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He nods, though the nervousness and fear still stay on his face.
It’s my turn to be nervous when we get closer to the main area of the resort. I count four wolf shifters surrounding the car, only one of which is still in human form. I place the car in park, keeping my eyes on as many of the wolves now surrounding the car as I can.
“No matter what happens, stay in the car,” I say to Zach, looking away from the threat and staring into his eyes. They’re wide with fear, but he nods. “If something happens to me, you either portal yourself out of here and find your Ya-Ya, or you put this knob here next to the “D” and put your foot down on the right pedal until you're somewhere safe enough to portal.”
“I thought you said this was somewhere safe,” he says, looking around. Apprehension sets into his face; fear and panic infect his voice.
“It is. A good friend of mine told me to come here, These people will help us, but they don’t know who we are yet. Just please stay in the car.”
“I will,” he agrees.
I give Zach one last look of what I hope is reassurance and step out of the car, pressing the lock button just before I close the door, locking him inside.
“Turn around, get back in the car, and leave,” the man sneers.
I raise my arms, gesturing that I mean no harm.
“A friend told me to come here and ask for Aryn. I was told my son would be safe here.”
“Mages are not welcome here,” he scoffs, gesturing to Zach.
“He’s not a mage,” I pronounce loudly. “He’s a ten-year-old boy with magic.”
“Dark magic,” he counters. As I glance around at the wolves, they’re no longer snarling. Instead, they are looking between me and the car with curiosity.
“Matteo, maybe…” A female says, shifting back to human form.
He turns and growls at her, making her cower. My heart begins to beat hard in my chest. I know that look all too well. I turn back to the man—this Matteo—a snarl on my face at the way he treated that woman for trying to speak up.
“I said leave.” He tries to put alpha authority behind his voice, but it falls flat. First, because I am stronger than him. Second, because he is not the alpha here.
“No,” I declare. “I request an audience with your alpha.”
Matteo steps closer to me. “What if I told you that I am the alpha?”
“Then I’d call you a liar,” I respond, my chin raised high.
I see the fist coming, but I don’t do anything to stop it. My priority is making sure these people know my son and I are no threat.
As his fist connects with my jaw, I hear a small voice call out right before the car door slams closed once more. I turn and see Zach, his smoky magic coiling out of his hands and down to the ground, ready to protect me.
“Zach, don’t. It’s okay,” I tell him at the same time Matteo sneers.
“See. Dark magic. He’s a mage. Get him.” With those words, I turn and sprint toward my son, watching as if in slow motion as wolves surround him.
Come on, buddy. I know it’s been a while, but I could really use you right now.
I call to my owl, who flaps his wings ready to fight. I jump in the air, shifting into my large brown owl. I push Zach so that his back is up against the car, and I’m in front of him.
I am no match for a pack of wolves, but I’m a lot larger than a regular owl. The top of my head is almost as tall as the car, and my wingspan almost covers its length.
I hiss and flap my wings at the wolves, most of whom seem to take the fact that I’m a shifter as a sign to back off.
The gray wolf with the drool dripping from his mouth continues to look almost feral. No, this wolf—who I assume is Matteo—advances on me. I puff out my chest and claw at the ground, ready for the fight that I know is coming.
Matteo lunges, not going for me, but for Zach. That is his first mistake. I flap my wings raising up high enough to dig my long, sharp talons into his eyes, causing him to whimper. I leave myself open for an attack as he clenches his jaws around my wing, breaking several of the small bones and flinging me back toward Zach.
I don’t stay down, I stand back up, spreading my wings as far as I can protectively in front of my son, hissing at Matteo to try again. He may have injured my wing, but I doubt he can see well right now if the blood pouring from his eyes is any indication.
