Page 29 of Alpha Exile

For a moment I freeze in fear, but only for a moment. Because as soon as I inhale, I realize that I can'tsmellher, only see her. Just like before, this is some kind of phantom.

Bastian, do you see that?

The large, shaggy wolf shakes his head at me.See what.

A... ghost. Like before.I decide to err on the side of not telling them I can see Delphine stalking towards us.I swore you saw that woman who looked like Delilah and that man who must have been Alpha William, but younger.

I saw two figures like you describe, yes. But I see nothing now.

That's odd. Maybe I'm going crazy. Stepping forward, I watch warily as Delphine continues stalking towards us down the tunnel.

Then behind her comes Roarke, marching in a straight line.

So that's even odder.

Especially because, not far behind him, is me.

Which is the moment that I realize I'm somehow seeing the recent past. I don't know how, or why, or if I'm going mad, but it's the only thing to explain the way the ghostly figures walk through us, leaving no trace behind. They go down the same path we just went down, mimicking our earlier movements.

Just like before, when a young, past version of Alpha William, and the woman who must have been Delilah's mother, met in some vision of the past.

When Delilah and I mated, our threads were a color that matched the lit up eyes of Elder Peony, the long-passed pack historian. She claimed our threads were the color of the past, which I connect her to. It isn't until just now that I'm wondering if maybe that's literal—because whatever magic exists in this cavern seems to have connected me to the past in a very unexpected way.

This is the way,I tell the guys, striking out down the tunnel we just came through. Roarke eyes me doubtfully.Trust me, this is it. I seem to have some... new abilities. I'll explain later.

Finn snorts.You too? I swear I can see magic now, and I'm pretty sure Lance threw that vampire into the wall harder than should be physically possible.

I think I saw ghosts,Bastian confesses, as we all pick up the pace to a run, heading straight towards the battle ahead of us.There was Delilah's dad and her... mom? I think. Then some others, further in. I'm pretty sure they were ghosts, at least.

Which just leaves Roarke. Maybe being alpha is special enough. At least, that's what I'm starting to think, until he sighs and admits,Earlier, I was able to see through a pack warrior's eyes. I think I did it more than once, but I wasn't sure if I was just dreaming.

So these caverns have changed us all, for good or ill.

As long as nothing bad happens, I'm game for some new skills. Especially if I get to keep my body and soul.

We reach the battle soon after confessing our new abilities. A warrior is thrown to the ground beside me, and I leap over her blood-slick body, sinking my fangs into a feral vampire and swinging him around.

Beside me, Lance and Bastian jump into the fray. They help two warriors tear a pair of vampires apart. Lance pummels into one so hard that I swear it turns to dust the moment he touches it.

Meanwhile, Finn is a flash of teeth and claws, whirling through the chaos and biting expertly. He slips and slides between vampire fangs and vampire claws, leaving a trail of blood behind.

While Roarke holds back, catching a vampire who tries to escape and tearing him apart before he can make it any further.

Spotting another warrior under attack up ahead, I leap forward and kick the vampire off him.

All the while, my gaze is sweeping the battle, searching for one thing.

For the only person who matters in the midst of all the fangs and claws.

Thirteen

Delilah

I've never seen bloodlust like this before.

Sinking back into my haunches, I shift into my human form and raise my hands in front of me, sensing that my new weaving skills will be needed in this battle more than my wolf. Though I love her, she doesn't have opposable thumbs or slender fingers—and I haven't yet figured out how to weave as a wolf.

That would be a sight to behold, though.

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