Page 24 of Wolf's Endgame

“The she was not Kezia,” the shaman spoke quietly. “You know that, Alpha.”

I was already agreeing with him before he finished talking. “I do know that, but that doesn’t explain where she is or why you’re telling me that she’s gone.”

Nikan gaped at me. “Because she’s unstoppable?” He walked closer. “Because she covered you in some blanket of swirly gold stuff that came from nowhere and barricaded herself in here with you for days.”

“You are very blessed,” the shaman told me sagely. “A great gift has been bestowed on you.”

Was he joking?

“A gift?” I asked him. Pushing the blanket off me, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring everyone’s protests. “A gift?” My legs weren’t steady; they felt like Jell-O, but after a moment, they felt stronger. I met the old man’s almost sightless eyes. “A gift at what cost?”

Pulling off the white sleep shirt they had me in and pushing down the shorts, I flexed my neck. My wolf was waiting, and I sank into the familiar form, feeling the healing power of my wolf run through me. It took two shifts, but after the second, I almost felt normal.

As I redressed in the sleepwear, I looked around the room.

“Someone better start talking.”

“Is it too soon to wish him back in the sleep stasis?” Hannah murmured to Royce, who pulled his wife into his side, kissing her temple. “I’m joking,” she added when she met my eye.

“Shaman? What’s happening at Anterrio? Why are you in…” I looked around the empty white room. “Where the hell am I?”

“Medical ward.”

I wasn’t sure Doc was joking. “What medical ward?”

“Remember when you told me I’d never need one?” he said with a cocked eyebrow. “Guess the joke’s on you.”

“Huh.” I turned back to the shaman. “You can shift?” He nodded. “And you’re not shifting because?”

“When I shift, I leave a trace. By Luna’s grace, I am her eyes and ears in this world, and because of that, any shifter can find me. I am easy to find.”

“You have less presence in human form.” I nodded in understanding. “Were you here when she came?”

“Not when she was healing you. No one was. But she broke me free, and she ran with me here. She defended us. Your pack has treated me well.”

“Free?”

The shaman turned his head away as he spoke. “Anterrio Pack is in grave danger.”

“Because we’re going to annihilate them,” Nikan growled from behind me.

The shaman turned back to look at me. “There are too many innocents in this, Alpha. Do not let it become a war. Have mercy.”

It was Royce who stepped forward to speak to the shaman. “They lost that right the day they struck my alpha down.”

“There are too many innocents,” the shaman protested softly.

“Then they should have chosen a better leader,” Nikan snapped.

When the shaman went to speak again, I spoke over him. “Has your pack missed you?” His head bowed. “Did any of the pack fight for you, shaman? Even you won’t expect me to believe that no one in the pack didn’t notice you’re missing. And they did nothing.”

“I can’t answer that.”

Sharing a look with my brother and Royce, I turned my back on the shaman, walking to the door of the medical ward. “I can. No one’s fighting for you. You were as good as dead.” Opening the door, I turned back to look at him. “That pack lost its innocence a long time ago, old one. There will be no mercy.”

“And Kezia?” he called after me.

I hesitated, my eyes closing briefly before my resolve hardened within me. “She’s already gone.”

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