by Alex Kidwell
Redford sidled up to Randall as they continued walking. “Didn’t Anthony let him off really easily?” Filtiarn—the alpha, the wolf in charge—would have reacted much more violently had any wolf under his command disobeyed him. “I haven’t been in a pack in a while, but I remember punishment being, um, harsher.”
Randall gave him a baffled look but didn’t have time to speak. Anthony said, “We’re here.”
The wolves that had guided them into the camp had sat themselves nearby, and Mallory nodded toward the entrance of the building. “She doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Nervously, Randall straightened his sweater, pausing to fix Anthony’s collar. “It’s going to be fine,” he murmured to his brothers, stooping down to fuss over Edwin’s messy fur. “Just let me talk. It’ll be fine.”
Anthony gave Randall a look; it seemed to Redford that he wanted to speak, his mouth even opening as if to start. But Randall didn’t need to meet his brother’s eyes in order to immediately cut him off. “We’ve talked about this, Anthony,” Randall said quietly.
“Doesn’t mean I like it.” Anthony sighed, pulling back to fidget with his shirt himself, purposely undoing the top button Randall had just finished putting into place. “It’s my place.”
“But this was my idea.” Randall sounded so practical, so matter-of-fact, but Redford could see faint creases of worry lining his face. “Do you want to flip a coin?”
“Yes,” Anthony grumbled.
“Too bad.” Randall’s hand paused halfway toward reaching out to Anthony, a low breath leaving him. “Ant….”
“I know.” Anthony didn’t sound happy, but he moved to close the distance between them, shoulder butting up against Randall’s palm. “It’ll be good. We’ll all be fine.” Randall’s eyes met Anthony’s, a silent conversation between the two; Redford felt suddenly awkward to be staring. He’d just never seen wolves interact like this before. He was half expecting Anthony to snap, to show dominance. Instead all he did was allow Randall to once again fix his shirt buttons, snapping his fingers once to get Edwin’s attention. Edwin had apparently gotten distracted, rooting around under a nearby bush, but at the sound he immediately jerked around and came trotting back up to them, tail wagging happily.
“You’re a mess,” Randall informed Edwin archly.
Edwin didn’t seem to mind. Randall and Anthony, though, immediately set out to try to brush dirt from his fur, much to Edwin’s apparent distress.
Knievel was helping, grabbing Edwin’s head between her paws and aggressively grooming the fur between his eyes before she stalked off to find Jed again, crying at him until he sighed and stooped, letting her jump up and settle onto his shoulders. Even Victor was running his hands through his hair, trying to look presentable. Redford chanced a look down at himself and grimaced. Perhaps he should have dressed nicer?
Edwin whined softly, nudging his nose into Randall’s shoulder. Randall bowed his head, rubbing a hand over his brother’s ears, obviously worried. But then he stood, brushing off his slacks. “Right. Okay. We should—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Never one to hesitate, Jed brushed past them all and strode into the cabin, rapping on the door as he passed. “We’re here, sweetheart. Let’s get this over with.”
Redford winced as he followed. Normally, Jed’s way of doing things didn’t faze him, but there was an air of reverence to the cabin and the wolves waiting outside it. He could hear the Lewis brothers behind him, Victor at the very back, as they made their way through a short hallway that opened up into a wide meeting space. It was lushly decorated, brightly colored silk hanging over the windows, plush chairs lining the edges of the room. The only light within was provided by candles and the sunlight that struggled to filter through silk.
The Gray Lady herself was sitting cross-legged at the edge of a lavish rug woven in many different colors. Like the room she surrounded herself in, she was regal in appearance and brightly clad, dress nothing more than soft folds of fabric gracefully draping to the floor, her white hair falling loose around her shoulders. The candlelight seemed to flicker in dark eyes as she opened them, lips parting in a white smile against olive skin. She seemed young and old at the same time, an ancient sadness in her gaze even as she moved elegantly, welcoming them all in. “Come, my children,” she said, sharing her smile equally with Redford, Randall, Edwin, and Anthony. “Sit.”
Jed started forward, his hand at Redford’s elbow, to be stopped by a low growl. The Gray Lady’s eyes flashed yellow, her smile never fading even as her expression darkened. “Not you, human. You may stand, if you must be present. But this is a conversation for wolves.” Her mood shifted slightly as she nodded to Victor. “Half blood, you are welcome to listen. Keep the human in line.”
Redford glanced at Jed, unsure. He didn’t want to sit now that Jed had been refused it. The choice was made for him by Anthony’s hand at his elbow, tugging him down until his knees buckled and he sat awkwardly. “Sorry, Jed,” he murmured, reaching over to curl his fingers around Jed’s calf, wanting to keep in contact.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Anthony said, his head bowed. He’d placed himself closest to the Gray Lady. “Thank you for agreeing to see us.”
“I would ask you how you found me, little wolf,” the Gray Lady said, tone kind once more. “But I can smell Filtiarn’s foul work from here. I take it you have sought me out, werewolf?” All eyes turned to Redford as the Gray Lady sat, expectantly awaiting his response.
Redford flinched under the weight of her gaze. “Sorry,” he said automatically. Did he smell bad to wolves? He really hoped not. He hated to think that riding in a van with him might have been awful for the Lewises. “And no, that’s not exactly why we’re here. We, um….” He looked at Anthony, waiting for him to jump in and save Redford from himself.
But when it came time to speak, Anthony seemed to hesitate. He’d curled his hands into his lap, the same knotted stiffness that Redford recognized as Anthony attempting to stop the shaking. So it was Randall who stood, bowing before the Gray Lady, all that nervousness and quiet restraint bundled up and forgotten. He spoke softly, yes, but there was a strength to each word. “My lady. I’m afraid we came with Redford because we weren’t sure you would see us otherwise.”
“And why would I deny you?” she asked, head tipped to the side, watching Randall carefully.
“Because our parents were once part of your pack. We are the Lewises.”
There was a long pause before the Gray Lady clucked her tongue with a quiet, “I see.”
“We’ve come back because we need your help, my lady. My brother, Anthony, he’s sick. You’re the only hope we have for a cure.” Randall took a step forward, hand reaching out to the Gray Lady, pleading. “Please. I will do anything. Pay any price. Just… help my brother.”
“And what would you have me do?” The Gray Lady turned to Anthony. “What ails you, wolf?”
“If you can’t help, I understand,” Anthony said hastily. “It may be beyond your ability.” He glanced back at Randall and Edwin. “But human doctors can’t help me. It’s….”
He hesitated again before saying it, like he was embarrassed.
“Canine Parkinson’s,” Anthony finally said with a sigh. “It’s degenerative.”
The Gray Lady stood, going to her window, looking out over the camp. The sound of voices filtered in, the noises of a thriving pack, the smells of meat cooking. It was all so calm and peaceful, like something out of one of the books Redford had read in his childhood. It was a home. “Do you know why your parents would not have been welcome here again?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at the Lewises.
“Not exactly, ma’am,” Anthony said politely, though his expression had tightened. “But I can hazard a guess.”
“There are men who hunt us. There is a world that does not know of our existence, a fact which I work very hard to maintain. A lone wolf is a danger to all of that. One family, one mated pair, it is not a pack. It’s
a risk that I cannot allow. Letting you come back after your parents chose to leave, what would that say? How would I begin to explain to the rest of the pack why you should not be shunned, as we shun all others who chose to walk away from our protections? As we shun those who put all of us in danger.”
Jed shifted beside Redford, lips tight, fingers curling around his gun. He cut a quick glance over at Anthony and stayed silent, though it was clear he desperately wanted to make a point.
Anthony drew in a deep breath. “If you’d like to shun us, ma’am, I’ll accept that decision,” he said, his tone still polite. A thread of steel crept into his voice as he continued, “But we are not our parents. We did not make the decision to leave. And if your decision to shun us is based solely on how difficult it would be to explain to others, we’d be glad to leave however quickly you’d like us to.”
There was a long, tense moment, Jed shifting a step closer, Edwin’s hackles rising as he backed up against Anthony’s leg. But then the Gray Lady smiled. Tight and powerful, yes, but she smiled and waved her hand. “Go. You wolves may stay the night so I can think on this matter. Your human and half blood may even join us for the evening meal. I will meet with you in the morning to discuss this further.” She reached out, taking Anthony’s shoulders in her hands, leaning forward to rest her forehead against his. “For now, Lewis pack, leave me, and sleep well.”
“Thank you,” Anthony whispered to her. He stepped back, and inclined his head, the lines of tension eased out of his expression. “Thank you, ma’am.”
He turned and hustled his brothers out of the building. Redford followed at a slower pace, absently finding Jed’s hand with his own. Jed’s fingers tightened on his immediately, though he kept cutting glances back as they left the cabin and the door was shut firmly behind them.
“So,” Jed drawled once they were all huddled around together, blinking in the sunlight once again, “that was a trip. Not exactly big on welcomes here.”
“I’m really sorry, Jed. Victor.” Anthony shook his head, looking surprised. “I wasn’t aware they’d be so xenophobic.”
“No apology needed,” Victor said. He didn’t sound bothered by it at all. “If you think that’s bad, you should see some sections of the half-blood community. You’d think it was the apartheid all over again.”
“Wait, so, she hates bugs?” Jed was looking between them, confused. “Doesn’t everybody?”
Redford, like everybody else, gave Jed a questioning stare. “No, she hates humans,” Redford explained. “Not bugs.”
“Oh.” Nose wrinkling, Jed turned to Redford. “Isn’t xeno-whatever a bug? The one with the legs all….” He wiggled his fingers and did a face with all his teeth showing. “Or wait. No. That’s the alien from that movie, right? So she hates bug aliens.” Knievel, disrupted by his motions, jumped lightly down and wandered away, tail waving, eyes shining in the sunlight. She apparently wanted to explore, though she didn’t go far.
Anthony started laughing, a deep, full-throated sound. “No, Jed. Xenophobic means she doesn’t like people foreign to her.”
“But you have a good point about the xenomorph aliens,” Victor said brightly. “The key word is xeno, meaning foreign or alien, hence—”
“The point is,” Anthony cut in, still smiling, “She doesn’t trust anybody that’s not a full-blooded wolf. I’m sorry, again, I didn’t want you to get treated so….” He glanced back at the cabin, seemingly torn between bluntness and reverence. “Rudely.”
“But at least we have a chance to speak with her again,” Randall said, stubbornly clinging to the good points. “For now, at least, she hasn’t forced us all to leave.”
“Just the humans.” Mallory had come up behind them, smiling, clapping Anthony on the shoulder. “And then, only after the meal tonight. That’s practically a warm welcome.”
“Hold on.” Jed’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean we’re getting kicked out?”
Mallory shrugged. “Just got my orders. You and the half blood are to be escorted out of the camp after evening meal. We don’t allow humans on our territory, not while everyone’s sleeping.”
“What, cause we’re going to slit your throats?” Jed bitched.
That scenario didn’t seem to be too far-fetched to Mallory, though, who simply said mildly, “Or something like that. Look, friends, I’m sorry. That’s just how it is. No one trusts humans, and half bloods are too close to them. Especially with the trouble we’ve had with hunters. There’s a town two hours north. You can find a room there, I’m sure. And it’s not as if we’re kicking you out immediately. Food gets served a little before sundown. That’s plenty of time to visit the gift shop on the way out.”
Redford saw Victor give Jed a horrified look. Jed nodded, seemingly accepting this. “Fine. Red, Vickie, and I will go have a spa day and—What now, Pippi Longfur?”
Mallory had been shaking his head, then arched an eyebrow at the nickname. “We can’t just let a wolf wander off. Even if it’s with you. Aren’t you listening? We’ve got hunters out there, looking for us. A lone wolf is a danger to the whole pack. I’m sorry, but until the Gray Lady says otherwise, the wolves stay inside, the humans stay outside. End of story.” He paused, eyes flicking to where Knievel was happily fighting with a flower stem. “Though if you’d like to keep your cat with you, I can’t see a problem with that.”
Redford hated that idea already. The concession for Knievel was hardly the same. Redford had barely spent a night apart from Jed since Jed had first burst into his grandmother’s house pretending to be a repairman. There had been a few nights, times when Jed had been out on a job in the early days when Redford hadn’t helped as much—but even then, Redford had stayed at Jed’s apartment.
He’d never told Jed this, but staying there surrounded by Jed’s scents had reassured him far more than Jed’s occasional postcard had. Though Redford did appreciate the postcards!
But Mallory looked like he wouldn’t be swayed. There were a lot of wolves around too, ones that would probably back him up if they argued the point.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Jed moved a step closer to Redford, arms folded, an almost bored expression on his face. That wasn’t a good sign. “Me and Red, we’re together. Period. End of story. Finito. Whatever wolf barky thing that means full stop. Where he goes, I go. So either find me a place to bunk or he and I will head to the van.”
“Jed,” Victor said. He gave a nervous glance over his shoulder, where several wolves were beginning to look distinctly unhappy at Mallory being disagreed with. “Perhaps this isn’t worth a fight. We are in their culture, on their territory.”
“Fuck you, princess.” Jed’s voice rose. Mallory shifted a bit, eyebrow raising, moving a step closer to them. Jed’s hand was on his gun, eyes flashing in anger. “You think I’m going to let some teen wolf with a hair gel problem separate me from Fido, you—”
Randall shoved Jed backward, giving them space. Redford instinctively straightened his stance, scowling at Randall—though it looked like the flash of yellow in his eyes went without notice. Randall’s hands were on Jed’s shoulders, voice low and urgent, a thread of steel and worry running through his words. “Listen to me, human, and listen very carefully. You are not in your world. You are not anywhere you understand. You can use your guns and your explosives and start a fight, but if you do, the very best thing that could happen is that we’ll be shunned. And I know you don’t care. I know right now you think that’s a great idea.” Randall’s eyes slid over to Anthony, and something painful entered his expression. “But if you do that, you are killing my brother. Do you hear me? You will be killing him. All for a night spent with Redford.”
Redford could hear the very distinct sound of Jed’s teeth grinding, his hand tightening on the butt of his gun. Redford knew that look, he knew the way Jed’s shoulders were tightening, how his gaze was flicking between Mallory and the other wolves—he was trying to decide if he could fight his way out, if there was a w
ay beyond the path he really didn’t want to take. But, in the end, he let out a slow breath and nodded, a sharp jerk of his head.
“Fine, Cujo,” Jed relented, jaw tight. “One night. One. We solve this shit or I am going to get really cranky.”
Randall seemed relieved at that, his shoulders slumping slightly as he nodded. His “thank you” was ignored as Jed shoved past him, going to Redford and wrapping an arm around him possessively.
“I was going to get really cranky too,” Redford said. “You know, if anybody cares to actually feel threatened by that.” He doubted they would. Explosions were a lot scarier than a man who couldn’t even really shift properly.
“I’d feel extremely threatened,” Anthony said, patting Redford’s shoulder consolingly. “I’m going to take Edwin and Randall to unpack, check out the guest cabins.” He looked at Jed and Victor, apology crossing his expression once again. “I’ll see what I can do to sway their decision to keep you out.”
“Or you’ll focus on the reason we’re here,” Randall said under his breath. “Honestly, you people are acting like it’s the end of that movie with the boat and the iceberg.”
“Nerd,” Anthony said fondly. He gave Randall a light shove. “Come on. Mallory’s taking us to our cabin.”
“Titanic. Even I know that.” Edwin had shifted back, not bothering to find pants as he curiously walked around, eyes wide while he watched all the other wolves. Redford determinedly kept his eyes above waistline—that was just awkward. “Come on. Let’s see if we can figure out where they keep the food. I’m starving!”
Redford’s gaze went over Edwin’s shoulder to a pack of wolves walking past. His eyes widened. Apparently Edwin’s clothing choices—or lack of them—weren’t actually all that unusual here.
“Is this part nudist colony?” Victor grumbled. He sounded torn between being scandalized and giving a few of them an interested eye.
A growl rumbled in the back of Randall’s throat. He bit the noise down with a quick cough. Victor looked even more startled at the sound than Randall did. “Right. Edwin, pants. Now. We’ll put our bags away, and Anthony can rest while we get food. Redford? Do you want to come with us to the cabin?”
