Chapter 27

Bowen

My anguish muffled the triumphant howls of my pack as my wolf nudged Myla with his snout.

Come on, sweet girl. You have to shift.

It took everything in me to hold my anger in check. Why the hell was she here?

I’m so tired , she said.

I know, but you have to shift. Korren needs to look at your shoulder.

I’ll get Korren, Gentry said before shifting.

Silas and Theron followed suit, returning to their human skin.

Silver Fang, Hidden Creek, and Blood Moon wolves shifted around us. They naturally migrated toward the members of their packs, leaving Blood Moon wolves on one side of the field and Silver Fang and Hidden Creek on the other. The air crackled with electricity as the two camps sized each other up.

“Come on, Myla,” Theron whispered, carefully avoiding her shoulder as he stroked her coat.

She blinked up at me. Her wolf looked exhausted, probably due to blood loss.

This is the last thing we need from you. My wolf gently prodded her with his nose. Then, I promise you can rest.

She snorted. Her attitude was a welcome contradiction to her sluggish movements.

The process was much slower than I liked, but she finally shifted.

Silas caught her body when she collapsed backward.

“Shit,” Theron said, pressing his hand to her shoulder to stop the bleeding.

I shifted as Gentry returned with Korren in tow.

Korren knelt beside Myla and got to work.

“It’s a good thing you came to get me,” Korren said. “The asshole nicked her axillary vein.”

“Her what?”

Korren rolled his eyes. “Never mind. She would have bled out if I arrived a moment later.”

Voices rose behind me, and I turned to face the gathered wolves. There was some sort of commotion within the Blood Moon ranks.

“Gentry, help me hold her still. Theron, you support her head. Silas and Bowen, you go to the Alpha,” Korren ordered. I was about to protest when Korren held up a hand. “No. I’ve got Myla covered. You’re no use to me here.”

He was right. There was nothing I could do but watch him work. It didn’t mean I had to like it, though.

Silas and I reluctantly headed toward the middle of the clearing. Alpha Wynn and Alpha Declan stood side by side, facing the wolves from Blood Moon.

I paused for a moment, noticing Blythe standing just behind Alpha Declan as he shielded her from the Blood Moon males.

“Get the fuck off me!” someone shouted. “This is treason. Each and every one of you will pay for your betrayal!”

The Blood Moon pack parted, and a male was dragged forward and pushed to his knees in front of the Alphas. Three others joined him in the dirt, and a line of males barred the red-faced shifters from fleeing.

A burly male with rugged features and wild black hair stepped into the clearing, maintaining eye contact with the Alphas.

“On behalf of the Blood Moon pack, I, Marcel D’agata, petition for forgiveness for the actions of our forefathers. Please know that Kane’s decisions did not reflect the will of the pack.”

“What is your will?” Alpha Wynn asked.

“We wish to leave in peace. We’re requesting a chance to rebuild.”

“You speak as if you were forced here today,” Alpha Declan said. “Why should we believe you?”

“We were. Kane has ruled Blood Moon for years.” Marcel spat on the ground as if that fact disgusted him. “He was no true Alpha. He won no title. He used witch magic and trickery to hold his position, then he used it to keep everyone in line.” He glared at the males on the ground. “These are his only remaining followers. We offer them to you as a show of good faith.”

“And should we want to execute them?” Alpha Declan pressed, narrowing his eyes.

“Then that is your right,” Marcel said solemnly.

Shiloh made her way to Alpha Wynn’s side, and he spoke to her in hushed tones. She nodded.

“We accept your show of faith,” Alpha Wynn said. “However, we request one more demonstration of solidarity. Shiloh here is a member of my pack.” Murmurs broke out among the Blood Moon shifters, who undoubtedly found it strange for an Alpha to claim a witch. “With your permission, she will check you for remnants of the spell you claim to have been under.”

It was a challenge, and if Marcel refused, Blood Moon would suffer.

He nodded tightly, giving Shiloh permission to approach. Shiloh ran her hands over him, humming softly to herself.

Without speaking, she turned to Alpha Wynn and inclined her head.

“It seems you told us the truth.”

“I have no reason to lie,” Marcel said. “Despite what you believe of unsanctioned packs, most do their best to stay far away from those who have abandoned us.”

“Abandoned?” Alpha Wynn said. “Is that what you think sanctioned packs have done?”

“That is what we know. When the Council rose to power, they gave all shifters two options: conform to the new ways of living or die by the old. Unsanctioned packs chose to honor our ancestors—our Goddess—and we suffered greatly for it. Sanctioned packs turned their back on the ways of shifters in favor of false promises.”

Marcel took a breath before continuing. “While they coddled you into submission, we were cut off from food, resources, and society as a whole. None of the sanctioned packs stood up for us, their kin. A label was enough for you to see us as other . Sanctioned packs overlooked our suffering and isolation at the hands of the Council. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Eventually, we found our way by sticking to our roots and learning to live off the land. We embraced the skills of our ancestors and grew closer to our wolves. However, we didn’t foresee the dark witches.”

Alpha Wynn frowned. “Did they find you?”

“No, they were brought to us—guided to our lands by the Council. We foolishly thought they would leave us alone when we jumped off their playing board. We were wrong. They use unsanctioned packs like cattle. We are nothing but things for their witches to torture or experiment on.”

“What are they trying to find or make?” Alpha Wynn asked.

“We’re not sure.” Marcel shook his head. “No one returns after being taken.”

Fuck.

I remembered Myla’s words about Alpha Kane trading wolves for magical items. He learned that trick from the Council. But more importantly, Marcel had established the Council as our mutual enemy.

“We’re being hunted,” Marcel said. “It’s a big reason why our packs are so well hidden.”

“Who will be the Alpha of Blood Moon now?” asked Wynn. “You?”

Marcel shrugged. “That depends on the pack. If other males think they can do a better job, we’ll have a match, as is tradition.”

Alpha Wynn nodded, no doubt approving of Marcel’s reply.

“Alpha Wynn, a word,” I said before the Alphas could dismiss the Blood Moon pack.

I approached the Alpha, keeping my voice low as I said, “I think you should ally with Blood Moon. Think about it—the Council wants us separated. It would allow us to do what’s never been done before. We would bring shifters back together the way the Goddess intended.”

His expression was thoughtful. “I think you’re right.”

Alpha Wynn turned to Declan, and they spoke quietly to one another.

Silas leaned into me. “What was that about?”

“I was urging Alpha Wynn to take another leap of faith,” I replied.

The Alphas faced Marcel, their expressions unreadable.

“Alpha Marcel, we have a proposition for you.”