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I nodded reverently. I felt meeting them was an honor even though I was sitting casually in my mate’s lap. The three seemed nice enough, but their dark eyes were filled with eons of knowledge and wisdom. I shifted in Night’s lap, uneasy that their attention would soon be on me.
After the Elders had taken their seats, Night cleared his throat and began the conversation. “Bryn shifted unexpectedly this morning,” he said. He didn’t mention that we’d had sex or that he’d taken my virginity, but if Violet’s reaction to our hug were any indication, the Elders would likely already know that from our scent alone. I tried not to sink into myself with embarrassment.
“Is this something that can happen between a shifter and a human?” Night asked. “I’ve never heard of anything liked this before.”
Violet spoke up. “We have records dating back decades that detail something like this happening,” she said. “But the records are vague. Whoever was taking notes was clearly as stumped as we are, Night.”
I had a vague memory of hearing a story about a human and a wolf mating before, but I couldn’t remember when. It might have been a story my mom had told me once at bedtime, or it could have been something I’d overheard.
When the Elders remained silent, I couldn’t take the suspense.
“So, why did this happen to me?” I asked. “Why did I shift, and why hasn’t it ever happened to me before?”
Instead of answering immediately, the Elders and Violet exchanged looks with each other. They had a full conversation with only their eyes, never speaking a word as they came to a decision.
“Bryn,” Patrice said, “we believe that you are a direct descendant of the original pack mothers.”
Night and I stiffened at the same time. “I…I’m what?”
Violet reached across the table to pat my hand.
“Do you know anything about the pack mothers, Bryn?” Patrice asked.
“Yes.” My mother had told me about them when I was younger, and I reached into the depths of my memories to try and pull the information out. “They gave birth to the first wolf packs. They were blessed with magic, were connected to each other, and they lived longer than any other creature that we’ve seen since.”
“You’re exactly right,” Violet said, smiling at me.
Night’s arms tightened around my waist. He adjusted in his seat so he could lean forward and rub his nose along the back of my neck and behind my ear. He was breathing me in, which made me feel giddy and a little light-headed. It was hard to believe that we’d gone from denying any and all attraction to each other to being totally addicted to each other’s touch. It was a surprise, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Neil cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts. “By the way,” he said, “has anything strange happened recently, Bryn? Anything that stood out to you or that could help us verify that you are a descendant of the pack mothers?”
When I hesitated, Night told them about the way I’d disappeared, how I’d wound up in a cave on a path I wasn’t familiar with, to find our missing tracker. The Elders nodded, but it was clear that they were already familiar with that story. Their eyes were on me, on what they knew I hadn’t revealed.
After a few moments more of deliberation, I decided it was better to tell them. “The truth is that I was led to that cave and to Vince,” I said. “I saw a wolf standing at the tree line, and I followed after it.”
Night stiffened. “Another wolf?” He shook his head. “We tracked you down, Bryn. There weren’t any scents other than yours that led us to you.”
I touched his arm, soothing him with smooth, back and forth motions. “I don’t know how I can explain it better,” I said, “But I know that I was led there by another wolf.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
“I don’t know,” I said. “There was something really strange and mystical about it. I wasn’t sure if it had really happened or if I had just dreamed it. And then we had that fight, and then I slept for two days, and then we…” I didn’t need to finish. The memory of last night’s passion came quickly to both our minds.
“Bryn.” This time it was Violet’s voice pulling me back. “Could you describe the wolf for us?” Violet asked.
I nodded. Now that I was sure it hadn’t just been in my mind, I was able to give a detailed description of the wolf’s russet-brown coat, the slice in its left ear, and the piercing white eyes that were like melted silver and snow.
Violet pressed a hand to her mouth, and the Elder’s mumbling grew more intense. I turned, sending a worried look at Night, but his handsome face and steady gaze calmed me.
Finally, Violet held up her hands for silence. The Elders immediately went quiet. My wolf whined within me, pacing back and forth. It was such a bizarre feeling to feel another consciousness within me, but it was so amazing at the same time.
Violet looked into each of the Elder’s faces, and they all nodded. She took a deep breath and returned her attention to me. “You mentioned something about seeing a wolf when Night returned with you.”
“I did?”
Violet nodded. “The Elders and I talked about what this could mean, but hearing you describe it confirms it. The wolf you saw was the spirit of one of the original pack mothers.”
My eyes widened.
