Page 58 of The Sacred Wolf

“Let it go, Kenzo,” I said. “It’s not our fault we were picked for this.”

“I know,” he sighed. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”

The older members of the Manhattan pack had decided that Sebastian and I should be the ones to appeal to the crowd because we were “young,” “attractive” and “relatable.” For my part, I heard “human-lovers” in the description, which was close enough to the truth to make my mind return, unbidden, to my sister’s accusations. Regardless, I was game, so long as it kept me close to Sebastian. Anything further than ten feet of distancebrought something akin to physical pain, as well as incoherent howling from my wolf.

When I get a minute to think, we’re going to figure out this fate bond shit.

What do you mean? I’m in heaven.

You know exactly what I mean.

“I wish we knew if your sister was coming with reinforcements,” Kenzo said, shaking his head. “He’s got this crowd all fired up, and with the other packs refusing to help, we’re kind of out on a limb.” He paused and bit his lower lip. “Plus, she’s hot.”

“Me too,” I said and then realized how it sounded. “To the first part.”

“Both parts.” Kenzo waggled his eyebrows at Sebastian. “Speaking of parts…”

Yes! Let’s!

“No,” Sebastian and I snarled in perfect unison. Just as we had done certain other things last night… three times… well, actually for me, it was more like—

“Do you think she’s coming?” Kenzo asked, and I stared at him in utter confusion until I realized he was all business again.

My skin prickled with anxiety. “Honestly, I can’t predict what Kiana will do these days, but at least we know two things. The first is that she hates him as much as we do, if not more, and the second is that she loves to fight.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sebastian said, his voice low. “If the humans attack, we fight, whether she shows or not.”

With a grim nod, Kenzo turned on his heel and headed away, leaving Sebastian and me alone in the dappled light of the woods behind the Delacorte Theater. Even from this distance we could hear the cries of the crowd in front of the castle. It sounded like the end of Titanic when everyone was screaming in the water, and as much as I wanted this to be over, I dreaded the prospect of all those voices being silenced.

I tried not to dwell on the sheer numbers of humans in Damien’s sway. Though we’d placed platoons on all sides, surrounding them, we were outnumbered by at least twenty to one. I bounced on my toes, overflowing with nervous energy.

“I hope that they’ll listen long enough to keep people from getting hurt,” I said.

“Me too, Elyse.” Sebastian started forward, and I grabbed his arm.

“Do you think the humans are the only worry?” I asked, trying not to imagine a mangy shifter of unknown origin emerging from every shadow.

“You mean besides Damien?”

I nodded.

“Let’s hope so. It seems like he did better at trying to kill us with his crazed mob of humans than he did with the weirdo shifters you described.”

“Only once Kiana showed up.”

“But that was because you had no backup but Evan, and as brave as he’s proven to be, he’s still new at this.”

“True,” I said, my heart squeezing with the knowledge that despite being a newbie, Evan was out there with the others of the Manhattan pack, preparing for battle. I wished I could see him with his platoon. It would help me to see that he had backup, at least.

“Hey.” Sebastian took my hands and squeezed. “Remember, at the theater Damien had the element of surprise. Don’t you think it’s time we turned the tables?”

I nodded again, more bobblehead than Alpha Heir, my words being eaten by the stomach crawling into my throat.

“Good,” he said, releasing me. “Now let’s go.”

He crouched, creeping through the woods toward the pond and holding aside branches as I followed. Despite the pep talk, I peered over my shoulder at each step.

Keep your eyes on him. Isn’t he handsome when he crouches?

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