Read Online Claiming His Need by Ellis Leigh - Free Book Online Page B

the smartest, most strategic wolves I’d ever met. More so than Magnus. Nearly as strong as Rebel. Quiet but intelligent. If anyone could help me keep my mate safe, it was the man currently knocked out on the forest floor.
    “Call the Fields. Blaze needs to know what’s happened. And then call every other Feral Breed den President. I want to know of any and all issues concerning Omegas in the last five years.”
    Shadow nodded. “What about Magnus?”
    I kneeled down and wrapped my arms around Sandman’s hips and shoulder, turning and hefting him into a fireman’s carry. My quads burned as I pushed into a standing position, but I didn’t have time to go slow. My mate was in danger, and I needed to set up a team to make sure no one could get close to her. With a grunt, I adjusted Sandman on my shoulders and walked up the hill toward the road where we’d come into the forest, Rex and Shadow following closely.
    “Magnus is on his own right now. There aren’t enough of us to track him, and we have no idea how many wolves are in this nomad cluster. We need to regroup and plan what to do next, but for now, we need to figure out how to deal with the shitstorm coming our way.”

SEVEN

Kaija
    “Kaija, sit down already,” my mother said from across the room.
    I huffed but continued pacing. Gates had yet to return, and I was anxious to lay my eyes on him.  
    Lanie came to stand next to me. “It’s never easy when they’re away.”
    I looked into her eyes, seeing the residual fear and anxiety there. Lanie was a good kid, a sweet girl who had come to the peninsula for college. One chance encounter at a grocery store, and she was family. Had those nomads taken her from us, we all would have been inconsolable. I needed to thank Sandman for making sure she escaped safely.
    Ever the sensitive one, Lanie reached out and took my hand, squeezing hard. “They’ll be back soon. Do you feel the bond between you yet? Can you tell where he is?”
    I closed my eyes and focused on the mating bond. It was definitely there, a little tug pulling me north. But it was weak, either from the newness or from the fact that we had not yet claimed each other as mates.  
    “Barely.”
    “Well, barely is better than not at all.” She stood beside me at the window, watching the driveway for any sign of cars or wolves.
    A few moments later, the sound of an engine drawing near pricked my ears. “They’re coming.”
    Wolves and human mates seemed to appear out of thin air, all walking outside to welcome our family and new friends home. I stood at the back of the group, wringing my hands. Pup came to stand beside me, ever watchful.  
    When the first truck made the turn onto the driveway, three of the women behind me rushed forward, knowing their mates were in the vehicle. This continued as more trucks arrived, mates and children, parents and friends running to greet their heroes as I stood watching and waiting.
    Finally, after most of the wolves had retired inside and there were only a handful of us left on the porch, two trucks pulled into the drive. My father was in the first one along with a few of the men from the Breed. I grew worried when I didn’t see Gates in the second truck, but I knew he was nearby. I could feel the pull to him, the strength increasing every second.
    “Kaija,” my father yelled as he opened his door. “Get the doc.”
    My heart dropped to my feet and tears burned my eyes. Someone was hurt. Where was Gates? What would I do if—
    “Baby.” My mother placed a hand on my shoulder. “Do what your father says. Now.”
    I nodded once, reluctant and terrified, but followed her instructions. I ran through the house and out the back door, shifting on the fly the moment my feet touched grass. My red cloak floated to the ground behind me as I raced away, the fabric like blood on the green carpet of the earth. Turning my head, I shook off the feeling of dread and increased my speed. Within moments, I was at the door of