I tightened my arms on my chest. “You weren’t supposed to hear about that.”
“Well, I did.” She adjusted her dress again. “Tell me more.”
“No.”
Her head tilted. “Why not? Don’t you need help?”
“No, we do not need help.”
“It appears you have no problem shifting, so my assumption is that the affliction is impacting others within your pack.”
“The shifting component is a recent problem. Our healers have been handling it.”
“Except they haven’t if it has worsened.”
“I told you to let it go.”
“Adults or pups?”
My growl ripped out. “Adults, but do not pursue this.”
Acorn’s gaze shot from her to me, and I sensed a touch of superiority in his posture, which only made me want to growleven louder. Not that me huffing was having any impact on my wife.
Why in all the fates wasn’t she afraid?
Frowning, she tapped her chin. “Is it some sort of magical ailment?”
“I don’t know,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Well, I’m sure you looked into it.”
“I have.”
“Without the ability to shift, the affected pack members are physically weakened.”
“Do you think I’m not aware of that?”
She blinked slowly, staring past my shoulder. Thinking, I assumed.
“I assume rival clans are beginning to track your pack’s vulnerable scent,” she said.
I stared at her. She’d pieced together information from a single statement on someone’s part and understood the implications immediately.
The squirrel chittered, and Victoria’s lips twitched. “Acorn says that sounds like a territorial…” She paused. “He used a term I won’t repeat, but I believe the polite version is ‘marking problem.’”
I frowned. “Marking?”
“You know.” She waved a hand vaguely. “Spraying.”
“Spraying.”
“To establish dominance.”
“I know what spraying means.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “We don’t— That’s not how pack scent works.”
“Oh.” She looked genuinely curious now. “How does it work then?”
“That’s not the point.” I dropped my hand, focusing on the original conversation. “The point is that I’m too busy dealingwith the sickness, my responsibilities as alpha king, and the political complications of our union to deal with a mate.”
