“It’s okay,” he managed a smile through his pain. “I can be strong.”
My hands were trembling as I called Ada. She bought another inhibitory potion from the witch and sent to us immediately.
An hour later, the pack radio crackled with news:
“Breaking news: Young prodigy Marcus, ward of Beta Theo, has achieved his first shift at the incredible age of four! Beta Theo stayed by his side throughout the process, helping manage the transition…”
I listened with cold fury as they described how Theo had “fortunately” acquired an inhibitory potion just in time.
Alex was curled in my lap, fighting against his own premature shift, while the potion that should have been his was being celebrated across pack radio.
“Theo,” I whispered to the empty room, “since you love them so much, Alex and I will help you keep them.”
The day after Alex recovered from his near-shift.
I submitted our pack withdrawal papers, sent the mate bond dissolution request to the Alpha Council, and removed my mate mark with the ritual herbs Ada had sent. With Alex in my arms, I left the territory that had been our home for five years.
