Page 80 of The Ashpaw: Part One

“I have eyes and a nose, Fern, and you are pleasing to both. But I’m sure my father will see me mated to the daughter of some other clan’s alpha soon enough, and I will never take a Naravekh, even if our union is barren.”

Fern was saddened to hear that. Not that she’d ever thought Eidan would consider her for his Naravekh anyway, tainted by her Ashpaw status as she was, but because hearing this made him even more respectable in her eyes. He would not force a Solvekh to bear his children, only to then be cast out once his mate had put up with her enough.

“Do your uncles have mates?” she asked, changing the subject. For imagining some other woman in her place beside Eidan made her feel poorly, knowing it could never be her. “I haven’t seen them with any women.”

“Aye, they do, back at their homes. Their estates are spread far from the castle, but several of the courtship rituals require their participation, so they’re staying here for now. Their mates will come for the ceremony.”

“I see,” she replied, the last word turning into a yawn. She snuggled further back into him, and a low vibration smoothed out the remaining apprehension of her current location. While she was up high, Eidan’s trick had allowed her to think otherwise, and with the bedroll and his warm, strong body behind her, she was finally comfortable and safe.

“Good night, Alpha.”

He chuckled, his lips pressing the top of her head. “Good night, she-wolf.”

Chapter 20

Fern

Her wolf had never been happier, despite most of her circumstances being about as bad as they could get, and yet still would not give Fern a straight answer on whether she would shift that evening or not.

You heard Darion, Fern told her. He said that if we don’t shift, he’s going to do something permanent to us.

But her wolf rolled around, tongue hanging out of her mouth, as though Eidan had somehow left his scent in the grass outside her mental den.

Nest, her wolf reminded her, but would not speak to her concerns.

Her nerves picked up after lunch, when the dining hall was cleaned for the end of the day, benches raised and laid on top of tables as the Solvekh retreated to their quarters to prepare for the shift.

For there was no evening meal on the night of the full moon.

Vedia walked by on her way out, pivoting slightly towards Fern as she passed.

Fern braced for impact.

“Good luck tonight,” Vedia whispered out of the corner of her mouth, her eyes straight ahead and feet not slowing down.

Fern’s chest tightened as though she had been struck, and she dared not reply lest Vedia be caught speaking to her.

Her hands gripped the broom tightly as she closed her eyes, hoping to keep the relief of receiving sympathy off her face.

When she finally opened them and looked around, she noticed how strange it was for the dining hall to be empty this time of day.

And she wondered exactly what she was supposed to do with herself until the night. She wasn’t allowed in the Solvekh sleeping quarters, and it was hours until she was to meet Eidan here.

He’d told her that he would be the one to guide her through the shift that evening—if her wolf cooperated, that was.

“Your wolf is in there. I can feel her,” he told her that morning after leading her back downstairs. “She just needs the right coaxing.”

“Do other wolves need to be coaxed?”

“No,” he admitted. “But your wolf spent ten years in hiding, and has not had the best impression of her own kind since arriving here. I’m surprised she’s even bothered to make herself known at all.”

Her wolf chuffed. I’m stronger than I look.

When Fern snorted, Eidan eyed her curiously. “Something funny?”

“Just my wolf. She’s insulted you think so little of her.”

He chuckled. “Sounds like you two have a lot in common.” Then he gave her a chaste kiss on the temple before leaving. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”