a comforting lick. She leaned harder against him.
“Tynan.” Zeb had shifted to human. His voice sounded like coarse gravel. “Our pack needs another beta.”
Unsure whether to run for the hills or volunteer, Tynan pricked up his ears.
Shay grinned. “We need another strong protector. A teacher. A good example for our cubs. Someone stable, since as cahirs, Zeb and I often get sent away on the Cosantir’s tasks.”
Ah. They wanted a beta who wasn’t a cahir, one who could stay with the pack.
But…there were wolves who’d been with the pack for years. Decades. Ones who really belonged. Tynan shook his head hard enough to make his ears flap.
Zeb almost grinned. “You really think you can refuse?”
Meggie gave his fur a tug in an unspoken order. Say yes.
Shay’s gaze met his. “We really do need you, Tynan.”
By the Gods, what was he thinking? A wolf didn’t refuse his alpha’s request…let alone a pretty female’s. Shifting to human, Tynan rose to his feet. “Aye. I’ll serve.”
Shay grinned and spoke to the wolves who’d congregated around them. “And that answer is why we wanted him. A real beta doesn’t terrorize the pack—he serves. Protects.”
Nods and smiles showed the pack agreed.
Expecting disapproval and rejection, instead, Tynan found only acceptance. As the bonds connecting him to the pack strengthened with their welcome, he swallowed against the tightness in his throat.
Shay slapped Tynan’s shoulder. “Come to the lodge tomorrow. We’ll treat you to Bree’s chocolate cake and talk.”
“You caved too soon.” A corner of Zeb’s mouth tilted up. “I looked forward to walloping you until you gave in.”
Tynan snorted…and felt the hum of the moon rising in his blood. Zeb was a worthy, canny fighter. “We can still indulge. For fun.”
Zeb grinned. “Wear comfortable clothes when you show up tomorrow.”
“You’re on.” Reaching down, Tynan helped Meggie gain her feet and, without thinking, put an arm around her waist.
Shay grinned. “Good.”
Although Meggie looked confused, Tynan knew exactly what the alpha meant.
Even better, she didn’t step away. They were both naked, and her warm, smooth skin against his incited all sorts of interesting sensations.
Rather than carry her off into the forest—his first choice—Tynan smiled at the young wolf who stayed beside Meggie. “Lacey, I’ve heard Jody likes teaching wolf fighting. Shall we see if that’s true?”
Lacey shifted to human. “Oh, wow, for real? She didn’t say anything about that. Yes.”
In the circle of his arm, Meggie gave a bounce. “Tynan, would she teach me, too?
Fuck, what have I started?
Shay nodded. “Jody enjoys teaching fang and claw.”
“Then let’s make it so,” Tynan said. It would be good for both females to have the skills and confidence that the ability to fight would give them.
Smiling, he brushed his chin over the top of Meggie’s head. She’d learn that this pack would support her, help her grow stronger.
As would he.
The moon was high in the night sky. It must be around midnight, and the wolf pack was still in the meadow. Margery realized she wasn’t the only shifter shaken by Chad’s expulsion.
Rather than continuing the run, Shay had told everyone to shift to skin for a while. The clever alpha was letting them all vent.
Margery had heard tales about the previous alpha and how his insane beta hurt females. Discovering Klaus had assaulted Bree at a Gathering, the Cosantir delivered the God’s judgment. Margery shivered. Everyone said Calum had merely touched him, and the beta dropped dead.
Unfortunately for the pack, Klaus’s influence still lingered with the younger males. Bullying of cubs and females still occurred. Chad had been the worst offender.
After roaming the meadow for a while, she joined the group that held Bonnie, Bree, and Angie.
“I agree with driving Chad out,” Bonnie said. “But my heart hurts at the loss of what he could have been. He was a good pup at one time.”
“I’ve seen that happen before with young males,” Margery murmured.
“What do you mean?” Bree asked.
Now the center of attention, Margery tensed. In Ailill Ridge, attracting attention never ended well for her.
But this was a different pack—and she wasn’t going to flee from the past.
Bree gave her an encouraging smile.
All right then. “In the Scythe compound, the older guards caned us for the slightest mistake. Although the newer guards hated the brutality, they didn’t protest.” Her hands fisted. Would the bitter lessons give her more compassion, more strength going forward? Surely something good should come of such pain. “Maybe if the decent guards had spoken out in the beginning, cruelty wouldn’t have become a habit for them all.”
“By the