Chapter 34: Chapter 34

SCARLET

The next day, I wake up early to go to the shelter again. Now that I’m marked, I don’t have to worry about going into heat, so my guards have gone back down to just Levi and Tony plus a driver.

Ethan is busy working yet again. Now that the possibility of an alliance with the Silver Shadow Pack is gone, he has been working on who else he can ally with to prepare for another witch attack. He’s worried the Silver Shadow Pack may retaliate now as well, so his stress is heightened.

To defend, Ethan ordered a wall to be built around the entire territory. They are reaching out to their allied packs to see if they want to be included within the perimeter. Security has been doubled, and all able-bodied wolves are to begin warrior training.

A few hours later, I come back to the pack house after I’m done serving breakfast to the packless. When I do, I immediately go looking for Ethan. Unsurprisingly, I find him in his office. I walk in without waiting for an invitation, excited to share an idea with Ethan that I had at the shelter. I sit down in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk, and he leans back in his.

“Scarlet. How are you doing? I know we never got to talk about what happened with…the witch the other night. Are you doing okay?”

“Yes. I still don’t understand what happened with the light and…you know. But maybe I can learn to control it,” I suggest, wondering if the power is still in me.

“I think that’s a great idea. How’s the shelter?” he inquires.

“Good,” I answer with a nod of my head. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

He quirks an eyebrow at me, and the corner of my lip tugs up. He’s adorable. “What about?” he asks.

“Well, I think you should consider letting the packless join the Crescent Moon Pack. Or at least one of your brothers’ packs.”

He scowls for a moment before forcing a neutral expression. “And why would I do that?”

“Well, because we need more warriors. We already know the witches are willing to kill, and we will be severely outnumbered if the Silver Shadow Pack decides to attack. And there are a lot of packless that could help. They are good people. People who had been leaders and warriors in their old packs. People who were healers and blacksmiths. I really think it would be beneficial for us,” I insist.

Ethan’s lips press into a thin line. He clearly doesn’t like the idea. “I’ll think about it,” he says after a moment of silence.

“Really?” I press.

“I said I’d think about it, and I will,” he states.

I nod, deciding I don’t want to overdo it. I know what he has against the packless, and I understand. Losing his mother like that must have been terrible.

***

I go back to the shelter for dinner, and it’s buzzing with the usual clatter and chatter of packless werewolves, the air thick with the scent of stew and stale bread. I spot Jo in the corner taking a rest. I plan to ask her about Ethan’s mom. I want to know the details about what happened.

I weave through the crowd, finally sliding into the seat opposite her.

“Hi, Jo!”

“Two visits in one day, aren’t we lucky?” She smiles.

“Yea, Ethan’s been a bit busy. So…I have a question for you.”

“What’s on your mind, hon?”

“Did you ever meet Le—”

Will runs over, interrupting my question. In a hushed voice he says, “There’s a rogue here. Says he has something for you.” There is a look of concern in his eyes.

My senses go on high alert, my muscles tensing. A rogue could mean trouble. What if he’s working with the witches? My mind races through the possibilities. I nod, signaling that I understand. “Did he say what he has?”

“Nope, just that he urgently needed to see you. I ran into him out back. I didn’t see anyone else with him, but it still seems sketchy.”

I stand, my chair scraping against the worn wooden floor, signaling Levi and Tony who are immediately at my side.

“Levi and Tony will come with me. He wouldn’t dare do anything with them and all the other packless so nearby.” At least I hoped so…

I weave through the dinner rush and make my way out back. The rogue, a teenage boy, stands nervously, clutching something in his hand. His ragged clothes and gaunt frame put my worries at ease. If there was going to be an attack, they would have sent someone else.

He looks up, eyes widening when he sees us approach. “Are you Scarlet?”

“Yes. You have something for me?”

He steps forward, hand trembling as he offers a small vial. “Cassia said to give this to you. She said someone named Ethan would know what it is.”

I narrow my eyes, taking the vial carefully. “Do you know what it is?” I ask.

He shrugs and turns to start to walk off.

“Hey, wait! What’s in this for you? Why are you working with Cassia?” I ask, my voice hard. I need to be sure he’s not working against us.

The boy swallows hard, his eyes darting to the shadows as if expecting an attack. “The witch promised to heal my friend. That’s all,” he says, voice breaking.

His earnest desperation strikes a chord. I believe him. “All right. Go,” I say, pocketing the vial. The boy nods and disappears into the shadows.

Will comes from around the corner. Now I’m sure he was watching the whole time.

“What was that about?” he asks, concern etched in his features.

“Not here,” I mutter, leading him to a more secluded alleyway with my guards following closely behind. Once we’re safely hidden, I turn to him.

“You know the attacks happening on the Crescent Moon Pack?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, a source tells us that it's witches, because they want something from me.”

“Want something from you? What does that even mean?” Will asks.

I can tell he’s getting upset, that he’s scared for me, and I love him for that.

“For a while, I had no idea what that meant. But I think I might be starting to put the pieces together. I need to show you something.”

Will’s brow furrows, but he nods, trusting me. “Okay.”

“Step back,” I instruct, focusing on the power within me. I extend my hand toward a rusted trash can, willing the power I accidentally used against Ray and the witch to come forth on command.

My heart pounds as I channel the energy, but nothing comes forth. I think back to Ray and his disgusting body on top of me. It’s not long before a sudden flash, the can is knocked over. The strength of my power is nothing like it was before, but it’s a start.

Will’s eyes widen in shock, his mouth slightly agape. “Scarlet, that’s…incredible. How long have you been able to do that?”

I’m equally surprised by my control, the adrenaline still coursing through me. “I don’t really know. It started as an accident, really… I need to practice more,” I say, feeling a mix of exhilaration and caution.

“So, what does that have to do with the witches?”

“I think that’s the ‘thing’ they want from me…I can’t think of what else it could be. I just don’t know why.”

“Be careful, Scar. It sounds like you’ve gotten yourself in quite a mess.”

We make our way back to the shelter, and Jo looks up from her dinner as we return, curiosity and concern in her gaze. I sit down with a sense of urgency. I want to get answers and then get this vial back to Crescent City.

Jo leans in, her voice hushed. “What’s going on, Scarlet?”

I glance at Will, then back at Jo, choosing my words carefully. “Hypothetically speaking, Jo, how do you think the packless would respond to joining packs again?”

“Well, we all need a place to belong. You know as well as I do that we try our best in the Scourge, but a real pack? You’d have wolves lining up at the chance.”

I nod. I figured as much.

“Why? What’s going on?” Jo presses.

“I’ll let you know when I know more. But I have to ask you something. Did you ever meet Len—”

This time Jo interrupts me, “Lenore Kane? I was wondering when you were going to ask.”

She pauses, and I motion for her to continue.

“She used to help run the shelter. During the Great War of Supernaturals there were a ton of wolves that lost their leaders, lost their packs. There were wolves with injuries and illnesses. Most of us had no homes left, so much of the city had been destroyed. And every day more wolves were wandering into the borders looking for safety and shelter,” she begins before exhaling deeply once more.

“Lenore wanted to help. When I met her, she was helping to set someone’s broken leg. She saw me hobble up, covered in blood and rushed up to me to see if I was okay. I was. I had just gotten done helping a few other wolves who had made their way over after being injured. We got to talking, and I told her about my ideas for the shelter. Originally, we expected it to be temporary, just while strays were still wandering in and so many homeless.”

“So… she helped start the shelter?” I ask, unable to hide the surprise from my voice.

“Yeah. She was a great lady. A lot like you actually. She was kind and compassionate, always wanting to do her part to help others. She’s the one that introduced me to the Rickards’ whose farm I work at. She died not even a week after that. Next thing we know, Seth Kane is banning all packless from going inside Crescent Moon territory or working or anything. Never really understood why they would turn on us like that, after Lenore had put so much effort into helping us. She even brought her three boys around once.”

I cock my head, confused, though she doesn’t notice. She seems to be lost in her memories as she stares off at something unbeknownst to me. “So, you don’t know how she died?” I ask softly.

That seems to snap her back as she looks at me with wide eyes. “What? No! Of course I know! I was there!”

“Wait! So, you saw the packless kill her?”

“Huh? No! It was rogues! We are right on the outskirts and don’t belong to a territory. Back then we had a ton of trouble with rogues. We were attacked and of course she wanted to help. She got killed when fighting off a rogue that attacked one of the pups.”

I shake my head, my eyes beginning to moisten. That’s horrible. And so sad. I can’t believe Ethan has no idea what really happened to his mother. None of them do.

“And you’re sure it was rogues?”

“Of course, I’m sure! Why? What’s with all of these questions?”

“Ethan told me his mother died at the hands of the packless. That’s probably why his father decided to ban us from working or living in the territory.”

Jo lets out a huff and shakes her head, closing her eyes as a single tear treks down her cheek. I’ve never in my life seen her cry before.

“No, no. It was rogues. She died saving a little girl…” Jo trails off before meeting my eyes. “It was you. You were the one she saved.”