Page 63 of In the Mouth of the Wolf (Of Wolves and Kings #1)

63

ARCHER

I was floating.

It was as though gravity had left me, and I was now untethered to everything in this world except Marlowe.

Was this how it used to be, before omegas and our ability to shift disappeared? How could I ever call what I had before we met Marlowe “living?” I’d been spending my days in Plato’s cave, mistaking it for reality this whole time.

News of Nolan’s shift, as well as the vampyr attack, had likely spread throughout the town by now, and even in my bliss, I worried about the repercussions. Would they blame Marlowe for the danger that had followed her? Or would they realize she held the power to unlocking our abilities and demand she bleed for them?

Perhaps it would be a good idea to leave town for a bit and wait for things to calm down.

Marlowe’s discovery of the connection between the shifters’ origins and the battles of the Great War were worth investigating, and might be a good place to start. I’d already sent requests to colleagues at the University of Chicago for access to their libraries – they had the most in-depth collection of original documents from both shifters and vampyrs. Cleverly hidden from the human faculty and student body, of course. Elias had even offered to let me stay at his place over the winter break while I did more research.

I’d also put in a very last-minute application for a one-semester sabbatical leave with my dean. I was due one anyway, and since he was a shifter too, I believed once I showed him what I was working on, he’d approve it without further questioning.

Whether or not my research took that long, I needed time off to figure this out.

I looked down at the makeshift nest Marlowe had built the previous evening, and to where she now slept peacefully in the middle. Julian’s knot had deflated hours ago, but he still held onto her tightly, like a child with a security blanket.

Nolan and Cam slept draped around her as well, while Elias sat at the table, drinking coffee and observing the scene, his expression pensive.

He finally noticed me also staring at our omega and spoke quietly. “You and Cam were right; we needed another pack mate. I think Julian is a good fit.”

I wasn’t going to rub it in, especially with how raw we were all feeling over Marlowe almost being taken from us. If Julian hadn’t seen her in that car...

No. “What ifs” weren’t going to ruin this moment. Instead I smiled at the look of contentment on Marlowe’s face. “Well, he’s locked in now, so he better be.”

I got up and started to quietly look around the house, not wanting to accidentally wake my exhausted omega.

It was sparse, the home of a man missing his heart. Items picked for utility over design or interest filled every shelf, reminding me of my own home in Eau Claire.

The absence of love and purpose in every corner.

But after watching the inexplicable power of the dark wolf shifter, I was beginning to understand what had driven James to such lengths, knowing that someday his family might be pursued by shifters that wielded powers we’d never seen before.

Nolan was right to be scared. How could we defend Marlowe against someone who could kill all of us with the flick of a wrist?

Was she also capable of this destructive magic?

Were we?

The answers were within reach. I could feel it.

I poked my head into his old office, taking a look at the few books he owned. The subjects were all very predictable – business, economics, architecture, and a few biographies of presidents and other world leaders.

One smaller, older, plain-covered book caught my attention. It looked out of place compared to the untouched books purchased for show.

Twilight Tales of Blood and Bond.

Fairy tales? I wondered if perhaps this was another hidden memento of James’s children, a book he had liked to read to them when they were little.

I opened it and a photograph floated down to the floor. The back was covered in small handwriting:

In the age of twilight, when the veil between realms grows thin,

Two stars shall fall, borne in a single womb—

A son of flame, fierce as the rising dawn,

And a daughter of silver, soft as the moon’s glow.

Born of light and pain, he is the sword that protects all

The male shall rise, the Alpha of Alphas,

A warrior unmatched, his strength unrivaled,

None before or after shall wield such might.

The female, an Omega of unparalleled grace,

Her perfume shall tame the fiercest storms,

Her bond, the key to the balance of worlds,

For she is the arrow that will pierce the hearts of men and fae alike.

Whosoever claims both shall be crowned,

Ruler of man, lord of the fae,

For their unity binds the realms in peace,

Or sunders them into eternal war.

Male and female twins, an alpha and an omega? Marlowe had a twin brother, but he was dead, and there was no way to know if he was an alpha or not.

Besides, this seemed like another silly story. Maybe it was one Marlowe and her brother liked, and they had pretended it was about them when they were kids.

I turned the photograph over, and my heart stopped.

Marlowe, her cheeks still chubby with baby fat, stood next to a much taller and broader male. They were both dressed in high school graduation caps and gowns, matching wide grins on their young faces.

I rushed back to the living room, shaking Marlowe awake.

She groaned in protest, trying to shoo me away. “I’ll eat later, I’m so tired…”

“No, Marlowe,” I replied sternly. “It’s important, I need you to look at this.”

The desperation in my voice brought her out of her sleep, and I could hear her heart begin to race. “Archer, you’re kind of freaking me out, what is it?”

“Go take a nap,” mumbled Camden. “Whatever this is, it can wait.”

I growled deep and low, a warning sound not to take me lightly. That finally got the other alphas’ attentions and they sat up.

“Damn, Professor, we’re awake, what is it?” Nolan yawned, rubbing his eyes.

I gave Marlowe the photograph. “Who is this?” I demanded.

Her hands trembled as I gave it to her, and then she relaxed, eyeing me suspiciously and smiling. “Archer, did you really just get jealous over a picture of Ezra?”

The blood drained from my face and her expression fell. “Wait, what is it? Why are you so upset about my brother?”

I handed the photo to Camden. He took a minute, staring. Unblinking.

“Fuck.”

Marlowe whined. “What’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?”

Nolan took the photo next, Elias coming up behind him to look.

“Holy shit,” whispered Elias. “That’s him.”