Page 2 of Shifting Fate
“Something like that.” Another large log split in two beneath the brute force of his swing. He bent down to reposition the largest chunk of wood, then decimated that one as well. He paused to glance over at me, his brows pinching together.
“Why are you out here?” he asked. “Alone.”
“Aww, are you worried about little ol’ me?”I teased.“Oh, you know… The usual. My peaceful abode is now occupied by two whiny infants who think screaming matches are grand at two in the goddamn morning. They’ve been crying nonstop. It’s so ridiculous. I’m frustrated. Because of them, I’m losing my precious beauty sleep, and it shows.”
“Huh,” is all that he said.
Biting back a growl of my own, I jumped to my feet and planted myself squarely on the gnarled tree stump that Arias was using to chop firewood on. I stared up at him.“I’ve got an idea! How about I move in with you? We could be roommates. Could be fun?”
He snorted, but he was smiling. “Nice try. You’re going to have to come up with something else, I’m afraid.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
Maybe I’d see if my sister Tashi would put me up in her cottage for a few weeks, so long as I promised not to annoy her while she was studying. Or maybe I should just talk to Rhine about building a house of my own. I had the money.
It’d be lonely, though, after living in the pack-house for so long. I’d grown accustomed to the chaos, and I reallydidenjoy having my packmates close. It gave me the sense of family that my heart seemed to crave.
Once upon a time, Gage and I would’ve made great roommates, but now? Everyone was finding their mates and it was a giant buzzkill. Gage didn’t even flirt with me anymore.
I sighed.“Do you think—”
In the distance, two sharp howls pierced the air. My head snapped up.
“That was Merrick,”I said, already on my paws.
“And Espen,” growled Arias. “That definitely wasn’t a welcoming howl.”
I cursed.“Not good. You think it’s the Dreadhunters?”
“Has to be. I need to alert the pack.” Tossing the axe aside, he shifted. With a burst of magic, a long-legged arctic wolf stood in front of me. He threw his head back and let rip a warning howl and within minutes, Foxgrove came out of the woodwork, their Alpha leading the way.
Tristram trotted up, his head canted to one side.“You heard it too?”
“Yeah,”Arias agreed.“That was definitely Espen. We should go check it out.”He looked at me, his voice suddenly serious as he said,“Go home, Dallon. We’ll take care of this.”
I stared at him, flabbergasted by the command. What the hell? Who did he think he was?
“Go home?”I snapped back.“I’m not a fuckingchild, Arias. I don’t need to run home to my mommy when shit gets real. If there are Dreadhunters attacking my packmates, the last place I’m going is home. Merrick is pack.”
“It’s dangerous—”
“So what? Since I don’t have special wolfy superpowers, I’m suddenly inept?”I bristled, ire snapping my muscles taut. I pinned him with a cold look.“I’m going. End of story.”
“We don’t have time for this,”Tristram told us, just as a second set of howls rang out, loud and clear. He shook his head, baring his teeth at Arias when the other Omnus seemed ready to argue.“Drop it, Ari. We’ll take all the help we can get.”Then, to the pack, he barked,“Let’s go. Move out!”
We took off in the direction of Westwind, galloping towards the source of the cry when a horrific roar shook the woods. My gut plummeted. Shit. It justhadto be a Dreadwolf, didn’t it?Stupid Dallon. Why didn’t you go home like he told you?
I growled under my breath.No.I might not’ve been the biggest, bravest wolf in Amber Run, but I wasn’t a coward. For some stupid reason, Arias seemed to think I was incapable of taking care of myself. This was my chance to prove him wrong.
My ears rang with the snarls and shrieks of warring wolves. The closer we got, the louder the sounds became. Dread wrapped around my heart like tentacles, squeezing painfully tight at the scene that played out in front of us.
A small cluster of Westwind wolves were holding their own against three Dreadhunters and two of their mutated beasts. Espen and Merrick were at the heart of the fight, tearing at the bristly hide of a huge white Dreadwolf. Its fur was stained with blood, even as it thrashed back and forth.
“Go!”Tristram commanded, and Foxgrove dove into battle like heat-seeking missiles. I stood, rooted to the spot, as the vicious sounds of war filled my soul.You’re a big, brave wolf, remember?I reminded myself.So get out there and prove it!
I leapt forwards on nimble paws, scanning the fight for an opening. A familiar-looking gray wolf had one of the Dreads blocked off away from her partner. The dark-haired woman brandished a long, sleek scythe. She swung it towards the wolf with a curse.
She didn’t see me coming.
