Page 65 of Oath of Revenge

Chapter 20

Scarlet saw the aura growing closer, but it wasn’t Wulfric. She’d been following the Growler girl for gods knew how long, and had seen no sign of him. The girl had shifted back into wolf form. After Scarlet had seen her shivering and her lips turning blue, she’d insisted.

Of course, the girl knew that Scarlet would kill her with one throw of the dagger if she tried to dart away. When they’d skirted around two other Growlers, Scarlet had whispered, “Is that your father?”

Sasha had paused, staring at her in amazement.

“You—you know they’re there? But we’re too far away to smell them. How do you know?”

Scarlet arched a brow, spinning her dagger once more while the other stayed at the ready. “The more important question is, can they smell us?”

Sasha shook her head and kept going. Now they were definitely within smelling range of the Growler as they approached. Sasha seemed to grow more sullen, but when the large, black wolf growled and sniffed the air, she stopped.

They were twenty feet away from him when Scarlet pushed her hood back and stepped out from behind the tree. His gaze immediately went to her, his muzzle sinking toward the ground as he shifted into a battle stance.

Ready to pounce, Sasha shifted into her human form and stepped between them, hands up.

“No, Papa, she is the druid’s granddaughter. To hurt her will be a death sentence.”

The wolf paused, and Scarlet nodded, gathering all her skills of deception to convince him to help. “It’s true. I called to Sasha to lead me to you. The druid needs your help to bring peace to the Growlers before it’s too late.”

The wolf shifted into a human form. The fine layer of fur that covered the Growlers’ bodies hid their breasts and genitals, especially in the dim light of the moon.

He stood tall and proud, but he wasn’t as imposing as Wulfric. Probably a few inches shorter, thicker around the middle, older.

“The druid forced the treaty on us years ago. We’ve had an uneasy peace ever since, so I’m unsure what you’re talking about.”

Scarlet held both daggers within the folds of her cloak, careful not to brandish the weapons. Sasha knew they would be at the ready, and she watched Scarlet warily.

Scarlet shook her head. “Not that peace. The Growlers are divided.”

The wolf snorted and stepped closer to his daughter, “What does the druid care of the divide within the Growlers?”

Scarlet watched as Sasha eased closer to her father, but she didn’t stop them. Her thoughts tumbled over themselves with indecision. She wasn’t a fucking diplomat. Hunters typically got their assignments, planned the mission, stealthily attacked, then went back to the Guild Master for payment.

This talking through a problem was more Eirwyn’s style. Scarlet had no idea what to do, so she just tried to think of what Eirwyn might say.

“There is a bigger threat in Busparia than the Growlers can comprehend. The tribe needs to unite with the Robins in the north and—“

The male grabbed his daughter’s wrist and jerked her behind him as he turned to snarl at Scarlet. “Never. The new alpha says Busparia is ripe for the plucking.”

“Your new alpha is dumber than a rock, then. And he’s not the rightful alpha. Wulfric is.”

The wolf paused, his expression turning sad as he shook his head, “Wulfric is dead. Brody’s two friends saw the alpha challenge.”

Scarlet put a hand on her hip, still holding the dagger. She knew it must’ve shone under the moonlight, because the wolf’s eyes dipped down then back to her face with a new hardness around his mouth.

“The alpha challenge was illegal, and you know it. Without the supervision of the Elders, Wulfric remains alpha. He’s the only one who has the wisdom and strength to do what’s necessary.”

“And what’s necessary?” the Growler asked softly, easing slowly closer to his daughter.

Scarlet sighed, the weight of the world pressing her closer to the ground.

“Unite both types of Growlers, the turned and the natural born, and join the rest of the Feral Forest to finally stop Busparia.”

The wolf barked a short laugh. “That’s impossible. Brody is going to move camp with the new moon. Warriors are going into Busparia to find more supplies, better territory…”

“Their previous families?” Scarlet asked softly.

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