Page 35 of Those That Defy the Realm

Taking a part of me with him that I’m not sure I’ll get back.

CHAPTER 13

ASH

If Henry thinks I’m giving up that easy then he is in for a real shock. I respect him for being the good guy, for his honesty, and Claire is certainly a curve ball in my plans. But with every second I spend in his orbit, I’m sure this thing with the vampire isn’t over.

My wolf has his teeth sunk deep and isn’t letting go.

Which is why I immediately volunteered to accompany him and Claire this morning back to her house in the city.

After I’d gotten a few hours of fitful sleep following my shift on lookout, I’d awoken to all sorts of plans being put into place. I was happy to do what was needed of me, until I heard about Claire needing to return to the city. It had already been decided that Henry was going to escort her because his and Ty’s stuff was still there and needed collecting.

Ty wasn’t happy about Henry going alone, but Antares needed to stay on the pack lands as the detectives were due back before lunch. A couple of the others had bonded into the pack whilst I’d been asleep, and weren’t going to be leaving their new leaders vicinity any time soon. The fresh connections being made making their need to protect so strong that I doubt any of the new members could leave even if they agreed to it.

That left us wolves and Rory’s other friend Bree.

None of my pack were thrilled when I volunteered. In fact, they all vehemently argued against it. But for the first time in my life, I really pulled the rank card and told them all to back down. I guess one of them could’ve joined our party but I put my foot down on that as well, claiming it would be easier to travel with a small party. And besides, Henry would provide me with back up if so required.

I’m sure it’ll mean getting chewed out by my mother later, but right now, as we walk the cobbled streets to Claire’s house, I have zero regrets. The city streets are pulling distant childhood memories from my head. I almost feel like I’m dreaming, being surrounded by this much brick, mortar, and people. It isn’t something I’ve had the experience of since my early teens.

It’s a trip for sure.

And thankfully, it’s another day of sunshine, so my cap doesn’t look too inconspicuous. The hoodie with the hood drawn up feels a little much, but I have to concede that I don’t stand out when I see plenty of others combining jumpers and sunwear as the temperature remains mild. Mild by the Froan citizens standards, to me this is like the middle of summer and I’m already sweating. But I agreed to the flimsy disguise.

I’m going to have to do something about my hair if I’m going to be coming into the city for the next month. The mottled dark grey an absolute giveaway of my shifting nature. Granted my wolf is nearly black so my hair is one of the least obvious out of any in my pack, but it’s not worth the risk. Those with grey coats would be easily spotted with their grey hair in their human forms.

The mood is certainly quiet as Claire takes out her keys and turns up the front steps leading to her house. It’s basically a mansion compared to anything I’m used to. I know this is her parents place, really, but still, even against our pack’s communal town hall, the club area and offices, this building is large. We’re on a residential street full of large houses, each with spacious gardens and individual fences dividing up the property lines. They’re not dissimilar from the house I lived in as a child, but after so long in our village of wooden cabins and buildings that are sunken into the earth, these all look majestic.

Henry has barely said a word since we left. Which I think is because of my presence. Or maybe he’s just uncomfortable because he’s thinking about talking to Claire about their hook up.

She’s not been overly chatty either, although has asked me some general questions, sparking up a conversation about our families, what I do for a living, etc. She is sweet, I can see why Henry was drawn to her. She gives me a brief tour of the downstairs and offers me a drink as Henry disappears up the stairs to pack his things.

Shucking the hoodie and cap, I grip the t-shirt I’m wearing underneath and flap it away from my skin, trying to get some ventilation to cool my sweaty chest.

“Here you go,” Claire says, holding out the glass of water she’s poured for me.

“Thanks.” I take it and down the whole thing.

Claire’s eyes roam over my frame as I drain the glass, standing in her kitchen. It leaves tiny prickles along my arms, and then down my chest and abs, the bottom of which I’m sure are on show as I continue to flap the fabric.

Interesting.

“So you’ve known Rory a long time?” I ask, placing the glass on the counter and leaning back against it.

“Yeah, our parents grew up in the same orphanage—victims of the war—and so we’ve known each other practically our whole lives. We weren’t close as kids but as teens we became best friends, even more so since we started university, I guess.”

I don’t miss the inflection that makes the last part of her sentence almost a question. “You guess?”

“No, we are still best friends. There’s just a lot we need to catch up on.” I watch as she goes to make herself a drink, pouring some juice from a carton in the fridge.

Not wishing to press her more on what might be a sensitive subject, I change it. “This is a nice house, it reminds me of my childhood home, before we had to move.”

“So you’re another one who has lived for centuries then.” Oops, maybe I stumbled onto another sore topic.

Laughing at her exaggeration, I keep my voice light as I correct her, “Centuries? No. I’m not that old, but yes, I was born before the war. Just. I’m nearing my sixth decade.”

She purses her lips like she’s trying to decide if I’m mocking her or not. Or maybe she’s trying not to laugh along with me. “Wolf shifters live for centuries, don’t they?”