Page 106 of The Ashpaw: Part One

“Head Alpha Alastair will formally introduce you to the clan tonight,” he said. “I’m sure everyone’s heard the news already, but it’s important to make things official. And to celebrate—it’s not every full moon a clan is blessed with an omega.”

Her wolf preened.

“How rare are omegas?” Fern asked. “Am I the only one here?”

“Aye. You might even be the only omega alive, unless some other clan is hiding one we haven’t heard about. I’ve only met two in my lifetime, but they were much older.” He patted her hand. “We are lucky to have found you.”

Fern tried to smile, but it took too much of her energy, and she abandoned the act and yawned instead. “I’m sorry, I’ve been sleeping such odd hours and still feel exhausted.”

“Your first shift must have been quite draining. So let’s hurry and finish this thing so you can get back to bed, hm?”

She couldn’t agree more, even knowing she’d most likely be going to bed alone. Which was a strange thing to be sad about, since she’d never shared her bed with a man before. But now that she’d shifted, the prospect of sleeping without a warm body next to her left her bereft.

It was also strange for Fern to enter the dining hall through the doorway that connected to the alpha’s private quarters. She’d done so a few times already, but never when the space was full of wolfkin.

And never to join the meal as a Lurvekh.

She spied Reinn immediately, his nearly silver hair standing out amongst a sea of dark blondes and chestnut browns. He lifted his goblet when he saw her and winked before taking a sip.

Eidan was missing, though. Her heart sank, and she feared her friendship with Eidan would never recover after she’d chosen Darion over him yesterday.

And she still didn’t understand why she had.

Alastair stood as they walked in, rounding the table to stand before it while he spoke.

“Wolfkin of the Sabletail Clan,” he started, his voice commanding and deep. Every mouth was silent, and every head was turned towards him, including Darion and Kyntha’s.

“The moon’s light reveals the truth in all of us, submitting our flesh to fur and fang and releasing the wolf that always dwells within us. Some of us were born with our beasts howling in our hearts, while others were gifted this power by the alphas before you. And sometimes…”

He turned towards Fern.

“The claim of an alpha can release a wolf that was merely locked inside, waiting for the right key.”

Fern wanted to shrink back into her awful nest, while her wolf stood tall.

“Tonight we are proud to welcome a new Lurvekh to our clan, one whose designation brings us honor. A blessing from Lurei herself.”

He paused, his gaze gliding across the crowd before him, then he gestured towards Fern with an open palm.

“An omega.”

A ripple of rough whispers rolled through the hall.

Karn nudged Fern forward, and she slowly made her way around the table to join him, heat staining her cheeks as she felt the attention of the hall now shift towards her.

Eyes that glowed when the light hit them.

Noses that sniffed.

“Claimed by Alpha Darion as his Naravekh, the omega—”

A screech erupted from behind her, and she turned around to see Kyntha leap over the table towards her.

Fern barely had time to throw her arms up before they crashed into the floor together.

The breath exploded from her lungs as Kyntha landed on top of her, nails raking across her chest hard enough to shred fabric and skin alike.

Pain burned hot and immediate, and Fern struggled to escape.