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As she turned to him, she saw a look of such affection and welcoming that her eyes filled with tears once more.
He opened his arms and she went to him and was swallowed up in his massive, muscular arms. “Welcome home, cousin,” he said quietly, as the shouts and roars from the packs continued to flow.
It seemed Luther had the same instincts about their familial relationship as she did.
He held her for a long, long moment and she hugged him back. She knew she belonged, that this would always be a home to her, that she would find understanding, maybe even worth here in the shifter community. She couldn’t believe it. After spending most of her life alone, she now belonged.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
When he released her, she drew back and this time Zane took his place beside her and caught her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.
Luther quieted the cr
owd with a wave of his hand. “What you have witnessed here, I’ve never seen before. But I’ve heard of the phenomenon. Our sister, Olivia of Maine, is a battle Zephyr. Her quick, bounding movements create a wind that can confuse the enemy and give our forces an advantage.”
Luther shifted to meet Zane’s gaze. “I believe she’s appeared at this moment in Realm history to counter the wind of chaos that the Ancient Fae has been employing in our cities.”
Had Olivia heard right? Did this love of leaping and bounding have a purpose other than just the pleasure of movement? “I thought it was just something I did for fun.”
Luther grinned. “Spoken like a shifter.” His voice boomed as he added, “We do all things for pleasure first, and that goes for battle as well.”
Another raucous cheer went up.
Olivia glanced around. So much about herself became clear; very little of what would be considered human existed within her body. Her shifter was entirely dominant. No wonder she’d felt so isolated in Freeport.
Luther continued, “I officially welcome you, Olivia, to my pack since you are related to me. We will investigate the bloodline more thoroughly within the coming weeks. But tonight we have serious business to attend to. Mastyr Zane, whom we all serve as the ruler of our realm, has come with a mission for the Shifter Brigade.”
At the mere mention of the brigade, another loud cheer went up as well as a roll of appreciative laughter. Apparently, those who served in the brigade always made a fuss when their unit was mentioned.
Luther went on to talk about Zane’s plans and that Luther would retire with the other pack alphas for a planning session. The squad leaders of each pack within the brigade would join them as well to discuss strategy.
When the shifter leadership filed into a smaller room behind the throne, Olivia wasn’t certain where she belonged. She was hardly a leader among the packs and right now, other than possibly serving to create a battle wind, she had no established role. And every shifter instinct told her to hang back and wait for an invitation.
Luther saw her restraint and nodded his approval, then added, “But we wish you to join us, Olivia, since I understand you’ve been serving the mastyr.”
She nodded, and with Zane’s hand a comfort at the small of her back, she moved into the strategy room.
~
Zane felt knocked sideways about twelve feet. He’d seen Olivia at the beach do the same kind of bounding antics. Like her, however, he’d assumed it was her playful shifter nature coming through combined with her exceptional ability. He’d never thought the swift outrageous motions, with such extraordinary speed and height, could have an effect in a battle.
But to see her in action, this woman who had participated in the shifter lodge as though she’d always done so, squeezed his heart up tight.
He loved his realm, the diversity of species and how each community functioned a little differently from all the others. Shifters were proud and loyal and had specific pack hierarchy that rarely changed, and which had to be obeyed. They were a strong, physical species, easy to fly off the handle, and definitely made for war. Courage held a high place in their value system.
As he kept his hand on Olivia’s lower back, he wondered where this would end between himself and the human shifter. Because she was a blood rose, he felt linked to her.
But he knew himself and his limitations. When he was being completely honest about what his life had been like with Emily, he had to admit he hadn’t been a great husband. She had been a sensitive, fae artist, who often went on long solo painting expeditions around Swanicott. She’d scared him to death doing so, and he often yelled at her about how she put herself in danger every time she sat on a cliff or at the beach or in a field to paint her landscapes. If the Invictus came across her isolated like that, she didn’t stand a chance.
He’d fought with her about it dozens of times, ending in her tears and a locked bedroom door.
Then one early morning, before dawn, he’d come home to find their lighthouse home turned upside down, her blood all over the kitchen. He’d had it genetically tested just to be sure it was hers.
Guilt had swamped him that he hadn’t been a good husband and that the ruler of Swanicott couldn’t even keep his wife safe from the Invictus. He’d promised himself never again. Now here was Olivia, but what was he supposed to do with her?
He withdrew his hand from Olivia’s back and she glanced up at him, her brows raised. What’s going on? she pathed. I can feel your distress.
He shook his head slightly. Just memories I need to let go of.
