Page 163 of Poet & Protector

A cloak of uncomfortable silence settled around us.

What could we say?

Tonight belonged to Ren. It was his moment. He should have become alpha of the long awaited Haldis pack with Calla at his side. But she wasn’t here. None of us knew what that meant. I had no idea what Ren was feeling, but it couldn’t be pleasant. Even if somehow this turned out to be a snafu—like Calla having a wardrobe malfunction or something likewise banal—it wasn’t an auspicious start to their new life together.

And we all knew the chances it was a wardrobe malfunction were slim to none.

A fresh round of howls soared into the sky: a group of elder Banes sounding an alarm. Ren shifted instantly and bolted toward their cries.

The rest of us took a moment to react, then we were chasing after our alpha. We had only run a short distance when we entered a clearing. The Banes who’d called us were standing over a body.

It was Nurse Flynn. She was dead. She was missing a hand. And she had wings.

I knew it. Sabine’s voice sounded in my mind as she growled beside me.

A succubus. Dax snapped his jaws. I always wondered why our school nurse was so hot.

I shot him an incredulous look. Seriously, Dax? You see this, and that’s your takeaway.

What? He flicked his ears at me.

Cosette whined softly. What happened to her?

Calla happened, I thought, but didn’t share that opinion with my packmates.

Calla’s scent was everywhere in the clearing…but so was a second scent, unexpected and shocking: Shay’s. And there had clearly been a fight. The air was full of blood, smoke, singed fur, and leather. It made no sense that either Shay or Nurse Flynn would be in this clearing so close to the union site. The two things, no matter how strange, had to be connected.

But Shay was a human, the Keepers’ human who we’d been commanded to protect. They wouldn’t want him here…unless…

Aw fuck. Fuck no. I kept my horrifying realization to myself, but I couldn’t stop my whine. God damn our masters for being so cruel.

Why the hell was Shay here? Sabine’s question cut sharply into my speculation.

Yeah, Dax replied. That’s really fucking weird. Do you think he was trying to break up the ceremony or something?

No, I answered, knowing my secret wasn’t one I could hold onto, as I pawed the earth uneasily. I don’t think he came here by choice.

Sabine looked at me. Her hackles rose. Nev.

I know. The moment I’d come to the awful conclusion, I wished I could deny its truth. All my instincts told me I was right.

They wouldn’t. Sabine’s eyes were filling with panic. That’s insane.

Yes, it is, I replied, lowering my muzzle. This was really, really bad.

What? Dax glanced between us. What do you know?

Shay was the kill. I bared my teeth at him. The Keepers were going to have Ren and Calla kill their pet human.

But why? Cosette’s question crackled with horror. Why would they do that? Calla liked Shay.

More than liked, Sabine added quietly. That’s why she killed Flynn and ran.

You really think they were going to kill Shay? Dax tilted his head.

Pretty sure, I replied.

That is fucking hilarious. His tongue lolled out. Man, I wish I could have seen that little prick tied up on the altar and watched Ren tear him to pieces.