Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,105

it's probably more like hundreds to one, but still. No matter how strong we are, we will never win against those odds, so our best bet is to hide, to blend in, and to do everything in our power to prevent revealing what we are."

"Which makes sense," I agreed.

"But," she continued, "not everyone agrees. There are wolves in this world who want to have that fight. They know that the more people we bite, the more will turn. In an all-out war, the tides will eventually turn. The only question is who we're willing to lose in that process. Me? No one. Damon? Everyone. See, there's something you need to know about him."

"He used to be in the pack?" I guessed.

"No," she assured me. "His family was never allowed. His father hated Henry. I don't even know how that started, or why. It wasn't much of a problem, so far as I knew. Just two men who didn't like each other. But Damon's a few years older than Ian. The boys went to the same prep school. In truth, most wolves who could sent their kids there. It was a small, elite place that knew what we were. It was also the idea that started Wolf's Run. A hidden place where wolves could be themselves without fears."

"A wolf prep school?" That was actually impressive.

Ashley nodded. "It closed a few years ago. Someone saw something, rumors were running rampant, and it was eventually exposed. A fire destroyed all the evidence - faulty wiring, the police report said. But, to so many, it was proof that this idea will never work. To Ian, it was a sign that it was possible, but we'd have to be more careful. The walls were his solution. No one can accidentally see anything if they can't get in to see it."

"Makes sense."

"But Damon went there," Ashley continued. "He started out a few years above Ian. My brother didn't care. He had plans, had responsibilities, and he intended to change the world. Kinda like Gabby, in a lot of ways. He kept testing out of courses, doing summer classes to get ahead, and moving up a grade until he was in the same classes as Damon. Naturally, that didn't sit so well with such an arrogant alpha."

My mouth flopped open. "Ian was bullied?"

"Damon tried," she admitted. "The problem was that Ian didn't care. He had his betas, and they were now in his class as well. Ian had the money to get and do whatever he wanted. Damon was there on a scholarship. My brother isn't an ugly guy, so he got the girls, and Damon? He's always been a dick. In his eyes, my little brother was everything he wanted to be, and Ian made it look so easy."

"That doesn't mean it was," I pointed out. "He took extra courses, and clearly had to study!"

"Ah, but my father wasn't a poor man, even back then. My mother's family had connections. Those two things together meant my family began to succeed. We went from upper middle class to more. Dad was thriving as an attorney, he reinvested his money and made more, and he started a few businesses. Ian drove a new car; Damon had a beater like Roman. Ian had nice clothes, but Damon's were from Walmart. My brother didn't care, but Damon always did."

"And all of this is because of what happened when they were kids?" I asked.

"It didn't stop there," she told me. "Ian could've gone to any school he wanted. Trent was in love with drama, so they went to the school that was best for him. That was around the time that I lost my beta and mate, so Lane moved up there to keep an eye on them. And to bond with them, but that was never really spoken out loud. I always knew that Lane needed to be a beta. I was failing him, so Ian said he'd love to have a roommate who could buy the beer. Thing is, Damon went to the same university. It's the closest, so easier for him to afford everything."

"Shit," I breathed.

Ashley nodded. "Damon tried to say Ian was following him. Ian laughed it off, which actually hurt Damon's pride more. Ian lived in an apartment. Damon was in the dorms. They were both business majors, but while my brother was excelling, Damon was struggling. He partied too much, skipped too many classes - according to Ian - and his grades were paying for