Page 119 of The Ashpaw: Part One

The purr morphed into a growl. “Not a thing. Now,” his tone changed into something more official. “I think it’s time we ended your ‘self-imposed isolation.’ Wouldn’t you agree?”

His eyes widened, and he waited expectantly for her response.

“Will Darion—”

“That’s none of your concern. What I simply want to know is if you agree it’s time for you to join the clan for meals.”

Her heart raced. “Aye,” she replied with a whisper, hoping this wasn’t a trick.

“That’s what I thought. I’ll wait outside while you get dressed.”

He set her on her feet, and she wavered for a moment, dizzy from hunger and from lack of movement. Once she was steady, he gave her a quick squeeze on her shoulder and left, but the door did not lock behind him.

She rifled through her chest, finding a simple woolen gown she’d admired when Adela had first put it in there.

Fern then combed through her own hair, plaiting it into braids she wrapped at the nape of her neck.

It was enough.

Eidan was waiting alone, his eyes softening as she opened the door, nervously checking the hallway.

“He’s in the dining hall already. Come, he won’t hurt you tonight. And neither will Kyntha.”

Fern suppressed the flinch at hearing her name, then took a tentative step out. Then another.

She still had no shoes, but was more accustomed to bare feet now, anyway.

Eidan placed his large hand on the small of her back and led her to the dining hall, feeling her dread grow with each step.

“Are you sure they can’t hurt me?” she whispered.

Eidan lowered himself to whisper in her ear. “Kyntha lost much of the clan’s admiration that evening, even if she still holds Darion’s. She would not dare make another move against the Sabletail omega again.”

“At least publicly…” she murmured to herself. Fern had no doubt that despite Kyntha’s performance in front of Darion, she had as much interest in becoming Fern’s sister as she did in cleaning out the stables with her tongue.

She also didn’t hold much faith in the clan’s admiration one way or another considering how easily it swayed, omega influence or not. But it was nice to know a few more wolfkin might be willing to step between her and Kyntha if she decided to draw blood again.

The echo of her heartbeat and their footsteps was soon drowned out by a different sound.

Drums.

Fern looked up at Eidan, already answering the question in her eyes.

“Traveling musicians.”

“Is it a special occasion?”

She prayed to the gods that it wasn’t another courtship ritual for Darion and Kyntha.

“No, we have groups come in from time to time. Last year there was a theatre troupe that stayed through the winter. It was a relief at first to have some entertainment when the snows were too thick to leave the castle, but once spring thawed the ground and they left, I was glad to see the backs of them.”

He grimaced. “They only knew three plays.”

Fern burst out a laugh, startling Eidan for a moment, who then joined her as they stepped into the dining hall.

The alphas didn’t notice their arrival until they were close enough to scent them.

“Sunbeam!” Reinn exclaimed. He snapped his fingers towards a Solvekh standing near the wall. “Another chair, right by me.”