† Sage †

Coral and the niece of the most frustrating and seductive wolf man I’d ever met–which was really only 50/50 for me at this point assuming Lennox could turn into a wolf–sat on the bed excitedly chatting like they were long lost friends.

The girls were similar in height and build, but Kera was solid muscle. The shirt she’d borrowed from Coral fit snug on her shoulders and arms. She had auburn hair with golden streaks and those same stark bluish gray eyes that I assumed were a family trait.

Just like Maddock’s eyes.

I purposefully pushed the thought of those eyes away as I looked around the room. Coral had only brought in her suitcase and the backpack with my oils and other toiletries.

Apparently, I was supposed to go down to the car to grab my own suitcase. I’d do that later. First, I wanted a crash course on what exactly we’d walked into and Coral’s new bestie seemed like the safest option I’d met this far to interrogate.

“Okay.” I slumped down into the corner chair of the rented room that held a single bed and what looked like a real wood dresser in the corner. “Can someone tell me what is happening here?”

*

Both of the girl’s hands flew wildly as they talked while sitting on the bed. Their voices overlapped each other’s in the sing-song way that made me wonder if I’d ever been a teenager. My eyes darted back and forth to their faces as I struggled to keep up.

“My uncle isn’t normally this intense,” Kera gushed.

I waved my hand, dismissing that information. Now was not the time to worry about him.

I looked to Coral and she continued, “I’m meant to be here. It’s not just them that can smell that I’m family. I sense the rightness of this place.”

Extra emphasis on the word rightness.

As if me being her only family was wrong.

“We haven’t had a pure come this way in years,” Kera cut off my train of thought. “I think the last ones came when I was a small pup. They didn’t stick around though because, well, this pack sucks. But I guess you guys aren’t pure anyway.”

I smiled, trying not to let what was normally an insult affect the tone of the conversation. “How does this place… Or should I ask, why does this place exist?”

Kera cocked her head to the side, not following my line of questioning. “It exists because we live here.”

“I already asked where we are,” Coral interrupted with a special eyeroll reserved for me. She snapped her fingers, urging me to get on board already. “This is Cerberus territory. It extends from about a hundred miles outside of Ethica’s fence line, right about where we started to see trees, and shares borders with the Fenrir, Amarok, Cadejo, and a small portion of the Anubis pack over a couple hundred miles.”

I choked on my own spit, trying to comprehend the vast expanse of that much land. “Are there more civilizations out there?”

“That’s what I was trying to explain.” Kera rested back against the headboard. “Coral said you guys didn’t believe there was anything out here but toxic wasteland. I can’t believe you were all so stupid.”

She clapped her hands over her mouth. “Sorry. I was never good at mincing words.”

Ever the diplomat, Coral smiled at her newfound friend to console her and then turned her big brown eyes to me. “They’ve been lying to us all this time. Not just about what’s out here, but what happened during the bio-

cleanse.”

Part of me knew this was coming. There was no other rational explanation as to why we were here. But it’s hard to wrap your head around the notion that the history you’d been taught to believe was a blatant lie. My father must have known about this. It hurt that he never told the truth either.

But I was ready for it now. It wasn’t like I had another option anyway. “Explain.”

*

I’d kill for a glass of scotch, but had to settle for a breather in the hall.

I should not have let two teenage girls blurt out their explanation for the way of the world in hyper speed.

No one can digest information that fast.

Magic? Seriously? That was their reasoning for why DNA could be altered with mutations and that people could grow freaking fangs.

Why sexy men can turn into wolves!

I paced the hallway, gathering my thoughts, and tried to weed through the cluster of information to focus on fact.

My history was easy to understand. A simple case study on manipulating DNA to splice with animals led to a contamination leak in the lab where test subjects escaped. There was rapid breeding among the general population and, after major fear and political outcry, the bio-cleanse commenced.

Humans built safe cities as nuclear warfare devastated the environment to destroy the hives of infestation. In these cities, science prevailed and they preserved the human species for the last two hundred years in a utopian society enhanced by–you guessed it–science.

Alternative history rapidly explained by a teenage girl…Uh, shifter as she liked to be called:

“We’ve literally had magic in this world since the dawn of time, but apparently shifters and witches hid it because they’d be persecuted or whatever. Then there were some progressive old ones that figured society

was advanced enough to give us all equal rights. They took it to some world convention and let’s just say it did not go well.”

Spoken at the speed of light.

“Our ancestors volunteered to be tested, knowing the humans’ need to explain things they can’t by studying it in a lab. When they couldn’t

recreate or harness the magic, that’s when things got really ugly. There were some wars. The purists couldn’t win them. So, they retreated to their cities to lick their wounds and now they pretty much leave us alone up here.”

No big deal, right?

I rubbed my temples, easing the headache that was building. Maybe I should have talked with an adult. Then again, if what she said was true, I

was a lot more ignorant than I thought. My mind was still racing with unanswered questions, so I turned to my gut instead. Instinct was the one emotion I could trust that wouldn’t become overwhelming.

And my intuition said there was a chance magic was real. Like religion or ghosts, it’s hard to disclaim something you don’t feel is true when there are thousands of others who disagree.

Maybe I wanted it to be real.

If it was, Coral wasn’t some monster mutation. She’d descended from a long line of shifter magic that was as old as time. I wanted that for her. I wanted her to have a history and purpose that didn’t taint her as wrong or impure.

And me?

I’d long ago learned to put my desires on the back burner. I didn’t

have time to work through what I wanted for myself, though I’d be lying if I didn’t say this witch bit was an interesting turn of events.

Something about the idea of magic pulled to a hollow spot in my core that I’d been taught to ignore.

But maybe…just maybe.

My stomach rumbled on cue.

Oh right, that empty place was hunger.

It was getting dark now and I couldn’t even remember what I ate today which was seriously unlike me. Coral would be starving too. She’d always had a large appetite.

Which apparently is a shifter problem.

Who’d have thought?

If I was in my kitchen, I’d definitely be whipping us up a dumpling

stew. Something hearty enough to stick to your ribs. Comfort food to ease a broken heart or troubled mind. The trick was to pair it with a sharp herb and my preference was thyme. The added aroma didn’t let you sulk in the bowl. It was a bite of the tongue to refresh your palate and brought just enough zing to make you feel alive.

Okay, now I’m really hungry.

I groaned, realizing those simple days were behind us. It’s not like I had a stove or job or solid place to stay. Maddock’s words taunted me, but I

ignored them. I’d figure it out tomorrow.

We needed food tonight.

The girl’s stopped talking as I opened the door and I knew Coral was waiting for my response to the bombshell they’d dropped. But I’d made a firm decision not to deal with that now. Science or magic didn’t matter at

the moment. Neither could trump basic needs of survival.

“Let’s go find something to eat.” I ignored the questioning look on Coral’s face. I’d been protecting her since she was a child and food was the surest way to keep someone alive. Kera was the all-knowing one tonight anyway so I turned to her instead. “Is there a restaurant or diner around

here?”

Kera frowned as she looked to my sister.

Coral nodded and turned to me. “I’m not hungry, but maybe we can grab a bin from the car. You still have snacks and the food you packed.”

“You’re not hungry?” I laughed. “Is the toxic air getting to you too?”

Coral mocked my laugh and then deadpanned. “As much as I love your bad jokes, I’m okay. Stop worrying about me.”

“Fine then.” I shrugged, letting the insult roll off my shoulders. Since she’d turned fourteen, the attitude had been growing, and with the eighteenth birthday coming in less than a month, her stubborn independence was stronger every day.

But I was hungry even if she denied she was, so I was going to get something to eat.

Kera moved fast, jumping over the bed, and landed against the door before I could open it. “If you want something outside of the inn, then I can get it for you.”

I bit my lip, not wanting to offend the girl by telling her to get out of the way. I was about twenty minutes from hangry. Food was non-negotiable now. “I’ll be fine. Thanks. Do you want me to grab you something too?”

Kera seemed frightened for a moment, looking anywhere but my face, and then out of nowhere her blue eyes started to glow as a deep baritone rumbled from her chest. “You stay here. I’ll get whatever you need.”

My eyebrow shot halfway up my forehead as I stared at her blankly, wondering what that was all about. Maybe she was hungry too. “Are you okay?”

“Well, that didn’t work.” Kera huffed in frustration, twisting a strand of hair around her finger.

“What was supposed to work?” I inhaled deeply. Nineteen minutes and counting until the frustration of hunger slipped through. Knowing how to calm my emotions, meant knowing everything about my body’s cues.

“An Alpha command.” A blush creeped up on Kera’s cheeks. “I was hoping you’d feel the power to obey.”

“I felt something,” Coral piped in. “It definitely made me want to think twice.”

Enough with this budding teenage friendship, I was quickly entering the yellow zone of hungry. A few more minutes and I’d have to resort to snacks, but I was really hoping to find a decent meal to eat. “Is there a reason I’m supposed to stay in this room?”

Kera’s eyes widened as the glow receded. “I’m sorry, that was stupid.

An Alpha command wouldn’t work on you anyway because you’re not pack. It’s just that my Uncle Maddock gave me one important job to do. He doesn’t trust people easily and I really don’t want to let him down.”

“What job did Maddock give you?” Wow. His name on my lips sounded delicious. Definitely entering the starving zone if words were tasting like food.

Kera looked to Coral for support.

My sister gave a slight shake of her head that I caught out of the corner of my eye. I’d deal with whatever that was about after we figured out the food situation.

“He asked me to keep you both safe in here until the morning.” Kera shrugged.

“Is there an issue with us leaving the inn?” I wasn’t stupid. We knew nothing about this place and if we were in danger by going outside, I wouldn’t take an unnecessary risk. But the way she accused Maddock alone as being the reason made me wary.

“My uncle will kill me.” Kera smiled.

I figured it was something like that. After he’d caged me in the hall, I was picking up some major bossy vibes. Jokes on him though. I never much liked being told what to do.

“So there is no reason to worry about going outside other than the fact that your uncle said not to,” I clarified as I crossed my arms, waiting for her

to move away from the door.

Kera sighed when she realized I wasn’t budging. “You’re both safe here. Coral is like long lost pack and no one would be stupid enough to

cross a witch and risk a curse.”

This witch idea was a serious thing with these people. I made a mental note to see why they kept calling me that and what it entailed later.

But. Food. First.

“Tell your uncle to speak with me if there is an issue.” I sidestepped her and reached for the door handle.

“Wait! You don’t understand. He’s your…” Kera hesitated as she pressed her back against the wood. “He’s the enforcer for the pack and what he says goes. When he was communicating through the pack link, he made me promise to keep you here and safe until he returns in the morning to take you to a permanent den. Anything you need tonight, I’ll get for you.”

“What is a pack link?” Coral asked, crawling to the edge of the bed. “When you’re connected as a pack under the Alpha, we can hear each

other’s voices in our heads.” Kera turned to my sister.

I took another deep breath to ease the rising frustration. Why in the world would this strange wolf-man care so much about what we do? If anything, after the bombshell Kera dropped about our history–which may or may not be the complete truth–he should hate people coming from the human city.

“That’s so cool.” Coral gasped. “When do I get one of those links?”

Kera took a step away from the door, closing her eyes as she stood straight. “Did you hear anything?”

Coral chewed her bottom lip and shook her head. “Just Sage’s stomach growling.”

I had my hand on the door and was easing it open when both girls turned to me. “Look, I’m going to run downstairs to my car and get my bags. Uncle Maddock can deal with that. You girls stay here and talk.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Kera looked over her shoulder to Coral.

“Fine.” I exhaled. “Why don’t we all go together? The car is right

outside and I’m sure even Maddock will understand that a girl’s got to eat.”

*

These girls do not stop talking. Don’t get me wrong, I was beyond excited that Coral had connected with someone her age in this crazy situation we’d landed in. But their constant chatter followed me down the stairs, adding to the frustration of my hunger.

Lennox pushed himself away from the desk as we tumbled into the lobby. His fangs were retracted, but a wicked smirk curved his lips. I nudged the girls closer to the wall instinctually and walked in the way of his view.

“Going somewhere?” He cracked his neck from side to side. “Food,” I grunted, pushing open the door.

The minute the fresh air hit my face, I held my breath. Then shook my head when I realized that was crazy. Or maybe I was the crazy one and the air really was toxic, causing me to hallucinate all of this.

It was better to die with a full stomach.

“I can have something sent to your room.” Lennox followed behind us as I ushered the girls outside, licking his bottom lip as his fangs extended a bit. “Tell me what you want to eat.”

A warning growl sounded behind me and I whipped my head to the side, waiting to see if Maddock had suddenly come back.

Both Coral and Kera were silent.

“No need. I’m just grabbing my bags.” I shut the door in his face.

The girls resumed their chatting. Coral was dying to know when she’d be able to turn into a wolf.

Because that was our new normal now.

As curious as I was to know the answer, I turned to scan the darkened street for threats. The moon was bright enough to cast a white

glow over the little town. In the shock of arriving earlier, I hadn’t realized how small it really was.

The cobblestone street was surprisingly empty of any parked

vehicles and my car stood out like a sore thumb in the fairy tale setting. A few dark lanterns with broken glass hung suspended from poles on the sidewalk. The town was quiet as if everyone was sleeping already and I wondered where the residents all lived.

The night sky overhead was breathtaking though, brilliant and full of stars. A sense of peace and rightness settled in my soul while I looked up at it which was broken by the sound of the bell chiming.

door. side.

“Let me get your bags.” Lennox strolled past me and opened the car “I’ve got it.” I closed the door he held open and went to the other

His amused chuckle crawled along my skin. “It’s a pity that you’re

spoken for, not prude or pure, witch.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I huffed as I yanked out my suitcase and then shouldered the tote bag full of snacks. As much as I wanted a warm meal, this would have to do for the night.

“It means that those delicious curves are begging to be claimed and it’s a shame that it’s taking so long.” He lifted the suitcase from my hand casually as if he hadn’t gone full on pervert.

The growl definitely came from Kera. This time her whole body was vibrating.

Must be a family trait.

The two of them locked eyes as I snatched my suitcase back from him and moved to stand by Coral. It took me a moment to realize why they were staring at each other in some sort of trance.

Right. Pack link. Perfectly understandable.

I was smarter when I wasn’t starving.

“Like I said, it’s a pity.” Lennox broke eye contact first and then tilted his head to the side.

Kera nodded, strolling back to the door, and held it open for us to come inside.

*

The two girls who didn’t have any interest in food an hour ago were now full of snacks and sprawled out on the bed. I moved around the room,

cleaning up the discarded trash that had flown in the feeding frenzy. At least there’d been enough food to abate my hunger too. If it wasn’t for the threat of wolf-man coming tomorrow and Mr. Pervert sleeping downstairs, I might have been able to relax.

“What’s the deal with Lennox?” I asked when the girls had a lull in their conversation. “Is he always that creepy or is it a special trait reserved for out-of-town guests?”

Kera laughed heartily. I was already forming a soft spot for her. She did things big and truthful–sharing, talking, and eating–which were traits I admired in a person. “Most shifters are flirty. It’s just the way we talk. But Lennox is being an asshole lately and playing a dangerous game.”

“What kind of game?” I put down the trash can and took a seat on the edge of the chair.

Kera picked at the seam of the quilt that covered the bed. “It’s pack drama. Don’t worry about it.”

“Hey.” Coral nudged the girl’s shoulder, picking up on her change of mood. “I want to know what’s up. Especially because this is my pack too.”

How does she make friends this easily? Less than twenty-four hours ago she was complaining about being cut off from the internet and now she has her own freaking pack.

Kera hesitated, looking to us both, and then sighed. “My dad is the Alpha. That means he controls the pack and makes the rules, but some of

the shifters here have been getting more vocal about not liking him. Lennox is one of the loudest lately and I think that’s why he’s trying to rile my

uncle up.”

“That’s not too bad,” I said. “A good leader should be able to take criticism and listen to the voice of his people.”

“That’s not how pack structure works.” Kera resumed picking at the strings on the quilt. “Shifters value strength. A strong Alpha should have the complete loyalty of the pack.”

“There are other ways to earn loyalty than brute strength,” I pointed out quietly, not wanting to offend her for a custom I didn’t understand. “What’s your opinion on the pack situation?”

She smiled and her face brightened, but then a thought seemed to chase the words she wanted to say away. “My loyalty is to my Alpha.”

“Okay, ours is too. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help,” Coral added, throwing an evil glare my way.

Kera yawned. “It’s getting pretty late. Are we going to bed soon?” “Are your parents going to be worried you’re here with strangers

tonight?” I looked to the door, wondering if Maddock had asked the Alpha or whoever for permission on this security detail assignment.

“He won’t care.” Kera chuckled. “Alright, I’m going to sleep in the hall. Let me know if you need anything.”

“No, you’re not,” Coral and I cried at the same time.

I shook my head, motioning for my sister to toss me a pillow. “You girls take the bed and I’ll sleep on the chair.”

“No need.” Kera stood up and pulled the shirt off her shoulders, turning to give Coral a wink. “It’s more comfortable to sleep this way.”

We both watched in amazed horror as Kera’s bones broke, rearranging in painful sounding cracks, and tuffs of red and gold fur sprouted on her skin. Her face elongated into a ghoulish mask like watching melted candlewax drip. Then she dropped to all fours as an oversized wolf.

A blue-eyed wolf who I swore on my life was smiling at us if wolves could smile.

Kera wolf padded over to the door and then snuggled down, resting her snout on her paws.

“Whoa,” Coral exclaimed. “I can’t wait to do that.” The wolf made a huffing sound.

Right. I swallowed my heart back down and tiptoed past the animal to turn off the lights.

“Hey Sage,” Coral whispered as I climbed through the darkness and onto the bed.

“Do you want me to scratch your back?” I asked as I felt along the floor for my suitcase, making sure my knives were in easy reach. I was starting to trust Kera, but I hadn’t been properly introduced to the beast currently snoring next to the door.

Coral nodded against the pillow and then shifted so her back was facing me.

I settled in behind her and ran my fingernails lightly against her skin, forcing comfort and peace into the touch like I’d done since she was young.

“Thank you for bringing me here.” She sighed in content. “Everything about this place feels right. This is where we belong.”

“Sleep now. It’s been a long day.” I kissed her forehead, lightening my touch so it was no more than a soft graze.

Within seconds, her breaths were even and she slipped into a peaceful slumber. The room was blissfully silent and I turned to my back, staring up at the ceiling with wide eyes as I clasped my hands over my mouth to hold in a silent scream.

What the hell is happening?