I frowned. “Someone?”
“It’s better if I just show you.”
I looked at Lina. She raised an eyebrow but nodded, her curiosity evident.
“Let me just...” I gestured vaguely at my lack of shoes.
Ten minutes later, we were dressed properly and following Cole through Ravenshollow toward the pack building. The walk was quiet, tension building with every step.
“Cole,” I said finally, unable to stand the suspense. “Who are we meeting?”
“You’ll see.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
I growled in frustration but he just kept walking, leading us through the familiar streets of the pack territory. Other wolves nodded as we passed, their eyes lingering on Lina with curiosity and relief. The news of her awakening had spread through the pack like wildfire.
Lina’s hand found mine and squeezed. I squeezed back, drawing comfort from the contact.
We reached the pack building and Cole led us inside, through the main hall, past the administrative offices, to the formal meeting room at the back. The door was closed, but I could hear voices inside. Multiple voices.
Some of them I recognized. Some I didn’t.
“Cole,” I said, my tone warning. “What is this?”
“Trust me,” he said, and pushed open the door.
I stepped through first, instinctively shielding Lina, my hand still gripping hers. My eyes swept the room, cataloging threats, assessing positions.
Hunt stood near the window, his posture casual but his eyes alert. Noah was by the fireplace, arms crossed, expressioncarefully neutral. My father sat at the head of the conference table, his presence commanding even in stillness.
And then there were the three wolves I didn’t know personally but did recognize.
A man stood at the center of the group, tall and broad shouldered, with dark hair and sharp blue eyes that assessed me with the calculation of an alpha evaluating a potential threat or ally. Beside him stood a woman, smaller but no less commanding, with auburn hair and green eyes that held both warmth and steel. And behind them, a third man, sandy-haired and watchful, his position clearly that of a guard or beta.
I knew them from photographs. From reports.
“Who...?” Lina started, peering around my shoulder.
Cole cleared his throat and stepped into the room, positioning himself near Noah.
“Luna. Alpha.” He gestured toward the strangers. “Meet Ryder and Jasmine Thorne. Moonfang’s alpha and luna. And Sawyer Ridge, their beta.”
Beside me, Lina whispered, “Oh, shit.”
Yeah. Same.
23
— • —
Lina
Moonfang.
The name triggered a blurry memory, my mind aching as I tried to grasp it. The closest packs to Ravenshollow. Moonfang was up north. And then there was another one... Shadow something. Shadowcrest? Those were the two closest packs to us.
