The Red Wolf's Daughter (Book 3 Part 2: The Making of the Siran)

Chapter 36

"So what are we going to do now?" Caroline asked and moved closer to me. She cleared her throat and rubbed her arm, feeling sheepish about asking me something. "Are we going to make sure that everyone is safe and settled into the main part of this group?" she asked, and I nodded in confirmation.

"We're going to see if we can't make sure that everyone gets settled in comfortably," I said, and she furrowed her brows and slowly nodded. "Also see if something in the pouch can help provide more food to this group, especially since there are more mouths to feed."

Caroline pressed her lips into a thin line and slowly nodded. "Do you think that there is something in there?" she asked and cocked her head while she studied me, and I shrugged and pursed my lips in annoyance.

"I wouldn't be surprised," I said before I cleared my throat. "My grandmother knows that I eat a lot, so she might want to make sure that I have enough to burn." My stomach growled in hunger, and my cheeks grew red in embarrassment.

"You're hungry, now; aren't you?" she asked, amused and raised an eyebrow, and I nodded in confirmation.

"I am," I said before I cleared my throat while I rubbed my hands together and bit the inside of my lip. "So we should see what that does, soon."

"We can do that now," Caroline said while she looked at me with furrowed brows and cocked her head while she studied me. "Or do you want to do it when we are alone?"

"When we are alone," I replied while I shook my head and sighed before I moved a hand across my face and through my hair. "I don't know how people will react if they see me doing it in front of them."

Caroline pressed her lips into a thin line before she slowly nodded. She didn't say a word while she furrowed her brows and cocked her head, studying me, and I had a feeling that she wondered if I would do it before I went to make sure that everyone was settled or after.

"We can do it after," I said while I moved a hand across my arm. "I want to make sure that no one needs anything before we do that. If what I think can happen, then I will make sure that they have more food as well as the others in the group."

"What if people don't eat it?" Caroline asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "What then?"

"Then there will be enough for me and those that want to try other food or food from their past," I replied and shrugged again while I grew serious. "I mean, I am not going to punish anyone to eat something that they don't want, but I'm not going to punish those that want to eat whatever I can provide."

She nodded and rubbed her hands together before she sighed and shook her head. "Do you think that they won't take it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I bit back a small chuckle before I shrugged and grimaced while I shook my head. "I don't know," I admitted, even though I couldn't help but feel amused at the thought of them not taking the food that I would be able to offer. "A part of me thinks that Cooper might not, but the others might, if they trust me that is."

Caroline furrowed her brows and slowly nodded again, biting the inside of her lip. "I trust you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, and my heart grew warm and became filled with relief. "I don't know if that is enough, but I wanted to let you know that I do trust you."

My shoulders sagged in relief, and I looked at her from the corner of my eye, offering her a small smile. "Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper and breaking before I cleared my throat and looked away from her. "I do appreciate it, Caroline."

"Of course," she said and nodded. She furrowed her brows further before she pressed her lips into a thin line. "I think Fernos trusts you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.