“Stupid ones. Brandon’s father was beta before him. It doesn’t matter that a hundred different wolves could have challenged Brandon for the role and would have won, Father would have never sanctioned the challenge on purpose.”

My brow furrowed at that. “That seems wrong. That isn’t how it should work, is it?”

“No, it isn’t. Might over right is never the way to govern a pack as extensive as this one. We’re not the biggest, but we cover a lot of territory, thanks to where we’re positioned, and we have prime grazing land that a lot of packs would fight us over and that the humans want to build on.

“The last thing we need is to get into politics, but father insisted.”

“Are you going to change things back?”

He shrugged. “Already have. The next step is the council.” His gaze turned pensive. “I’ve been planning this, behind the scenes, for a long time. I might have seemed like I was leading the pack passively, continuing my father’s legacy, but I wasn’t.”

That didn’t surprise me—Eli was a determined man, and determination often required someone who was willing to think twelve steps ahead. To ease him, I murmured, “Thank you for talking about this with me.”

His spine stiffened at that. “Of course! Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because I’m only a woman,” I rasped, feeling a little awkward.

“Only a woman?” He snorted, his eyes sparkling with laughter. “Well, it takes only a woman to make this man very happy. You’re not ‘only’ anything, Sabina. You need to know that right from the start.”

I bit my bottom lip, unable to deny that I loved that answer. “That’s my past talking. Business was never discussed in front of womenfolk.”

“Idiots. Some of the best members on the council, even though it’s useless right now, have always been women. That’s why when I overturn them and gradually bring in new players, I won’t be doing it the way my father did.”

I thought about what I’d learned last night, and, tipping my head to the side, I asked, “You won’t allow a married couple a dual seat on the council?”

His eyes lit up with amusement. “Only a woman, my ass. You spotted that?”

“Spotted what?”

“That they’re all couples.”

“Well, it was obvious,” I said with a frown, unsure why he was praising me but ridiculously glad for it anyway.

“Not so obvious.” He tapped my nose. “You’re a lot keener than you even know. Our council has always consisted of couples, but the men rule with their dicks, and the women are smart but get ignored. That’s going to come to an end under my watch.

“Anyhow, omegas are always an integral part of the pack. They always have their ways of getting involved in the business at hand. I never expected you not to want to know how I was going to do things, just so that you could prepare the pack emotionally for the changes that are coming.”

His words had my eyes flaring in surprise. “You want me to prepare the pack?”

His lips twisted. “Yeah. I do. But like we keep telling you, things change when you’re claimed. You might even start to hear them the second we’re joined. You won’t just be able to affect their moods and emotions, but you’ll be able to project to them as well and hear their thoughts if you try to tune in.

“At least, that’s what Mom could do.”

My mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding. That’s incredible!”

“You’ll be just as incredible. For whatever reason, you need three mates, not just two. Mom was strong, but clearly, you’re going to be stronger.”

I could hear his pride in me, and though it filled me with warmth, it also made me nervous.

He tutted. “You won’t let me down. Honestly, love, you don’t know what you’re capable of yet. An omega only accesses her full powers when she meets the man or men who can anchor her. How can she be exposed to the full reaches of her abilities if she has nothing to keep her grounded, hmm?”

“I think I can understand why now,” I muttered. “Especially if you expect me to be able to hear all those people’s thoughts, and to be able to help make their moods better.” I cleared my throat. “Without going crazy.”

“You won’t.” His lips twitched. “That’s what we’re here for. But that’s exactly how strong you’re going to be. It might take some time for you to work into the role, but you’ll get there. Of that I have no doubt.”

Snuggling into him, I stared across the beautiful pond, safe in his arms, even though I was nervous about what this place held for us. “You have faith in me, don’t you?”

“More than you even know,” he rasped.

“Thank you,” I said on a sigh, and when he wrapped his arms around me tighter, I sighed again, loving his touch, needing this so badly that I didn’t understand how I’d survived without it.

Kian, the man who’d had all my heart for so many years, who I’d been mourning since he’d passed, was a distant memory now.

I felt bad about that, but I wasn’t the same Sabina as I had been before.

I was different.

I was transformed.

And for the first time, I realized that wasn’t a bad thing to be.

Eli

Being with her like this was a blessing I’d never have anticipated.

I wanted to be inside her more than I wanted my next breath, but fuck, I could see how fragile she was, and after viewing the carnage of the scene she and Austin had left behind, I got it.

I did.

That was a brutal challenge from the naturals, and even though I was curious what the fuck had triggered it, I was impressed that Austin had survived.

I could scent no less than eight wolves, and while I knew how powerful Austin was, I was astonished nonetheless.

Of course, things were different when a mate was involved.

Especially a newly claimed one at that.

Austin could have probably taken on twelve, and he’d have made sure that Sabina would have been safe, that was simply how we worked.

However, what did come as a surprise?

The smell of cordite in the air.

Gunpowder.

Interesting.

More than that, a scent I remembered…a scent… It couldn’t be. The last time I’d smelled that strong odor was back when father still lived.

Shrugging off the thought, I peered around the site, trying to discern what had happened here. I’d left Sabina by the pool, curled up on the shore, comfortable, even if she was uneasy with being here again.

A part of me was jealous that Austin had gotten that time with her where she could be free from worries, but also, this was my time. I had to make the best of it and make her comfortable even if it wasn’t as idyllic as I’d have liked.

That was why I was tilted the way I was.

Half veered toward her, just in case another threat appeared, while looking over the scene of the crime, as it were.

I’d already seen how the magic had taken away my clothes, and before she’d rolled out of the pool, she’d summoned a comb, so it didn’t take much to figure out the state of play in this world.

“I need a BLT,” I rasped under my breath, and just as she had, I held out my hands.