Page 49 of The Sacred Wolf

“It is,” Evan interrupted dryly. “Trust me.” He flattened himself against the wall as Monty stepped closer. “Girl,” He shot me a look of desperation. “Please tell them to stop encroaching on my personal space. I will have to rearrange a few hairstyles if they don’t stop.”

“I got you,” I replied, holding back a welcome smile. Now that Evan was a shifter, I had to consider what it could mean if he followed through, but I was pleased to see his wit intact, even if his dignity was in question.

“Ayla,” I said, standing as tall as my five-foot six-inches allowed, “Evan and I — and I’m going to go out on a limb and include my sister—would appreciate it if you and your friends would keep your hands to yourselves. We’re not specimens.”

“Of course,” Ayla said, startling as if from her own reverie and waving Monty and Jasper back, her hands flapping in a deranged semaphore.

This drew a derisive snort from Kiana and a sigh of relief from Evan, who had been millimeters away from melting into the jacquard wallpaper.

“As I was saying…” Mateo continued, the worship in his tone modulated back a bit.

Thank the Gods.

“…the prophecy stated,” he went on, “that one day mirror twins would arise, just like Chann and Marrak, who would hold the same powers. Knowing that Evan was a human who was transformed to a shifter by Elyse’s bite would imply that she and Kiana are those twins, and that Evan is the first shifter created from a human, since the very first shifters were created by Chann.”

All eyes slid toward Evan, even Jayla’s, huddled as she was in the couch’s corner. I didn’t need her acrid scent to tell me she wanted out of her imprisonment with an entire pack of movie-style monsters. Her near fetal crouch said it all, as if she could become an actual couch cushion and escape notice, just by folding in on herself.

“What good is it being the twin to the Promised One,” Kiana spat, “if I don’t have the bite as well? Why would the Gods need a spare?”

Her stiff spine and lifted chin spoke of hauteur, but the disappointment in my sister’s voice seeped through the exterior like blood through her lacerated shiftskin. My heart squeezed. I didn’t even want the power. I wished I could just gift it to her and be done with it.

Are you sure about that? Where would Evan be then?

“Oh, but you misunderstand, fellow Promised One,” Ayla replied to Kiana, startled. “Both twins are crucial to fulfilling the prophecy.

“Before we go deeper on the prophecy,” Max interrupted, “I just want to be sure I fully understand you all correctly. So, a month ago, Evan here was a human. One of Elyse’s friends, like this one.” He waved at Jayla, who committed further to her Incredible Shrinking Woman act in response. “And you all were on that damned subway…when you were attacked by those anti-shifters who harmed Evan so badly he would have died, and then Elyse bit him, and he…changed?”

“Yes,” I mumbled.

“Why did you bite him, if I might ask?” Mateo’s curiosity got the better of him and he interjected.

My chest cinched as the memory surfaced like a zombie reanimating—replaying those thirty seconds in halting jerks. Evan’s head open and pulpy. His pulse weak but unwilling to stop. My stomach turned, and I fought the urge to gag.

I didn’t recall any conscious thought—in fact, my head had been splitting with pain and flashing light. I had only known that I couldn’t lose him too. After that, it was like my jaws had opened on their own…

“My wolf took over,” I said quietly. “She knew what to do.”

“Your wolf… took over?” Max looked uncertain. “I see. But why did you two feel the need to conceal this event, Elyse?”

“Sebastian told us to,” Evan interjected. “We were following orders.”

“We were in shock. It wasn’t like any of us had any idea what had happened or why. And with the division in the packs, Sebastian was afraid that someone would try to hurt me if they knew.”

“I still don’t see why it had to be concealed from me,” Max muttered, running a hand through his thick hair. “I’m not just Sebastian’s Alpha. I’m also his father.”

At this, my skin prickled.

About that. My wolf prodded me.

Now is definitely not the time.

But he’s angry that he’s been kept in the dark.

Trust me. There are only so many revelations someone can absorb at once. Besides, we agreed we needed to tell Sebastian first.

My wolf acquiesced, but her prickling agitation swirled beneath my skin.

“I think it’s important that we let the Children elaborate regarding the prophecy…” Mateo interjected, much to my relief. Anything to distract from my last secret.

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