“I can’t do it. I don’t know how. I barely even know how to be a wolf. I can’t lead a pack. Plus, you killed Dalton, so technically, technically, you’re the Cleary pack leader.” I was desperate and was clutching at straws, but it was all I could do.

“I’ve never wanted to lead a pack, Sully. I’ve made a lot of choices in my life to ensure that I didn’t have to, but I hear you. You’re young and new to shifting. If you’re not ready, I’ll lead the pack until you are. You’re my son. It’s in my nature to help you any way I can. Just make sure you focus on getting ready as fast as you can. Believe me, this is your destiny, not mine.”

Floods and floods of relief washed over me. Leading the pack would come later. First, there’d be time for learning more about being a wolf, time to disabuse the pack of the crazy idea that I was the White Wolf, and plenty of time left over to love Jules.

Jules came back into the room, his hair wet and spilling tiny droplets of water onto his cheeks. I tried to get up, thinking I’d take a shower too.

“What do you think you’re doing?” cried Jules and my mother in almost perfect unison.

“I stink. I need a shower and then I need to get some fresh air.”

“Don’t even think about it,” warned my mother, tiny filaments of gold leaking into her dark irises. “You get back into bed this second, young man.”

I couldn’t tell if it was her booming mom-voice or the fact she’d just alphaed me that affected me, but I froze for a second. That was all it took for Jules to launch himself onto me, knocking me back down onto the bed, and taking up residence on my chest once more.

I laughed helplessly from under him. “What’s wrong with you people? Don’t you know anything? Hasn’t anyone ever told you that wolves grow big and strong when they play outside?”

My mother started laughing too. “God help us all if you grow any bigger.”