Devan froze, every fibre of him held in place by the unmistakable alpha timbre vibrating through his bones.Luca. He shouldn’t have been surprised, but somehow in his distant, rational mind, perhaps he’d expected Dash.
“Shift, Devan. Now.”
Devan was in his human form before his brain computed the order. After untold time running wild, it took him a moment to adjust.
Luca gave him that moment, eyeing him from a few feet away, arms folded across his chest, gaze stern. When he was apparently sure Devan was cognisant, he stepped forward. “We need to talk.”
“About Zio?”
It hurt to even say his name.
Luca nodded. “Among other things. Have you eaten? I have food with me.”
“I’m fine.”
“Of course you are. But I’m not Dash. I will not force self-care on you.”
“You’re not a healer,” Devan muttered absently.
“No, Devan. I’m not. I’m a soldier, which is why I’m here.”
“You know, don’t you?”
“If you’re referring to your triggered bond with the wolf, then yes. But that’s not my first concern.”
“Then what is?”
Luca raised an eyebrow. “Everything else. Dash was called to a meeting in Berlin. Representatives from the southern wolf packs were present, and they were angry that a Shadow Clan shifter had joined forces with the northern packs and fought against them.”
“Do they know it was me?”
“You weren’t mentioned by name, but it is widely known that there is only one clan shifter on British soil right now. Dash couldn’t deny it.”
Devan winced. Luca’s presence had gifted him the clarity of thought he’d been lacking ever since he’d caught Zio’s scent in that damn club, but he couldn’t decide if it was a good thing. Knowing he’d put his entire clan at risk made him feel sick. “I’m sorry.”
Luca snorted. “We tasked you with joining a pack, to move among them as a brother. A potential bond was always possible, and it’s unfeasible that you wouldn’t act to defend it.”
“That’s what we’re going with?”
“For now.”
It was on the tip of Devan’s tongue to apologise again, but a glance at Luca’s stern face stopped him. “I didn’t mean to shift. Varian specifically asked me not to.”
“With good reason,” Luca said. “He couldn’t have predicted this outcome, but he was right to be afraid. I do not believe any shifter but Dash could’ve prevented the certain war we faced a few days ago.”
A few days?Now the world had stilled, Devan found the fact that he didn’t know how much time he’d lost to his countryside rampage more disturbing than his human form could cope with. His skin itched, and his heart pounded. Only Luca’s imposing presence kept him present. “But he did prevent it? Dash, I mean?”
Luca nodded. “Dash has negotiated an agreement that you can continue your work with the northern pack on the condition that, barring self-defence, you do not fight again, nor do you complete your bond with their soldier.”
“What?”
“You do not complete the bond, Devan.” Luca spread his hands. “It’s far from ideal, but the only other option is to withdraw you completely, which would leave Varian at war without—”
“I’m not leaving. I can’t.”
“I thought you might say that.” Luca showed no flicker of annoyance at being interrupted. “And I won’t press you to examine why, because it’s just as well, but know this: Varian’s enemies will not hesitate to escalate this war if they believe the clan has picked a side. If you act outside of self-defence again, no one, not even Dash, will be able to halt the consequences.”
Devan dropped to the ground, head in his hands. Running free, it had been easy to narrow the impact of the situation to himself and Zio. Now, as reality set in, the gravity that came with it was terrifying. An all-out war would destroy the supernatural world, leaving human survival to the mercy of whichever side prevailed. And there were no guarantees which side that would be. “Maybe I should extract and come home. Send someone else in my place.”