A Curse of Shadows - Page 79

“Find them both,” I say to Mali, “but don’t make yourself known. If they see you, make up a reason as to why you’re there. Then let me know what they’re up to.”

“Yes, my king.”

I catch his nod of respect out of the corner of my eye and put my attention back on the pack waiting for me.

“Please join us, your king and queen, for the pack run,” I shout above the cheers. “Let’s all embrace our inner animals and let the power of the pack unite us, as it has for centuries.”

“You and I will be shifting first,” I remind Isla since she’s never run with the pack as the queen. “We need to lead them now and show them that they have nothing to fear.”

She stiffens next to me and nibbles at her lower lip. “What about Estee? Her wolf hasn’t returned. After today, I don’t want to leave her alone.”

While I can understand her hesitation, there are some sacrifices that come with our positions that can’t be forsaken.

“I’ll ask Grayson to stay behind,” I tell her. “I need you by my side for this, Isla.”

She glances at Estee, then me, and nods. “Always.”

I tighten my hold on her hand before raising our arms into the air. More cheers erupt through the crowd, and just as it always should have been, I turn with Isla and we lead our pack.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

ISLA

So 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.