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“She wore a spell around her neck like the one he gave me for the witch. After you were born, I took it off, destroyed it, and she simply disappeared. I never saw her again, but I—” He broke off and coughed, blood staining his lips, and Caleb fought back the need to shake him, to make him tell what he knew. Beside him, Regan whispered a word and a moment later, she handed him a glass of water. He held the glass to Ethan’s mouth. He swallowed and licked his lips.

“When you told me that she was a shapeshifter, I wondered. I often got the feeling we were being watched, but I could never discover anything, and I shrugged it off. But I think she stayed close and watched you grow.”

Caleb’s mind reeled. He couldn’t take this in. He stared at Ethan unable to decide whether this was better or worse.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I promised her—it was part of the deal. I told you she was broken. I think she needed to be on her own, but maybe in the end she couldn’t stay away.” He shrugged, and then grimaced in pain. “I don’t think it will make a difference—you’re unlikely to survive the night, but I thought you should know.”

Regan slipped her hand into Caleb’s and squeezed. He glanced across at her.

“Ask him who he’s working with,” she said.

He turned back to Ethan, but it was too late. The light had faded from his father’s eyes. A shudder ran through his long frame, and he went still. As the life force left him, a howl went up from the wolves all around them.

Caleb threw back his head and screamed. Inside his wolf howled to be free, and he fought for control, felt Regan grip onto his hand tight and not let go.

It was over.

Rising to his feet, he pulled Regan with him. All around, the wolves were pressing in closer, and he realized it wasn’t over at all. It was just beginning.

Regan tugged at his hand. “Let’s get away from here.”

He looked from the body of his father to the wolves. He knew the custom; the old leader would be devoured by the pack and somehow it seemed fitting. Ethan would have approved. That didn’t mean he wanted to see it.

A scuffle at the edge of the circle drew his attention. Two wolves were surrounded by a score of others. Even in their wolf form, he recognized his father’s seconds, the two who had murdered Kelly and Jason. The pack was about to dispense its own justice. Caleb turned his back.

As he strode away with Regan, a howl rose up from the wolves, then a scream of pain. He ignored the sound, stepping into the darkness of the surrounding trees. He kept walking until the sound diminished to a quiet roar, then turned around and dragged her into his arms.