The Wolf Prince

by Claire M Banschbach

  Chapter 6

  Killian slowed his pace and fell back between his now-silent companions. Dusk had begun to encroach on the evening’s light as they drew near the edge of the forest. Beyond the trees lay open plains, and then the western hills.

  He shook himself, panting. Too many open spaces before they reached the border and the forest of Celedon in Myrnius.

  “We can’t go much further tonight.” Lars frowned.

  “Aye,” Rose said. “There’s not many places t’ camp out in t’ plains. We could find a good enough place here.”

  Lars rolled his eyes and Rose’s hand clenched about the strap of her quiver. Killian prepared to jump on Lars again if he decided to argue the point. They’d be safe in the forest. Search parties wouldn’t penetrate that far yet, and hopefully the sorcerer wouldn’t suspect them of actually heading for Myrnius.

  “Here it is.” Lars nodded.

  He ground-tied Jeppe and loosened the girth. Rose watched for a moment.

  “I’ll go get some firewood,” she said.

  Lars barely spared her a glance. Killian grumbled in irritation and pushed up next to her, offering her a cheerful wag of his tail.

  “Thanks.” She smiled down at him and led the way into the forest.

  Rose added a branch to the pile in her arms as Killian nosed the ground around her, exploring the scents that crossed their path. He dragged another branch over to her. She crouched to add it to her collection.

  “You all right?”

  She must have noticed him limping again. He tilted his head up to her, then bounded toward a suitable branch for their collection.

  “You seem t’ be taking all of this well.”

  Killian cocked his head to the side. I already knew I was cursed, so it’s not exactly shocking.

  “I know we don’t know each other, but I’m sorry this happened t’ you. Nobody deserves t’ be cursed like this.”

  Killian released the kindling he’d dragged over to nose at her arm. Maybe she believed it to be a curse, but with every passing hour he felt more at home in his new form than he ever had in his human skin.

  Perhaps it was true. Perhaps he really did have wolf blood in his veins. A scent tickled his nose and he rose and followed it. Dinner.

  “See you in camp,” Rose said, and he bounded off as she stood and left to deliver the firewood.

  *

  “Where’s Killian?” Lars said sharply when Rose returned alone.

  “Hunting.” She set down the wood, pausing as she noticed he’d set out both their packs and blankets. He stacked the firewood neatly as she nursed the fire to life.

  He caught her sideways glance and rolled his eyes. “I might be a prince, but I’m not entirely useless, you know.”

  She pressed her lips firmly together and gave a slight shake of her head. He narrowed his eyes. It’s almost more insulting that she’s obviously trying not to say something.

  She settled across the fire from him and they both dug into their packs and pulled out dinner.

  “So, um—you ever travelled much before?” She might be a commoner, but she clearly didn’t have any problem speaking to him.

  “Never more than five miles from my house until I decided t’ go look for my father.” She bit into a piece of dried meat. “You?”

  “A few times a year for routine visits and inspections.” Which were boring. “I just never imagined my first adventure would be like this.”

  He and Killian had long planned for the day when they would travel to the Black Hills in the north and take on a Wyvern. We would have too if he hadn’t been attacked!

  “The faery seemed t’ think we’d find answers in Myrnius.”

  “We’d better,” he growled, half to himself.

  *

  Killian watched them from the trees surrounding the sheltered dell where they’d camped. He’d eaten his catch in private. No need to upset his brother.

  At least Lars and Rose weren’t arguing at the moment. They had one thing in common; they all needed answers in Myrnius.

  He licked the last traces of blood from his muzzle and trotted down to join them at the fire, curling up a short distance from the flames.

  The human part of him knew it was safe, but the wolf didn’t trust the flickering light. Rose had the first watch and he swiveled his ear, effortlessly tracking her circuit around camp. Killian rested his nose on paws and lifted his gaze upward to the stars.

  He knew them now by human and animal name. Erik the Mighty, first king of Calvyrn, or Wyvern’s Bane. He was a hero to the animals as well, but only for driving the Wyverns into the Black Hills in the north. The dread serpent circled Erik, and the white wolf held up the moon.

  He yawned and shifted onto his side, tucking into a protected ball, and fell asleep.

  Sometime later, he woke with a growl in his throat. Rose looked over in alarm as he crouched low and bristled. Lars came awake and sat up, scrabbling for a knife when he saw Killian’s bared teeth.

  Rose moved to their side, eyes wide in fear.

  “Show yourself!” Killian barked.

  Jeppe shifted, snorting threats as he tried to put up brave front, but his nickers were too high-pitched for comfort.

  “You are young yet and not quite one of us, so I will forgive you.” A low growl rumbled, and a grey wolf stepped out of the shadows.

  Killian let his hackles fall and he investigated the new scents in the midnight air. The pack filed around to join their alpha, eyes bright with friendly interest and tails waving high in greeting. Killian glanced back at Lars and Rose, wagging reassurance, and approached the grey wolf.

  He lowered his tail in deference to the pack leader. “Forgive my rudeness?”

  The alpha circled around him, taking in his scent. “The magic one was right. You do not smell right.”

  “Magic one?” An image of Noak and his terrible light flashed through Killian’s mind.

  “The water dweller sent us to find you.”

  Relief washed through Killian. For a moment he’d thought the “magic one” might be the sorcerer.

  “Why?”

  The alpha eyed him. “Our blood has run in your pack for many years. All wolves know this. We can sense it.”

  So, people really were right. The wolves were calling to their own.

  “We’ve come to offer you a place in our pack.”

  Killian started, his head flying up with pricked ears. The grey wolf cocked his head, amused.

  “You are one of us. Wolves do not travel alone.”

  Killian’s heart pounded. He could be accepted into the pack. He kneaded his paws in the ground in anticipation of joining the hunt. Acceptance leapt to the tip of his tongue, but a breeze tickled his nose with the scent of human. Killian looked back over his shoulder at Lars and Rose, who crouched by the dying fire, knives close at hand.

  “I’m not sure.” It slipped out.

  The alpha’s growl silenced the rumble that ran through the pack. His mate pushed forward and circled Killian.

  “Run with us before you decide.”

  The pack yipped and barked as they vanished into the forest. Killian hesitated only a moment before his wolf instincts took over and he tore after them, not heeding Lars’s shout.

  He caught up to the pack and they allowed him into their midst. They ran with no destination, occasionally stopping to pounce on one another and scuffle playfully in the moonlight.

  Eventually they padded to a stop. The other wolves threaded around him, taking time to meet him, tussling sporadically when nips became too playful. The alpha stood apart, joining in only when he thought the wrestling turned too serious.

  Killian flopped to the ground, tongue lolling as he tried to catch his breath. His shoulder twinged, all but forgotten since he had bolted after the pack. He nuzzled at the bandage and it came free. A brawny male nosed at it with some interest before wandering away out of deference to the approaching alpha.

  “Now that you have run with us,
would you join the pack?” The grey wolf stared into his eyes.

  “But I’m not really a wolf.”

  “You are more like us than like the humans.”

  Killian’s throat closed, and he flattened his ears. Was he really just a wolf that had been living in human skin?

  An owl hooted, and he swiveled an ear. Lars had always wanted a tame owl. Lars. Killian pushed to his feet. His brother would be furious at him for running off. The alpha’s offer lingered in his mind.

  Every wolf needed a pack. He knew that. What about my family? They’d be worried sick. And Rose was looking for family, too.

  “I can’t. I already have a pack.”

  The alpha growled deep in his throat. “The humans.”

  “The man is my brother.”

  The alpha shook himself. He understood family. “Very well. But it will not be safe for you. Is your pack strong enough to defend you?”

  Killian didn’t know Rose very well, but he did know Lars.

  “Yes.”

  “Very well. May your pack stay strong.”

  “And may the white wolf guide you.” Killian nuzzled the alpha respectfully.

  “There are strange scents in the wind. Tread carefully. If you need more teeth and claws, my pack and I will come.”

  Killian bowed his thanks. He loped away, pausing to join his voice to the howls of farewell.

  Dawn’s blush teased the sky when he limped into the camp. Rose and Lars sat by the fire in silence. Lars’s shoulders drooped, and Killian’s heart twinged with guilt. He must have thought I wouldn’t come back.

  Rose glanced up and her cry of relief jerked Lars’s gaze in Killian’s direction.

  “What were you thinking, just running off like that?” Lars’s voice rose in anger, but Killian heard the fear behind it. “It’s been hours!”

  Killian cleared the distance between them in two bounds, knocking Lars onto his back.

  “Stop doing that!” Lars grumbled.

  Killian lay on his chest in response. Lars rolled his eyes and shoved him off.

  “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come back,” he admitted.

  “You’re my pack.” Killian nudged his arm, growling. “Of course I came back.”

  “I hope that was something sweet and endearing.” Lars rubbed the fur on Killian’s head the wrong way—as irritating in Killian’s wolf form as it had been when he was human.

  Well, more human. Killian huffed and shrugged away, nipping at his brother’s hand.

  “I see you went and tore off your bandage.” Rose frowned at him.

  Killian ducked his head sheepishly and offered a wolfish grin.

  She rolled her eyes. “I have another.”

  After she re-bandaged Killian’s shoulder, Rose and Lars packed the camp in silence and stepped out into the wide plains of Calvyrn. Killian lingered for a moment longer, hesitant to leave the safety of the forest. He could find places to hide within the familiar trees, but out on the open plains, discovery lurked over every rise.

  Chapter 7

  Rose adjusted the quiver over her back and dragged a sleeve across her sweaty brow. She stifled another grumble of irritation. Prince Lars walked ahead of her, leading the stallion. He’d walked at least two steps ahead since they’d left the forest the morning before.

  Maybe he did it purposefully, maybe she unconsciously let him. They hadn’t exchanged more than a few words, which was probably for the best. It kept them from arguing.

  Or rather, kept him from contradicting and arguing anything she said.

  No, I should be more respectful, no matter how hard that might be. At least Prince Lars had grudgingly allowed her to come. She just needed to prove herself useful enough to convince him to let her join the Rangers.

  Her aching feet and growling stomach, contrasted with his self-confident walk, made it difficult.

  And I’ll have to be dying before I ask to ride that horse.

  Rose kept a watchful eye on her surroundings as her father had taught her, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Anything that might give away the fact that he was about to ambush her during their training sessions.

  She allowed a quick smile. It was getting harder for him to surprise her.

  The plains rippled with uneven hills topped with scrawny sage and sweet-smelling grete bushes. Grouse and gophers darted away when they sensed Killian and the occasional buzzard hovering overhead.

  She glanced back at Killian. He’d followed close to Lars all morning, but had since fallen behind, hobbling gamely after them. He caught her gaze and tried to hurry, only succeeding in limping worse. Lars didn’t seem to notice.

  She pursed her lips in irritation.

  “Lars!” She was probably supposed to address him with his title, but technically he hadn’t specified.

  He kept walking. Absolutely insufferable.

  She clenched her teeth. “Prince Lars!” This time he stopped.

  “What?” His growl was almost as impressive as Killian’s. She jerked her head at Killian who kept on walking, ignoring them both.

  “Killi.” Lars used his prince voice and Killian growled at him.

  Rose left them to snarl at each other, opting to look for a decent spot to rest off the narrow, worn track someone considered a road.

  Just over a low hill she found a hollow wide enough to fit all of them. She clambered back over to the road.

  “We can rest over here,” she said, breaking into their conversation.

  Killian stalked over and eased a breath of relief as he settled down at the bottom of the hollow. Lars must have heard it too, because he said nothing, moving to Jeppe to loosen his girth.

  Rose checked the bandage on Killian’s shoulder. She didn’t know much beyond basic aid, but she could see the journey was not helping the gash heal.

  Trouble was, Killian would refuse to be carried. He seemed a shade more considerate than his brother, but just as stubborn.

  Father always said I’m too stubborn for anyone’s good, and if I’ll ever agree with Prince Lars about anything, it’ll be on Killian.

  Killian slept for over an hour as Lars and Rose ate a light meal in silence. The dry grass crackled under her boots as she shifted her feet.

  Is there anything we can possibly talk about without arguing?

  A bead of sweat trickled down her collar under the touch of the warm afternoon sun. Or from the realization that she couldn’t think of one neutral topic. Her stomach flipped in relief as Killian woke. He yawned twice and stretched, staring at them with amber eyes full of reproach.

  Rose didn’t feel any guilt whatsoever as he walked more easily back to the road.

  I’ll have a word with Prince Lars tonight when Killian’s off hunting, then.

  *

  The sun sank in a haze of brilliant red. Killian watched the light cast across the empty plains, highlighting their wild and lonely vastness. He focused on the sight to ignore the emptiness remaining after a less-than-filling meal of gopher. He licked the last traces of the meal away and trotted back to camp.

  Rose and Lars had agreed for the first time that it might be better not to light a fire, since the whereabouts of the sorcerer remained unknown. He paused on the outskirts of their camp. They hastily finished a conversation when they noticed him in the fading light. It clearly wasn’t an argument, since Rose looked pleased.

  That’s suspicious.

  Rose stood and grabbed the medical supplies out of her pack, crossing to his side in two quick steps.

  “Have a good hunt?” She settled by his side.

  He flicked his ears back, but she eyed his bandage with determination. He sighed and sank back on his haunches.

  She’s a little fussy. Honestly, it’s barely a scratch. Killian didn’t care to remember how tender his shoulder had been earlier that day. Rose finished re-wrapping the bandage and stationed herself beside him as he laid down.

  Lars took up a sentry position on the opposite side of camp, turning away
from both of them. Killian marked an unfamiliar tenseness in the set of his brother’s shoulders. He huffed a sigh.

  Rose shot Killian a sideways glance. “He always act like this?”

  Killian’s usual defenses of his brother leapt to his tongue, but he paused, and not just because Rose wouldn’t be able to understand him. Guilt pricked his conscience. He’d always stood up for Lars—he was his brother after all—but he’d never been able to get Lars to realize that the way he acted gained him no favors with his subjects.

  “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have asked.” Rose broke into his thoughts. He nudged her hand to tell her he didn’t mind.

  “Wish you could talk.” Rose sighed. “You could tell me how t’ get along with him.”

  Killian rested his nose on his paws and rumbled agreement. I couldn’t even get him to stop acting like an idiot when I could talk, so we might both be out of luck.

  Chapter 8

  Killian lashed his tail in impatience as Rose took longer than usual to change his bandage. Lars had saddled Jeppe already but was fiddling with the packs.

  I could be in Myrnius by now if it weren’t for these two.

  Rose frowned and shook her head, releasing the bandage and beginning again. Killian twisted his head to gently nip at her fingers. She flicked at his nose and he flattened his ears.

  “I’m almost done,” she said.

  He swiveled his ears back up and tipped his head to the side to apologize. She tied off the bandage and tapped his nose again with a slight smile.

  “Sorry.” Her gaze flicked past him.

  What—?

  Lars’s strong arms encircled him, hefting him off the ground.

  “Put me down!” He barked and twisted. But the one thing Lars had never neglected was training, and his grip couldn’t be broken. Lars walked over to Jeppe, staggering a little as Killian continued to thrash.

  Killian grabbed at his sleeve, wrestling the fabric in his teeth. Lars shook him.

  “Don’t even think about it, Killian!”

  “Then put me down.” He growled and managed to kick at Lars with one of his hind legs. “I’ll put a carcass in your bed roll. I can make your life miserable!” He noticed a blanket arranged as a sling around Jeppe’s saddle. “Don’t even think about it!”