28
LEVIATHAN
Icursed myself for being so stupid. It was evident my reaction had upset June, but I hadn’t been able to hide my disappointment. I’d beensurethat going to the overlook would bring out some deep memory from Naphele. That being at her favorite place would somehow bring more of her out.
Was Rainier right? Was I too blinded by my past to see my future? Was there really no connection between June and Naphele? Could it be possible that I had been granted a second chance at a fated mate? The thought both intrigued and disturbed me. A hundred years was a long time to hold out hope. A long time to believe something only for it to be turned on its head.
“Great going, Levi,” I muttered as I watched June slip into the bunkhouse.
Kicking at the dirt, I started toward my cabin, but then my eyes caught a single set of paw prints near my feet. Frowning, I knelt to get a closer look. My scowl deepened when I saw the size of them. Definitely male. A larger than average male. Rainier and I were the biggest wolves in Hidden Grove.
I picked up a clod of earth and sniffed it. As soon as the scent hit me, rage ignited inside me. I spun on my heel, scanning thetrees. Red Maw. The scent was faint, almost totally faded, which meant this wolf had been here at least a day or two ago.
“Fuckers,” I hissed. The Red Maw had come within sight of the village. This was even closer than they’d been when June had run across them.
Once I’d surveyed the area and judged no one was around, I made a beeline for Rainier’s place. We had a lot to talk about, not least of which was the fact that the Red Maw were intruding even closer to the village.
I pounded on his door until he answered.
“What’s wrong?” he asked when he opened the door.
“Come with me,” I said, then stalked back to where I’d come from. I pointed out the first track and also found a couple more. Upon inspection and sniffing to catch the scent, Rainier looked up at me, eyes wide.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered. “They were right fucking here. Even with our patrols?”
I nodded slowly, my anger still boiling over. “Looks that way. “They’re getting bolder. Not good.”
“Yeah, no shit,” he said, standing again, and glancing into the woods like I had. “We don’t have enough people to add more to the rotation of patrols. We could tell everyone. Let them know the danger?”
“No way. That will cause panic. Most of the village only knows the Red Maw from what we’ve told them. Thankfully most of them have never had to deal with them. I don’t want everyone losing their minds and thinking we’re about to be invaded or attacked.”
Rainier spat on the ground and eyed me speculatively. “Are we?”
“Are we what?”
“About to get invaded or attacked?”
I opened my mouth to say no, then shrugged. “I don’t know. The Red Maw pack has never done this before. I can’t rule anything out.”
“Shit.” Rainier looked as pissed as I felt. “How the helldid you even find this, anyway?” he said, gesturing to the prints.
Remembering how things had gone with June, I heaved a sigh. Yet one more thing to be upset about.
“I don’t like the sound of that sigh,” Rainier said, giving me a sidelong look. “What happened?”
Growling in frustration, I turned on him. “You know I’m the alpha, right? Why are you talking to me like you’re my father?”
Rainier shrugged, looking less scared than I’d anticipated. “I know you better than anyone here. If I don’t call you out on your bullshit, who will?”
I continued to glare at him for several seconds before hissing in disgust. “Fuck. Fine. I took June up the overlook like I said. And you know that was Naphele’s favorite spot.”
“Please tell me you didn’t make a huge deal out of this,” Rainier said, already sounding exhausted.
“She didn’t really enjoy it,” I admitted. “I…may have let my disappointment show.”
Rainier put his face in his hands. “You didn’t.”
His reaction made me feel like an even bigger asshole. “I did. I hoped it would stir something in her. Get her to sort of make contact with Naphele. I wanted it to help bring out her wolf.”
