an invitation. The best and the brightest amongst you may join us, come to London and become part of the Brethren, the shape-shifter elite. We have spaces for new recruits. This is your opportunity to join in the battle to keep all of this world, not just Cornwall, safe from all harm.”
A tremor of excitement and fear ran through the assembly. Well that was interesting. Not only would the individual pack members be able to leave and join other packs around the country but they now could also become part of the so-called elite. I knew that just as there would be many shrinking from this challenge, just as many would rise to it and demand it. My brow furrowed. No doubt the Brethren were really just looking for cannon fodder. I felt my hackles rise whilst forcing myself to acknowledge that this could be a good thing. As much as I might despise them for their reported brutality and aggression, the Brethren could be doing me a massive personal favour. A new alpha would keep my geas in place, and the Brethren’s recruitment drive would surely allow me to see off the backs of all those troublesome shifters who still couldn’t accept me. And who were probably champing at the bit to show off anyway. I was still contentedly sure that Julia would be named alpha – otherwise why else would her Voice now be working?
Without false modesty I knew that, despite my human shortcomings, Julia was right and the pack benefited from at least some of my skills. I might not able to shift but I was pretty much the best they had in any fight. To the extent that since I’d turned into a teenager and gone into defense full time they hadn’t lost any shifter to anyone or anything. Apart from John. I grimaced and shoved that thought away before it overwhelmed me.
Beside me, I could hear Tom panting like a puppy, patently desperate for approval. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he jumped up then and there screaming, “Pick me! Pick me!” Never mind, I’d manage to convince him otherwise later.
Forgetting that I was supposed to be keeping my head down, I scanned the ranks of the other Brethren shifters. I was curious now about what their feelings were about taking in some of their distant country bumpkin cousins. My eyes travelled down the line. There was a bored looking blonde haired woman with a stance that suggested predator –wolf perhaps – then a slight dark man who was obviously a fox judging by the calculating cunning in his eyes, then there was…uh-oh.
The next shifter was looking right at me. Green gold predatory eyes gazed into mine expressionlessly. I snapped my eyes back to the floor and stopped breathing.
I’m no-one, no-one worthy of attention, I whispered silently, trying to quash the rising panic. I couldn’t endanger the rest of the pack by being discovered. Every sinew in my body screamed but I forced myself to keep my eyes and head trained on the ground.
Don’t look up. Don’t look up. Don’t look up. Seconds passed. Minutes.
“Hey,” Tom nudged me. “What are you doing? Let’s go.”
I slowly raised my head and abruptly realised that the introductory assembly was over. The Brethren, including scary green eyes, were leaving to be directed to the guest quarters and the rest of the pack who hadn’t rushed off to play the part of ingratiating hosts were milling about in little huddles, no doubt discussing just who the ‘best and brightest’ would be. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was okay, I’d passed. Now all I had to do was keep out of their way for the next three days and I’d be free.
Chapter Five
Back in the dorm, I paced around, trying to release some of my earlier anxiety. I wondered if I’d able to sneak out and do some hunting without any of the Brethren noticing. Probably not. I picked up a pillow from a nearby bed instead and pushed it against the wall, starting to pummel it , the speed and weight of my fists keeping it in place. 3 days. That was just 72 hours – in fact make that 70 now. I could do this.
A throat cleared behind me. “Julia, won’t be pleased if you destroy her soft furnishings.”
“I’m not destroying anything, Tom.”
A few stray feathers fell from the edge of the now burst pillow. I cursed and let it drop, turning round.
“It’s okay,” he said, reassuringly.