“But really freaky,” she said, biting her lower lip.
“Mind-bendingly freaky,” I agreed wholeheartedly. “Are we already bad parents?”
Her peal of laughter rang out through the Hollow. “Come on, I need to sleep, you need to eat, and then sleep, and everything else can wait.”
I pulled her into me. “I could eat.” I nuzzled her neck. “What are you offering me, mate?”
Her palms were flat against my chest, not pushing me away, but not pulling me into her either. “You willrest,” she scolded.
“So you’re going to be the strict parent,” I said, taking her hand, ready to go home. “Which is only fair—I was always the fun one.”
Rowen punched my arm, but the silly little moment made everything feel lighter, and I was happy to see her smiling. We stepped out of the grove and nearly ran into Killian.
He froze mid-step, eyes widening. “What in the Goddess’s name?—”
And crowded behind him was the pack: warriors, elders, and even our youngest clinging to their parents’ legs, all staring at the Heartwood. I turned, my jaw loosening as I took it in, because the Hollow was now smoldering with a faint ember-like glow.
“Oh…” I exchanged a look with Rowen. There was no way we could hide that.
Diesel pushed forward, eyes narrowing. “What the fuck did you two do?”
Rowen stiffened. “Nothing.”
I snorted. “It wasn’t nothing.”
Killian rubbed his jaw, gaze flicking between Rowen’s face and the faint golden shimmer still clinging to her palms. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she said, her face shining with truth. “Just…seen.”
That unsettled Killian more. He looked worried as he looked at me.
“We’re fine,” I assured him and everyone else. “The Hollow wanted us to know that we have its support.” The pack shuffled and I opted to believe it was with excitement, not nervousness. I cast my eye over them. “Are you all here?” I asked them, and a few titters of laughter were my answer.
“I couldn’t stay away,” someone at the back said. “It felt like it was calling to me.”
Too many voices rose to share their agreement.
“I’ve got this,” Rowen told me, letting go of my hand and moving into the crowd to talk to them.
Which left me facing my two betas. “Hi?”
Diesel was three seconds from removing my spleen, I was sure of it. “Hi?” He elbowed Killian. “Do you think the Pack Council scouts saw that from their tents?”
What was I supposed to do? Tell the Hollow to stop glowing like some magical beacon. My patience was running out. “Diesel?—”
“Oh, calm down,” Diesel muttered as he stepped closer, sniffing the air. His brows shot up. “She smells…different.” He sniffed again. “So do you. Why?”
Killian nudged him. “Diesel?—”
“No, wait.” Diesel lifted a hand, eyes widening further. “You.” He jabbed a finger at my chest. “You smell like the Heartwood.” He took a step back. “Wolfe, what did you do?”
I sucked in a breath as Killian froze, but I didn’t say aword, because he was right and I noticed he wasn’t the only one noticing. Every wolf in the clearing could scent it now.
Talking stopped and then the murmuring began. I felt it from them as it twisted through the pack. Fear Awe.Hope.
The druid stepped forward, voice firm and clear. “The Hollow has bonded with its guardians. The alpha and his mate will fight for this land, and the land will fight for them.” The glow around the glade snuffed out.
Killian exhaled, shoulders lowering.
