The present…
HENRY…
I flipped over the next card on the deck and grinned at Liam while still keeping an eye on Mom, who stared out the window. She was trying not to show it, but she was worried.
For the last two days, like the rest of our kind, we’d done as the Elders asked. We’d kept inside and not changed to our fur.
When the boys slept, we all watched the news and monitored what was happening around the country. Chaos continued to spread through the masses. Opposing factions heavily debated the existence of werewolves while seeking evidence to prove their views. Frequently, reports aired with images showing captured people in various stages of shifting due to varying forms of torture. It was hard to tell if those held were Urbat or werewolf, but Mom and Dad’s fear grew. As did the fear of the humans around the world.
Amidst reports of captured wolf-shifters, the news recounted the numerous mutilated human bodies being discovered in homes or dumped along roadsides. Agencies pleaded with the public to report suspected wolf-shifters rather than trying to identify them on their own. But, it didn’t help. The death toll for the humans rose as neighbor judged neighbor.
Because of the volatile state of the country, Dad had gone alone to the grocery store about three hours ago. Given that we had no car and were supposed to do things with human speed and strength, three hours didn’t seem unreasonable, though.
“Boys, let’s clean up and get ready for lunch,” Mom said suddenly.
“Is Uncle Gregory bringing back pizza?” Aden asked.
“No. We’re going somewhere.”
The scent of her half-lie tickled my nose. Paul and I shared a look as we helped the cubs pick up the cards.
“Where are we going?” Liam asked.
“I’m not sure, sweetie. I think Uncle Gregory is going to surprise us all. As soon as you’re ready, we’re going to meet him.”
I could tell we were doing more than meeting him, though. While we cleaned up, Mom repacked our hiking bags. They once again contained the only supplies we’d brought with us when coming here.
The moment the boys had the cards back in the box, Mom stood ready with their jackets by the door. Aden and Liam skipped toward her, unaware of the growing tension in the room. She helped the boys into their winter wear, and Paul and I quickly put our own jackets on before shrugging on the packs. Although snow covered the ground, our jackets weren’t for our benefit. We needed them to look more human.
“Paul, you lead the way,” she said, opening the door.
Mom picked up Liam, and I picked up Aden. At a brisk pace, we left the house and started down the sidewalk. The town Mom and Dad had selected wasn’t that big, and the house we’d rented was only a few blocks away from the outlying woods. We weren’t heading toward the woods, though. We were heading toward downtown.
When we turned the corner, we found Dad jogging toward us. A human speed jog, but we were warned not to run at all. Something was happening.
“Dad?” I asked.
He caught up to us, ruffled Aden’s hair with a smile then looked at me.
“I’d like the two of you to run ahead.” He nodded down the road to the west. “Your mom and I will be behind you. We just need to clean up.”
It’s what he always said when they hung back to cover our trail, a necessary precaution so the scattered Urbat didn’t stumble across our scents. This time, however, didn’t feel like a precaution. I met Dad’s eyes, and he gave a slow nod. They’d found us. I wasn’t sure that was any better than the humans suspecting us.
“All right,” Paul said, picking up Liam. “You’re with me, bud.”
I scooped up Aden and followed Paul at a human run. Grey’s message touched my mind before we reached the crosswalk.
Your dad was spotted by an Urbat several hours ago. He tried losing him and covering his scent trails, but it didn’t work. You need to leave the area. Three are coming from the south and west. Two from the north and east. Head northwest. Gabby is watching, and we’ll guide you.
Paul changed direction, turning at the next block, and I knew Grey was talking to him, too.
Tell Gabby thanks, and tell Michelle that we’ll keep her brothers safe, I sent back.
Keep yourselves safe, too.
We reached the forest, no problem, and ran like we were meant to run, weaving through the towering trees.
“We’re not getting pizza, are we?” I heard Liam say to Paul.
“Not tonight, bud. We need to play the quiet game again.”
Aden laid his head on my shoulder and wrapped his arms around my neck. I worried about the cubs. Humans were so fragile, something Paul and I had learned from Gabby long ago. She’d been our friend and source of human information for years. So much had changed since our first meeting. She’d Claimed Clay, other human potential mates had been found, another species of werewolves had been brought to our attention, and Paul and I finally got to leave the Compound. Not quite the way either of us had hoped, however.
I continued to follow my brother through the trees until Paul slowed in front of me. Neither of us spoke nor let the boys down. Hidden within the sparse lower branches of the spruces, we listened.
“I have to go potty,” Aden whispered into my ear.
Paul nodded at me, and I set Aden on his feet.
“You can go right here.” The little guy pulled his pants down to his ankles and relieved himself in an impressive arc into the snow. I chuckled, the first real humor I’d felt in days.
Keep moving, Grey’s message cut through my humor. Jim is on his way.
I shared a look with Paul then hurried to help Aden tug his pants up. If they were sending Jim, it couldn’t be too bad. Had they sent an Elder, I would have worried. Scooping Aden into my arms, I took off running again with Paul.
Mom and Dad caught up to us in minutes and took the cubs from us while still running. Without them in our arms, Paul and I could run faster. Together, we moved as a pack, staying close and leaving no trace of our passing. No trace but our scents.
We ran tirelessly for over an hour before Dad stopped. He and Mom set the boys to their feet without speaking. Liam and Aden, glad for a chance to stretch their little legs, walked to where Paul and I stood.
“Jim is close,” Dad said softly. “They are closer.”
“Why did we stop then?” I asked.
Dad pointed up. I tipped my head back and saw an old hunting stand in one of the tall pines near us.
“Keep the tree safe. Keep the cubs safe,” he said.
I understood his reasoning. It would be easier to defend a tree that couldn’t move than a child who might try to run in fear.
“I’m scared,” Aden whispered, looking up at Mom.
She squatted down in front of him as Paul and I discarded our packs at the base of the tree.
“Try not to be. Remember what I said about our noses? We smell everything. Push your fear aside, and you’ll be able to hide better.”
She hugged the little boy then kissed his cheek.
“I don’t want to hide in the tree,” he said.
“You won’t be alone. Paul and Henry will be with you.”
“Mom,” I said.
“Second line, Henry. Just in case. Take them now.” She stood and gave me a no-nonsense look.
I picked up Aden and, with only one free arm, scrambled up the trunk and onto the stand. Paul and Liam were right behind us. There wasn’t much room. Just enough for the four of us to fit if we didn’t move around much.
Paul sat against the trunk and had Liam and Aden sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around them and began telling a story in a quiet voice that still carried through the trees. The sound didn’t matter. Our scent trails would lead the Urbat to our location.
While Paul spoke softly to the cubs, I watched the expanse of barren trees and pines to the south where Mom and Dad stared. In the distance, three wolves raced toward us, their dark shapes easily visible against the white. They were too big for normal wolves, and too focused on my parents. However, three to two wasn’t terrible odds. I’d seen my Dad help Thomas settle the disputes that usually occurred at Introductions. He was strong and fought crazy well. But this was different. The Urbat weren’t just ticked off because they couldn’t meet a female first. They wanted the boys at any cost, and my parents were outnumbered. If I went down to help…
“Stay there, boys,” Dad said as if reading my mind.
I glanced at Paul, but he remained focused on the cubs.
A faint howl echoed through the trees. Mom and Dad tensed, and I watched the wolves close the distance. The first two went straight for Dad. The third went for Mom. In all the time growing up at the Compound, I’d not once seen either of my parents move like they did now. Those disputes had been nothing to Dad.
As the two leapt toward him, he jumped up, twisting in mid-air to evade both attacks.
Mom met the one coming at her head-on with tooth and claws. Paul and I had gotten in plenty of trouble in our lives, enough to question if we’d live to see another day, but I’d never heard Mom growl like she did at that moment. Her face shifted as she opened her mouth and sunk her teeth deeply into the mutt’s scruff as the two attacking Dad landed and pivoted. Dad was already on his feet, too, waiting for them.
Mom shook her head savagely, and the scent of blood tickled my nose.
Dad met the second attack with arms extended as if he was welcoming them with a hug. However, his hands closed around their throats. Instead of stopping them, with a heave and twist of his wrists, he spun them away from him.
Paul continued to whisper to the boys, trying his best to drown out the sounds of the snarls and yips. Because of the action and the noise, I almost missed the two coming in from the east.
“Dad, two more,” I yelled.