Page 51 of Veil of Shadows

The kids gasped as I tilted my head.

“A storm came to the top of the mountain unlike anything the pack had seen,” Miss Shirley said as she used her arms and hands to help set the scene. “The clouds rumbled past, heavy and dark. Thunder crashed so hard in the distance that the mountain itself seemed to shake. And as we made our way down the mountain to shelter in the caves, we learned something.”

The kids, as if they knew what came next, all responded in unison.

“What did you learn, Miss Shirley!?”

The adults giggled as Ronyn’s mother’s smile grew across her face. “We learned that birds are for the sky, and wolves are for the ground. That’s why our Alpha at the time led us down the mountain toward the meadow beneath us. While the mountain kept us safe from other predators, it didn’t keep us safe from the one thing that we couldn’t control. So, the next time you’re seeking shelter when you’re afraid?”

“Go! To! The caves!” the kids exclaimed together.

Miss Shirley clapped her hands with everyone before the kids took off. Even Little Joseph ripped himself out of my lap and took off, and Joseph was one of the quieter kids in my pack. I watched them head back to the meadow of the compound and tumble around in the grass, much to the dismay of many parents who wanted to keep their pup’s clothes fresh and clean for the celebration. I walked around to the women that were cooking and the men that were slicing and dicing, and asked if they needed anything. I kept an eye on the children, making sure they didn’t venture too far into the woods without an adult. I mademy rounds and bided my time, unable to help it as I peeked over at Voss’s place.

Miss Shirley started rounding up the kids once more for the opening of the solstice celebration.

With all of the tables set with delectable meats, finger foods, and wine, the children’s choir led by Miss Shirley gathered at the front of the crowd around the fire. Miss Shirley lined them all up before kneeling in front of them on the grassy knoll, her hands poised at the ready. She nodded her head three times, humming a soft note that all of the kids hummed back. Then she lifted her hands and brought them down, ushering in a chorus I had heard only days before.

“The Thunderfall Pack is a great big home where we all live happily in our zones, and the way we run and the way we laugh is a great big bonus to our evening baths.”

For the second verse, some of the adults around me joined in.

“The Thunderfall Pack is a great big home where we love one another with our great big might, and the way we play and the way we fight is a great big bonus to the way we gripe!”

Everyone giggled with laughter before the rest of both the packs finished out the last verse. And as I gazed around at the few shifters of my pack, I noticed something.

They were singing along, too.

“And the Thunderfall Pack is a family where the kids roam ‘round like they’re wild and free. So come on, let’s go, where the waters flow. So come on, let’s goooo where the waaaa-teeeeers floooooooow!”

Whoops, cheers, and hollers only backdropped the whistling as the children beamed with delight. Miss Shirley stood onto her feet, waving her hand and taking a bow as the cacophony of the crowd grew. I couldn’t help but raise my hands over my head. Tears of pride pricked the backs of my eyes, and that’s when I knew what had to be done with my pack.

I had to find a way to convince Voss to absorb them.

Then after the clapping and cheering died down, Dom made his way to the front of the crowd and held out his hands.

“Everyoooone!” he boomed over our heads. “Welcome to the autumn solstice!”

Music struck up to our side and before I knew it, someone linked my arm and whisked me away from the crowd. I craned my neck over my shoulder, watching men and women of all shapes and sizes take to the makeshift dance floor I saw Voss putting together earlier that day. Men twirled their women around and the kids flailed their arms around like feral, wild little things.

It made my heart happy to see them smiling after everything we had been through.

“So,” Merida said as she rushed up to me and linked her arm with mine, “whatcha think?”

I shook my head softly as she walked me around the perimeter of the party. “You guys know how to throw a hell of a shindig.”

She smiled brightly. “No.Domknows how to throw a shindig. We’re just here for the payout of his efforts.”

I barked with laughter. “That doesn’t shock me one bit.”

But then, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder, and I hissed.

“Still giving you troubles?” Merida asked with concern on her face.

I shook my head softly. “Nothing that I can’t handle.”

“The potion I gave you yesterday should have?—”

I giggled and patted her arm with my free hand. “Your potions can’t fix permanent damage on a human, Merida.”

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