“No.My lion has never forced a shift, he’s pushed a few times and tried to make me shift, but I can hold him at bay, which tells me he trusts me to know too.You and your panther will build that same bond.”
Shawn shook his head.He felt ridiculous even talking about having a panther side.He couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to fully shift and discover that part of him.
“Let’s just take it one step at a time.Today we investigate the house and the neighbors, and tomorrow we discuss what’s next,” Ryan said.
Chapter 18
El
Marcus feignedinterest the whole time Otis and Brock, the elders Ryan had set El up with, told their stories.El could have spent the entire day listening to them, but she took mercy on Marcus and bid the men farewell before lunchtime.
“I thought that was fascinating.There’s so much history to your Pride,” El beamed on their walk back.
“Our Pride, and yes, there is lots of history.I don’t mind their stories as much as the others, but I have heard those several times in my long life.”
“Well, thank you for sitting through them again.It really does help me understand things a bit more, especially Leilani.”
“Really?How so?”
“I mean, she had everything necessary to be the Alpha, except the right gender.I mean, she was the strongest, and she had the lineage.I’m not saying living through Ryan is right, but I get it.It also brings me full circle back to my previous question of why the Mother chose a woman to be the prophecy.Everything I heard today led me to think the Mother only wanted men in power, hence why Leilani never got her shot.”
“The Mother doesn’t just want men in power, she wants those who deserve to be power in power.Leilani never deserved it.She was power-hungry, and usually power-hungry Alpha’s don’t make good leaders.Leilani would have been a terrible leader, just as she was a terrible mother.I think had Ryan been raised by someone more nurturing, he wouldn’t despise being the Alpha as much as he does,” Marcus told her.
“That makes sense.I hope with me beside him, he can learn to enjoy it.I don’t want to be some prophecy or the mate to an Alpha, but I am, so I want to make the best of it.”
“I think he will.Your enthusiasm will wear off on him.”
“What about you?Does my enthusiasm wear off on you?”She asked.
“I’m not the Alpha, but your enthusiasm for life does wear off on me.There’s not very many people out there that would try to put a positive spin on half the shit you’ve been dealt lately.”
“I don’t know about all that.I’ve had my fair share of breakdowns.I will say, though, I’m excited to have Willow here.”
“I’m glad we were able to make it happen for you, then.Shawn may be back with her by now.”
“I hope so.I know I only met her briefly, but she has such ease to her.I felt like I could tell her anything.”
“All healers have the way about them.”
“I never got that warm fuzzy feeling from Claudia,” El said.
“That’s understandable, you weren’t looking at her as a healer, you saw her as a threat.”
“When I first met her, I didn’t know she had been with Trip, and I didn’t like her then.Have you ever met a healer you didn’t like?”El asked.
Marcus seemed to take a minute to consider his answer.
“I don’t think I have, but I haven’t met many, they’re not rare by any means, but they’re not common if that makes sense.”
“I suppose.I just think there’s something off about Claudia,” El said hoping she could ease into her suspicions about Claudia with Marcus.
“I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about her anymore,” Marcus replied, seemingly closed off to the topic.
El didn’t pursue it any further then.She could feel it in her gut that she was right about Claudia, and now that Willow was coming to stay, she hoped they could figure it out together if Willow hadn’t already gained some information through her other healers.
As they approached the main house, El caught sight of Ryan as he paced in front of the window in his office.He had seemed too stressed earlier, and he looked even more so now.El had no doubt that the other shadow she was seeing was Adam’s.Adam was scarce since their return, other than to pop in and tell Ryan just how displeased he was that Ryan didn’t want to launch an all-out search for their mother.
El wished Leilani could have made something easier on Ryan.By disappearing, she was creating unnecessary stress on Ryan, Adam and the whole Pride.El didn’t figure the woman cared, though, she loved the attention.
