The Pack's Secret Read online

  The Pack’s Secret

  A Silver Wolf Shifter Paranormal Romance

  Copyright © 2019 by Casey Morgan; All Rights Reserved

  I write super steamy shifter paranormal romance and urban fantasy reverse harem romance. My goal is to fulfill all your fantasies at once!

  Click here to see the rest of my books! Love, Casey.

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Mini

  Chapter Two

  Pax

  Chapter Three

  Pax

  Chapter Four

  Mini

  Chapter Five

  Pax

  Chapter Six

  Mini

  Chapter Seven

  Pax

  Chapter Eight

  Mini

  Chapter Nine

  Pax

  Chapter Ten

  Mini

  Chapter Eleven

  Pax

  Chapter Twelve

  Mini

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mini

  Chapter Fourteen

  Pax

  Epilogue

  Mini

  Here’s a preview of Sold to the Wolves

  Chapter One

  Mini

  “If you’re not going to listen to my rules while living under my roof, then you can get out!”

  The door slams after my mom’s harsh words. I want to yell back about all the ways she hasn’t earned my respect, but it isn’t even worth it. It’s been years of this bullshit, and no matter how many times I tell her that she can’t treat me like I’m lower than dirt, she keeps doing it. It’s not like getting the last word is going to change anything.

  So much for home is where the heart is.

  I’m standing on the porch, looking at all the road ahead of me. Momma made it very clear that I’m not welcome back in her house, which means there is no turning back. I take a deep breath and look forward.

  Well, then, it looks like I’m outta there. I’m eighteen, so there’s nothing my mom can do about me leaving, and it sounds like that is exactly what she wants anyway. I’ve packed my backpack with as much as I could and stepped out. I literally can’t believe that she wants me to take a job as a housecleaner at the local motel. I know I can do so much better.

  But my mother was going on and on about how no one in our family has ever gotten out of Renton, South Carolina, and why do I think that I am any different, and blah, blah, blah. She called me haughty for thinking I’m better than this town. It is total bullshit.

  Renton’s a crap town where nothing ever happens. Nothing good that is. No one worth a damn stays here. Maybe that sounds harsh, but I don’t care. I’ve lived here for eighteen long years, and the only thing Renton has given me is anger and sadness.

  “Fuck you!” I yell back towards the house that is no longer my home. There’s so much anger coursing through my veins, and I want to get it out. No one answers, so I turn on my heels and head down the long dirt road that I’ve taken to and from school for most of my life.

  Hours pass, and the sun gets bright overhead. I don’t even know how long I’ve been walking for. It feels like my mother was just calling me a disappointment two seconds ago, but I’ve been walking on this long stretch of uninhabited road for a while. I mean, I can barely see my old home in the distance.

  It’s hot, and it’s humid from the recent rains, making the road a muddy mess I have to pick my way through. I’m thirsty. I know I’m being a total dumbass, but there’s no way I’m going back.

  Everyone in my family is way too content with staying in our middle of nowhere town, not doing a damn thing to change their circumstances. I can’t comprehend it. But that’s not my problem anymore. I’m walking away, and I’m never going back. They’ll never see me again, and that is fully their fault.

  “I hope you’ll all be happy,” I mumble to myself. I’m not going to worry about my family or what they are doing anymore. Why should I care about them? It’s not like they ever really cared about me.

  What I do need to worry about is the fact that I don’t have a single penny to my name. I ran out of the house so fast that I didn’t bother to grab any cash. Not that I had much to begin with, but I could have gotten a bit of a leg up with the tiny stash I had.

  But I so adamantly decided that I am never going back to that den of complacency. It would be the ultimate sign of weakness if I turned around and walked back inside. I’d rather eat a bucket of nails. Which means I’ll need to find another way to get myself out of this predicament. But that’s something I can figure that out once I get to the bus station. If I can get to the bus station.

  I’m sure someone will find it in their heart to help ‘little ‘ole me.’ If I put on the right amount of ditz and charm, I can usually get my way. Then it shouldn’t be too hard to get a waitressing job or something to make some quick cash before actually starting out this grand plan of mine: Whatever it is. I feel like I’ll end up in the city. I want to be somewhere where things happen. After eighteen years of living in the slowest moving town, I want a more fast-paced life filled with excitement.

  I hear what sounds like a car coming up from behind me. There hasn’t been anyone on this road for a while, so I turn around, curious. It’s a blue corvette, and it’s going a lot faster than I had anticipated, splashing through the puddles. I try to get myself out of the way, not wanting any water to get splashed up on me, but I’m too slow, and the car speeds past me. I’m close enough for the passing wind it makes to push me off balance. I do my best to keep myself upright, but my backpack is heavy enough to pull me down, and I hit the mud with a heavy thud.

  It. Gets. Everywhere. My clothes, my backpack, my skin, just watery and disgusting dirt all over me. It’s the grossest feeling. Things were already looking pretty bleak for me. There was only a shred of hope keeping me going, but this is the last straw.

  I try to hold my emotions in because I’m not one for passionate outbursts, but today, and really my entire life has been much too much of a struggle, so I just let it out. I start to cry like the big baby I am. The tears stream down my face as I throw myself a little pity party down here on the ground in the mud.

  At this point, what am I even doing? I feel like such a failure, and like there’s nothing I can do about any of it. I ran out of the only home I know with zero money, zero planning, and zero sense. I’m a fucking dumbass.

  I pick myself up and do my best to get all this mud off of me. What I need is a shower and a washing machine. Maybe I’ll find a gas station bathroom where I can splash some sink water on myself for the time being.

  I look in the direction I was just walking and see the blue corvette just idling there. I can’t see inside since the windows are tinted, and the top is up, but it seems like whoever is in there is watching me.

  Do they want something from me? Are they getting a kick out of my tears? Whatever the reason, it’s a little creepy having a car just watching you. Or not, I can’t even tell because of the tinted windows. Maybe he’s checking on directions. It is just a long, straight stretch, but how in the world can I know what this other person is thinking?

  Suddenly, the car does a U-turn and comes back. I’m wide-eyed watching this happen. It looks like they were looking at me. But why are they coming back? Maybe they feel bad for knocking me into the mud?

  Or maybe whoever is inside has decided to make me their next victim.

  The car stops in front of me, and the window rolls down. Inside is a very handsome man with very black hair and very blue, bright eyes. The fact that he’s cute warms me up to him a lit
tle. I mean, I know good looking guys can also be horrible, but then, maybe he’s not. I don’t mind taking the time to find out.

  This mystery man is looking at me like I’m some curiosity. I look back at him, not wanting to reveal any of the emotions I’m having.

  “Are you okay?” His voice is smooth and low. I could see this guy being some kind of salesman. He’d have to be a rich one given the car he’s driving. Which is pretty advantageous for someone like me who is broke.

  I can tell I might be able to get this guy to help me out. I’ll just need to turn up the helplessness, mixed in with a little sex appeal. I lean over in the window, letting the strap of my tank top slide down my arm. It gives him a healthy view of my cleavage, which his eyes dart to the second he gets the chance.

  “I’m fine,” I answer. “I just need a ride to the bus station, if that’s okay.” I bite my lip, hoping to draw attention to my mouth this time. I can see the lust take over his face, which is what I wanted — not that that makes it any less weird.

  Doing this always makes me feel a little skeevy, but it’s the fastest way to get what I want. I know if I spend too much time outside in this heat, as unprepared as I am, it’s not going to be good. I didn’t even bring a water bottle.

  “Of course, I can help you. Why don’t you hop in?”

  He unlocks the door, and I open it to slide in, not giving it a second thought. It’s such a nice car. Maybe there are a few other things I can get out of this guy before he drops me off at the bus station. I’m not sure what, but it’s pretty obvious that he’s into me, so there has to be some magic I can work.

  A few seconds after I close the door, it locks automatically. That puts me on high alert. It’s probably locked just because it does that, right? I know some cars do that for safety reasons, and this one looks really new.

  I look towards the strange man I just got into the car with, and he has this big Cheshire grin on his face. It’s almost predatory.

  It is predatory.

  I smile back, not wanting to give away the fact that I’m a little worried. His hand rests on my knee, and he slides it up my thigh slightly. It takes every fiber of my being not to flinch.

  “Like I said, I would be happy to help you out, but for a price.” His fingers massage the flesh on my thigh, causing me to internally cringe. “I just have to make a quick stop first to take care of some business, and then we can be on our way to the bus station or wherever you want to go, and maybe, on the way, we can have some fun?”

  “Fun?”

  “Yeah, we can get to know one another better.”

  Looking into his eyes, I can see behind the brightness is something sinister. At this point, it might be better if I just get out of the car and walk to the bus station. Even without sunscreen or water, it might be safer.

  But there’s no way for me to get out of the car without making it awkward, so I nod, agreeing to his terms. “Yeah, I like to have fun,” I smile.

  “Amazing.” His smile gets even bigger.

  I keep my face pleasant, maintaining the deception.

  He takes his hand off of my thigh and puts it on the wheel. He does another U-turn, and we’re on our way. I look out the window, watching miles and miles of land. I can’t help but think about this price that he asked for. I don’t really want to because I’m worried about how bad it could be. I have some thoughts, but my imagination is only going so far. He probably has a wider breadth of ideas.

  Living the way I have, I know that men are capable of some crazy things. I do not even know this guy’s name, which is on me.

  I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m some innocent thing. I know some of the things that guys want, and I’m not opposed to providing it, I guess.

  It’ll be fine.

  Chapter Two

  Pax

  There’s not much to do today, which is basically like every other day around here at the Stayman Apple Orchards. I woke up this morning knowing that I had absolutely zero plans. That’s been happening a lot lately. After finishing my initial schooling as well as my wilderness training and pack classes, there’s just hasn’t been a lot for me to do.

  I’ve been trying to get extra responsibilities, but that’s been the ultimate failure. I’m not sure if Anson, the alpha, doesn’t trust me, or there’s a slim chance he has other ideas for my place here —like some grand plan for my future. But I doubt that. I’m a bit of a disappointment to him. Something that he’ll readily admit.

  So, I’ve been trying to look up new ways to harvest and distribute apples. I realize that sounds absolutely boring – which it kind of is – but it’s something for me to do, and, hopefully, it’ll end up being helpful. Apples have been the way we’ve maintained cashflow as well as a front. It would be kind of weird if a bunch of people just randomly lived on a large swath of land outside of the town’s limits. So, we harvest apples and sell them to various people in the area.

  I’ve also been thinking about whether or not we could do other things with the apples like make products or whatever. Apples find their way into all kinds of things like food and beauty products and cleaning products. Just whatever.

  I’ve actually learned a lot about apple production and usage. I even got a documentary from the Renton library a couple days ago that I watched last night. That’s how bored I am: looking up the best ways to pick apples from trees and then possibly turn them into applesauce or other apple-y byproducts, watching movies on the history of apple breeding. Anything to avoid the boredom. Maybe if all of this ends up benefitting the compound, Anson will finally think I’m worthy of being part of the pack.

  But, honestly, the most aggravating part about this whole thing is that it shouldn’t have taken this long. It shouldn’t have taken me half of the day to get through a couple of webpages – and that’s not an exaggeration. I started this mission at nine. It is maybe almost one, and like three pages have loaded. My laptop is so old that it barely works. Booting the thing up takes at least thirty minutes, given all the staling it does. And what’s even more frustrating is that any time I want to get on to the internet, it feels like I have to make a sacrifice to the gods while making sure I’ve got the router at the perfect angle while also making sure to stay within a tiny radius of internet connectivity. It’s way too much work for what feels like the littlest of rewards, but here I am constantly trying to get through this personal hell because the internet is such a tantalizing treat, even when used simply for research.

  I continue to browse, the computer and the internet finally getting into the groove of good loading. I click on the next webpage, something about how crossbreeding can lead to sweeter, crisper apples. The click happens, and I wait for the page to load, thinking it will take, at most, a minute. I’ve got my fingers crossed for extra luck, then that god damn blue screen of death pops up, and I know there’s no coming back from that. At least not for a good thirty minutes.

  “Son of a god damn bitch,” I mumble to myself.

  I can barely take this anymore and decide to go find Anson. It’s time to make another request for better technology. I’m sure he’ll give me the same answer he does every time. That I’m asking for much too much, and I need to be grateful for what I have because not everyone can be as lucky as me, and blah, blah, blah… All the annoying things the elders say whenever they want you to leave them alone.

  But I still have to ask. The fact that I have to use such ancient technology is annoying as all hell, and something has got to change. It just doesn’t make any sense for the pack to be so scared of technology. I mean, as werewolves, nothing really hurts us. So, why should we avoid getting into the modern era? If something doesn’t change, I’m going to lose my mind.

  And if I lose my mind, it’s not going to be good for anyone. I’m not saying I’m going to throw a temper tantrum and turn our orchard into a hell hole for everyone who lives here, but I am saying it isn’t going to be a pleasant time.

  I walk around the compound, looking for A
nson. Honestly, I have no idea where he could be. The compound is huge, and since he has so many duties as the alpha, he could really be anywhere.

  I come across Daric, who’s taking care of some of the lawn. It looks like he’s watering a few of the plants we have outside. I get his attention by waving my arms. He stops what he’s doing and starts to wave back, but, when I motion towards myself, he walks over to me.

  “Hey, Pax. What’s up?”

  “I’m looking for Anson. Have you seen him?” Daric pushes his hair out of his face, wiping the sweat that has accumulated on his brow. He must have been working out here for a while now.

  “I did. It was some time ago, but he was by the mess hall. He’s probably gone somewhere else by now, though. It looked like he had a full schedule today.”

  “Thanks. Is everything going well with the lawn? Do you need any help?” I hadn’t planned on doing lawn care, but I’m not going to be a jerk and just walk away. Plus, it would be something to do.

  “No, I should be done soon, and then I have a few other things to do that are easier as a one-man job. Go take care of whatever you need to. I’m good.” That’s how it always goes when I try to help out. No one needs my assistance.

  “Okay, I’m going to keep looking for Anson then.”

  “Cool, I’ll see you later.”

  I leave Daric to his lawn care and go towards the mess hall. I wouldn’t have minded having a reason to procrastinate. I could have thought more about how to ask Anson for what I need. This is going to be like the fifth or sixth time I’ve gone to the alpha with the same question. Maybe if I phrase asking for some new tech differently, he might actually give in. Currently, I’m using all of the limited technology we have to make our life out here better. If he could just imagine how much things would improve if we’d get out of the stone age, I’m sure he’d see reason. I hope he sees reason. He’s definitely an old head who isn’t the biggest fan of change. Even though we’ve been stuck in this circle for a long while, I think I can convince him today. It’ll just take a little more elbow grease than I’ve usually given it.