eyes could glow gold as she forced a person to perform any act she wanted. I had briefly wondered if maybe that was how she had escaped punishment, but I knew she was no match for Alarick’s power of command. I assumed that was the same power Raff had as well, so maybe it wasn’t a concern for them.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t still nervous. What about Scarlett, Blanca, and Cierra? They had all contributed in their own way. A chill caused me to shiver as I remembered the way Cierra had grabbed my legs, helping Blanca balance me before they threw me at Rhiannon’s feet on that cliff.
I tried hard not to think about what had happened that day. I wasn’t even sure exactly how much I recalled was actually true. I had seen Alarick’s face above me, his blue eyes wide with horror as he grappled for my hand. I’d seen the fear etched on his face as my fingertips brushed his for the briefest of moments. Then pain, so much pain I wasn’t sure how I didn’t die in that moment, my body too overwhelmed to comprehend much else. I vaguely remembered Fillian’s hands on me, his power warm as it seeped into my form, warmer even than my own blood as it leaked from my body, the only spot of heat I could feel. I thought I remembered Shannon’s sobs and Chann’s and Zev’s frantic voices. Then there was nothing but silver light that I had believed to be death welcoming me, even as golden power attempted to hold me to this earth.
Waking up in the body of a multicolored wolf had been a dream. Alarick had needed to use his voice of command to force me to shift back—I’d been too shocked to do it myself and my wolf had been far too smug about being brought into existence to want to relinquish her control over our body. She really was a sassy little thing, I thought with a smile as she snorted in my head, as amused as I was.
“I’m proud of you,” Shannon whispered, sliding her arm through mine. “I don’t think I’d have done nearly as well becoming a wolf at your age.” I smiled at her, seeing color mantle her tan cheeks as she adjusted her square, silver-framed glasses.
“I doubt that. You’re good at everything.” I wasn’t praising her for no reason, it was true. Shannon was so intelligent it was nearly intimidating. She was also the sweetest person I had ever met, which conflicted heavily with my own sarcastic and sassy personality type.
Her blush darkened. “Not everything,” she swiftly assured me, nearly tripping in her embarrassment. Note to self, compliments made Shannon clumsy. A wicked grin must have crossed my face, because she eyed me warily. “You look like Chann and Zev right now. What are you thinking?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
“Lie,” Zev declared with an amused tone, and I glanced up at Chann’s twin where he lounged against the doorframe, waiting to escort us. His eyes glowed a brilliant green, showing his power was active.
“Pfft.” I waved a hand. “Not like you needed your power active for that. Most people are always thinking something. Besides, haven’t I told you not to use your power on me?” I scolded. Something had happened when I’d been hurt, though no one had told me yet what it was. There was a coolness between the twins, a separateness that hadn’t been there before my injury. Where they had rarely been found apart before, constant fixtures at each other’s sides while they finished one another’s sentences, since I’d awoken, they’d spent most of their time separately. Chann and Shannon had been helping me acclimate to my new body, while Zev and Alarick had been handling the politics. I hesitated for a moment before I leaned forward and hugged him quickly. “I’ve missed seeing you around. No one’s offered to play with me,” I teased. His eyes brightened slightly before Chann moved past us and he shook his head.
“We’ll have to see what we can do about that. Right now, though, everyone’s waiting on you.” I glanced down at the sweats and sweater I wore.
“Um, is this okay?” I asked, gesturing to the clothing. It was off hours, so technically we weren’t required to be in our uniforms, but this felt formal and the casual clothing I’d been embracing now had me chafing with uncertainty.
“It’s fine,” Shannon told me, running a soothing hand down my arm.