Page 63 of Luna's New Reign

His lips curl into a snarl as he glances over his shoulder, already scanning for Mateo. “We need to tell him.”

“Now,” I agree, my heart thundering in my chest.

Darius doesn’t waste time. He wraps an arm around me, guiding me toward Mateo, who’s still deep in conversation with Bo and one of the other Alphas. Mateo’s head snaps up the moment he sees us approaching, his eyes narrowing as they lock onto mine. “What happened?” he demands, his gaze sharp as it flicks between me and Darius.

“There’s something wrong,” I tell him, my voice steady despite the storm building inside me. “At the edge of the packlands. The veil—it’s been disturbed. Ifeltit.”

Mateo stills, his posture going rigid as he processes my words. He doesn’t question me. He doesn’t hesitate. He just nods once, his jaw tight as he turns to Bo and the others. “We’re done here. I need patrols doubled on the northern perimeter and I need a few to check the veil immediately with me.”

The Alphas scatter, responding to the unspoken command in his voice, but Mateo is already focused on me again, stepping closer as he brushes his hands over my arms. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I reply quickly, even though the magic still hums inside me, restless andaware. “But we need to move. Whatever’s happening… it’s not going to wait for us to catch up.”

Mateo shifts, his massive black wolf streaking toward the edge of the packlands, disappearing into the dark blur of the trees and the instinct to follow him rises like acommandin my blood.

Before Darius can say a word, I shift. My bones crack and reform, my human skin giving way to fur as I land silently on all fours. My wolf form feelsalivetonight, my senses sharper, magic crackling along my fur as the distant hum of the veil pulls at me like a beacon.

I don’t wait for permission. Irun.

Through the mindlink, Darius’ voice thunders immediately.>>> Neph, stop! You can’t go out there!”

I snarl back as the wind rushes through my coat, my paws digging into the earth with every stride.>>> I’m not getting close. I promise. But I need to see what’s happening.

Darius’ growl rumbles through the link but he doesn’t fight me. Instead, I find him right beside me, the sound of his heavy paws pounding the earth.>>> You stay behind me, Bambi. I mean it.”

I don’t answer him because I don’t need to. I’ll stay back. I’ll let them fight. But the magic is pulling me to the edge of the veil, and I can’t ignore it.

>>> Alphas,I call through the link, my voice cutting through the bond as I weave around the trees.>>> We need you. Now.”

There’s no hesitation. I feel the acknowledgment ripple through them and I know they’re already on their way. The world blurs around me as I run, the sounds of snapping twigs and distant howls filling the air. When I stop short, my claws digging into the ground to steady me, the sight steals the breath from my lungs.

Super wolves.

A line of them, their massive, gnarled forms just on the other side of the veil. Their fur is twisted, slick with something that looks almost black under the moonlight, their red eyes glowinglike fire. They snarl and pace, their teeth gnashing together as if they’re trying toteartheir way through the magic barrier.

My ears flatten as I step back instinctively, my hackles rising. They’re waiting. Lurking. And the darkness radiating off of them feels like a sickness, curling through the air like a shadow made real. It’s worse now than it was in the motel parking lot.

Darius’ wolf growls low as he moves to stand protectively in front of me, his massive body a wall of muscle and fur. >>>Stay back, Neph.”

I nod, though my gaze stays locked on the wolves—on the way they throw themselves at the veil, snarling like feral beasts. The bond crackles again and River’s voice cuts through like a blade.>>> We should’ve brought the darts.”

>>> Got them,Maverick’s voice answers, a smug edge to it.

The flapping sound comes next—a deep, rhythmic beat that grows louder as something massive swoops overhead. I tilt my head up just in time to see him.

Maverick.

Or rather,his crow.

Majestic doesn’t even cover it. His wings spread wide, blocking out the moon for half a second as he dives low, landing beside me with an elegance that shouldn’t be possible. His form is massive—larger than any bird has a right to be—and in his talons, he carries two dart guns, their sleek forms glinting in the dim light.

The crow tilts his head to me, his golden eyes catching the glow of the veil before he drops the weapons to the ground.

>>> Show-off,River mutters through the link, shifting back into his human form long enough to snatch one of the guns. Bo does the same, his movements efficient as he retrieves the second dart gun.

The super wolves don’t see it coming.

Two sharppopscrack through the air as River and Bo aim, the darts embedding themselves into the nearest wolves. The beasts freeze, their red eyes flaring wide as they stagger back a step, their growls choking into something almost human.