Oath of the Hunter

7 - A Lit Fuse

The walk towards the heart of Darius' home feels thick with tension. Milo walks up front, leading the way, and Matteo wanders alongside him. They're talking of the past, of fond memories and nostalgia, and hardly seem to notice the vines of unease choking the rest of us.

Well, me in particular.

Everywhere I look, I see wolves peering from the bushes with golden eyes. Curious yet cautious, they watch us pass. Some trot along behind us and others follow from the foliage. It's unnerving, to say the least, and reminds me of the first walk towards Rowan's home, all those weeks ago. It feels like a lifetime ago.

Around me, Rowan, Lachlan and Kay are quiet, watching the wolves with just as much intensity as they watch us.

Apart from the encounter with Duskland, when I fell into a Haze to protect myself against Alessandro's fury and Elijah's knife, I haven't been involved in any peace talks between packs. I don't know what to expect. I'm treading on shattered glass, wondering if a certain look or movement will be the wrong one and bring their wrath down upon us. Matteo says there's sixty, give or take, and there's only five of us should something go horribly wrong.

I haven't fallen into a Haze since the day I killed Orion, Liliana and my mother, but every now and then, I feel the whisper of its promise. In that case, it may not be the wrath of the wolves, but my own, which will disturb this peaceful facade.

At last, we emerge from the winding trail and onto a clearing. All around, pine trees sway and whisper to one another. The wolves following us dart out into the open and more emerge from the far trees. They gather together at once, sniffing and yipping and turning their focus towards us. People emerge from similar trails, caught in their own routines until they spot us and freeze. A large house sits in the clearing's centre, almost completely camouflaged by tangled vines of ivy crawling up the cobbled walls. A tired wrap-around porch wilts beneath our scrutiny and whines at the thud of footsteps on its back.

The footsteps belong to a man and woman who emerge from the house. The man has dark skin, a closely shaved scalp and piercing golden eyes that fix on us at once. He's got a bulky frame that warns me of the power he must hold. Over his shoulder, the woman frowns at us from beneath springy dark curls. Her form is lithe as a panther in repose, but there's something... empty about her features. Something hollow-eyed.

As our pace falters not far from the base of the porch, the man murmurs something to the woman before making his way down the steps towards us. Perhaps following his request, the woman leans against the porch railing and watches us from afar.

Milo gives Matteo's shoulder a friendly bump and says, "Look who's answered your call."

"Hi, Darius," Matteo greets a little meekly, wilting beneath the alpha's intense scrutiny. "Long time, no see. You asked for my help, so I brought some friends. I hope you don't mind."

Darius appraises us, his eyes narrowing a little as his focus flits from Rowan to me, to Kay and Lach, and finally back to Rowan.

"So you're the Crescent Moon alpha," he says by way of greeting.

Rowan bows his head a little. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Darius. I'm Rowan, this is River, my fated. Lachlan is my gamma, and Kay is Teo's fated—"

As Lachlan inclines his head and Kay offers a little wave which has Teo's lips quirking, Darius' brows furrow. "You have a hunter for a fated?" he echoes, his piercing eyes locking on me. Even though I haven't used silver in a month, its echo persists. Or perhaps my attempt at a disguise doesn't hold up to much scrutiny.

Here we go.

"I assure you, River is here to help, and so are we," Rowan explains swiftly. "I know it's not exactly custom for me to show up like this, but I have no intention of taking your territory or challenging your title— we're only here to help. Matteo was worried, you see, and of us all, River's the most qualified—"