Page 35 of Father of the Wolf

Athair’s eyes flashed in amusement. “Dàn can be somewhat scary even to our kind, sometimes even to me. I know he sees much more than what he chooses to share. He did warn me that they would turn on me. He also said that we should follow that path. If he said to take the risk, then I knew there would be a good reason to do so.”

“That is kind of scary.” She was stunned by the thought of someone with so much power. Someone who could actually see the future and control what happened to his family. “I guess you must trust him a lot to know you would be attacked and not try to prevent it on his word.”

“I do trust Dàn. He is a good man. But at the same time, to truly know him is impossible. His strange powers keep him apart from everyone. I often wonder what brought him to our family.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t he a werewolf like you?” The way Athair spoke of Dàn made him seem mysterious. Even more than just being a werewolf.

“His mother was a foundling. I was a boy when she first came to the clan as a child. Later, she left the clan so she could see more of the world. I don’t know what she saw or did, but when she was brought back to us, she was very ill and pregnant with Dàn. She was never well enough to tell us who his father is or was and she died when Dàn was born. Dàn is one of the children I have not formally adopted, because he had enough control of his magic, even at fourteen, that he had no need of mine. I hope you get the chance to meet both him and Rath.”

Hope thought about that for a moment. She would like to meet the people who were important to Athair. And that idea made her pause. She didn’t really know him. She only knew that she enjoyed talking with him. A lot. She couldn’t think about that yet.

The night had deepened some time ago. The moon had risen higher, and now softened the darkness. There was a continuous symphony of night sounds, including the peeping and chirping of insects, the occasional rasp of a bullfrog or the hoot of an owl. And their quiet talk.

Specifically, her talk.

That was a bit of weirdness she hoped she wouldn’t have to explain to Granny any time soon. Hey Granny, I’m not talking to myself. I’m talking to a real live werewolf! Yeah, right. That would certainly have her back at the therapist in a hurry. And probably give her the chance to try some new medication.

What was she going to tell Steve when he asked about the wolf? He would be by in the morning to pick her up for work and would probably want to check on the wolf then just to be sure he was no threat to her. She needed to come to a decision.

“Do you have a plan? I mean, after you are well enough.” She wondered why she wanted him to offer to stay. Why did the idea of his leaving suddenly seem like a terrible thing?

“I need to see my clan to let them know what happened to me. But I cannot risk traveling until I can be sure I have control over my magic.”

Obviously. “How much control must you have, and how can I help you get better? Not that I am trying to get rid of you but—”

“You need to have a plan. I understand and feel the same way.”

A long, fierce howl sounded from far away. It was answered by two other voices. They were the first sounds of the night that caused any unease in Hope. The howls continued, some louder, some farther away. All of them raised the sensitive hairs on the back of Hope’s neck.

Athair stood up and listened tensely to the distant calls. The hair of his back bristled, and he growled a nearly inaudible challenge back into the evening air.

“Friends of yours?” she asked, attempting to joke away her nervousness as she became aware of the dangerous menace that was part of him. She slipped to the safety of the kitchen doorway, still clutching the knife. “I guess not. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“They are hunting for me.”

She retreated to the other side of the door. At that moment, she figured he could manage just fine without her support. Then she remembered him saying he couldn’t travel yet. “I don’t suppose you are strong enough to run away, are you? I really don’t want any guests that are capable of doing the kind of damage they did to you. I already have nightmares from my first encounter with your kind.”

Chapter Twelve

Protection

Renewal

Athair turned to look at her, finally realizing that she had reentered the house and closed the door between them. He couldn’t blame her. He was putting her life in jeopardy. He needed to leave and lead them away from her. Yet he needed his full strength to do so safely.

“I am sorry that my presence has placed you in danger. I will lead them away from here.” Even if he was unable to go far, he could at least leave enough signs to protect her from the Bear Clan hunters.

“I can’t let you do that. You are not strong enough to face them. We need another plan.”

He was astonished by her giving nature. That she would help him, someone she barely knew. But then, she didn’t know what she faced. Her courage to deal with the unknown was even more surprising.

“What do you know about the ones hunting you?” She opened the door but didn’t return to the porch. “Can you tell where they are?”

There are four voices passing information. They are quartering a forest farther to the east looking for signs of my passing. How far are we from where you found me?

“Just a few miles. The road where we picked you up is to the east.”

“Then they will find my trail soon, but it will take them some time to follow it on a road to here. The rain will have washed away most of the scent.”

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