An enslaved pack ruled by a merciless dictator. A pack of assassins out for blood and revenge.
A lone wolf who can't find his place among any of it.
Through betrayal, binding pacts, and revolutionary acts, with more shadows looming between the tree...
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The new wolves had managed to calm a bit since their arrival. But inside Shayne's room, Jessie was still on high alert for whenever he might wake. Whether he was calm or tearing at his bandages again, she was ready. The only time she wasn't in the room was when another wolf desperately needed her, and especially if that wolf was Terra. Even then, Jake hovered outside the door incase the Healer needed to rush back to the turned boy's side.
Almost halfway to the next moon, Jessie sat with her book and her lunch on the bedside table beside her. They had to tell him soon, but Jessie was the final word on when.
He was quiet for a while, but when he finally woke, it was gently and with far more calm than his previous experiences. Shayne let out a breath as he turned his head to Jessie. It was still hard to focus, but he managed far better than before.
"Hello," she greeted with a smile. Jessie marked her page and closed her book. "Feeling any different today?"
"It doesn't hurt as much," Shayne said. He tipped his head back to look across the room instead.
"Well, that's good, and your wounds look clean." Jessie leaned forward and put a hand to his forehead. "Do you want painkillers anyways? Just incase?"
"No," Shayne said. "I'm fine." He let his gaze settle on Jessie again.
She kept her smile as she drew away and glanced to the door. "Well, your temperature is way down, and you seem fully conscious and calm." She pushed a hand through her curls and looked back to him with a slow breath. "If things get overwhelming, we'll stop, but I think you'd be alright to hear certain things now."
"I want to know," Shayne said.
Jessie stood and held a hand for him to stay where he was. "I'll be just a moment," she promised. The Healer moved away from him with a slight bounce in her step and disappeared, closing the door behind her. Though Jessie returned through the door first, Terra lingered at the frame and her gaze swept instantly to Shayne.
"Hi," the Alpha said.
Shayne held her gaze, lips parting, though no words came. He straightened himself more in the bed to sit up just a little. "Terra?"
She moved from the doorway and lingered near the edge of his bed. "Yeah. Sorry, I know it's...a bit of a surprise." Behind her, Jake moved in as well, his presence anything but subtle. He shut the door behind him and went to stand in the corner, out of their way, but clearly visible.
He looked to the other wolves in the room before focusing on Terra again. "What is this?" he asked. "Where are we?"
"For the moment, this is our home." Terra sat on the very edge of the bed and cupped her hands in her lap. "Jessie says you remember wolves. Was there anything...off about them?"
"They didn't... They were..." Shayne shook his head and dropped his gaze to the blankets. "What's happening, Terra?"
"They weren't just wolves," she said, "but I think you've figured that out already. At least a little." Terra tugged at the hoodie she wore and stared across at the wall. "The attack was planned, organized, and carried out exactly how they wanted."
