With growing agitation and resentment, I stalked toward the truck. Those who’d stood around it parted for us. I didn’t miss the wariness and hostility in their eyes. They thought we were three more they would need to fight.
We moved to the back of the truck and grabbed some pants from the open bed. Tugging them on, I winced. It felt horrible. Certain parts cried out for freedom, and I almost changed my mind. These mongrels could all kill each other. Why should I even care? I had my pack to protect.
The image of the dead Mates and their cubs had me resolutely pulling up the zipper. We needed to stop fighting amongst ourselves and see our true purpose. Rid the earth of the human plague.
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared up at Winifred. She would never admit she was wrong, but that didn’t matter. I only needed to convince the rest of the crowd that she was wrong.
“Winifred, we’ve heard rumors that there’s a human here and that you’re exposing our kind to her.”
“That’s correct,” she said.
“How is allowing a human here in the best interest of the packs? Of our people? The last humans who were here shot four females and a cub. She needs to leave. Now.”
“I disagree,” Winifred said calmly. “You know nothing of her. She’s not like other humans.”
There’s something different about her, Thomas. Something I’ve never come across before, Winifred added silently to me.
“I don’t care,” I said. “For the safety of our kind, there can be no exceptions.”
“For the safety of our kind,” she said, “we need to adapt. You need to listen to reason.”
You’re the one not listening, I sent Winifred silently. Her people will come for her. And when they do, she will tell them what she knows. She needs to die.
She looked away from me and addressed the listening men.
“There can be no life without purpose and no purpose without reason. We struggle to survive because, as a species, we’ve lost our purpose. The world is changing, and we need to change with it. We need to find our reason. It is the only way to continue our existence. Even nature is telling us it’s time to change. Charlene is human and a potential Mate. Turn her away, and you might be turning away your future. Think about it.”
She looked at me once more.
“Some leaders are born. Some rise out of necessity and are refined by circumstance. The best leader is one who listens openly and considers all possibilities.”
Winifred looked up at the window, and I followed her gaze. A dark haired female stared down at us, her gaze raptly focused on Gregory. I glanced at my friend who seemed just as enthralled.
Gregory? I sent him.
She’s the one, Thomas. I’m asking Winifred for permission to speak with her.
Out here, I sent Gregory. I don’t trust the human.
Gregory was silent for several long moments.
She’s insisting that I need to go in to meet her. Said it’s not safe for her out here.
I narrowed my eyes on Winifred.
“Gregory felt the pull for the dark haired female inside. She’s one of ours. Do you acknowledge the pull?” I said.
Some of the wolves around me started to grow restless. Our rules might not apply to the human female, but they did with the other. If Winifred acknowledged the mutual attraction between Gregory and the female, she had no reason to keep them apart.
“I do.”
“Then why aren’t you allowing her to come out? Gregory wants to see her.”
I silently dared her to speak the reason she gave Gregory.
“It is not safe for her out here.”
“Not safe? No male here would do anything to hurt her. As you pointed out, we’re low on females. If we’re so low on females and our race is struggling, why are you trying to prevent their meeting? Adding another Mated pair should be your top priority instead of focusing on a human no one can Claim.”
Thomas, you’re pushing too hard, Grey warned as white fur rippled over Winifred’s arms.
“I am not preventing their meeting. Given previous events, Mary feels the need to stay with Charlene and offer her support.”
“So the problem isn’t Mary’s safety, but the human’s safety? Have you even asked Mary if she would be interested in meeting her Mate? Again, you’re preventing their meeting.”
Winifred leapt from the truck bed, landing inches from me.
“Watch yourself, pup,” she said before turning toward the door. “I will ask and return with her answer.”
Through the broken window, we all heard females’ voices.
“You’re right. But I still need to meet him, to talk to him. If he tries…”
“I’ll roll up a newspaper and smack him on the nose for you.”
I pulled my lips back in a silent snarl. The human wanted to treat us like dogs?
Winifred knocked on the door, halting the conversation, then stepped inside and closed the door behind her. The broken window beside the door allowed us all to hear what was said inside.
“Mary, there is someone out there who’d like to meet you.”
No noise drifted out until Winifred’s long-suffering sigh reached us.
“You know I can’t promise that, Mary,” Winifred said, making me wonder what the female wanted. “Charlene is unique. If I tried preventing him from Claiming you, the tenuous trust they have in me would be lost.”
The female didn’t want to be Claimed? The human’s influence was already spreading.
“Can I meet him first?” the human asked.
I glanced at Grey. He looked troubled, but not nearly as angry as I felt. Why would the human want to meet another female’s Mate first?
“That would be up to Mary,” Winifred said.
“It’s okay with me,” Mary said.
“I’d prefer he come in here, though,” the human said. “Alone.”
I don’t like this, I sent Gregory.
He set a hand on my shoulder.
I know. But, what wouldn’t we do for a true Mate? I’d gladly face a hundred humans. One human girl won’t be a problem.
Winifred stepped out the door and looked at us with a raised brow.
Gregory looked at me. He would abide by whatever I said, but I could see the yearning in his eyes.
I am happy for you, my friend. Go. Meet your Mate. But, be wary of the human. We both know the trickery they are capable of.
He nodded and walked inside.
The wolves milled around. Some stayed close to the door to listen. Others moved further away toward the trees, probably considering hunting while they waited.
Winifred approached Grey and me.
“Have you noticed the changes?” she asked me.
I looked around as I half-listened to the human introduce herself like she mattered.
“Not really. I was a bit younger the last time we were here.”
Winifred looked at Grey.
“A few,” he said. “Some of the windows are fixed. Some have been taken apart.” He looked back where I remembered a shed standing. “Some things have disappeared.”
Inside, I heard the human mention Mary’s concern about being Claimed. Ridiculous. The Claiming bite healed within moments. It was the only type of bite that healed that fast. Why was the human trying to prevent a Claiming? What game was she playing?
“So you’re the human,” Gregory said. “Winifred was right. You are different.”
“Thomas,” Winifred said before I could ask Gregory what he meant. “Not all humans are bad.”
“I never said they were. However, they are all dangerous. Most of them through ignorance. That doesn’t make them any less of a threat, though.”
“Then we need to teach them.”
“What are you saying? Expose ourselves to the world?” I couldn’t believe she would even hint at such a thing. It would be a bloodbath.
The males nearest us, turned to look at her. Worry and fear drifted to me. Fools. They should feel anger.
“No,” she said quickly. “I doubt they will ever be ready for that. But we still need to start integrating with them, building relationships and a place for ourselves in this rapidly changing world. As we do, I know we’ll find some worthy of our trust. They might even become our allies if they understand who and what we are.”
“Look around you,” I said, eyeing the poorly dressed bodies milling about. “From a human’s view, we are worthless. Worse than their own rejects. Mongrels. We have no place in their world, and they have no place in ours.”
“Your stubbornness will be your downfall, Thomas.”
“Unlikely. It’s what’s kept me alive.”
Thomas, Gregory sent. Mary acknowledges I am her Mate but has asked me to wait to Claim her until Charlene finds her Mate. I’ve agreed.
I frowned, understanding what he was telling me. We would need to stay here…with the human.
I would like to meet Mary, I sent him.
Of course. I’ll bring her to you.