Page 86 of Ravaged Wolf
“I’ll measure the detergent,” she says.
“I’ll pour.” I drop a kiss on her forehead and loosen my hold. She wipes away the rest of her tears with her own sleeve.
“We can’t let him hurt your family,” she says. The wounded look leaves her eyes, replaced with the new steeliness that she’s forged all by herself.
My heart swells with pride. “I’ll call home later and talk it through with my father. I’ll bring Cadoc in if it comes to it. We’ll figure it out. We’re not letting the bad guys win again.”
“No, we’re not.” Izzy stands on her toes and smacks a kiss to my lips.
The young males that I ran off from their video games must’ve been waiting for a cue to return because they slouch back over, but before they plop back down into their seats, they zag over to Izzy and bump her with their shoulders.
“All right, Izzy?”
“You good?”
“Okay now?”
They don’t wait for an answer, but their point was made. She’s not alone.
17
IZZY
I knowsomething bad is going to happen. Trevor did speak to his family and Cadoc, and by Cadoc’s invitation, they’re coming on the exchange program bus to visit. It’ll be the first time Trevor has seen his parents in person since his exile from Moon Lake.
There are no plans for his family to resettle in Old Den, but the invitation to visit is a clear signal to my father that the Floyds are allied with Old Den, and messing with them could endanger Madog’s diplomatic mission. I’m grateful, but it’s a mistake to think that my father wouldn’t love to thwart Madog Collins’ plans.
The pack is buzzing with anticipation. The nurses and facilities guys will be leaving, to be replaced by a new cohort of HVAC technicians, math teachers, and to Alec’s delight, an experienced pipefitter.
The scavengers who agreed to go back to Moon Lake for the first mission are returning, to be replaced by a different group of unmated males and females. It’s not a spoken goal of the program, but living here, I’ve picked up that basically the only reason Old Den folks have volunteered to participateis the hope that their mate is one of the remaining members of Moon Lake.
Trevor is vibrating with nerves, which he’s trying to deal with by reassuring me.
“I can’t wait for you to meet them. You’ll love Garan. He’s hysterically funny.”
“Which one is Garan?” We’ve hiked out past the felled log barricade that blocks the road into the den, and we’re waiting with others waiting for the bus. We’re both wearing our nicest outfits. I’m in the blouse and slacks I arrived in, and Trevor’s in his good jeans. Our hair is washed, combed, and a total mess—Trevor’s from running his hands through it, mine from my stressed-out sweat.
“He’s the second youngest.”
“And the youngest is Aled?”
“No, Aled is second oldest. Llew is youngest.”
“I’m going to get it so mixed up.”
“You’ll catch on quick. Llew looks like a Llew, and Aled is totally an Aled.”
“What does a Llew look like?”
“Annoying.”
I giggle. “What’s an Aled?”
“A dumbass.”
I grin over at him. He’s staring anxiously down the road. I grip his damp palm tighter. “I always wished I had annoying, dumbass brothers.” Maybe things would’ve been different with other kids to take some of the heat off me. Or maybe it’s messed up to wish my childhood on even hypothetical siblings.
“Well, you do now.” He squeezes my hand. “They’re going to love you.”
