"Leveret," Lupa said slowly. "Don't move."
Like a hunter watching its prey, she stalked towards her brother while maintaining eye contact with me. But I was closer to him than she was. I took a smooth step in her direction, body blocking her from approaching Leveret, which infuriated her.
"Get away from him!"
I liked her nerve.
"That's quite all right," I said mildly. "I'm fine standing right here."
She gnashed her teeth and hurled a string of threats that I ignored. Wolf shifters—especially alphas—were always so quick to anger.
This was good. Lupa's instinct to protect her loved one flared bright and strong. I could only imagine the power of Leveret's entire pack banding together to save him from me, the villain stirring chaos in their lives.
And speaking of Leveret, what was the poor young man doing now?
I glanced over my shoulder.
Leveret just sat there. Watching. Between his fingers was a clover leaf that he spun rhythmically, back and forth.
What an odd character.
The fact that I'd shifted focus to her brother upset Lupa. I heard a note of panic in her voice as she tried to steal my attention.
"Animus," she said. "If you want a fight, I'm right here. Leave Leveret alone."
Leveret didn't look at his sister. I met his even gaze. Both of them were well aware of who I was now and yet, Leveret had no reaction.
Interesting.
Out of the whole pack, I knew the least about him. He was an alpha hare shifter, and twin brother to Lupa. That was the extent of my knowledge.
But I found myself wanting to know more. The curiosity sparkling in Leveret's eyes reflected back at me like a mirror. His surreal stare drew me in.
Startled by my reaction, I tore away from him, facing Lupa again.
What was that?
I was so stunned by Leveret's deep gaze that I wasn't paying attention to his angry sister. Lupa launched herself at me, fangs and claws bared. I barely ducked out of the way in time. Her claws grazed my ethereal skin. The jolting pain forced me to focus. I wasn't here to goad the she-wolf into a fight. I was here toborrowLeveret.
It would've been kinder of me to let Lupa know I intended on returning him, but that defeated the point. I needed her protective fury. I needed the ferocity of the whole pack.
I had no doubt that the second I disappeared with Leveret, Lupa would run straight to the rest of the family and tell them what happened. That was exactly what I wanted. So the bigger display I created right now, the better.
"I'm warning you, spirit," Lupa snapped. "If you don't get away from him, I'll rip your head off."
"How crass. You're aware it will grow back, yes?"
Lupa didn't respond with words. Instead, she lunged at my ankle. I hopped out of the way a split second before her sharp fangs snapped the empty air.
Though I couldn't be killed in the mortal sense of the word, I was nonetheless averse to pain. It was unwise to draw out this altercation just for the fun of it, or I'd leave sporting one less limb.
"Lupa."
Both of us stilled. That was the first word Leveret said since I arrived. His voice was soft and flat with an unexpected calming quality.
He hadn't moved from his spot in the grass, but now his mouth was curved into a frown. What surprised me was that he wasn't frowning at me, but at his sister.
"Please don't bite him. And don't rip his head off," Leveret said.