Page 44 of The Awakened Wolf

Everyone stopped and stared at her, even our father from across the room.

“Well, obviously I’m not going to do it…but she doesn’t need to know that,” she said, as if that made it okay.

“I’m pretty sure Jayla would help us because it’s the right thing to do,” Evan said, his voice simmering. “You know, because she’s working to become a doctor.”

“And I still don’t see why I have to be left behind like I’m a porcelain doll,” I said. “I can help. Even if I am pregnant.”

Kiana sucked air through her teeth, which was the only reason I’d said that forbidden human word. She recovered quickly thought and leaned in, whispering, “Don’t pretend it’s about helping. You just can’t be more than a foot away from your fated without melting down.”

“Whatever she said, I second it,” Sebastian said. “You’re not going. Not if there’s any chance—”

“If you’re going to be this patronizing,” I said to him, “you’ll be waiting years for an actual child.

“Don’t be silly, Elyse,” Kiana said. “If you’re not with pup now, you will be soon. That’s your job.”

“My job?” I huffed, feeling my cheeks flush. “My job?”

“Look, sister, your cutesy little human love scene already undermined my authority in front of both packs. If you two want my blessing, you’ll do your duty and provide new blessings for both packs.”

“I’ve never met anyone as intent on becoming an auntie as this one…” Evan murmured, “and I’m from the South.”

Kiana whirled toward Evan, an odd smile tugging at her bloodstained lips. “Atlas?” She cooed. “Would you come over here please?”

Atlas looked as comfortable with Kiana’s tone as a cat is with being placed in the bathtub. His eyes darted as if seeking escape, but he joined us anyway, like the upstanding shifter he was. “Yes, Alpha Kiana?”

“I want you to accompany Evan on this mission. He needs a trained soldier like you to keep him safe.”

Evan made a strangled sound but held his tongue as Atlas nodded. “Plus,” she said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders, “it will be a great opportunity for the two of you to get to know each before your mateship ceremony.”

A new kind of silence took over the room.

“What the…? Did she..? Am I…?” Evan’s mind wasn’t capable of forming full sentences.

I blinked.

Yep. I was still alive.

Thank Leto the rest of the packs weren’t here. Even with the few of us still present this was, how shall we say, unexpected? On some level, I had to believe Kiana simply couldn’t stand letting the boys make the biggest moves in the incipient rebellion starting in this ballroom. On another, I wanted to believe she’d meant what she said about change.

“Oh, please,” she said, breaking the deafening silence, “shifter males have taken their pleasure wherever they wanted it since the beginning of time. We just don’t talk about it. I know you all think I’m going to be some sort of tyrant, but honesty and bravery will have their rewards in my pack.” She pushed Evan and Atlas closer together. “But it wouldn’t be fair to let you live by different rules than the rest of us, so you will be properly mated. Your Alpha declares it.”

Evan and Atlas looked at each other nervously, and I heard Evan whisper almost inaudibly, “Are you even gay? Bi? Remotely curious?”

Atlas nodded shyly but before he could open his mouth, the romantic bulldozer known as Alpha Kiana interrupted, “Of course he’s gay. We trained together for seven years, and he never once looked at my ass. I wouldn’t waste breeding stock better used elsewhere.”

Evan stared at her with both horror and admiration. “Your allyship is insanely problematic yet refreshingly consistent with your character as a whole.”

Kiana beamed. “Then it’s settled. First, we save the world. Then we set a date.” She eyed what was left of her gown still clinging to me in places. “Shame the dress was ruined, though.” She turned to Evan. “The embroidery would have set off your eyes beautifully.”

Kiana turned and walked away, heading over to speak with my father while Evan growled epithets under his breath. Kenzo stared after her, the smolder in his dark eyes intensifying with every swing of her hips.

“Stop looking at my ass, soldier,” she called over her shoulder, “and follow me to the War Room. You’re on point for this mission.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, scrambling forward to catch up with her. His enthusiasm couldn’t have been higher if she’d invited him to the Victorian torture chamber she called a bedroom, but as he reached the door, he stopped and looked back.

His eyebrows lifted in question a Sebastian. The servants had finished with Mateo and Max and were preparing to transport their bodies on makeshift stretchers created from the folding chairs. Sebastian nodded for him to go on, a sad silent gesture between two males who’d been as close as brothers, now stripped of both their leaders in one night.

I turned to Evan and Atlas. “Guys, I’m sorry about Kiana. She had no right to declare your betrothal like that without speaking—”

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