“For who?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Not only you, but others vying to prove themselves. The winner will be in control of what’s left of the
wolves. I’ve seen it come to pass in my visions.” Glass clinks as she pours the water into a cup, and helps me sit up.
Holding the cup to my lips, she steadies me while I suck down half of the water.
“Easy. You don’t want to get sick.”
“How long was I out?” I lean against my headboard, settling in.
“A couple of hours.”
Mentally bracing myself, I get straight to the point. “What have you seen?”
“Stone. There are precious things hidden beneath the earth and many people are rushing to uncover it. Only the worthiest will gain the prize.”
“What is it?”
“I could never see it. The images came in bits and pieces, disjointed and hazy. The shadows
obscure many things. My time to walk among our ancestors is coming and my visions have become few.”
“Who will take your place?” I whisper, unable to imagine life without the wise woman guiding
us.
“It hasn’t been revealed yet.”
Her power in the wrong hands could be devastating. “They seem to be cutting things close, don’t they?”
She smiles. “They don’t care about the whims and wants of mere wolves.”
“If I fail in my task. What will become of the pack?”
Her face becomes somber. “We will fall one by one, and all we stand for will be slowly forgotten and erased with time.”
I clutch the sheet and bow my head. “Then there truly is no other choice but to move forward. What do I need to do?”
“Be prepared to stretch yourself in ways you never imagined. You’ll need an open mind and
heart to withstand what’s ahead.”
I think back to Fenrir, bound but defiant, patiently waiting for his freedom while he continues to
watch over his people. There are many ways to be a hero.
I’ll make my parents and my brother proud and remind the pack of why our name was exalted. If nothing else, I can bring back the honor we lost in the fire.
At least something positive can come from the neglect that came with being a misfit. Once I’ve done my duty, I’ll leave the pack life behind, and live out the rest of my life as I please.
Satisfied with my plan, I clear my throat. “Tell me everything I need to know. If you want me to succeed,
I need every advantage I can get.”
Navigating the pack requires knowledge. It’s more than physical strength, it’s politics, secrets, and
blackmail for leverage. I’ve never been privy to the inner workings of the pack. The Volva chuckles.
“Let me pour you another glass. This is going to take time. Alpha is running scared. He’s losing control
over the pack. People are frightened. There’ve been no new births while the vampires seemingly flourish and the witches bring in recruits.”
“Always worrying about others instead of ourselves.” My lip curls in disgust. “We’ve become
our own worst enemies. The packs should band together. Instead, we’ve become more segregated as
time passes, holding on to the last threads of dying bloodlines.”
“And what would you do differently, young wolf?” She waits patiently for my answer.
“I’d abolish the deferential treatment of the few,” I say firmly.
“Scandalous,” the Volva whispers.
“Necessary if we want to continue. There are more of us than them, and if it doesn’t stop, more will continue to leave.”
“You’re right, families have been moving away in small but steady numbers.”
