But that’s not where Patrick and I will be staying. We have our own cabin. There are many homes built into the mountains, and ours just happens to be near the top of the northern summit.
It’s a good thing wolves have such strong muscles because there’s going to be a lot of walking involved over the next few weeks.
Walking and fighting with rival packs.
It will be my first time meeting outsiders. Wolves often emigrate between packs to help maintain gene flow, using boats or traveling across the continent. We were almost bred into extinction once due to the effects of inbreeding, yet our pack has not had any new members in my lifetime.
I can’t help but feel a little nervous at the idea of meeting a foreign wolf.
Just hearing their different dialects will leave me in awe.
The site of the gathering is three times bigger than our own territory, and I swallow a lump when I spy shifters walking amidst the buildings, both in wolf and human form.
I watch Hunter sadly as he treads down the main footpath toward the fortress, since that’s where he’ll be staying with his father and grandfather.
Whereas the rest of us mere mortals will have to make do with a cabin.
At least there’ll be running hot water. NowthatI’m excited about. I have to heat my own water at my cottage back home, and it takes so long.
Paddy places a warm hand on my shoulder just as my eyes find Brent. He will be staying in the alpha’s quarters at the fortress.
All the elders, alphas, and councilmen will be staying in the fortress, along with their families and close consorts.
My mind travels back to the other day when Brent spared those human children, and a warm smile curves my lips.
Who knew he had a soft side? At first I feared he would harm the little boy, whether his sweet little sister watched or not, and I was so close to swooping in and stopping him.
We may be at war with these creatures, but that doesn’t give us an excuse to hurt innocent little children.
They were one half of a small family of four, and I just thank Luna that the alpha had been busy at his meeting.
The image of him hurting those cute little kids would have haunted me for the rest of my life.
They truly are adorable as children. I’ve seen pictures of human kids in magazines, but seeing them in real life was something else. How anyone could want to hurt them?
The little girl had been as small as a doll. Even the rest of the pack looked hesitant to put a paw on her.
“Well, let’s go, Ylfa.”
I meet Patrick’s sparkling blue eyes and smile. At least I will get quality time with my oldest friend and mate.
We will meet with Hunter again in secret, but it may not be so possible now with thousands of wolves around.
Besides, Natasha keeps throwing me dirty looks. Her attitude toward me hasn’t changed much since we called it a draw at the last challenge. The same with her friends, too.
Only Chelsea and Annabel still follow her around like the minions they are, but all her other supporters don’t bother. She’s not the queen she used to be anymore...
Still. She will be a powerful asset in the upcoming games. Since we’re both the strongest females of our pack, we’ll be working together, of course, and I’msoexcited...
I get to work closely with my arch-nemesis.
Yay.
At last, I take Paddy’s hand as we trek the road to the northern slope.
...
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