Page 116 of Red

“Due to bullet wounds, Warren, Sedry, Damien, and Mick did not recover. Though we did have a miraculous recovery of one of our youngest cohort members, Hudry.”

I pull at my shirt. I can’t cool down.

Stark walks behind Otis and rests his hand on my shoulder, the tingle sensation wrapping me in a hug, and I lose a breath.

“Let’s not forget that any fight poses risks. We are grateful to be successful and for those who gave their lives.”

Stark leaves me when he finishes and moves to the front. “Thank you both. Are there any concerns or questions?”

“Why was Hudry on the front lines in the first place?” asks Lunin.

A few other men nod.

“I’ve discussed it with him. It’s the one risk we have in taking young blood out.”

“I have something I’d like to address.” Graden stands, his jaw shadowed with stubble instead of its usual clean shave.

Stark moves to the side so Graden can take his place before us.

“I’d like to address the rumors that have been spreading through the pack’s cohorts,” he says.

Everyone starts talking at once. Another one of the Elders stands and walks down to join him.

“Enough.” Graden’s voice carries across the room. I jump. I’ve never heard him speak like this. “We do not need to make things worse as the leaders of this pack. The rumors of the red wolf need to be taken seriously.”

“Red wolf?” Stark asks. He glances over at me, then glues his eyes to the men.

“Yes. There are several different reports involving a red wolf. Many imply that without this mystery werewolf, we would not have been successful.”

“One sighting involved a human dropping a rifle at its feet and running off,” says Oliver.

“Another said it was only seen ripping apart humans, otherwise it was faster than they could see.” Hendin’s voice rose.

I glance down at my sunburned-looking hands, then tuck them at my sides. Where are the cold waves when you need them?

“Red wolves, of course, are legends from many myths. We believe, with the stress of being in a fight, that many of our members have clung to the story of a red wolf during moments they were fearful.”

That makes perfect sense, so I nod along.

I couldn’t sit there and watch it happen.

“I don’t think so.” Darwin rises from his seat. “I believe the red wolf lives somewhere nearby alone and came when needed. We need to find this red wolf and learn what other capabilities they have. They could impose a great risk to the pack.”

They don’t even know if I’m real and they already want to hunt me down. Pratt and Mom were right—no matter how much I feel a part of the pack now, I’ll never be one of them.

“I did not see a red wolf. Aloka, you were on the outside line, away from the gunfire. Did you see any such thing?” Stark asks.

All eyes turn to me.

“I can’t see what doesn’t exist,” I say.

A few of the Elders nod to themselves.

“Good point. Now, we will make note of these sightings to compare, then meet again to review. Please do not discuss the red wolf with pack members outside the cohorts. We don’t need anyone to be afraid of a magical”—Stark stops his speech, the fist on the side closest to me going white, thick veins crawling up his bare arm—“werewolf that doesn’t exist and causing panic. If there is such a thing, we will deal with it in a calm manner.”

“Thank you, Stark,” Graden says.

Darwin steps forward from the three at the front. “We should send a lookout for the red wolf in the outer forests.”