Page 36 of Bewitching the Wolf

I still haven’t responded, I realize as I stare at her.

And then Felicia bounds around the desk, comes right up to me and… hugs me.

I stand awkwardly with my hands at my sides. She smells of an exotic perfume, and her energy is so nurturing that I find myself relaxing despite myself.

“It is lovely to meet you Jax. I’ve heard so much about you from Tippy,” she says releasing me.

“You have?” I grimace.

“Mostly good.” She laughs, easy and infectious.

“Now, I must be on my way. I will bid you adieu and good luck, Jax.”

I manage to quip, “Will I need it?”

“With my niece in control? Oh yes, you most definitely will.” Her amber eyes twinkle as she returns to Traggar’s side.

They exchange solemn words in a language I don’t understand, and then Traggar hands her the book from his desk and their heads bow over it, almost touching. I could swear I see a couple of sparks emanate from it, arcing between them.

Then Felicia clasps the book to her chest and sashays out.

Traggar’s eyes follow her, and for the first time ever, I see something akin to longing on his face. But it’s gone the moment he turns to me.

“You don’t have much luggage.” He eyes my small rucksack. “We’ll walk to your den,” he says briskly. “It’s not so very far, and it will be good for you to burn up some energy.”

I don’t reply, but by the way my heart is pumping, of course the mage is spot-on. I’m wired, and so is my wolf.

We walk through the busy township, into parts of Wofltown I am not familiar with. Traggar points out landmarks as we pass them, the town hall, the statue depicting wolves fight for freedom during the rebellion.

Finally, we reach a wider expanse of parkland, and I halt and look around in awe. The lumen lamps are so bright here that the parklands are lusher and brighter than anything I’ve seen on level one. Then I realize. There are no lamps here at all. I stare around me, perplexed.

“Where’s the light coming from?” I ask.

“There is a high volume of lumen gases in the rock of this area, and the light is made from a chemical reaction within the rock itself,” Traggar explains. “It allows us to grow shrubs and trees from seeds that were kept from our days on Earth. And the water that runs through the rock here naturally provides the streams you see.”

“Fuck. It’s amazing,” I breathe. “Beautiful.”

“It is, but don’t go too close to the perimeter, way over yonder.” He points to his left.

“What’s out there?”

“Braden lands,” he says grimly. “We’re well separated by barbed wire, but don’t encourage them to interact by going too close.”

I look away. I don’t need to be reminded of the night they attacked me three years ago.

“And over here,” Traggar waves a hand across the street, “is your den for the weekend.”

I turn and see the building he’s pointing at, with its mud brick and beams, nestled into the rock wall. It’s well-lit by the rock behind it, but there are also little fairy lights strung across the front porch.

A white picket fence surrounds a small yard. Flowers bloom around the front porch.

“It’s springtime on Earth right now.” There’s a note of sadness in Trigger’s voice. “The plants pick up the seasons through vibrations in the rock walls. These vibrations also tells us when the moon is full, when to shift. Soon it will be the Spring Moon Festival, our biggest celebration of the year.”

“When will that be?”

“In three weeks.” He casts me a glance. “We celebrate new life—and love. It’s a time for mating rituals among lovers. Primal chases and the like.”

“Not my jam,” I say, trying to sound disinterested, even though every nerve ending in my body is lighting up at the idea.