chapter 19

“I’ll have to shift?” I ask, worry once again knotting my stomach; means getting naked so I don’t ruin the only clothes I was given and I wasn’t sure about doing that in front of men I don’t know.

When I was spotted by Dean and Zane, along with the pack, I didn’t have much choice about shifting; I did it to save my own life. But getting naked and showing my primal side to strangers? I didn’t like the idea of that, Nyx and I had always been alone to shift, we’ve never had anyone watch. The idea was making her as anxious as I was, we didn’t like it. Not one bit. What if they didn’t like how Nyx and I looked? What would happen then, would they still accept us as the Red wolf?

I had this strange power within me, one that I didn’t know how to control or use, what if I hurt someone by accident? What if they pissed me off to the point when I made them bow the way I did Dean and Zane? Their were so many possibilities and I didn’t know what to think, where I would stand once they arrived. Honestly, it was terrifying.

“Yeah I guess you would.” Dean mutters, pausing when he sees my frown. “It’s the only way to show them who you are. It’s hard to prove in this form, but once they see your wolf it’ll be different, they’ll know.”

“Balthazar made me hide my wolf for so long… I guess it’s just weird to be able to show her to others now, I’ve never shifted in front of anyone but him until I came here.” I explain softly, my anxiety still high. “Plus getting naked in front of strangers isn’t my most favourite thing to do.”

“It’ll be over before you know it, you won’t have to stay in wolf form long, we promise.” Zane smiles, the kind of smile that warms my heart, he really believes no harm will come to me.

I guess I had no choice but to believe him, even though my insides churned with apprehension, it’s just that this is all new to me and I don’t know quite how to take it all, or how I’m supposed to feel.

“Ok.” I say, thinking of my next question carefully. “What did you mean by next move?”

“Well…” Zane began, looking over at Dean as if for permission. When the alpha nodded, he continued. “Part of the agreement was shared responsibility, we would all have a chance to show you how our packs ran and how we live.”

“What does that mean?” I frown, his words causing alarm bells to ring in my head. “Will I have to leave?”

“Eventually yes, but we are going to try and keep you as long as we can since your our mate.” Zane explains, a frown plastered on his face. “They should allow us extra time because of that, we haven’t even marked you yet.”

So many questions were threatening to burst out of me that my head began to throb, I already know that mates mark each other with a special bite, it allows them to create a mind-link bond and scent share, allowing others to know who they belong to. I hadn’t even thought about the marking process or if it’s something that I want, but clearly they do.

What if it hurt too much? What if one of them bites me wrong? I know the mark is between the neck and shoulder, but I don’t exactly know how it worlds. Though that was a question for another day, right now I was worried about other things, like being taken away from the men I wanted. How long would I have to be away for? Would Balthazar find me when I’m away from their protection?

Dean and Zane believe the other packs will want to protect me as well, but how do they know for certain? What if they hand me over to the very creature I am running from?

“What if they want to take me right away?” I ask lowly, my heart racing.
Zane’s blue eyes darkened for a moment and so did the alpha’s, their growls filling the kitchen as one of the staff poured us coffee. She was called an omega, someone who was lower than the warriors, apparently their was a few of them around, they helped keep the town clean and in order.

“We won’t let them.” Dean said, coming to his senses quicker that the beta. “The alliance stated it must all be discussed, no one can just take you Annalise, you are still a person with opinions. We have to discuss options.”

I scowl at his words, “What if I don’t like the options?”

Zane raised his hand and placed them on mine, catching my attention. “Then we’ll try and change them the best we can, this if for us and well as you and once you learn how to control your abilities, we can work out how to proceed from there.”

“I’m expected to fight aren’t i?” I question them, though inside I already know the answer. “I don’t know how to fight.”

“We’ll teach you.” Dean smiles warmly, “all three packs will, you won’t go into this without being able to protect yourself, we won’t allow it.”

“Ok.” I said, still unsure, but with more understanding.

Eve came through the conservatory door with another pack member I hadn’t seen before, her blonde hair long and pulled back into a tight bun. Her eyes the shade of dead leaves in the fall. Deans’s sister smiled at me before turning towards her brother and pulling him in for a tight hug.

“What do you want Eve?” He asked in a knowing tone.