And that’s when I heardthem.
The distant sound of hearts pounding in unison, of paws stamping theearth.
August had sensed them, too. “They’re here,” hewhispered.
Every single Pine and Boulder had sensed them because every face turned toward thewoods.
42
The Creeks came,pounding our land underneath their giant paws, breaking our blades of grass, ploughing our soil with their claws, stealing our air and lacing it with the scent of their damp, furred bodies. They raced toward us, moving like columns of soldiers with a wolf larger than all the others upfront.
TheirAlpha.
Morgan.
The light-brown wolf led her wolves toward us with a determination that made me step back from the railing, that made many of us retreat from thebalustrade.
Silly since there was no way her shifters could leap ontoit.
When she stopped and let out a long howl, the fine hair on my armsthickened.
No one shift,Liamordered.
My skin felt uncomfortably tight, but I reined my wolfback.
Julian must’ve given the same order to his pack, because everyone stayed inskin.
On the great expanse of grass below us, the Creeks began to rise onto two legs, their fur vanishing into human pores, their pointed ears migrating to the sides of their faces, their muzzles shrinking into noses. Breasts developed on certain bodies, and chest hair on others. The smaller bodies had no body hair and nobreasts.
I moved my attention off the sea of naked bodies and onto the woman at the helm. Her hair was short like a man’s, but her face was thin and feminine, just like the rest of her body. She had muscle, but nothing like the bulk of some of the wolves crowding her. I kept my gaze fixed to their faces, or attempted to. It was a feat when appendages swung each time someone so much as twitched. Clearly, the Creeks weren’tprudes. . .
I wondered if anyone else was bothered by their nudity. Some Pines were grimacing, but I didn’t think it was for the same reason. I checked Liam’s face. What was he thinking? How I wished he would speak to us through the mind link, because I wasn’t sure how to take the display beneath the balustrade. His features were hard-set, his gaze amber and glowing, his shoulders pulledtight.
Julian spoke, breaking the thick silence, “You have accomplished a great feat tonight, dearestCassandra.”
So Morgan was her lastname.
Small wrinkles bracketed the Alpha’s pale eyes as she carefully examined the rows of faces looking down ather.
“You have accomplished the feat of making me feel overdressed.” Julian guffawed, and so did many otherPines.
With bated breath, I scrutinized Cassandra’s face, waiting on her reaction to Julian’s comments. When her lips bent with a smile, a collective exhale of breaths whooshed aroundme.
“I apologize, Julian,” she said, her voice making me blink andblink.
She skimmed the row of faces again until she foundmine.
Until her eyes settled onmine.
“I’ve heard great things about the woods in these parts.” She smiled, baring shiny teeth thatoverlapped.
Heart hurtling against my ribs, I backed up, and one of my heels caught. I windmilled my arms. Lucas caught me before I couldfall.
After steadying me, he muttered, “Can you let a Pine wipe outfirst?”
Don’t show fear, Ness,Liam said through our mindlink.
How could I not showfear?
