Shade smirked. “Yeah, we’ve got that bit, Ash. Tell me something I don’t know. Something fucking useful, like how I get rid of it and get back to normal.”
Ash shook his head, his face as serious as Shade had ever seen it which sent another round of fear lashing through him.
“Sorry, Shade, according to this you’ll never be the same again. There’s only one cure and I doubt you’re gonna like it. If it’s true, then your life will definitely be changed forever,” Ash said cryptically which almost tore Shade from his chair to grab his Beta by the throat to get him to tell him what he needed to know.
“What’s wrong with him?” Royce asked, his voice quiet and filled with worry. “Stop mucking around, Ash, just fucking tell us.”
Ash’s eyes flicked back to the screen, reading as he spoke, his usual serious tone far more so than normal which amped Shade’s concern to levels he didn’t think he was capable of as he tried to concentrate. “Okay, so it says that this Hunger always, and it reiterates that it is always an indication that the Wolf afflicted by the Hunger, well, that their one true soulmate is nearby and that she may be in trouble. The Wolf has to accept this and once they do the Hunger will disappear and they have to go in search of their mate. It’s the one, and only way to cure the Hunger.”
Royce whistled through his teeth as Shade’s body collapsed against his chair, shaking his head. “What? Ash, stop playing games. What does it really say?”
Ash turned to Shade, his face telling him all he needed to know before he uttered one word. “I am, Alpha. I swear that’s what the Archives say. It gets worse. It says if the Wolf affected doesn’t accept this and fights against it, that they’ll go crazy. As in looney tunes nuts. You’ll end up with the Council coming to haul your ass away before you hurt anyone, Shade.”
Shade slid his laptop to the floor, rising to pace around his home which suddenly seemed much too small. His Wolf whining in his head pitifully as if in great pain. He ran both his hands through his hair. “Holy fucking shit. This can’t be happening. I don’t fucking want a mate. Can you see me with a mate in tow?”
Royce tilted his head to the side, eyeing Shade then nodded. “Sure I can. You’re Alpha, Shade. Let’s be honest, this playboy lifestyle you’ve been living isn’t viable for a good Alpha. You and the Pack need stability, and we all know that comes with having a mate by your side, and with the pups that comes with that.”
“Stability?” Shade roared. “I’ve given the Pack that, in fucking spades. I’ve worked my ass off to do that, haven’t I? I’ve got our businesses up and running, made them profitable and provided for the Pack so that everyone benefits. Or am I wrong? Tell me I’m wrong.”
Ash held his hands up. “Hey, we’re not saying you haven’t done all that, and more. But you also have to admit that the way you’ve been living has to stop at some time. Doesn’t it?”
“Well, yeah, sometime.” Shade acquiesced grudgingly. “Not now. I’m not ready for this shit. A mate is . . . fucking huge.”
Ash joined him, clasping his shoulder in one of his huge hands. “I know it is but you have to accept this, Alpha. You can’t ignore this or it will get worse. It says you should ask your Wolf, so why don’t you try that? What’s it doing right now? Is it still fighting to go hunt? Or not?”
Shade pulled from Ash’s grip, storming away to pace again. He refused to admit, just yet, that his beast had quietened down the moment his Beta had mentioned a soulmate. That it was, at this very minute, urging him to go find their mate. Hell no. He wasn’t disclosing that knowledge right now. Not until he’d processed this shit in his human brain, and it was that side that was having a problem with all of this.
A mate meant no more partying. No more one night stands. No more spending the nights at The Den with a bevy of girls on his arm. Hell, it meant his life ending as he knew it and he sure as fuck wasn’t ready for that. Was he?
No.
“Shade Shawcross!”
A bellow from outside his cabin had them all turning, Ash and Royce frowning and rushing to the door. The voice did not belong to one of their Pack but Shade knew it. Damn.
Royce reached the door first, opening it with such force it swung back to slam against the wall. “Who the fuck . . .”
He stopped when he saw who stood waiting for them, Ash at his side as they strode outside, Shade beside them. Ash scowled as he pointed to his sentries who were with the three Shifters. “What the hell are you doing allowing this trash inside our camp?”
“They said they had an important appointment with the Alpha.”
“Yeah, we do,” the taller of the three said, smirking.
“I’ll deal with you two later. Get back to your posts.” Ash snarled at the guards before turning a growl on the interlopers.
Shade stepped down the stairs of the porch, stopping on the bottom one and crossing his arms. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Triple D’s, Dale, Derek and Dennis Evans. Shit, you all look so much alike how does anyone tell you apart? Talk about inbreeding?”
All three snarled viciously, Dale, the oldest stepping forward, his blond hair and blue eyes mirroring those of his brothers. “You upset our little sister, treated her like . . .”
Shade held up a hand, stopping him. “Are you serious? She told you about that? How fucking degrading that she came to you three dimwits and told you how easy she is. I told her then and I’ll tell you three now, she’s not
