She hopped up.
Shay trotted up to us, lowering his muzzle as a sign of respect. My dad tilted his head in curiosity, though he quietly snarled a warning.
My heart skipped a beat when my father put his head below Shay’s muzzle, lifting his head.
Shay yipped his delight and I snarled at him in frustration.
Shay put his paw over his nose.
I barked at Connor, tugging at the sleeve of his leather duster so he would follow me.
“I guess we’re going this way,” Connor said, casting a nervous glance at Adne as I pulled him toward the long shadows cast by the manor.
My father stopped when we were cloaked by darkness, though even if we’d been spotted, the battle raged at a fever pitch that would probably keep anyone from trying to reach us.
Connor was still eyeing my father warily when I shifted form, gesturing for the other two wolves to follow my lead.
I’d forgotten how intimidating a full-fledged alpha could be. Having spent my whole life as the daughter of one and growing into the role myself, I’d taken his regal bearing and stern gaze as a matter of course. Everything from his towering stature to his steel gray eyes commanded respect. Connor didn’t look any more at ease even after my father returned to his human form. Even Adne slid back to peer over Connor’s shoulder rather than get too close to the alpha.
“Connor, Adne,” I said. “This is my father, Stephen Tor.”
“The Nightshade alpha?” Adne asked, her eyes widening. “You came!”
“For the win!” Connor shouted, pumping his fist in the air.
My father’s mouth curved up in a quizzical smile. Connor dropped his hand, looking embarrassed.
“Uh, sorry about that,” he said. “It’s just really, really good that you’re here.”
“It’s my pleasure.” My father extended his hand so Connor could shake it.
Adne smiled shyly when the alpha greeted her, her gaze flicking over to me. “I can see the resemblance.”
I laughed, but my father flashed me a proud smile that made my heart sing. Bryn giggled, squeezing my hand.
Three more wolves trotted up to join us. When Ren, Mason, and Nev changed forms, they were all grinning.
“The more the merrier, eh?” Mason laughed.
Connor punched Nev on the arm. “You could have given us some warning that you’re on our team. I thought we were dead for a second there.”
“Poor Connor,” Adne said. “Such a delicate soul.”
He threw her a reproachful look.
“We did give you warning,” Nev said. “Just look.”
He shifted forms, bowing his head to reveal a black symbol painted on his forehead.
“Hey!” Shay smiled. “That’s my tattoo.”
“The mark of the Scion,” my father said. “We thought it best to identify ourselves. All the wolves who joined us were marked by Ethan. It was his idea.”
“Yeah.” Nev was back in human form. “So no one shoots us. Particularly Ethan.”
“He’s always had an itchy trigger finger.” Connor laughed. “Is he with you?”
“He came in on the southern attack,” my father said. “I imagine he’ll be looking for us soon, though.”
“You mean there are more of you?” Adne asked.
“We split into three strike teams,” my father said. “Mine was the largest. We outflanked the Bane ambush and came in behind them.”
“That many wolves?” Ren’s eyebrows went up. “You brought over some Banes too.”
“Your father was not a kind alpha, Renier.” My father watched Ren with wary eyes. “He drove his own son away, as well as many others. Such is the price for cruelty.”
“Emile Laroche is not my father,” Ren said, unflinching. “I owe him no allegiance.”
“True enough,” my father said. “I would seek peace with you, alpha.”
“And I you.” Ren inclined his head, sliding a glance at me. “Your daughter is the bravest wolf I’ve ever known. She’s the true alpha.”
“Indeed.” My father smiled at Ren and then at me.
Bryn leaned over to me. “I think Ren’s trying to score points with your dad.”
“Shhhhhh.” I stomped on her toes.
Shay shifted his weight uncomfortably at the exchange. My father’s gaze slid over to him; his smile became knowing. “It must be a challenge having so many leaders in one small party.”
“Finally, someone had the courage to say it!” Mason grinned. Nev cuffed him on the back of the head.
“I’m glad you convinced Banes to join us,” Connor said to my father, ignoring Mason and Nev’s impromptu shoving match. “We didn’t know if anyone would.”
My father nodded. “I was glad too. It’s Neville who deserves most of the credit for swaying them.”
“Thanks, Stephen,” Nev said; he’d gotten Mason into a headlock. “But I had help. Sabine and Caleb-the Bane you guys met at Eden who played with me at Burnout-were vital. Tom supplied a safe place for us to meet while we gathered allies. Definitely a team effort.”
Mason flipped Nev onto his back. “Gotcha!”
“Would you two behave?” I said, exasperated. “We are at war.”
“We’re always at war, Cal,” Mason said even as he kept Nev pinned to the ground.
Nev laughed, kicking Mason off. “That’s why we make our own fun in between kicking ass.”
“Can’t argue with that logic,” Bryn said. She shifted into wolf form, pinning Mason and dousing his face in long, slobbering licks.
“Ack!” Mason shouted. “You win! You win!”
“Hey!” Ethan ran up to us, breathless and bleeding from a deep scratch on his cheek. “There you are!”
Connor clasped his arm. “Good to see you.”
“Likewise,” Ethan said, giving Adne a one-armed hug. He turned to Nev. “She’s not fighting. I couldn’t find her.”
“I was worried about that,” Nev said.
“Who?” Adne asked.
“Sabine,” Ethan said, his face bleak. “She’s not among the Banes here.”
Mason and Bryn stopped wrestling. Bryn shifted forms, giving me a somber glance at the mention of Sabine’s absence.
“Neither is Emile,” Stephen said. “I can smell him a mile away. They must be inside.”
I glanced at the dark manor, unable to make out any sign of light within. “In Rowan Estate?”
Ren tested the air. “Efron and Lumine are nearby.”
“And they don’t take part in the real fighting,” Mason said. “Ever.”
“The information we received said you’d be sending a small group in with the Scion to finish this,” my father said.
Connor nodded. “That would be us.”
“With your permission I’d like to join you.”
“You don’t want to oversee your pack?” Connor asked.
