Page 41 of The Brightest Night

He opened his mouth to reply, then snapped it closed as a young man hurried up to him.

“Alpha, I’m sorry, but he has rejected them all.”

“I see,” Romax said, his gaze falling to me, then flicking away. “Then we wait, and we try again. Once the flux is strong enough, he will have no choice but to feed it.”

Flux… Shit. I’d forgotten that feral went into flux, where they needed to rut. Their version of primal heat. I’d seen Naxon fight it when Jeba had offered me to him in the arena. It had taken everything he had in him not to claim me then. Whoever was fighting the flux now must be going through hell, but if they had willing mates, why not claim them?

I shook off the question. This wasn’t my problem.

Romax gestured over my head. “Carlina, show our guests to the lodge and make sure they’re fed.”

A woman hurried to join us, tall and athletic with sharp features and intense eyes. “Come with me.”

Romax was already walking away. “Wait, you didn’t tell me how you knew where to find us.”

He didn’t stop. Didn’t look back.

I turned to the woman. “Do you know?”

“I do not get involved in the alpha’s business. Come, let’s get you settled.”

Fucking hell. Fine. I’d just have to corner Romax later.

The lodge was a log cabin in the center of camp with a view of most everything that was taking place, from the food stations where the feral roasted meat on spits and stirred stew in huge cauldrons to an area where fish was being salted and dried. There was a station where huge wooden barrels steamed and women washed clothes then hung them to dry in a hut. The leather side of furs were being oiled close by. The camp was working on all fronts, and there was laughter and chatter and children playing with the wolves. It was…it was a home.

A huge, dark gray wulven beast passed the hut. The spines on his back lay flat, but I’d seen them raised. I knew how intimating they could look. Its tail was thick and barbed at the tip, built for battle. It fixed eyes like flame on me, holding me captive for a beat before turning its attention to Carlina.

They remained in an eye lock for several moments before she dropped her gaze and inclined her head. The wolf gave me a final look and then padded away.

“What was that?” Gabe asked. “Were you communicating telepathically?”

“It is called mindspeak. Common among our folk. Jarlax wants me to extend the welcome of his feral pack.”

“Wait, those wolf creatures are feral too?” Kai asked.

“We are all feral here,” Carlina said. “Some are bound to their beast form and others to the bipedal Veridian form. It is said that there was once a time we could shift between the two. But those that recall that time are long gone. All we have are stories that meld fact and fiction. Myth and legend.” She shrugged. “Who knows what we once were?” She sighed and smiled. “All you need know is that you’re safe here. Rest, and I will have some food brought for you and…” Her gaze flitted to Gabe and Kai. “Is there anything I can get for your companions?”

I shook my head. “No, but can you please ask Romax to come speak to us when he’s free? I need answers.”

She smiled with her eyes. “You will get them in due course. I am sure Romax has questions for you also. In the meantime, accept our hospitality.” She ushered us into the cabin. “I’ll be back shortly.” She closed the door, leaving us to explore the small space. The furniture was sparse: a bench with patchwork cushions to pad it, a small dining table and two wooden chairs, and a large sleeping pallet piled with furs. There was a small washroom with a wooden tub and hole in the floor latrine, covered, thank goodness.

The water pumped out warm, to my surprise.

“They’ve got plumbing?” Gabe hurried in, studying the pump. “Maybe an underground hot spring?”

“Don’t mention hot springs to me.”

He chuckled. “Yes, that incident is enough to put anyone off.”

“They must have been here a long time to build this place,” Destiny said through Kai. “This is how civilizations began. Small settlements to villages, to towns then cities.”

“I doubt that will happen here,” Kai said gruffly. “Not if Divinos has anything to do with it.”

I nodded. “These people are being forced to live in harsh conditions so they can be free from his influence. There is no growth until he’s gone.”

“That isn’t our objective,” Gabe said.

I let out a soft laugh. “Don’t worry, Gabe, I’m not delusional. I’m not here to topple a monarchy. I’m here to find out who I am. Who we are. I want to know what happened to the other people like me. Neeval said Divinos came here in a machine, and it was only after he built this spindle thing that he developed this green power. So if I have it too, then I must have gotten it from here. I must have been born here and then…then somehow ended up in a pod in space. Who knows how long we floated in stasis until we were found? I need the missing pieces. I need to understand what happened to my people.”