He stepped back behind Rowen—behindRowen, not me—a fact every alpha in the room clocked and panicked over, because the implication was obvious.He protected her first.
Deryn noticed, of course. His expression soured. “This Council,” he said icily, “will not tolerate disrespect.”
Diesel folded his arms. “Then you should practice what you preach, because you’ve disrespected my alpha and his mate since we walked in.”
I growled under my breath. “Stop provoking them.”
“Can’t,” he whispered back. “They’re fun when they’re angry.”
Rowen hid a smile behind her hand while Killian looked like he might faint.
Deryn slammed his hand against the table again. “Enough! We proceed with the rite to determine whether Alpha Wolfe’s claim over two territories is legitimate.”
Diesel muttered, “Spoiler…it is.”
I didn’t turn. But I made him feel my growl in his bones. He loved it. Psychopath.
“I like that we remember Wolfe is an alpha.” Every head turned toward the doors on the side, as the old shaman entered. Blind, seemingly frail, yet I could feel his power from here. Diesel stilled completely. “So much talk and riddles surround us all, but the truth must be spoken.” He walked up the three steps to the table and took the seat at the end, not near the others. He looked directly at Rowen with his milky white eyes. “Congratulations, Rowen of the Hollow. He’ll be a strong alpha and heir.”
The hall was quiet, and while the shaman had just confirmed our claim with one sentence, Deryn was far from appeased.
“Shaman, we?—”
“Yes, yes,” he said, waving his hand, brushing away the Pack Council leader’s words. “Wolfe is to be tested for…coercion?” The shaman bobbed his head. “Walked this world a long time,” he told no one and everyone. “Never seen a shifter bend the land when it didn’t want to.” He sighed. “Never seen it from a shaman, a druid, and definitely never by an alpha. No matter how strong they are in their Will. The land is the land, and the land is the Goddess’s.” The shaman turned to me. “You’re not trying to overthrow Luna herself, are you, Alpha?” he asked skeptically, and I hid my grin.
“I am not trying to overthrow anyone, Shaman.”
The shaman threw up his hands with a pleased cry,settling back in his seat. “Perfect. Was that all?” he asked, turning to Deryn.
“The rite?—”
The shaman let out a huge burp. Several tittered, and I fought back my own grin. “Ate a wily old rabbit on the way here,” he said, thumping his chest. “Stringy.” He burped again. Rowen’s hand was over her mouth. “What were you saying?”
If looks could kill, it wasn’t just me that would have been slain in the chamber this night.
“Alpha Wolfe is accused of rising against us,” Alpha Deryn bit out.
The shaman became somber. “For what purpose?” he asked, his white stare on the table.
“We have yet to question him extensively,” the kinder of the alphas said.
The shaman blinked. Slowly. Long enough that half the hall leaned forward to see if he’d fallen asleep. Then he snorted. Loud. “Question him? For what? Breathing too loudly? Standing too tall? Having the loyalty of his pack?”
Deryn stiffened. “This is a serious accusation?—”
“It is,” the shaman agreed. “Who accused him of it?” the shaman asked, leaning his elbow on the table, head propped lazily on his palm. “You?”
A ripple shot through the hall. Several alphas ducked their heads to hide their smirks.
Deryn flushed an ugly shade. “This wolf—thisalpha—has taken two territories under his command. That has never?—”
“Never what?” the shaman interrupted. “Never happened?Wrong.” He wagged a wrinkled finger. “Alpha Wolfe already told you of one. Your records are dusty, but they are accurate. You should check them before you speak again, Deryn.”
Deryn’s voice sharpened to be heard over the rising murmurs. “He destabilizes the balance?—”
“No, he does not,” the shaman said plainly. The shaman stood, looking impossibly small, old and tired.
“The land does not bow to our laws,” he said. “It bows totruth.To the one the earth acknowledges.” His gaze slid to Rowen. To me. Back to Rowen. Then to me again, and he sighed as if annoyed at something only he could see. “You feel it, don’t you?” he asked me. “Half a blessing, half a curse, thrumming at your teeth.”
