Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ISLA
S o much for having a plan of our own. I only get a few seconds to tell Estee that she’ll be waiting with Dad and I’ll have to find her later before I have to shift. It’s not that I don’t want to do this with Asher—I really do—but finding the person who murdered me… Well, that’s important too.
Now, I just have to hope that I can find a way to accomplish not only making my mate proud, but showing face to our pack members, and easing their concerns that a mistake has been made by allowing me back as their king’s mate.
Only then can I go back to the plan of using myself as bait to draw out whoever might be watching a little too closely tonight.
Even if we only tighten our suspect list tonight, I’ll consider the plan a win and hope we get another chance to investigate further.
Wolves begin to appear everywhere. Browns, silvers, greys, blacks, and those with multi-colors stand in the expansive back yard of the castle. Eyes glow under the bright moons and the energy surrounding us is that of strength and honor.
With every beat of my heart, I know this is exactly where I was always meant to be, right here with these people. Seeing them wait for Asher and me to give the signal to start the run, I know this is family. Something I’ve lived without for far too long.
Never again.
My wolf rumbles low, but the sound is of contentment. She sits next to Asher’s wolf, head tall and eyes moving around the pack until we can confirm that each wolf is present.
“I want you to give the signal and take the first step.” Asher’s voice carries through my mind and I almost snap my wolf’s head toward him but manage to refrain.
“What? Why?”
“Because you’re their queen and they need to remember that,” he says confidently . “They will follow you, or they can leave. There is no in between. I won’t stop them from asking questions—every shifter has that right—but I also won’t let you be disrespected and they’re going to learn that now.”
Not only does my heart swell, but my wolf’s humility is at an all-time low after that little speech. It’s almost as if she smirks at the waiting crowd and without waiting to be told twice, she howls into the skies, deep and powerful.
The pack quiets and I begin to worry Asher pushed for too much too soon with them, but then, one by one, yips sound from our people until there is an orchestra of howls that echo far and wide.
We press our head to Asher’s flank and then turn to lead the group of nearly five hundred shifters. Our stride lengthens to a steady jaunt. This isn’t about racing or staying ahead. Monthly pack runs are meant to create unity and forge bonds.
With every step forward, the beat of the wolves behind us sounds within my mind. I sense each of their spirits, hear the steady thrum of their hearts, feel the vibration of their movements.
Soaking in every second, we lazily run into the forest, moving through the trees as one. Asher remains by my side and each time our gazes meet, the thought of using myself as a target becomes more of a distant memory.
I needed this reminder tonight. For too many years, I’ve felt on my own. I’ve had Estee this last lifetime, but there’s always been a part of me that was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Remembering that I come from somewhere that values each person as a whole, never leaving anyone behind… It’s everything to confirm what I wasn’t seeing before in regard to finding out who my murderer is.
Asher is more than my mate. He’s my best friend, my partner, the one person in all the worlds that I should be able to trust most. There’s no reason I should have to keep this plan from him.
When we’re done here, I’m going to tell him everything Estee and I spoke about. Of course, he isn’t going to like using me as bait, but I’ll remind him that I could have done this on my own, but I trust him to stand by, making sure nothing goes wrong.
That is how we’re going to figure this out, working together to make sure nobody else has to suffer as Estee and I have for so many decades.
“You’re the most stunning creature I’ve ever encountered,” Asher’s gravelly voice whispers through my mind. “I want to take you to the conservatory tonight.”
Even my wolf’s body shivers from the intensity of words, the growl weaved between them, and the thought of what may or may not happen in that glass room.
I didn’t remember what the dome section of the castle was when I first arrived, but even then, I was curious. I have to believe that’s because somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind, I’ve always known where I belonged, right here in Polaris.
Staying in the conservatory on a full moons night is something we always talked about. It’s the best view of the sky in all the islands and once I was old enough to appreciate sex, I always joked with Asher that one day, we would leave our mark on every surface in that place.
Of course, while Gideon and Sosheena were king and queen, that was never possible. The fact that Asher seems to have remembered that promise made all those years ago further cements my choice not to hurt him by trying to figure any of this out on my own.
“Today is the greatest day I’ve had in over five centuries,” I tell him, wishing I could kiss him, but my wolf seems to compromise by gently nipping at his neck.
Asher’s wolf retaliates with a few nibbles of his own and soon, the pack is beginning to spread out, no longer running in formation.
I start to run in the direction of the castle but slow to a stop when Asher calls my name, his tone no longer as warm as it just was. “I need to handle something before we can be alone for the night. Would you be upset if I asked you to wait with your sister and father for a little while? ”
“Of course not,” I reply, pressing my wolf head against his. “Go be king. Your mate will be just fine.”
“Gods, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Issie.” The rumble in his words is mixed with so much love, but also an insurmountable amount of grief.
In some ways, I want to say I had it worse, living without my wolf and my people, but at least I was ignorant to the true reason for my lack of belonging and sense of longing. Asher had to get up each day, missing half of himself and feeling as though he’d failed when he couldn’t find me.
He was left without answers, only what-if s, and I’m astounded by his ability to have taken on being Alpha King and not only keeping Polaris safe, but making this place feel more like home than it ever has.
“I love you and I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you more than all the moons and stars in all the worlds, Isla Blackwood.”
We’re already close enough back to the castle that I see the treeline and beyond that, the lights that were set up around the stage. Shifters are still gathered there, those who didn’t run for whatever reasons they have.
I assume that’s where I’ll find my father and Estee, so I head in that direction, promising Asher that I’ll be fine on my own for the short run back as he heads farther back into the forest.
I should have asked him what was going on, but I’m sure if it were important, then he would have told me.
Following the trees, I trot forward until my wolf spots something off. Our eyes narrow, peering into the shadows. Is that…a wolf pup ?
There’s a set of paws sticking out from under a tree branch, but they’re not moving and my heart pounds. Please don’t let this pup be seriously injured.
Glancing around, I listen for any wolves nearby, but it’s just me and the young one. What the hell? How could a mother have left her child?
I shift back to my human form, moving quickly as I lift my dress so it doesn’t snag on the fallen foliage. I listen for the pup’s breathing and it’s shallow. Carefully, as not to cause any further pain, I lift the branch, tossing it away with ease.
Interesting. He’s on his back, but he still should have been able to wiggle free even if part of the tree fell on him. My fingers stroke his head. “Hey, little buddy. I need you to wake up.”
Tomorrow, we need to figure out when I’ll be able to mind speak with the pack like Asher does, because this would be much easier if I could talk to the boy’s consciousness right now.
Instead, I lift his three-foot-long body up into my arms and cradle him to my chest. A few drops of blood smear along the top of my dress, yet that isn’t what makes me tense.
It’s the sinister growl coming from the shadows.
“Asher,” I call urgently to him through our mind link. “Get back here now.”
His fear pours into me. “I’m coming for you, love.”
Branches break as the wolf stalks closer. Before turning around to face my attacker, I carefully set the pup back down, thankful to at least see his chest still moving, even if he is unconscious .
As soon as my hands are free and I’ve stepped away, my wolf rushes to the surface, forcing the shift before we’ve even fully turned around. She comes to life with a vicious roar, teeth bared and claws eager for blood.
It was no longer my intention to make myself bait without Asher in the know, but it seems fate has other plans. A large black wolf with dark eyes and sharp fangs digs into the ground before he launches himself at me.
My wolf ducks and rolls out of the way, but our attacker is quick. He whips around and catches our rear flank with his claws, tearing into our flesh.
Fuck!
Still, there’s no giving up. I don’t know who this is, but whoever wants me gone again is going to get a hell of a lot more fight from me than they did last time.
We launch ourselves forward, slamming into the other wolf. He bites into our neck, but we do the same to him. Blood splatters everywhere, and I can’t tell who’s worse off, but my wolf is vicious and relentless.
She pierces his side and then goes for his underbelly, but as she pulls our paw back, his claws rake down our ribs.
“Isla!” Asher’s voice booms through my mind just as a shadow launches over us.
Within a second, our attacker is ten feet in the opposite direction and unmoving, while we’re left breathing heavily on the ground, crimson leaking from several wounds along our body.
Asher’s wolf whimpers and growls when he faces us. He takes a step toward me, but I stop. “Get whoever that is first. I’ll be fine. ”
Considering the amount of adrenaline running through me, I don’t feel nearly as bad as I assume I look. Though I’m sure that will change later.
When he turns around, a loud rumble escapes his wolf. “He’s gone.”
“What the hell do you mean?” My wolf lifts her head, but we can’t hold it up for long.
“I mean he’s fucking gone,” Asher snarls. “This was a setup. I never should have left your side.” He shifts back to two feet, closing the distance between us. “Fuck, Isla. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I promise him. “I’m okay.”
He cuts his wrist and tilts my wolf head back. “Drink.”
I don’t argue with his harshly spoken word. I know he’s not angry with me and the sooner I’m okay, the sooner we can figure out who the hell that was. I assume Asher already knows as the Alpha King, but I don’t want to ask until I’ve healed.
With the way he’s trembling and how dark his eyes are, plus the amount of fury that’s coursing between the two of us, I can taste how murderous he is. Yet he’s here with me.
I can’t believe I almost did something this stupid without telling him. How damn selfish that would have been.
Dad and Estee come running into view, both of their faces pale.
“Why did you do this without me?” Estee demands, making Asher’s head snap in her direction.
Oh, hell.
I need to shift back right now, or I’m going to have one furious mate on my hands .
Estee’s gaze widens as she looks between me and Asher. “We, uh, well, um…”
“Don’t be angry,” I say to Asher through our bond. “With Estee’s help, I was going to use myself as bait to draw out whoever killed us, but ? —”
“How fucking selfish could the two of you be?” His voice roars and even in my wolf form, I can’t help shedding a few tears.
“No, Asher,” I plead with him. “That was the plan, but during the pack run, I knew it was stupid and decided that I would tell you tonight when we were alone. If you didn’t agree to do so together, then I wasn’t going to go through with it. I only got caught by this wolf because there was an injured—shit, where’s the pup?”
After a few gulps of Asher’s blood, I’m already feeling better. I force myself up, but he places a hand over my wolf’s back, keeping us down. “You wait here.”
He’s still rightly furious, but at least through our bond, I can tell that the emotion is no longer directed right at me.
Estee comes to my side and rubs my head, whispering, “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened, but we’re going to figure this out before it’s too late this time.”
That, we absolutely would.
Asher comes back with the pup in his arms, handing him off to Grayson. “This is Selene’s kid. He’s always taking off, so she probably doesn’t even realize he was caught up in this. I already gave him some blood, and I don’t want to alarm her unnecessarily. He’s going to be okay. Take him back to the castle, clean him up, then send someone to get her. ”
“I’ll have someone get Noen or Decl—” Dad starts to say, but Asher’s growl cuts him off.
“No, anyone but them.”
What the hell? What did I miss?
My wolf finally stands, only minor aches moving through my sides still. Though she won’t let me shift back just yet.
Dad stops next to me, bending his head against mine. “The two of you aren’t to be left alone again, not even together. I will help Asher lock both of you up if that’s what it takes.” He pauses, his voice breaking. “If anything happens to either of you again…”
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I say, even though he can’t hear me. Still, he nods as if he can sense my remorse.
Though it’s not like I intentionally let this situation happen. Okay, maybe I put the idea out into the universe, but at least I tried to take it back.
“Estee, go with him,” Asher tells her. “I’ll be with Isla for the rest of the night.”
Under any other circumstance, this would sound divine, but even my sister grimaces as she waves goodbye.
Once we’re alone, he faces me and cups my wolf’s face. “Fuck, Isla.”
“I know,” I say, full of regret for having let myself be vulnerable, even if it wasn’t intentional. “But you won’t have to lock me up. I wasn’t trying to put myself in a bad position. I was doing as I promised, heading right to Dad and Estee, but then I found the pup and things spiraled. What happened with Noen and Declan?”
His head shakes and his jaw tightens until it begins to twitch. “I don’t want to talk about that yet. Just know if you see Declan again, and I’m not with you, run in the opposite direction.” He presses his forehead against my wolf, hands still shaking. “Can you shift? I really need to touch you right now.”
I have so many questions, but more than I need the answers that go with them, I know my mate needs me. Even though I know it’s going to hurt since I’m not fully healed, I pull my wolf energy back and let the change happen.
Searing agony feels as though my ribs are being branded, but thankfully, that’s the only part of my body that still hurts.
Asher’s frown deepens as I stand on two feet. “Damn it. I didn’t realize you were still hurting.”
I step into his arms and shake my head. “I’m not now.”
He holds me tight, vibrating against my body. His closeness is nearly as good of a balm as his blood.
We stand there in silence for several moments. Howls from the other wolves cut through the quiet night. Some joyful, likely having no clue what’s transpired within their pack, and others darker. I wonder how many people know and whom we can even still trust if not Asher’s two closest friends.
I knew Noen might have been a suspect and I didn’t say anything, something I regret more than anything else as of late.
I nearly tell Asher as much, but he speaks before I can. “If you’re up for it, I’d still like to go to the conservatory.”
Well, those are the last words I expected to come out of his mouth.
“Yes, but shouldn’t we?—”
He shakes his head, cutting me off. “I need you, Isla. More than I need to rip someone’s fucking head off right now, I. Need. You.”
Those three words are punctuated with lancing torment, and in this moment, I know he’s right. Everything else can wait.
As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.
At least for tonight.