, cracking his
neck. The white T-shirt he’d worn was covered in dirt stains, his jeans crusted
with mud.
    Jackson stepped away from the stove. “All finished?”
    “Yep,” Shane answered and plopped down on a stool.
    Declan kept his mouth shut, attempting to keep his temper in
check. He’d wanted to dispose of the wolf that’d attacked his female—making
sure to rip the motherfucker limb from limb before he tossed him in an unmarked
grave—but Jackson had forbidden that as well. The Alpha had sent Shane to do
the deed, telling Declan to stay put.
    It was for the best. Rachel needs you . He clenched
his teeth, impatient and uneasy. I need to be in there with her. Chloe had
better hurry the hell up.
    “Declan,” Shane said softly, breaking him out of his stupor.
“You need to chill out, man. Your female is going to be edgy enough without you
adding to her anxiety.”
    “Is that so?” Glancing at Shane, Declan arched a brow. “What
would you know about it?”
    Shane was a mystery. He’d arrived in Atrum Hill as a rogue.
For weeks they’d seen him around. The male had taken odd jobs and rented a room
above Gleason’s Laundromat. One day—to the shock of the pack—Shane had
approached Jackson to see if they had space for him in their group. Rogues
didn’t like being around other wolves, which made Shane’s interest bizarre and
suspicious. Even stranger? Jackson had talked to the male, decided he was
trustworthy and introduced him to the pack in order to get their blessing.
    Shane had shown everyone he was worthy of their trust over
time but Declan still had his doubts. The man was strong enough to be a
Beta—hell, perhaps even an Alpha—so why had he come here?
    What is he running from?
    “I know enough.” Shane rested his elbows on the counter,
leaning forward. “This isn’t about you. Keep that in mind. You have to make
decisions based on the needs of something more important.” There was gravity to
the statement, as though he was trying to send Declan a silent message.
    Growling, Declan forked the bacon onto a plate. “My patience
isn’t going to last forever,” he warned Jackson and slipped the pan into the
sink. “I’m going into my bedroom in the next five minutes. Like it or not.”
    “Rachel, wait!” Chloe’s quietly hissed order would have gone
unnoticed among humans but Declan heard her loud and clear. He’d tried not to
eavesdrop, wanting to give Rachel some measure of privacy, but in this
circumstance he wasn’t leaving anything to chance. He listened in, attuned to
their conversation. “You can’t leave,” Chloe whispered. “Where do you think
you’ll go? What do you think you’ll do?”
    Lifting his head, Declan met Jackson’s gaze. The Alpha had
obviously heard the exchange as well.
    “I’m going,” he growled, tired of being tethered in his own
home. “Don’t try to stop me.”
    After a moment, Jackson gave Declan a nod.
    About fucking time.
    He walked from the kitchen, taking a deep breath. His heart
pounded, his wolf itching to get closer to its mate. He tried to collect
himself as he neared his bedroom, shaking off his doubts and anger. Shane was
right. This wasn’t about him. Rachel needed him to be confident yet
understanding. Anything else would confuse her. Entering the hallway, he
detected the acrid stench of Rachel’s fear. No wonder she wanted to get the
fuck away. Whatever Chloe had said had petrified his female.
    “Time’s up.” He addressed Chloe as he entered the room but
had eyes only for Rachel. His mate had moved from the bed and stood across from
him. “Jackson’s waiting for you in the kitchen.”
    Chloe’s gaze darted from Rachel to Declan. “I’m not sure
that’s a good idea.”
    “Go,” he commanded softly, watching his mate.
    Rachel had torn through his drawers looking for clothing.
She