My call to Mya went unanswered, but hopefully my message soothed her fears. As much as I want to be with her, I can’t ignore the threats to her. The information I uncovered on Ambrosia has me convinced Todd’s involvement with the drug problem taking over this section of the country might be the most dangerous one she’s facing. I’m not certain the lead I chose to follow instead of returning to Mya will be the solution, however.

Setting the tall glass of milk next to the dish of animal crackers, I study the almost six-year-old lion shifter cub who is supposedly the leader of a Royal pride. The same innocent-looking blue-eyed child with her pale blonde hair in pigtails is also an expert on the hallucinogenic drug used by the first shifters. At least according to Uri.

At the moment, I’m thinking Uri’s grasp on reality might be off. For one, Molly is a single shifter with only one animal soul inside her, not three. For another, she’s female. While I consider myself to be an advocate of women’s rights, I don’t think it’s possible for a female to house the spirit of a pride. It’s the combined soul of the pride’s founding father and his animals. I have a hard time imagining any of the original shifters accepting a female as its host. They’re the ones who wrote the restricting laws against our women.

The only thing preventing me from telling Molly to stop spreading fibs is the insistent Royal shifter standing protectively next to her. I turn to Uri. “Are you sure this is the right place to be having this conversation?”

“It is if you want to know about the effects of Ambrosia without actually taking the drug yourself.” Uri snatches a cracker from Molly’s dish, replacing it with one of the chocolate chip cookies he’s been eating since I showed up at this house.

Molly doesn’t react to Uri’s comment or the theft of her snack. She takes a sip of her milk, then arranges the remaining crackers around the large cookie so it resembles a sun with the crackers as the rays.

“When you suggested I come over here, you said you could introduce me to someone who has intimate knowledge of the original shifters’ drug use and habits.” I tip my chin in Molly’s direction. “You can’t be serious that the expert I seek is a child.”

A tic forms on Uri’s jaw. “I’m deadly serious.”

Uri’s tone doesn’t leave any room for argument, but I don’t want to get into details about how a hallucinogenic drug affects its user in front of an innocent. From the reports I’ve read, violent behaviors are rampant. Murders, rapes, abuse—you name it. “How does she know about Ambrosia, then?”

“Uri doesn’t talk for me anymore.” Holding an animal cracker, Molly catches my gaze. Then holds it. Exactly as a dominant would. “I talk for myself now.”

Taking a calming breath, I sit. As much as I wish I’d had the opportunity to be a father, I never got the chance to learn how to act around kids. It’s not as if I’ve been in a whole lot of situations to nurture my skills.

Within Shifter Affairs, I dealt with dominants and criminals. Whenever we rescued children, experts were brought in to soothe them and ease their fears. The few years I spent with Nic traveling in a band didn’t offer any chances to hone my skills either. I lived my days in bars or surrounded by whores. The teenager I once saved was the closest I came to interacting with a child, and the horrors she’d experienced turned her into a survivor, no longer a carefree youth.

No better time than the present to practice being a supportive, sensitive adult, however. I want to be a good role model for Peyton and Rey, along with Mya’s unborn boys.

Holding Molly’s gaze, I incline my head. “Of course you can. Uri didn’t get the chance to delve into your background or explain how you came about the knowledge of our forefathers. It would’ve been helpful to know those things before meeting you.”

“When I was born, my soul was partially bonded to the spirit of the Leon pride. The spirit told me many stories before it merged completely with me a few months ago.” Molly breaks the chocolate chip cookie in half and gives me a piece. “I miss talking to the Leon spirit, but I have his memories now. It’s almost as good.”

My heart stutters before racing hard. What Molly described is impossible. Or at least it should be impossible. I flick my gaze to Uri. He dips his head. The acknowledgment hits me like a slap in the face.

“You have all the Leon spirit’s memories?” Surely she’s exaggerating.

Molly eats her half of the cookie in two bites, then licks the gooey chocolate off her fingers. “Well, not all. The Leon spirit’s blocked some from me. He told me he would. I’m too young.”

“The Leon spirit protected Molly as best he could.” Uri grabs another cookie from a tin on the counter and shoves the whole thing in his mouth. Chewing, he mumbles, “He loves her. Respects her.”

“Is that enough of an explanation?” Molly asks.

No, not nearly enough. I want to know how Molly was bonded to a Royal spirit. I also want to know why. Neither is necessary for this visit, however. I also don’t think we’d have time to delve deeper into Molly’s life. Uri said her twin Megan was coming over to visit. I want this conversation done with long before then. “Yes. Thank you for sharing it.”

“Uri said you want to know about Ambrosia.”

“I do.” I eat the cookie Molly shared with me not because I want it, but out of respect for a pride leader who is treating me as her equal. “What can you tell me about it?”

“The Leon spirit used to make Ambrosia with his father. And take it.” Molly arranges her crackers into three piles. “It’s not a bad drug. Or at least it’s not supposed to be. But shifters have forgotten what we are at heart, so they don’t understand its power.”

While Molly’s voice reminds me of a child, her words and mannerism do not. She’s too controlled and too mature for her age. Having an ancient spirit whispering in her ear since birth no doubt affected Molly’s development.

Part of me pities this adorable child. She never got to be a kid. Instead, a huge responsibility was placed on her shoulders. Not only does she have to deal with skeptics like me, she’s going to grow up knowing she’s different. That’ll open her to hatred and jealousy. Without pride mates to watch her back, she needs other shifters and protectors to step in. The longer I’m in her presence, the more I want to be one of those to fight for her.

I hunch down slightly so I’m on Molly’s level. “What do you mean? What have we forgotten?”

Molly places one of the piles of crackers on a napkin in front of me. “We’re fighters.”

“True.” I nod. “The original shifters were chosen by the gods because of their battle skills.”

“No.” Molly slides another napkin with tiger-shaped crackers to Uri, then eats one of the remaining crackers, a lion-shaped one. “The gods chose the men who used Ambrosia successfully and were able to tap into its powers.”

I look at the napkin in front of me. Molly gave me all the other shapes, keeping the feline crackers for her and Uri. It fits. I’m the lone wolf who’s never really belonged in one group. A mixed selection works. I eat a bear cracker. “How did they do that?”

“Pain.” Molly looks up. A serious expression widens her eyes and raises her brows. “They knew how to embrace pain. It made them faster, stronger, and smarter. They could see things their opponents couldn’t before they happened.”

Hence the hallucinogenic aspect of the drug. I didn’t need Molly to tell me that, however.

“Ambrosia is classified as a hallucinogen. That means it makes the person taking it see things that aren’t real. You’re talking about something else, aren’t you?” Uri asks before I can.

The sound of giggling girls and running feet carries through the house. Molly’s serious demeanor vanishes with the appearance of the wide grin on her face. She hops from her chair. Just in time. An identical-looking girl rushes into the room, followed by two redheaded twins.

My heart stops at the sight of Mya’s daughters. I studied their pictures last night. Peyton and Rey are a little older than in the photo I found at Mya’s apartment. Both girls are also more vibrant and happy.

Peyton, Rey, Molly, and Megan delve into an intense, high energy discussion about Christmas trees and whether they can convince Josh to get a twenty-foot tree. I lose track of who’s talking as their words rush together and childlike laughter makes their conversation sound as if it’s in a foreign language.

Uri bumps my shoulder and says in a barely audible voice, “Look at Molly. What do you notice different about her from her twin Megan and Peyton and Rey?”

If I didn’t just speak to Molly about our forefathers’ drug use, I doubt I’d notice anything. All four girls are smiling and bubbling with excitement. They appear exactly how I expect children to behave.

It’s an act. At least on Molly’s part.

Molly’s movements are slower than her twin or Mya’s daughters, and Molly’s smile, though wide, doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Instead, her gaze drifts to her twin. She also stands slightly in front of Megan. Now that I see the difference, I can’t unsee the protective demeanor Molly exhibits.

“She’s an alpha.”

“Yep. A vicious one at that.” Uri’s gaze on me makes me turn my head to face him. He leans close, as if he’s going to kiss me, and whispers into my ear. “When you hear the rumors about Molly and the fear our elders hold for her, you should believe them. It’s justified. I’d die for that little girl, but she’d take my head in a heartbeat if she thought I meant Megan harm.”

Josh walks into the room and ushers the girls out with a promise that if they hurry, they’ll have time to stop at the craft store for supplies before they go to the Christmas tree farm.

Peyton, Rey, and Megan follow Josh out the front door, but Molly stops in the doorway from the kitchen to the hall. She glances over her shoulder and focuses on me. “Your sons can’t leave this area. One of them needs to fight for my sister.”

Taken aback by Molly’s abrupt statement, I frown. “I don’t have any sons. My breeding partner died before we could have children.”

Molly shrugs. “And I don’t have a father, but Josh wants to adopt me like he adopted Megan. If he does, I’ll be his child.”

If I have my way, Peyton, Rey, and Mya’s unborn boys will be my children too. Surely, Molly can’t be referring to them. Then again, I’d doubted her knowledge of Ambrosia too until I talked to her.

Giving Molly the benefit of the doubt, I ask, “Do you know something about my future I don’t?”

“Only what the Leon spirit told me.”

A shiver runs down my spine. I’m not one to be spooked, but Molly’s words set me on edge. “The Leon spirit talked to you about me?”

“The Leon spirit told me the things I’d need to know to protect my loved ones.”

“And he told you one of my sons would fight for Megan?” Hopefully, my disbelief doesn’t twist my voice. I’m not mocking Molly. It’s just that she’s referring to things neither her nor the Leon spirit should have insight about. Only the goddesses know the future.

“Uh-huh.”

Throwing rationale to the wind, I snort. I might as well ask the theory teasing at my mind. “These sons… Are they related to Peyton and Rey?”

Molly nods but doesn’t get the chance to speak. Megan rushes down the hall and grabs her sister’s hand, tugging her toward the front door. “Come on! We need to go before the best trees are gone!”

The front door closes behind the girls I’m certain have changed my life and reminded me of what I am.

A fighter.

“Megan?” I jerk my chin in the direction the girls went. “What does she need to be saved from?”

“Death.” Uri turns his back to me and cleans up the remnants of Molly’s snack. “Megan was experimented on at birth too, but they fucked that poor kid over good. Tied her soul to a wolf spirit instead of a feline. Probably to perfect their method before tampering with Molly’s soul.”

Chest tight, I stare at Uri’s back. “Who are they?”

“Human scientists or doctors who are also practicing witches would be my guess. Magic’s involved in the process of forcing the type of unnatural soul-bond Molly and Megan share with their respective spirit leaders.” Uri rinses the milk glass before placing it in the dishwasher. “At least that’s what I’ve learned since Molly became a part of my life a few months ago.”

The story of Mya’s missing alpha teases my mind. All the pieces fall in place. Hands balled into fists, I fight the rage building within me. “These humans ripped the spirit of the Ammon pack from its alpha and bonded it to Megan, didn’t they?”

“That’s what I’ve been told.” Uri starts the dishwasher, then leans against the sink. “But felines and wolves aren’t meant to share a soul. My guess is Mya’s son will take the Ammon spirit back when he comes to age.”

It is possible to peacefully transfer the spirit of a pack. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. And Mya’s son needs to be close to Megan in order to do so. A transfer can only occur in the pack’s sacred circle.

I’m not an expert on pack rituals and the mystic laws surrounding alphas and their pack spirits. I was never meant to be an alpha, even though I’m strong enough to be one. What I do know is that a pack’s sacred circle flares with life during the monthly celebration when the pack spirit is present, then returns to normal within hours of the celebration.

The lush green grass in the meadow where Mya and I made love reminded me of how a circle looks during that magical one-hour time window that can alter a pack’s destiny. I’d thought it unusual then. Now I know why. Well, I can guess why at least. The Ammon spirit is connected to its sacred circle and Megan.

Both the meadow and the little girl must be defended.

If either is lost, Mya will be taken from me, along with Peyton, Rey, and the babies I’ve yet to meet.

No! I will never survive losing them.

A slow breath eases the anxiety. Determination replaces it. I vow on my soul nothing will hurt Megan, the Ammon pack circle, or my woman.

My path is set. The Ammon pack needs a temporary alpha. Me. I know exactly how to secure my position too. I own Mya’s body and laid the groundwork ensuring I’ll win her heart.

Now it’s time to claim her soul. Once and for all.