“That’s…boldof you,” I mumbled, narrowing my eyes at her.
Talon and Rhea avoided running into us as Shaw gripped the dirt with his massive claws and turned around on the trail.
“What made you stop, Sky?” Neera groaned, turning onto her side.
I didn’t intentionally ignore my cousin’s question, but my attention was elsewhere. My eyes were locked onto Shaw because… because—
Did I just hear him speak inside my mind?
“Shaw?” I asked aloud, pushing Neera off me and rising to my feet.
He tilted his feline head, stalking forward, his hazel eyes burning bright with a hint of mischief. His all-knowing demeanor translated perfectly into his animal. The midnight-black fur of his panther blended flawlessly with the surrounding night like a living shadow.
“It was you!” I exclaimed, my smile beaming. “I heard you… in here,” I said, tapping my temple.
Shaw’s tail twitched behind him as a low purr emanated from his chest. He stepped forward with his strong legs and bent his head toward my chest. His black velvet nose nuzzled me as I scratched his ear.
“What was…?” Neera trailed off. “Oh. You heardhim?”
Barks and whines echoed from Talon and Rhea off to our left near the bank of the river. Their exhales of breath froze in a light fog around their muzzles. Shaw lifted his head and looked at them, his eyes narrowing, twitching his ears as his long tail flicked to the side.
“They’re jealous,”Shaw said
“What?” I asked. “Why?”
“Because you aren’t answering them.”Shaw’s chuckle of amusement vibrated through our mental link.
I turned to Rhea and Talon. “I’m sorry. I’m not ignoring you. I just don’t hear you.”
Rhea growled, narrowing her eyes and baring her teeth. Not at me, but toward Shaw.
“Hey, Rhea. That’s uncalled for. Knock it off,” I said.
She immediately stifled her growl.
I stepped back, realizing that as her alpha, she would follow my commands. It was a strange dynamic that I would have to learn quickly and be careful not to abuse or overstep.
“You have a stronger connection with your pack when we’re in our animal forms,”Shaw told me.“When I shifted, I could feel my connection with you strengthen. It was like you were standing on the other side of a door. So, I knocked.”
“You knocked?” I arched my brow and crossed my arms. “Really? That’s the best analogy you can come up with?”
“It’s the most basic,”Shaw answered with a slight growl and flash of his teeth.“Try describing what something smells like to someone without a nose and tell me how easy it is to explain.”
“I—” Dammit, he had a good point. I hadn’t shifted yet. I wasn’t familiar with this telepathic connection while in our animal form.
Shaw nudged my arm as he settled next to me on the frozen ground, the hint of a smirk stretching along his whiskers. His shoulder rested near my head.
“Like me, they’ve been knocking since we left Solace.”
“They have?” I asked, tilting my head in Rhea and Talon’s direction.
Shaw nodded.
“Try reaching out your mind to them,” Neera suggested. “The alpha is linked to all of us. You should be able to communicate with anyone.”
“Okay.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. My mouth twisted to the side.
“It’ll help once we locate Father,” Neera added.“You’ll be able to reach out and speak to him.”
