It was like they were sick.
Or tainted somehow.
She blinked away the vision, then glanced at Caedmon. “What’s wrong with them?”
“We’re turning feral.” Louis slowly rose to his feet, as if coming to the decision to trust her, and his pack followed his lead. “It’s not natural. We’re not succumbing to heartbreak. It’s like someone is taking our magic from us. Without our magic to keep us human, our baser instincts take over and we eventually lose our humanity and turn completely wolf.”
He ran a shaky hand through his hair, looking like he aged ten years as he spoke. “The change is not normal. Turning feral usually takes months, if not years. Our wolves fight the transition. Fight to stay alive. Being around the pack normally helps, but a couple of months ago, things had changed. Wolves would go to bed fine and wake up feral. And it’s spreading.
“It hit the smaller packs first, slowly consuming them until they were turned. The alphas ordered the rest of us back to the Assembly, hoping a large pack would stave off the worst of theeffects.” Louis grimaced, his fists clenched at his sides. “But things just got worse. It’s like the alphas are siphoning power away from the rest of the pack.”
Disgust curdled her stomach. She was unable to imagine sitting back and doing nothing while her pack was being destroyed. Just the thought of her pack in danger sent her magic whirling in agitation.
It would be physically impossible for her to do nothing.
“Without an alpha to lead them, the pack will turn wild.” Ryder slipped his hand into hers, his fingers clutching hers tight, and she realized he spoke from experience. He hadn’t had a pack before they met. She could only imagine how difficult it must have been to stand alone.
“What about Louis?” She gestured toward the man in question.
“I’m alpha enough to hold a small pack, but something is attacking us on a level that I can’t fight.” Repressed fury sparked in his green eyes, and they glowed brightly as his wolf rose to the surface. “I’m doing my best to keep my pack safe, but the weaker I grow, the faster it spreads. I thought the Assembly would be able to help, but they underestimated how many shifters were affected. Bringing us all together just made it spread faster, like some disease.”
Morgan nibbled on her lip, glancing over the wolves who came to her for help, and her stomach sank. “I’m at a loss as to how I’m supposed to be able to protect you. I’m the coven leader, so I’m obligated to investigate anything that threatens the paranormal community. You can stay here and I’ll keep you safe from the alphas, but I’m not sure how to reverse the effects of going feral.”
Ryder tightened his grip on her hand, and she glanced at him. “There is no way to cure anyone once they turn feral. The only thing you can do is hunt them down before they have a chance to hurt or infect anyone with lycanthropy.”
“No.” She yanked her hand from his grip and glared at him. “That’s unacceptable.”
A muscle ticked in Ryder’s jaw, and he raked his shoulder length hair away from his face, a growl rumbling from him. “If we do nothing, people will die. It would be a disaster if shifters are exposed to the human world. The paranormal community would see it as a threat and hunt all shifters to extinction, whether feral or not. Because if shifters are real, what else might exist? They won’t take the risk.”
Morgan wished she could say she was surprised at what extreme the paranormals would go in order to protect themselves, but they’d done that and worse throughout history.
“Then we tranq them and bring the ferals back here. The tunnels where the wendigo lived are still standing. There are more than enough holding cells there to keep them safe until we can find a way to help them.”
Silence settled over the group, every eye on her, and Morgan lifted her chin, refusing to back down. “They wanted my help, and I’m giving it the only way I know how. I won’t condone mass murder for something that is not their fault. Someone is setting up the shifters to be exterminated. First the shifters, then who’s next? Hellhounds? Gargoyles?”
As she spoke, more and more of her pack emerged from the trees.
Wendigo that would’ve been put down just for being infected.
How could she do any less for the shifters?
“I won’t ask any of you to join?—”
“We’ll do it.” Louis stepped forward as he spoke. “Wolves are natural hunters. We can track the ferals better than anyone else.”
“How?” Because as much as she wanted to accept their help, she didn’t want to put them in even more danger. “If you step foot off pack lands, the Assembly will have you killed.”
“They would have to catch us first.” Louis flashed her a cocky smile. “Let us worry about the wolves, hunting and evading is what we do best. When the other packs find out whatwe’re doing, they’ll allow us to pass. Just figure out who’s doing this to us and stop them.”
“And if you turn?” Ryder crossed his arms and glared down at the other alpha. “You’ll be no good to anyone.”
“They’ll be fine.” MacGregor and Mistress McKay walked around the side of the house, both prepared for battle, the rest of the pack following closely. “These lands are protected. Generations of witches have put their magic into them, including our Morgan. That’s no small thing. Just being here will help them heal.”
“He’s right.” Caedmon turned toward her and gestured toward the werewolves. “It’s part of what helped us hold out so long. It helped us heal, and a good portion of that was thanks to you. It’s our turn to help now. Theloup garouhave been training. This would be the perfect opportunity for them to venture into the outside world. Not to mention, they are stronger than the wolves. They would be an asset in retrieving the ferals alive.”
She wanted to protest that they weren’t ready and needed more time to settle into their new lives. When Kincade rested his hand on the small of her back, her protest died on her lips. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “They can do this. They need to prove to you and themselves that they are capable of surviving being turned.”
She bit the inside of her lips to prevent herself from saying something she would regret. She felt responsible for the werewolves, wanted to keep them safe, but she knew keeping them chained to her was not the answer.
