Shattered Pack (Alpha Girl 6)

“My court hears things. Donovan’s pack was in a state before everything went down with Luciana and the news reports. Add in our recent adventures… And then there’s you.”

“Me?” Why would I be an issue?

“Yes. You. Now that Donovan’s mated, the Irish pack will only get more chaotic. Since you haven’t completed your bond to him yet…” She shook her head. “Trouble is brewing.”

“What are you talking about?” Cosette was my friend, but sometimes she was so vague I wanted to wring her skinny neck. Why would having an uncompleted bond with Donovan cause a problem in his pack?

“I can’t tell you much more than I already have, but at the very least, I wanted to warn you and leave you with a measure of protection.”

Protection? Now she was starting to freak me out. Donovan? What the hell is going on with your pack?

Nothing that I know of. And as Alpha, he’d definitely know if something was up. I’m in the middle of a pretty heated debate. Just tell me what you’re after.

I winced as I felt his stress level edging on nuclear. I shouldn’t have mentally bombarded him like that. Nothing. It’s okay. Go back to whatever you were doing.

You sure you’re fine? I could already feel his attention turning from me.

Yeah. We’ll talk later.

The bond went quiet. I thought over Cosette’s warning, but if Donovan didn’t know of any conflict, then the girl was talking nonsense. “I’m not going to Ireland, so I don’t need protection.” She gave me a long look that told me arguing would be pointless. “And a get out of jail free card is what exactly?”

“Open it.”

I took the pouch and shook its contents into my hand. It held a single gold coin attached to a chain. One side was smooth as silk, and the other had a ring engraved with the phases of the moon.

A Lunar court coin? That was one of the more powerful fey courts. Cosette couldn’t be part of it, could she? With the way she liked to lay out in the sun reading magazines whenever she had a second to herself, I’d totally thought she was Solar. I’d know if she was Lunar, wouldn’t I? I shook off all the questions rolling through my mind and asked the one I truly needed her to answer. “What does it do?”

“It’s a one-use enchantment.” She grabbed it from me and fastened the chain around my wrist. “It will stay until you take it off, even if you shift. Don’t do that. Keep it on. The saying that goes with this coin is: When you’ve reached your darkest hour, the coin will warm. Grab hold of it and be safe.” She paused. “Don’t forget the last part, okay?”

Grab hold of it and be safe? Perfect. That wasn’t vague at all. Would it destroy my enemies? Give me an extra life? Heal me? But I knew Cosette better than to ask too many questions. It was a big deal that she’d gotten the coin for me. I’d figure out the details out later.

I glanced at the bracelet. “I don’t know what to say.” I couldn’t thank her. That was a severe no-no with the fey. A thank you implied a debt, and the fey could claim what they were owed in a whole host of unsavory ways.

“You had my back in the chapel, and this is the only thing I can do for you before I get hauled into hiding.” She sighed. “Just be careful whenever you do end up in Ireland. They’re a dangerous bunch. There might be challenges. If you can get out of fighting—”

“No.” Cosette might be an expert on fey stuff, but what she was about to say was complete crap. That was a piece of advice no Were should ever take. Especially me. “I can’t run away if I get challenged.”

“Why not?”

“I’d be a disgrace.”

“You’d be alive.”

My blood ran cold. “I’m not the most dominant wolf, and until Donovan and I have our ceremony, my position won’t be secure. If his pack wants me gone, they can probably make it happen. Running from a challenge would only speed that up.” And it scared me how easy it might be.

“Donovan will try to protect you, but he can’t see all the threats. You have to look for the truth.”

Look for the truth? What was she talking about now? “What do you know?”

“I can’t.”

I nodded. Cosette was under some crazy restrictions. I knew she’d tell me more if she could. “Either way, I’m glad to have some insurance. This was really thoughtful of you,” I said instead of thanking her.

“I hope you never need it.”

“Me, too.” I prayed she was wrong. Fighting to join a pack that didn’t want me seemed like a worst-case scenario. But it was Donovan’s pack. If I wanted to be his mate—and I did—then I had to do what I had to do.

Luckily, there was no hurry to head straight to Ireland. Donovan hadn’t agreed to a date for our Full Moon Ceremony, and until then I was still officially part of the Wayfarer pack and a satellite member of the St. Ailbe’s pack. That was more than enough for now. I was cool with avoiding Europe altogether if things were bad over there.