Tyson straightened, mirth still rocking his body. “Yeah, what exactly were you thinking? Was it one of us … please pick me.” He playfully reached out and snatched me from Braxton, spinning me around in a circle.

I kicked out at him, forcing him to either drop me or cop a broken face. Thankfully he chose to place me back on the ground.

“Shut it, assholes.” I started to march along the tunnel in the direction of the lit area. We were almost there. “I was not thinking about any of you.”

Liar.

Yeah, so I was a liar, big deal. Better than losing my pack over a stupid hormone-induced decision. Their laughter died off as they caught up to me. Mischa pushed her way through to snuggle herself into my side. I raised my blue eyes to meet her green, one of the main differences in our looks – well, the eyes and a few other bits and pieces. “What?” I asked, trying to keep the nasty from my voice.

She shook out her long dark hair, her woolen hat keeping it from flying away. “I know exactly how you feel.” She pretty much whispered it in my ear.

Mischa was a virgin; her shifter side had been suppressed along with her dragon mark. This had allowed her a little reprieve – in the outside world – from the onslaught of hormones we were hit with around puberty when we came into our powers. Now that her shifter side was free, well, she was feeling everything intensely, and like myself had no outlet.

We were screwed … well, more like not screwed, which was the problem.

As we continued to walk, I did my best to avoid the probing eyes of my Compass quads, especially a certain piercing blue set. Thankfully, a pretty large distraction – the end of the tunnel – was closing in. Hopefully, whatever was out there would give me a reprieve from the amused looks and lessen the embarrassed heat which wanted to coat my cheeks. I managed to keep myself blush free, but damn it was hard work.

Cloaky had disappeared into the light. I really hoped we weren’t heading for the metaphorical “light at the end of the tunnel.” I liked living, and planned on doing it for at least another eight hundred years. As we reached the end it took no more than a moment for my eyes to adjust to the brightness. Woah. What the actual hell was this place?

Mischa breathed deeply. “Holy shit!” It was still odd to hear her curse. Our mother, Lienda, was fairly prim – for a wolf shifter anyway – and she didn’t think ladies cursed.

Screw being that kind of lady.

We had emerged onto a dais about twenty feet in the air. Below us was what looked like an entire world, spanning as far as I could see.

Grace had lifted both of her slender hands and had them pressed against her face. “It’s the hidden oasis.”