Addie (Pack of Misfits #1) - Raven Kennedy Page 0,32

family with Pack Aberrant, but the proximity of my old pack means that I’ve never really escaped them.

“It’ll be alright, kid,” Hugo says, as if he’s able to sense the direction of my thoughts.

I glance over at him, the corner of my mouth tipping up. “You’re a good alpha, you know that?”

He grunts under his breath. “Don’t be gettin’ all sappy and shit.”

I laugh and push all of those thoughts away. “Did you see those guys’ faces? You totally freaked them out.”

Hugo chuckles. “Cocky little fucks.”

I nod, while still pretending like I’m not a total mess over the strained mating bond. It hurts like a bitch, and my animal is unsettled, pacing inside of me and wanting to reunite with them. “Preds are all the same,” I say with a sigh. “Well, except you,” I tease the jaguar shifter.

He chuckles and shakes his head, but then the humor drops from his face. “You could’ve been hurt, kid. Or you could’ve caused a mob being out in public like that. That wasn’t smart. You know we always play smart.”

I blow out a breath. “I know. I messed up.”

“Wish I could take you home, but it just isn’t safe.”

“I’ll be okay at the motel. Hopefully it doesn’t last too long.”

“You know the drill when you stay off pack land while riding your wave.”

I nod. “Rent a room away from others and a corner unit if possible. Request cleaning supplies to spray the edges of the door. Stuff cloth under the door jamb and windows if there are gaps, and don’t leave the room under any circumstances.”

“You got it.”

It might sound dramatic, but a female riding her wave is no joke. I’ve heard that some shifters with a strong sense of smell can pick up the scent of a female in heat from up to a mile away. The only reason Hugo isn’t affected by me is because he’s the alpha leader of the pack, which means massive power and control.

He also has a specific connection with all of his packmates, since we all went through the pack joining ritual when we became a part of Aberrant, which included offering him our blood. Hugo can sense when one of his pack is mortally injured or dies. His animal also has total control over our animals.

“Don’t worry about me, Alpha,” I tell him, trying to alleviate the frown between his brows.

“Kid, you’re my pack. I’ll always worry about you, just like I worry about everyone else.”

He really is a great alpha. It always baffles me that he doesn’t have any kids of his own, because in shifter years, he’s still in his prime, and he’d be an excellent father.

I look at him curiously. “How come you’ve never mated, Hugo? I bet lots of females try to catch your fancy.”

He raises a bushy brow and gives me side-eye. “What did I tell you about that sappy shit?”

I laugh and hold up my hands in surrender. “Sorry. Maybe this whole newly-formed bond thing is screwing with my head,” I say, rubbing at the aching spot in my chest.

He notices my movement and frowns. “Those assholes will come to their senses and realize they’d be fuckin’ lucky to keep you as a mate.”

I scoff. “Yeah, I doubt that. They’re coyotes. I’m a duck. I’m sure you can guess how that went over once they found out what kind of animal sent out a mate-call to them.”

He grunts something with a pissed off look on his face just as he turns off the highway and pulls up to a motel with a sign that blinks, “Vacancy.”

Hugo parks in front and pulls out his wallet and hands me a stack of cash. “Here. Get inside and stay inside. You get hungry, you order in. I’ll send Zoey over with clothes when it’s safe. As soon as those Pack Rockhead assholes leave, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks, Alpha,” I say as I hop out of the Jeep.

“Yeah, yeah. Play smart. Stay inside or I’ll ground your ass to the compound and make you do crop duty.”

I grimace. The thought of handling a shovel does not sound like a good time. “No need to resort to nasty threats. I’ll be smart.”

“Good. Now get your ass inside, kid. I have to get back or I’d walk you in myself.”

“No worries. Get back and show those Pack Rockhead jerks who’s boss.”

“That’s the plan.”

I wave as he pulls away, and then I go inside to the motel lobby to secure myself a room. The front