Chapter 22

"W hy is the magic failing?" Wulfric asked, fear tinging his words and turning them harsher than he intended.

Elva's eyes grew unfocused, swirling with green. "The time of the prophecy is here."

"Prophecy? What prophecy?" His mind raced with conflicting emotions—fear for the future, anger at being kept in the dark, and a touch of excitement at the possibility of something new, something that would help the tribe accept Scarlet and vice versa.

She blinked, her eyes coming back into focus as she stared at him. "Nomani and Barley aren't going to like this, but I told them it was coming. I have felt it building for months. They'll finally see I'm always right."

She slowly got onto all fours and pushed herself up. Wulfric quickly went to aid her, taking her elbow and helping her stand as she stretched her back.

"Thank you, son. Will you hand me my staff?"

He grabbed it from the bed, the green emerald at the top glowing from the light of the fire. An intricate pattern of wood wrapped around the tip to hold it in place.

He wondered what Scarlet would think of the staff and Elva. He'd left her for too long. He had to find her, make sure she was safe.

"Elva, I have to challenge Brody, but I need to leave for a few more hours. May I stay in your tent tonight? A good night's rest is just what I need before the alpha challenge at day break."

She sighed and tilted her head as she listened, her eyes piercing him as they saw into his soul.

Elva took the staff and her golden eyes flashed green then back to gold. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no."

Wulfric frowned and opened his mouth to ask why not when a sharp bark came from the main fire. Loud growls followed, causing the hair on the back of Wulfric's neck to stand. He'd left Scarlet too long. He had to make sure she was safe.

"Ah, that will be our cue, I believe." Elva shook out her dress and took a drink of a nearby cup.

"What are you talking about? I need to slip out for a bit, but I'll be back later." He frowned and looked down at Elva.

She set the cup down and gathered her ceremonial robe, a pattern of various hides and beadwork like a cloak settling onto her frail shoulders.

"It is the night before the full moon. When we inquired of our Growler patron goddess, we all three received signs that the next three nights would decide the fate of our entire people."

Wulfric's ears echoed at her words. He frowned and shook his head in denial, not understanding how a single alpha challenge could make or break a tribe that had existed for thousands of years.

She tilted her head and stared at him, seeing too much of his raw and aching soul.

"There's no time like the present, alpha. You need to follow me while I gather the rest of the Elders. Your past has been preparing you for this for years. You will succeed… or else, we will all perish."

He crossed his arms and snorted. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

She arched a brow and smiled at his tone as she stepped toward the tent flap. The murmur of a crowd grew outside, but she looked back at him expectantly.

He sighed, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. "Fine, yes, I will succeed as I am the rightful alpha. The goddess chose me for a reason. That's what you said five years ago when you appointed me alpha."

He said it accusingly, but her smile didn't waver.

She just nodded. "And it's still true, more so now than ever. Come, let's not drag this out. You will follow me and challenge Brody now."

She didn't wait for a response before she ducked through the flap. It ruffled behind her, settling back in place.

He ran a hand down his face and his stomach tightened, but he didn't have a choice. She was the Elder for a reason. She'd helped lead this tribe for over a hundred years. Surely she knew what was best.

Besides, he wasn't the type to shirk his responsibility. Perhaps he could win this alpha challenge and then go find Scarlet. It'd be safer for her to stay outside of camp until it was over anyway.

He ducked through the tent flap to see Elva already walking with Nomani to the third tent. By the time he caught up to her, she was inside Barley's tent, the eldest of the three.

Wulfric stuck to the shadows along the wall of the building, but his gaze went to the big fire pit in the center of camp in front of the longhouse. A crowd had gathered, even though snow was falling steadily and the almost full moon was high. Growlers didn't mind the elements as much as humans, although both wolves and their human forms walked through the camp.

All three Elders walked toward the bonfire, and the crowd parted for a few precious seconds. A flash of red drew his attention. Scarlet stood too close to the fire, daggers drawn and glare in place. His heart stopped and his breath turned into a low wheeze.

Hells, what was she doing here? The crowd closed ranks, and he lost sight of her. Panic clawed at him from the inside out.

The blood rushed to his head, cutting off the sound of the crowd chanting. His world seemed to tilt on its axis as his senses went haywire. Only when he sneezed was he able to snap out of it.

The Elders slammed their staffs onto the ground in unison, sending a shock wave through the camp. He couldn't see the Elders anymore, but the familiar shockwave sent him into action. Silently, he stepped into the crowd as it quieted and the group took a few steps back from the center.

Wulfric slid between people in the confusion, desperately searching for Scarlet. When he finally drew close enough to see her, his fists clenched.

The crowd had formed a wide circle around the fire. Too close to it on the right stood Scarlet. She stared down two wolves that prowled in front of her, never turning her back to any of them.

Across the fire and inside the empty circle, Brody stood in human form, wearing only a simple pair of pants with bare arms crossed. His grin was wide and unhinged, reminding Wulfric of some of the barbarian warriors he'd seen go berserk on the battlefields all those years ago. The visiting tribesmen stood with arms crossed.

Elva and the other Elders stood to the left side of the fire. Elva raised her staff and asked, "What's the meaning of this?"

Normally it was Barley who led, but the power dynamics seemed to have shifted in his absence. He sent a silent thanks to the goddess for that small mercy.

Brody sneered, "Intruder. We're just having some fun before eliminating the threat, Elder. Nothing to worry about."

Wulfric's hackles rose but with the noise of the crowd, no one heard his growl. Brody wanted to show off his new power as alpha in front of the visiting tribesmen, but Wulfric had to protect Scarlet. He stepped forward, trying to push his way through the crowd.

Scarlet scoffed, "I'd like to see you try. If you don't like Brody the bitch, maybe Brody the dickwad could be your new title?"

Brody snarled and lunged at her half-heartedly. Wulfric pushed through the crowd. By the time he reached the front, Scarlet had easily parried, slicing Brody's wrist neatly. She barely drew blood before spinning around the fire.

The crowd around him whispered. "Did you see that?"

"She drew first blood. Who is she?"

Elva stepped in front of the other two Elders and slammed her staff into the dirt.

"Enough," she said. "You will not hurt the druid."

The crowd gasped, their whispers growing louder.

Brody spat in the dirt. "She's no druid."

"I'm a Hunter too," Scarlet said. The crowd took several steps back, and a few shrieks rippled through the air.

But Elva shook her head. "Doesn't matter, child. You're under the druid's protection, and we will honor the pact made thirty years ago."

The crowd grew louder.

"The hell we will," Brody yelled above the noise. "This is an intruder who has the nerve to walk right into our territory and jeopardize our safety. And you're going to allow it?"

Wulfric felt the anxiety roll off the crowd as Elva nodded. "Yes, she is a guest in our camp, and we will honor her as such."

Brody snarled, "She's no guest."

He lunged at Scarlet. Wulfric didn't think. He leaped over the two in front of him and into the circle, shifting just enough to gain speed and intercept. He slammed his good shoulder into Brody, who staggered into the other two wolves that threatened her.

He stood shoulder to shoulder next to Scarlet, their backs to the fire. The crowd had gone silent.

Wulfric's breath was shallow but steady as Brody untangled himself from the wolves.

"You won't touch her," Wulfric said into the silence of the night.

"A-alpha," one wolf shifted into the human form, surprise and fear on his face. No one cared that he was naked, as all eyes were on Brody.

Brody jerked at his words, swinging his head to Wulfric in shock. "You–you're alive," his voice was soft as his jaw dropped.

"Surprised to see me?" Wulfric asked softly, his eyes burning hot from anger. Scarlet's steady presence beside him comforted him. He wanted to reach for her, but they both were focused on Brody right now.

Brody glared. "You're not the alpha anymore. I am, and as alpha, I say we do not have to honor the fucking treaty with some druid who's probably dead now."

Scarlet laughed and her hood fell back, revealing her ears and two pointed antlers.

"Antlers!"

"Those ears!"

The crowd took another step back from the fire, making the circle bigger. "Oh, she's very much alive. You see, we found alpha Wulfric and patched him up. The druid saved him. You really want to threaten him right now?"

Brody's hands shook, whether in fear or rage, Wulfric didn't know. But his voice was firm and clear as he said loudly, "Oh, I definitely do. The druid can't save him now. I formally challenge you, Wulfric, for the position of Ironpaws tribe alpha."

The crowd gasped, and the silence broke like a dam. The gossip flew on the wind, growing with a roar.

All three Elders slammed the butts of their staffs on the ground again, and a flash of magic shimmered in a circle around the bonfire. Wulfric's heart raced. The official alpha challenge was about to begin.