Page 17 of Teeth To Rip & Tear

My questions burned on my tongue, though Kaleb remained unaware, breathing the night air like he wished he were on four legs instead of two.

“I appreciate the walk to my car,” I told him. “But you can leave now.”

Kaleb whistled through his teeth, frowning at the trees that surrounded us. “I can’t.”

I sighed, putting my hands on my hips. “I have questions.”

“Of course you do,” Kaleb murmured, the epitome of patient.

“You hunt monsters?”

“The Locket pack does.” He replied with a shrug. “The Huntsman requires us to guard the Gate.”

“And the Huntsman is your boss?” I surmised.

Kaleb barked a laugh. “That’s a rather tame word for it. Did your grandmother not speak of the wolves and their curse?”

“I know about wolves.” I shifted uncomfortably.

“But not the Huntsman?” He guessed. “He is an incredibly powerful Fae lord. When the wall between worlds is thinnest, the wild hunt rides. We are the wild hunt.”

“You hunt?” I cocked my head to the side.

“Whatever the Huntsman tells us to hunt.”

“People?” My voice pitched higher.

Kaleb raised a brow. “Mostly things that want toeatpeople. The Gate did not form naturally. There are few ways to travel between the Aos Sí and the Human Realities, but most require substantial magic or a blessing from the gods. The Gate will let anyone through. It’s a rift between worlds in the middle of the Forest of Beasts.”

“Can’t someone guard the other side?” I frowned.

“They can and do.” Kaleb shrugged. “But that Gate moves. It’s a rip in reality, and reality doesn’t often stay still. It is our job to protect the wall between worlds. We are called when we are needed. A wolf cannot resist the Huntsman's call. It is our curse. He calls, and we must answer.”

“But things get through the Gate?”

“They do.” He nodded. He gestured to the car door, ready to leave.

I opened the driver’s side door and took a seat.

Kaleb slid into the passenger seat and made himself at home, waiting until we were on the road before he spoke again. “Tonight was your first time hearing of the Huntsman.”

I shrugged and kept my eyes on the road.

“Your grandmother, Eva, did she not tell you of the curse?” Kaleb continued. “You would think—”

“Yes,” I sneered. “One would think that she’d tell me something like that.”

“Whathasshe told you?”

My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I knew about the Gate. Grandmother Eva told me to never go into the foreston your side of the valley. I wasn’t allowed outside as a child. She told me there were too many things that would eat a girl like me.”

“But you reached magical majority?”

“I did.” I nodded. “I enrolled in the local high school once I could control my magic. Before that, it was chaotic. I’m not that powerful, but no one wants to accidentally weave a spell when they tie their shoelaces.”

“When did your grandmother pass?” Kaleb asked.

“I was sixteen,” I replied. “So over ten years ago. It doesn’t feel that long, though.” I explained. “After my mom died, she kind offaded. I heard it happens to the older ones.”

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