Page 86 of Wolf's Mark

“Maybe so. I will repeat. We don’t eat people.”

“When is shifting necessary?” My mouth was suddenly dry because I was starting to believe him. He seemed hesitant to answer. I wasn’t certain I blamed him. What could his answer be?Oh, when the family unit gets low on food.I shuddered from the thought. “Maybe I should ask when was the last time you shifted?”

“I only do so when necessary. My brothers and I haven’t made a habit of it since we were kids. Only then did we train as required by Wolfen rules.”

Wolfen rules. I wanted to get my hands on those.

He crossed one leg over the other, resting his elbow on the armrest. There was no indication he’d shifted recently, into a wolf—my God—but I sensed he had. “Something happened. Didn’t it? You did shift.”

“Why do you say that?”

I wasn’t honestly certain why other than I sensed it. “I just know. Am I right?”

“As I told you before, you’re in danger. I was checking the area to see what we could possibly be dealing with.”

“Am I specifically in danger or everyone I know around me? Maybe the entire human race?”

“It’s possible all of humanity could be. That’s not my main focus. You are.”

“Why?”

“It’s not important.”

“You’re one infuriating man,” I tossed out as I stood once again. Pacing was the only way I could handle my emotions right now.

The last thing I wanted to do was lose my perspective on what was going on.

If I could answer that.

“Don’t make more out of this than there is,” he advised.

“Are you kidding me?” Now I was laughing. Full out loud. Bursting at the seams. “I’m a doctor, a scientist, and I’m supposed to buy this insane story about not one but two varieties of shape-shifting wolves. One prefers being human, eating biscuits and burgers, and the other finds human flesh more to their liking.”

His eyes were way too imploring. “I understand this is overwhelming.”

“Trying to figure out what to get my precious little girl who’s turning five is overwhelming. This is… nuts.” What else was I supposed to say?

A full minute passed and he was way too quiet.

“Okay, let’s assume I believe you, which I don’t, Agent Drummand mentioned you and your family might have answers as to how to stop these… flesh-eating monsters from attacking. Do you?”

“There will need to be a discussion within the packs and our council of Elders.”

“Let me guess,” I taunted. “All the packs throughout the world have a special communications system so you can Zoom each other without letting the cat out of the bag. Right?”

Oh, my God. His smile was an affirmative.

“You’ll learn more in due time, Sedona. And yes, you can ask as many questions as you need to. What are you doing with the bodies?”

“They’re gone as in gone, fleeing into the night. But I am doing tests.”

He nodded. “I hope you’ll share your findings with me.”

“I already told you I don’t think I want to learn more, but I have no choice. I was brought into this blindsided. I need some time to adjust,” I told him.

“You’re a scientist who enjoys puzzles. However, keep in mind this is my life. This is all I know. Now, the quiet sanctity of our world is being challenged. I don’t have all the answers, but what I do know from what I’ve seen and heard is that these wolves are dangerous.”

“A discussion. You’re uncertain whether or not they can be stopped.” I wasn’t really asking a question because I didn’t really want to learn any more truths.

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