Chapter 67

Zara

I was right; it was a long two days while I waited to meet Tabitha and learn whatever she had to tell me. I told Lucian about the call and the upcoming visit. I’d expected he would be upset, but he just shrugged.

“I promised to help you find answers,” he said. “So I will. This woman is welcome to visit. If she is a danger to the pack, then I will deal with her.”

His attitude reminded me of the way he’d reacted when he found me with poison in my hands. Was he so confident that he could handle anything, or did he not care what happened? Before, I thought he was just arrogant. Now, I wasn’t sure.

“I don’t want to bring trouble to the pack, I just want to know who I am,” I said.

“You are Zara,” Lucian said with a shrug. “I understand wanting to know more, but nothing this woman says can change who you are, not really.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” I muttered.

“I will lend you some,” Lucian said.

I laughed, but it was weird. I did feel more sure of myself after that conversation. I’m not sure why. Maybe just a little of Lucian’s arrogance and self-assurance had rubbed off on me during all the time we spent together.

Kieran offered to give me some time off while I waited, but I told him I’d rather be busy. When I wasn’t working for the Alphas, I trained. On Lucian’s insistence, my new bodyguard Sandra trained with me. I thought I’d find her presence overbearing, but she was actually quite friendly and fun to spar with.

Sandra decided that since I was small, with no claws or fangs, I needed to learn how to fight dirty. She proceeded to teach me the kind of tricks that would get an official Challenge called off immediately if I used them. They would come in handy if I found myself pinned by another Rogue or surrounded by a group of bullies, though.

It was close to evening the second say after the phone call. I’d been tense all day, waiting and wondering if Tabitha was even going to show up. Sandra had declared I needed to punch something, and led me out into the woods for some more training.

We were both sore, bruised, and exhausted by the time we were done. I slumped against the trunk of a large oak tree, and sipped water from a bottle Sandra insisted I bring along. She took her job seriously, even guarding me from my own stubborn pride. Wolves didn’t carry water bottles when they ran, so I didn’t. Sandra snorted and brought two.

Sandra gasped softly. I looked over at her, mouth open to ask a question. She held up one hand for silence and looked up and around. I tilted my head in question. Sandra tapped her ear, and mouthed, “No. Birds.”

Once she pointed it out, I realized she was right. The soft, normal sounds of the forest- birdsong, rodents scrabbling around, insect chirps- had all gone silent. There was no sound but the breeze rustling through the leaves, and that was somehow muffled.

Sandra stepped back and to the side, until she stood between me and the rest of the forest. I pressed myself back against the tree. Something was in the forest with us. Something dangerous. Animals only went that quiet in the presence of a dangerous predator, and the creatures around the Alpha house were accustomed to the presence of werewolves. What could possibly have spooked them so badly?

The answer came quickly. A shadow gathered at the edge of the clearing, and drifted in our direction. As we watched, the shadow coalesced into the form of an absolutely massive moon silver wolf. The creature’s eyes were level with mine. Most werewolves were big for wolves, but came up to my chest at the shoulder. This wolf was easily twice that big.

Its eyes gleamed gold, piercing the shadows. It stared into my eyes and stepped closer. Sandra took a half step forward and growled a warning.

The massive wolf paused, and tilted it’s head. It blinked slowly, and sat in the center of the clearing.

I leaned around Sandra’s shoulder to get a better look. I knew better than to try to move her. She’d been teaching me for a few days, but she had years of experience over me and she was determined to follow Lucian’s order to protect me.

The wolf studied us for a moment, gave a soft huff, and stretched. The wolf twisted, and blurred, and then a woman stood there in its place.

She looked like me. She was older, with streaks of grey through her hair and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. But the shape of her chin, the tilt of her nose, and the green of her eyes all matched mine.

The woman wore an elegant green dress. I’d never seen a werewolf who could keep their clothing on after a shift. Was this woman a werewolf, or something else entirely?

“Hello, there,” she said. “I’m going to guess that one of you is my niece, Zara.”

“You’re Tabitha,” I said.

Sandra whispered back, “Who is Tabitha?”

“My mother’s sister,” I said. “I thought she was human.”

“Whoever told you such a thing?” Tabitha asked.

“No one,” I said. “I mean, everyone knows I’m a hybrid, half human. So my mother must have been human.”

Tabitha put one hand on her hip and shook her head. “I can see we have a lot to talk about.”

I nodded. “Yes, I think we do.”

“May I ask who your vigilant friend is?” Tabitha asked.

“Oh, right,” I winced. I was probably not making the best impression, hiding behind another wolf like that. “This is Sandra. She’s our pack beta, and my friend and bodyguard.”

“Hello,” Sandra said. She made absolutely no move to step out from in between Tabitha and me.

“Hello.” Tabitha replied. “May I ask why you feel the need for a bodyguard?”

“I don’t,” I said. “Lucian, that is our Alpha, he insisted.”

Sandra nodded. “Zara can take care of herself; she’s quite a fighter. But Alpha Lucian is cautious. There have been threats against her.”

“Hm. I see,” Tabitha said. I couldn’t tell whether she approved of Sandra’s presence. Her voice and expression were neutral.

However Tabitha felt about it, I felt silly hiding behind my friend. Tabitha had come to talk. I desperately wanted to hear what she had to say. There was no reason to treat her like an enemy.

So, I stepped out from behind Sandra, ignoring her warning growl, and extended my hand to my aunt.

“Hello, I’m Zara, and it is very nice to meet you,” I said. “Would you like to come to the Alpha house?”

Tabitha stepped forward and clasped my hand in both of hers. “Yes, I would. It is so good to finally meet you.” She smiled, and her eyes glittered just slightly. “You look so much like your mother.”

“I do?” I asked. I mean, I’d guessed that I must look like my mother, because I looked nothing like my father.

“You do,” Tabitha said. “Please, lead the way. And do not worry, Sandra. I swear on the moon above and the earth below that I mean no harm to my sister’s daughter.”

“I appreciate that,” Sandra said, “but I think I’ll stay close if it’s all the same to you.”

Tabitha nodded gravely. “I am glad my niece has such a stalwart guardian. Well! Let’s go see this Alpha house, and you’d best present me to your Alpha, if I recall the rules correctly.”

I winced. Right, if you brought a stranger into the pack’s territory, you had to present them to the Alpha. Kieran had been there when I invited her, and Lucian had given me permission, so it would probably be okay. But they both thought I was bringing a human to them, not, well, whatever Tabitha was.

“Um, are you a werewolf?” I asked, hesitantly.

“No, dear. I am a Lycan.” She smiled and squeezed my hand. “Just like you.”