Sienna chewed on her lip and stared in the direction of the snow-capped mountain in the distance, the one Surge had indicated she needed to head toward.
Surge followed her line of sight.
Suddenly an enormous roar surrounded them. It was so loud that Surge grabbed her arm as if to ensure she didn’t fall. It was powerful enough to shake their foundation and cause them to feel unsteady on their feet.
“It’s a lion,” he murmured as the roar ended. “He wants to meet with you.”
Sienna smiled. “I know.” It seemed odd that Surge just now picked up on that.
Surge pointed in the direction of the mountain from her vision. “That way. You have to go to him. You have to go alone.” He scowled. “I don’t like it. Your mate is going to murder me.”
“He won’t. He’ll understand. It’s been foretold. It’s my destiny.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
“Why am I here?” Surge asked.
“So I can find my way back, and so Jayce can reunite with me. He will track me to this location and then lose my scent. He’ll be here soon. You’ll explain to him why I had to go. You two will wait for me to return here.”
She had no clue how she knew all of that. She simply did. It wasn’t even shocking any more. It had happened so many times since her mating ceremony. Had that just been yesterday?
Sienna clutched Surge’s forearm. “I must go now.” She didn’t wait for him to respond before she shifted and took off running. Her heart was racing from the exertion, and she was beyond unnerved from heading toward the unknown, but she felt no fear for her life or safety. The lion would not hurt her.
He was obviously a powerful being, the likes of which no wolf or bear shifter had encountered in so long that there was no lore to tell of it. If he’d meant any of them harm, he could have single-handedly slaughtered every wolf and bear in every valley and across the entire line of mountain ranges.
He wasn’t alone, but he was the leader. The one in charge. The one making the decisions. All of this information came to her as she ran at full speed on paws that hadn’t yet ever seen this kind of action.
Suddenly she burst out of the trees and found herself in a large meadow. The sun shone bright on the dense grass and colorful flowers.
Sienna came to a stop and shifted back into her human form. This was the place. This was the time.
There was no roar to greet her. There was no need now. She had heeded his calling.
The lion took her breath away when he came into view. He swaggered lazily toward her, his gait steady and sure, his body swaying back and forth until he came to a stop a few yards away. He cocked his head to one side and seemed to take her in before finally shifting.
Sienna swallowed as she was faced with a giant man. He wore nothing but jeans. No shoes or shirt. His chest was broad and tanned, his skin smooth as silk. He had brown hair that hung around his shoulders and a leather necklace. He was bigger than any wolf shifter she’d ever seen, including the Alpha Protectors.
He smiled, which calmed her racing heart. “You are a powerful little shewolf.”
Sienna licked her lips. “I…”
“You didn’t know of your powers until recently, did you?”
“No.” She was surprised she was able to speak.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the chosen one.”
“Chosen for what?” she asked, confused.
“Chosen to hear me and take my message back to your people.”
“Why me?” She tried hard not to tremble.
