Page 16 of Wolf's Reckoning
“No.” I struggled to contain my temper, knowing full well who the unmarried daughter was. “They called her abitch.” I looked over at Killian and back at the shaman. “When?”
He seemed to be considering me.
“I askedwhen?” I heard the growl in my voice.
“Wolfe,” Killian admonished me, his eyes wide.
“The alpha’s time runs out every day,” the shaman said, not answering me at all.
I looked down, a humorless curl of my mouth passing for a smile, and back up. “Two days, one of those mutts said.” I licked my teeth. “Killian, we’re done here.”
“Alpha Wolfe, your pack is north. You are here to meet and greet the packs you share a mountain with and to formalliances,” the shaman reminded me, his voice casual. “Are you sure you want to leave for this?”
I didn’t give a damn about alliances in this moment. I cared about what shit she was about to go through. “My pack will survive a few days without me. I’ll make alliancesalong the way.” I met his milky white eyes. “I think it’s enough that you’ve seen me, right?”
He didn’t say anything, but his upper lip curled into a smile. It was enough for me. I strode out of the room, Killian behind me.
What the fuck is going on?Killian demanded, hot on my heels as I shoved out of the Council tent.
We need to take a detour, I sent back.
A detour where?
I didn’t answer. My blood was still boiling, that slick little bastard’s voice still echoing in my ears—bitch—like shewas just meat for sale.
Killian grabbed my arm and yanked me to a stop. “Wolfe. Talk,” he growled, “before I knock your teeth out of your skull.”
I turned on him, jaw clenched. “Betas are supposed to be obedient.”
Killian barked a laugh, sharp and humorless. “Whoever told you that shit was eating ’shrooms. Now fucking talk.”
I stared at him, chest heaving, every instinct flaring. The pack bond between us stretched tight—not hostile, but coiled.
“She’s the daughter of the Hollow,” I said. Seeing his blank look, I explained. “West of here, some packs still hold strong to tradition. Ancient magic, blood magic.” I lowered my voice in case anyone was listening. “The Hollow is at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, she was born in its most sacred place, and her pack is superstitious enough to think that means something.” I took a deep breath. “And the Council just greenlit a damnmatchmakingfor her.”
Killian blinked. “Who?”
I scanned the people around us. “Rowen. She’s not some prize to be chased down andmounted. And one of those hungry bastards called her a bitch like she was already his.”
Killian’s mouth tightened. He didn’t like that any more than I did. “Yeah, I heard, not cool.”
“Not cool,” I muttered. “I need…” What did I need?
Killian clapped my shoulder. “We check it out?”
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “We head east.” My voice dropped to a growl. “To Blueridge Hollow. We need to make it look like it’s routine. We don’t let them know why we’re there. I just want to check it out, see if this is what she wants. See if thedaughter of the Hollowwants to be tied to tradition like she once claimed.”
Killian looked at me for a long second. Then he beamed at me. “Alpha instincts showing.”
I didn’t answer. I think it was more hurt pride than instincts, but I kept my doubts to myself.
He grinned, sharp and smug. “Good timing, right? Told you we should have come here.”
We left the Pack Council as quickly as we’d come. I was there to be recognized as my pack’s alpha. To form alliances with surrounding packs so they knew not to fuck with my territory or my pack. I assumed that I’d done little of that, what with the foul tonic the shaman had given me and the information shared.
We stripped. Killian was built and bulky. He shifted into his warm-brown-furred wolf form as I packed our clothes into a single bag and attached it to a harness that allowed him to carry them. I shifted, allowing my wolf to stretch. My wolf’s size was imposing. My fur was a dark charcoal,and my eyes shone like pale silver. I met the gaze of my beta, his cold blue eyes showing me he was ready.
Let’s run,I told him. His wave of happiness at hearing me in his mind in his wolf form made my wolf grin, and we set off.
