Page 68 of Fated to the Feral Wolf

“Hey, look. Our case was unusual. Our theory is that my wolfneededthe bond because of the curse and pushed for it to complete early so we could lean on his wolf’s power. My symptoms have gone way down since we completed our bond, and now I only really get hit with pain when we’re either apart—hasn’t happened much—or when I have to call on what I’m now realizing are my omega powers.”

Interesting. And it actually made me feel a lot better that it wasn’t crazy that we didn’t justinstantlybond like they did. Her omega designation really had changed everything, it seemed. Although that made me feel guilty for asking her to tap those powers for me.

“That makes a lot of sense, actually. Thank you for telling me. And are you okay, after helping us out before?”

She hugged me again. “You don’t have to thank me, Shay. We’re sisters. Nothing is off the table, so don’t be afraid to ask. And I’m fine. Let’s just say you two weren’t the only ones who snuck away for a little connection time with their mate.”

Grateful tears clogged my eyes, making her blurry.

“Hey, now, it’s okay, honey.” She hugged me tighter, and a soothing scent flooded me, billowing off her like perfume. Like fresh rain, or actually the waterfall. I gripped her back every bit as tightly, trying to shove down the unhelpful wave of emotion.

I was so not that girl, the one who cried. Not because there was anything wrong with it, more because… crying hadn’t helped me survive. It made me feel weak, and I hated it.

Dirge’s warm presence at my back a second later made me smile even as the tears escaped onto Bri’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Did the pain come back?” He rapid-fired the questions as he patted me down, as if there was a physical wound he could find and fix.

“No, I’m fine. Stop that.” I batted his hands away as I turned. “Just… a lot of stuff to process right now.”

His eyes were kind as he smiled down at me, but I only saw them for a second before he pulled me into his chest. “It’s all going to be okay.”

“Is it? What about the ODL?” I managed to peek away from his chest to include Bri in the question.

She shrugged one shoulder, trying to seem nonchalant even though I could feel her repressed worry. “So far, there’s no news.”

“Kane said there has been no word of the attack, no word of omega magic, nothing. Our working theory is that the ODL themselves are covering it up, because if word spreads that an omega slipped through the cracks…”

Shit. That would not go over well at all.

“So they’re actually covering for us to cover themselves,” I murmured.

“Pretty much.”

“What do we do, then? Just go on hoping they don’t sense Bri again?”

“What elsecanwe do? If they do sense me, it’s not going to matter where we are. We have to stay ready for an attack at any time, while hoping I don’t accidentally trigger their senses again.” The smile she plastered on was tight.

Kane walked over, interrupting our conversation. “The pilot says we’re fueled and ready to go. We were able to procure some lunch from the local pack’s chef. A bonding gift for the new high alpha and his mate.”

“So that’s how the other half lives, huh?” Dirge playfully slapped Kane on the shoulder, eliciting a groan.

“Don’t get me started. I’m not used to this level of politics. People have always tried to ingratiate themselves before, but it was to get in my father’s ear. Now, they want to talk to me, and it’s not an improvement. Did you know they have a border dispute with a pack out of Wyoming? Yeah, I didn’t either. They want me to mediate their negotiations. I told them I’d send Reed when things settled down. He’s going to be the one who murders me,” he added with a mutter.

“Not funny,” Bri scolded. “No jokes about anyone else dying, please. It’s too soon.”

“I’m sorry. Sometimes gallows humor gets me through.”

“Did somebody saygallows?” Leigh wandered up, a hefty sandwich in one hand, a bottle of lemon-lime soda in the other.

“It was nothing,” Kane said, shooting a chastised glance at Brielle. She smiled up at him, never one to hold a grudge.

“Don’t let her whip you this soon, man,” Leigh said with a grin, then took a giant bite of her sandwich.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to eat that right before we fly again?” I asked, remembering her repeated retching through the morning’s flight.

She shrugged. “I don’t know, I’m just too ravenous not to eat. Bri gave me the good motion sickness meds, so we better all hope they hold.” She took another bite, eyeing me as if I was going to steal her turkey sandwich.

“Let’s move!” Gael barked from the airstrip.

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