Page 23 of Oath of Revenge

Then her words finally penetrated his still healing brain.

“Wait, you’re the druid everyone says to stay away from? Not Scarlet?” He pointed with the fork, then looked at the utensil, a tingling feeling in the back of his brain as he stared at it. He knew it was a fork and how to use it, but he’d not used one in years. Not since turning into a Growler.

He took a deep breath, but pushed aside the thoughts as the old woman waved a hand. “Scarlet’s learned basic healing and druidic practices, yes, but sadly, her talents weren’t magical enough to become a full druid.”

Wulfric watched as Scarlet’s dagger paused in the back-and-forth pattern and her eyes lowered. She had feelings about that. Was she disappointed in herself or relieved?

Then her back stiffened, and she lifted her jaw. “A better question would be, how did you get through the protective barriers? They’re designed to keep out Growlers, among other things.”

Pride made him smile around a full bite of ham, but it was the druid that answered her granddaughter.

“Oh, I disabled them, child.”

Scarlet sighed and briefly closed her eyes. “I was afraid of that. Grandma, that’s–”

“Dangerous? I know,” Olive sighed, walking back to him with the cup again. “But the dream showed me what had to happen, so I obeyed. And it’s a good thing I did, isn’t it? Otherwise, he would’ve bled out in the forest or been eaten by the forest itself.”

Scarlet shivered and sank back against the chair, her jaw set in a sullen expression. Good, she had a healthy understanding of how dangerous the Feral Forest could be.

He was a third of the way through the plate when the druid handed him the refilled cup, which he immediately chugged.

Olive snorted and turned back to the table, bringing the entire pitcher to refill it. “Wulfric, is it? Dreams are sometimes fuzzy on the details. What brings you here?”

He took a deep breath, feeling compelled to tell the woman everything. He recognized it as magic, but didn’t fight it. The Elders used this type on them all the time.

“It was a normal night, and I was doing a perimeter check. A few other Growlers ambushed me in an illegal alpha challenge. I could only take out two and a half of the five who attacked. Felt like I might have more odds of surviving if I regrouped, healed, and then returned to take back my position.”

He began to eat again, but didn’t miss the look that the two women exchanged. Scarlet sat back in the chair and tossed the dagger, catching it easily by the handle.

“Why did they challenge you? Were you a terrible leader?”

He looked at her as he chewed more slowly, thinking over the past few years. After another drink, he said, “I don’t think so but there have been grumblings over the past few months. Several of the newer Growlers think that the new queen isn’t strong enough to hold the current boundaries of Busparia. They speak of an invasion, of taking control, but I think most of them just miss home.”

Olive shifted on her feet, her face almost a mirror expression of Scarlet’s. They both were so eager, wanting to know more.

“Is it true?” Olive said. “Growlers are both born and turned?”

He looked at her and nodded slowly. Even though he no longer felt the compulsion, he owed them some answers, since they’d saved his life. “Yes, but I can’t tell you how. That information is forbidden by the Elders and will never be discussed outside of the pack. Even as alpha, I don’t know the spells or how it works.”

Olive seemed to deflate as she tapped her chin. Then she looked at Scarlet with a contemplative expression as he continued to eat.

“What?” Scarlet asked, blinking. “What are you thinking?”

Olive pursed her lips and hummed. “Well, I’m thinking the same method that turns humans into Growlers might also be used in reverse to change your curse.”

Scarlet’s eyes widened, but Olive continued. “What remains of your curse, anyway. Your ears and horns have shrunk thanks to the glocken berry, but sadly it didn’t cure it completely.”

Scarlet’s jaw dropped along with the dagger, her fingers flying to her head as the weapon clanged to the floor.

Chapter 7

Scarlet’s throat threatened to close with emotion. Her ears no longer hung down to her shoulders, heavy and giving her way too many overwhelming sounds.

Now they stuck straight back from the sides of her head where her human ears had been. Even though they were a little longer than her old ears and still felt like small rabbit ears, she sighed in relief.

Above them, on the top of her head, stood two small antlers. She wrapped her hands around them, feeling the long, smooth points as they curved back slightly.

Gone was the wide rack of multi-pointed antlers that weighed her head down and made her neck hurt. Tears filled her eyes as she felt them, turning her head this way and that to get used to the new feeling.

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