Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

RYDER

N o one moved as the two men shifted into wolves and loped off into the woods. Caedmon signaled to two guards, and they followed to make sure the wolves actually left the territory. Loki gave a deep bark, like the order had been directed at him, and charged after the others. Morgan didn't have to worry about him, the beast knowing better than to leave the coven grounds.

Morgan waited a beat before turning toward Caedmon. "Why did you say that we would go?"

Because that was the last thing she wanted. She'd just graduated and inherited the coven. They had a lot of work to do to make it functional. Paranormals were still flooding the human realm, and the covens were overwhelmed trying to keep them in line—deciding who needed to be sent back, who needed to be killed, and who was allowed to stay.

"He's right," Atlas said, coming to stand at her side, the darkness in him lingering in his burnt umber eyes. A scowl marred his expression as he gazed after the two shifters. "They want something from you, and they're not going to stop until they get it."

Ryder grunted in agreement. "If you don't go, enforcers will come, and they won't be polite and ask."

Draven just shook his head as he tapped his blade against his thigh. "You just don't know how to not find trouble. It's like a not so hidden talent of yours."

She made a face and shot him the finger, which only made him smirk. The nightmares in his haunted blue eyes lightened as he gazed at her, and he winked. "I wouldn't trade a second of it."

Of course he wouldn't.

He adored trouble.

"You're part of both worlds now." Ascher ran his hand through his messy blond locks, leaving him with a sexy, just rolled out of bed look that nearly distracted her from the problem at hand. "As much as you don't want to deal with them, it would be unwise to think they would just go away."

She gave him a twisted smile that was part grimace. "So you're saying no burying my head in the sand."

He flashed her a sympathetic smile, and her heart sank, because she knew he was right.

She glanced at Ryder in concern, not liking his silence. "As my mate, does this put you in more danger?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously, and his fangs peeked out when his upper lip curled. He stalked toward her, grabbed the back of her neck, and rested his forehead against hers. "You're not going to leave without me. Don't even think it."

"But if it puts you in more danger?—"

"He's right," Caedmon interrupted, grimacing when she pulled away from the warmth of Ryder's arms to glare at him. "He is your mate. If he doesn't make an appearance at your side, they will see it as a sign of weakness."

"And you can't afford to show any weakness." Kincade wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her close. "I know you want to keep us safe, but think if the positions were reversed. You wouldn't allow any of us to go off alone."

Draven gave her a taunting smile. "And if you think you're going to try and sneak out, we'll take a page out of your own book and sneak off after you."

She barely resisted the urge to deck him. She must have made a move to put her thoughts into action, because Kincade tightened his grip even more.

As much as she wanted to hate them for boxing her in a corner, he was correct. It just wasn't safe for any of them to go off alone.

She slumped in defeat, then glanced at Caedmon. "You mentioned loup garou, and they reacted like they were something sacred. Explain it to me."

Caedmon grimaced in distaste. " Loup garou are a myth to most of the shifter society. It used to be considered a blessing given to the most worthy, but the lycanthrope strain died out a long time ago."

"Died out?" Something about the tone of his voice lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. "Or exterminated?"

"I don't like you being out in the open and exposed." Ryder ran a tired hand down his face. "Let's get you inside, and I'll tell you everything you need to know."

R yder watched the rest of the guys fall into formation around Morgan and guide her inside the coven.

Inside their home.

He sighed and wished they had more time to actually enjoy the novelty.

Caedmon fell into step beside him, and his beast grumbled at his proximity. Though the man helped save Morgan, he didn't trust the guy yet. He saw the look in the man's eyes when he gazed at her—it was the same look Ryder saw in the mirror every morning.

Hope.

Fear.

And such painful longing that it was hard to look at directly.

Not that he could blame the poor fuck.

Morgan had that effect on all her mates.

As much as he wanted to deny what he was seeing, Ryder feared it was already much too late. No matter what warning or threat he gave, Caedmon was too far gone.

And as Ryder's gaze swept across the property, he realized that maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. No matter his personal feelings, Caedmon was an impressive warrior, and he very much feared they were going to need him in their upcoming confrontation, especially if Morgan proved to be stubborn and refused to accept their advice.

He wasn't sure how the others would feel about welcoming another male into their group…or how the hell they were going to convince Morgan she needed another mate. She was already conflicted about having the other man near.

Even before stepping into the house, he heard arguing spill out from the library, and Ryder sighed. Living with six strong personalities was a challenge at the best of times, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. He closed the front door behind him, then followed the loud voices. Despite being five against one, Morgan stood with her arms crossed, a stubborn expression on her face as she glared at the rest of the men.

"You're not going alone." Kincade was right in her face, his expression just as fierce, not backing down an inch.

"I propose a compromise." Ryder stepped farther into the room, his eyes for Morgan alone. "The Alpha Assembly will not allow outsiders inside their meetings."

He ran a hand over his head, his wolf preening at being the center of her attention.

"Caedmon and I will go with her to visit the wolves." He held up his hand when the rest of the men opened their mouths to protest. "You work on discovering why her grandfather wants her back after abandoning her since birth. If we can figure out why he wants her, then we can maybe come up with a plan to keep her safe. "

Atlas crossed his arms, glaring daggers at both him and Caedmon from across the room. Then the elf sighed, dropped his arms and straightened. "As much as I hate to admit it, Ryder is correct. We don't have the luxury of picking and choosing which threat to deal with first."

Steam rose from Ascher as he turned away from Morgan, his scowl threatening to singe fur from his beast. "I should be assigned to her team. I'm enough of a shifter?—"

"You're not a wolf." Ryder held up his hand when the other man clenched his fists. "While the Alpha Assembly acknowledges other shifters, they consider them a weaker species. You will only be seen as a liability to her if you go."

The fight went out of the hellhound.

Because as much as he wanted to protect Morgan, Ascher refused to be the one to put her in danger.

"I still don't like it." Draven tipped his head, his neck cracking as he paced the floor. "They're up to something. Why would they come now?"

Kincade stilled before turning to look out the window. "It's because we cleared out the wendigo."

A snarl curled Ascher's face at the mention of them. "What do you mean?"

Caedmon was the one who answered. "Because the danger is gone. They've come to investigate. They want to know how you managed to defeat them, and?—"

"They want it for themselves," Atlas finished, the lavender tint to his skin darkening. The change happened more and more recently, the more Morgan was in danger, not that she seemed to mind. There wasn't an ounce of fear in her as she gazed at her mate.

"If Ascher can't go because he is a hellhound, then by that logic, loup garou should be exempt as well." She turned her striking, liquid blue eyes in his direction.

Ryder sighed, hating to be the one to disappoint her.

"No," Caedmon interrupted before Ryder could speak, the elf's expression almost bland if you didn't notice the way the corner of his eyes tightened infinitesimally. "Unfortunately, I fear it's the opposite—being loup garou only makes them more interested."

His wolf rumbled in his chest at the prospect of anyone else showing interest in his mate.

It only made Ryder more determined than ever to do whatever was necessary to keep her safe…even trust Caedmon.

"I don't like us separating, more so now with the gods after her." Draven glared at them stubbornly. "What if she just doesn't go?"

"As much as I wish it were possible, the alphas would never allow it." Ryder pushed away from the door and prowled around the edges of the room, his beast riding him hard. "They've been breeding wolves for generations, trying to recreate the loup garou strain. They're hoping it will help prevent them from going feral. Now that there is suddenly a whole pack of them, they will never let it go."

He came to a stop in front of Morgan, unable to keep away, and he ran the back of his fingers against her soft cheek, his heart giving an extra thump when she leaned into his touch. "I'm a wolf. Even mated, I'll never be completely free. If the alphas recall me, I'll have no choice but obey."

His heart sank, because he knew no matter what happened, she would fight to save him.

Which would only put her in more danger.

"They're going to use me against you." He dropped his hand from her, ashamed he put her in this position. "Even if you don't go, I must."