“Right now?” Shay strode across the room. The air around him was buzzing and I worried he was about to shift forms again. Apparently we were both on edge among the Searchers. “Are you insane?”

“Shay.” Anika spoke calmly, but her tone wasn’t unlike a sword sliding out of its scabbard. Smooth and deadly. “You are important here, more than I could possibly convey to you. But I am still in charge, and you will follow my orders.”

“I barely know who you are,” Shay snarled. “Why would I take any orders from you?”

I swore under my breath. He was about to change. Lydia seemed to sense it too. Her hands shot to the bright hilts at her waist. I snarled. The moment those weapons appeared, I’d shift too. I did a quick scan of the room. We were evenly matched—not good.

“Time-out, kiddo,” she said. “Take a breath. Or several.”

I knew Shay wouldn’t listen to any of them. His wolf instincts were taking over, and they were threatening something he considered his territory . . . me. He was acting like I was his mate. His alpha counterpart. And that meant I was the only one who could intervene. Though my instincts were shrieking for blood, I fought them off. It wasn’t worth the risk.

“Shay, wait,” I said, grasping his arm. His pulse was racing; I could feel each staccato beat beneath my fingertips matching my own. “It’s okay.”

“How is it okay?” He was still on the brink of shifting, but at least his focus was on me now.

“Because I want to go,” I said. “I need to go.”

As I spoke the words, their truth settled deep in my bones. No matter how little I knew about the Searchers, my pack was worth risking everything. I had to go back for them. I needed a fight. I was desperate for one. If that meant I had to fight with the Searchers at my side, I could find a way to make it work. At least I hoped I could.

Shay watched me, uneasy, but he was listening. I was taken aback by how deeply the wolf had marked him. The way he reacted to me was the way one alpha took counsel from another. That partnership made strong, unwavering leaders. If his mind was working on those terms now, I knew how to sway him.

“The pack, Shay,” I whispered. “Think of our pack.”

My skin prickled at calling the Haldis wolves “our” pack—Shay’s and mine instead of Ren’s and mine. But it worked.

“Do you really think this could save them?” he asked, and I saw his anger begin to fade.

“It’s our only shot.” I showed him my sharp canines. He smiled, understanding the signal that this alliance wasn’t us giving up. I was negotiating terms that the wolf warriors within both of us needed.

“She’s right,” Anika said, motioning for Lydia to back off. “We wouldn’t take the risk if there was another way. And it’s notjust Calla we’re risking. I’m sending in our people too.”

I watched the Arrow, assessing her expression. Her face was set, resolved, her eyes alight with the fire of impending battle. It was true. The Searchers were risking their lives by heading back to Vail. And they were doing it to pull Guardians—my packmates—out of danger. It was the last thing I’d expected. I found it both thrilling and unnerving.

“Damn straight,” Lydia said, her own eyes bright as Anika’s. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Gazing at the two women, I was suddenly relieved that I’d be going into the fight with them, not against them.

“And unless we walk into the best scenario possible, which is unlikely,” Anika continued, “the rescue won’t happen tonight. This mission’s focus will be first contact. We need to go now because it’s Saturday.”

“Saturday?” Shay repeated.

“The weekend day patrols are made up of Calla’s packmates.” Anika cast a sidelong glance at me. “Am I right?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, though I was more than a little unsettled that she knew it. How did they find out about our patrol routes?

“To make this alliance happen, we need to start by gaining the young wolves’ trust, with the intention that a wave of revolt would spread through the Guardians from that initial point of contact. Calla’s presence will secure that trust, hopefully with a first step today.”

I almost smiled but stopped myself. For now I only wanted the Searchers to see me as serious in the face of battle . . . and dangerous.

“It would be some pairing of Mason, Fey, and my brother,” I said. “They rotate through Saturday patrols.”

“Here’s hoping it’s Mason and Ansel.” Relief flickered over Shay’s face. “That’s probably the best pair you could hope to meet.”

“But . . .” My own flash of joy at the thought of seeing Ansel and Mason wavered. “When I left Ren, he said that my packmates were being held for questioning. Do you think they’re back on patrol?”

“Did any of them know about Shay’s true identity?” Anika asked. “Or that he was going to be sacrificed at the ceremony?”

“No,” I said. “They knew nothing.” Guilt wedged its way into my chest, sharp as a knife between the ribs. How much danger had I put them in?

I thought of Bryn, of the last time I’d seen her.

“You ready for this?” Bryn asked. She offered me a bright smile, but I could hear an edge of fear in her voice.

“I’m not sure that’s the right question,” I said. I glanced at the ring again. This is where I belong. I’ve always known my path. Now I have to walk it.