Things settle down quickly. I watch over Cassum as she heals from her extensive injuries while her new pack prepares the burial of the former Alpha and his son. Voices are hushed, but the glimpses I catch show nothing but acceptance and obedience. The Trials are the oldest law of the land—in existence for as long as werewolves have roamed the earth—and my sister won according to the rules. Speaking up or showing disrespect toward the new Alpha constitutes a form of treason, and no member of the pack has a death wish. Openly, they will not oppose her.

Yawning, I step out of the packhouse where I have been staying since the fight. The air is frigid and the bright sun can't get an edge on the sub-zero temperatures. I shudder, my breath misting on my lips as I exhale. Not that I mind the cold. I haven't slept in over three days and the freezing wind gets rid of the cobwebs in my head.

I scan the area in front of the packhouse. The death watchers have started the preparations for the burial. The bodies of Dante and the Alpha are laid out on white linen sheets and a few females wash their wounds with blessed water. When I notice Raelyn among them, my brows crunch. With a stoic expression, she dips the sponge into the bucket and after squeezing it out, she rubs over Dante's fur with soft, even strokes.

I'm about to call her over when a clasp on my shoulder has me turn my head. It's Cassum.

"Let her be. After all, he was her mate."

"But according to her, he was a dick and abusive. Why is she showing him her respect?"

"Because you've put her in an awkward position."

What is she talking about? "How?"

"You shouldn't have brought her back here."

"But she insisted."

"And that's another problem. As her Alpha, you could've forced her to stay behind. But you aren't her Alpha. As it stands, she's still a member of this pack and she isn't even sure you won't leave her here."

Fuck. Where does this all of a sudden come from? "Did she say something?"

Cassum's gaze is on Raelyn. "Let's take a run. I always feel the walls have ears around here."

Glancing across the yard, I lock eyes with the former Beta. He's hauling a small trailer full of firewood toward the clearing to build the death pyre. His face is like a mask. I can't tell how he feels about the situation, but until Cassum's position is firmly established, I consider him a threat.

"Yeah, okay, let's go for a quick run." I'm starving anyway and the exercise will do me good.

I chase behind Cassum along the path by the lake. The icy air hurts the tips of my ears; yet, with every leap, my body temperature rises. By the time we reach the cabin in the woods, I'm comfortable to rest in the snow. Tingling spreads along my spine and I raise my snout. Someone is watching us.

The question of who is answered when Rikka steps out on the porch. She walks down the steps and heads over to us.

"When are we leaving?"

To answer her, I'll have to shift. That means she'll see me naked, which has lately become a real issue. The way she devours me with her eyes is more than uncomfortable, even if she has kept her hands to herself ever since she's had the disastrous fight with Raelyn during the winter solstice.

When Cassum remains in her wolf form on the ground, I have no choice but to stretch into my skins. Rikka's stare seems to burn a hole into my six-pack.

"We'll leave soon. Just need to wrap up a few things."

"You promised we'll stop by to see Raelyn's mother."

"And we will." That is if Raelyn agrees to come with us. At this point, I can't be sure she won't stay here with her pack.

"Good. Andrenior went to see Marush and described Raelyn's necklace. Marush pretended he had no idea where it came from, but Andrenior is convinced he was lying. There's a connection to the Sentinels and the sooner we know for sure, the safer it'll be for everyone."

"You don't think Marush will hurt Raelyn?"

"You never know with him. Marush is a notorious rule breaker who does whatever he wants. Most members of the magical community are afraid of him since he's so powerful."

"Including yourself."

She laughs out loud. "No, not me. I'm one of the few warlocks he respects."

Interesting dynamic. I wonder what is so respect-worthy about her. "Well, I'm planning on leaving after the burials."

"So tonight."

Talk about pushy. "Let's say tomorrow morning." Maybe I'll even catch a few hours of sleep.

"I'll let Andrenior know."

Cassum jumps into the forest, which I take as an excuse to shift and follow her. Side by side, we chase through the underbrush. At the edge of a small clearing, I pick up the scent of a couple of moose. Their hooves scrape around in the snow for something to eat.

I lock eyes with Cassum. She actually tries to stare me down and flashes her fangs at me. This is her hunting ground now; I'm only a tolerated guest. My wolf tilts his head to show his respect to this new Alpha.

With one leap, she's at the moose's flank. He buckles but is too stunned to toss her off. The second moose takes flight. My sister wastes no time to go for the kill bite. As the moose's elixir of life colors the snow around him red, she stands back to offer me the first fill. I might only be a tolerated guest, but I'm still her big brother. Her wolf bows her head in recognition that she could've never prevailed in the Trials without my training.

After a few bites, I make room to allow for both of us to feast. Tearing the meat off the bones, the moose's blood tastes delicious on my tongue. My wolf snarls with pleasure. Feeding off fresh kill is still the best. I just wish Raelyn were here to share this meal with us. Thinking of her reminds me why I've gone with Cassum into the woods in the first place. A few more bites and I'm ready to talk.

Back in my skins, I sit down in the snow and lean against a tree. "So what did Raelyn say?"

"She thinks you're mad at her."

I'm taken aback. "Why?"

"Because she almost ruined everything when she interfered in the fight."

"It was her wolf controlling her. I don't blame her skins."

"But you blame her wolf?"

That's a tough one. "Those were her natural instincts."

"Kendrick, just stop. Do you think Raelyn is your true mate?"

My shoulders slack. "I'm not sure."

"Then you should leave her here until you've figured it out."

I don't want to do that, and not only to appease the warlocks. I'm itching just as much as they are to get to the bottom of Raelyn's magical powers. "Don't get me wrong. I still want to get to know her. It's just . . . her behavior during the Trials was really odd."

"How? You just said yourself that you knew her wolf would be loyal to Dante until the mate bond was broken. That's only natural."

"She spoke to Dante's true mate, who happens to be dead."

Cassum quirks a brow. "That is odd."

"The warlocks think she has some connection to their world."

"And that's why you're having second thoughts?"

Hell, yeah. It's freaky. "Wouldn't you be worried if your true mate might be some sort of magical weirdo?"

"Sure I would, but you're not making things any better by not telling her how you feel. She questions why you never formally made her a member of the Northern Light pack. And why you have barely spoken to her since the Trials. She thinks she's a burden to you and that you just haven't found a way to break things off with her."

"That's ridiculous. I don't want to end our relationship."

"Then talk to her. Tell her that you're worried and confused, and that you need time to figure out your feelings. I'm sure she'll understand."

"You think?"

"Positive. Trust me, the worst you can do is continue to ignore your problems."

I prop my chin up with my knee. "You know, you're gonna be a great Alpha. I'm really proud of you, sis."

"Thanks, that means a lot." She drops her gaze but not before I detect moisture in her eyes. "After I walked away from our Trials, I thought I'd lost you."

"Hell no. I'm always gonna be your big brother."

"As long as you don't tell me how to run my pack. Or invade my territory."

I chuckle. "Watch. You and I will be conquering the entire Northern American hemisphere together, but not as brother and sister but as two equal Alphas."

"I'd really like that."

We seal the deal by looping our little fingers, making a pinkie promise the way we did when she first told me about her Alpha plans. "Raynes rule."

"You better believe it."

~~~~

I catch up with Raelyn as she's heading for the burial. She has stained her hair in the dark blue color of mourning, though she isn't wearing the silver cloth of a death watcher. When she notices me, she folds her arms.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

She glances around with this haunted expression, as if she's expecting to gain someone's disapproval. These wolves have her spooked. "Sure."

I lead her away to a secluded spot behind the barn I had scouted out earlier. "I'm sorry I was so distant since the Trials. Lots to process."

"I understand."

Her gaze is fleeting and I cup her shoulders to force her to look at me. "Raelyn, I don't want you to think that anything has changed between us. There's no way I'm leaving you here."

She narrows her eyes. "But what if I want to stay?"

I sigh. Why is she making this so difficult? "Of course I won't force you." When she blinks a few tears away, I lift her chin. "Please, tell me what's wrong."

"I'm a freak and it's just a matter of time before you get fed up with me."

"That's silly. And you're not a freak."

"I spoke to a dead wolf."

My smile is crooked. How do you refute that? "That's why it's so important that we visit your mother with the warlocks. She will be able to tell us what's wrong with you, and then Andrenior and Rikka can fix it."

A few tears roll down her cheeks. "What if there isn't anything to fix? Am I a freak then whom you gonna dump the first chance you get?"

"Absolutely not. I really like you."

"But you don't love me."

Something in her gray eyes stirs my bad conscience. I lower my gaze. "I'm not sure."

She sucks in a deep breath.

"But no matter what, I won't abandon you. You'll be initiated into the Northern Light pack the minute we get back. Canada is your home now."

Her tear-filled eyes tear at my heartstrings. "You promise?"

I nod and loop our fingers the way I did with my sister. "I swear."

~~~~

Another night without sleep. Laying on my back, I stare at the ceiling, willing the shadows of the night to give way to morning. The other side of the mattress is cold. Originally, I had planned to invite Raelyn back into my bed, but my vocal cords were paralyzed when I saw her comforting the broken Luna. The encounter showed me how much she has grown in just a few days. When we left Canada, she had been a wrecked teenager. The Trials changed her into a mature female born for leadership. If Dante had won the challenge, she would now be the Luna of this pack.

The air in the small room threatens to suffocate me and I swing my legs out of bed. The floorboards are frozen to the touch against the soles of my feet. I slip into my sweats and woolly socks, glad my mother had packed them. Without her, I would've run out of underwear on the second day. Shows that for some of the most basic things, I rely on a female to take care of me just like any other male. Cassum is at a distinct advantage on that front. She's been self-sufficient for as long as I can remember.

The unfamiliar kitchen is dark and I stub my toe when I bump into the table. Ouch. With gritted teeth, I hop up and down. The light turns on. Nicollo stares wide-eyed at me from the doorway, his disheveled hair one big mess.

"Can't sleep?"

His eyes go even wider; he looks terrified. "Arabella called. She's expecting."

My lips curl to a big smile. "Congrats, man. That's great."

"Fuck, I'm scared."

I arch a brow.

"I mean, what if I mess up?" With a huff, he pulls himself onto a barstool. "I don't think I'm cut out to be a father."

"Bullshit. You'll be fantastic with a pup."

"You think?"

"I'm sure." Yet, this new development makes what I have to tell him so much harder. "Nicollo, I know this might be the worst timing, but I want you to stay here with Cassum. Sort of like an interim Beta until she found someone she can trust."

"But what about Arabella? I don't want her to have to go through the pregnancy alone."

I puff out my cheeks. Time to put my foot up his ass. "I'm sorry, but I don't see any other way. There's no one else I trust with my sister."

The air deflates out of him. When I meet his gaze, it's the first time I detect a glimmer of defiance in his eyes. Even though he would never openly oppose me, this request has caused a rift between us. If push comes to shove, I'm no longer sure that his new devotion toward his mate won't supersede his loyalty to me. Is this what true love does to you?

"It's just for a few weeks, until Cassum has settled in. You'll be back home with Arabella in no time."

His lips twist; he's still not fully onboard with this. "You promise?"

I almost roll my eyes at him. Isn't my assurance any longer enough? For a second, I'm tempted to offer him my little finger for a pinkie promise, but with him being a grown male, it seems a little juvenile. "Yeah, I promise."

~~~~

© Sally Mason 2018

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