Reborn (Shadow Beast Shifter, #3)(107)

“What’s your plan, little wolf?” Shadow rumbled at my side as gasps and cries rang out around us. Seemed the townsfolk were not sure what to do about the twin Egyptian-looking gods, covered in flames, standing in the middle of the main street.

“It’s time to call the Torma pack to their final meeting,” I replied, in an almost as impressive rumble of a voice.

I tilted my head back and howled. It was the howl I’d accessed that first night I’d shifted, when I’d called the Shadow Beast. A howl that was connected to my Nexus side, even if I hadn’t known it all the way back then. It was also a howl connected to the shifters, and with it, I could call and control the packs.

Shadow had the same ability, of course, since he’d kind of created shifters, but this was my fight. My true mate stood at my side, and not in my way.

By the time my howl had died off, shifters were already making their way toward where we stood in the middle of the street. There were thousands of them, my call leaving no stone unturned, as even ones I hadn’t seen for years found their way to where we waited.

Torin, Jaxson, Sisily, and a few of the other higher members of the pack pushed their way forward, each of them meeting my gaze with varying degrees of fear and anger. The pack enforcers were there as well, holding weapons, but none of them were stupid enough to try to take us on. They knew their place here, and it was finally my turn to be feared.

Simone was one of the last to arrive, but she got a spot up front as well, and I was beyond relieved to see her looking whole and healthy and happy. Somehow, she knew it was me, even with my new form, as she waved and smiled and bounced on the spot. I looked around for Sam as well, but the gorgeous brunette was nowhere to be seen.

Where’s Sam? I mouthed at Simone, and she sobered a touch.

With her pack, she mouthed back, and I was about to panic, until she waved both hands at me. She’s fine, she added. Tell you later.

I let out a relieved breath, nodding a few times before I faced the crowd again. Simone and I would catch up soon, and I’d find out all the things. But, for now, I had judgement to impart.

“My name is Mera Callahan,” I said, my power projecting my words out to all those silently waiting. “And when I lived in Torma, you all made my life hell. I was punished for crimes that were not my own, and for that alone, each of you will face my judgement.”

For the first time, there were gasps and sobs, as many of them started to beg, falling to their knees, praying for my mercy.

I hated it. “I’m not a god,” I continued, my voice calmer, “and thus, the life and death of the Torma pack is not a decision that rests with me.”

“It rests with me,” Shadow muttered, and I hid my smile.

“However, corruption and darkness runs deep in this pack,” I said with emphasis. “Each of you will be assessed, and if you have abused your privilege of being a shifter, of having a pack, of sharing the wealth and power that Torma contains, you will be stripped of your wolf soul. You will become a human, with all the frailties of a human, and there’s no appeal to change this decision.”

Shadow was staring at me now, his gaze heated, and when I turned to meet his eyes, the smallest of smirks tilted his lips. “Well played, mate,” he said sounding pleased. “Well played.”

The noise that had exploded after my last revelation didn’t ease until Shadow’s flames shot up above them, and he snapped, “Enough!” The bite of his power had every shifter shutting their damn mouths.

Torin was the first to step forward, and it might have been the most alpha thing he’d ever done. “I am the alpha here,” he said, as if he were reading my mind. “My people are innocent. You should judge me and me alone for the sins of Torma.”

I moved toward him, our eyes meeting since I was now his height. “Torin,” I said softly. “Bet you regret rejecting me now.”

He shrugged. “Not really. You’re weird-looking in this form, and I don’t know if I could get into the feathers.”

I sighed, not offended by this rodent. “Thank the fucking fates we aren’t really true mates. My mate—”

“Would like to destroy you,” Shadow said casually, his flames growing larger so Torin was forced to move away.

“Shadow Beast,” Torin choked out, showing him the fear that he was too stupid to show me.

“Torin Wolfe,” I snapped, “for crimes of being a dumbass and a really shit alpha, you’re stripped of your shifter soul.”

Shadow was the one who would take back his gifts, touching Torin’s shoulder to retrieve his shifter side. As Torin lifted his head and howled into the world one more time, a brilliant light left his body, and the former alpha collapsed forward, landing on his hands and knees. He remained there for many minutes, rocking back and forth as he adjusted to the change.

The loss of his wolf soul.

Sisily rushed forward from the crowd, wrapping her arms around Torin. The devastated look on her face told me that maybe… just maybe their relationship was actually real. No doubt that had been half the issue when it came to my bond with Torin. The other half was his dickhead of a personality.

“Take my wolf too,” Sisily snapped, lifting her head toward me, the hatred she’d always felt spilling from her eyes. She had no reason to hide it now, and I appreciated her honesty way more than the fake bullshit from last time.