Page 166 of Fated to the Wolf Prince
I led Liza to the clearing, which was already empty. The rest of the pack had shifted while we were talking inside, so we quickly stripped and shifted. Liza nudged me, allowing me to take the lead.
I took off at a breakneck speed, racing through the underbrush and dodging trees. Liza kept up with me, barely a few paces behind. We eventually settled into a comfortable pace, running and leaping all around the Keller property.
After running for about an hour, Liza nipped at my heel and nuzzled my neck before darting off back toward the house. She was done running and wanted to take some time to chat with Mother.
Not wanting her to run by herself, worried that Castro could be around any corner, I followed her back to the clearing. Once she shifted, I watched from the woods as she walked up the path to the back door.
I wasn’t done running. My wolf needed more time to rid ourselves of this anxious energy. Sensing Dad was close, I followed his scent and found him sitting alone near the creek.
Dad’s wolf was massive and strong. Much larger than everyone’s, including mine. Only another alpha, however, could sense the change in Dad’s aura. The pack might notice a slight change but not the full effect. His aura might seem softer to them somehow, but it wouldn’t alarm them.
When it got to a point where they couldn’t sense anything from him at all, that was when worry would settle over the pack’s members. Luckily, they couldn’t see the alpha fading from him. It was only a matter of time, though.
I slumped down next to him and stared out over the water reflecting the moonlight. I understood why Dad had chosen this spot to rest. It was peaceful.
The worry radiating from Dad’s wolf was overwhelming. We both knew that this could possibly be his last full moon as the alpha.
I had told Bryce that Dad had a few months, but the slump in my father’s posture indicated that the weight of the alpha was becoming too much for him. He was doing his best to hold on, to wait for me to mate with Liza, but time was running out.
I pressed in close, our fur blending as I sent comforting waves to him. I didn’t want him to worry.
It was a defining moment. With unwavering determination, I decided I would claim Liza by the next full moon. I needed to prove to her that our connection was destined—a bond that surpassed all others—and when that time came, I would accept the alpha power from Dad, symbolizing the passing of the torch and taking my place as the head of the pack.
48
LIZA
Ty insisted on following me to the clearing in his wolf form, making sure I shifted without any trouble. Even though the Keller Estate had more security than the fucking White House, we were all on edge over Castro and his Houdini-like abilities to hunt us down and discover buried information about our pasts.
Having seen the bomb that could’ve blown our downtown area to bits made the situation all the more real to me. Not that I’d thought it all make-believe, but it just brought everything into perspective. Castro was willing not just to destroy property or leak information, but to kill innocent people. I no longer argued about the bodyguards or the app on my phone that enabled Ty and his security team to pinpoint my location if needed.
I shifted back to human form and dressed quickly. When I turned, I found Ty still watching. I nodded in his direction to show my appreciation and that I’d be fine walking the rest of the way to the house, knowing full well he wouldn’t budge until I was safely inside. Honestly, though, I felt safer just knowing he was close.
The run had been therapeutic for me. I’d been tied up in knots from everything that was happening around me. It had been a welcome release of endorphins to run free under the full moon. My head was clearer, my steps were lighter, which gave me courage to attempt to get better acquainted with Ty’s mom.
By the time I made it through the back door, I found Persephone putting the finishing touches on the buffet table. Several pack members had already completed their run and were lining up to eat.
Persephone smiled warmly, greeting each person by name, and handing them a plate.
How did she remember all their names? I could barely remember the names of my staff members and was certain I’d never memorize the upper echelon of the pack. There were so many of them, and even more of the lower pack members. Had she taken the time to learn their names as well? I doubted it.
“Hi, Persephone.” I approached the table cautiously. If what Ty had said was true and she was feeling pushed out, I didn’t want to piss her off just by being here.
She whipped around, narrowing her eyes at me, obviously confused as to why I was there and looking for an ulterior motive.
“Do you need any help?” I gestured toward the buffet line. “Ty’s still running, and I thought I’d join you inside. Looks like you’ve got a long line of people to feed.”
“Oh, er… Certainly.” She couldn’t have been any more surprised if I had sprouted wings and flown up into the vaulted ceilings of the mansion. Regaining her composure, she gestured to a small table. “Some help would be very much appreciated, Liza. Thank you. There’s a stack of plates over there that need to be filled. Would you mind taking care of that?”
I nodded and set to work filling the plates with food from the chafing dishes. While I worked, several more pack membersarrived. I watched as Persephone welcomed each one with a warm smile and some personal commentary about their family, children, or work.
Not only did she know everyone by name, but she seemed to have some form of relationship with them, even if it was just surface level. She’d even asked one woman if her children had been accepted to daycare—Persephone had written a personal letter of recommendation.
It was truly baffling. I stared in awe as I mindlessly filled plates and handed them to the hungry line of shifters.
I hadn’t been to many of these full moon runs—I usually ran with the lower members—but the few I had attended since being acknowledged as Ty’s mate hadn’t included a big dinner afterward. It had always been light refreshments and snacks.
This was a full-blown meal, complete with a dessert table in the corner of the room and a wet bar with various wines and cocktails. Impressive, to say the least.
