Page 61 of Father of the Wolf

“What do you mean?” Steve asked, although he thought he knew.

Acair shrugged, “We are all empathic, even Solas. But she doesn’t control her emotions yet, which is wonderful when she is happy. Then we all are. She is a strong sender for her age.”

Steve just smiled and nodded at the explanation. He wondered how they had survived the terrible twos. What about colic? And teething? If little Solas could have them all smiling like idiots when she was happy, what happened when she cried? Steve shuddered at the thought.

The sudden crash of the door as it was flung open made Steve jump, and he almost dropped his plate. Standing in the doorway were two of the most beautiful people he had ever seen. Obviously, a couple, the woman draped herself around the man in an almost obscene manner. She was tall and slender, with wavy jet-black hair and flashing dark eyes. The man also had black hair. There was a lean, hard look to his body, but he had an open, laughing face. But then, who wouldn’t be happy holding such a beautiful woman?

“Look who found me wandering lost in the woods!” The man exclaimed.

Reultan stepped in front of Steve, “Leth! I didn’t know you were back. And Lasair—is she back, also?”

Steve narrowed his eyes. Was Reultan trying to protect him from this man? If so, why? Maybe he was another “crazy uncle” like Sgrios. Actually, he did look a bit like Sgrios, except when he smiled. Who was he?

During Steve’s musing, Acair ignored the woman, but welcomed Leth into the house while reaching for two plates. Leth stopped him. “Lasair and I already ate. I just wanted to visit with the munchkin I could hear laughing from about a mile away. Where is she?”

A loud giggle sounded from the doorway just before Solas raced into the room and launched herself at Leth. He managed to catch her, but only because he dropped the woman who wasn’t quite balanced on her own feet.

Leth giggled along with Solas as he threw her into the air and proceeded to tickle her until she begged for mercy. Steve was struck again by how human these people were. As long as he didn’t think about the details, he could easily like them.

Leth’s antics left the woman standing alone, and she obviously did not approve of being abandoned. Steve found it interesting that Reultan shifted to the left to shield him from the woman, not Leth. Steve didn’t want to be shielded from her. So, without a second thought, he stepped into view.

* * *

Sgrios stayed downwind and well camouflaged as he watched Sandulfr and his fast-moving pack, who were all but invisible despite the bright sunshine that filtered through the trees. They were scattered, but obviously in close communication as they searched for any scent or sign of their quarry.

He was less than optimistic about the upcoming diplomacy. Sandulfr might be the best of the Bear Clan, but he was still of another clan. And he was young. No more than four-hundred-years-old, and likely to be impetuous. Yet the Bear Clan’s young Alpha pair was not his problem. He was concerned about how difficult Sandulfr would be to approach.

He followed the group until they stopped for a break. After shifting forms, Sgrios approached Sandulfr, who stood apart from the others.

The wind changed.

Sandulfr spun around, searching for the scent he had caught. His posture spoke of challenge, of a readiness to fight whatever danger he came to face.

Sgrios stepped into the open and concentrated on radiating good will. The best he could manage was a semi-relaxed, somewhat non-threatening posture and a complete blankness to his emotions. He was the wrong wolf for diplomacy.

Sandulfr remained tense and alert.

“I came to talk with you.” Oh, great start.

“What about? The murder of seven of my people?” Well, there was that. Sgrios knew Sandulfr would expect justice.

“I was protecting the young of my clan,” he said. The thought of what had been done to Dàn nearly had Sgrios growling, but he managed to contain those un-diplomatic sounds.

“They were charged to detain them.”

“They tortured them, and nearly killed Dàn.” If Sgrios ever found that the attack had been sanctioned by one of their leaders, there would be hell to pay. From his rare dealings with Sandulfr he felt the man was honorable, but experience had taught Sgrios that honor was something easily lost or sold.

“They did not deserve to die for this.”

This conversation wasn’t going well, and Sgrios knew his nature was to blame. Talking wasn’t his thing. And others found the inability to read his emotions as a sign of insult or even worse, as dishonor. But if he let them glimpse what was within his mind it would only prove his lack of sanity. A growl started low in his chest with the frustration of it all.

“They now have no chance for a trial. They are beyond justice.”

Hearing those words, Sgrios knew he would fail. “They received what they deserved,” he snarled as he considered how he could force Sandulfr to hear Athair’s pretty words.

“Is this why you’ve come? To gloat over their deaths?”

“No.” Sgrios sized up Sandulfr to determine his weight and stepped closer to be in a better range to spring. The others had moved away, but surely Sandulfr had them on alert.

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