Page 162 of Awakened

“They were already tied.”

Behind me, I can feel Soren’s silent laughter. Vae frowns, looks down at his shoes, then back at me. “Are you sure?”

I’m debating just how bad I want to win this argument when Caelan’s voice slices through the crisp night air, dripping in Alpha authority.

“Everyone stay right where you are. Do not fucking move. And for the love of the Fates, protect my Mate!”

My heart skips a beat at the command in Caelan’s voice. I freeze where I am, eyes scanning the evening sky for signs of attack. What the heck is happening?

“Soren…” My voice shakes as I whisper my Alpha’s name, a thousand unspoken questions I can’t find the words to ask.

“It’s alright,” Soren murmurs behind me, and I’m suddenly grateful that he and Vae both are so close.

“What’s happening? What is Caelan doing? Is someone attacking?”

“Caelan is just checking the cars for explosives⁠—”

“Explosives?!”

“He isn’t taking any chances with your safety,” Vae cuts in. “He asked us to make sure we had two bodies on you at all times once we stepped out of the house. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was trying to make you smile.”

That’s… Oddly sweet. In a totally oblivious, tone-deaf kind of way.

“What about right now? What’s happening now?” I murmur, as Soren shuffles closer to my back, snaking an arm around my waist and pulling into his chest.

“I don’t know what’s happening now,” Vae admits with a grimace. I can hear Caelan moving around the line of SUVs, his boots almost silent on the pavement. Dax, Gav, and Silas murmur in voices too low for me to understand, so I flick my attention back to Vae just as he stiffens and his eyes widen in shock.

“You’re fucking kidding me,” he hisses, and slowly reaches for the dagger at his hip, eyes fixed straight ahead toward the forest stretching behind the compound.

“What are you—” Daxen’s question is cut off by the sound of a low, raspy yowl that vibrates down my spine and sends my heart leaping into my throat.

The darkness splits, opening like a curtain to reveal a sleek, hulking form with glowing yellow eyes. Its muscles ripple beneath a coat of velvety fur that’s so black it almost seems to swallow the shadows.

The massive creature stalks forward, paws thudding against grass, then gravel. Every step it takes is soundless—at complete odds with its hulking form.

A gust of wind parts the clouds, exposing the previously hidden moon. Its glow bathes the world in silver light, brightening it just enough to bring the beast’s form into focus.

I grin. Tears fill my eyes and pool along my lashes.

It’s Shade. My Shade.

I’d know that mark on his forehead in the shape of a crown anywhere. Impossibly, he’s even bigger than he was when I saw him from the attic window a few days ago. And even though that makes no sense, I know it’s him.

The Alphas, however, do not.

Like they’re a single unit, they tense, fists wrapping around the hilts of daggers and other weapons, stances shifting, and muscles coiling as they prepare to spring into action at the smallest sign of provocation.

To my right, Caelan appears, fangs half as long as my finger and razor-sharp, glinting in the moonlight. His eyes dart to me, clocking the way Soren and Vae are boxing me in protectively, and snap back to Shade.

“Idril, I want you to back away very slowly. Move with Soren. Get inside and lock the door.”

“What? No!” Horrified, I whip my head toward Caelan. A thousand protests sit at the tip of my tongue, but I forget each one as he pulls a gun from his shoulder holster.

“Caelan, stop!”

The only reason I escape Soren's hold is because he’s not expecting it. I lunge for him but slam to a stop when Vae flings out his arm, barring my way.

Alright. Enough.