One V.I.P. delivery coming up. No problem.
Mom’s nervous considering the client, but deliveries aren’t difficult. I’ve done hundreds of them. Sure, I’ve never been to the Iron territory before, but a delivery is a delivery.
How hard could it be?
3.Handle With Care
Josh
Night air whips through my fur as I sprint through the darkness. If I weren’t on a mission, I’d stop and pay more attention to my surroundings. It isn’t often I find myself on this side of our borders.
The mountains loom overhead, much closer on this side. Jagged shadows ascending in the darkness. The river on the Clover side and this mountain range provide natural barriers, along with powerful concealment and protection spells that keep humans away.
The rest of the territory looks similar to ours, except for the thick iron wall caging in their pack land. The sole means of passage is through the front gates.
I skid to a halt at the edge of the Iron territory. Not wanting to appear threatening or like I’m sneaking, I shift back into human form and walk on the main road toward the gates.
Two massive wolves spring out from the shadows, shifting in midair and transforming into burly Iron Pack guards. Whoa! I clench the potion bottle tightly to avoid accidentally dropping the reason I’m here.
“State your business,” demands one guard.
“I-I’m here to deliver a potion,” I stammer.
They swing their flashlightsdirectlyinto my eyes, making it hard to see their faces clearly. From what I can see, they’re around my age. Maybe a few years older, yet three times as big.
“Why are you making a delivery this late at night?” one of the guards growls.
“Elias Blackwood requested a potion from the Fern and Flower,” I explain. “The coven didn’t want to keep him waiting.”
The guards straighten up when I drop their Alpha’s name, conferring with each other. It really isn’t late, only after nine. If they’re upset about an unfamiliar wolf on their land after dark, maybe their pack should try getting along with us. Then we wouldn’t be strangers. Our pack tries to be friendly, but the Iron wolves keep their distance, acting like they’re better than us.
“He look like a delivery man to you?” one guard inquires to the other.
“No, he sure doesn’t.”
“I’m not any delivery man,” I interrupt them as they talk about me like I’m not here. “I’m from the coven.”
One guard snorts. “Oh, are you a witch? Are you a girl?”
I grit my teeth and grind out, “All magic users are called witches.”
“Why?”
“I’m not here to give you a magical lesson.”
Truthfully, I don’t remember why. One of the many lessons I’ve learned and forgotten over the years. Though magic is fascinating, it’s too painful to study. The wolf genes from my dad cancel out my mom’s witch side. Few wolves develop magical skills and I’m one of the unlucky ones.
Finally, the guards reach a decision.
“You can enter,” the first one says gruffly.
I let out a small sigh of relief and start to move forward, but the second guard holds up a hand. “Once we inspect the potion.”
Crap. Of course it can never be that easy. “Sorry, I’m supposed to deliver this potion directly to Elias Blackwood. I can’t hand it over to anyone else.”
“You think we let any wolf stroll in here and demand to see our Alpha? Your so-called pack may let anyone traipse around your land, but we take protecting our territory seriously.”
“Do you honestly think I’m here to cause trouble?” I ask.
