CHAPTER SIX - THE IVORY WOLF

Rowan stepped back and waved us toward his cabin, his eyes still fixed on me. "Come inside."

He was tall and broad, with gray hair and eyes that seemed to see everything.

The inside of the cabin was warm and welcoming. Thick rugs covered the wooden floors. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling. A large fire crackled in the stone fireplace. It felt safe here.

"Sit," Rowan said, pointing to chairs near the fire. "You both look tired."

I sank into the soft chair. My body ached from days of walking. Carlos sat beside me, but I could see he was tense. His eyes kept watching Rowan.

“He can be trusted,” he said holding my hand. “Rowan’s never broken his word.”

Still, my fingers curled tighter around the strap of my bag. My mind kept going back to what the intruder said: “They'll come for you, all of them.”

Rowan brought us hot tea in clay mugs. The warmth felt good in my hands. He sat across from us and studied my face.

"Tell me everything that happened," he said. "Start from the beginning."

I looked at Carlos. He nodded at me to go ahead.

"I don't remember my past," I began. "I woke up in Carlos' care. He found me by a riverbank. I have no memory of who I was or where I came from. Just this." I pulled the silver necklace from under my dress.

“This was with me when I woke up after the fall. I don’t know why I had it.”

Rowan leaned forward.

"May I?" he asked, holding out his hand.

I lifted the chain over my head and gave it to him.

“Lars…” he said under his breath.

“Did you love him?” he asked, quiet.

“I don’t know,” I said truthfully. For the first time, I started to think.

Was he my lover?

Is he waiting for me to come home?

Is he looking for me?

Then guilt washed over me. I had sex with Carlos when I might already have a mate.

Why can't I remember anything?!

"Go on," he said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I've been having dreams. The same dream over and over. A woman that looks exactly like me, but with silver hair and red eyes, telling me to remember before it's too late."

Rowan's face went pale. "What else?"

"Yesterday, a man came to the cabin. A hunter. He had scars on his face and neck, deep ones, like claw marks. He said I was the one they were looking for. He knew about my dreams somehow."

"Describe him," Rowan said sharply.

I closed my eyes and remembered. "Tall. Thin but strong. Dirty brown hair with gray in it. He had blue eyes. They were so mean and cold. He wore leather clothes and carried silver knives. We fought, and I killed him. I don't know how. He said they will come for me.”

Fear made my stomach turn.

Rowan set the necklace down on the table between us. He was tense.

"That's Bronte," he whispered.

"You know him?" Carlos asked.

"I know of him. Bronte is one of the members of a clan of hunters. Old. Secret. Ruthless. They hunted ivory wolves, wiped out whole bloodlines. They don't hunt regular wolves like us." Rowan looked at me. "They hunt ivory wolves."

"Ivory wolves?" I felt my heart speed up.

"Wolves with pure silver fur. They're very rare. Most people think they're just stories now. Long ago, there were werewolves with white coats and silver blood. Not just rare in color, rare in strength. They woke young. Their instincts were stronger. Their dreams of the future clear. Some even had the power to heal."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt dizzy. “So you think… I’m one of them?”

"Your strength is awakening too soon for a common wolf. And Bronte wouldn’t come for just anyone. He’s a hunter of legends.”

"That's impossible."

"Is it? You killed a trained hunter. Your scent is unlike any wolf I've ever met." Rowan stood up and walked to the window. "Your strength is awakening. Most wolves don't have the power you possess. But ivory wolves are different."

"Why do they hunt ivory wolves?" Carlos asked. "What's so special about them?"

"No one knows for sure. The hunters keep their reasons secret. Some say ivory wolf blood has special power. Others think they're just jealous of how strong ivory wolves are." Rowan turned back to us. "What I do know is that ivory wolves were almost wiped out fifty years ago. If you really are one, you might be a descendant from the very first ivory wolf."

I felt like the room was spinning. "This is too much. I just want my memory back. I want to know who I was," I said as tears filled my eyes.

"You were someone's beloved," Rowan said gently. He held up the necklace. "This was made with love. See how carefully the name is carved? Lars cared for you deeply."

Tears burned my eyes. "Then where is he? Why can't I remember him?"

"I don't know," Rowan admitted. "Search within you for answers."

What does that even mean?

Carlos reached over and took my hand. "We'll figure this out. Together."

Rowan sat back down. His face was serious. "There's something else you need to know. Your scent is getting stronger. I can smell it from across the room now. Earlier, I probably wouldn't have noticed it at all."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means your wolf is waking up fully. Soon, other wolves will be able to smell what you are from miles away. Including the hunters."

A chill ran down my spine. "How long do we have?"

"A few weeks. I'm not sure, it might happen earlier or later." Rowan looked at both of us. "The hunters won't give up. If they've found you once, more will come looking for you until they get what they want."

"So what do we do?" Carlos asked.

"We prepare. And we find out why the hunters want ivory wolves so badly. Then find a way to mask Amelia's scent. Knowledge is the only weapon we have against them."

I stared into the fire. The flames danced and flickered, casting shadows on the walls. Somewhere out there, these people were looking for me. And I still didn't know who I really was, or what had happened to Lars.

Frustration built up in my chest.

"Will you help us?" I asked Rowan.

He smiled for the first time since we'd arrived. "Of course I'll help. I'll do the best I can."

But as he spoke, I caught him glancing toward the window. His nostrils flared slightly, testing the air. Something had changed in his scent too. Something that smelled like fear.

"What is it?" Carlos asked, noticing the same thing I had.

Rowan stood up slowly, looking out the window.

“Danger is coming, child.”