Wild Hunt - Kali Argent Page 0,57

his other hand in the center of Rhys’ chest, halting him in his tracks.

“Back up, brother.” He didn’t sound angry, but nor did he sound in the mood to argue. “It’s not a fucking petting zoo.”

Rhys blinked, and while Mackenna couldn’t see the blood rush into his cheeks, she smelled it. The werewolf ducked his head sheepishly and took a measured step back as he mumbled an apology.

Roux’s eyes rounded comically as she stared up at Mackenna. As one of the only humans in the group, she seemed to be having the hardest time comprehending what she was seeing.

“Is that normal?” Her voice came out hushed. “Is she supposed to be that big?” She jerked around to stare at Rhys. “Do you get that big?”

Rhys shook his head. “No. Definitely not.”

She turned to Deidra. “You?”

“Nope. Not even close.”

If Mackenna could have frowned, she would have. She’d never been part of a pack, and she’d never seen another werewolf shift besides her mother. Since her mom looked exactly like her, right down to the color of her fur, she hadn’t considered her size abnormal.

Seeing everyone’s reactions now, especially Rhys and Deidra, that clearly wasn’t the case.

“A demon wolf,” Deidra said, and she sounded awestruck rather than afraid or disgusted. “I thought they were just stories.” When she noticed everyone’s blank stares, she elaborated, “Hellhounds.”

Luca’s sharp laughter rang through the night. “A demon wolf? Really?”

“Stop it.” After giving him a censuring glare and a swat to the arm, Abby stepped off the patio, her posture calm and relaxed. “She is no hellhound.” She reached her hand out but stopped far short of actually touching Mackenna. “May I?”

Still eager for an ally in all the chaos, Mackenna whimpered as she lowered her head and pressed her nose to the female’s palm. Her skin was warm and soft, and it smelled of soap and…cheese. Apparently, she’d been snacking before everyone had been asked to meet outside.

“She is a Primus Wolf,” Abby said as she stroked the ruff of fur that encircled Mackenna’s neck. “The first wolves. The Primus are the origins of the species. They were fierce warriors, protectors of kings and queens. All modern werewolves are descended from them.” She pulled her hand away and let out a musical little laugh. “Isn’t she magnificent?”

Mackenna didn’t feel magnificent. She felt like a bug under a magnifying glass. How could she be something and not know it? Abby had to be wrong. Her mother had taught her a lot about being a werewolf. Well, she had taught her a lot about how to hide the fact that she was a werewolf. Surely, she would have told her if she was descended from some ancient line responsible for the creation of the entire species.

“I thought the Primus line had died out,” Deidra said, but she sounded uncertain. “They were hunted to extinction almost a thousand years ago.”

“Clearly not.” With what appeared to be a great deal of effort, Rhys pried his gaze away from Mackenna and focused on Abby. “How do you know all this?”

“I read,” she answered dismissively. She didn’t even spare him a glance.

The information was in no book Mackenna had ever read. In fact, she had never even heard of the Primus until now.

Frustrated and tired of being the only one there without a voice, she lowered herself back to the ground and called forth the change. Unable to clear her mind of all its conflicting thoughts, the transition took a little longer this time, but less than a minute later, she knelt on the frozen earth, naked and shivering in the cold.

A blanket fell over her back, and she looked up with a grateful smile at Abby. Then, Cade’s arms came around her, dragging her upright and into his embrace. She took only a moment to soak up his strength and support, because right then, she didn’t need protection. She needed answers.

On the bright side, at least no one was talking about locking her in a cage and poking her with needles.

“How can I be one of these Primus Wolves?” she demanded of no one in particular.

“Well, when a mommy wolf and a daddy wolf,” Lynk began.

“Shut up,” at least six different people interrupted in unison.

“What about your mom?” Cade asked as he adjusted the blanket more securely around her shoulders. “Was she like you?”

“She was. I never knew there was any other kind of werewolf. I thought they all looked like me.”

His lips turned down at the corners. “You didn’t know