Page 35 of Season of the Wolf

Let her know I’m okay.

It seemed like a lie, but I saw the logic in it.

Our conversation came to a sudden halt when Dallas stood from his seat, eying the door when he spoke.

“Hold that thought.”

My eyes followed his and I watched as he crossed the bar, headed in the direction of the three who just entered—the Stokes boys, minus Nick. The dark uniforms they wore, similar to those that had been issued at the Damascus facility, were those of guards. The Council had most likely appointed them, or it was possible they volunteered.

My first encounter with this many members from their pack had been with mutts outside my home. Apparently, since then, there’d been another run-in I couldn’t recall. Evangeline named them among those who traveled to confront the Sovereign’s army alongside her. They risked their lives just like she had. All for the sake of rescuing me. Whether I liked it or not, it wasn’t lost on me that I was only here because of them.

Wasn’t lost on me that the same held true for Evangeline; they were the reason she was still alive.

As I watched from my seat, Dallas had begun making his way back to our booth, but not alone. The three who shadowed him all stared with weary expressions. There was no doubt they hadn’t forgotten the discord between their brother and I, and I could only guess they were leery about approaching the table.

“Thought it’d be cool if the fellas joined,” Dallas said, sliding into the half-circle booth we once occupied alone to make room for the others.

They hadn’t stopped eyeing me, and probably noted the difference in my scent. For all I knew, they were already aware of my … situation.

“Good to see you on your feet again,” the one with the glasses said, extending his hand. “Name’s Ben. Not sure if we ever got to meet properly.”

I stared at his hand lingering there a moment, maybe a little caught off guard by the kind gesture. After all … I was kinda responsible for their brother running off months ago. I’d also threatened his life so many times I lost count, but from what I could tell, the air between us was clear.

Except with the big, broody one, because his expression gave nothing away. I guessed he was their alpha.

“This is Richie,” Ben went on as he slid into the seat, “and Kyle.”

I nodded toward the two he introduced, keeping my eyes on Richie longer than the other.

“So … how’re you feeling. You know … with all the changes?” It was Ben who asked, but Kyle stared with the same curiosity. Surprisingly enough, there didn’t seem to be any malice behind the question.

I cleared my throat before answering. “As good as can be expected, I suppose.”

They nodded, seeming to understand it was kind of difficult to put into words. On the one hand, yes, I was happy to be alive. However, on the other, I was pissed my dragon, my true self, had been stolen from me.

“Well, it’s good to see you’re out and about,” Ben jumped in again with kind of a nervous energy, like he wanted to fill the dead air that nearly crept in.

“I’m guessing y’all are attending the meeting tomorrow night?” I turned toward Dallas when he asked. This was the first I heard of it.

The others nodded.

“Can’t afford to pass on the opportunity to be better informed,” Richie reasoned. “With things heating up like they are, it’s no wonder talk of evacuating the humans has gone from a far-off suggestion to something they’re thinking of bringing to a vote soon.”

My fist clinched, but I hid the tension as well as I could. Things were getting worse and it was likely all we knew was what the Councilwantedus to know. The big picture was probably far grimmer than any of us realized.

“Between us, our patrols have gotten a lot more interesting.”

Dallas perked up when Kyle offered this new information. “How so?”

“Witches are being brought in from all over. Just the other day, I was sent to escort fifteen of them safely to the Elders’ chamber.”

“And, from what I overheard, communication has been cut off from the Council’s Canadian division because it’s rumored they’ve chosen to align with the Sovereign’s army,” Richie added. “Rumoralsohas it, many of the clans in that region are organizing to defect.”

It was insane to even fathom someone fighting in support of Sebastian’s continued reign. But, if I had to guess, those who aimed to uphold it were likely on the receiving end of some sort of shady backend deal—access to money and power the rest of the Council were denied.

After a brief lull in conversation, Ben spoke again. “Evie’s doing all right? I imagine she’s tired of people making a fuss over her by this point,” he chuckled.

“She’s learning to deal with it,” I answered, knowing he was right to assume she was sick of the special treatment, sick of the pressure her eventual title had placed on her head already.

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