Page 63 of The Wolf Slayer

“Mind blowing.”

“I’m sure there will be much more you’ll find mind blowing.” He stopped in his tracks and turned around. Niev had stopped walking a few steps behind him. “Am I walking too fast? I’m sorry. I’m a little excited.”

“No, you’re fine. If you say ‘being of age’ what does that mean? Is it like with humans: you’re allowed to drink, drive, and go out to parties?” She quickly caught up to him and he continued walking again.

“No,” he laughed but not at her, it seemed. “You have the responsibilities of a wolf, you have to contribute to the pack and its survival. Of course, Blake was especially young. Most of us shift for the first time when they are between sixteen and eighteen.”

“So, they usually find a duty or responsibility to take on within the pack?”

“Yes. And by the way, welcome to our pack. It’s an honor to have you with us. I’m sorry, I should’ve said that as soon as I met you.”

“Don’t apologize. There are so many other things going on right now.”

“Yes, but it’s a big thing to have you be part of our pack. You’ve chosen us to be your family,” he said with a touch of reverence in his voice. “You had no obligation to join us and yet you’ve made the choice to weave your life with ours.” He slowed down and turned on a little footpath hidden within the forest. “After we found you and Blake by his cabin, we had no option but to use the truck with your things in it to take you to Christa. There was a lot of blood, but I tried cleaning it off. Unfortunately, some of your things I wasn’t able to clean. I left it all in the truck for you to sort out and take whatever you need.”

“Thank you. That is very kind of you.”

They walked out of the trees onto a small clearing and toward the back of a house. It was slightly bigger than Blake’s, and had a garage attached to it. Tristan walked around the garage to the front of the house. A narrow dirt road led away from that side of the house deeper into the woods. He opened the large barn-like garage doors and revealed the truck.

“Grab whatever you need for now and I’ll help you carry it back. As soon as all this is over and it’s safe to leave the inner circle, we’ll take everything to your cabin.”

Niev climbed into the back of the truck and started going through her belongings. She was looking for a bag and clothes to fill it with. She opened boxes and looked through them, finding memorabilia from her old life here and there. Even though she’d only left Clemont a few days ago, it felt as if it had been years. Occasionally, she stopped to look at old pictures, most of which were with Jason. Sadness swept over her. She missed him and wondered if he was doing okay.

“Tristan, you should’ve told me you’re stopping by, I would’ve prepared food for you,” an excited female voice said, coming closer to the garage.

Niev jumped off the truck with a backpack full of clothes over her shoulder and stepped out of the garage. An older woman was walking toward Tristan. Her hair was gray, though her face was wrinkle free. If Tristan was forty-three, she must be at least in her sixties, but the only thing that let on to her age was her hair.

Tristan nodded in Niev’s direction. “I’m not staying. Just helping Niev grab a few of her belongings.”

His mother stopped in her tracks as if she’d run into a stone wall. Her face changed from relief and excitement to anger as she slowly turned her gaze toward Niev. Tristan seemed confused by his mother’s reaction. He looked from her to Niev, then back again.

“She’s not welcome here. She needs to leave and never come back.” She spoke exclusively to Tristan, as if Niev didn’t exist.

“Mother, I’ve invited her.”

“I don’t allow witches in my home.” Any trace of fear vanished, only anger remaining in her voice.

“Mother…” His voice was filled with confusion and desperation.

“Tristan, take her away and don’t ever talk to her again. I’ve heard of her witchcraft, and I don’t wish for your soul to be corrupted by her. She has no place here.”

“Shedoeshave a place here. She has been welcomed into the pack and has accepted Alpha Tanner’s request to join us.”

His mother seemed aghast. She started shaking, slowly turning her head back toward Niev. Looking directly into her eyes, she spat her next words into Niev’s face.

“You won’t touch my son! You won’t put a spell or your witchcraft on him. I won’t allow you to bring him back from the dead and spoil his soul.”

“Mother, I trust Niev with all my heart. She’s allowed to heal me just like she’s healed Blake. If she wishes to save my life, I allow her to do so.”

“Then you’re no longer my son.” She turned around, head held high, and walked into the house.

Tristan didn’t move, seemingly in shock. Niev wasn’t sure what to do. She hesitantly reached her hand out to him and gently touched his shoulder, but no reaction came from him.

“Tristan?” Her voice was a mere whisper, and she wasn’t even sure he heard her.

It took him a few minutes, but eventually he took a deep breath, relaxing his tense muscles. He turned around and walked to the back of the house. Niev followed him around the garage and down the footpath that would lead them back to the village. As soon as the house was no longer in sight he stopped and turned around so that she could see his face. A face that showed fear and regret.

“I’m sorry for how she spoke to you. She should’ve never raised her voice to you.”

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