Page 12 of The Ashpaw: Part One

Anger boiled inside her, wanting to lash out with more than her tone and tongue. He hadn’t even let her say goodbye to her mother and father, had paid them like she was livestock they’d been fattening for his return.

Her mind rode the anger further as she pictured the scene, wondering if he’d entered the tavern with her unconscious in his arms, and if the villagers had heard why he was there and what he was doing.

And that anger was soon reshaped into fear, for once word spread that her parents had been harboring a wolfkin, they could be banished themselves.

She sniffed, tears clouding her vision, when suddenly his chest rumbled with a deep, bone-penetrating vibration, and she softened in his embrace once again.

“There, there,” he replied. “Humans live very differently from wolfkin. I know this. The adjustment will be startling, but if you do as you’re told, you will find your place and be happy there.”

The rumbling was nice, but if his words were meant to comfort, they were having the opposite effect.

“So what will be my place?”

“In the dining hall, if that is what you know.”

It seemed similar enough to her life now, and she knew she should probably be grateful it wasn’t something dangerous or degrading.

“That is where I will remain?”

He thought for a moment before replying. “All wolfkin work for the clan in whatever capacity is needed. For Solvekh such as yourself, you will serve the clan by serving the Lurvekh. Today it is in the dining hall. Tomorrow, you may be called elsewhere.”

“And I’ll never have a choice?”

“I never had a choice myself,” he replied calmly. “I was born to my position. Just like you were made for yours.”

Didn’t seem fair to pass on the lack of choice to her, she thought. To force this job on her.

It wasn’t that she’d ever expected her station in life would one day become so lofty she would not need to work. It was just the death of the dream she could do something else that angered and saddened her, the end of the possibility that she could always try something new if she ever had the inspiration and initiative.

Instead, the alpha had sentenced her to a life where she would never have a say and would always matter less.

* * *

They arrived at the castle before noon, the alpha not appearing tired in the slightest from their long walk. He called out to a guard, depositing Fern in his arms.

Her legs felt well enough that she could walk, but she didn’t dare voice her thoughts. A small part was even enjoying the treatment, especially since it would soon be her job to wait on these wolfkin.

“A Solvekh, newly bound to the clan. Take her to the servants’ quarters and tell Marin she will begin work in the dining hall tomorrow. Today she will rest.”

The guard bowed his head. “Aye, Alpha.”

The alpha looked at her for a moment, then reached over slowly, patted her on the head, and walked away.

She resisted the urge to jump from the guard’s arms and fall at the alpha’s feet, begging him to touch her more, to speak to her more, to give her more…

More…

More, what?

“Are you tired, she-wolf?” the guard asked as he began to walk.

His question was kind, so she answered kindly. “A little. You don’t have to carry me if I am heavy, though, I can walk.”

The guard shook his head. “If the alpha put you in my arms, then in my arms you shall remain.”

In that case, she would not argue.

“Also, you are not heavy. You are actually quite small.”