“There are two that willbe of age in the next month. Why?” Wolf informs me, and I feel myheart sink.
“If the House of Vulturesis still around, if your pack is still at war with us, order thosetwo children to choose the House of Piranhas. Or tell them toforsake their masks and live as nameless unchosen. Even that wouldbe a better life for them.” A sob chokes any other words from mythroat.
Wolf does not respond as I observe theother members of his pack. They work at their own stations,performing important tasks with clear efficiency. A group of twentyor so women prepare copious amounts of food, some cleaning meats,some washing dishes, and some serving those that are waiting at thelong dinner tables. Laughter roars near the stream where a group ofmen and women wash clothes. How different from my own House! Theyalmost seem like living a life in a mask does not have to be adepressing existence. There is true joy here, I think, and Wolfworks hard to maintain it.
“I should have joinedyou,” I reveal with a sniff. “I should never have taken the boyinto the House of Vultures.” Wolf stands like a statue beside me asI confess what I truly think. “I know it would still have brought awar, but there is contentment here for your people, where there isonly trouble in my House. Your people are fortunate to have you astheir leader, and I am sorry that I didn’t see itbefore.”
He grazes his fingers along myjawline, gently forcing my tear-filled eyes to meet his own. “Iwill win this war, Lupe. I will fight until your House is defeated.You will have a life here too; I have always told you this. I willkeep my word.”
“When it is done,” Iwhisper, my lip trembling as I speak, fear and excitement making mequiver, “I will tell you everything about the boy if you wish tohear it. Whatever you wish to know, I will share. Until then, I canonly give you this.” I slide the mask of the mynah from my face,letting it clatter against the stones at my feet.
I watch as Wolf drinks in the sight ofmy unmasked face, much in the same manner that I had when I firstsaw Antero. It has been so long since I’ve seen my reflection thatI can only guess at what he sees. My pale, creamy skin, my shortstubby nose that turns up slightly at the tip, my thin whiteeyebrows arching over my chameleon eyes that always subtly shiftbetween green and gold and brown.
Then the smaller details, the lightfreckles on my cheeks, the beauty mark next to my left eye notquite raised off the skin, just a small dot of darkness on anotherwise snowy surface. The scar over my eye from that timegrowing up when I’d caught my face on a rock and fallen into theriver. I remember my parents screaming in terror as they pulled methrough the current to safety. I had never worried; I knew thatthey would take care of me. I miss the sight of that scar, for itis a visible reminder of my parents’ love. Lastly, the frown linesaround my lips that had formed when I realized that my parents werenot as invincible as I had believed.
Suddenly, I realize the same feelingof security that I felt with them is what I have grown to feel forWolf. He is a calm, safe, place that I can always run to, a secondmind that shares my burdens. The shuddering of my limbs ceases ashe watches me, and I know that even in this moment I am safe. I maynot love him as he might wish, but I am certain that he willprotect me no matter the cost.
“You are even morebeautiful than I had imagined.” Wolf’s voice breaks with thegravity of the emotions he feels. His eyes never leave mine as hestrips away the claws from his fingers, gripping the jaws of thewolf carcass, sliding it from his head.
His hair matches the wolf pelt hewears, strands sticking out wildly in dark russet waves. His jaw isas strong as I’d imagined, his nose straight and well defined. Hissharp stare scrutinizes my reaction to his appearance, a vulnerablesmile on his lips as my tears fall. “You are so disappointed in mylooks that it made you cry?” He teases with a twinkle in his eye. Ido not get the chance to answer him as he pulls me gently into hisarms. Even in this embrace he is cautious of my wounds.
I do not love you,I repeat to myself, holding my breath as Iprepare to speak the words I feel forming. “When I am here, I willtell you anything you wish to know. All that I am, all that I havewill be yours. For now, I can only repay my debt.”
“Is that all this is?”Wolf whispers as he leans closer to me. “Payment for servicesrendered?”
“I don’t know,” I answerhonestly, deciding that in this instance, Wolf deserves the truth.“I cannot afford to think about romantic sensibilities rightnow.”
“We’ll see about that.”Wolf is careful as he worships my lips with his own. I can almostfeel him savoring the taste of this kiss as if he is finishing afavorite meal, relishing every last bite. His fingers tightenpossessively around my hips, and I can feel the rapid beat of hisheart.
Pulling away from him lightly, Iwhisper, “You should have been named Tiger. As in, slow down,Tiger.”
Wolf laughs, a deep rumble thatvibrates through his chest. “We will have our day, Lupe. Mark mywords.” He holds me close, as if waiting for me urge himon.
I have a feeling that had it not beenfor Antero and the ache in my head, I would never have left thatcavern.
***
“Looks like you lost thebet, Grouse!” Goldeneye crows with laughter as I approach the Houseof Vultures, leaning heavily on a knobby tree branch I
