Wolf’s mother’s smile was wry. “Hate is a strong emotion. Dislike would be more accurate.”
Dislike…hate…Muriel shrugged, watching as Jillian drew alongside Wolf’s mother. It surprised her to see Jillian standing there, although it shouldn’t have. Rachel and Wolf’sle'ven'awere inseparable. If Wolf’sanistaawas here, of course Jillian would come too.
“Wolf’s not here,” Muriel frowned as she studied Jillian’s eyes. Something had flickered in that vacant gaze. It lasted just long enough to notice before fading. But it had been there, burnishing the mahogany gaze to gold. “He is off on another mission to save the world.”
She could hear the bite of bitterness in her voice.
Her mind flashed to Daniel. To the last mission Wolf and his men had undertaken, the one where she lost her son and brother.
Shame touched her. She wasn’t the only woman to lose someone they loved to the warrior ways. Wolf’s mother had lost her brother. And Wolf, as the leader of the warriors on base, was constantly in danger of crossing the veil.
Avoiding Rachel’s reaction, she turned back to Jillian.
Like everyone on theBrenahiilo,she’d heard the story of Wolf’sle'ven'a.How she’d broken beneath the weight of a shattered heart. How her spirit hovered with one foot in theTabenetha, searching for her lostanvaat.
Like everyone on theBrenahiilo, Muriel had sympathized with the driftingwoohanna,but without feeling her pain. Only now…after losing her ownanvaa...had that sympathy morphed intosomething stronger…something closer to understanding. Grief was a hunting knife, driven into the heart over and over and over again. And just when you thought you were over the worst of it, it swelled again and swallowed you whole.
This was an understanding she and Jillian shared.
And that was under the weight of just one loss…oneanvaa. Not both Muriel’sanvaat, not her entire family. Jillian was stronger than anyone gave her credit for, to still have one foot solidly in the waking world after such a catastrophic loss.
“Is Gracie here with you?” Rachel asked, before she turned to Wolf’s shadowle'ven'a. “Jilly, get something to eat. Tell them to put it on Wolf’s tab. I’ll join you at the counter shortly.” She turned to Muriel and offered a tight smile. “I know my son is not here. But he will return soon. I have no doubt of that.” A sympathetic expression touched her face. “You left theBrenahiiloso soon after Daniel’s crossing ceremony, I had no chance to offer my condolences on his passing.”
Muriel’s throat tightened and she looked away. She’d fled the reservation for exactly that reason, to avoid condolences, to avoid the pity in people’s eyes.
Rachel must have sensed the rising grief because she changed the subject. “How is Samuel? Wolf tells me he has awaken?”
“Yes. But his memories are gone. He does not recognize Olivia or me.”
Wolf’s mother nodded, then frowned. “My son has told me as much, but this was days ago. His memories have not returned?”
Muriel shook her head. “They have not.” She hesitated before admitting the truth in an aching voice. “He has changed in other ways as well. He’s become cold. Indifferent. He is not the brother of my youth.” Or her adulthood either.
“Wolf said the damage to his brain and body were extensive. Such injuries will change a person.”
“Yes…but…” Muriel’s voice trailed off.
Despite what she’d told Olivia, instinctively Muriel knew there was more to Samuel’s personality change than his injuries or waking from his coma. She barely sensed him anymore. It was as if he’d pulled away, deliberately dousing his internal light. His distance did not feel like an accidental thing, but a deliberate isolation.
“Is Gracie with him?” Rachel asked, with a quick glance toward her charge.
“No…” Muriel hesitated, then straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. It was foolish to hide her daughter’s wolf claiming. This knowledge would become widespread as her daughter continued with her conditioning and training.
“Gracie is off conquering the obstacle course. After which she will hit the gym.”
“She’s exercising? Deliberately?” Wolf’s mother’s eyes widened. “When did this happen?”
Muriel smiled wryly at the other woman’s reaction.
When the twins were toddlers, Muriel’sanistaa’aahad crossed to the land of her ancestors, and Muriel had inherited her estate. The property came with a three-bedroom home and five acres of land. The land had been a gift from the elder gods, as it allowed her to launch her dream of opening an animal refuge. But the greatest gift had been Rachel, who owned the acreage next door. Over the years, Rachel had become a secondanistaa’aato Muriel’s twins. She knew Gracie’s nature as well as Muriel did.
“The interest in exercise is a new obsession…” Muriel offered, only to hesitate once more. “As is her interest in learning the warrior ways.”
“She wants to learn the warrior ways?” Rachel’s eyebrows lifted. “Why?”
Muriel hesitated, then forced the secret out. “Gracie was chosen by a woodlands clan—theHo'cee.She believes she is warrior bound,”Muriel admitted, and braced for disbelief.”
“She was chosen by a predator? Are you certain?” Rachel’s voice rose and her mouth hung open, but she sounded and looked more surprised than disbelieving.
