Page 150 of Forbidden Moon

His current trio of True Elders reported more dreams while unsubstantiated rumors suddenly became genuine leads, requiring investigation. He and his colleagues believed they were on the cusp of a new wave of discovery and growth among their people. Luna seemed to be making up for lost time, and no one knew exactly where it would lead them.

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NEAR NOME, ALASKA

The old wolf growled at the child, impatient to put a few more miles behind them before sunset. The boy stopped his dallying and trotted alongside, undoubtedly tired but always eager to please. He was too old to be caring for a youngster and certainly hadn’t wanted the responsibility, but what could he do?

The oddly-scented pup showed up one day out of nowhere, alone and seemingly content to follow him around. He knew nothing about the boy or why he wandered in the Alaskan wilderness by himself. In the rare moments when they took human form, he discovered that the child knew only a few English words. Bit by bit, the old wolf taught him enough to communicate, and the boy remembered every lesson. He must have had at least one Inuit parent by his looks—unheard of for a shifter.

He’d always planned to travel east one day and decided to bring the child there, hoping one of the city packs would care for him. Unfortunately, cold weather and slow progress meant the pair would have to hunker down for the winter and continue their journey in the spring. The boy would not survive alone, especially at this time of year, and the old wolf refused to abandon him. Every full moon, however, reminded him he was running out of time. He only hoped Luna granted him enough extra days to reach their destination before it was too late.

THE END