Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Later. They’re waiting,” I prompted.
“You’re one to talk,” he sniped at me.
He yipped, and the rest of the pack shifted, sinking down onto four legs, most covered in fur, most of them wolves, but not all. For guard duty, a pack of wolves had often been the most effective, as we could use the bond more easily, allowing us to work with each other seamlessly. Lionesses fit right in, as did our lone young elephant. Solitary shifter animals had a hard time working as a unit.
My wolf waited for all the other animals to jog forward a bit, crowding in, trying to make it easier for Aurelia to find and connect with them all.
They needn’t have bothered.
Her magic swept over us easily, spreading unity, love, and her longing for a sense of community. That was the fairy magic. Then came the reach for the bond. She accepted it from my wolf first, as we’d practiced, zipped out to Hadriel within the throng, whom she was comfortable with, and then extended out to everyone in the vicinity. Like a rope pulling taut, everyone snapped into tighter focus before the steel clamped down, strengthening the connection. Once that was established, the magic of our true mate pairing filtered in, tranquil and warming and encompassing, turning a means of order and command and communication into a pleasant oasis, merging us all together a little tighter, sharing more of our emotions, deepening the pack bond.
An overwhelming surge of support colored the bond; the pack approved of her connection and applauded her on managing it.
Her wolf rubbed against mine, pleased.
“And now we show her off,” my wolf said, nipping her flank as he sprinted forward.
Her wolf’s delight unfurled, and then she urged the pack on. Follow the alpha.
“She doesn’t think of us as a beta to this kingdom, but solidly their alpha,” my wolf said. “Her alpha.”
“She likes when I exercise my dominance.”
“Sex is one thing; leadership in a pack is another. What I’m saying is her wolf has joined the pack with power equal to ours, but she is very clearly looking for guidance. She’s making it known that she is learning, and that I am her lead. She’s not presenting herself as half an alpha pair, but as a member of the pack who needs to earn her place.”
I couldn’t decipher the complexities and nuances of body language and positioning, but I knew what certain things meant within pack dynamics. She was making it clear to everyone that, despite the position her power and pairing afforded her, she would not assume command unless she had earned it. Unless she was capable of it. Until that time, if or when it ever came, she would follow her alpha. She would be one of them.
She was remarkable, particularly considering any other alpha mate I’d ever heard of had felt like they had earned their place at the top of the hierarchy because of power and blood. Even without an opportunity to lead, as was the case with most alpha mates, they would demand respect and obedience because of their status.
Aurelia was looking to be immersed. She wasn’t above anyone—she was one of them. I knew if she ever led, she would be elevated by them.
My heart felt full to bursting.
“That is perfect,” I said as she easily caught us and almost seemed to prance at our side.
“Yes, it is,” my wolf said with pride. “It’s better than we could’ve hoped for. It’s a solution we never thought of.”
“No alpha or alpha mate would’ve. It’s certainly not something a potential co-alpha would’ve considered. It isn’t how our people, especially those with power and prestige, are brought up. She wasn’t trained with the inherent pride and conceit that we were. It’s . . .”
“Humbling,” my wolf finished.
“Yes, it is. It is also good for pack unity, and she craves that above all else. Above being a fairy. Her upbringing, as rough as it was, prepared her for this. She’ll always know she made the right choice.”
“Once she visits those gods-awful arrogant fuck-stains, yes.” My wolf showed his teeth. “Calia is the only one I actually liked.”
“Her sister.”
“She’s not a fairy.”
True enough.
“But yes,” my wolf said, “I liked her sister a great deal. But back to our incredible mate. Shall we play a game of chase?”
My wolf bent his head back as we ran and bit into Aurelia’s leg, hard enough to make her yelp. She darted to the side, so fast when she changed direction it was dizzying. The bond relayed the way she recoiled, as though she’d done something wrong, but it only took her a moment to realize it was a game—a vicious one.
The pain from her bite registered before her darting toward us had, and then she was gone. Through the bond, her message was crystal clear: Catch me if you can, fuckers.