Chapter 37
Jake dreamed about Thomas in October.
Not the real Thomas.
A version of himself wearing Thomas’s coat.
In the dream Jake stood beside the threshold with a list of names.
Wolves.
Wardens.
People who might become either.
Every name had a box beside it.
SAFE.
DANGEROUS.
WATCH.
Jake woke with his heart racing.
Noah was asleep beside him in Jake’s dorm room, one hand curled beneath his cheek.
Jake got out of bed and went into the hallway.
He called Sofia.
She answered on the fourth ring.
“Someone better be bleeding.”
“Nobody’s bleeding.”
“Then it is two in the morning.”
Jake leaned against the wall.
“How do I know I won’t become him?”
Silence.
Sofia did not ask who.
“Thomas?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t.”
Jake frowned.
“Terrible pep talk.”
“You wanted truth.”
She sighed.
“Power does not vaccinate you against becoming controlling, Jake. Neither does having good intentions.”
He thought about Caleb.
About wanting to know every wolf in town.
About how easy it would be to call surveillance protection.
“Then what do I do?”
“Keep people around who are allowed to tell you no.”
Jake looked through the cracked dorm-room door.
Noah was awake now.
Watching.
Sofia continued.
“And when they do, listen before you explain why you’re right.”
Jake smiled faintly.
“Noah is going to love this advice.”
“That is why I gave it.”
She hung up.
Noah opened the door.
“Everything okay?”
Jake held out his hand.
Noah took it.
“Eventually.”
***
Jake bought a notebook.
Black cover.
Cheap paper.
No supernatural properties.
That mattered.
On the first page he wrote: THINGS I KNOW.
Under it: NOT RULES.
Noah looked over his shoulder.
“Important distinction?”
“Very.”
Jake wrote.
Wolves are people before they are wolves.
Recognition is not consent.
Memory is not resurrection.
Protection without choice can become control.
Never bind a person.
Salt gets everywhere.
Marcus should not be trusted with folding chairs.
Noah laughed.
Jake continued.
A Warden does not own a boundary.
A Warden maintains one.
He stopped.
Then added: Ask before touching.
Noah’s smile softened.
“You learned that from me.”
“I learn occasionally.”
“Rarely.”
Jake wrote one more line.
Leave room to be wrong.
He closed the notebook.
Daniel’s notebook had been a message from a father to a son.
Jake wanted his to be something different.
Not scripture.
Not instructions future people were afraid to question.
A record of what he understood right now.
With enough blank pages for later.
***
Marcus started dating Hannah Price in September.
Jake learned this because Hannah kissed Marcus beside the vending machines.
Jake nearly dropped his soda.
“What?”
Marcus turned.
“You have seen kissing.”
“Not you doing it.”
Hannah laughed.
Marcus looked offended.
“I am desirable.”
“Statistically, apparently.”
Hannah punched Jake’s arm.
“Be nice.”
Jake stared at her.
“You know about the chair?”
“He told me.”
Marcus smiled proudly.
Jake looked at Hannah.
“He exaggerated.”
“I did not.”
“You said you fought an ancient evil.”
“I hit it twice.”
“With furniture.”
“Combat furniture.”
Hannah looked delighted.
Jake realized Marcus had found somebody who encouraged him.
This seemed dangerous.
Later Noah said, “You’re jealous.”
Jake stared.
“Of Hannah?”
“No. Marcus has another person now.”
Jake opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Noah smiled.
“Annoyingly reasonable.”
Jake sighed.
“I hate when you use my own phrases.”
He texted Marcus.
JAKE: hannah seems cool
MARCUS: i know
JAKE: dont ruin it
MARCUS: love you too
Jake put the phone away.
Noah pretended not to see him smile.