Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,157

honestly expect me to believe that you could fight off five, six... ten adult wolves at the same time?"

"We weren't that dumb," Nikolai snapped. "Have a little faith. Jesus."

Ian's head just turned to Gabby. "And you're going to allow your beta to talk to me that way?"

"Ian..." Gabby said.

"They answer to you, Gabby. That means this? All of this? It's your fault. You are the alpha here, aren't you? And you didn't even know where your betas were? How are you going to explain it to their parents when they don't come back? Because that's on you. How will you make Kim stop crying? How will you explain to Heather that not only her daughter, but her foster son are just gone? And Lev? Nikolai's all he has left of his family, but you were willing to throw that away without even talking to the rest of your pack."

"That's not how it was," Xander snapped.

Ian's head just turned to him. "No? Why, because you were the alpha in charge of this? Are you taking her betas?"

"It's not like that!" Gabby said. "I should've asked why they were all busy, Ian, and I'm sorry."

"You'd better be," he told her. "Because if they made one mistake tonight. If Damon saw them and decides to take it out on us? Then that's on you. Every person who is hurt will be your fault. Do you see how this thing works yet? Being the heir to the pack isn't always fun and games. It's also not some movie where a little editing will make it work out. This is real life, Gabby!"

"I'm sorry, Alpha," she said. "I should've done better."

"Which is why you're grounded," he said. "I may not be able to keep you home, since that's your mother's domain, but I can keep you from being a wolf. One week, all human. Let's see if you remember how nice it is to have a safe and protected community where you don't have to hide what you are. See if you think it's worth risking that for a few bragging rights."

She nodded. "No shifting," she agreed.

But Nik couldn't take it. The boy shoved to his feet. "We're the ones who fucked this up, and you're only punishing her? What kind of bullshit is that?"

"That," Ian snapped, "is how it works. All of you are supposed to be extensions of her. That means she's the one who will always pay when you screw it up. Just like she is now." Then he lifted a brow. "Still fun, Nikolai?"

"No, if you're pissed, you take it out on me," Nik said, shoving forward.

Both of his hands hit Ian's shoulders, shoving the Alpha back a step. I gasped, jumping out of the way. Lane immediately moved before me, but Seth was also in motion. He grabbed Nik's arm, shoved the boy's shoulder away, and stepped forward with Nik's arm now pinned behind his back. Two steps took the kid toward a chair. Then, Seth shoved his own knee into the back of Nik's, forcing the boy down until his face was flat on the cushion.

"An alpha is never alone," Seth warned him. "You attack him and you attack all of us. Know your place, kid."

The sound Nik made was rage, but I could only describe it as a hiss. An almost cat-like one. Then his form began to blur. Immediately, Gabby shoved to her feet.

"Don't do it!" she ordered. "Nik, you screwed up, so deal with it. If you want to be one of my betas, then you will realize that Ian's not just the wolf I listen to, but he's also one of my dads. That means you crossed a line."

Nik snarled under his breath. "This isn't fair, Gabby."

"This is a pack, Nik. All for one, right? Sometimes it sucks. Most times it's good, but if you shift, we're done."

The boy just sighed, relaxing in Seth's hold, and then nodded to show he was good. Slowly, Seth released his grip. When Nik still didn't struggle, Ian's beta stepped back, but the others were all tense and watching. This was the first time I'd ever seen that side of them. No, I hadn't missed Lane moving to guard me either.

They worked like a team in a way I hadn't expected. From where I was standing, it felt like Ian had sent the most gentle of his betas to deal with this, almost like judging the weapon against the threat. And from the look in his eyes, I was