Season of the Wolf

by Rachel Jonas

  My mind went back to a story I’d heard a few times before, about how Liam retrieved my necklace in the woods that night. How he’d managed to find the stone that held my soul … long after my scent was carried away with the wind, long after the first Liberator made off with what was left of my body.

  Blinking away wetness from my eyes, I found myself wondering if there was truth to this theory of Hilda’s. With the depth of emotion I carried in my heart for Liam, with how drawn we were to one another … maybe it had been that way since time first began.

  Chapter Three

  Nick

  For the fifth time in three minutes, I attempted to correctly secure my tie. And for the fifth time … my fingers slipped awkwardly over the silky, striped pattern and I paused.

  Staring at myself in the mirror, I felt stupid for going through these motions, making sure I looked presentable for a meeting I’d been called to with the Council. Silly because I wasn’t entirely sure they hadn’t thought better of setting me free, and had now decided to uphold their original sentencing.

  Freedom hadn’t been as sweet as I imagined, but it sure beat the alternative. For starters, my family—or more specifically, my mother—had been under the Council’s watchful eye. It was clear they would have condemned her to a fate worse than mine had it not been for Evie intervening—a fact I would never forget or take lightly.

  Whether my mother realized it or not, she owed Evie her life just as much as I did.

  Mom’s actions didn’t go unpunished, though. Yes, she’d been granted permission to leave the Elders’ chambers, but she was far from free. Per the Council’s orders, she was forbidden to leave our home until further notice. To ensure that she abided by the rules, a small fleet of well-hidden guards were always on the premises.

  So, to say we were not exactly highly favored around Seaton Falls at the moment, would have been a huge understatement. The respect and clout we once had because of my grandfather’s contribution to this town were almost nonexistent now.

  Angry, frustrated, I snatched the tie from my neck and dropped it to the carpet.

  “What are you doing, Nick?” I asked myself, bracing the edge of the dresser as I stared at my reflection. There was this acute sense of dressing up for my own funeral. There was no telling what would happen once I descended those stairs to the chamber.

  Against my better judgement, I even reached out to Evie a few times. But, each time I did, the call went straight to voicemail like expected. She’d fallen off the grid. From what Beth reported back to the rest of us, it was with good reason. Liam wasn’t doing well, and on top of everything else Evie lost, she might lose him, too.

  Knowing what a hard time she must be having, I should have left her alone about all this, but I thought I’d try. With her position, there was a chance she’d been let in on whatever this meeting was about, but I had a feeling she hadn’t spoken to anyone she didn’t have to.

  The Council included.

  The only thing that gave me comfort tonight was that, this time, I wouldn’t be going alone. All three of my brothers had also been called in, possibly as witnesses to my behavior as of late. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind the Elders’ witches could pry the truth out of them one way or another. In which case, they’d be able to attest to how different I was—estranged, quiet, cut off from the world around me. While, no, this evidence wasn’t damning, it would certainly alert the Council that I was changing.

  I breathed deep, suddenly more confident in the decision I’d made to keep away. This, my grandfather’s estate, had been my refuge, my only means of keeping these secrets. The biggest of all being that the blackouts had started again. They weren’t as frequent, but for a time, they’d stopped altogether. There could have been any number of reasons for this—that I’d taken several lives on the journey I’d taken with Evie, that this evolution was just happening naturally.

  But then there was another thought that kept coming up, a factor that had been eliminated.

  Roz.

  I hadn’t laid eyes on her since before heading north to Mount Arvon. Sure, we talked and texted, but words were no replacement for seeing her face-to-face.

  It was more than I was willing to admit to her out loud, but … I missed her.

  Now, more and more, I was beginning to believe she was the key to staving off the darkness.

  On cue, my phone rang and I picked up right away, seeing it was her.

  “Hey.”

  “How goes it?” she said with a laugh, annihilating my frustration almost immediately.

  “It goes,” was all I could say without being negative.

  “Well, aren’t you just a bucket of sunshine. All dressed and ready to go?”

  Putting the call on speakerphone, I placed it on the dresser and decided to give the tie another go.

  “Just about. Putting the final touches on this hunk of man-art I call a body.”

  She laughed, loud and hearty, bringing one out of me as well.

  “Wow … was it that funny?”

  She settled down a bit. “It never ceases to amaze me how arrogant you can be, and somehow manage to not come across as a total douche-knuckle.”

  “It’s a gift,” I mumbled, holding my chin in the air while I eased the knot to my throat, immediately imagining the expensive silk being replaced by a noose.

  “I’m sure you’re looking quite dapper, Prince Nick,” she exhaled, getting the last chuckle out.

  I glanced up to the mirror, surprised at the broad smile she brought out of me. “There was once a time you called me that with hatred spewing from your mouth.”

  She laughed again. “And there was once a time you deserved every ounce of it.”

  I didn’t bother arguing with her. Mostly because she was right.

  A moment or two passed and she asked, “Nervous?”

  A good question, but one I couldn’t answer right away. While it was true I had no idea what this meeting was about, it was also true my brothers had seemingly been called in on the same matter. This one fact gave me hope.

  “Nervous is the wrong word,” I breathed. “Curious is more fitting.”

  “Well, either way, I still think you should have taken my advice.”

  I stopped with one foot partially lodged in my shoe, all too aware of what advice Roz spoke of. The moment I called to say my brothers and the rest of us had made it back safely from our field trip to provoke the Sovereign, Roz began her campaign to convince me to leave here. She had a theory that I ought to take my release from that cell as a blessing and keep going.

  Her exact words were, ‘The Councils’ graciousness will expire as soon as you’re no longer useful to them, useful to Evie. Nick, get out while you still can, before they turn on you.”

  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the suggestion had a nice ring to it, but this town was still home to too many of the people I cared about.

  Family.

  Friends.

  … Her.

  Besides, I’d done enough running.

  “I’ll be fine,” I lied, knowing there was nothing on which to base such a claim. In truth, she may have been on to something.

  A deep sigh on the other end of the line did nothing to calm my nerves, but I understood her concern.

  “I tell you what, if they keep me tonight, you can have first crack at my baseball card collection. Lucas might fight you over it, but just tell him I made you a promise.”

  She didn’t laugh. Which, in turn, made my smile fade.

  “Not funny.”

  “I guessed by your silence,” I replied.

  It wasn’t lost on me that tonight was heavy, but I’d come to terms with this being my cross to bear—more side-effects of my less than stellar behavior in the very recent past.

  “Listen,” I sighed, taking a seat on the edge of Grandfather’s bed. “When this is all over, when your dad finally releases you from his jail … we’ll hang out, act like normal teenagers who don’t howl at the moon and have tai
ls.”

  The laugh I’d been waiting on touched my ears.

  “Don’t get cute,” she rebutted. “And don’t think me laughing means I’ve changed my mind. I still think you should make a run for it.”

  I lowered my head, considering her suggestion one last time, but there was no chance of it.

  With the state of things between us, with us just copping to our feelings, admitting what was really on my mind didn’t feel like an option. In truth, I couldn’t fathom leaving her.

  If it was just up to us, now that we were no longer on the Council’s ‘Most Wanted List’, I’d consider taking off with her after graduation. Without being in hiding, we could find work, meaning we wouldn’t be destitute like before. But … it wasn’t just up to us.

  Roz hadn’t divulged it yet, but her father—her pack’s alpha—was pulling rank, forbidding her to leave the house without permission, especially if her goal was to come see me. I knew as much when she didn’t even attempt to volunteer to come along to Mount Arvon. Only her pride wouldn’t let her admit it.

  So, we were stuck for now, but maybe it was for the best.

  Instead of making either of us uncomfortable by saying too much, I kept my reply to a simple, “Think I’ll stay put for now.”

  She didn’t push, maybe because intuition made my reasons clear.

  “Well, if you’re determined to do this tonight, I suppose we’ll chat later. Promise you’ll call?”

  It was rare for Rozalind Chadwick to be vulnerable, but she definitely was in this moment.

  “Of course.”

  When the line went silent, I looked myself over and one thought came to mind:

  Dead man walking.

  *

  I was the last of my brothers to arrive. Their cars were parked and empty, reminding me of how close I cut it. Mostly, I procrastinated for fear this might be the last taste of freedom I got for a while, maybe ever.

  Think positive.

  I stepped out, keeping my eyes trained on the dark windows of the library. It had long since been closed to the public for the day. Now, at this hour, there was only supernatural business to conduct.

  One step was all I took before a set of headlights to my left caught my attention. Beside me, a small four-door pulled into the space and confusion rendered me speechless.

  “Roz? What’re you doing here?” The question left my mouth as soon as I caught sight of her dark hair just above the hood of the car.

  She stood completely upright now; soft brown eyes staring back. “I couldn’t just sit at home,” she reasoned, shutting the door before rounding the hood.

  I was set to scold her for coming out, not knowing what this meeting was about, but warmth encircling my neck made those words lodge themselves in my throat. Instead, my arms went around her too, breathing her in as we clung to one another.

  How was she even here?

  “Your dad let you come?” I asked, still holding on.

  The warmth of her hair contrasted the chill in the air when she shook her head.

  “No, I just … came.”

  Leaning back, I stared at her, knowing she must have put up one heck of a fight to be standing here right now. With her dad being alpha, for her to break free would have to mean … his hold on her was weakening.

  I’d felt it, too. With Richie. Once, there was an unyielding pull to submit to him. But lately, I found it easier and easier to resist. My brothers told me once, when I first transitioned, that I would likely rise to be our pack’s alpha. Maybe Roz shared that same fate.

  She squeezed again. “Let’s get inside before you’re late.”

  Hand in hand, we entered and descended the dark staircase I was all too familiar with. I could hardly believe I had the balls to visit this place again, but the letter I received, requesting my presence, made it impossible to avoid.

  Mysterious sounds echoed across the hollow chamber and, standing there, were my three brothers, and a surprise—my dad. Had my mother been allowed to leave the house of her own free will, I was sure she would’ve come, too. Although my dad hadn’t been summoned, it was about solidarity.

  I nodded toward my family, noting that none were quite as formal as me. But then again, they hadn’t nearly been sentenced to death in this place a short time ago. I think I was allowed to go the extra mile.

  “Nice duds,” Kyle chuckled, tugging my tie a bit when I stood beside him.

  Richie glanced over, taking note of the uninvited guest I brought along. If I had to guess, I’d be hearing about it later. However, he turned away, deciding to let it be for now.

  The creaky door behind the Elders’ table opened and six figures filed out—three elders, two witches, and the Chancellor. He, in particular, struck untold fear inside me. Perhaps because he seemed the most disappointed I didn’t die at his feet several weeks ago.

  Each seat at the table was filled and shrouded stares were cast our way. It was the Chancellor who greeted us.

  “Gentlemen.”

  I nodded in response, as did each of my brothers. Roz simply clung to my arm, her grip tightening.

  “We thank you all for joining us tonight to discuss a bit of … delicate business,” he went on. “As you are all well aware, the supernatural climate in Seaton Falls has changed quite a bit in recent weeks. Following your pursuit of the Sovereign with our queen, there were repercussions.”

  I couldn’t have agreed more. Sightings of mutts had increased to the point that it’d been discussed whether an evacuation of the human population might be in order.

  “Let it first go on record that we knew there would be a response following the attack. However, we allowed it because, quite frankly, this war is imminent. The queen’s advances may have altered the timeline a bit, but we like to believe that Sebastian is now aware of something very important; that we, the lycans of Seaton Falls, are a formidable clan. We’re willing to stand for the rights of our species, more than eager to bring an end to his reign.” His voice trembled with delight as those words left his mouth—grave, deep.

  My breaths came rapidly. For quite some time, talk of war felt like nothing more than a rumor, some half-cocked conspiracy theory conjured within the minds of the delusional and paranoid.

  But now, it felt different.

  Like the Chancellor said, it felt … imminent.

  “As you may also know, protecting Evangeline has become a bit of a challenge,” he added. “The latest report from one of the guards securing their home is that she attempted to run off several nights ago, only to have her efforts thwarted by a member of her household.”

  “Run off? Why?” I asked the question without thinking, forgetting to be mindful of the order that was to be kept in this chamber. It couldn’t be helped, though. Several people had been worried about Evie since the incident. Myself included.

  The Chancellor stared a moment, thrown by my enthusiastic interruption. “It’s my understanding that she did so in an attempt to locate the Sovereign again. Apparently, she’s got unfinished business with one of his witches,” he explained. It would have been a suicide mission, no doubt, so we were pleased to hear she’d been stopped and taken home.”

  She was doing worse than I thought, bad enough to take off in the middle of the night, headed toward certain danger. It seemed she’d become a bit … unhinged.

  Or maybe she was just desperate.

  “However, before being taken home,” the Chancellor added, “there was an encounter with a band of mutts she and her companion were forced to put down. Which brings me to my next point—the need for additional, qualified guards to ensure the safety of Seaton Falls.”

  My gaze shifted left, toward my father and brothers in a row. Each stood poised, silent as the Chancellor went on, addressing only me this time.

  “We’ve come to a decision regarding your next task on the road to atonement, Nicholas.” At the sound of my name rolling off his tongue, I shuddered, recalling the last time I heard it spoken that way.

  �
�Excuse me … ‘road to atonement’? It was my father who asked, but I knew Roz had a similar thought when her grip nearly cut off my circulation.

  The Chancellor’s gaze slipped to Dad. Or at least I guessed as much when his head swiveled that way. Beneath the cloak it was impossible to tell.

  “It was my understanding that the death mission Nick was sent on made him square with you all,” my father reasoned. “His debt is paid.”

  He was so sure of this that it nearly knocked the wind from him when a swift response was fired at him. This time, it was one of the Elders who spoke.

  “Mr. Stokes, it’s my understanding that those of us present before you today are the only beings in existence with the authority to decide when his debt is paid,” the Elder seethed, mocking my father in conclusion. “And let us not forget that your wife’s freedom hangs by a thread. We’re upholding the promise we made our soon-to-be queen, but I don’t believe any of us are above pulling rank should we see the need.”

  The threat was heard loud and clear.

  “Besides … let us also be mindful that the Stokes family name could use a little restoration as well,” he added with a wicked smile.

  Kyle fumed beside me, but said nothing. It was probably for the best.

  The Chancellor’s attention was solely on me once again.

  He breathed two words at first. “A guard.”

  My brow quirked, but I waited for further explanation.

  “We believe it would suit you. In addition, the role requires discipline, focus—two attributes you could stand to sharpen,” The Elder added to the Chancellor’s statement.

  I could see how they’d think I could use a lesson in both.

  “Doesn’t he get a say in this?” It was my father who interrupted again, still pleading my case despite being put in his place once already.

  I silently wished he’d stand down before he was put down.

  “Dad … it’s fine,” I stated calmly, breathing deep as I went on. “I actually think this might be good for me,” I concluded.

  There was so much about me that my family didn’t know. I’d made it a point to keep my skeletons well-hidden for fear of judgement. So, it didn’t surprise me that my father thought I needed rescuing right now. In a sense, I suppose I did, but I wasn’t completely sure being trained to guard our town wouldn’t be just that.