Page 14 of Wolf's Reckoning
“What you need.”
I waited. He didn’t say anything else. “That was really enlightening, thanks.”
The old shaman smiled. “You want to be enlightened, drink your potion.”
“The fact you’re openly calling it apotionmakes me hesitant,” I muttered. I drank it in one go. I had to force my body to keep it down. As soon as the liquid touched my tongue, my stomach roiled. My eyes screwed shut as I forcedit down my throat, keeping my jaw clenched as my insides shuddered.
I staggered forwards, and it was only Killian grabbing me that kept me on my feet.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
I clutched my friend’s arm. “Him.” I pointed at the shaman. “What thefuckwas that?”
The shaman cocked his head, and had I been able to focus properly, I would have seen the considering look he gave Killian. But all I saw through the blurry tears was him watching me.
“Shaman?” Killian asked tentatively. “What… Is he okay?”
The shaman waved the question off and sat back down. “He’ll need that bucket,” he said, pointing to the floor. “Quickly.”
Killian darted forward, letting me go, and I stumbled, and then my entire body curled into itself. I grabbed the bucket and emptied the contents of my stomach. It felt like forever. It was probably less than a minute.
When I was done, I looked up at the shaman to see him holding out a piece of cloth to me. With a shaky hand I took it, wiping my mouth. I hesitated over the glass of water offered, and the shaman laughed.
“Drink. The potion has a strong aftertaste.”
“It’s calledbile,” I groaned, chugging the water back like I’d been dehydrated for days. “What was it?”
It knocked you on your ass, that’s what it was.
“Hardly my ass,” I snapped at Killian, who looked at me with wide eyes. “What?” The shaman gave a happy little trill, and I turned back to look at him. “What?”
“Alpha Wolfe, it is an honor to meet you.”
I finished the water. “An honor?” I looked at the clay cup. “What do you do to the ones you don’t feel honored to meet?”
Can you hear me?
With an exasperated sigh, I rounded on Killian. “You’re standing right beside me, of course I can hear you.”
“But he didn’t speak,” the shaman said with a small smile. “Your final block has been overcome, Alpha.”
Understanding dawned on me, and I turned to Killian.
Say something,I demanded.
You puked worse than my little brother did after he drank vodka.
“Holy shit.” We stared at each other. Killian was wearing a wide smile. “Holy shit,” I repeated.
“When you return to your pack, your mindlink to your pack is now open.”
Ouralpha.Killian looked like he was going to burst with pride.
The shaman watched me, his smile fading. “Your pack deserves you,” he told me, his voice smooth and firm. “You are new, but they already welcome you as their alpha. You just needed to accept it.Allof it.”
My eyes flicked to Killian’s. “They were grieving the passing of Alpha Lars.”
The shaman flicked his wrist again like it was inconsequential. “They endure. Luna does not select rashly.”
