Do you know your way out of the forest?
The tilt of the old wolf’s head told Claire that this was not so much a question as a command. Claire’s half-changed nose scented the path she and her mother had taken through the woods earlier. She looked over at her mother and her stomach lurched at the idea of going home without her. What if something happened to her mother while they were hunting the seule? What if it attacked her mother? Or Zahlia? The idea of one of them getting hurt—or worse—made her sick.
“Can’t I go, too?” Her half-human voice sounded strange in the clearing. Behind her, Katherine let out an irritated snort.
Beatrice’s ear twitched. At the next moon, you would have been able to go with us. But half-changed you would hinder us far more than you would help us. I’m sorry, Claire.
Claire opened her mouth to protest, but Marie’s voice filled her head, stopping her. Our pack has survived without you for sixteen years, Claire. Tonight will be no different. Go home and wait for me.
“Okay,” Claire whispered.
Zahlia tilted her head to one side in a can’t-win-’em-all gesture. Then the five wolves turned and disappeared into the trees like smoke, their noses twitching in anticipation. Claire looked at Victoria. Victoria pressed her ears back until they were flat against her head. Fear flickered across her face as she scanned the trees. Just by looking at her, by smelling her tangy, damp scent on the breeze, Claire knew that Victoria was suddenly terrified to go through the woods—that her pregnancy made her feel vulnerable.
“I’ll be okay on my own if you’d rather just go home,” Claire said.
Victoria licked her lips. No—Beatrice told me to take you home. We have to listen to her, Claire. She’s our Alpha—her word is law. I’ll be okay. Having a violent seule around just makes me nervous. I hadn’t really thought about it that way, before my mother forbid me to go, but she’s right. I have to protect this baby.
“If you’re sure …” Claire hesitated. She knew Beatrice was supposed to be obeyed, but she hated to make Victoria stay in the woods any longer than she had to.
It’ll be fine. Really, as long as we’re not hunting her, she won’t want to bother us. We’ll be safe, I promise. Let’s go.
Before she could second-guess herself again, Claire grabbed her clothes in her half-changed mouth, turned, and scampered into the trees. Every time a twig cracked in the distance, Victoria’s head jerked up, away from the scent Claire and her mother had left along their path, and her ears swiveled back and forth, listening for any sign of the seule.
Victoria was so nervous that Claire started to get jumpy, too. What she needed was a distraction.
“So, it’s really great about the baby, huh?”
Victoria whined. It is. As long as I can keep her safe, it will be wonderful.
Claire grimaced. She’d been hoping for more of an I-can’t-wait-to-buy-baby-clothes reaction.
Sorry. I know I’m being twitchy.
“It’s okay. Hey—thanks for saying that I did okay at the coffee shop. I think Mom secretly believed that I actually jumped up and down and shouted about how glad I was to see another werewolf.”
Victoria let out an amused whuffling sort of noise. I’m sure Marie doesn’t mean to be so hard on you. She just doesn’t want to see you go through the pain of making mistakes, you know?
“Yeah. Maybe.” Or maybe not.
One day, you’ll understand. The beginning is hard for everyone.
Victoria picked up the pace, and Claire struggled to keep up with her. By the time Claire made it back to the edge of the forest, she was panting with exertion. It took her two tries to force herself back into her human skin.
Claire looked back at Victoria. “Be careful going home.”
Victoria cocked her head and flicked her ears, but since Claire was in her human form, she couldn’t understand what the golden-brown wolf was saying. With a wave, Claire slipped through the opening in the wall and pressed herself against the ivy-covered brick. Relief flooded through her—she’d made it home, at least. All that was left to do was slip back into the house and wait for her mother to join her.
Claire sat in the dark kitchen, watched the microwave clock count away the night, and wondered what the hell was going on in the woods. An hour passed, then two. Exhausted, Claire put her head down on the table and stared at the glowing green numbers with heavy eyes.
A warm hand shook her shoulder and Claire started awake, confused. “Wha—”
“Ssshh,” her mother warned her. “Don’t wake Lisbeth. We must get you into bed, chérie. It is nearly dawn.”