Page 7 of Moon Tamed

Ah. I understood. As the dispute between father and son went beyond the scope of my work, I would ignore it. If either man wanted my opinion, they would ask. “I will maintain my neutrality.”

“Perfect. Your thoughts on wolves?”

“They’re beautiful.”

“We really are—and we know it,” he replied.

In a way, I wanted to strangle the man, but I could also understand why people liked him. “Were you the wolf earlier?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Good catch.”

“Thank you, sir.”

One of the hummingbirds joined the first on his finger, and to my amazement, they allowed the wolf to lightly stroke their backs. “You will have flexible work hours, and during hunt practice, we won’t expect you to be here. It can be a little intense.”

“Hunt practice?”

“Those who can shift will hunt volunteers through the building. Several floors are designated for the hunt, the prey is given a chance to familiarize themselves with the terrain and floor layouts, and then the hunt begins. Most hunts take an hour, and we host them around the clock for a week, usually on three floors. Other factions help with setting up and maintaining them. During the upcoming hunt, I believe my son is planning parental revenge. He claims the spirit of his mother would appreciate watching him crush me. If he’s pulling that card, I’ve really done something worthy of punishment. Last week, I breathed.”

“You play hide-and-seek?”

The leader of the Hunters gasped. “We’re hunting.”

“You’re playing hide-and-seek.”

“Adults of questionable seriousness might call it that.”

I stared at the man, marveling over how a relaxed individual had gained so much power. “You pay people to play hide-and-seek?”

“We do this once a month, so yes.”

Other factions held dinner parties. The Hunters played hide-and-seek? I needed time to adjust to my unexpected and new reality. During most assignments, I flowed with change. Change hadn’t involved anything other than learning new things and maintaining professionalism.

“Is it too intense for observation?”

“Only if watching someone be pounced on by a large predator bothers you.”

“You didn’t bother me.”

“Then you will handle the festivities fine. Would you like an invitation to our upcoming practice?”

“I would love one, if it isn’t a problem.”

“It’s not. If you’d like to hunt or be hunted, do let me know.”

How interesting. I’d wanted new and exciting, and the man offered two options. “Can I answer with both?”

“Of course.”

“Both, please.”

“Excellent. Your first time as a hunter will be done in a group. Your first time as the hunted, you’ll be by yourself. You’ll be monitored, and if you don’t react well, the hunt will be called off. It’s a safety issue. Once we know how you react, we’ll place you accordingly.”

“That’s very sensible.”

“Favorite flavor of ice cream?”

“Orange sorbet.”

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