Chapter Fifty-Six
I stood on shaky paws and looked down at the girl between my feet. โWhat are you?โ
โI already told you,โ Nix growled as she lowered our head toward Amandaโs. โI am an alpha of this pack, and I have made my decree.โ Nix lifted our muzzle to the sky and howled. The loud, lone call was matched by the shifted wolves of this pack. The ones that were left bowed their heads to us. โDoes anyone disagree?โ
โNo, Alpha.โ The call went out, even Jay and Sheila bowing their consent.
โMom! Dad!โ Amanda called out, but they turned their backs on her, as did the rest of the pack. She looked around as she stumbled to her feet and then looked back to Nix.
โFrom this day forth, Amanda Williams will be shunned by any of this pack. She will be joined by Aurora Williams once she is caught. We do not suffer betrayers in this pack.โ
โYou have until sundown to collect the belongings you are taking with you. You need to be off pack lands, or else the warriors have permission to attack on sight.โ My father walked up next to Nix and put his arm on our shoulder.
Amanda looked back and forth between me, my father, and her parents. She screamed and stomped her foot, but Nix was over the situation and growled, showing her fangs and getting in Amandaโs face. โI would worry more about leaving than throwing another tantrum, girl, before I lose my patience.โ Amanda snapped her eyes to us and then ran from the Agora.
My father lifted his hands. โThe rest of you are dismissed. Keep one guard and if you see anything, mind-link me immediately.โ The pack bowed and left the Agora, leaving us trembling with rage. โItโs okay, Amy,โ he said, but he was facing Nix.
I was pushed to the back of my mind, sitting with Megan, watching as Nix controlled our body. It was a weird feeling, but she deserved the freedom, even if she was holding on to her anger by a thread.
Once you shift more often, you can still be in control, even shifted, Megan purred. My fingers were running through her coat as we watched everything unfold.
โYou both deserve a little freedom. I think I will keep it this way unless something happens,โ I threw out as she chortled next to me.
Nix turned to face my father, and he ran his fingers through our fur. โYouโre huge.โ Nix lifted our lip, and he chuckled. โNot a bad thing, pup. You are absolutely beautiful.โ I felt her pride at his words. His hands trailed up her face and over her forehead. โGoddess blessed, too.โ He shook his head. โHow am I supposed to keep the male wolves away from you now?โ
Nix chortled. She bumped his head with hers. โYou will figure out a way.โ Nix froze as a mind-link came through. Aurora ran out of the border, but there were rogue scents all around. They crossed into our land. What should I do? Should I go after Aurora or follow the rogue scents? Graysonโs voice rang through our head, and Nix leapt into action.
โNix! Wait!โ my father called out to us, but she was too focused.
Nix, wait for Dad, I called out to her, but she ignored even me. Nix! I called out again.
โThere are rogues on our land. We need to protect our pack,โ Nixโs voice blasted through the air and our minds.
My fatherโs growl came from behind us on the left side. Loki came bounding up next to us. โNever run from me again, pup, not with rogues on the loose.โ
โWell then, keep up with me, old man,โ Nix growled and kept running. Once we breached the trees, we ran through the town toward where Grayson was, but before Nix made it back to the opposite tree line, we caught a scent. A second after, Loki caught it too. We both veered off, following the trail. โLoki?โ
โStay close, stay alert,โ he growled. We followed the scent for a minute before a scream rent the air. โWe are under attack.โ His voice bellowed through the mind-link. Get to your positions and protect the pack. A howl went out, and then another. More attacks were happening. He looked at me, and I looked at him, and I saw when he decided. โStay safe, pup. I wonโt be able to live without you.โ
I nodded, and Nix allowed me to push forward. We would fight together. I pushed to the forefront. โStay safe, Daddy.โ Then Nix and I veered off toward another howl. We ran through the town to the next closest howl and rounded a corner to see two rogues cornering a family. My vision turned red as I saw one dodge in toward the small pup, and Nix and I put on a burst of speed. They wouldnโt hurt this family.