I glanced at Colton. His promise made my chest feel warm. Not just him, but Ramsay and Eric, too--all of them had instantly stood up to protect me without a second thought. Was it something to do with me being an omega? I wondered if something in their alpha biology turned on, like a switch. It was common knowledge among shifter packs that alphas and omegas had a special innate bond…
But that couldn’t have been it. These guys had barely just found out about me being an omega. Still, I appreciated the gesture. If it weren’t for them, the rest of the packs gathered here might have revolted. I didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened if the meeting tonight turned sour.
“Fighting amongst ourselves isn’t going to solve anything,” Eric finally said. Everyone turned to look at him when he spoke. “Since we’re all here, we should discuss what to do about this. Logically.”
“I agree,” Colton said.
“First we gotta figure out what that prophecy means, don’t you think?” Ramsay suggested.
“I have no doubt that’s going to be important,” Eric said, “but right now, the most important thing is keeping Matheson safe. All the packs need to work together to accomplish that.”
He added that last part in a sharp tone, casting a glance at Gabrielle, Victor and Dan. Thankfully, they seemed to have calmed down enough to nod understandingly at Eric’s words.
Noro approached the group as the discussion continued and sat on his haunches, curling his lion’s tail around his paws.
“Though I do not have all the answers, I may know what the prophecy is suggesting,” Noro began.
“What?” I asked. At this point, any help would’ve been appreciated, since it all sounded like mumbo-jumbo to me.
Noro’s eyes flickered from me to the three alphas surrounding me.
“Only when opposites love together,” Noro said, repeating the line from the verse. “I suspect it has something to do with Matheson, an omega, finding his bond with an alpha.”
A whimper left me. “What?”
“Opposites?” Ramsay asked, crossing his arms. “Opposite of what?”
I suddenly felt Eric stiffen behind me. “Opposite directions. East and West are opposites.”
At this, Colton and Ramsay whirled around to us. A flicker ofsomethingI couldn’t quite read flashed across their eyes.
“Opposite could mean many things,” Noro said, calming the brief moment of tension. “East Pack and North Pack are on opposite ends of the same border, for example.”
Colton’s lips quirked upward into a tiny smirk. He met my gaze, his icy eyes piercing me to the core.
“East Pack and South Pack also share a border, meaning they are in the same situation,” Noro continued.
Now Ramsay smiled at me with a wink. I couldn’t help but smile back.
“And of course, East and West are opposite directions across the lake,” Noro finished. “However, we have no way of knowing the true meaning of the prophecy until it comes to pass.”
“So what are you suggesting is the best course of action?” Mom asked.
Noro’s gaze swept down and he took a long, hard look at the four of us--me, surrounded by Eric, Colton and Ramsay. There was aknowingglint in his eyes, like he understood something the rest of us didn’t yet.
Then he gestured with his wing. “If my theory is correct, then I advise Matheson to spend time among the three other young alphas. Perhaps when he finds love with one of them, his magic will be unleashed.”
From amongst the crowd, I saw Neil cross his arms with a dark scowl.
“How much time do I have?” I asked uneasily.
Noro shot me a sympathetic look. “I cannot say for certain. There are too many variables involved. But if I’m being generous, I would say one month.”
“A month?” I spat, my stomach churning with dread. “That’s barely enough time to do anything, much less fall in love!”
“I’m sorry,” Noro replied.
Mom sighed and turned to the other pack leaders with a grave and determined expression. “Then I suppose Matheson will be visiting North, South, and West Pack. If Noro is correct and we have approximately a month until the other gryphons find out about Matheson, then he will spend ten days among each of you. Is this all right with the other packs?”
