Malik looked disappointed, as if it should be obvious. “I have taken great risk to bring you here. All it would take would be for you to turn around and report everything you’ve seen. To wake your witch and bring him here.”
“What makes you think I won’t do just that?”
He shrugged. “Because part of you knows I’m telling the truth. You can feel it, can’t you? It’s hidden in shadow, buried deep inside. Something… off. Do you dream?”
The walls were closing in. I rubbed at the skin between my neck and shoulders. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. “We all dream.”
“We do,” Malik said, and his voice was deeper, almost a growl, like his wolf was just underneath his skin. “Some of us dream in shades of blue. Or green. Or of a field filled with violets that embed themselves in our skin. What is it you dream of?”
There was
an alpha
a strong alpha
black like night
he stands in a clearing
he sees me
he says little wolf little wolf
he says robbie
he says robbie
he says
“Nothing,” I said hoarsely as I opened my eyes. “I dream of nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I shook my head as I took a step back. “I don’t care. You’re harboring an Omega. He could hurt people, Malik. Innocent people.”
“He’s just a child.”
“I know that. But he won’t be able to control it. Do you want to be responsible for that? If he escaped and made his way into town? And if Alpha Hughes finds out you have him here, she’s going to dismantle your pack. They’re going to take him away and—”
Brodie said, “They’re in pain.” His voice was quiet.
“Who is?” Malik asked, though he never looked away from me.
“All of them,” Brodie said, and the blanket shifted as his head appeared, eyes glowing in the dark. “They howl. It hurts. A limb severed. It’s pack and pack and pack. They hunt. They kill. They fight because it’s what they’re supposed to do. The Alpha said they would tear the world apart. It’s the only way they know how.” His eyes seemed to get brighter. “There is a song to be sung. And there is one who sings it above all others. His scream. I hear it. A wolfsong.” He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. “I hear it all the time because I hear them.” His chest began to heave. “I hear them, I hear them, I hear them—”
“Hush, child,” Malik said, pressing a hand against Brodie’s forehead. “No need for that now. You’re safe here.”
The boy began to cry bitterly, tears spilling down his cheeks before he turned and pressed his face against Malik’s chest. “Please don’t let them take me, Malik. Please don’t let them take me away again. I won’t hurt anyone. I promise. I promise.”
“I know you won’t,” Malik said. “And no one will take you from your pack.” Malik looked back up at me. “Ever.”
It was said in defiance.
And I believed him.
Ezra was still snoring when I returned to the barn.
He looked as if he hadn’t moved at all.
I slumped against the door, sliding down to the ground.
I tilted my head back toward the ceiling.
Through broken slats overhead, I could see the bright outline of the moon.
“I’m pleased with our visit,” Ezra said as we stood next the car. The sun was barely cresting over the horizon, and the air was warm. “I know Alpha Hughes will be too, so long as communications reopen.”
Shannon nodded. The house behind her was quiet, though I didn’t think it would be for long. John and Jimmy would wake soon, and we would be gone. “Extend my apologies to the Alpha. Let her know that we’ve been busy. It was an oversight. Nothing more.”
“Of course,” Ezra said. “It happens to the best of us. Let us know if there is anything you need. The Alpha of all is here for you, as she is for all wolves, no matter who they are.” He glanced at me, a quiet smile on his face. “Or where they came from. Who knows? One day John or Jimmy might hear her call and feel the need to rise in rank. They seem capable.” He chuckled.
Shannon didn’t laugh. “We’ll see.” She took a step back toward the house. “I gotta get back inside. We have a busy day ahead of us. I don’t want them to be late for school.”
“I’m sure,” Ezra said, even though it was barely past six. “We’ll take our leave. Robbie? Would you mind driving? These old bones are a little stiff this morning. I’ll even let you pick the music.”
“Yeah. That’s fine.” I took him by the arm and led him around to the passenger side. I opened the door and helped him in. He sighed gratefully as he sat down. He told me not to fuss as I tried to buckle his seat belt. I told him to shut up and let me do it. He rolled his eyes, but his lips were quirking. I stood upright and closed the door.
Shannon said, “Robbie.”
I glanced at her.
She didn’t speak again.
She didn’t flash her eyes.
Instead she pleaded without words or a show of power.
Malik came out onto the porch behind her.
He leaned against the rail, arms over his chest.
It would be so easy.
So easy.
To do the right thing.
To tell everyone what I’d seen.
There were rules in place to protect us all.
And this pack was breaking them.
I could almost see it.
The aftermath.
They would descend on this place.
Shannon and Malik would fight.
They would lose.
John and Jimmy would be torn from their pack.
And the Omega would be destroyed.
It’d happened before.
It would happen again.
I nodded at them and rounded the back of the car.
Right as I was about to walk by Shannon, she grabbed my hand and squeezed.
Something pressed against my palm.
I looked down at a piece of paper.
She didn’t say a word, only shook her head.
I shoved it in my pocket.
We were almost to the main road when I looked in the rearview mirror.
Shannon and Malik were gone.
“Are you all right?” Ezra asked.
“Yeah,” I muttered as I rolled down the window. I was getting tired of people asking me that question. “I’m fine. I didn’t sleep very well is all. Sleeping in a barn isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, apparently.”
Ezra patted my knee. “We’ll be home soon enough. You did well, dear. I know it’s not easy going into another Alpha’s territory without knowing what awaits you. I’m proud of you.”
We headed north.
Ezra went inside to pay for gas the first time we stopped.
I pulled out the crumpled piece of paper.
It was a Valentine.
Across the top was a cartoon wolf, head tilted back, a tiny heart over his head.
Above it were the words I HOWL FOR YOU!!!
And below it was a phone number with four more words in a shaky scribble.
FOR WHEN YOU’RE READY.
dreamed in such sharpness/kill us all
“And that’s it,” Michelle said, sounding dubious. “That’s all it was. They were busy.”