the conversation between Lidon and Rhene.
“No?” Rhene repeated, baffled. “You’re taking men with you who can’t shift?”
“Well, technically, yes, but… Try to shift, Rhene.”
The barn grew deadly quiet. “Alpha, I can’t shift. I’m not mated.”
“The rules have changed,” Lidon said.
Rhene looked as if Lidon had gone mad, and Maz couldn’t blame him because what the hell was Lidon saying?
“I don’t understand.” Rhene sounded frustrated now.
“Shift!” Lidon commanded him, and power blasted through the barn, transforming Rhene into a big, strong alpha wolf.
“What?” Lucan gasped. “How is that…?”
In the back of the barn, a shout went up, and Maz spun around. Taban had shifted as well. Did that mean he and Rhene were mated? But what had Lidon meant then when he said the rules had changed? Before the thought had even finished in his brain, he was wolf.
It slammed into him, the freedom, the truth of being in this form. And god, his mates were beautiful, so elegant and graceful. He yipped, then nudged Lucan with his nose, as Sando danced around them, not standing still for a second. The gorgeous omega wolf twisted in an attempt to see himself, then rubbed himself against Lucan, the two wolves showing their love in a different way.
When Sando came to him, Maz sniffed him, inhaling his unmistakable familiar scent. How could he smell so familiar, even in his wolf shape? He knew him, would recognize him anywhere. He licked Sando’s face, and when Sando wanted to do the same to Maz, he bent low and let him.
All around them, people who shouldn’t be able to were shifting. Unmated pack members. Adar. Duer. Ori. Could everyone now shift? Or had everyone been somehow mated? But how could that be when there weren’t even enough omegas?
Lidon still stood at the front, his face showing joy and pride at the same time. And then he shifted in one glorious moment, his body becoming nothing but power. But the energy blast was different this time. It didn’t bring them to their knees. It didn’t steal energy from them. It didn’t come back with a sexual boost. No, it was just…power. Energy. Pure adrenaline flooding Maz’s system.
Lidon howled, and the barn instantly grew silent. Anticipation hung in the air, Maz’s lungs heavy with it. Something was about to happen. His body was more alert than it had ever been, all his senses hyperaware. He was alive, and the wolf inside him awakened fully. Lucan and Sando took position next to him, their bodies pressed against each other.
The massive alpha wolf trotted over to Vieno, who stood watching it all, beaming as he held their son. Lidon nudged him, and Vieno lowered Hakon, the infant giggling as his father licked his face. But then his giggle changed into something else. Something wild and free. Maz held his breath. It couldn’t be…could it?
Lidon howled again, deafening and dominant, filling the space with his presence. Vieno cried out in shock, and all of a sudden, he held a wolf puppy in his arms.
Hakon had shifted.
23
Sando’s wolf body was frozen, all his muscles locked as he watched the wolf puppy jump out of his daddy’s arms onto the ground. Lidon bent over low and bumped noses with his son, and Sando’s heart went all soft and mushy, even in wolf form.
How was this possible? How had Hakon shifted? His mind raced as it went over all the possibilities. Would all babies be able to shift now? What had caused this change? No, it would make more sense if it were just Hakon, the boy with the special DNA that Sando still couldn’t scientifically explain.
Lidon rolled onto his back on the floor, and Hakon hopped on top of him, dancing excitedly on his father’s massive body. Lidon fake-growled and pretended to snap his jaws at him, and Hakon did the same, a tiny rumble. Sando melted all over again.
This was…beautiful. Amazing. Absolutely miraculous. Magical, that was what it was. Sando wasn’t witnessing science, but the triumph of magic, of ancient powers he couldn’t possibly understand. And as he watched, he knew three things with absolute clarity: Lidon Hayes was more powerful than any of them could ever have imagined, Sando loved Maz and Lucan with all he had, and…he wanted to have a baby. Not now, but seeing Lidon and Hakon had stirred a desire deep inside him. He wanted to be a daddy and bear his mates’ kids.
Mates? No, just Maz’s. Betas couldn’t produce offspring…or could they? They had before, just