I lay on top of a sleeping Roscoe, his abdomen rising and falling as he snored, lulling me into and out shallow naps, but it was almost noon and there were chores that needed to be done. I also had to pay Willa a visit to discuss what happened, as well as pass along the feral elder’s request. Mosavi had strong feelings about the werewolves living in the woods, but I now understood something we were all lacking.
If we were going to live better as something more than human, we would need to strike a balance between Midna and Whasha. Feral life might not have been for most, but the life of a werewolf in a human city was a miserable existence. The humans were misguided in their reasoning, but removing werewolves fromcities was not theKristallnachtI thought it was. It was an inevitable result.
This had me again pondering the reason the elders in charge came up with the kuu as a solution to the compounding misery. They were so secretive that all their actions did was further fuel the ideas of conspiracy Mosavi had hinted at.
It was then I had a horrifying thought. What if Willa wasn’t the only powerful witch that had broken free from her coven? The idea of a malevolent rogue sorceress cohorting with a cabal of enthralled elders was a nightmare scenario.
I climbed off Roscoe, giving him a gentle kiss on the nose before heading to the bathroom. As expected, bacon grease ruined my sheets, but it no longer drove me crazy. The old me would have rolled Roscoe out of bed and meticulously hand-washed those sheets until every drop of grease had vanished. And if I couldn’t do that, I’d buy new ones and put the kibosh on food in bed. It was so stupid to waste energy trying to keep everything the way I wanted when life itself was one big Roscoe-sized mess. Like it or not, I was going to be a werewolf one day, and I’d have to abide all the smells and stains and dirt that would come along with it.
Even Mosavi, as clean and prim as he was, couldn’t hide his werewolf musk, nor could he hold back his primal urges. Under that custom-fitted blazer was a torn, dirty dress shirt, and behind that clean-shaven, handsome human face was the most deranged sex-addict I’d ever met.
I hated myself again for being turned on by that.
The more I thought about the dishes piled in the sink from breakfast, the less I cared. I ran the hot water and hopped into the shower.
“I’ll let someone else clean today,” I whispered to myself before grabbing the soap, knowing damn well the three werewolfslobs living here probably wouldn’t even notice the mess, let alone clean it. Maybe that would change later on.
Willa and Mosavi sat in the opposite booth, staring curiously at me. Mosavi was in his dressed-up human form, and Willa wore a black flowing gown that fluttered dramatically, even in the stillness of the restaurant.
“That’s really all there is,” I said, sipping on my water before digging into my pocket to pull out a small sack of herbs and the stone. I dropped them onto the table.
Mosavi grabbed the bag, leaving the stone where it was. He gave the herbs a sniff before scattering a pinch of it into his glass of iced water.
“The elder put us through a ritual where we experienced each other’s pasts. Whatever he did worked, because Austin’s back and he seems normal.”
“What is this, dear?” Willa asked, turning to Mosavi. “I’ve never seen it before.”
“It is a desert poppy from my homeland,” Mosavi said, dropping the small leather sack back to the table. “Once dried and infused with vironoct, they take on a psychedelic property. These were used for storytelling and healing when I was young.”
“The elder said he wants to meet you on the solstice.” I slid the stone closer to him.
Mosavi scowled, shaking his head. “What could there be to discuss with animals?”
“He spoke eloquently. He seemed different from the others, and he said he’s been watching you for years.”
“Of course he has. He is my older brother.”
Willa and I turned to him in disbelief.
“Your… brother?” she asked. “Why have you not said anything about this?”
“He is my brother by blood only. He seeks to undermine me at every opportunity, tempting my werewolves into leaving this wonderful haven we’ve created. That beast thinks he knows what’s best for us, but I know my way is the best.”
“I think both of you are right,” I said, prompting an angry stare. “I also think both of you are a bit misguided. There is no Midna or Whasha. Both are a part of us, and when we get too much of one and not enough of the other, we need something to balance us out. The ferals use this to forget, to keep them happy out there, but if they didn’t have this, they’d end up like Roscoe, always looking for the next high because something’s missing. Werewolves in the city use drugs and alcohol the same way the ferals use this herb. There’s a part of them missing that they can’t figure out.”
“What do you know—” Mosavi said, but Willa raised her hand in front of him.
“Let him finish.”
Mosavi lowered his intense glare and nodded.
“Whether you meant to or not, you found a balance. You think the werewolves are happy here because they’re in civilization, but really the reason they’re happy is because they are surrounded by nature while still being in civilization. They can embrace their wild side while also not losing their humanity in the process. We’re human and beast, not one or the other.”
“And how do you know this?” Mosavi snapped. “You haven’t lived even a quarter of my lifetime, and you are not yet a werewolf, but you seem confident in this absurdity.”
“Maybe I’m wrong and this is just a silly theory, but these visions gave me insight. Think about it, Darius. You were there when the Midna and Whasha parted ways. Had they stayed together, you could have created a Norwich a long time ago.Right now, both sides are susceptible to witchcraft because both sides are broken. The ferals use charms and magic to keep the witches away, but they’re still vulnerable out there. One mistake and that’s it for them. In the city, werewolves might be just as vulnerable—” I paused, remembering my thoughts from earlier.
“So, you’ve come to the same conclusion,” Willa said, reaching into her exposed cleavage for that ornate mirror she let me borrow a while ago. “I knew you would.”
