Page 85 of Fated to the Feral Wolf

“Bears alone won’t be enough,” Gael commented. “We’d have to reach further, garner some support from other species.”

“The goblins were opposed from day one. They had religious beliefs that the loss of omegas—of any one important magical species or subspecies—would impact the balance ofpower in the magical world.” Reed offered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“I don’t know about religion, but many species have been in decline in the last century. Everyone’s chalking it up to human expansion, hunters.” Gael vaguely waved a hand. “The point is, we’d have some major barriers to overcome. People have disbelief, and goodwill is in short supply among other species who’re also feeling pinched by modern life.”

“It’s a place to start, though,” Brielle said with a smile. She was far too calm for someone whose life was on the line.

“It’s not just other species, unfortunately,” Dirge said. “I got a message this morning from one of my contacts from Romania. He says there are rumors starting that the Hungarian pack has called back all their pack mates from around the globe, and that they’re in talks with Poland about forming a new alliance.”

“A new alliance?” I asked, confused. European pack politics hadn’t ranked high on our list of priorities before meeting Pack Blackwater. Our pack was small, out of the way of most of that.

He nodded at me with his lips pressed into a firm line. “Yes. Currently, Kane is high alpha of the majority of wolf packs. Australia does their own thing, and some parts of Asia. But… probably eighty percent of the world’s wolf population in some way or another filters up to him. Or they did to his father, at least. The Hungarian Alpha is talking about taking a chunk out of Europe, including those alphas thathaven’tpledged yet. They’re shopping for new allies.”

Reed kept a cool head, but it was clear the wheels were already spinning. “Any confirmation of that?”

“He got word from a supplier that they’re ordering mass amounts of arms. Not just the usual, though. Silver bullets, crossbows, and wolfsbane.”

Gael swore. “That’s not just a new alliance, Alpha. They’re prepping to come after their own kind. They want a full coup.”

“We have to go back to Europe,” Kane said. “We can’t let theworld fall apart, not now when we need the might of all the packs to enact change at the IGC level. The council will see us as a joke if we’re not united.”

“Agreed,” Dirge murmured.

I studied the others in the room, dread tossing in my stomach as I took in Brielle’s grim expression and Leigh’s pale face. Our lives were changing fast. It was disconcerting at times, but there was nowhere else I’d rather be.

I drew in a deep breath, realizing this pause was all the opening we were likely to get to share our news.

“While we’re talking about what’s next… Dirge and I came to a decision last night.” Every eye turned my way, and yes, it still made me pause, even though most of these pack mates were family. “We’re going to bond under the next full moon. We know it’s soon, but with everything that’s going on, we don’t want to wait. We love each other, and… whatever’s next, we want to do it together.”

Dirge reached up and ran his thumb down my cheek, sending a little shiver running through me as our eyes locked. That smile of his made my stomach flip for a much better reason and was one I wanted to wake up to every day for the rest of my life.

Leigh squealed in delight, and she almost knocked me off my seat with the force of her hug. Brielle was there a moment later, wrapping her arms around both of us. The guys all shook Dirge’s hand, offering congratulations as well.

“OMG, we have another bonding ceremony to plan!”

“Do you want to do it here or in Romania?”

Romania? Oh, that’s where Kane’s father’s pack mansion was.

“Umm, here? We don’t want a big to-do, just us and the moon,” I said, wincing at their crestfallen expressions. “Just ourpackand the moon,” I clarified.

“As if you could keep me away!” Leigh pinned me with alook, then shifted gears so quickly, it made my head spin. “Okay, so, we need to get you a dress, and flowers, and?—”

She was talking so fast, I could barely keep up. It was a little too much, and when I looked over at Dirge, the anxiety must have been clear on my face, because he squeezed my hand.

“It’s all going to be okay, muzica mea,” he whispered against my temple before pressing a kiss there.

Even that simple touch grounded me, as my friends gestured excitedly and tossed rapid-fire ideas back and forth like a Ping-Pong ball.

“Okay, but bluebonnets are classic for a Texas wedding. You have to want bluebonnets, right?” Bri asked, turning to me for input.

“Umm, sure. Bluebonnets are nice.” I didn’t care what kind of flowers I held or walked over. Only that the man waiting for me in the circle was Dirge.

“See? Classic.”

Leigh rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. About the flowers, anyway. She’d moved on to dress fabric.

My life might have been changing at full speed, but as I held my mate’s hand and listened to my friends argue about the details of our perfect bonding ceremony, I was deeply grateful to be exactly where I was.

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