Free Burning Ice: 6 (Werewolf Sentinels) by Marisa Chenery Page A

are ice age hunters? How old are you?”
    Capac met his mate’s gaze. “Over ten thousand years, but we spent the majority of them asleep in an ice cave on one of Juneau’s glaciers. Almost three years ago, Cassidy found us and woke us up.”
    “Holy shit that’s cool,” Wren said. “So which one of you am I descended from?”
    “That would be me,” Wachei said as he held up his hand. “We can tell from a werewolf’s scent which bloodline they were born into.”
    “What about your mates? They’re werewolves too. It would be kind of weird if you ended up mated to one of your great, great, etc. granddaughters.”
    Capac answered Wren’s question. “Cassidy, Eryn, Meadow, Jaren and Haven were mortals before we found them. Our first shaman gave us the ability to turn our mates, at least that was what we thought he meant. But it turns out we can turn any mortal with a single bite in wolf form. Carson is our newest wolf brother. Wachei turned him.”
    “So if you have lived that long I take it you’re all immortal instead of very long-lived like the rest of us werewolves.”
    “Correct.”
    “Capac,” Riya said in a strained voice. “Sorry to butt in, but I have to know. Am I your mate?”
    He smiled and stroked her cheek. “Yes. I knew at the river that you were. Your scent set off my mating urge.”
    “And you want to turn me like the others did with their mates?”
    “Yes.” He sighed, then said, “Before last night, I would have said only when you’re ready, but that would put you at too much risk. The dark wolves, the evil our first shaman had a vision about, have grown stronger. Their leader Tanner was able to find out about you and where you lived. That’s why Ryder and I came to your apartment to bring you here.”
    “So you’re going to turn me?”
    “If you want to stay with me, yes. I can probably give you today to get adjusted to the idea, but come tomorrow it has to be done. You’re too vulnerable as a mortal.”
    “What about Ryder?” Wren asked. “He’s mortal too.”
    “Don’t worry about me,” the shaman answered. “I’ll be taking steps to come into my full shaman powers in the next couple of days.”
    “Good. Since you felt the need to bring me here with Riya, even after finding out I’m a werewolf, I take it these dark wolves are stronger than us normal ones.”
    Capac nodded. “Correct. The dark magic in them makes them so. Before that they used to be ordinary werewolves as well. Only we sentinels can stand a chance against them.”
    “You can turn a mortal with a bite? What about me? Would you be able to make me like you? I don’t want to be vulnerable.”
    “We assume it could work, but we’ve never attempted it.”
    Wren stood. “Okay, which one of you wants to use me as a guinea pig?” She glanced at Riya. “Plus, this way Riya will be able to see what will happen when you turn her.”
    Capac looked at Edensaw. His alpha nodded, then said, “I guess we can try since she’s offering herself up for it. It would answer that particular question. Who wants to volunteer to do it?”
    “I will,” Capac said. That way his mate could see him in his dire wolf form while she was still relatively calm.
    He stood, then placed Riya on the armchair before he crossed over to where Wren waited. “I’ll shift, then I’ll need to bite you hard enough to break the skin and draw blood. If it works, you’ll feel some pain.”
    Eryn gave a small laugh. “You mean she’ll feel a lot of pain.”
    Capac shook his head. “Okay, it will be very painful, but once you start to feel it, shift to your wolf form. That will end it.”
    “That’s it?” Wren asked.
    “Yes. I’ll shift now,” Capac said more for Riya’s benefit than for Wren’s.
    He reached for the small spark of magic deep inside him and took on his dire wolf form. Once the change was complete, Capac looked back at Riya to see her staring at him with wide eyes. At least she wasn’t screaming.
    “You