“This is not about fair, it’s about our orders,” I said. Their grumbling set my teeth on edge. “Just take it up with Ren when he gets here.”
And I’ll make sure Ren sends me to the cave.
A rustling in the underbrush announced the Banes’ arrival. Five wolves emerged; seeing that we were still in human form, they shifted one by one. Ren last.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“My pack is more interested in sightseeing than doing their jobs,” I said.
“That’s not what—” Fey began.
“Shut up, Fey,” I snarled. Last night’s visit from the Keepers and Ren’s father had pushed me well past my normal line of tolerance.
Ren began to laugh, waving at the rest of his pack. “Don’t worry, Lily. The thing in the cave is all this lot will talk about too.”
“Perfect,” I muttered. “Why don’t I just go up there? The patrol route is more important anyway. We really need to know what’s been sneaking around the slope behind our backs.”
“Calla’s right.” Ren raised his voice. “The patrol is much more important than whatever is in the cave.”
A few of them grumbled, only to be silenced by Ren’s growl.
“Which is why I’ll be going to the cave myself,” he continued.
“But—” I tried to hide my panic.
“I’m not saying this more than once.” Ren ignored me. “Calla looks for evidence of the Searchers along the cavern perimeter. Bryn, Ansel, you’re with me—we’re heading to the cave. The rest of you, do what Calla tells you, and if I hear complaints, you’ll answer to me. We’ll catch up with you after we’ve checked the cave and finish the patrol together.”
No one spoke. I bit back my own startled response. Bryn and Ansel? I didn’t understand why he’d take two of my packmates and not his own. At least
I’d be able to talk to them afterward.
For their own parts, Bryn and Ansel looked stunned but followed suit when Ren shifted into wolf form. I did the same and the rest of the pack focused on me, though Dax glanced at Ren once, looking forlorn.
This is how it goes. I shared my thoughts with my assigned group. Even if my fear outweighed my strength, I still had to act like an alpha. Sweeps in widening circles, starting with the inner perimeter, then moving south. Mason, Nev, Sabine, and I will take the east-west route. Dax, Fey, Cosette, you run west-east. We’ll minimize overlap while covering maximum ground. Any questions? I felt a little guilty for snapping at Fey earlier and hoped putting her with Dax would make up for it.
They lowered their muzzles in compliance. Good. Get going.
Fey took the lead with Dax and Cosette following her up the western route.
I was about to lead Mason and Nev up the slope when Ren’s voice entered my mind.
Calla?
What is it? I halted, ears flicking back and forth. It was clear he was sending his voice only to me.
Sorry if I threw you off, but it’s important that they get used to new patrol patterns. I’ll take good care of Bryn and Ansel.
Of course. Thanks.
I’m sure you won’t miss anything too exciting in the cave. I’ll let you know what we find as soon as I can.
And then his voice was gone. What was he going to find in there?
No dawdling. Fear and frustration drove me to nip at Mason’s heels, but I let Nev and Sabine hear the thought too. Let’s go.
Hey! he protested. We were waiting for you.
That’s no excuse. I wagged my tail, wishing I could feel anything besides the twisting of my stomach.
I told you, man, Nev crooned. I always knew she was a tyrant.
Sabine sat quietly, waiting for her orders. I wondered what she was thinking.
Nev and Mason’s laughter filled my mind as we raced up the hill, playfully biting at each other’s flanks, flying past each other to take the lead. But the joy of running free had been sapped from my limbs.
It had only been a matter of days since Shay and I battled Logan’s spider and took Haldis from its resting place. I’d lost so much blood, it could have seeped into stone, staining the cave walls. Maybe the spider’s scent would cover mine? But what if it didn’t? What would Ren do?
I snapped at a squirrel that darted in front of me. Mason nipped at my jaw. You okay?
Headache, I responded. Let’s slow up; we should start tracking here.
We spread out, noses low to the ground, moving at an easy lope, searching for scents that were out of place, clues I knew we wouldn’t find. Knowing that we had nothing to search for but evidence of me and Shay made tracking an exercise in tedium. I caught his scent early on our patrol, knowing it would be unrecognizable to my packmates. I dutifully led Nev, Mason, and Sabine through the motions of a hunt, all the while wondering what was happening in the cavern.
Can we grab something to eat? Mason’s voice interrupted my own thoughts. I saw a grouse back there and I’m starving. I don’t think there’s anything to find. Just a stray wolf who’s been wandering in this range.
Though I’d expected it, Mason’s assumption about the unfamiliar wolf sent a wave of relief over me.
That’s all I’ve got too. I vote for lunch, Nev answered. Not grouse, though. I hate the way feathers stick to my tongue. What about rabbit? I love a fat rabbit.
You two need to focus, Sabine snapped. We should wait to eat until we finish patrol. If there’s a new wolf pack coming into this area, we’ll have to chase them out. It will get too confusing.
It’s just one wolf, Sabine. Stop showing off for Calla, Nev responded. I’ve hunted with you. You’ll go after the first rabbit we see.
She sniffed the air disdainfully. Hardly.
My own stomach rumbled, reminding me that we’d been at our pointless task for hours.
I was about to answer them when a howl stopped me in my tracks. Ren’s long, keening cry pierced the mountain air, summoning the pack to their alpha.
All the ease I’d felt knowing that Shay’s identity would remain hidden vanished. In a few minutes I’d face Ren, and I didn’t know what he’d found in the cave.
Maybe that’s the lunch bell. Mason wheeled in the direction of the howl.
Let’s find out what he wants. I turned, leading the way back up the mountain.
Ren, Bryn, and Ansel were waiting when we arrived. I shook my ruff nervously when I saw the place he’d selected for our rendezvous—the very meadow where I’d first saved Shay’s life. I pawed at the dirt, not wanting to share this place with others, suddenly wishing that Shay were here and my packmates weren’t. Trying not to seem skittish, I approached Ren cautiously. He appeared calm, silently waiting for the rest of the pack to arrive.