Page 70 of Season of the Wolf

“Thank you,” I said, accepting with a smile.

He returned the gesture, but said nothing as we continued on. The bond between us, the one that existed between me and each of my siblings, could be felt. In fact, it grew more powerful by the minute. I hadn’t even known them for two days in this life, and already, I felt their love for me.

Mine for them.

“You’re all right?” he asked as the others began to converse among themselves, rough-housing a bit like they seemed to do often. It was good to hear the day’s events hadn’t made them too weary—physically, emotionally. Then again, what was a flood in their eyes compared to war, bloodshed.

I gave a nod to Ethan’s question, thinking over how things turned out. With my parents safe and on their way to get the help they needed, I had no complaints.

“I am,” I answered honestly. “Things could have gone much worse. Thank God they didn’t.”

He chuffed a short laugh, agreeing.

“So, how are you … adjusting?” was my question, followed by a laugh of my own. “Not that life has slowed down enough for you all to get settled or anything.”

There was a smile on his face when he replied. “I’m alive, I have my family; what is there for a man to complain about?”

That was a beautiful way to look at it.

We walked a few more feet before I spoke again, glancing up ahead where moonlight filtered through the tall trees that created a canopy above.

“I can imagine this world is a bit overwhelming for all of you. Cars, television … everything,” I concluded.

Ethan nodded, chuckling. “At first, yes,” he admitted. “However, in the supernatural realm, we seemanyodd things that aren’t easily explained. So, television and tiny boxes that prepare food in a matter of seconds aren’t among the strangest.”

I laughed at his description of a microwave. I’d blown their minds when I made pizza rolls to snack on before we left for training.

“Well, good. I’m glad you’re adjusting,” I said, adding more. “And … I’m glad you guys are here.”

I turned his way when he laughed again. “You say that as if you weren’t always sure you’d feel this way.”

I’d accidentally told on myself, revealed I was once apprehensive.

“Mmm … there may have been some anxiety about your return,” I admitted, “but it was mostly because I was insecure.”

“Insecure?”

I inhaled, deciding how to explain. “I was afraid that me being different would … I don’t know, freak you guys out?” Realizing that probably wasn’t a term he was familiar with, I clarified. “I thought maybe you all would think there was something odd about me.”

He let out a hearty laugh, one that lifted my spirits just at the sound of it.

“As your brother, someone who knew you for hundreds of years before this, I can assure you, there wasalwayssomething odd about you, Evangeline.”

I smiled big, feeling more comfortable around him than I ever imagined I would. “Good to hear I haven’t changed too much.”

“You’re more like youroldself than you realize.”

Hearing that comforted me in ways he couldn’t have understood.

Home wasn’t too far away now. The closer we got, the more foreign the woods became. Tonight, they were full of displaced lycans and dragons—those native to Seaton Falls, those who’d only come in weeks ago to help. They had all been pushed out of their dwellings by the flood, and now here they were.

Lost.

Confused.

Broken.

We paused a moment when Josiah, literally, gave someone the shirt off his back—a woman huddled near a small fire, trying to keep herself and her toddler warm. Overwhelmed by the gesture, water glistened in her eyes as she used the mostly dry shirt as a makeshift blanket to shield her child from the chilled breeze.

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