I am angry. So angry I want to thrash Olly until she is blue in the face. My heart burns with humiliation and my eyes prick with tears. So much for a loving sister. A chameleon would be better than this.

I want to slap her, shake her until I wipe that smug smile off her face. How dare she insult me! How dare she…!

My palpitations increase and I sit on the bed to control my erratic heart. One, two, three… I count until I feel a regular rhythm. It takes some time for the breathing to settle, but I can’t get my mind to obey. It still seethes with a vengeance. A need to strike where it would hurt the most.

I wipe my wet face and come down for breakfast. Olly is there, standing in a corner, chatting up with Phyllis. She does not spare me a glance, neither can I bear to look at her.

“Danny! Thank goodness you are here! Please, save me from Gabe!”

I look in surprise to see Tina calling. She is at the table doing some schoolwork. A couple of books are lying open in the front along with a notebook, while Tina sits chewing a pencil with an annoyed face.

“Good morning. Doing your homework?” I smile and take a seat opposite Tina.

“I am trying to, if my brother here lets me!” she rolls her eyes as Gabe raises his eyebrows.

“Hey! I am trying to help. It’s been ages, and I did not exactly go to a maths school…”

“I know that!” Tina mocks. “I know you did not go to any school, Gabe, but that does not mean you shouldn’t be able to do this work. It’s high school math. Mother taught you well enough when you were my age.”

“Well, one forgets.” Gabe shrugs. “And it’s not really my subject. Ask Billy when he is back.”

“Well, I will,” Tina snatches her book from Gabe. “I will ask him when he is back, only I don’t know how long it will take and I need to finish this.”

“I’ll help you.” I offer eagerly. “I went to maths school. Let’s do it after breakfast.”

“Really!” her eyes turn saucers. “You went to math school??”

“Yes,” I colour. I don’t know what the big deal is, but apparently it is for Tina.

“Thanks, Danny! You are a darling! See you in ten.” Tina gives me a bone-crushing hug, then saunters out. I smile and tuck into my porridge. Phyllis’s tired eyes are darting towards the entrance time and again. Half the family is absent–Adam, Tamara and the twins, not counting the dozens of others who I don’t even know. Their families, too, would be waiting for them desperately. And all the while I am here, eating my bowl of hot porridge.

I keep my eyes low. My only hope is that they all come back safe and sound.

“So you are going to give Tina maths lessons. Fancy that!” Gabe says with twinkling eyes.

“You are welcome to join in if you want. It seems you need them, too.” I curl a lip.

“No, thanks!” he quickly retreats. “But how about a walk after that? I’ll show you around the camp. It’s lovely around here, especially in the fall.”

I feel Olly’s eyes on us and crack a sunny smile. “Of course, Gabe, thanks! I would love that.”

*****

An hour later, we are done. Tina is thrilled as she does the third quadratic equation without my help.

“This is better than Billy!” she says with wide eyes. “Even better than Tammy, and she is the best.”

Tamara and maths? Who would have guessed?

I smile as Tina skips off to her room, then I come out to see Gabe waiting for me at the steps.

“Ready?” he asks, raising his eyes to me. On the back of my neck, I feel the heat of Olly’s gaze.

“Yes.” I flick my newly washed hair away from my face and join him.

We take a right from the house, towards the back of the camp. I had taken this road before coming back home from Will’s place, but I do not tell Gabe this. Instead, I pretend as if this is the first time I am walking this road.

As we stroll, Gabe smiles and waves at some faces. They nod back politely, but their smiles fade when they see me. I would like to know their thoughts - what they feel about Rey’s granddaughter being among themselves again.

My eyes keep darting around. Most of the fighters are away, a few men are around, going about their work cautiously. They are dressed in their combat gear, ready to go out at a moment’s notice. The women look strained, their smiles are forced. They all are waiting.

“Does it often happen here? The rogues, I mean?” I ask what’s on my mind for a long time. “Do they always cause a trouble, or this is just a one off?”

“Oh, they are always around,” Gabe shrugs. “Most of them are packless hobos, ready to do anyone’s bidding for a few quid. We usually patrol our borders to keep them in check. They like stealing… food, money, weapons, and women.”

I hum, wondering whose bidding they are doing this time, as this time they are looking for a witch.

We walk ahead. Gabe points to a few different buildings. There’s a little hospital that is Arome’s domain. A small school-house stands next to it, with kids running in and out as it’s break time. I see the kid that hooted at Olly the other day. Maybe he was right. Olly was the witch the rogues were looking for. The next time they come looking, I'll hand her over gladly.

The thought gives me a great pleasure. I crack a wolfish smile and wave at the kid. He stares at me, stunned, then turns on his heels to run back in, shouting for his friends.

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“Oh dear! What have I done! Did I scare him?”

“Don’t worry,” Gabe answers wryly. “You don’t know our Jacko. It takes much more than that to scare that kid.”

We take the next right, away from the hustle of the main road to Will’s sawmill. As the trees become steadily denser, Gabe points at some species I have never seen before. We have entered the cool willow grove by the stream. I can hear the low drone of Will’s bandsaw as it chops through a piece of lumber.

The path is becoming narrower. We walk together but it’s getting harder to keep distance. My bare hand brushes with Gabe’s and I quickly pull it back to stuff into my trouser pocket.

“Is it a common thing for wolves to be able to ‘scent’ a witch?” I ask, partly to distract myself.

“Not at all. A few are blessed by the moon goddess with unique abilities. Most are ordinary, but some are lucky to be born with more than their fair share.”

“You mean more than one ability?”

“More than one or just more of the same power. Some werewolves are healers, like Arome. They have an intuition for bodies and the healing process. Some have the gift of premonition – they can tell the future with reasonable accuracy. Some hold power over nature, they can bend elements to their will. These are the rarest, and the most powerful.”

I raise my brow. Why does he suddenly sound edgy?

“Do you know any such wolf?”

“Only your grandfather.” He smiles.

“Grandpa could bend the elements?” I stop in my tracks. “I never knew he was that powerful!”

“Oh, you wouldn’t know. You have been here barely a few days. But our library has books with ancient werewolf lineages. Their powers, their history, their escapades and achievements. There are many different abilities, some are lost to the time and we only get to read about them in those books. Very rarely, they resurface, and sometimes they manifest in completely different forms. It’s the magic of nature... changeable and adapting like the fickle wit of the Moon Goddess. You’ll find the Armstrong line in those books. They had some very unique abilities.”

I hear in fascination as my heart swells with pride, yet there is a tinge of sadness. I can barely claim to this glorious heritage. Olly’s words throb like a hammer on a nail. I wonder how grandpa’s legacy went so wrong with me.

Maybe Olly got all the good genes. Grandma’s glamourous looks. Grandpa’s wolf powers. We will know soon, if that bite turns her. I on the other side, have skipped on both counts.

“Don’t look like that, Danny. I am sure your time will come. You just need to prepare.” Gabe’s voice is gentle, soothing. I shake my head.

How exactly am I to prepare when I am absolutely lacking? Gabe does not know my condition, nor do I want to tell anyone. I do not want anyone’s sympathy, and I have had enough of their apathy. I know I cannot keep it secret forever and Olly might spill the beans whenever it suits her, but at least until then, I want to keep my dignity.

“How do I train?” I ask hesitantly. “I mean… I am not exactly an athletic person. Is there a simpler way to at least start?”

“I will teach you,” Gabe says, as if it’s the most obvious solution. “I can train you, Danny, if you would let me.”

“Oh, would you?” I am ecstatic. “That would be great, Gabe! I don’t know how to thank you!”

“Oh, don’t worry, Danny. I’ll find a way,” he mutters with a sly smile. I gulp, colouring.

We arrive at a little clearing in the grove where the stream forks to fill in a small pond. Overhung branches completely shield it from the view. It’s like a forest den, cool, dark, and shady. Only flickers of sunlight can reach the earth through the gently dancing willow leaves.

I sit on a stone by the pond and remove my shoes to dip my feet in. The cool water makes me shiver as its bracing sting tickles my feet.

“So what about your powers, Gabe?” I ask merrily as my feet dance in the green water. “Are you keeping any secrets that no one else knows?”

“My powers are simple, Danny.” He sits by me to dip his feet in, but his eyes are on me. “And I’m only too willing to reveal them if you allow me.”

The sunlight flicks through his golden hair as his deep green eyes watch me. A gentle arm curves around my waist to pull me in. His wet pine scent invades me as his lips caress mine. It’s a first for me, a gentle, tentative, wet, warm and sweet one. A shiver runs down my body, ripping through my soul.

I pull back, colouring furiously. “Urmm… I think we should get going.”

*****

By the time we reach back, it’s past lunchtime. There is a hustle of people about and we realize the troupes are back. A green military truck is parked at the big square and men are jumping out. Many are wounded. I see many with deep gashes and bloody clothes.

I do not know when I start running. From the edge of the point where the little path circles back into the main road, to the big house, it’s nearly half a mile, but I do not realise when I have crossed it.

I scramble to the stairs, huffing like a pathetic mongrel, and rush into the house, only to stop when I see Adam stepping out of the study.

“Adam!” My voice is hoarse with breathless huffing. It feels like my chest would explode any moment. He stops in his tracks as he sees me.

The corridor is deserted. There is a hum of sound from the kitchen. I can hear the twins laughing with Tina from the dining room. The rest, I cannot place, neither do I care.

“Adam…how are you? You… you were hurt.” My eyes scan him for any signs of the gash, but he only appears a little ragged and tired. It seems like he has healed already.

“I am fine, thanks. I hope you are okay?”

His voice is cold. Both eyes for once united in their distant expression. I do not understand.

“Yes.” I lick my parched lips and lean on the corridor wall to keep me upright. “I just wanted to check… as you were hurt last night. And I also wanted to thank you …for whatever you did to help me. You saved my life.”

“It was nothing,” He purses his lips. “I just did what I’d do for any pack member and you, being Rey’s grandchild, it was my duty to protect you.”

I do not understand what’s wrong. Yesterday when he healed me, it felt he was someone else – a beast with a gentle heart. I thought we had broken some barriers, made some headway. Today he seems like someone else. What is he playing at?

“I also have a request to make”, he says looking around the ensure we are not being overheard.

“Yes?” I ask, swallowing a dry lump.

His piercing gaze trains on me. “Whatever happened yesterday...after the rogues fled, I want you to forget it.”

Wh…what?

“I do not want anyone to know it. I only did it out of concern and my respect for your grandfather, but I do not want it to be taken in the wrong way.”

“Wrong way?”

“Oh please. Danny. You know what I mean.” He looks annoyed, frustrated. A blue muscle ticks in his forehead on the clear left side. It seems ready to burst with tension.

“There is no need to read too much into it,” he snaps. “If you were one of the pack, I would not have bothered to tell you, as it is just a normal thing among werewolves. But as it is you, I am requesting you not to blabber about it to anyone.”

“Blabber about what?” My voice is quiet. I don’t know when I have straightened myself and taken a step forward. We are now a foot apart. My eyes stare at his haughty face with unmatched anger. “Please be specific, Mr Stevens. Or would you like to write it down for me…. A list of do’s and don’ts while I am here. Is there anything else I have fallen short of, or do you think I was unworthy of your help last night and you are now regretting it?”

“Don’t exaggerate Danny!” he snaps, as if it’s me making a mountain out of a molehill. “All I am asking for is not to make a fuss of it. Please do not mention to anyone how I helped you. I know for you it’s a big deal, but many people here would not praise me for doing it, especially Ma and Tamara. So please keep it to yourself.”.

I am mortified. Furious. Humiliated a second time today. Here I was harbouring something tender, hoping it would flourish into something beautiful, and here my hopes are quashed. He was just doing his duty. Maybe he does it all the time. It just shows how much I have to learn, and no amount of YA knowledge will ever be adequate.

“I hope you understand. I do not want to cause misunderstanding and neither do I want anyone to get hurt. Let’s just…keep our distance and remain friends.”

He cocks his head in a polite nod and walks away.

I stare at him dumbfounded for a second time in a day.

***** *****