Silver Claws

17. Do not overreach

I am not eating at the wolf breakfast table when Trevor comes in alone.

I had just flipped my uneaten toast over for the eighth time when he came in, his normally well-kept hair was mused, like he had been running his fingers through it. Deep bags hung on his face, his mouth turned down. The second he came in I could smell my mate's scent, and it took all of my control not to bury my nose in Trevor's shirt.

"Trevor! You're back!" Saturn recovered first with confused enthusiasm. "Where's...? He trailed off.

Trevor shook his head, and I felt both sorrow and relief. He still hadn't forgiven me, but now I had more time to prove myself. He'll come back. Reed stood to hug the man that was more brother than friend, and I could sense the burden between them.

Trevor took his empty seat and began serving himself. He took heaps of eggs and toast, and eyed my plate. I pulled it towards me and pulled back my lip to show teeth. Even if I wasn't going to eat it, it was still mine. Trevor looked at me blankly.

When he and Reed were finished we made our way to the living room. Everyone, including a worried Adrean, gave us some privacy. I glanced nervously between them both before I realized I was waiting to hear how my mate was doing. Part of me didn't want to know. If he was doing well without me then he didn't care. If he was doing badly then I had hurt him. There was no winning and no respite from my own shame.

Trevor leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees. Whatever he was about to say would be hard to hear, his shoulders were too tense and his long fingers were clasped. He at last looked up at me, and just when I was about to burst from the anticipation Reed spoke.

"Just tell her already, before she has a heart attack." He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. How he could be so at ease with his throat unguarded I'd never understand.

Trevor looked suprised. "Alright well... I left him behind. He said he needs some time."

I nodded, I could live with that. Time was good. I think.

He looked unhappy, glancing at his unhelpful friend lounging back. "He's...uhm... doing his best to relax with the Australian pack. Honos sent a spy, which was unlucky timing for us."

"Honos." I said, the name didn't register beyond the original meaning. The roman god of honor.

Trevor nodded like I had to know what he meant. Reed sighed, "Destructo doesn't know and she won't ask. She's funky like that."

Funky? I glared at him but he stayed lolled back like a turtle in the sun.

Trevor continued, "Honos is the new Alpha of the European pack, the original wolf pack and our biggest rivals. The bad blood goes pretty far back but it's gotten worse over the years. They look for any reason to pick a fight."

I knew that feeling well.

"Honos sent his spy to make up some sort of insult so they could come here. But Logan sure helped out with that..." Trevor looked off, repulsed by whatever must have been said. I gag as the bond seems to climb in my throat, yanking my esophagus. My eyes water and I have to blink away the tears. As I blink I feel how deeply tired I am, exhaustion seeps through my very bones. I haven't slept in days.

"Wonderful." Reed raised his head and smiled lazily. "You know how how fun training with their warriors is going to be? Akela is going to have our wolves kicking some serious ass."

Trevor looks like he wants to smile, but he can't seem to manage it. "Good, it was way too even when they were here last, I think half the matches were ties."