Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(11)

“You saved us?” she asked, her voice low.

He gave a tight nod. “And in thanks, the humans brought in their military and killed many of us. They were scared of what we were and what we could do if we wanted more. They might have lost people, but they still outnumbered us. The SAU formed soon after, and they threw us in camps and made up arcane rules and regulations to keep us in check. We have no rights, no future beyond the walls and fences that surround us. They put wolves together with other wolves, regardless of different Packs. They did the same to the cats and bears, not thinking one minute about the numerous species within those sets of shifters. We had to quickly form our own hierarchy within the dens or we’d have been lost.” Flashes of memory from that time assailed him, and he swallowed hard, clenching his fists.

“What do you mean?” Her hand hadn’t moved from his chest, and he wasn’t about to let her move it. He liked her touch and damn well wanted more of it.

“Human society needs leadership and rules to survive. Shifters are the same way. We need an Alpha, Beta, and other parts of the Pack to function. Even in the old days, it was like that. We took what we had before and made it into what we needed here.”

“Are all Packs like this then? In the other compounds?”

He hesitated for a moment, not sure what to tell her. This was his mate, though, and he needed her to know all she could to survive what was to come. “Yes. The humans cut us off from the other dens around the cities as well as the feline and ursine ones around Denver. However, we have our ways.”

She blinked at that. “So you’re in communication with the others.”

Shit. He was breaking the rules left and right for her today. “Yes.”

“And you can’t get into more of it because it’s your secret,” she said softly. “I get it. You probably shouldn’t have told me this much, right?”

He snorted. “Right. I also shouldn’t have changed you, Ariel. There are reasons for our rules.”

She licked her lips. “The SAU and the rest of us think shifters can only be born.” She frowned. “That’s probably why they’re using me and others...to find a way to make their own.”

“And if they find out that an Alpha or a mate can change a human into a wolf…”

“Oh God, they’ll force you to make others.”

He nodded. “They already force us to do so much, we can’t be forced to do that.” He cupped her face, trying to convey the gravity of the situation. “We have to hide you, Ariel. The humans don’t know every single shifter in their compounds. They tried at one time, but when we first started, the SAU wasn’t as organized. They killed hundreds of us and kidnapped others for experiments.” Bile rose in his throat and he let out a breath. “They didn’t keep good enough track, so they don’t know how many they keep within these walls. But they do know every single person inside has a brand and a collar.”

“That’s barbaric.”

“That’s reality,” he snapped. He could sense Soren outside the door and knew their time alone had come to an end. He’d have to take her outside to face his Pack and be branded. Fuck, this wasn’t going to end well. “If I hadn’t bitten you to change you, you’d have died. Maybe you would have been okay with that, but I wasn’t. Not only did I want to save your life because of what would happen when the humans found you dead on our doorstep, but you are my mate. I know I took your choices away, but we can’t go back now. Only forward.”

Her jaw tightened and her nostrils flared. “I’m grateful to be alive, but everything’s changed so quickly, and I’m not up to speed. You’re going to have to give me a minute or two to think.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have a minute.” He cursed. “This is what’s going to happen. We’re going to dye your hair so you at least look a little different than you did before.” He pulled at the dark strands. “I think you can go a little lighter and you can cut some off if you want.”

“You want to dye my hair,” she said dryly. “Because that will save me. Just like Clark Kent and his glasses.”

He snorted. “Not quite that severe. You’re my mate so it’s not like you’re in a low profile position, but we can try to hide you until the others forget about you. The hair job might work for a little while.” He let out a breath. “We will have to get you a collar. If you don’t have one on and an SAU guard sees you, it’s an automatic death sentence.”

“You have to wear them all the time? Even in bed?”

He nodded. “Always, Ariel. We aren’t people here. We’re lab experiments and zoo animals. You’ll have to blend in to live.”

“And you said you aren’t strong enough to get out.”

He winced at that. “Not together. We have submissives who don’t fight—they can’t because their wolves nurture. We have children and elderly who would be caught in the crossfire. It’s not as simple as a war.” If war was ever simple. He cupped her face once more. “Ariel, you’ll need the brand and the tattoo. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” She didn’t cry, instead she looked resigned. He wasn’t sure what to make of that.

He shook his head. “No, for that, I am sorry. But I can’t apologize for saving your life. I know it’s too much right now, but I’m yours, just as you are mine. We will have to face that reality at some point. First, we must protect you and our Pack.” He didn’t miss the look in her eyes when he’d said ‘our.’ “After that, we will work on the next steps. I’m in a position of power with my people. I cannot let them fall because I fear my choices and let you fear yours.”