CHAPTER 41
“IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT, Lenore?”
Lenore blinked, turning off the faucet as she looked at Winter. The small, white-haired woman poked her shoulder as she passed. They were both dressed in bloodied aprons, having just finished butchering duty.
“Oh... sorry, Winter.” Lenore smiled apologetically at her. “Did you say something?”
“Multiple things, actually!” Winter laughed, but her smile never reached her eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“Too busy drooling over the meat again are ya?” Ryker joined in the conversation, earning him a quick head shake from Lenore.
She moved away as Ryker took his turn at the sink, rinsing the blood off a knife.
Her eyes briefly lingered on the water, watching the dark red hues fade into nothing.
She caught Ryker watching her out of the corner of her eye.
With a tense knot forming in her chest, Lenore pulled her apron off, tossing it into a basket.
“I think I’m just—uh—nervous?” Lenore fiddled with her choker. “Because of the Lunar Ball. I’ve never even been to a ball either.”
“Oh, right, it’ll be your first,” Winter said.
She drummed her fingers along the counter.
“It’s going to be a fun one, that’s for sure.
I have a feeling it’ll be something memorable for you.
” Ryker glanced at Winter with narrowing eyes.
In another second, he threw his apron onto her head.
She grasped at the soiled fabric—muffled curses were slung in his direction. An impish smirk was his response.
“Who gives you the right—”
“Just stick to the walls if yer overwhelmed,” Ryker said to Lenore, cutting off Winter’s rant.
“That’ll probably be the best for ya.” He leaned against the sink as he used a rag to wipe off the knives he finished cleaning.
“It’s always a festive mix of friendliness, rivalries, grandstanding, and a whole lotta eating.
I’d hafta say it’s the best to eat while watching someone discover their fated mate with another rival pack.
Perfect dinner entertainment.” He laughed loudly, while Winter offered an amused roll of her eyes.
She tossed Ryker’s apron back at him. “I guess it is a little entertaining. Every Lunar Ball we’ve gone to has been unpredictable… and who knows what’ll happen this time.” Something in Winter’s distant gaze changed. It almost seemed…
Bloodthirsty.
The cold burned deep in Lenore’s arm. Her breath stilled—and she almost readied herself to pick up the polished knife left on the counter.
But the unsettling flicker in Winter’s face vanished when Ryker shot her a sharp look. As if on cue, Winter’s smile slipped back into place. “Anyway, since we’re all free now, we can grab a bite together!” she said.
Lenore felt their eyes bore into her back as she picked up the knife and slid it back into its stored place. Her right arm continued to sting with cold prickles—sharp enough to make her fingers twitch.
“Ah, what the hell. Why not?” Ryker tossed the rag into the hamper. “Probably the last time to relax before all the Lunar Ball prep makes this place a gong show.”
“We can swap stories about the Lunar Ball with you, Lenore,” Winter added. “What do you think?”
The discomfort grew in Lenore, along with her uncertainty. She wasn’t sure what the safe response was.
“That sounds really nice,” Lenore said. She turned to them with an apologetic smile. “But I actually can’t make it tonight.”
“What? You can’t ice us out now!” Winter slid quickly to her side. “What’re you doing that’s so important?”
“I’m a little curious too,” Ryker said. “Ya hanging out with Brynn tonight or something?”
“No,” Lenore replied. “I’m actually running a few errands for Astra Fia.”
Ryker’s brow twitched, but a teasing tone edged his voice. “Is this her way of making you pay back all that help ya got from her processing all those chickens?”
“Something like that. It turns out she likes my cooking, so I’m just making a dinner that I hope she’ll enjoy.
” It was the truth, just not the full picture.
Lenore held her hands behind her back as she walked.
Each step was measured, so as to not look like she was running away.
“But we can eat together after the Lunar Ball.”
“Now’s a better time, Lenore!” Winter tagged along, walking side by side. “I still have so much to talk to you about!”
“Leave ‘er be, Winter. She’s got a meal to cook, and wolves to serve.” Ryker chuckled, but the sound rang flat.
Lenore’s lips tightened for a split second.
“But hey, whenever you feel like eating your own plate without lifting a finger, ya can meet us.” He offered one last fleeting smile.
“Five days left til the Lunar Ball. If ya meet us before then, great. If not, well, we’ll have a fun time at the party, anyway.
” With his nose slightly raised, his gaze looked down at her—and Lenore could see, even without her cold scars warning her, that she was on the brink of being cut off.
“Well, I’m always happy to serve you and anyone else food too,” she said. And she meant it genuinely, still wishing that all that had transpired was nothing but a dark dream. But the cold never left her arm.
A shadow passed through Winter’s eyes again—but she smoothed it away just as quickly. “Join us anytime, Lenore.” Stopping in her tracks, Winter pivoted her heel back toward Ryker. She cast her one last look, then turned away completely. “See you.”
Lenore smiled at them one last time amid the chills crawling up her spine before she headed out. Even as she left the butcher’s behind, the feeling of being watched never left her.
“Did you manage to squeeze everything you need into that waist bag of yours?” Gwyneth asked.
She and Lenore were currently in Gwyneth’s room—a cozy space that was decorated with forest-themed touches.
An arch of woven twigs hung over the women, twinkling with tiny sun droplets scattered among the branches.
Lenore sat on top of a moss-like carpet, enjoying the fluffy texture that enveloped her body.
“I think so,” Lenore replied, her fingers playing with the carpet threads. “All the essentials should be in there. I’m mostly worried about water.” She grimaced. “Are you sure it’s okay to drink water from... the outdoors?”
“Of course it is,” Gwyneth said. She sat on the floor next to Lenore, stitching a bag at the same time. “Our bodies can tolerate even the worst conditions. Just try to aim for the running water that looks mostly clear. It’ll be fine. I’ve only ever gotten the runs once.”
Lenore’s lips tightened into a line. “Right. Well, at least it’s that rare.”
“Exactly. Chug all the water you want out there. Do you remember the words Grandma taught you to summon the bird?”
“I do.” Lenore picked up a spool of thread, its pristine whiteness glowing in her palm. “The old tongue is hard to pronounce, but hopefully it’ll work when I get there... if I even see a raven.” Tomorrow’s task weighed heavier with every hour that bled by.
Gwyneth peeked at her from the corner of her eyes. Her eyes darted away, briefly thinking to herself before she set the bag down. “Quick, let’s test you.”
“Test—WHA—” Lenore flinched, dropping the spool abruptly when Gwyneth grabbed her sewing needles, pointing them at her. She raised her hands, as if to shield herself.
“Fail.” Gwyneth shook her head in disapproval. “If some creature goes after you, the first thing you do is turn into a wolf! What’s your dainty little fingers going to do for you?”
“I—”
“Don’t hesitate either. You see danger? Crush it.”
“Crush it?” Lenore blinked, then softly chuckled. The confidence in Gwyneth’s words made her believe it might actually be possible.
“Don’t be afraid, alright? You might be alone tomorrow, but you have the blood of werewolves running through you. Your claws, fangs, your... strength that exists somewhere in you, will carry you through.”
“Wouldn’t it have been better to use wits instead of strength?” Lenore joked lightly. “Now I’m unsure again.”
Gwyneth snorted in amusement. “Yeah. But you’re still a werewolf.”
“Yeah, I am,” Lenore whispered. In a louder voice, she said, “Thank you, Gwyneth.”
“Just reminding you of the basics,” Gwyneth said. She grinned at her then picked up a case of sewing needles. “Now let’s test you again—”
A loud slam from the floor below resonated across the room. Gwyneth immediately scrambled up, with Lenore following suit.
Gwyneth’s hardened eyes met Lenore’s anxious ones. “Wait here.” Without missing a beat, she briskly headed to the door and swung it open. Lenore dug her toes deep into the carpet, hands gripping the sides of her ivory dress.
Just as Gwyneth took one step outside, a loud, distressed voice tore through the house.
“LENORE—I CAN’T—I CAN’T FIND HER—I TOLD YOU IDIOTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER—”
Lenore’s hands flew to her mouth. Edmund is back—he’s back early! Elation soared in her stomach, her thoughts all flustered and jumbled. An innate tug flared inside her, but she didn’t need it to feel the way she did.
Lenore moved forward, only to be halted by a grinning Gwyneth. The grin turned devious as she repeated, “Wait here.”
Before Lenore could protest, Gwyneth hurried off, rushing to meet her brother.
Hardly a second later, Lenore slipped from the room, creeping toward the stairs.
She paused when she nearly entered the overlook landing, from where she could clearly see the floor below.
Kneeling down, she peeked between the rails.
There was Edmund, in all of his rugged and tired glory, looking absolutely panicked. Lenore’s cheeks flushed, feeling stupidly fluttery as she looked at him from head to toe. Gwyneth and Cade stood in front of him, both mirroring a feigned, confused expression.
“You’re back early!” Gwyneth exclaimed. “You were yelling so loud we couldn’t hear what you were saying, though.”