“We will, however, cede our packs to your mate.”
Everything seemed to freeze for a split-second.
“What?” I whispered, choking on the word.
“You are my daughter,” Nikolai went on solemnly. “You are a descendant of the first Alpha our world has ever known. You were born to be an Alpha, little wolf. You now have the command of all the European and Asian packs. How you and your mate choose to use them is up to the both of you.”
He dropped to a knee fluidly before me. A second later, the rest of the Dhaskov pack did the same, resting an arm across their bended knees and bowing their heads.
The other packs fell in line, dropping as well. Even our own pack, until Remy and I were the only ones left standing.
I looked over at him with wide eyes, stunned by the pride and love I saw reflected in his gaze as he watched me with a smile.
The air practically crackled with energy as my gaze swept the crowd. All of these people were here to support us. It was terrifying and humbling, but my wolf easily sifted through those human emotions and pressed her own into my heart.
Confidence.
She knew that my father was right; we were born for this moment. Maybe it was why we had bonded to an Alpha, and not just any Alpha, but Remy.
The one man who would see and treat us as an equal in every way.
“Thank you all,” Remy said, speaking for us both. His voice carried easily through the silent crowd. “Skye and I want to invite you all to join us on our first pack run together. As one, united pack.”
People slowly started to get up, and I was touched when I watched Nikolai help Warren to his feet. The old man’s legs shook with the effort to get back up off the ground and he clapped Nikolai on the shoulder with a tiny smile once he was upright.
“After the run, we’ll help you all settle into your new arrangements for those of you planning to stay in Blackwater,” Remy added. He waved Katy forward. “My sister, Katy, is heading the housing committee. They’ll help you all figure out your next steps in the far tent.”
He pointed to the large white tent off to the side, near the row of buses.
“If you’re comfortable shifting here, feel free. We have tents set up on either side. Women can follow my mate.” Remy gave me a warm smile that I easily returned.
It felt like a physical ache to let go of his hand, but I squared my shoulders to lead the women who wanted privacy to the tent to change.
Nikolai grabbed my hand, pulling me to a gentle stop.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “There wasn’t time to tell you the plan before the meeting. And truthfully, I was worried you would refuse.”
“I’m not an Alpha,” I said softly.
He sighed. “That’s exactly what you are, Skye, and now there is no denying it. With our allegiance, half the shifter population in the world recognizes you as such. The question is, will you run from it? Or will you embrace it?”
I covered his hand with mine. “Thank you. For your support.”
“You will always have my support,” he promised.
Emotion threatened to strangle me again. “Thanks,” I bit my lower lip, hesitating for a second, “Dad.”
His eyes flared wide, surprise quickly replaced by hope. “Skye.”
“Was that weird?” I asked quickly, suddenly unsure. “I didn’t mean to make things weird. Or weirder.”
“It was eighteen years in the making,” he replied gently. “And right on time.”
He let me go and headed back with the other men now following Remy to change despite some people stripping down in the middle of the field.
Seeing a lot of skin, I quickly turned and headed for the female tent.
The quiet hush as I stepped inside was unnerving.
“Keep getting undressed or she’ll make you do dishes,” Ainsley cracked, breaking the tension.
I rolled my eyes, but it did the trick. The women kept disrobing, some shifting.
Ainsley headed for me and wrapped her arms around me.
“Welcome home, Alpha,” she greeted warmly.
It was hard to believe I hated her a few months earlier as I returned the hug.
“Shut up,” I mumbled, ducking away with a blush and heading for Larkin, Tate, and Katy.
“How are you?” I asked Tate as I stopped in front of her.
She gave me a tight, but warm smile. “Better now. Being back helps. Dante and Ryder have been great.”
Katy hip-checked her lightly. “You have more people who love you than Dante and Ryder. Don’t forget it.”
Tate smirked, a spark of her feisty personality igniting. “Of course not. I have Skye, too.”
“Bitch,” Katy muttered, smiling.
Laughing, I stripped and shifted quickly, anxious to—
A contented sigh rumbled from my chest as I felt Remy in my head.
Hey, babe. His warm voice trickled through my thoughts.
I turned, heading out of the tent as fast as I could. I raced across the distance between us, my body colliding with his where we met in the middle.
The appreciative rumble in his chest vibrated through my fur and into my bones.
I was too absorbed in Remy, in letting our wolves reunite that I missed the others starting to join us.
We should get going, he told me reluctantly.
I couldn’t stop the plaintive whine that scraped up my throat. Fine.
We turned to face the rest of the pack, expecting them to be waiting for us, but only a handful were looking at us. And those stares were filled with worry.
More and more wolves started appearing in the open field, but a large amount of them looked stunned. A few whined, and then a chorus of howls split the air.
My hackles rose as I realized something wasn’t right.
I looked around, trying to figure out what was wrong, but things weren’t wrong. They were …
Remy? I whispered his name, shuffling so our sides were pressed together.
Holy fuck.
His hushed reply rang in my head like the crash of cymbals.
He was seeing exactly what I was seeing, which meant this was really happening.
Are they … I couldn’t finish the thought because there was no way.
No. Fucking. Way.
They’re bonding, he confirmed, sounding just as amazed and confused as I felt.
Dozens, maybe hundreds, of wolves had just found their mate in this field.
Holy shit.
41
Skye
My head was spinning as I headed into the tent to shift back and help deal with whatever the hell just happened in the pack. Already bonded pairs were starting to sneak off to consummate their newfound bonds. The pack run was all but forgotten because about half of them just found their soulmate. Remy hadn’t even needed to tell me we should shift back and regroup to talk about this before I turned and all but ran for the seclusion of the tent.
A few women followed me, but I was surprised to see Lulu waiting for me in the middle of the tent, her expression solemn and her hands clasped in front of her.
I shifted immediately and started grabbing for my clothes. “What’s wrong?” I demanded over my shoulder.
Lulu had been all but hidden the last day since we arrived in Blackwater. If she was here, it probably meant something was wrong.
“Is it Linden or Elias?” I pressed, pulling my leggings back on. The last thing I needed tonight was those two causing another layer of chaos.