204 Jack–Eye: The Old Ways
204 Jack–Eye: The Old Ways
He sighs. “I claimed the children. I can always say he’s there to protect them”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Agreed, but the problem is the mess they’ve left behind. I’m not sure what a neighboring alpha might walk into, and we don’t need them following Halloway’s footsteps.”
“How did that happen?”
Yeah, right. I’m sure Dylan’s going to have to help Caine. It’s a sad sight to see a grizzled old wolf teaching the younger one how to use modern technology, but Caine’s always been tech–illiterate.
“What do you mean, how? I told them she isn’t my mate.”
“Five or so should be enough.”
His eyes are clear, too, alert and watchful. And, belying his overall bulky frame, he’s some sort of prey shifter.
The phrase and gesture is something we only do during the most formal ceremonies of
a Lycan King’s ascension. Nobody does that shit out of nowhere anymore. It’s a relic of the past.
“Why not? She’s stronger than you.”
I narrow my eyes, studying him closer. “Where’d you learn that?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Sigh. “Yes.”
He shakes his head. “The old ways have been long forgotten by most, but my grandfather taught me as a child. He remembered when the Lycan King stood for all shifters, not just wolves. Our duty was to pray for the day when the throne would once
all shifters, both prey and predator.”
again bring equality to yo
“I’m sorry, say that again, boss?”
204 Jack–Eye: The Old Ways
I straighten.
Closing my eyes, I send up a prayer to the Moon Goddess to keep my king in her good- graces. “Did they think she was your mate?”
Deer, I think.
Pulling the phone away from my ear, I stare at the screen to make sure I’m not hallucinating.
He makes a soft sound of acknowledgement. “Okay. I’ll figure it out on my end.”
The shifter’s face transforms in an instant. His weathered features soften with something like reverence, and before I can process what’s happening, he’s making a fluid gesture with his right hand–fingers spreading like antler points before sweeping inward to touch his heart, then his forehead.
My wolf, usually content to doze in the back of my mind, suddenly perks up with interest. We’ve never heard this particular interpretation of the Lycan monarchy. Sure, there are traditional packs who hold to ancient customs, who view the Lycan King with greater reverence than others, but prey shifters with a devotion to the throne? That’s unexpected.
“I was thinking of sending Fenris to her-
“Rush it if you can. How’s Grace doing?”
“Who’s helping you?” I ask suspiciously, because there’s no way Caine’s capable of the amount of patience this kind of thing requires.
“How the hell am I supposed to know? I just made it clear like she wanted.”
“Do you think I’m incapable of gathering a few wolves and listening to what they have to say?” he snaps, and I nod vehemently, wishing he could see me.
The elk shifter’s lips quirk in a small smile. “The Lycan Throne has long been a symbol of hope for many old shifter clans. Not just wolves.”
You know what? Why the hell am I even entertaining the man? Let him dig his own grave. I have more important problems.
Fuck, I’m so screwed. Then again, he’s never been the best at communicating, so hopefully my “help” will never come up, and I’ll never have to deal with the future
Queen’s wrath.
Now I’m really interested. Prey shifters typically keep to their own communities, maintaining distance from predator packs due to the rampant bullying. They sure as hell don’t usually bow to wolf royalty.
Ah.
Another grunt. “Not Dylan. He’s helping me with the forum.”
He grunts, sounding rather sour. “Don’t even ask. I did everything she asked and she still looks at me like I’m some sort of monster.”
“Just updating you. Doesn’t look like we have signal down in the tunnels, still haven’t seen even the tip of Halloway’s tail, but we’ve rescued about thirty–five shifters. I know you’re busy there in Blue Mountain, but I think you should send Dylan up here.”
“That was the Lycan King, wasn’t it?”
I press the red button with finality after pulling the phone as far from my mouth as I can manage, deciding to never again put myself in the middle of my alpha’s relationship problems. He’s hopeless.
“You are?”
Not anymore, anyway.
I clear my throat, tactfully returning to the conversation at hand. “Something’s going on. She can’t use her magic or some shit. It’ll be another half a day before she’s back to normal.”
He doesn’t do it often. Just sometimes.
“Yes.”
I slip my phone back into my pocket with a grimace, half expecting the damn thing to burst into flames from the sheer awkwardness of that conversation. How a guy who can rip enemy packs apart without blinking manages to fuck up so spectacularly with one human woman is beyond me.
My spine straightens. “Seriously, bro?”
I blink. What the actual fuck?
204 Jack–Eye: The Old Ways
Okay, that’s what I thought he said.
Still, it’s interesting, though I can’t really imagine my blockheaded alpha being the one to bring equality to the world.
“You mean a literal sign saying “This is my mate, don’t touch her?“”
And you deserve it each time, my wolf mutters, popping into my consciousness in a rare moment of interest.
“And how am I going to keep them here? I’m not leaving Lyre to deal with the tunnels
on her own.”
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