Errol’s light blue, almost silver eye’s popped open. He sat up in bed. It was midday. He’d slept in because he’d patrolled Rizer mountain last night with his twin brother Ian. The Rizer wolf pack had an alliance with the human populated town of Freebasin. Patrolling the mountain to keep trespassers off of Rizer land was just part of upholding the alliance.

There weren’t many alliances left between humans and shifters. Not after the shifters came out of hiding. Things could have gone so much differently if the humans had just tried to accept their kind. It was foolish of them to try and subdue shifters.

Warring between humans and shifters broke out. Cities fell. Some tried and were still trying to practice coexistence within some of the still standing cities. Los Angeles fell around the same time the Herod Pack came to the Shasta mountains.

Errol and Ian had nearly died in the shifter battle for territory. Their family and pack were destroyed and scattered.

None of that matters anymore. Errol told himself trying to forget the past and all the pain it held for him. Why was he thinking of his old pack anyway? Why was he so wide awake?

Errol quieted his thoughts and listened to the instincts of his spirit wolf, the wolf with which he shared his human form. His wolf was restless, he wanted to run, to track.

Sighing Errol stood, catching sight of the deep scars that stretched from his left shoulder to his right hip. They were four long scars, still red as if they still hurt as much as his soul did.

“Today is already such a bitch,” he grumbled turning the mirror toward the door. He tried to deny his spirit wolf. If he let his wolf boss him around he would never sleep again. His wolf still longed for his destined mate. He still wanted her even though she’d made it clear she didn’t want him.

Forget her.

He washed his face at the sink with cold, icy water. Errol tugged off what was left of his shorts from shifting into the form of his werewolf and pulled on a pair of pants. He strapped on the bandolier he filled with their healer’s antidotes that had the added benefit of covering Errol’s scars.

Normally he wouldn’t take the time to brush out his overgrown blond head of hair but his wolf was especially pushy today. Errol decided to remind him who was the boss by taking his time with each medial task.

By the time he left his room, Errol was gritting his teeth trying to keep his wolf in check. He was still pushing, digging at Errol to allow the shift.

“You’re up early. Well, for you I mean.” Angeline smiled at him pulling her white blond braid over her shoulder. Killian, her destined mate, and husband were coming up the hall. The hungry look he directed at Angeline’s backside meant that soon, Errol would hear them mating. Again.

Fuck.

“Yeah, I guess,” Errol said forcing a smile.

“Are you okay? You aren’t the same.”

Killian narrowed his brown eyes on Errol. “You’re anxious. Why? Did you find anything last night?”

“No,” Errol answered. That was one thing about being in a pack. Everybody could feel the kind of energy being put out so privacy was more an idea than an actual right.

Errol rolled his shoulders. “Sorry, I just woke up feeling anxious. Bad dream probably.”

Killian nodded, but Angeline with her blue eyes and gift for the sight was continuing to study him. “Not a bad dream. A memory.” She lowered her gaze in what Errol took as an apology for speaking about his personal business out loud.

“I’m getting something to eat. I’ll see you later,” Errol said. He left them looking after him as he walked down the hall and took the stairs two at a time down to the main level of the Rizer fortress.

Sexual energy sizzled through the air like an invisible electrified gas. Errol stiffened trying not to let resentment cloud his usually level head.

The alpha of the Rizer pack, Darian was lusting after his mate Cara and she for him. The arrival of their baby girl had them blissfully happy and behind their usual mating schedule.

His wolf lurched forward trying to force the shift. Errol jerked him back. Shocked that his spirit wolf would be so brazen.

Darian and Cara were both looking at him along with several other members of the pack.

Great.

“Rough night. Sorry.”

Errol made a b-line for the kitchen, grabbed a chicken from the lunch platter and ate it standing in the kitchen. His wolf was so uneasy, Errol was having trouble swallowing the food.

What the hell? Errol demanded of his wolf.

Ian stumbled into the kitchen. His hair messed up and the print of his pillow still on his face. Being twins their spirit wolves were finely attuned to each other. “Why are we up, Errol? I’m tired.”

“You feel it. Right? It’s an unyielding pull. I don’t get it.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. He’s not giving up so let’s shift, see what the hell your wolf wants and then I’m going back to sleep.”

Errol nodded though he hated to indulge his spirit wolf when he was being such an ass. He took a step toward the door with the intention of going outside to shift but his wolf pushed his way through, forcing the shift.

White fur spread over his skin, feeling like all of his skin was tingling. Errol’s bones and joints shifted, moving under his skin and stretching. The kitchen came into greater focus as he fell forward onto thick, heavy white paws.

His spirit wolf leaped through the open window as Ian called after him.

Errol felt his heart pumping at a frantic beat in his chest. His annoyance evaporated. Something was wrong. Pulling back, he allowed his spirit wolf to take the lead as the mountain raced by in a blur.

Where are we going? What’s wrong?

His wolf didn’t offer any response. It was just raw urgency flowing through him. Errol gave in to it. He stretched his limbs pushing wolf form to cover more ground and move faster.