I sigh, heavy with regret. “Yeah. I should, too. I’ll pick you up when you finish—we’re meeting the pack tonight, remember?”
“Yeah,” she says. “I remember.”
“Okay,” I say. “See you then.”
I tidy myself up and leave the room, feeling hopelessly inadequate but not knowing how else to leave.
***
I spend the rest of the day shuffling back and forth between excitement and dread.
Is everything okay now? Are we together? We can’t be. Maybe this is just a moment to her, and by tonight, we’ll be strangers again.
When I pick Sadie up, my anxiety is still simmering in my gut, but her casual manner reassures me.
She’s not all over me or radiating hostility. I guess that’s the best I can hope for, especially since I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, either.
We arrive at the park. Most of the pack are already there, the kids charging through the trees, screamingen masse. Cassie breaks off from the group and hurtles towards us, leaping into her mom’s arms.
“Hey, baby,” Sadie laughs. “Did you have a fun day?”
“I sure did. Auntie Jean is good fun. She gives us games to play and fun stuff to do.”
“That’s great,” Sadie says, kissing her forehead.
Cassie reaches for me, and I give her a hug before Sadie puts her down. The little girl walks between us, holding her mom’s hand as we approach the picnic tables where older pack members are waiting.
Food and drinks have been set out, but I decide to greet the pack first. Taking Sadie and Cassie with me, I stop by each table, asking people how they are and letting them talk to Cassie. She enthusiastically talks to the heads of the families, showing off her new knowledge and skills. After we go past the last table, Sadie takes Cassie over to get something to eat.
“She’s a sweet girl,” Lorna, one of the family matriarchs, says to me.
“Hmm?” I mutter, turning to see her walking up to me.
“Cassie,” Lorna repeats. “A worthy heir.”
“Oh,” I say. “We aren’t sure yet if that’s going to be the case.”
“Well, obviously,” Lorna almost scoffs. “Her mother is an embarrassment.”
The way she says the wordmothersounds like a horrific insult, and it spikes my rage.
“You won’t speak ill of her,” I say firmly. “No one will, do you hear me? Sadie is working hard to fit in and do well, and I won’t have anyone disrespecting her. Do I need to go and speak to the others?”
“No,” Lorna says, a little stubbornly. “I understand you well enough. I don’t want you to forget her purpose here, though, and that it’s looking more and more like this weak human woman is, in fact, useless.”
“Enough, Lorna,” I growl. “I’m hearing you.”
“That may be, but do you understand?” she snaps. “You’ve been so caught up with your new family, you haven’t seen what’s been happening here. Our problems are nowhere near being solved.”
I want to defend Sadie again, but I look around at the nearby tables, and I see far too many wolves looking pale and weak when all of them should still be in the prime of their lives.
“You see it, don’t you?” Lorna says. “Grant Harcourt and Gina Lee. They haven’t admitted it yet, but clearly, they are sick.”
“Yes,” I whisper in disbelief. “And Rylan—he’s only thirteen! It’s like I can see a dark cloud on him, and his face looks pale and drawn.”
Lorna nods. “I’m not well, either, boy. How about you?”
An uncomfortable feeling sinks in my chest, sending lines of tension through my shoulders.
