Page 21 of The Awakened Wolf

“Probably,” Kiana said, and before he could pull away or protest, she sank her jaws into his shoulder at the collarbone. He screamed and fell to his knees, drawing all eyes in the other room to us. A half-suppressed wail of fear circled the room. I supposed to the average newly-resurrected-as-a-shifter type it could look a lot like Kiana was trying to kill one of them.

Not great.

My wolf growled, her hackles up. We really didn’t want to have to fight twenty plus terrified new shifters, even if they were untrained.

Kiana let go, leaving four bloody holes in Cody’s perfect shoulder. She shook her head with a frustrated growl. “It didn’t work.”

Cody stared at the holes, panting, as they closed up and left no trace. “What? How can you be sure? Try it again. I promise not to scream this time.”

She shifted, wiping his blood off her mouth in disgust. “No. It won’t work. When I did it before, I felt the surge of energy as the wolf left. This was… nothing.”

“But you have to help me.” Cody started shaking. “I can’t stay like this. I have a life to go back to. Please!” The shudders that began wracking his body turned into wrenching jerks and then Cody shifted, falling onto all fours.

“Great,” Kiana said, disgusted, as the panicked gray wolf tried to squeeze into a space behind the oversized seahorse, got his head stuck, and started howling.

In seconds, a wave of other shifters came running, with the males from the Guard pushing through to the front. This was getting out of hand. The last thing I wanted Cody to experience along with his first seamless shift was the friendly correction of Tyler or Raj.

We got this.

I shifted, leaped forward, and grabbed Cody by the scruff. Like Evan just a few days ago, he instantly shut up and went still, allowing me to yank his head back out of the hole. He shifted back immediately, gasping and sweating. Evan led him to a seated position against the wall, explaining quietly that there was nothing to be embarrassed about. His reaction was natural.

I shifted back and jumped onto one of the fake rocks to address the group, some of whom were in human form, and some in wolf form. Thank Leto no one seemed to be stuck in hybrid mode any longer.

“Everyone,” I said. “I need to apologize to all of you for changing you without your consent. I knew that if I didn’t, you would die, but I still should have either asked, or let you.. um, die.” I stopped. My insides disagreed, but their idea of right and wrong was what had created this mess. It was time I swallowed my pride and thought before I acted. “This wasn’t your choice. I promise that I’ll do everything I can to get you back to your families—”

Kiana scrambled onto the plastic rock beside mine. It was two inches higher, of course. “Look everyone, Elyse dreams big and means well, but she can’t follow through. The situation is dire, and no one is going anywhere until we get this all figured out. That means you need to be patient and accept pack life for the time being. That means following our rules.”

“What are you talking about?” A wild-eye woman demanded. “I can’t stay here! I have kids!”

“Yeah, I have to report to work in six hours.” This was from one in wolf form.

“I need to go check on my dog. My neighbor doesn’t let her out in the morning.”

“I don’t understand why we’re listening to anyone but… Elyse, is that her name?” The came from the sandy-colored wolf who was Charlie’s long lost twin in human form.

“Yeah,” A tall Asian man agreed, pointing. “This one is the one we’re supposed to follow. I don’t know why I know that, but I do.”

Other quickly agreed, and I could feel Kiana’s eyes searing my profile.

“No,” I corrected them. “Kiana is the Alpha, and she is in charge. You must follow what she says. Even I have to follow what she says.”

“But yo, how does that make any sense? You’re the one who like, made us and shit.” My friend the Mets fan argued, gesturing broadly with his hands.

“Elyse isn’t even a part of this pack any longer. She has no say here.” A calm, cool voice spoke from the edge of the group, where he leaned casually against the wall. Archer stood straight, his eyes scanning the room before landing on me and looking me up and down. His lip lifted and then settled back into a tight white line.

“That’s not true, Archer, and you know it. Elyse is the true Bronx Alpha.” Atlas rose now, his auburn hair gleaming.

“Hmmm, this one could be a keeper.” Evan said, appraising the tall, lanky guardsman anew.

Ignoring him, I addressed not only Atlas, but the room. Better to be as clear as needed to keep Kiana from blowing a gasket. “Thank you, Atlas, for your loyalty and confidence. But Kiana is the true Alpha. She has worked her entire life for this and has earned our respect and loyalty in return.”

Atlas bowed his head in silence.

“And Archer,” Kiana said, “I appreciate your support, but Elyse will always be a part of the Bronx pack.”

I warmed at the gesture. She didn’t have to say anything.

“But how is that possible, Alpha Kiana,” Archer protested, “When she’s to be officially mated to the Manhattan Alpha Heir?”

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