I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. Of course my carefully packed bag and all my cash was gone. Tyler had made sure he’d left me with nothing. Not that he thought I’d survive the cave. “I’ll figure it out.”“No, you won’t,” Alec said. “It’s a three day walk to the nearest town. And that’s for someone who’s healthy and has proper supplies.”“I’ll be fine but I appreciate your concern,” I said.“If you say so,” he said with a shrug.I shook my head as I turned away. Of course I managed to step on something sharp immediately. “Fuck me.”I grabbed my foot and pulled the stick out of my skin. Could I possibly go more than twenty-four hours without bleeding?“Like I said, you’re not going to make it on your own,” Alec said.“Thank you for the astute observation.” Limping, I carefully stepped forward, not turning back to the group.“Alec, do the right thing,” Sheila pleaded.“She’s practically the poster child for our community,” Malcom said.“Get back here.” Alec sighed.Accepting
I turned away from her, not in the mood for more conversation, but I wasn’t sleepy. I’d just woken from a very long nap and I was surrounded by strange shifters I didn’t know.Soon, I heard the soft, deep breathing coming from Sheila and the snores from Malcom. I turned on my back and stared up at the sky. Stars were visible in the breaks from the trees and the moon was nearly full. If I had shifted, would I be able to do it again?Crickets chirped and the wind rustled the trees. The sounds of the forest were calming and peaceful, and I almost felt like I could let my guard down. I closed my eyes and tried to feel for my inner wolf. I felt the same as I always had. There was nothing else there. Just the pathetic girl with the smart mouth who always said the wrong thing.Disappointed, I opened my eyes and looked around. Alec was sitting on a log, staring into the dark woods. There was no way I was going to sleep while he was awake.I walked over to him and sat down on the log, careful
My foot was healed by the time we started for Alec’s camp. I tried to swallow back the excitement bubbling inside me. I’d healed from the injuries sustained before and during the cave, but I’d shifted. Until this moment, I wasn’t sure I’d retained the magic. I didn’t want to allow myself to believe that I could shift on my own, but maybe it was possible.Sheila, Malcom, and Alec each had a backpack on their backs. Their sleeping bags were rolled and attached to the bottom of the pack. I got the sense they did this often.“So you three were on patrol?” I asked.“We had some reports of talismans in the woods,” Sheila said.“She doesn’t need to know,” Alec said.“Witches?” I asked.“Not your business,” Alec said.“I would rather know what I’m getting into. Besides, who am I going to tell? You made it clear that trying to get through the woods to civilization on my own is a death sentence,” I reminded him.“Ignore him, he’s just pissed we didn’t find anything,” Sheila said.“Another wild-
My face and neck felt hot and I knew my cheeks were likely pink. Either these shifters were lying to me, or my pack had lied to me. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what was true.“She thinks we’re going to kill her and eat her or skin her alive or some bullshit,” Alec said.“You really think that?” Sheila asked, her tone pained.“I don’t think you’ll hurt me.” I really didn’t. They could have already if that was their plan. “They taught us a lot of things in Wolf Creek that don’t seem to be true. I thought all shifters needed a pack. That it was harder being on your own.”Even though that was my plan, I never considered that I counted into that theory since I couldn’t actually shift.“It is harder on your own,” Malcom agreed. “That’s why we live in a community. We have companionship but we don’t have the burden of a pack.”“We prefer to be around others like us. It makes things less complicated,” Sheila explained. “But packs have systems, rules, expectations.”“You don’t have rules?” I was li
A group of children ran past us, nearly colliding into Malcom. He jumped to the side and the kids shouted apologies as they continued on in their game.Under some of the trees, I caught sight of hammocks, lounge chairs, and more tables. Little groups were gathered all around. They were talking or playing with children or cooking food on grills.It was the complete opposite of the way Wolf Creek felt. I’d grown up with what could only be explained as forced community. This was different. It felt authentic, peaceful, welcoming.People waved to Sheila and Malcom and none of them seemed to care that someone new was with them. I wondered if that was due to Alec’s presence. Then I realized he wasn’t with us anymore. A little weight of disappointment dropped into the pit of my stomach. I should be thrilled that he was gone, but there was something intriguing about him. I told myself it was the safety he could provide, but that wasn’t true. Even my own fight or flight instincts seemed to be t
“Hello?” A voice I would now recognize anywhere called into the tent.I stood. “Alec?”He opened the flap. “I would ask if you’re decent, but it’s not like I didn’t carry you naked for three miles.”“Wait, what?” That was news to me. “You said I was a wolf when you found me.”“You were, as was I, but you shifted back as soon as I growled at you. You gotta work on your wolf’s ability to stand up for herself,” he said.“Well, that would have been helpful information when we first met,” I said.“Not really, you couldn’t do anything with it. I’m going to wager you still couldn’t. Sheila said she wanted to have you work with Greta.” He held up a pair of boots. “She also said you needed these.”The black combat boots in his hands were practical, sturdy, and looked like they could do some damage if I ever needed to kick someone while wearing them. Basically, they were my dream shoes. I crossed the tent and took the shoes from him. “Thanks.”A quick glance at the tag let me know they were exa
Taking a deep breath, I walked forward. “Hello?”I was greeted by the warm glow of flickering candles sitting on every hard surface. Unlike Sheila’s mostly temporary looking furniture, Greta’s tent had an actual bed, a solid wood dresser, and a little table with wood chairs. In the center of the floor was a red and gold rug. The whole place felt warm and inviting.An older woman was sitting on one of the chairs next to the table. She rose when she saw me. “You must be Lola.”“Yes, that’s me. You’re Greta?” I asked.She smiled, creating deep creases around her eyes and mouth. Her hair was white and tied up in a bun on top of her head. A few loose wisps framed her lined face.“Come in, please have a seat,” she said.I followed her to the small table and took the chair next to hers. Without warning, Greta grabbed my face, her paper-thin skin felt cool against my cheeks and my eyes widened in surprise.“I need to get a good look at you,” she said as she held a hand on each of my cheeks.M
Greta was on her feet and out of the tent faster than I expected for someone of her age. I followed, chasing the child and Greta down the pathways, past the clusters of tents, until we reached the woods near where I’d entered when I’d arrived.A male with sandy-blonde hair was laying on the ground, blood pouring from his nose and mouth. His clothes were torn and his shirt was bloody. He was moaning in pain, his hands gripping for the ground and finding no purchase.“What happened to him?” Had someone attacked him in the camp?“Why isn’t he healing?” The child asked. “He should be healing. Shift, Daddy. You need to heal.”She ran forward and Greta caught her, then passed her to me. On instinct, I reached for the girl and pulled her into my arms.“Get the child out of here and keep her away,” Greta ordered.I looked down at the kid. The little girl had the same blonde hair as the fallen man. She was trying to stay strong but I could almost feel her fear.“Go, now,” Greta barked.I grabb