average human’s Reviews > Ember's Claim > Status Update

I’m pretty sure the alpha is dead.” His face scrunches. “Um, sorry, luna.” He bows his head.
“I’m not your luna,” I mutter, spinning around until I spot the gray wolf. He’s in a bloody, crumpled heap, and his chest isn’t rising or falling. I hike a thumb in his direction and instantly regret the movement. “Is… Did I do that?”
“You did,” the man says. “You’re officially the Prime Alpha of the North American Pack.”
“Oh, shit,” I whisper, staggering a few steps.
“Take a knee for your alpha or declare your intent to challenge,” the guy at my side snarls. His eyes glow a yellowy-amber color as he spins in a semicircle, making sure to address all the loitering wolves.
My wolf perks up.
She likes the color and the dominance that rolls through his words. It’s not the same pure amber color I would expect from a wolf.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I stagger back several steps.
My wolf isn’t interested in anyone except Veryn, but she’s a little too focused on the way his tattoos move as he slowly turns, appraising the crowd.
The sound of knees hitting the ground sends me in a similar motion as I twirl to see what’s happening.
I’m not in the best shape, but I’d fight again if I had to.
An alpha doesn’t back down from an alpha challenge. It’s like I can hear my Uncle Ridge’s voice in my head.
“You did it,” the boy says, wrapping his hand around mine. His warm skin is soft, and I fight the urge to yank my hand away.
“I need to call my brothers,” I say, glancing back toward where I parked my car.
Or Veryn, but I’m a little afraid he’ll be upset with me.
Not that my brothers won’t be, but they have to love me—we’re related. I’ve also helped them cover up some pretty serious shit in their lives. It’s about time they return some of those favors.
“You need to dismiss your wolves if they’re free to go,” the guy whose name I still don’t know says helpfully.
My eyes fly back to the fifteen or twenty kneeling men. My eyes dart around, looking for the female faces.
There’s none.
Not a single woman in the bunch.
Where the hell did they go?
I’m not a threat to them.
“Alpha?” the man says softly. “Are your wolves dismissed?”
“Get back to whatever you were doing before this fiasco started,” I call out.
The chorus of, “Yes, Alpha,” definitely sends a shiver down my spine.
I can’t decipher if it’s a good or a bad feeling.
My knees wobble as my vision grows spottier.
“I need a healer,” I mutter. “Or my phone. If I have my phone, I can call a healer.” My words come out more slurred as I go along.
Shit.
I was supposed to call Rogue. If I can get ahold of her, she and Gemma can siphon to me and take us back to Haven in no time.
“I’ve got you,” the guy says, scooping me into his arms.
My head lolls around his bare chest. “What’s your name?”
“Anders,” he says. “How about you?”
“Ember,” I groan. “My car is in the other direction.”
“We have a healer on pack lands,” Anders says, continuing to stomp the wrong way.
“Don’t worry, Miss Ember.” The boy bounces along at our side. “I’ve got your clothes, and we’re going to get you all patched up.”
“Thanks,” I say, and everything promptly goes black.

37%

“Anders?” Cohen asks softly.
“She’ll be okay,” I whisper in an equally low tone.
“Where the hell did she even come from?”
My head shakes. “I have no idea, but she said she drove here. She also wanted to call her family.”
Which might be a good thing. She mentioned having brothers.
If they’re also shifters, it will give her some protection. She can stack her enforcers with family. Or maybe I can talk one of them into challenging her. He wouldn’t need to kill her to take the pack, and if they’re anywhere close to as powerful as she is⁠—
I would quiet your treasonous thoughts, my lion says, his low tone echoing around my mind. Her wolf would never forgive you if she knew you didn’t think she was strong enough to defend her claim.
Well, shit. He’s probably right about that. I saw her fighting skills. She’s more than capable, and it still scares me. I had an up-close-and-personal view of how dirty the last alpha played. He has supporters that won’t hesitate to do the same.
“Sofia is mobilizing what’s left of Burke’s enforcers,” Cohen says. “They’re sealing off the pack lands and running patrols to keep anyone from coming in or going out. It won’t keep the news from spreading forever.”
“No, but it’s the best we can hope for, under the circumstances.” I nod, wiping a hand over my face. My former brother-in-law ensured his enforcers were trustworthy wolves. Many of them are still loyal to Sofia and her other two mates. “Is Aimes’s body⁠—”
“I guess he’s still out there. I heard she told everyone to go home and get back to their lives.” Cohen takes a seat.
There’s still an entire cushion between him and Ember, but it’s hard not to rip his throat out.
My jaw clenches, but I turn to face him. He’s staring at my lap, and I frown when I spot my fingers running through her hair.
Apparently, I’m a total creep with boundary issues, but I can’t force myself to stop. She’s entirely too vulnerable for me to be away from her right now.
No one with that much raw power should ever be as incapacitated as she is now.
“I need someone we trust to retrieve the body and prepare it for the ceremony,” I tell him.
Ember lets out a little grunt in her sleep, and I twist to make sure she’s not on the verge of hurting herself. Her eyelids flutter, but she doesn’t wake.
“You want me to handle it?” he asks, like he already knows what’s coming.
Well, that would be convenient, since he’s a warlock and can use his magic instead of brute strength.
“Yeah,” I agree.