Wolf Betrayed (Talon Pack #4)(11)

And now he would have to face this Pack and all the Packs out there with that knowledge.

“Drink this,” Walker said from his side, and Shane pulled his gaze from Bram. “You’re dehydrated, and since you kept moving, we couldn’t keep an IV in you for long.”

Shane frowned and looked down at his arms and legs. They’d shackled him to the bed with thick chains. In fact, now that he looked closer, this wasn’t a normal hospital bed, but rather one that had thick metal bolts around the sides.

“You were hurting yourself,” Brandon said softly, his gaze on Shane’s. “The beds are for shifters when they get hurt and can’t control their wolf. It keeps us safe, and keeps the patient safe.”

“We can unchain you now,” Walker said as he checked Shane’s vitals. “As long as you control your need to bang yourself into walls and things, you’ll be okay.”

Shane snorted, then coughed. Walker sighed and gave him more water. The coolness soothed his parched throat, and Shane was grateful.

“Don’t snort or laugh or yell,” Walker said. “In fact, take a bit before you talk. You’ve been out of it for four days, and you’ve been screaming for most of it.”

Shane drank more water with Walker’s help as the others unchained him. Something inside pushed at him, but when Bram moved closer to unchain his wrist, that inside thing calmed ever so slightly.

Gideon, the Talon Pack Alpha studied his face. “I brought you into the Pack. Do you remember that?”

The memory of Gideon cutting his palm resurfaced and warmth slid over Shane. “You…” He cleared his throat. “You made me Pack?”

Gideon nodded. “The moon goddess, our patron and the one that created our people long ago, told me to. She doesn’t normally speak to us, and the fact that she did tells me you have important information for all of us. Or maybe you’re important for another reason. I don’t know exactly, but we brought you into the Pack because the bonds that hold us as one were needed to keep you alive.”

Bram let out a curse, and Shane did his best not to stare at the man that intrigued him so.

“How does that work?” Shane asked roughly. “And thank you.” He paused. “Thank you.”

Gideon shrugged, but Shane had a feeling he wasn’t as nonchalant as he seemed. The man held the power of an Alpha, and Shane had been able to feel it even through his haze of pain.

“You saved my brother’s life. Saved that of his mate. We’re even.”

Shane shook his head and tried to sit up. Walker immediately moved to help him. He didn’t like lying down while the others stood around him. He was already feeling weak. He didn’t want to be truly helpless.

“You risked your Pack for me, so no, we aren’t even.”

Something like pride filled the Alpha’s eyes, and Gideon nodded. “Then earn your gift. As for the bonds, each wolf is connected to each other through bonds, though some not as strong as others. Not everyone can feel them, but the network of them added together creates a Pack. The healthier the wolves, witches, and humans in a Pack, the stronger the connection. As Alpha, I feel those bonds more than any other. It’s my job to rule, to protect, to aid.”

“As it’s my job as Healer to use those bonds to Heal physical wounds,” Walker put in.

“And I take care of the emotional ones as the Omega,” Brandon added. “Or I try to.” The other man grinned, but Shane saw a sadness in the man’s eyes that he couldn’t quite place.

“And you?” he asked of Bram, who had been quiet up until this point.

“I’m a Redwood, not a Talon,” Bram answered. “I’m the Alpha’s enforcer, his protector. I think they’re called lieutenants here.”

Gideon nodded. “Same role, different name. We have a few other roles in the Pack, but those are our immediate ones.” He frowned. “Do you know what happened to you, Shane?”

Shane met the Alpha’s gaze, but before he could speak, a woman walked into the room. Gideon let out a growl, but his face softened at the sight of the woman.

“What are you doing here, Brie?” the Alpha growled softly.

“I heard your voices and knew Shane was awake,” Brie said with her brow raised. She looked around the very large man and waved at Shane. “Hi, I’m Brie, Gideon’s mate. How are you feeling? Did they let you at least get up and try to move around before they started to interrogate you?”

Despite the situation, Shane smiled. He’d read about Brie in the past, of course, much like he had Gideon, but no one had mentioned that her mere presence could make him feel…protective and eased.

“Brie, you shouldn’t be here.” Gideon’s words were low, but Shane could hear the softness in his voice, a gentleness that must only be for his mate. “Not in your condition.”

Brie rolled her eyes. “This is the man who saved Ryder, and there are four of you in here to stop him if he suddenly has the idea to attack me. I know I’m safe, and you need to calm down, grumpy wolf.”

“Brie, honey, Gideon is an Alpha wolf with a pregnant mate. Being calm isn’t going to happen until way after the baby is born.”

Shane marveled at the connections and the way they all acted with one another. They were truly just a family with their own issues and jokes. They weren’t the monsters some of the humans tried to make them out to be. He’d always known there was something more than what Montag said, but seeing it firsthand told Shane he’d made the right choice.