Page 34 of Fated Guardian

“Thank you.”

“We can come help. We can?—”

Thorne shakes his head. “You’re part of the pack, Coral. The pack protects itself. Stay here. With your mate. The lions are running now, and we’ll handle any further attacks after that tomorrow.”

Coral goes a little limp. “Thank you,” she whispers.

“No need. You’re pack. Go home. We’ll talk in the morning,” Thorne says before he shifts.

I watch him run away, then stand with Coral in my arms. “Do you want to go home?”

“Yes, please.”

“Okay. Just hold on. I’ll take you home.”

“Nolan?”

I pause, looking down at her.

Coral moves slightly, pressing a kiss on my lips. “I’m glad it’s you.”

When I kiss her back, I’m saying the same thing, echoing through our connection like a megaphone.

I’m glad it’s you, too.

Chapter 11

Coral

The next morning, Nolan and I head to Thorne’s office early. Very, very early.

I don’t know why, but I’m nervous. I know that Thorne said that I’m part of the pack now, but all I can think about as we walk through the town are the stares of the other shifters. Do they hate me? Do they think that I don’t have any right to be in their pack? What do they?—

“Hey,” Nolan murmurs. “It’s all going to be okay.”

I squeeze his hand, hoping that he’s not wrong.

Being Nolan’s mate feels amazing. There’s this… power that radiates from him like a furnace. It’s like my connection to plants, but it’s so much more. I can feel the wolf inside of him, the sheer animal spirit of it. I can also see things like his wolf does. Smell them. Finally, I know what it feels like to be a shifter.

It’s cool, but I still like the plants better.

When we arrive at the alpha’s office, there are a lot of wolves gathered there, along with some shifters who smell different.Foxes, I realize, when we pull closer. I wonder why they’re here.

Lyra’s in the crowd, and she gives me a little wave. I see Iris, too, and my heart leaps a little. Both of my friends. The crowd isn’t so scary now.

I wave back at them but keep close to Nolan.

Thorne steps out of his office, a small woven satchel at his side, nodding at us. “Nolan. Coral. I hope you slept well after last night.”

“We did,” I respond.

He looks us over. He sighs, and something like guilt crosses his face.

Curiosity feathers through me.

Thorne looks at Nolan and me. “I let you stay on the land, Coral, because when I got to Oakwood and scouted it out, I found you and made a bargain with you. We ended up making an arrangement that benefitted me. You would help the pack, and I would keep you safe. I’m afraid that I wasn’t entirely honest with you about that arrangement.”

I blink.

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