Page 33 of Return to the Pack

“But you’re stronger than her,” Axel murmurs.

“I never knew what it was like to be cared for until joining the triplets.”

Elder Amexaryl reins in her gaze, returning from wherever she traveled in her mind. “You have suffered great tragedies, Luna.”

Curiosity bubbles in me, filling my head with questions. “Were you there? When my father died, I mean?”

She nods her head, causing her whitish hair to swirl. “Such a tragedy.”

“I never understood it,” Axel says. “How could the entire pack turn on one of our own?”

“Is that what you heard?” One of Elder Amexaryl’s eyebrows rises high on her forehead. “I could use some refreshments. How about you?”

Her odd invitation in the middle of a conversation gives me pause. I glance at Axel, who mirrors my perplexed stare.

“Water, I guess, sure,” I say.

“Sure. Some water would be great,” Axel agrees.

When Elder Amexaryl disappears into her tiny kitchen, Axel and I look at one another.

“That was abrupt,” he says.

“I wonder what she doesn’t want to tell us?” I say, a frown creasing my forehead.

Elder Amexaryl returns bearing three glasses of water with herbs floating in each one. “Here you go,” she says, handing one to each of us.

We each sip our drinks, waiting for her to explain.

She finishes the entire glass before speaking. “Your father wasn’t killed by the pack. He was murdered by maneater wolves, the kind of which is hunting you.”

Shock pins me to my seat. “Maneater wolves murdered my father?”

“That’s right,” she says. “Your father fought valiantly, but the mutant wolves were too strong. The pack rallied together to beat back maneaters, eventually chasing them off. We haven’t heard of them for years. Until now.”

Chapter Thirteen

Luna

Elder Amexaryl’s words slam into my belly like a missile. I can’t believe it. All those years living alone with my mother, taking care of her, dodging her attempts at my life when the voices in her head took over, all her rants about not trusting the pack, not trusting wolves… It was all a lie. She poisoned my mind against being able to trust a living soul, when the truth was, it wasn’t the pack at all. It was maneater wolves who killed my father.

And the same aberrant mutant wolves that are hunting me, murdered my father.

Why would she deny me a life with the pack? How dare she ruin my life this way? Was it just her addled mind mixing up mutant wolves with the pack? Or generalizing the danger and in her paranoia believing all wolves were dangerous?

Elder Amexaryl looks at me, concern creasing the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry, child.”

“Did she know it was one of those mutants who took my father’s life?” I say, sure my skin has drained of color.

“Yes,” the elder says, nodding. “She knew.”

My limbs begin to tremble as it sinks in. The walls seem to shrink, and suddenly, my clothes, this house, everything seems too tight. I bolt to my feet and race for the door, my wolf bursting forth.

“Luna! Wait! What’s going on?” Axel calls.

I let out a howl, shoving open the screen door and bursting out in my wolf skin.

Rex and Ralph leap from their positions in the corners of the door and scamper away.