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“Zane is correct, Ryder.” Dad’s tone was official, cold like normal. “Now, as I was saying, I believe we need to be setting more of an example…”

I’m sure dad’s speech was nowhere near over, but I tuned out and focused on something more important.

Allie.

My protection and concern for her were on maximum at the moment. It didn’t help seeing her all vulnerable this morning.

My jaw clenched as I searched for her. Her mind, as usual, was busy, and I was quickly attracted to it.

‘What the hell am I going to do? Why is this happening to me?’

Bingo, I found her. Her emotions were strong, so strong I could nearly taste the stress attack she was currently having.

‘I have no-one who is going to help me. I would rather die than share this with someone.’ I felt her collapse on her bed.‘I’m doomed.’

I didn’t take Allie for a drama queen, so I waited as her mind fluttered back to her doctor’s visit. Something about her not being able to shift. Something about her having to spend more time as a wolf.

I sat up straighter in my seat as I listened in on her thoughts. She couldn’t shift, she was weaker, and I automatically felt sicker knowing she wasn’t well.

She was losing herself, and it made sense, considering I could reach into her mind without her even noticing or fighting me out.

I could feel tears sliding down her face as a strong feeling of worthlessness consumed her.

I needed to help her but without her knowing. She needed to spend more time as a wolf, she needed to reconnect with herself. I could help with this, couldn’t I?

She wouldn’t take my help if I offered her.

“Group exercise,” I said out loud.

“Excuse me?” Dad looked at me oddly. It may have not helped that I had stayed silent this whole time, and I didn’t even know what we were currently discussing.

Ryder gave me a look that said I had lost my mind.

“You are always on about team-building exercises. How about a group shift?”

Ryder rose an eyebrow. “Why would you recommend that?”

“We are a pack, right? But when have we all ran together? You always say there is safety in numbers. I say we do a team-building exercise, a group run. We can see how many people are interested.”

Dad and mom were staring at me blankly, and I honestly thought I had overstepped a mark when the silence ended.

“Now that, son,” dad smiled at me, “Is how a future Alpha of this pack would think.” He looked at me like it was the first time. “Start getting the word out, son, and see how many people are interested. With that, we will call this family meeting closed.”

Yes. This would work out perfectly as Allie would connect with her wolf, and she would be safe while doing it.

“What’s got you all Alpha-like?” Ryder asked when mom and dad had cleared out of the room.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Just thought it would be fun, brother, nothing else to it.”

He didn’t buy it, and I didn’t care. Right now, there was only one thing, or really one person, I cared about.

Allie.

Chapter Twenty-three

My body was running on barely no energy at all. It didn't help that I had one nightmare after another last night; all revolving around losing my wolf forever.

I was so out of it that I didn't even notice someone take the seat next to me. It wasn't until he tapped my shoulder that I was snapped out of my doomsday thoughts.