Page 102 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

A flap of wings came from above. A few children squealed and most darted away from the area, but otherwise, the people had become used to Ran mighty quickly. She carefully folded her wings back, reaching her long head down to nuzzle my chest.

“Hey, girl,” I said, hugging her head and kissing her nose.

She leaned down so we were eye to eye.Are you taking on too much?

I scoffed. “I just sent Brandt off to find the traitors instead of going myself.”

Her eye twinkled with mischief. She gently grabbed me with her front foot. I froze, uncertain of what she was doing.

“What are you—ACK!” I screamed as she lifted me from the dirt and leapt into the air. My stomach dropped as the ground fell away beneath us.

“Put meDOWN!” I shouted. “Help!”I shouted, but Enforcer Markus was zero help. HesalutedRan of all things before going back to his post,smiling. Markus does not smile. His eyes get mischievous and his lips may make a tiny quirk, but this was a full-on, white-teeth-glimmering freakin’grin.

“SO HELP ME YOU BIG LUMP OF SCALES!”

Ran craned her head down. I shrieked cause there was a tree coming up ahead. She swerved, missing it by inches—the crazy bag of bones—andwinking.

You need a break. This is necessary.

“NECESSARY? PUT. ME.DOWN!”

The werewolf left me in charge of your mental capacity. You’re empty. I’m here to assist.

I put my hands on the warm scales of her hand—paw?—trying not to look down. But it was freaking hard when you were hanging in thin air at least thirty stories above the tree line, kicking your feet like a toddler having a tantrum.

Antagonistic, annoying beasts.

I once thought Ran and Shen would never join forces because they were both so stinkin’ hard-headed and prickly on the outside. I was wrong. With those two in cahoots, I’d be sunk quicker than an earth golem in the ocean.

My shoulders slumped and a sigh passed my lips. “Where’re we going?”

Ran snaked her head around—again not looking where she was going, but there were no trees ahead so I was less anxiety-prone—and mischief twinkled in her eyes.

Away.

CHAPTER 35

The Alpha

SHEN

“Mother.” I bowed my head, putting my hands behind my back.

Beatrice lounged back on her glass throne. Her eyes were pinched. It was a small tell, but for her it was as loud as a shout. She was worried.

“Hello, son. Do you have tales to tell?” Command firmed her words and made my throat clench.

My mind no longer controlled the words erupting from my mouth. No, the Command wrestled control and my voice spoke without my permission. “The previous matriarch has been deposed, a new has gained the heirship to guide the tribe. She is set to ensure peace between our species and guides her people into reconciliation.”

My mind clicked back into place, clearing from the haze of the Command. My body recoiled at the words I had just spoken.

Mother grinned. It was not a cheerful grin. It was one of triumph.

“Never have you spoken highly of another while in Command, my boy. Oh, how exciting!” She paused, leaning forward. I said nothing. “Too bad she must leave this world much too soon.”

“She is human.” My chest clenched. My body ached. No amount of pain stopped my heart from beating harder within my chest.

She cocked her head, her eyes turning golden. It was clear she did not believe me. “You love her, do you? I shall give you a choice. Your little menagerie of castoffs orher. All you must do is kill the little human and your castoffs will live. I am fair, am I not? Many lives to trade for one? It is better than attempting to dispose your very own mother.”

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