GIS

wing at me since the fifth pack visit today. I hadn't nurtured high hopes of finding her, no, reality had l

sky orange skies, skeletal tree limbs clawing at the heavens, and the occasional twinkling ligh

e left to visit, Luperc

ss," he answered. "In fact, we

ar rolled to a gentle stop. Before Lupercus could even reach for the

rs crunched against

. felt diff

kin, scented with damp earth and pine. A restles

tered, nodding towards a winding trai

nses. Trees bent low as if bowing in reverence and birds flitted through the br

ld timber and patched roofs, dotted the space. In the center stood a slightly larger s

was palpable, to them, I was just another face hidden behind designer shades, a mask, and casual clothing.

o

s, yes, but without their wolves at the surface, they were barely more aware than r

knuckles thrice, his stance was wide a

-pepper beard, and a body that spoke of past strength slowly being devoured by complacency. His sharp blue eyes wid

ck to allow us entry. It wasn't surprising, in fact, i

, without fail, they reported

ness," the m

the cramped, pathetic room. Family photos hung crookedly on the stained walls, some frames were cracked, and some images inside had fad

, sweat, and rot hung in the

het

leadership reduced to

mbled to explain. "I am Joe, alpha of the Snowwolf Pack. I wasn't expecting someone of

pitiful excuses. I simply didn'

ce here isn't something to worry about... unless," I let the word han

iberately, emphasizing each

pa

ting him see my face see the predator lu

a step, almost trippi

uttered, visibly trembling. "I was merely

d, my gaze continuing to swee

this? How could he allow his people to live li

out again just to watch him squirm, "how many

palms down the front

wenty. Eighty of them are married elders, twenty are children below the

and through t

ar if you can't even decipher a simple quest

and closed like a f

the point," I

he mumbled. "There are... ab

e are

building behind this one. Others are with their pa

ce brokering no room for argument. "

ut the words died on his tongue w

led. "You ma

into endless black pools. The room temperature seemed to drop instant

let out a pitiful gulp, every instin

ked, bowing his head deeply. "P-Please, ta

ouch another disgus

said simply, curling

to please, before stumbling toward th

zily, just as his hand

fro

. Handle this discreetly and wise

was a miracle his h

the house, slamming th

to massage away the pounding headache building behin

ation simmered just beneath my

tertain any more shenanigans

here he stood silently against the

s," he answer

eady moving toward the door. "I'll fin

understand. I slid my mask back over my face and ad

ing silently. The night welcomed me and shadows swallowed me whole as I slipped into the treeline, into the deeper parts of the woods. It was almo

instinct guide me until my gaze landed on a massive

s thick branches sprawling lik

rf

muscles coiling and flexing with each movement, until I found a spot near the top hidd

eady, carrying the clean scent of damp earth and p

inous above, casting everyt

om up here, almost

rough my chest. Or is she somewhere else entirely, in a different timezone,