Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,121

teens knew what to do, but Nik still wouldn't leave his side. The mothers of our pack didn't seem to care, though.

Elena, Kim, and Heather were the worst. Bridget checked in as often as she could, and often stayed all night just in case. Ashley tried, but she didn't have that same maternal instinct as the others. Instead, she took care of them.

The neighbors brought meals. Jesse, one of our quieter pack members, organized a group to check the trails, making sure the Hidden Forest pack hadn't come back. The bears made plans for Theo to "hunt," as they called it. Together, those three moved anything from the walls that the boy might use as a way to get over. Slowly but surely a plan was being formed.

It was early on Tuesday morning when the fever hit. Elena was stretched out on the couch, fast asleep. Ashley was sprawled in a chair with her legs thrown over. Bridget was on the floor, using a decorative pillow for her head and a throw blanket over her legs. Gabby came down the stairs at her usual pace - which was loud - and not a single woman stirred.

"Shh," I said.

"Lane," she hissed. "He's burning up and mumbling."

"Send Samantha home," I told her. "She can't help anymore."

"She won't leave," Gabby hissed.

So I pushed myself from the chair and moved to Ashley. "Hey," I whispered. "Wake up, Ash. I need a driver."

"Mm?" She pried open her eyes.

"Theo's running a fever now. Samantha can't stay. I'll get her out of the room, but you'll need to take her home."

She groaned. "You're awake. You drive."

I just glared. "I am not leaving my mate. Get your ass up, because you're doing this, alpha."

The growl in my tone made her suck in a breath, and Ashley sat up, pushing away the last fog of sleep. "Yeah. Ok."

Then I gestured for Gabby to go first. Together, we made our way upstairs, and she pointed at the last room. Not Olivia's, but Theo's. Evidently, her little group of betas hadn't been willing to go very far either. Quietly, she opened the door, and I followed her in.

Not surprisingly, Nik was on the bed, curled up against Theo. Roman sat on the floor beside them, a bucket within his reach. Xander was sleeping in the corner, his head resting on a pile of clothes. Olivia and Samantha, however, were sharing a blanket and pillow in the way that only teenage girls could manage.

"Sam," Gabby breathed.

But it was Theo who heard her. "Can't see it," he mumbled. "So dark."

"Shh," Nik whispered to him. "It's supposed to be dark. Just close your eyes, babe."

"Water," I told him, keeping my voice as quiet as I could. "He'll be thirsty, and if you can get him to take broth, let him have as much as he wants. He'll be up in spurts from now until the moon rises."

"Who wants to get broth?" Nik asked.

"On it," Xander muttered, proving he was now awake.

But looking around the room showed me a few too many sets of eyes, and they were all watching me. I turned to the girl I wanted. "Sam, it's time for you to go."

"No," she hissed, sitting up. "Lane, I'm here to help."

"And in a couple of hours, that boy is going to stop thinking and start reacting. He will be convinced that everyone in this room are monsters. He will bite, Samantha, and you are still very human."

"But, can't I..."

"No," I said. "I'm sorry, but he's not going to be a puppy. He's going to turn into a tiger that is big enough to think you're his next meal. And when they turn, they don't understand. The fever burns so hot, the senses are so distorted, that everything you think of as normal is confusing and terrifying. Wolves run, Samantha. Tigers? They hunt, and you are his prey. I need you to go home."

"I can stay downstairs and help Bridget," she said. "Something, Lane. I can't just go home, not with him like this!"

"The whole pack is helping," I told her. "I know you want to, but right now, the rest of us need to take care of you too."

"Mom will make me go to school," she finally said. "I mean, she thinks that's where I was yesterday, and..."

"Go to my house," Gabby decided. "I know you've barely slept, so do that today."

I had a better idea. "I'll have Ashley take you to Henry's. You can keep him updated, but there's a catch