My knees threatened to buckle. Then I felt two strong arms wrap around me. When I looked up, I realized the fireman had come to my rescue. “Thank you.” My voice sounded strained even to me.

“It could be hours before the fire is completely out and the chief investigator declares it safe enough for you to pick through.” His brow furrowed. “I’m guessing you’ll want to try to salvage whatever you can.”

I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. I grew up here. This is the only home I’ve ever known.” I felt like I was being watched. When I scanned the woods, I saw eyes staring back at me from the dark. There was a good chance whoever killed my parents was out there watching and waiting. Inside, I could feel my wolf snarling, and I knew I had to get out of there before I revealed my abilities. I blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ll take my sisters and get some food, but then I’m coming back.”

He studied me for a moment before responding. “I’m going to stay here and watch over the place until you return.” He stared out into the woods, much like I had moments before.

My eyes narrowed and I tried to sniff deeply without being too obvious. Now that the smoke had cleared some, my olfactory senses could process scents other than the overpowering odor of our burning home. A second later, I detected what I was seeking out. The fireman was a wolf shifter too. Then he interrupted my thoughts.

“There are some terrible people in this world, people who would take advantage of the fire and rifle through this mess to steal from you.” He slowly released me and took a step back. “I won’t let that happen. I promise.” There was something in the way he said it, in the way he glared into the woods while he spoke. I actually believed him.

“I appreciate this. I won’t be long.” I turned and raced back to the car. When I arrived, I found Tanner herding all the kids together and my sisters staring at him with such admiration, I wanted to puke. “What are you doing?” I snapped. “And when did you arrive?”

He raised both hands and took a step back. “I’ve been here about fifteen minutes. Came straight from work. Just trying to help.”

I could feel the hairs standing up on the back of my neck and I knew why. The pack was my responsibility. My father had been the Alpha. I didn’t want even another pack member trying to take over my role. “A car would help. Or a van. Don’t suppose you have one of those?”

“Actually, I have an Expedition.” Tanner proudly jerked his thumb toward the vehicle parked behind mine. “I can seat eight, maybe nine if they’re tiny.” He grinned.

I did a quick head count. One thing was obvious: there were no adults in the group. “Where are all the parents?” I frowned as I looked around our homestead. Most of the outbuildings were intact, as well as the other cottages. The fire had been completely concentrated around my family’s home.

“I heard some noise coming from the forest. I’m guessing they all shifted and ran. The kids were at school, so they focused on saving themselves.” He shrugged.

This went against everything I’d been raised to believe. Why did no one rush to protect the Alpha? Who killed my parents?

“We have too many kids to all fit in the two vehicles.” I sighed as I searched out my parents’ minivan. I saw it sitting in front of the detached garage, unscathed. All these years of downplaying their wealth to keep us safe. Still, they were probably killed for it anyway. I yanked open my vehicle door and pulled my keys from the ignition. Before I started college, my parents had entrusted me with all kinds of information and paperwork, but most importantly, with all the keys. I slowly removed the one for the minivan. “Which one of you wants to drive?” I glanced back and forth between Lenoir and Shelby.

“I’ll drive!” Shelby grinned and grabbed for the key.

“I’ll ride with Tanner.” Lenoir blushed and looked away.

I rolled my eyes. “Awesome. Let’s go to the Asheville Phoenix House. It’s half an hour away. I’ll order us pizzas to be delivered.”

“Sounds great, but I know nothing of the place.” Tanner chuckled as he smiled down at my little sister.

“Right. Why would you?” I shook my head. “Follow me.” Then everyone climbed into the vehicles and drove off.

The littlest pups had chosen to ride with me. I could sense how close to tears most of them were at the moment. “Let me order pizza and then we’ll talk, okay?” One by one, they all nodded. So, I made my call and stuck to the basics, a couple of larges with extra cheese, a couple of larges with pepperoni, and four two-liters of soda. Then I blew out a breath and prepared to address the pups. “I’m sure you have questions,” I began.

“Where’s my mommy?” The little girl in the back seat whimpered.

“Well, I don’t know. When I arrived, everyone was gone. They’re probably hiding. This is why I’m going to go back with Tanner after dinner. We can pick up your parents and everyone can be together.”

“Because the pack always stays together?” The boy beside me wore a hopeful expression on his face.

“Always. Nothing can keep the Phoenix Pack down. This is just a stumbling block. We’re all gonna be just fine.” I nodded in my most reassuring manner, but I felt like a fraud.

We rode in silence for the next twenty minutes. When we finally pulled into the driveway, the kids pressed their faces to the windows, except for the little girl in the middle. She complained. “I wanna see! Move your fat head.”

“Patience. We’ll be there in a minute.” I sighed.

“How long is this driveway? It looks longer than the one to the homestead.” The boy beside me was practically bouncing out of his seat.

“Maybe.” I stopped in front of the gate and punched in the code on the keypad beside the entrance. Slowly, the metal creaked open, and we eased through the opening with the rest of the caravan sneaking in behind us. Finally, I pulled around the circular drive and came to a stop in front of the steps to the main house. I’d only been there a few times and each time I had, I was struck by the grandeur of the place. Asheville Phoenix House looked like an antebellum plantation, complete with sweeping staircases, countless Corinthian columns, and three spacious stories. I smiled as the kids gasped when they exited from my vehicle.

“We’re staying here?” The little girl’s eyes were wide with surprise.

I nodded. “Yes, for tonight and maybe for as long as it takes.” I bit my lip. The thought of rebuilding was daunting. “Pizza should be here soon. Let me unlock the door and then you can explore.”

I trudged up the porch steps and found the key on my keyring. Then I opened the door, stepped inside, and turned on the lights before I let them enter. “Be careful. This place is old. Don’t break anything.”

They rushed to the bottom of the three-story spiral staircase. I could hear them, their excitement, their curiosity, but I was more concerned with other matters, like our safety and security, like rounding up the rest of the pack, like leading us toward a brighter future.

Tanner strutted up the steps and joined me on the porch. “So, what’s the plan?” He puffed out his chest some. As the oldest male there, though younger than me by two years, I’m sure he thought it would only be a matter of time until he was in charge. This only strengthened my resolve to lead us.

“We eat. We leave Lenoir and Shelby in charge of the little ones, then we go back to the homestead and try to collect the rest of our pack.” I shrugged as if this should all be obvious to him.

He tugged at his chin a minute. “Okay, well, I’ll drive, since I have the bigger vehicle.” The he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Right. Or we could take two vehicles because some might not have a way to get here, and we don’t want to have to make multiple trips.” My brow rose in challenge.

“I can see that.” He opened his mouth and I expected him to argue, only a buzzing sound emanating from the house interrupted. He jumped, but I simply wandered to the security pad on the inside wall and answered the gate alarm. I held the button on the intercom. “Who is it, please?” Then I released to hear the response.

“Pizza.”

“Come in.” I pressed the button to open the gate.

“Quite the system we have here.” Tanner studied it.

I nodded. “Too bad there wasn’t anything like this at the homestead. My father wanted to downplay our wealth.” I shrugged. “I’ll handle things differently.” Then I turned on my heels and skipped down the steps to meet the food.

Tanner followed and soon held all the pizzas while I paid. Then I grabbed the bags with the soda and we mounted the stairs once more to feed the kids while the pizza delivery man drove out through the gates.

“Dinner!” I made my way to the enormous eat-in kitchen. This wasn’t the night for formality. We’d eat around the counter and on the kitchen table. Hell, some could sit in the keeping room for all I cared.

As I passed out pizza and directed pups to seats, Tanner followed behind pouring soda. “I couldn’t help but notice your comment a few minutes ago,” he murmured as we made our way back to the island.

“Oh? Which one?” I could feel my wolf snarling again. I wouldn’t be able to hold her back much longer.

He shrugged. “You know, the one about how you’ll do things differently.”

“Yeah. What about it?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

Tanner cleared his throat. “Well, Savvy, the packs are always lead by the Alpha.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Uh huh. They have been.”

“So, what makes you think you’re going to be running things now? I mean, just because your father was the Alpha…” His voice trailed off when he saw my face.

I pointed to the French doors off the kitchen. “Outside. Go,” I gritted out. I watched as his eyes widened. “I’m going to show you why I’m the Alpha now.”