“The forest,” I said. I was less worried about the jinn now, it felt as if they’d made their point and would wait now to see what eventuated. Besides they could find me anywhere, and the forest was the place our wolves wanted to be. Quale had explained there was a massive expanse of woodlands, and that we were free to use them. There were no pack territories, and with so much space, other shifters rarely ran into each other.

As we stepped into the cool expanse, I felt my body relax. This was home, this was perfect. Mischa startled as footsteps sounded from behind us, but I’d heard them following us for a while. Not to mention there was no denying the power of an alpha.

“Mind if we join you?”

Jonathon and Lienda were already undressing, so it was a rhetorical question at the best.

I turned around and prepared to shed my own clothing. Once I was naked, I called on the energy of my wolf, dropped to all fours and my body flowed and shimmered. I watched ten fingers morph in a single movement into paws. Then I was wolf. No pain, all awesomeness.

Howls rang out around me, and I turned to find my wolf family waiting and ready. Hell yeah, we had never ran together. This was going to be fun.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

“Oh for fuck’s sake, you have got to be shitting me?” Maximus had been stomping around cursing like an ogre since Mischa and I had explained about the Romanian prison dilemma. He was only partially vamped, so he hadn’t completely lost control. “After Vanguard, I was determined that none of us would be going into any of the prisons again.”

Jonathon had his head tented in his hands. “It seems no matter what I do, I can’t keep my girls out of danger.” He didn’t look angry, more pensive, as if calculating odds and formulating a plan.

All of us were spread around the living room of our apartment, the Compasses doing their sexy lean-against-the-wall thing. Though Maximus was currently giving the carpet a workout as he marched and swore.

Mischa dashed across the room and stopped before our father. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize the trouble I’d be getting into by hanging around with the twins. They seemed so genuine at first and I just needed someone.”

After our run, we’d discussed those biatches again, and she was finally starting to see their evilness.

Lienda captured her daughter’s hand and pulled her down to sit between her and Dad. “This isn’t your fault. They’re ancient, wise and manipulative. You could never have comprehended the means they would go to to bring about the prophesy. They’re determined to return the king and will stop at nothing.”