But there was blackness in my head.
There was murder in my heart.
And it felt real.
I couldn’t move.
The wolves waited.
Somewhere, a killdeer called out from the trees. An odd bird, it was. Singing at night.
I thought the whole forest could be holding its breath.
From behind me, Gordo said, “They’re waiting for you.”
I didn’t turn to look at him. I couldn’t. Not while the wolves were watching me.
“You’re part of them,” he said. “You’re part of this.”
That little voice, that mean little voice whispered in my ear again, saying I never really had a choice in the matter. That if they’d just stayed away, none of this would have happened. And I wouldn’t be feeling as guilty as I was.
And my mother would be in the kitchen. Popping soap bubbles on my ear.
Carter whined at me, soft and low, ears drooping.
Because he could probably feel what I was thinking. Maybe not in so many words or specifics, but he would get the gist of it.
They all would.
So I swallowed it down and let it slide down my throat. It burned.
I felt Gordo’s hand on my shoulder.
Out of the corner of my eye, his tattoos pulsed and writhed.
“You feel it too,” I said.
He sighed. It was the only answer I needed.
I shrugged off his hand.
Took a step forward. And then another. And then another.
Until I’d taken my place. Next to Joe.
I knelt down beside him. My shoulder bumped his. He was stiff, unmoving. He stared down at his father, bloodred eyes glowing in the dark.
Something settled when I took my place next to him.
It wasn’t much, especially not in the face of all that had happened.
But it was there.
Because he was my Alpha now.
And I was his mate.
“WHY DO you howl?” I’d asked Thomas.