Page 27 of Those That Are Lost

“They escaped here during the war?” Red asks.

“Yes, she, along with her mate, managed to get most of their pack here. They merged with the one already residing here and a couple of others which made it too. She is one of the reigning Alphas.”

Ash’s ears twitch and I know he’s listening to every word I say. They understandably won’t fully trust my companions, so I leave out a few details for the wolves to reveal themselves once they see Henry and Red aren’t a threat to their safety.

“They’re so beautiful,” Red states. I take a quick glance over my shoulder at her, see the awe on her face as she watches the wolves ahead of us.

“That’ll go a good way to winning them over.” I chuckle. “They all would’ve heard that.”

Ash leaps up out of the snow and barks, proving my point.

Aurora’s cheeks flush crimson and she smiles sheepishly. Heat swarms my own body at that look. Her real smiles are still so rare I cherish them.

The wolves ahead of us start barking again, demanding we hurry to catch up.

“Come on. I, for one, am happy we don’t have to sleep on the ground again tonight,” I say to divert the conversation.

It doesn’t takeus long to reach the first of the wolf dens. Built in amongst the trees, the houses are low down, only the top floor and the pitched roofs are visible. The majority of their homes are built down into the ground. They blend into the fauna of the surrounding forest floor, butting up against the tall evergreens.

Lots more barking and yipping fills the air as we walk down the path between the houses. Shifters in both their forms come out to greet us. We wave, greeting those who introduce themselves. I feel myself slipping into the role easier than I thought, I’d been used to this kind of treatment once upon a time, diplomatic conferences and council meetings where packs got together to discuss key issues.

Henry is a little reserved, but I see the soldier in him come out. Polite but brief. Red looks stunned, remaining shy, but her kind nature has her returning the greetings graciously.

Eventually, we reach a small clearing where a few larger buildings reside. They are still single storey, at least above ground, but are much longer and wider than the homes we’d passed. We’re led inside one of the grandest.

As soon as we’re through the entrance, Theodora shifts back into her human form and calls out to her mate as she disappears through an archway leading deeper into the building. In wolf form they can share thoughts telepathically. But as humans, their powers are pretty limited.

Ash also shifts, giving me the first look at the man he’s become. I was right about the muscles. The guy is packing, a far cry from the lanky pre-pubescent kid I knew. The third wolf to follow us inside stays on four legs.

“Ty, you’ve barely changed a bit.” Ash grabs me in a powerful hug.

“You certainly have,” I respond, feeling myself grin at the beaming smile he gives me.

“Yeah, well, building all these homes has its perks.” He flexes his biceps a bit, showing off the strength he’s earnt through graft rather than a gym.

“I see the arrogance in you hasn’t changed, though. You always were a cocky shit,” I tease before turning to take in my surroundings.

Theplace is entirely wood. Painted panelling for the walls and exposed beam ceilings. It's rustic but somewhat regal. Large square windows sit on the upper sections, they’re simple but will let in plenty of light during the day.

Rugs litter the floor and a few paintings decorate the walls, giving it a cosy feel. This is clearly just an entrance way, devoid of much furniture other than several racks for boots and coats. The wolves aren’t affected by the cold in either form but there’s several waterproof jackets, coats and trousers hanging on the pegs for when they venture outside on two legs in the rain.

Red stands off to the side, looking dumbstruck, still not quite believing what she’s seeing.

“Hey, you okay?” I ask her, striding the few paces back to where she stands near the door.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, clearly not fine.

“You can ask any questions. This lot are very open.” I try reassuring her. “Sometimes too open.”

That draws a little chuckle from her. I knew she’d be surprised when the wolves revealed themselves in the clearing, but she’s shutting down now.

“They won’t hurt you.”

“They’re a pack, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they are,” I reply, confused by her train of thought.

“Last time I was near a pack…” Her eyes flick to me. “We got chained in a basement.” She forces out the words.