looks of gratitude from Ruari and Vieno. Grayson joined them at the table, and Lidon was grateful for the man’s quiet presence.
Palani and Sivney needed no further encouragement to share their story, and when they were done, they all sat in stunned silence. “Why would he think Bray is Lidon?” Kean asked.
“I thought about it on the run back,” Palani said. “And I think I’ve come up with a possible explanation. He doesn’t know we can shift as well. He thinks it’s just Lidon, so when he saw a wolf, he assumed it was Lidon.”
“But how can he not know?”
“The only ones who knew were York and his security guys. All were killed in the attack on his compound, so if he never told anyone, Armitage wouldn’t have known.”
Lidon leaned back in his chair and dragged a hand through his hair. “And you think he wanted to capture me for some kind of testing.”
“Those scientists those two guys mentioned? They described them as people who were in on it from the start. I can’t think of many names to whom that applies. What if they have the original guys who came up with the whole thing? Dr. Baig and Dr. Eastwood?” Palani said.
“Baig was the asshole who’d treated the infertile omegas and had somehow administered them the gene, right? But who was Eastwood again?”
“He’s the doctor who holds a bunch of patents for all kinds of meds related to the gene. He worked for Ulfur, later Lukos,” Enar said.
Right. Him. Aside from Sando, no one knew more about the gene than those two did. Lidon didn’t even want to acknowledge Professor Melloni’s contribution, not after what he’d heard about what the man had done to Sando. “I think that’s a plausible theory. It would make sense to get the men who know the most about this. But what do they mean about the old ways awakening?”
He automatically looked at Grayson, who was scratching his short beard. “I like the sound of it. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard folks acknowledge the power and wisdom of the old ways, and for a beta to casually mention that to an alpha and a soldier at that? That’s serious. Even more powerful is the mention of the True Alpha…”
“I thought no one was allowed to talk about that,” Enar said.
“They can’t declare someone the True Alpha. That’s the right of the eldest male family member—Uncle Leland. But once he stated it, the truth has been confirmed,” Grayson explained.
“But how would they know? We barely leave the ranch,” Palani said.
Grayson smiled at him. “The earth and the moon have their ways. They can whisper words on the wind that those with open ears and open hearts can hear.”
The words washed over Lidon, settling in his soul, in the very core of his alpha. They called to him. He closed his eyes, almost dizzy with the power that flowed through him. Images immediately flooded his brain. Suffering omegas, in pain, starving, their babies weak and dying. Betas who were beaten, alphas cruelly laughing. The marching boots of endless rows of alpha soldiers, all saluting the general overseeing his troops. Hail General Armitage.
No. No! He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t let people suffer and starve and die by the thousands. This man had to be stopped.
Lidon…
His name was whispered on the wind, a gentle, female voice, and his ears and heart opened. I’m listening. I’m here.
True Alpha. Bringer of change. Restorer of peace. Protector of the weak and oppressed. You were chosen, Lidon.
I didn’t seek this honor. But I will answer. I’m ready.
It is time. Your time. Rise, Lidon Hayes…and lead your pack, your people.
He opened his eyes. Everyone in the room was staring at him, their mouths agape.
“Lidon…” Palani whispered. “What happened?”
He shook his head, the remnants of that vision, those words still clouding his brain, and at the same time, he’d never had more clarity. “What do you mean?”
Palani put a hand on his knee. “Alpha, you were out for minutes, just staring into space…”
Minutes? It had felt like seconds. He cleared his throat. “I had a…a vision. I heard them. The voices.”
“What did they say?” Grayson trembled.
“They said it’s time.” The power barreled through him, and Lidon shivered. A steady resolve filled him, a certainty like he’d never experienced before. He rose, then looked at Kean and Ruari. “Bray will live. I promise you he will live. I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Gasps rolled through the room. How could