by B N Miles
She looked at him quietly for a long moment, the wind rustling in the pines. She finally gave him a small smile. “I’m interested in you, Cam.”
“I’m interested in cooking and weather patterns, but you don’t see me risking my life and my place in the world for all that stuff,” he said, shaking his head. “Why are you doing this, Felin?”
She looked at him like she was considering the question. So far, she’d done nothing but betray her people and warn Cam about their attacks. If it weren’t for her, the wolves would have caught them off guard at least twice, and slaughtered Cam’s village both times. But Felin had saved them, dooming so many of her own in the process.
Now she seemed concerned about their lives, but Cam didn’t think that was the full story. He didn’t think she was giving him Ragni and Sithan just to save some of her pack. If that were her goal, she wouldn’t have warned him to begin with.
No, there was another reason.
She moved toward him, taking a slow step, her head tilted. Her breasts shook slightly, and her dark hair blew in the breeze. She stared into his eyes and came closer, stopping only inches from Cam. She seemed so small when she was close, like he could reach out and take her whenever he pleased. She stared up at him and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out, her chest rising then falling.
“Okay then,” she said. “Maybe it’s more than interest. Maybe it’s a lot more than just interest.”
He shook his head. “I don’t even know you, Felin.”
“I know you don’t, but you will.” Her smile faltered a bit. “I hope so, at least.”
“What do you mean?”
“In exchange for Ragni and Sithan, I want to join your people,” she said. “I want you to take me into your protection.”
His mouth fell open for a moment before he got himself under control. His immediate instinct was to tell her absolutely not, absolutely no way that could happen.
She was a wolf. She was a Were. She was part of the people that were slaughtering his village.
She was there when his father was murdered.
And yet, he stopped himself. So far, she hadn’t lied to him once. She’d gone out of her way to help him, maybe to make up for her role in his father’s death, or maybe just because she was interested in him. Either way, she hadn’t failed him yet, hadn’t betrayed him.
Now she was offering him a way out of more violence. The village was a day away from the Mansion, maybe less if they pressed on hard, but they were entering difficult terrain. If the wolves attacked any time in the next day, his village wouldn’t be able to defend itself very well. Their shield wall couldn’t form up on the precarious switchbacks, and he wasn’t sure how the Elves would react now that tensions were high.
This was his chance to make things better for his people.
All he had to do was take one strange, beautiful wolf girl under his protection.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” he said.
“You can,” she said. “All you have to do is try.”
He shook his head. “If anyone found out what you were—”
“Then don’t let them,” she said. “I can stay in my Human shape. I don’t have to be a wolf around any of your people, if that’s what it’ll take.”
He reached out for her then, surprising himself. He took her hand and pulled her closer to him, pressing her palm flat against his chest. Her mouth hung open in surprise, but also something else. He didn’t recognize the look in her eyes at first, since he didn’t have much experience. But then he thought back to Miuri in the woods, and he realized Felin was looking at him with desire.
“You’ll be in danger every day,” he said. “And this might end up hurting your people even more. We’re enemies, Felin. Once we reach the Mansion, I plan on begging the Lord to muster a small army to march out and clear this land of any stray wolves. Can you handle that?”
She stared into his eyes and reached out with her other hand. She touched his cheek and her face twisted into a little smile.
“Yes,” she said. “If you let me stay by your side, I can handle it.”
He shook his head, at a complete loss. He couldn’t imagine how anything could be worth what he was asking, but she had come to him, she had offered this exchange.
And he couldn’t turn it down.
He didn’t want to turn it down.
Felin was strange and wild. She was a total unknown, and she was clearly willing to sell out her own people for her personal gain. That made her very dangerous, and yet she was beautiful, attractive enough to make desire stir all through his body.
He’d be careful with her. He’d watch her closely, make sure she didn’t cause trouble.
And at the first sign of anything going wrong, he would take care of her himself.
“All right then,” he said, his voice low. “Tell me the plan. In exchange, you can join our people. But you cannot ever turn into a wolf when you’re with me. You’re turning your back on your people, Felin. For as long as you’re with me, you’re not a wolf any longer. You are mine.”
She bit her lip and nodded once. “That’s all I want.”
He released her hand. She dropped her palm from his cheek and stepped away. She turned and walked to the nearest tree, leaning against it for a moment. Cam’s eyes moved down her back to her thick, solid ass, then back up again as she turned around.
“Tonight, Ragni and Sithan will try and kill another one of your humans,” she said, looking over her shoulder. “Set an ambush for them, make it a target they can’t resist. They’re greedy and impulsive, and I don’t think they’ll see through this plot. Once they come to do their work, kill them, and this all will be over.”
Cam nodded once. “So you have been killing us,” he said. “In your Human forms.”
She smiled. “That Elf killed one of our best fighters,” she said. “You should have seen how angry Ragni was.”
“We’ll be ready,” Cam said.
“I hope so.” She smiled at him again as the breeze kicked up around her. Pine needles scattered in the wind as she tilted her head. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cam.”
She turned and disappeared into the woods.
Once she was gone, he turned and leaned his back against the nearest tree. He took a deep breath, tilting his head back and staring up at the sky. His mind raced at full speed as he took in everything she just told him.
He had to warn the others. But he didn’t know how to do it without giving away what she was. If he wanted to honor his word to her, then he couldn’t allow Dagan or Haesar know that she was a wolf. He didn’t think either man would accept her, but he needed their help if he was going to set up an ambush.
He straightened then stooped to pick up his spear. He gripped it tight and leaned it against his shoulder. He loved the weight of it against him, the solid and reassuring strength in its shaft, the tip of it gleaming in the afternoon light.
He walked back to camp, starting to plan what he’d do next.
37
Cam found Key sitting and eating her small midday rations with her father and her mother. He nodded to them as he approached. Key’s father had wicked wound down his right cheek, two long, red lines, likely from a wolf’s claw. Key stood, said something to her parents, then came running over to him.
“You’re wet,” she said.
He frowned for a second then remembered he’d just been in the stream. “Bathed myself,” he said. “It’ll dry.”
“Should’ve gotten me,” she said with a little smile. “I would have loved to join you. Maybe we still have some time before we have to move again?”
“Tempting,” he said. “But we need to talk.”
She frowned. “Everything okay? I’m almost a little insulted you just passed up a chance to see me naked.”
He took her hand and held it in his own. “This is important, Key. But if you want, you can strip down while we talk. I wouldn’t mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “What’s going
on?” she asked.
“Come with me, we need to find Miuri.”
She hesitated a moment. “Is this about the training?” she asked.
“No, it’s about the wolves,” he said. “I can’t trust anyone but the two of you right now, and maybe Theus, but he’s on patrol.”
She nodded once and her face changed into something more serious. “I think I saw Miuri and Gwedi walking toward the front of the column,” she said. “Heading toward the Elders.”
“Come on.” Cam stalked off and Key hurried to catch him. They walked together along the outside of the column, passing villagers as they ate their rations and prepared to march again.
Ahead, toward the front, Cam spotted Miuri and Gwedi talking with Dagan and Kraed. The four of them stood apart from the other Human warriors, talking in hushed tones and gesturing at each other.
Cam slowed his pace and Gwedi noticed him first, giving him an annoyed look. She nudged Miuri and nodded to Cam with her chin.
Miuri’s face brightened. She smiled at Cam and Key, said something to Dagan, then walked away from the group. Dagan met Cam’s gaze and nodded once, but his face was clouded and serious. He turned back to Gwedi and they continued their discussion.
“That looked serious,” Key said as Miuri joined them.
“Just discussing our options,” Miuri said. “Gwedi wants to push on through the night, but Dagan says that isn’t possible.”
“Dagan’s probably right,” Cam said. “The carts will be hard to pull during the day, almost impossible at night. And I doubt the horses will be happy about it.”
“Well, okay then,” Miuri said. “That solves that. I should go tell Gwedi the night march is off, but she could probably use a little abuse from Dagan.”
Cam smiled a little but he couldn’t wait any longer. “Miuri, I need to talk to you,” he said. “This is important. And we can’t share it with the others.”
She raised an eyebrow. “It’s serious?”
“Very,” Cam said. “Come on, let’s… let’s move over here, away from everyone else.”
He saw the girls exchange glances as he walked over to the tree line. He slipped into the underbrush and walked a few yards away from the column, far enough that their voices wouldn’t carry. He turned and leaned his spear against a tree and let out a soft, tired breath.
“What’s going on, Cam?” Key asked. “You seem like something terrible is about to happen.”
“That’s not it,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s actually… good news. Sort of.”
“Don’t talk around the subject,” Miuri said.
He nodded and gathered his thoughts, trying to decide how best to tell them about his conversation with Felin. He decided just to dive right in and let them decide for themselves.
“One of the wolves has been warning me about their attacks,” he said. “A woman named Felin. I first met her when they attacked my father. She was there during the fighting and talked to me afterward. She said she didn’t take part in the fight, but…” He trailed off and forced himself to push that memory away. “Since we left the village, she’s warned me before each of the fights.”
Miuri looked surprised, but Key knew some of that already. “You didn’t tell us about that,” Miuri said. “That’s no small thing, Cam.”
“I know,” he said. “But she’s been helpful so far, and I didn’t know how you would react if you knew about her. I think Dagan’s the only person in our camp that knows about her, unless he’s been telling others, but I doubt it.”
“Did you see her again today?” Key asked.
He nodded. “She came to me while I was bathing,” he said. “Just after I’d finished and dressed. I don’t understand why she’s going out of her way to help me.”
“Cam,” Miuri said slowly. “You have to be careful. Weres… they do this thing…” She trailed off like she was struggling to find the words in his language. “Has she said anything about an… attraction?”
He frowned and tilted his head. “Actually, yes. She said she’s… interested in me. More than interested.”
Miuri chewed on her lip for a moment.
“That’s wrong?” Key asked her. “Is this wolf in love with Cam or something?” She laughed a little, but Miuri didn’t smile.
“Weres believe in this concept called fated mates. There’s actually a magical and biological basis for it. Sometimes Weres see another Were and instantly become attached to them, like this deep, intense love that never breaks. It’s rare, but I’ve heard stories about it happening. I never knew a Were could attach to a Human like that, but it shouldn’t be so surprising since Weres and Humans do share a lot of similarities.”
Cam stared at Miuri for a long moment as she let out a breath. “So you think Felin is attached to me?” he asked. “Like she’s in love with me?”
“More than love,” Miuri said. “It’s much more intense than that, at least according to the stories. It makes sense, if she’s been warning you. I think when a Were attaches like that, they’ll do anything to save their mate. I think she felt like warning you was the only way to keep you alive.”
Cam nodded slowly as some pieces began to click together. “So this Were woman is attached to me,” he said. “That explains a lot, actually.”
“Like what?” Key asked. “This is really insane, you know.”
“I know,” Cam said. “But she made a deal with me today. She believes that if we can ambush and kill the leaders of her pack, then the whole pack will fall apart. That way, we avoid bloodshed on either side, but still get rid of the wolves.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask,” Key said, “but what’s she getting in return?”
“She wants to join our people,” Cam said. “Under my protection.”
Miuri let out a light laugh. “Definitely attached,” she said.
Cam gave her a pleading look. “I didn’t ask for this. I don’t… I don’t even know her. I don’t understand how she could be in love with me, or whatever it is.”
“It’s a magic thing,” Miuri said. “There’s really nothing you could have done to stop it.”
“But the question is, do we trust her?” Key asked. “And if we do, I don’t know how we can possibly bring her into the village without too many questions.”
Cam nodded and rubbed a hand through his damp hair. “I trust her, Key,” Cam said.
“I trust her too,” Miuri said. “If she’s really attached, she wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt Cam.”
“Her solution makes sense,” Cam said. “All we need to do is kill those two wolves. She said most of their leadership was broken and killed during the last battle, so she thinks the pack will just fall apart without their two strong leaders.”
“It happens,” Miuri said, nodding. “Weres are intensely pack-oriented. They need a rigid hierarchy for their packs to survive, and when that hierarchy breaks down, they run rampant. It’s actually a big problem in the north right now.”
“Really?” Key asked. “I don’t see how they could do so much damage if they’d be so easy to break apart.”
“Well, they’re not, not really,” Miuri said. “We only have an opportunity to do it now because an insider is giving us clear information. But if we waited a few weeks, I bet their hierarchy would sort itself out.”
“Okay, I see that,” Key said. “But why’s it such a problem up north?”
“Sometimes, the leadership gets wiped out in a battle,” Miuri said. “Afterward, their pack runs wild until other packs force the individual wolves to submit. I’ve heard rumors of it getting incredibly violent, but I haven’t seen it in person.”
“So breaking apart this pack might be dangerous,” Cam said. “If they go wild after their leadership is killed.”
Miuri shrugged. “It’s a risk. Did your Were mention that?”
“No,” Cam said, “she didn’t.”
“Then she likely doesn’t think it’s an issue,” Miuri said. “But we need to be careful either way
.”
“You think this is a good idea,” Key said, eyes going wide. “You think we should do it.”
“If Cam trusts her, then I trust her,” Miuri said. “And it makes a lot of sense. If we can rout them without another big fight, we’ll save a lot of lives.”
Key chewed on her lip, looking between Cam and Miuri.
“What are you thinking?” Cam asked.
“It’s just too good to be true,” Key said. “This wolf just… helps you for no reason.”
“Attached,” Miuri said. “That’s more than enough reason for her to help.”
Key shook her head. “Still, I don’t see how it can work.”
“First thing is, we need to set the trap,” Cam said. “I need you two to help me with that. I don’t want to tell Dagan or anyone else where this idea’s coming from. Since Dagan doesn’t know what Felin looks like, she’ll be able to blend in. I want them all to think we’re just setting a normal trap to defend our sentries.”
“No problem,” Miuri said. “I’ll act like I came up with it. I am brilliant, after all.”
Key laughed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, we can make that happen,” she said. “But then what about bringing Felin into the group?”
“I’m still working on that,” Cam said. “I think we’ll find her on the road to the Mansion and she can say she’s a refugee from a local farm. I’ll speak up for her.”
Key chewed her lip and gripped her spear. She brushed some dirt from her trousers and looked up at the sky.
“Shit,” she said. “I think we’re really doing this.”
Cam grinned at them. “Listen, I won’t go forward with this if either of you objects. Bringing her under my protection will mean she’ll be around a lot.”
“Like I said, I trust you,” Miuri said. “Is she attractive?”
Key gave him a sharp look and Cam shifted foot to foot.
But he wasn’t going to lie to them.
“Yes,” he said. “She’s very attractive.”
“Figures,” Key said.
Miuri laughed and put an arm over Key’s shoulders. “Don’t be so glum, little Human,” Miuri said. “If Cam thinks she’s worth bringing into the fold, then we should be happy for him. Who knows, we might like her, too.”
