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As a boy, I’d been horrified, clambering to find the truth from my father, searching through books to confirm what Nighthawk had told us was correct. Sadly, what I’d found in vivid imagery, drawing depicting various massacres and battles over the centuries indicated the Wolfen were lucky to now live in relative peace. So many species were nothing more than bloodthirsty pigs, only prevented from overrunning the earth by the curses placed on them by other supreme beings.
If only humans knew how fragile their ecosystem truly was.
The various councilmembers looked from one to the other, their gazes settling on Markel.
“I have never heard of them,” one of the councilmembers insisted, although I had a suspicion the man was lying.
“If they are almost extinct, why are they of any concern?” another asked.
“Perhaps what Stone witnessed in the forest was incorrect, the moonlight causing him to lose focus.” The third sneered, laughing softly.
As usual, I bristled, growling under my breath even as Max shot his hand in my direction, shaking his head.
“I believe the creature Stone came in close contact with in the forest surrounding our city was indeed a LaRue wolf,” Gregor stated with such authority that everyone in the room turned their heads toward him.
“And how would you know that, Gregor?” Markel asked, tapping his fingers on the table.
Both Max and I looked at him.
“Because I’ve seen him,” Gregor managed.
I nearly jumped over the table, my anger off the chart. As I jerked into a standing position, the force slamming the chair into the wall behind me, only Max was able to keep me from lunging toward Gregor. “You bastard. You’ve known all along this beast was in our midst and you said nothing?”
Gregor snarled as he too jerked to his feet, baring his teeth. “I didn’t say any time recently, Stone. Several months ago, not long after the murders terrorized Denver, I caught a glimpse of the wolf close to the city. He was never sighted again.”
“And exactly how did you come to see him?” I retorted. “Were you in wolf form?”
Gregor’s body language indicated I was correct. “One of our members raised a concern, mentioning the sight of this wolf. I was merely investigating as head of security.”
“Let it go, Stone. If Gregor saw him months ago, that means he has been living amongst humans, and perhaps members of our pack for some time. That’s what we must focus on,” Max chided.
“We should have known one way or the other,” I said, snarling under my breath.
“The LaRue wolves are easily able to disguise themselves,” Markel stated, as if the information wasn’t damning.
“What is going on? Who is this supposedly dangerous wolf?” Kyle also rose to his feet, pressing his fists against the table.
Markel cleared his throat, reaching out to wrap his hand around the glass of water. He took his time, taking several sips before easing the glass down onto the surface. I couldn’t help but notice his hand was shaking, the water sloshing.
“The LaRue wolf is considered highly dangerous as well as nearly extinct. From what I know, there are only three hundred of them left in the world. Within the cycle of our lifetime, they will die out as a life form,” Markel said with no emotion. “They are monsters, true enemies of everyone they come in contact with.”
Max narrowed his eyes. “Why will they be eliminated? Some disease?”
Markel didn’t seem to want to look Max in the eye. “They are unable to mate, whether with their kind or another. It would seem their curse has played itself out. The hand of the devil or perhaps merely karma.”
“Their curse?” the youngest of the councilmembers asked. Up till now, he’d remained quiet, although I could tell he hadn’t missed a single word.
“Every wolf species has a curse placed on them, a method of keeping one breed from taking over another,” I said, longing for a glass of scotch instead of the cup of coffee I’d selected. “As a councilmember, you should already know this.”
“Which is why over two dozen breeds have disappeared already,” Gregor added.
The councilman seemed horrified. Perhaps the true elders had kept certain information from the new breed for fear others would leave the pack.
I chuckled to myself. Perhaps all the stories Blackhawk had told us hadn’t been forgotten.
The younger councilmember stood, walking toward the window. “From what I know about the breeds, when we are backed into a corner, we come out fighting. Perhaps this rogue wolf blames the Wolfen in some manner.”
“While an excellent thought, councilman, the truth is that the LaRue have nothing to do with the curse placed on them or the acceleration of their extinction. Their own violence and greed perpetuated their demise,” Markel stated slowly. “However, that doesn’t mean this particular wolf isn’t extremely dangerous. Their abilities keep them protected from their predators.”
