Page 85 of Forgotten Arcane

He concentrates, and I feel his magic build around us and then, just like that, we’re back in our bodies exactly where we were when we left.

I share a quick glance with River. We need to act as normally as possible and not let on to anyone that something just happened.

“Whoops, I lied,” River mutters, as he looks at the dead body of the alpha at his feet.

It takes me a moment, but I realize that he’s referring to him telling Derek that he wouldn’t kill him. He did far more than just kill him. He unmade him.

He glances at me, a worried expression in his eyes, and I’m assuming that it’s got something to do with the brutal way that he killed Derek, and then followed that up by un-making him.

His worry melts away as he sees me grinning at him. Violence doesn’t scare me. You would think that it would after everything that I’ve been through, but it’s the opposite. Violence is my happy place, and River definitely hasn’t scared me. He could never scare me. Not even the way that he can now apparently unmake souls can scare me. He’s my River.

I want to tell him I’m proud of him for the way that he has handled everything, but that can wait until later. I should have said something while we were in the blue in-between.

Right now, we need to rescue some wolves. It’s getting late, and we’re running low on time to get to them before the ones guarding them will expect Derek to check in with them, or they will kill them all.

We both turn around to face the other wolves.

All of them are still on the ground, although this time it’s voluntarily, and the guys are all standing again and smiling proudly at River. It takes me a moment to realize why the wolves are voluntarily on the floor with their necks exposed, and when I do realize, my eyes widen.

Oh, this could be a problem, a big one.

River killed their alpha, and if another shifter kills the alpha, then that shifter becomes the alpha.

Shit.

He knew what would happen if he killed the alpha. He knew that he would then be responsible for these wolves, which was something that he didn’t want, and something that would make working for SID and a whole host of other things so much more difficult, if not impossible.

Being an alpha is a full-time job. You can’t have a normal job and be an alpha at the same time. It’s not possible.

“We’ll deal with it after we’ve saved them,” River says quietly to me.

I nod, “I’m right beside you.”

His eyes flick to his kitsune's, and he swallows before he nods.

Turning back to face the wolves, he frowns, “Please, get up.”

It’s a request, it’s not an order, and there is absolutely no alpha power in it at all. It takes them a moment to decide that he’s being serious and he’s not trying to trick them, and Logan is actually the first one to stand up.

Once everyone is standing, I ask, “Does anyone know where those coordinates that dickhead gave us are?”

There are relieved snickers at my term from all of the wolves standing, the bound ones that are still sitting on the floor and looking absolutely terrified stay silent.

One of the wolves’ steps forward, looking nervous, “I do, Luna Regia. It’s quite a way from here. We’re going to have to move quickly if we want to get to them before the deadline that Derek mentioned.”

I tense at the use of the Alpha’s true mate title. It doesn’t mean anything. They are just assuming that I’m his mate because of where I’m standing.

My heart skips a beat though, and I try not to smile as the thought of being River’s true mate floods me.

I wish.

I can’t help but glance at River out of the corner of my eye, and I see a small smile playing around his lips as well.

Becoming serious he says, as he gestures to the guys and me, “We are all capable of going to get the rest of your pack. However, I know that some of you may want to come as well. I am asking,” he emphasizes the word asking, “if any of you would like to join us? Knowing that it could get dangerous and you could get hurt. If you would still like to, then you are more than welcome to come with us. So long as you listen to my team as well as me,” River says, loud enough to make sure that everyone can hear him.

“You’re giving us the choice?” someone asks incredulously.

River nods, “Of course I am.”

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