Chapter 30
Atlas
Dorian was hiding something. I’d discreetly sniffed, wondering if I might find Ava after all, but it was as I thought.
She’s never been here.
At least I’d be able to tell Jeanette I’d looked.
Loads of other shifters were here, though.
Cats and monkeys and many different canids. A few smaller prey shifters were sprinkled in among the predators. But they all moved like pack as they gathered under the canvas tent and tossed down beers, talking over one another in teasing jabs.
My nerves were a live wire as I sat on the fringes, ignoring the slightly hostile and curious looks sent my way. This was a disaster waiting to happen.
I had no doubt my shifters patrolling the borders could sweep in here if there was a real threat. It was crazy how unprotected and ignorant this pack was. They didn’t look over their shoulders or care who might be trying to sneak in.
Must be nice, my wolf grumbled.
Not that Volk Pack had enemies, but I had a duty to protect those who sought shelter behind my borders. And this here was a real concern.
Opal wasn’t safe with these shifters.
It was the reason I’d come. Not just because she’d asked me to, but because she was too precious to leave unprotected.
Watching her as she came out of her shell, surrounded by Bailey’s shifters who stole moments of her time and pulled trinkets from behind her ears, coaxing laughter from her lips…
Opal was a gift.
And I couldn’t let anything happen to her.
“You’re looking at me like I’m going to disappear.” Opal laughed as she fell onto my lap.
I inhaled her sweet scent to calm my wolf, wrapping a protective arm around her waist despite the curious glances of the Bailey Pack.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I said.
“Stop it.” She laced her hands behind my neck and looked up at me with those big, blue eyes. “I don’t know what made you hate them so much, but I love this pack.”
“As you should.” I rubbed the small of her back, catching Dorian’s gloating smile across the room as he undoubtedly heard Opal’s comment. He sat at the head of the table with an ear-to-ear grin, worn like a crooked crown of a foolish king.
Or maybe a pup at a birthday party.
“I’m serious.” Opal frowned. “I can’t think of any other pack that accepts all different types of shifters. They call themselves freaks, but…”
Her voice trailed off as she nibbled her bottom lip.
“But what?” I freed that lip from her teeth.
“If they’re freaks, then I’m a freak too. I belong here.”
My heart sank at her admission. “You’re not a freak.”
“Oh, really?” She giggled, rubbing her bottom suggestively across my lap as she bared the smooth skin of her neck. “Then why haven’t you claimed me?”
My eyebrow arched as that sweet breath of hers filled the air between us. “Are you drunk?”
“Maybe a little.” She lowered her voice to a dramatic whisper. “I think she spiked the rum with moonshine.”
“That’s it.” I stood, taking her with me. She fit easily in one arm and cried out with laughter as she tightened her grip around my neck.
Dorian was on his feet in an instant. The gleam of the wolf flashed in his eyes, but he held the beast in check as he asked, “Where are you going?”
I could’ve walked right out of here. Could’ve brought rain down on this parade and had the whole lot cleared in minutes.
But Opal was having a good time and I didn’t want to ruin it.
“Your Luna needs to go to bed,” I said. “I’m assuming you have one of those for her.”
Catcalls and whistles rang out as shifters clapped Dorian on the back. I clenched my jaw. Opal laughed in my arms.
“I suppose we have one big enough.” Dorian smiled as he brushed off the attentions of his pack. But we must’ve been spending too much time together, because I could read the tightness around his eyes and the worry written there.
“If you’ll excuse me…”
The pack cheered and hailed his departure like a hero heading to battle. It was gaudy and excessive.
They love him.
He must’ve done something to earn that kind of respect.
I kept Opal in my arm as I stepped outside the tent, waiting for Dorian to lead the way. I couldn’t let her go just yet. Not while my head was this much of a mess and my wolf was this confused.
“Are you alright?” Dorian tugged gently on a lock of Opal’s hair, visibly relaxing when she sighed.
“Yes, and I’m really looking forward to bed.”
“Damn it, Sunny,” Dorian muttered under his breath before he pointed down the path. “My place is over there.”
Deeper into the maze of tents, Dorian pushed back the canvas flap of one, revealing an artisan’s nest of silk curtains and fringed velvet in dark tones of red and orange. His scent was everywhere.
Opal gave another happy sigh as she breathed it in. “I love you both so much it hurts.”
It felt like someone had ripped out my heart, hearing those words from her lips in this place and at this time. I set her on the raised bed, backing away as she immediately started to rearrange the pillows to her liking.
She’s making it her nest.
The sight of it made me want to kill something.
“You’re not staying?” Dorian followed me to the tent flap.
My wolf blazed through my eyes as I dragged my hand over my head, fighting the urge to yell at him. “How long?”
Dorian smirked. “Figured you knew by now that I could go all night.”
“No,” I growled. “How long until you and your pack get bored and leave?”
Dorian glanced over his shoulder to where Opal was still happily arranging the bed. “They’re staying here. For good. I wouldn’t have done this if they weren’t ready to settle down.”
I could see that now. Before, I hadn’t noticed how old the shifters in this pack all were. I couldn’t see the cracks behind the glamour or the worn threads of the tent until I’d gotten this close up.
That made this all more real. “And you? How long do you plan on sticking around?”
He had his whole life before him. That’s what the magazines and blogs said. A rising star that belonged in the spotlight.
Dorian’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“I…” I wiped my hand over my mouth. I didn’t know what to say or how to deal with this.
“Don’t be dramatic. Where are you going?” Dorian called after me.
A light misting rain had started, turning the night into an icy breeze that sizzled as it hit my skin.
“Take care of her,” I said, breathing in the fresh air to cool myself down. “I’ll be back to get her in the morning.”
“Your loss.” Dorian growled as he dropped the tent flap.
Despite my wolf howling in my ears, I still caught the sounds in the tent as I hurried to get away.
“Is tonight special enough for you to mark me?” Opal teased.
“Every night is special with you, princess.” Dorian sighed. “But let’s celebrate tonight in other ways.”