Page 38 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

I smiled at her retreating form and finished locking the shack, hid it from view with a carefully constructed board of cultivated moss, and used a tool that was partway between a broom and branch to hide our footsteps. I checked it over with a critical eye and nodded. Should be good.

My sleep-deprived body carried me back to my hut on the edge of tribe territory and very near the Red Pit, which was a large sand pit for training. Shouts and metal clashing were heard in the distance from the Red School of Arts—don’t let the name fool you, it’s not the fancy type of art taught in guilds in the city—and the braying of donkeys mixed with the almost serene ring of chimes meant to ward off evil creatures. One such chime hung on our porch, the sweet melody both haunting and gentle at once.

Then theneedshit me.

My shoulders slumped, and for a moment, I leaned against the round, rough-hewn railing on our tiny porch. I was about to enter a different sort of battle, and I just didn’t feel like it. My head hurt, my bones ached, and I felt like I needed to sleep for a week to stop my arms and legs from shaking with fatigue.

But I had to face this. My family needed me.

So I shoved my shoulders back and knocked. The house was eerily quiet, with the cackle of hens and the occasional call of the rooster coming from around back. We lived in a quaint little cabin with rust and milk paint that made the rough-hewn boards and planks of the house a slightly reddish hue. There were three sleeping areas, a kitchen, and a small area with a fireplace. The A-frame roof needed a patch soon and there was a rail nearly ate through by ratfink wood eaters… My thoughts fled when Mom opened the door. Theneedshit me full force.

Mom gathered me into a hug. Her warm aura enfolded me, made me feel all melty inside. But that couldn’t last long, as the beating of herneedcrashed against me as if it were a hammer beating against the inner walls of my Gift or Curse or whatever it was.

Mom pulled back, scouring me from head to toe, searching for injury.

I stuffed down my exhaustion, giving her a bright smile. “You guys wouldn’t believe what happened to me!” I said, giving her a peck on the cheek and dancing through the door. Her eyes lit, a tiny smile melting away most of the worry. “I rescued a wolf pup?—”

“You did what?” Dad said, wiping mud off his hands and catching Fina before she toppled from the chair she was playing in, holding her upside down as he stared at her. “What in the King’s good name do you think you’re doing, little one?” he asked, tickling her sides with his muddy fingers. Her giggles rose, making a genuine smile cross my lips.

“Leelee!” Fina cried, lifting her pudgy fingers and reaching for me.

“How’s my favorite littlest niece, eh, Feefee?” I asking, lifting her upright and kissing her plump cheek.

“Puppup?” she asked, pointing out the door.

I chuckled. “Later, we’ll go see Puppup, alright?” Puppup was Princess, our milk goat Fina had a fascination with.

She pouted, but then she saw Jacob rushing around and watched him and his spindly arms and legs in awe. He tripped over a chair, barely missed impaling himself on a blade, and landed on the rug.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the academy, young man?” Mom asked, crossing her arms. I could feel herneedpounding against my insides like a knife against glass.

“Sorry, Mom—there!” He pulled out his bow from behind the couch, where one of the other kids—namely Jess—had likely hid it.

“Jacob, why can’t you be more like your sister?” Mom asked, her voice oozing disappointment.

Jacob’s entire being collapsed. His grin faded, his eyes lost their sparkle, and his shoulders curved in as if to hide from her disapproving glare.

I forced a snort-laugh. “Mom, don’t you remember? I nearly died because I forgot to bring charcoal when we were practicing poisons.”

Mom’s disapproving stare left Jacob, who glanced at me with gratitude in his eyes before scurrying out the door.

I gave Mom a pointed glance. She winced, rubbing her forehead. “I did it again, didn’t I?” she whispered.

I nodded. “Understanding, love, and support,” I whispered.

“Jacob!” Mom yelled.

Jacob froze. I felt hisneedto know he was good enough and that his differences didn’t make him unlovable.

Mom scurried over to him, wrapping him in one of her rib-crushing, heart-warming hugs. “I’m so sorry, hon. I spoke out of frustration and exhaustion and took it out on you. None of this was your fault. Jess had attempted to play with it earlier. I bet it was her who stuck your bow there. You are enough. You are loved. You work so hard, and I am so freakin’ proud of ya,” she said, kissing his hair.

His smile lit up the room. His eyes shone with his childlike joy and his entire being nearly vibrated with happiness as hisneedwas being met.

While Mom sent off Jacob—who was rambling about some old, crusty library book that he’d found in a locked box—I scurried over to my silent sister in the corner. Jacob picking locks wasn’t unlike him, the kid was a curious creature who saw rules as something to overcome; Jess having nothing to say, on the other hand, was uncharacteristic.

“Hey, kiddo. What’s up?” I asked, sitting beside her.

She turned her back to me, sniffling.

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