Irritation briefly creased Victoria's features, but her face smoothed out when she looked down at Aura, who was such a tiny bundle in the black enormity of the forest.
"Yes," she murmured. "I think I will take her home." She looked up at Claire. "If you need me, you call. I'll come. You know that, right? You did so much for Aura—there's nothing I wouldn't do for you. Nothing." Her gaze burned brightly enough to blind Claire to everything else.
"Thank you," Claire said softly.
Victoria nodded, standing up carefully so that Aura wouldn't be jostled.
When the two of them had left, Judith and Beatrice quickly built another pile of wood in the center of the clearing.
Marie turned to Claire. "You've already lit the fire. Do you want to do it again? You do not have to. Not tonight."
Judith's expression turned to flint, but Claire was still burning from the success of the naming and from Victoria's loyalty. She was scorching with it.
"I'll light it." She stepped close to the pile.
Marie lifted an eyebrow. She looked surprised.
She also looked very much like she approved.
Claire glanced at the wood, feeling the fire so strongly that it flared to life effortlessly. She could almost see the sparks leaping from her fingertips. The force of the sudden blaze created a breeze in the clearing, and Claire's hair drifted across her cheek.
She didn't even bother to look over at Judith. She didn't care what her reaction was. Her mother's square-shouldered pride was enough.
"Well, you've obviously mastered that skill," Marie said quietly. "Let's transform."
Claire's four paws hit the ground before anyone else's. Next to her, Beatrice let out a wolfy version of a chuckle.
Marie gave a silencing grumble.
Since you are transformed, you may show us your far-reaching ability to hear.
Pleased at the surprised expression that lit Judith's eyes, Claire turned to face the fire, wrapped her tail close around her body, and let out a long, whistling breath through her nose. She shook out her fur, trying to relax her body enough that the other wolves would be able to read the voices she heard in her head in her posture and scent.
She decided to listen for Matthew—he was easy for her to hear. She imagined the sound of his voice, all warm, round vowels and the way his laugh rumbled in his chest.
"No, 's not like that. You don' understand."
Claire could hear a voice answering Matthew, but she couldn't quite make out what it was saying, and she couldn't figure out why his voice sounded slurred. She focused harder.
"Jus' drop it. Please. I'm going to get 'nother beer." Matthew again.
He was slurring because he was drunk.
The realization sent such a wave of embarrassment through Claire that she was sure the others could smell it. Judith sniffed the air and gave a quiet, amused bark.
Claire's concentration fell, and she was snapped back into the clearing, the fire hot on her face, the other wolves staring at her, their ears laid back. She looked around at the pack. Uh, maybe I should try to listen for Victoria instead.
Judith cocked her head to one side. Is this ability failing you, too?
A growl rose in Claire's throat before she could stop it. How dare Judith question her? After she'd worked so hard, done so much, was it really possible that she hadn't proved herself to this stupid she-wolf who would never come close to being as powerful as Claire's mother was, as powerful as Claire herself intended to become? She felt her lips pulling back into a snarl.
Claire! Enough! Marie barked.
The ring of her mother's bark—the Alpha's bark—in Claire's ears was enough to shake her out of her angry display. She hung her head, arching her back in an effort to look as sorry as she suddenly felt. She hadn't meant to explode like that. It had just been too much—to be questioned, doubted, after she'd finally succeeded.
Beatrice sat back down, turned to Marie. May I?
Marie dipped her head in assent. Of course.
I can also listen to the speech of those who are far away. Beatrice stared hard at Judith, who lowered herself to the ground. I heard Matthew's voice, though perhaps not as well as Claire did.
Beatrice glanced at Claire and tossed her head.
To be honest, everything that Claire has just shown us would
have been beyond my reach at her age. I know she is younger than you, Judith, and that she hasn't experienced all the things you have. But that is no reason to doubt her word. It is no reason to treat her like she has nothing to offer our pack. Her pack. To which she belongs every bit as much as you do.
Judith pawed at her nose in apology, but Claire could see her ears pulling back in suspicion, just the tiniest bit, when her eyes turned in Claire's direction. Thank you, Beatrice. Marie stood and shook herself hard from head to tail.
Katherine edged over and nudged Judith with her nose, urging her up.