Page 47 of Rogue Wolf

“No, only the shifters. We’ll transform.”

Tamaska didn’t like the way her clothes marked her as an outsider. Because of course she didn’t. Though if things worked out, if she could hold on to her hot headedness, she wouldn’t be an outsider much longer.

“I’ll get you a chair,” he said, “then I’ll go and get myself ready.”

“I don’t need a chair.”

“Right, and risk the wrath of Kodiak? No way.” He pointed to her. “You need to rest. I don’t want you fainting during the ceremony.”

“Sitting will show I’m weak,” Tamaska said. The tablets had eased the pain in her head, and she wasn’t about to stand out even more by lounging around while everyone else stood.

“Suit yourself. But I’ll put one here, anyway. To appease the next alpha.” He squeezed her arm and moved away, slipping into the darkness before she could reply.

Tamaska stood at the edge of the circle, behind the pack. No one looked at her.

Roan returned with the chair, then took off once more and she just…stood. Sticking out. A sore thumb with a sore head.

She remained silent, practicing her new approach of waiting patiently instead of rushing in and taking over. More than ever, she wished for Kodiak to be beside her, guiding her, supporting her.

I can do this for Kodiak. For us.

A drum sounded, its beats steady and strong and echoing through the night air. Tamaska found herself drawn into the rhythm, although her body rippled with nerves.

Ash walked into the circle, naked. She held a handmade drum made of animal hide against her chest and beat it with a small, ornate padded mallet.

Kodiak followed her. Tamaska’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of his stron, perfect form. His torso muscles, strong and toned, begged for her touch. She pouted her lips, remembering the kisses they’d shared and longing for more.

For a moment, she closed her eyes to cool her thoughts. If things went well tonight, maybe they would have some time together. Until then, she would do what she was worst at—waiting.

Ash stood in the center of the semi-circle, Kodiak by her side. He looked serious, eyes fixed dead ahead, and the only sound in the night was the drum beat.

The two turned around, facing the flames and the pack members waiting in the shadows.

Ash held up the mallet as the echo of the last beat reverberated through the clearing.

“Shadow Pack, come forward.” Ash spoke clearly and confidently.

The members moved into the semi-circle marked by torches.

Tamaska’s heart ached to be part of the Shadow Pack. To be there for her man. But even if she had wolf shifter genes, she was primarily human.

She stayed at the edge of the light, the boundary between the new life she wished to embrace and the old one she wanted to leave behind.

On the outside looking in, Tamaska sensed the deep, unique relationship between the pack’s members. Despite all they had gone through, they stood almost shoulder-to-shoulder with each other, naked, vulnerable, yet radiating strength.

They walked the worlds of both humans and shifters, sworn to secrecy while duty-bound to protect both races. Two worlds stood threatened by the power-hungry vampires and their need for domination and chaos.

She admired them all, especially Kodiak. While the pack had just been attacked and left weakened, no signs of their defeat remained—only power and strength.

No doubts clouded her mind. That was the life she wanted.

And ff she was going to be hunted by vampires either way, she wanted superhuman strength and the support of the pack. It made sense to become a full shifter.

She also wanted to be with Kodiak. Completely.

Could he turn me tonight?

That was wishful thinking at its best, but it gave her courage. She stood still, waiting for an invitation into the family she wanted to call her own.

---