“I’m a pretty friendly guy, but I’ll keep it in mind,” he says with an affable smile. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and this will be my new home.”
Aurora, overhearing him, walks up and gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder that makes me growl beneath my breath. “I’ll do whatever it takes to convince them to take you on, Emmett. You deserve a home.”
I have to block out what he says to her in response, because every cell in my body wants to step between them, throw Emmett to the ground, and claim Aurora asmine.
Thankfully I get my wolf in control by the time we step up to the alpha and his warriors. Facing each other in human form, we give a nod of the head—and he looks at me with familiarity.
“You’re Cade’s boy, aren’t you?” His eyes appraise me from head to toe. “Last I saw you, you were a scrawny thing. I’m glad to see his heir has grown up.”
“Alpha Thorin. It’s good to see you again. Hopefully you have some idea why we’re here.”
Beside me, Emmett twitches noticeably, and the warriors begin to growl. Thorin gives him a displeased look and says, “I have some idea.”
“We’re investigating the madness.” Aurora takes a step forward, radiating confidence. “I have reason to believe it’s linked to fae magic, and I’ve already cured one shifter of the signs. With your help, I believe I can cure Emmett here of it as well as keep your pack safe.”
Alpha Thorin gives Emmett another deep, penetrating look, his eyes narrowing. Emmett does his best to meet his stare-down, only to cower and look away, his wolf instinctively submitting.
“What’s your name?”
“Em—Emmett Amber.” His soft is soft, and he winces, rubbing his temple. “I’m—I’m sorry, sometimes it’s hard to hear over that voice yelling. Do you think you could ask her to stop?”
Aurora and I exchange glances. The madness is already getting worse. Emmett pushes up my borrowed shift sleeve to scratch at his irritated and inflamed skin, which smells of fae magic and infection.
Despite all that, Alpha Thorin says, “We’ll help.” There’s grumbling from his warriors, which he silences with a single motion of his hand. “But in exchange, you have to stay to discuss the spreading madness. We’ve kept it out of Pack Sapphire land, and I intend to keep it that way. I won’t have it take my pack like it’s taken others.”
“I’ll tell you all that I know,” I reassure him, stepping up beside Aurora to give a solid show of strength—and to separateus visually from Emmett as much as possible. “My father and I want to make sure that the packs are united in preventing the spread of the madness and fighting its threat.”
Thorin looks at me for a long moment, then nods sharply. “Good. Come this way. I’ll show you to the guest quarters.” To his warriors, he says, “Bring the mad one to Elder Caya. She’ll check over him first.”
Aurora steps up to argue, “Alpha, if you will, I can heal him?—”
“After Elder Caya looks at him.” Thorin’s tone allows no argument. “Once I’m sure he’s not a threat to my pack, I’ll let you treat him, then I’ll consider sheltering him in exchange for your knowledge.”
She has the good sense, stubborn woman though she is, to lower her head in acquiescence. “Thank you, Alpha.”
Emmett doesn’t look terribly pleased to be escorted away from Aurora, but I couldn’t be happier. Especially as it leaves room for me to walk close to her as we’re escorted to the alpha’s house and the guest quarters within.
She takes the first bedroom, and I take the second. As I undo my pack’s strap and stretch my tired muscles, I can feel her, even through the walls between us.
Her emotions are bleeding over into mine more and more these days. She’s tired, hungry, and… aroused?
My lips lift in a snarl as I consider the possibility that she’s aroused forhim.When it’s me who should be touching her, tasting her?—
No. I shake those thoughts out of my head and shut Aurora’s emotions away, stuffing them into a corner of my mind. That same mind replays my father’s words over and over again:weakness is a danger. Only strength can lead a pack.
The truth is, I can’t keep denying my true feelings anymore.
And I won’t be able to resist the allure of my mate for much longer.
Chapter 11
Aurora
The days on the road are starting to blend together, the faces of new shifters becoming one and the same. Each night feels similar to the rest: I go to sleep alone withhimmere feet away and a never-ending pain in my chest.
At least tonight there’s a bed with a nice mattress, a fresh set of sheets, and best of all, a mechanic around the corner who will hopefully be able to help me fix up my bike. I step into the shower in the guest room wishing I could spend all evening under the warm steam, but there’s work to be done.
I dry off quickly, get dressed, and grab my notes. Alpha Thorin invited us to dinner tonight, so I want to be prepared. As I flip through what I’ve written down so far, I can’t help but notice one thing I haven’t been paying attention to: Kieran’s behavior.
