Page 36 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Thirty-One

Lyker

Three months after that

Orphan. E.F. member. Nexus brother. Alpha. Brother to the Awaiting Matriarch. Royal court member. Headmaster.

What in the fucking realm could be next?

“Are you ready?”

I peer down at my sister as she stands beside me, rubbing her hands together. Just as I escorted her a couple months back, today, she will be escorting me out the doors of the new academy.

“Me? Yeah, are you?” I ask.

“I’m nervous as shit.”

I groan and hang my head. She can never just lie for the sake of making me feel better. “Fuck, don’t say that. You’re gonna make me feel worse.”

Her little snicker causes my lip to twitch and I bump her with my elbow to hush her up so I can hear Corentin’s speech.

He, the rest of her Nexus, and our brothers are circled around the podium now, and my gaze scans across them through the windows in the doors.

My chest rumbles as I watch the infuriating little omega scoot closer to Kyan.

She is going to be the death of me.

My wolf claws at my skin anytime she’s near us. Which is all the time seeing as she lives with us and my brothers follow her around like lost fucking puppies.

“All that growling isn’t going to do you any good,” Willow snorts.

“Yeah, pray tell, fortune teller.”

“I have nothing to say, but no girl likes to be growled at like that .”

“Firstly, I don’t know what you mean by like that . Secondly, I hear you and your dragon growl at each other all the time.”

She snorts and shakes her head at me. “Then you aren’t listening close enough if you think we sound like that.”

Fucking disgusting .

“No, I’m not listening all that closely nor will I.”

She continues to smugly grin and tilt her little head at me. “I’m just saying. It’d do you better in the long run not to be such an alphahole. Plus, she is one of my best friends. You growl enough to hurt her feelings and I’m going to take a chunk out of your ass.”

I sneer down at her. “You wouldn’t. I’m your brother.”

“That you are, but I’m a girl’s girl.” She shrugs and turns that smart-ass smile back to her men.

Poor fellas. I’ll keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

“They’re well taken care of. I promise.”

“Get out of my head.”

“Are you excited for first day tomorrow?”

She’s as damn wishy-washy as the wind and as annoying as I imagine any little sister is. But other than my brothers, she’s about the only person in this realm I can talk to without fear of anything I say being held over my head or someone getting the notion they can challenge me for my position.

“Nervous. Everyone still has some form of wounds from what this pack’s been through. They’re waiting for the academy to fail but hoping it doesn’t. I want that doubt gone from their minds. We’ve all worked too hard to create a space for the wolves for their own pack to be counting on their downfall. My downfall.”

“You’re always going to face someone with opposing views as you. It’s inevitable in this realm. You just have to continue what you’re doing and you have all of us backing you no matter what. Also, counting on and plotting your downfall are two different things. Make sure you recognize the difference.”

I nod at her and take her words to heart.

While still in agreeance with my previous statement of her being my annoying little sister, there will never be a time where I don’t listen to any advice she gives me.

“Are you still considering whether or not you want to help me with the female shifters?”

“Do you think you need my help? I’ll gladly do whatever you want me to, but I still believe they’ll take better to a female wolf than a dragon.”

I sigh. “We’ll see how it goes. If there’s too much drama or fighting, I’ll call you in.”

“That sounds like a wise plan, ol’ Alpha Headmaster sir.”

“Shut up.” I laugh and she bumps me with her hip.

“I believe in you, Lyker. I believe in everything you’re doing for this pack. I’m so incredibly proud of you and to call you my brother. Always know you have a friend and ally in me. Day, night. Today, tomorrow, or a thousand years from now, I’ll be here if you need me. Just run through the trees and howl for me.”

I swallow roughly as I stare into a silver abyss that throws me into the past.

“I’ll never leave you. Not truly, my boy. Every time you need to feel me, run free through the trees.”

“Thank you, little dragon.”

I tug her into my side, and she lays her head against me.

It’s not just her support for me but constantly reminding me of my story when I seem to forget it.

A story yet to be told or fully understood.

One that I’ll have to figure out on my own as I flip through the pages.

“I present to you, your Alpha, Lyker Quinn,” Corentin’s voice rings loudly and the wolves go wild.

Fixing the suit they forced me to wear, I crack my neck and pull my shoulders back.

“Show time, big dog.”

“Don’t call me that.”