“It was fine, Ryker only had to carry me half the way down here,” I joke, my voice shaky with nerves. I can feel eyes on me, and I know they’re probably wondering what a human is doing here.
“I told you,” Margot says, slapping Elias’ arm with the back of her hand. “We should have had everyone meet at the house.”
“No, please, it’s okay.” I shake my head. “I’m sure the way back will be easier,” I lie to myself because I know for a fact that the way back is uphill.
Goddammit.
“Elias…” A middle-aged man with graying hair and goatee walks up to us with a wary look on his face. “I don’t mean to speak out of turn, Alpha, but why is a human here?”
“She isn’t human,” Ryker snaps at the poor man, stepping slightly in front of me.
“Ryker…” I hiss at him under my breath. “Relax.”
“I’ll explain everything in a minute, Kody. Please return to the group.” Elias quickly ushers the man away then looks down at me once he’s gone. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Um, hell no, I’m not.
Elias turns to face the pack as Ryker moves us to stand at his father’s left side. I gulp when I look out and see every pair of eyes in the clearing are on us. On me.
“I have exciting news. It may be confusing to understand, but know what I’m about to tell you is very much true.” Elias pauses, taking a breath. “When Archer and Genevieve’s bodies were found, we believed their daughter Grey was among them. That information was false. For the safety of Grey and the safety of this pack, we were lead to believe Grey was dead, but she was actually being kept safe far away from here. But now she is back.” There is a loud collective gasp and then silence when Elias gestures to me.
“How are you sure it’s really her?” someone in the crowd calls out after a few seconds.
“I would recognize my mate anywhere.” Ryker steps forward. “Even if she didn’t have the mating aura around her like she does now, I would still recognize Grey Thorne.”
“How was keeping her away from the pack keeping us safe?” Kody asks.
“There is a man who believes he is entitled to Grey. He wishes to use her to produce a strong lineage,” Elias answers. “And he was willing to go to war over it, so instead of causing destruction between the packs, Grey’s death was faked. But she has returned to us and returned to my son.”
“Is this man still looking for her?” An older woman is the one who speaks up next.
“We have to believe so,” Margot answers her. “But we won’t let anything happen to her. We lost Archer and Gen, but we don’t have to lose their daughter too.”
I watch as the group nods and agrees with Margot’s words, and I can’t help but feel guilty these people may need to one day put their lives on the line to protect me. Shaking my head, I step forward.
“You guys were my parents’ pack, but you don’t remember me or know me.” I clear my throat, trying to find the right words. “My parents tried to leave so they could spare you from getting hurt. I can’t stand here and ask you to protect me from Nicolai. It’s not fair to any of you.”
“Archer and Genevieve were our alphas,” Kody says, stepping forward, “and as far as I’m concerned, you’re the rightful leader of this pack. I would be honored to defend you if the time comes.” Kody falls to one knee and places his right fist over his heart. He looks at me once more before dropping his head.
“What the fu…” I start but quickly trail off. Instead, I watch in horror as one by one the people follow Kody’s lead and all fall to a knee. They move as one as they put their fists over their hearts and drop their gaze. “Oh my God, what is happening? Make them stop,” I plead, turning to look at Margot and Elias.
But instead, I find them both on their knees, heads bowed. “Wha–what? Why?” I stammer. I look to Ryker, who is thankfully still standing on two feet. “Why are they doing this?”
“You are the rightful alpha of this pack.” Ryker reaches for my hand, his thumb lightly caressing my knuckles as he speaks. “Just like you were born to be my mate, you were born to be the alpha of this pack.”
“Oh, like hell, I was!”
20
Ryker
“Pru…” I try to get her attention, but she continues to stare at the kneeling pack. She doesn’t understand it yet, but what they just did was accept her as part of the pack, and also they acknowledged she’s their rightful alpha. When pack members kneel for their alpha, it’s a sign of submission and respect. She should be very flattered, but instead, she’s absolutely freaking out.
“Pruitt,” I repeat a little louder, so she’ll look at me.
“Why won’t they get up?” she asks, her panicked face finally turning to look at me. “I can’t be the alpha, I can’t even shift yet, and I don’t understand pack laws…” She pauses, her gaze sliding over them then back to me. “I can’t even look them in the eye yet because they’re all rocking their birthday suits!”
“All of that will come.” I try to calm her, keeping my voice low and steady. “One day, you’re going to be able to shift, and one day you’re going to understand the wolf shifter ways. And eventually, you won’t pay any attention to the fact they’re all naked.”
“Well, I don’t see how that’s possible,” she says under her breath. “Why won’t they stand up?” she repeats, her eyes pleading at me for answers.
“They’re waiting for their alpha to tell them to rise,” I tell her.
“But Elias is kneeling too…” She gestures at my father. “Oh. Oh!” She shakes her head back and
