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He briefly details who Roanac is and the threat he poses.
Ratchet listens impatiently. It’s clear that he’s not really caring about what North is saying. “So you come running back here to us because you can’t handle your own problems?”
Some of the others around chuckle, and I have to struggle not to glare. They’ve got no right to talk to North like this. I wonder if they could be affected by my fae magic, and I’m sorely tempted to see just how far my power could go to teach them a lesson, but Cain tightens his grip on me reassuringly.
Right. I have to stay calm for North. Let him handle this.
North looks like his patience is running thin, but he keeps his tone calm. “This is going to be everyone’s problem soon if we don’t stop him now while we have a chance. The fae and the vampires are banding together on this, and I think it’s something that’s bigger than any one group. Nobody’s going to be spared in Roanac’s attacks once he reaches his full power. We have to stand together or we’ll fall alone.”
Ratchet scoffs. “I think you’ve been hanging out on your own for too long, North. You forget how strong arealshifter is. Just because you’re weak and used to relying on others doesn’t mean that we need to do the same thing.”
“This isn’t our problem,” another person speaks up. “It’s a fae problem. Why should we help them?”
“It’s just because you’re half fae,” another sneers.
“You can’t even shift,” says another. “Why should we listen to you?”
Okay, that’s it. I’m going to rip these guys a new one. I don’t care if North is pissed at me for it later, I’m going to let them fuckinghaveit.
But before I can step forward or say anything, North does. “I know who I am. And I’m not ashamed of it. Being half fae doesn’t make me weaker and not being able to shift doesn’t make me any less of a wolf. I know who I am, and what I am, and even if I never shift again, I know there’s still a wolf inside of me. I’m no weaker than any of you, and I have my own pack. A small one, but a loyal one, and they’re more dangerous than any of you could hope to be, and they look up to me as their leader. I’m the alpha. Their loyalty means more to me than any insults or praise any of you could possibly give me.
“I don’t care if you believe me or not. Fine. We’ll face Roanac without you. But if we fall, I hope that you’ve made peace with your choices and your pride. It’s one thing to have confidence in who we are. It’s another thing to set ourselves away from and above others. They’d come and help us if we fucking needed it, and they’ll remember that none of you came to help them when they needed you.”
North glares at Ratchet, who glares right back, and North turns and stalks out of the cabin.
I quickly follow with Raven and Cain. I’m not sure what to say, other than how proud I am of him. I know how hard that must’ve been just now for North to do. He’s hugely insecure about his inability to shift, and even if he was just putting on a show for Ratchet and the others, I’m so glad that he stood up to them.
“They don’t deserve you,” I say to him quietly. “I can see why you left them.”
North doesn’t say anything, his jaw clenched, so I grab his hand and interlace our fingers.
We’re at the entrance to the national park and getting ready to portal out when we hear voices behind us. “North!”
I turn and see Hudson leading about ten others from the pack to us.
“We want to come with you,” Hudson says as they approach. “We agree this is bad for all of us, not just for the fae. We want to fight.”
North looks surprised. He scans everyone’s faces, like he’s trying to see if they’re lying or messing with him. But everyone looks stoic and serious.
“You really mean that?” he asks.
They all nod.
“Even if it means you’ll be following me. A half-blood who can’t shift.”
“This isn’t about one person or one pack,” Hudson says. “This is about stopping someone who’ll hurt all of us. But for what it’s worth, we trust you. If you could convince the fae and the vampires to work together, that means something.”
North looks pleased, maybe even a little proud. “All right. If you’re sure.”
I make the portal to take us back to the fae. “Get ready for humidity,” I warn.
We all step through.
CHAPTER17
North introduces Hudson and the other pack members to Tiorelle. The shifters seem to be in a bit of shock at seeing so many fae, and in an established community. I don’t think they expected so many fae to still be around, either. And now that other fae have arrived from their hiding places around the world, our numbers have swelled.
There are apparently a few other half-fae half-shifter hybrids, and they join up with North’s pack, getting acquainted with this side of their heritage. North hovers around, wary and protective, but Hudson and the others he’s brought along with him are nice and polite to the hybrids.
