Page 51 of Wanted by the Wolves (The Last Shifters #2)

Chapter 50

Nova

“ O h my gods, quit it.” I squirm away from Gage, yanking my legs together and pulling my towel tighter around me.

Dex crosses his arms over his thick chest. “Baby girl.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling my eyes. “I swear I’m good. I feel great.” It’s mostly true, but it’s also kind of annoying that my mates can feel the part left out of "mostly."

Dex growls. “Bend over, little wolf, and let him tend to you.”

A thrill races through me at his command, even though they’re being ridiculous. My body is sore, but it doesn’t stop me from reacting to the deep sound of his voice.

In the mirror, Dex lifts a brow in challenge.

Briggs steps out of the shower, grabs a nearby towel, and rubs himself down. “Better listen, baby, unless your goal is a spanking.”

I lick my lips and place my hands on the bathroom counter, arching my back.

“That might be the goal.” Gage smirks, shaking his head in the mirror as he lifts the edge of my towel. He sets a jar on the counter and dips his fingers into the healing salve. As he rubs the cooling gel between my legs, he crowds against my back, his breath on my neck. “Look at how pretty your neck is wrapped in our claims.”

Following his command, I take my eyes off my mates and study my reflection. I like the puffy red marks. They don’t cover my scars, but they’ve changed them, making my body feel more like mine. I recognize myself—how I feel seen and strong yet protected—even if this reflection is new to me.

My mates send back pride and love in the bonds as I let Gage finish rubbing in his healing gel. He plants a kiss on Briggs’s bond mark and pulls back to wash his hands. I turn to face Dex, bracing myself against the counter.

Despite the peacefulness of my pack bonds and the low, thrumming arousal in my core, my mood plummets as I take in Gage’s old bathroom. After waking from my heat, I’ve been a yo-yo of emotions.

I don’t know if it’s a hormone drop or what, but it’s dizzying the way I keep swinging from gloriously happy to anxious. My mates have all been sweethearts, hovering over me, but reality has come crashing down like a pounding wave. Combined with how tired and hungry I am—even after Dex insisted on feeding me in the nest before we showered— I sort of want to cry. Which is ridiculous because I just had the best three nights of my life.

If I don’t count the fact that it started with a kidnapping and a dark magic ritual…

“What do we do now?” I whisper, voicing my fear. I don’t know if I can stay here, not after what happened.

“I say we find a new place.” Gage shuts off the sink and tugs me against his chest, wrapping a hand around my hip. “See if we can get some peace and quiet. Don’t we deserve that?”

“Do you think it’s safe to leave? It’s really over?” I ask.

Briggs wraps his towel around his waist and steps beside his brother, nudging his side. “I don’t know. I think possessed Dex might make a good deterrent.”

“What do you think happened?” I ask, eyeing my big alpha. He’s my Dex. There’s no trace of whatever came over him on the night of the full moon. It’s almost like a fever dream, fuzzy around the edges, but I remember that night—how protected I felt, how in awe of his loyalty.

“You mean when he became king and somehow channeled Odin? I pissed myself. That’s what happened,” Briggs jokes.

All our eyes are on my silent wolf.

Dex huffs, looking away from our stares. “I didn’t channel Odin. I don’t know how to explain.”

I pull away from Gage, cross the bathroom, and trace Dex’s mating rune. Every time I touch it, it sends a burst of calm through me. “Can you try? I want to understand.”

“You get dressed. I’ll talk.” He scowls.

It pulls a smile onto my lips. This man is always worried about me being cold. Briggs tosses his brother a pile of clothes, and my alpha signals with a nod for me to lift my arms.

Dex pulls a thick sweater over my head, his deep voice rumbling as he dresses me. “After they took you, I swore to Odin I would avenge you. When they brought you out and that sick wolf had his hands on you, I saw red. It was like this surge of power. I think Odin answered my plea to come to our aid and sent the spirit of the First Wolf.” His voice is filled with hesitance, and his bond surges with uncertainty. Even now, he thinks we fear him.

Dex held the power of our most ancient shifter, the First Wolf of Odin’s decree, the original protector of our people. I’m in awe of his strength.

“What did it feel like?” his brother asks. “Your bond was muted. I could see you, but inside, you were gone.”

Dex busies himself by helping me into my thermal leggings, his scent full of embarrassment. He hates being the center of attention. “Like wrestling lightning. I knew the world would burn if I let the spirit loose.”

Gage yanks on a pair of jeans before coming closer to examine Dex. “I’m not sure the power truly left. Your alpha feels stronger, and your magical signature is different. Not just from the bond.”

“Do you think whatever happened fixed the magic? Is that why the mating runes appeared?” I ask.

Gage’s brows furrow in concentration. “I’m not sure, but the magic feels different. Our bond is strong, grounded, and connected like it’s supposed to be.”

“Exactly. We kicked ass just like I knew we would,” Briggs adds. “Because Dex is a god-beast.”

Dex sighs, the sound deep and full of resignation. “I can feel the earth, sense other wolves around us. They’re like little dots in my mind now.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s because you’re the Alpha King, big guy.” Briggs claps his brother’s shoulder.

“No,” Dex growls, fists clenched at his sides. “I killed a menace. He was never the true Alpha King. It was no challenge.”

“But—” I try to cut in at the same time Gage speaks, his voice sure and steady. “He’s not the king. His magical signature is different , but he’s not Alpha.”

Briggs and I gape at Gage.

“My best guess, if I put it into words… is that the First Wolf granted him the powers of a true enforcer, not the Alpha of all.” Gage shrugs as if it’s obvious.

Dex holds out his hand, and I take it, letting him pull me into his embrace. “I’m your alpha. Protecting this pack is my duty.” He looks around, meeting the eyes of each of our packmates, his gaze landing on me last and staying there. “My instincts are telling me we shouldn’t stay here. We need to keep heading southeast, not rebuild. I believe the curse on the wolves will keep us safe, and the ferals are occupied with carrying it out, but this isn’t where we belong.”

Briggs makes a questioning noise. “You mean you think we need to go to the dragon?”

Dex nods.

I’ve heard rumors about the dragoness but never been to her territory. I’ve never actually left wolf land. “Will she welcome us?”

Gage speaks up. “I don’t know, but I agree with Dex. Her territory is our best shot. They have a powerful human witch there and strong wards powered by the dragon’s ancient magic.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Are you sure?”

Briggs hugs me from behind. “This feels like a good thing. My wolf isn’t worried. I promise.”

My pack surrounds me, all of them hugging me until I feel more grounded.

“We rest and pack up. But as soon as we can, we should get moving,” Dex commands. It’s the final word from our pack alpha.

Even though I’m nervous, I trust him to lead us. I sigh and pull away from their embrace. I guess our time here is over.