Chapter 34: Chapter 33

Zane Holy s hit, did you hear that, too? Xander asked me.

His heart was beating like crazy, matching the wild rhythm of mine.

Yeah what the f uck?

We hadn’t claimed Lanie like we'd claimed Alice, so why could we hear her inner thoughts?

Can Lanie hear us? Xander asked the question I’d been wondering, too.

Lanie... | pushed my thoughts straight to her. Lanie, can you hear me?

Her expression remained confused as she looked from me back to Xander.

So that’s a thing, | guess? | asked Xander.

He nodded his head slightly, then turned back to the High Elder “High Elder, why are you here? To flex your power by intimidating a she-wolf who's never bothered you? Or was there a real reason?

His pale face reddened.

You've made your point, Xander, | wamed him.

“I'm here because this is all highly unusual. A pair of shifters haven’t taken a second mate since...” He halted abruptly.

Since when?

Aldon wouldn't say what the loophole was for and now and now the High Elder refused to say when it was last used These as s holes were definitely hiding something.

“As | said, this is a rare situation. And we need to discuss how this is going to work.”

| could feel the heat of Xander’s irritation burning off of him.

“With all due respect,” he said through clenched teeth, “we’ve got it under control. Lanie was insufficient, so Alice stepped in to give us what we needed. The mating was successful, what else is there to say?”

Except it wasn’t, was it?

If it was, our minds would be linked, and we wouldn’t be hearing Lanie’s thoughts But Xander couldn’t admit that our plan had gone awry.

The Council was already breathing down our necks, we didn’t need them thinking we couldn’t handle ourselves.

“| know Elder Aldon has expressed some hesitancy about your double mating the High Elder continued, “but | think this could open a lot of doors for our kind.”

Xander’s gaze locked on mine.

He was confused. So was I.

Aldon stepped forward, finally speaking. “We think this kind of mating could be part of all of our future ceremonies.”

| suddenly sensed a hum vibrating around Lanie that | was surprised to immediately recognize as anger.

stretch.

used to this kind of connection with Xander, but with a she-wolf | hadn’t even properly claimed? It seemed like a “But because this is new for all of us,” Aldon continued, “we need to be close by for any necessary damage control. Which means we are going to be very involved in the process.”

me?

Lanie rushed forward.

“The process of what?” she demanded, her eyes wild. “Are you going to sit there in the corner watching while my mates f u ck | took her gently by the arm. “Not now, Lanie.”

“See?” The High Elder waved his hand at Lanie. “This is why you need our supervision. You have a sister don’t you, Lanie?

Selena, isn’t it?” Lanie tensed next to me, and | scented the now too-familiar smell of her fear.

“It would be a shame if something were to happen to her because you couldn’t comply”

Lanie bit down hard on her lip, but | could tell it was shaking.

My stomach twisted into knots.

“Your threats aren’t necessary” Xander growled, clearly feeling heated, too. “Tell us what this is about. Why have your changed the rules?

“It's simple,” the High Elder said. “We want our Alphas and Betas to have more offspring and therefore a higher likelihood of producing stronger wolves.

More offspring? Did that mean?

Lanie’s mouth hung open.

Xander’s breathing was getting heavy.

“Alice is expected to provide pups to Xander and Zane.” The High Elder turned to Lanie, and | swore his lips curled into a smile. “But so are you, Lanie.”