Winter Wolf

Chapter 36

"I'm sorry, they left earlier in the afternoon. They said they would be back." Charlotte said. She seemed flustered. Tristan glanced at Willa who was shifting her weight from foot to foot.

He'd just got back, and immediately realized Lo was not there.

... Dena wouldn't outright disobey him would she?

But before he could turn back, he heard their voices come within earshot just up the road. Tristan took a relieved breath. He didn't fully understand why his wolf felt so uptight...

Tristan looked back at Willa and scooped her up to take her inside for dinner, deciding it best not to wait out there. She giggled, and the sound was a welcome reprieve to how he'd felt for most of the day.

"Did you play with Kit today?" Tristan asked her as he set her down. Their caretakers were setting the table. She nodded.

"What did you do?" Tristan asked her, trying not to look so distracted as she childishly told him about her day. It wasn't until Lo was finally inside that he felt himself relax a bit.

But it was short lived.

"Oh, it's you," Sil said the moment she walked into the kitchen ahead of the others, but Tristan's gaze was immediately on Dena with a furious look.

Their father's scent was all over them.

"She insisted." Dena defended. Tristan looked at Lo. Her eyes were swollen and red. Clearly she'd been crying. He couldn't stop himself from going to her and pulling her into his arms, if anything, to placate his suddenly irate wolf.

Dammit. He should have checked on them. He sent another furious look at Dena.

"Ugh... so much drama." Sil said as she plopped down at the table and immediately began piling food onto her plate.

"Sit kid." Sil insisted as she pointed to the chair next to her and piled food on for her too. Far too much for her small size. Willa immediately did.

"And if I were you, maybe go talk to your father." Sil said firmly. Tristan frowned at her and looked at Dena. She looked bothered.

"What happened?" Tristan demanded. Lo sniffled a bit, but made no move to push away from him.

"She told him what he asked for. And he requested to speak to you." Dena said. Tristan frowned and looked down at Lo. She was avoiding his eyes.

His father wanted to talk to him? Now?

Tristan stared at Lo for a moment. She was still not looking at him. He gently tilted her head up with his fingers beneath her chin, and even then she was reluctant to look him in the eye.

He studied her face for a moment.

"I'll go speak to him first thing tomorrow." Tristan said as he glanced to Dena. He wasn't going to leave her with how upset she seemed.

"Come child, sit here. Let's get some food in you." Charlotte insisted beside them, gently tugging on Lo. Tristan flicked an odd glance at her. She typically wasn't one to fuss over adults, but he didn't stop her. Lo followed her to the table.

"You missed lunch, I knew you would." Charlotte said scoldingly. Tristan cast Dena a questioning look, but she was already quickly escaping.

-

"Come on now Willa... you have lessons early. It's best you come home for the night." Charlotte insisted to the little girl who was now clinging to Lily's legs out on the front porch.

It tugged at her heart a bit.

"But... you said I could stay." Willa sniffled up at her. Lily felt that so deeply. She glanced up at Charlotte... but the caretaker's expression was stern.