His wolf went on alert, ready to see if this were a trap, but he had a feeling Shane was on his own.
“Dear goddess, what’s wrong with him?” Leah asked.
Ryder met her gaze and saw the worry etched on her face. “I think he’s dying. I…I don’t know what to do. He’s not Pack.”
Gideon was suddenly there, his hands balled into fists. “This is the man that saved you?” his brother, his Alpha asked.
Ryder nodded. “Yes, but there’s something off about his scent.”
Gideon cursed. “The moon goddess spoke to me, that’s why I’m here. I got here as fast as I could. She told me to bring him into the Pack.” He met Ryder’s eyes. “If I do this, we could bring more trouble to our borders.”
Ryder looked down at the man who had saved his life. Had saved Brynn’s life. The moon goddess rarely spoke directly to wolves. If she had done so, it was important. Far more important than he realized he was sure. “We already have trouble, Gideon. A whole shitload.”
With that, Gideon cursed and let his claws out. He slashed his palm, then Shane’s, before slamming them together. The Alpha’s power pulsed outward, and Leah went to her knees beside Ryder. With one hand on Shane, Ryder wrapped the other arm around his mate.
“It is done,” Gideon growled. “He is Pack. Now Walker can Heal him and we can see what the fuck is going on.”
The Pack bonds fluctuated and Ryder’s eyes widened as he felt Shane’s bonds tie to his as Heir.
“Holy shit,” Ryder breathed.
Leah tugged on his hand. “What is it?”
“He’s wolf but not,” Gideon growled out. “How the fuck did that happen?”
“He’s not fully wolf,” Ryder whispered. “He’s…something different.” He met his Alpha’s gaze. “What the fuck did the humans do?”
Leah turned in his arms and forced his gaze to hers. “Dear goddess…”
He looked down at his mate, then down at the man who had saved his life and yet might be the one thing to bring chaos to his Pack.
The world had shifted once again, and Ryder stood at the precipice, waiting for a resolution. He had his mate, he had his powers, he had his Pack. That would have to be enough. Because if it wasn’t, the Talons were lost.
Again.
THE END