Page 16 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“I do,” I replied in a low voice as his breath evened out. I set him on the ground. If the one infiltrating the cave was the one I was searching for, then I would never see this weird werewolf again.

I blinked quickly, shoving my emotions down. This werewolf had no need of my sympathies—he was a killer. No matter how sweet he might have seemed, they were all wild animals driven by rage and instinct. They were not human.

I turned, checking my blades. They released with quiet snicks.

“Watch them?” I asked Ran, nodding to the werewolf and the pup who was crawling up into the crook of the werewolf’s elbow.

Ran snorted, going back to eating. That was as good as a yes.

CHAPTER 5

The Mystery

ALIA

Isnuck through the passageways, blades in hand. My eyes adjusted to the dark; a glow was coming from around a corner that wasn’t sunlight. Flickering lamplight preceded voices. They came around the corner, and I paused.

Hood worked alone.

Great. Whoever this was, it wasn’t my target.

They stalked forward, silent, but not quite werewolf silent.

“You certain about this? They took it here?”

“Of course I’m sure. The tracking spell led us here, didn’t it?”

“Quiet,” hissed another.

I froze. That voice was familiar. I dropped to a crouch and stuck my nose around my little niche in the side of the cavern to look. He was wearing a long cloak which concealed well in the woods since it was a deep green mottled with gray and brown. It was a cloak I’d know anywhere because I wore one now. He was a Red. But I couldn’t determine which one, only that the voice was familiar.

They were going down the wrong passageway. Eventually, they would have to branch back. That’s the thing about tracking spells: they lead you to the target, but they couldn’t tell you the best path to take. And if the target was in a maze, it could onlytell you what direction the target was in, not guide you through the maze itself.

We were in a maze of tunnels that I knew like the back of Ran’s head. I’d prepared this place for weeks. But now, the wrong enemy had sprung my trap.

I quickly retraced my steps, going back to where the werewolf was snoring and the puppy was jumping and growling in his sleep. The pup had crawled even closer to the intimidating werewolf, his cute little nose resting on the werewolf’s chest. It was adorable. If only it wasn’t a werewolf who would’ve killed me in a heartbeat, I might have been able to appreciate the cuteness.

I changed from my Red cloak and cowl, quickly putting it in Ran’s saddlebag. I donned a normal green cloak, adjusting it and using it to cover my brown hair. Then I rolled the werewolf to Ran.

Am I to be the pack mule of a stinking mutt again?she asked, drawing up her neck into an imperious arch.

“How dare I, I know. I’ll pay later, but we need to get him out. Now,” I hissed, looking back up the tunnel.

She clacked her teeth and pinned her ears, but laid down, allowing me to laboriously get the werewolf on her back. I put the puppy in one of her saddlebags. He didn’t even twitch, he was just a little floppy weight in my arms. I gave him a quick kiss on his forehead before settling him in there with a blanket.

Ran grabbed my arm, her teeth gentle despite the flash in her eyes. “I know. You could dismember me in a moment. No need to remind me, you big hunk of muscle and killing intent,” I said, kissing her soft, feathery nose.

She grumbled but released me, standing with the grace of an elephant. That was one thing she was not quite good at.

She turned and glared at me. Were it any other situation, I’d have laughed and goaded her to attack. But right then, we needed to get out of there.

Ran clopped out as I made my way behind her, keeping an ear out for the strangers behind us.

We reached the exit and stepped into sunshine. I glanced around, careful to watch for any movement.

I was about to mount when a snapping twig drew my attention. I spun, knives in front, just in time to see a man with buck teeth and arms of corded steel step out from beside the gaping entrance with a crossbow. He grinned, hacking up phlegm as his fingers tightened on the trigger.

He was too close. It happened quickly. One moment, I was staring down death by crossbow. The next, I was enfolded in warmth with the scent of rain and knife oil mixed with lemons surrounding me.

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