Page 79 of Grace of a Wolf 1
Thom's shoulders hunch further. "What, the growling? The looks? Yes, High Alpha. Magic-users aren't exactly welcome in these parts."
"Why?"
"Most of the Alphas in this region consider our practices heresy against the Goddess. They teach their packs that we're unnatural. Makes it hard to make a living." His voice carries a practiced neutrality that doesn't mask the bitterness beneath.
"Stupid belief," I grunt.
The change in Thom is immediate. His posture straightens, and he scurries closer to my side, eyes wide with something like hope.
"Right? It's completely short-sighted! The prejudice against spellbloods goes back centuries, but it's based on misunderstanding. Magic is just another natural force, like your shifting ability. We're not so different, really, and the potential for collaboration is—"
The itch beneath my skin intensifies with every syllable from his mouth. His voice hits a particularly grating pitch, and a muscle in my jaw twitches.
"Enough."
He snaps his mouth shut, but the damage is done. My patience, already thread-thin from the girl's absence, threatens to snap entirely.
"The belief is ridiculous because there isn't a witch or warlock on this planet powerful enough to pose a threat to even the weakest wolf." I fix him with a cold stare. "Not a single one of you could stand against us. That's why the fear is stupid."
That's not necessarily true,Fenris comments. It's his first time reacting to anything not connected with the human.They might be able to hurt the weakest of wolves. Pups, perhaps.
Thom deflates before my eyes, his shoulders hunching back to their original position. "Right. There's that perspective too."
We continue down the corridor in silence. The lodge feels emptier than usual. Still, the ones who remain give Thom a wide berth, their disdain palpable; though, when they meet my eyes, they cower.
"My only real skill is tracking," Thom offers after a moment, quieter now. "But wolves don't have much use for that, do they? Not when you can smell a rabbit from a mile away."
I spare him a sideways glance. His thin fingers worry at the hem of his worn jacket.
"The Forest Springs Alpha only kept me around to track other magic-users. I don't have a single offensive spell."
I have no interest in this man's life story, but if he falls into some sort of depression and can't track the girl I might lose my mind. So I grunt, showing I'm listening.
It must be enough, because his shoulders relax a little. Thankfully, he goes silent after that.
Chapter forty-one
Caine: Tracking (II)
CAINE
We reach Grace's door, and I pause, inhaling deeply. Her scent lingers, but it's already growing fainter. She's already been gone for two days, and the knowledge makes my blood simmer. I spent a day and a half going to the Forest Springs Pack and back for nothing; if this warlock doesn't deliver results, the weak grasp I have on my sanity might slip after all.
"What about defensive spells?" The question surprises me as much as it does him.
Thom blinks rapidly. "I—well, I can ward off a bee."
So, useless.
The vague thought in my head to keep him around to protect her fades in an instant.
We wouldn't have to worry about her safety if you'd charmed her a little. Would it have really killed you to smile at her even once? Maybe apologize for killing the man who was once her father?
My molars grind together. "Who was the one to rip out his throat, Fenris?"
At your order,he says.Don't make me the same as you. Shelikedme. She doesn't like you.
Knowing it's true only makes the damn itch worse, and I slam Grace's door open with a grunt. Her scent comes in a rush, and I inhale deeply.
