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“What are even the legal ramifications of a full-on battle?” I asked. “I mean, couldn’t that be seen as a riot?”
“If he decides to go that route, it’s most likely going to be somewhere remote,” he said. “Most of the big wars in recent history have happened in places like salt flats, forests, deserts, areas like that. So, I’d honestly worry more about not having the support of law enforcement or emergency services than getting caught and thrown in jail for creating a disturbance.”
“And people...they kill each other in these battles?”
“Not so much anymore, but I’ve seen plenty of people get disfigured for life,” Gramps said somberly. “It’s not something you should go into without being prepared for anything that can happen.”
I nodded. “So what do you recommend?”
“I’ll bring you to meet my soldiers tomorrow, and we’ll all sit down and actually write out a plan,” he said. “It’s more than I can say in a couple hours, and even if I did, you wouldn’t remember it all. We need a fully written-out plan from start to finish.”
“You sure? I didn’t want to take up too much of your time or energy from other things you’ve got going on.
“Bah, don’t worry about that,” Gramps dismissed. “I don’t have too much planned, anyway.” He sighed. “And actually...I have some stuff I want to ask you about tonight, too.”
“Oh?” I asked, curious. “What’s going on?”
“I was wondering if you and your pack over there have figured out anything about the serum and how to reverse its effects?”
“Oh. Yeah, we have,” I said. “Not long after I get back, Marley is going to start her transition into becoming a shifter. And the doctor got cleared to try an experimental treatment that uses the same drugs used in lycan gene therapy.” I looked at him more closely. “Why? Do you have some pack members who wound up getting the short end of the stick?”
“Only a few,” he said, taking another swig, this one a little longer. He dropped the bottle and stared into the fire, heaving a sigh. “I haven’t been able to shift into my lycan form at all since we left, as you know. I haven’t wanted to tell anyone in the pack about it, but people are starting to get a little cagey about the fact that I haven’t changed in a while. ”
“What?” I asked. “Gramps, how are you handling this on your own? If I was in your shoes, I would be bursting out of my skin.”
He shrugged and shook his head. “It doesn’t feel right to tell people. I’ve told a few–River, for one–mostly to help cover for me if people ask questions. I also have a lot more shifters to worry about trying to use the opportunity to put themselves in my place.” he said. “Those of us who came to help, the ones who were hurt by the injection…they needed me to be strong, and I’m trying to do that for them by not creating issues where there don’t need to be. I’m sure you understand that now that the pack is really starting to grow back home.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, remembering when people were first joining us after being trapped with Lanyon Clover. It was really touch-and-go for a while, not only for them, but for me and Marley, too. “Lots of nightmares, lots of meltdowns. Luckily, I had Marley to get me through the worst of it. She’d already dealt with so much trauma, so she really knew what she was dealing with.”
“She’s a good egg,” Gramps said. “I’m glad you found a mate so ready to support you and enmesh herself with your family. I’m glad she’s so earnest and accepting of shifters.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “But, well, regarding the gene therapy, you’re welcome to come back with your pack members who need the treatment. We would be more than happy to host you. But I wonder, do the people who you were with know you can’t shift?”
“I have a feeling a few of them suspect it,” Gramps admitted. “But I’ve kept it sort of tucked away in my pocket. I haven’t acknowledged it outright to anyone but River and a couple other trusted folks.”
“Yeah, alright,” I said, feeling for him. “It sounds lonely.”
“Not lonely,” he said. “Honestly, I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’m embarrassed. I don’t want my pack to pity me or think less of me.”
“Do you think they would?”
“No. But the fear is strong enough that I don’t want to risk it,” he acknowledged. “It’s a fine line to walk with the pack. If they think you can’t protect them, they’ll stop listening to your orders.”
“Mm,” I said. “Yeah, I’ve been having a lot of head-butting with some of the pack members who think I’m too liberal with the people I let into the upper ranks of the pack. A bunch of those displaced folks we let in are becoming a bit of a problem.”
“How are you handling it?”
“Mostly just trying to hear people out about their concerns. And address those concerns so we can put them to bed and move forward.”
“Yeah? And how is that working for you?”
There was no edge to his tone or anything like that when he asked that question. Even so, I felt like I had some tough love coming my way.
I rubbed my nape and exhaled. “Honestly? Not great. Narrowly got in the way of a young shifter who went right for Marley and Noah. Almost got my windpipe crushed in the process.”
Gramps nodded knowingly, putting his arm over the back of the sofa and shifting slightly to look at me more fully. Since you’re asking me for advice, let me give you a bit of a cautionary warning. Nip those little seeds of dissent early, because a vocal minority can very quickly become a vocal majority.”
“When you say nip them?”
