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“That doesn’t sound like a glowing review.”
“I had fun.”
“But?”
“But…” She shot me a concerned glance. “Most of it was good, great, but Jeremy made me uncomfortable. I don’t even have a real reason why, but I couldn’t relax around him. I felt so uneasy that I wanted to lash out. I know how shitty that sounds. I’m blaming somebody else for my bad mood.”
“No, I get it, but don’t worry about that. Jeremy’s not a permanent fixture.” I’d noticed Margo’s wariness myself. “I caught that you were feeling off. I think Jorge did, too. That’s why he came over to distract you. Seemed to work.”
“He’s easy to be around, isn’t he? It’s weird though. I knew exactly who he was, who everyone was, by their smell.”
“That’s normal.”
“For you, but how do I know what everyone smells like? I don’t remember sniffing anyone.” She grinned. “Apart from you. Okay, see how creepy that sounds?”
I smiled at her dilemma. “It’s weird when you say it out loud like that, but it’s natural for the wolf to subconsciously keep track of things you wouldn't. Trust her to do her thing, and you won’t go wrong.”
“You think?” She glanced over her shoulder before lowering her voice. “Jorge seemed lonely. I don't know how I know, but the wolf felt it.”
“Then the wolf is probably right. He hasn’t been himself lately. Even today. Going off alone after a run isn’t like him. But it’s impressive that your wolf noticed something like that. The fact you understood her is amazing. Lots of people can’t translate their instincts so well.”
She allowed herself a brief proud smile before frowning again. “What am I supposed to do with that kind of information though? I want to help him, but I don’t know how.”
“I get how you feel, but maybe all he needs is time. Feeling lonely is understandable now his family is gone.” But loneliness wasn’t good for a pack member.
“I feel sorry for him. I can’t imagine how hard this would be if my parents weren’t there for me.” She blew out a frustrated sigh. “I think I’m starting to understand Victor better. When I don’t feel relaxed, I want to justbitesomebody.”
Taken aback by the statement, I couldn’t think of anything to say. The noisy group caught up to us, and we were soon absorbed into their midst. Margo’s hand slipped out of mine as they surrounded her, boasting about how we had scared off the harbingers.
“Thanks to our new little wolf,” Cecilia said, slapping Margo on the back and conveniently forgetting that she hadn’t exactly been on Margo’s side before.
Margo was beaming, unaware of my absence, while I couldn’t let myself believe that Eli would be scared off so easily. He wasn’t afraid of death. What else could scare him? Unsettled by the thought, I fell back, keeping my distance from the group.
I noticed Vira walking alone, her arms folded across her chest as though to protect herself, so I joined her.
“I thought you would have stayed with Byron,” I said.
“Too noisy. I needed time to think.”
“Mind if I walk with you?”
“I don’t mind.” We walked in silence, both of us watching the group ahead grow more excitable by the minute. Vira’s eyebrows were furrowed together. Though she and Margo had been staying under one roof, they hadn’t gotten much closer. I wondered how she felt about her biological daughter, especially now she had changed.
“What do you think?” I asked. “Sounds as though everyone feels like celebrating.”
She shook her head in disgust. “They are happy too soon and for too little reason.”
“Even if his new friends got scared off, Eli won’t, will he? Not for good.”
“I would find that hard to believe.” She shivered. “He will happily take this to the death, even his own. He won’t be satisfied, and today’s display wasn’t the full extent of his power. We can’t know what he will teach those other fools to do. How did he even persuade them to come here?”
“They looked young,” I said. “Inexperienced.”
“Impressionable,” she said in a dark voice. “Easily misled. They’re nothing compared to the Elders. If Eli manages to persuade entire compounds to join him, then I don’t know how Margo and I will hold them off.” She shivered. “Margo becoming a werewolf could be the trigger Eli needs.”
That was an ominous thought. “When we were looking for answers at the compound, something came after us, something dark and unseen. Do you know what that was?”
She hesitated. “Protection? Honestly, I know little of what the men are allowed to do, only what Eli chooses to share with me. Together, we’re stronger. We have always been told that. When a stranger comes, a stranger who needs to be scared off, I often feel a pull inside me, as though somebody is drawing all of the power of the compound and using it. I could never ask if others felt the same way in case it was something only the men experienced. If they knew I had used my gift, there would have been trouble.”
