Jace’s hand closed around my wrist.
Before either of us could move, someone stepped out from between the trees.
“Ahhh!” Jace lurched to his feet so quickly he nearly tripped over the dying campfire.
“Who the hell are you?” My heart slammed against my chest as I scrambled upright, instinctively reaching for the small hunting knife strapped to my belt.
The man stopped several metres away.
He didn’t reach for the rifle slung across his back.
He didn’t move towards us.
He simply stood there, his hands resting loosely by his sides.
Watching.
He looked to be around sixty, with thick hair streaked with silver and a weathered face lined by years spent outdoors.
He was older than Derrick, but something about him told me that didn’t make him weaker.
His eyes moved from me to Jace.
Then back to me.
He lifted his nose slightly.
Sniffed.
Werewolf.
I recognised the movement instantly.
He knew what we were too.
His gaze drifted towards the string Jace had tied between the trees.
One of the tiny bells was still swaying.
“Smart idea with the bells.” Jace stepped in front of me.
“You didn’t answer my question.” The stranger smiled slightly.
“No.
I suppose I didn’t.” His gaze moved over our backpacks, the blankets beneath the tree and what remained of our fire.
Then he looked at us again.
“Rogues?” One word.
That was all it took to make my stomach tighten.
I stepped around Jace.
“Yeah.” The man’s eyebrows rose.
“What of it?” To my surprise, he smiled.
Not cruelly.
Not the smug little smile Derrick used whenever he knew he’d frightened me.
A real smile.
“Feisty one, aren’t you?” I tightened my grip on my knife.
His smile grew.
“Little Tiger.” I frowned.
“What did you call me?” “Little Tiger.” “Don’t.” Jace made a suspicious noise beside me.
I turned.
“Did you just laugh?” “No.” “You did.” “I didn’t.” The stranger chuckled.
Jace immediately looked serious again.
“And who exactly are you?” “My name’s Tony.” “That tells us absolutely nothing.” “Usually tells people my name.” I glanced at Jace.
He wasn’t amused.
Tony apparently was.
“How did you find us?” I asked.
Tony looked towards the trees.
“Caught your scent a while back.
Two unfamiliar wolves this far from pack territory tends to get my attention.” “You followed us?” Jace asked.
“For a little while.” My hand tightened around the knife again.
Tony noticed.
“Mostly because two teenagers wandering through the forest in the middle of the night isn’t exactly normal.” “We can look after ourselves,” I said.
“I can see that.” There was no mockery in his voice.
His gaze flicked towards the bells again.
“Better than some adults I’ve met.” I didn’t know what to make of him.
He should have frightened me.
He was a stranger.
A werewolf.
Armed.
He’d followed us through the forest without either of us noticing.
Every lesson I’d learned over the last twelve years told me I should keep my distance.
That trusting people was dangerous.
That kindness usually came with a price.
But there was something about Tony.
Something I couldn’t explain.
I wasn’t frightened of him.
Not even slightly.
And that should have frightened me more than anything.
It didn’t.
Jace clearly didn’t feel the same.
“What do you want?” Tony’s attention shifted towards him.
“Nothing.” “Then why are you here?” “Because you’re rogues.” “So?” Tony slowly moved towards a fallen log.
Jace tensed.
Tony stopped.
“Can I?” Jace stared at him.
Tony pointed towards the log.
“Sit?” “Oh.” Jace hesitated.
“Yeah.” Tony lowered himself onto it.
“Thanks.” I almost smiled.
Almost.
“We’re not joining another pack,” I said.
Tony looked at me.
“I’ve had enough of packs for one lifetime.” For a moment, he simply stared at me.
Then he laughed.
A proper laugh.
“You know…” He scratched the back of his neck.
“You and me both.” I frowned.
“What does that mean?” “It means I’m not asking you to join a pack.” Jace’s expression changed slightly.
“What are you asking?” Tony picked up a stick and poked absent-mindedly at one of the burnt logs.
“I’ve spent the last fifteen years building a place for wolves exactly like you.” Neither of us spoke.
“We take in runaways.
Exiles.
Rogues.
Wolves who never really belonged anywhere.” He paused.
“Specials too.” That caught my attention.
Specials.
I’d heard the word before.
It was what people called someone born with an unusual power beyond the abilities normal werewolves had.
I’d never met one myself.
At least, I didn’t think I had.
Jace folded his arms.
“So it’s a pack.” “Nope.” “Who’s the Alpha?” “Nobody.” I stared at him.
“What?” “No Alpha.” “Luna?” “No.” “Ranks?” “Don’t have those either.” Jace laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because he clearly didn’t believe him.
“That’s not how packs work.” Tony looked at him.
“Good thing we’re not a pack then.” Silence.
I lowered my knife slightly.
Tony continued poking at the fire.
“When I was younger, I watched good people get thrown away because they didn’t fit somebody else’s idea of what a wolf should be.” His voice had changed.
The humour was still there, but something sadder sat beneath it now.
“So I decided to build somewhere different.” “Different how?” I asked.
“Everyone’s equal.” I stared at him.
“No one deciding your worth because of your bloodline.
We work together.
Eat together.
Protect each other.” “And if someone wants to leave?” Jace asked.
“They leave.” “Just like that?” “Just like that.” I frowned.
“You don’t stop them?” “Why would I?” The question seemed so simple to him.
I didn’t know how to answer it.
Tony studied me for a second.
Something in his expression softened.
But he didn’t ask.
I liked that.
Most adults asked questions.
Where did you come from?
Who were your parents?
Why are you here?
What happened to you?
Tony didn’t.
“So what’s the catch?” Jace asked.
“No catch.” “There’s always a catch.” “Not where I live.” “What do you get out of it?” Tony shrugged.
“A headache, mostly.” I blinked.
He smiled.
“Turns out putting a lot of stubborn people in one place creates arguments.” A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
Tony pointed at me.
“There we go.
Knew you could smile.” My smile immediately disappeared.
“Don’t get used to it.” “Definitely a Little Tiger.” “Stop calling me that.” “No.” I stared at him.
He grinned.
I hated that I was starting to like him.
Jace still wasn’t convinced.
“What actually happens if we come with you?” “You eat.” My stomach betrayed me with a growl.
Tony glanced down.
Jace started laughing.
“Shut up.” “I didn’t say anything.” “Your face did.” Tony chuckled.
“You can get some proper sleep.
Meet everyone.
Look around.” “And then?” I asked.
“Whatever you want.” I frowned.
“That’s it?” “That’s it.” “What if we don’t like it?” “You leave.” “And if we do?” “Then you stay.” “For free?” Tony smiled.
“Everyone helps eventually if they stay.
Cooking, hunting, repairs, whatever needs doing.
But nobody owes anybody anything.” My chest tightened.
Nobody owes anybody anything.
For twelve years, I’d been told the opposite.
Derrick and Rosanne had taken me in.
Fed me.
Given me somewhere to sleep.
Therefore, I owed them.
Every meal.
Every piece of clothing.
Every night beneath their roof.
They’d made sure I never forgot it.
“If we came…” My voice sounded quieter than I intended.
Tony waited.
“We wouldn’t owe you?” His answer came instantly.
“No.” “No debts?” “No.” “No one owns anything over us?” His expression changed.
“No.” Something stung behind my eyes.
I quickly looked away.
Jace noticed.
Of course he did.
Tony did too.
But thankfully, he said nothing.
After a moment, Jace inhaled slowly.
His eyes remained fixed on Tony.
I knew that look.
“What?” I asked.
“His heart rate hasn’t changed.” Tony’s eyebrows rose.
Jace tilted his head slightly, listening.
“No fear.
No aggression.
No adrenaline spike.” Tony looked impressed.
“You can hear all that?” Jace ignored him.
“He’s either telling the truth…” Tony waited.
“…or he’s an incredibly good liar.” Tony laughed.
“Well, that’s reassuring.” Jace looked at me.
“What do you think?” I should have said no.
I knew that.
We’d escaped Derrick only hours ago.
Following another strange werewolf to a place we’d never heard of was probably the stupidest thing we could possibly do.
But when I looked at Tony, that strange feeling returned.
Warm.
Certain.
Almost like something inside me was whispering an answer I couldn’t quite hear.
Safe.
Tony was safe.
I didn’t know how I knew.
I just did.
“We’ll go.” Jace’s head snapped towards me.
“We will?” “Yeah.” “Lilah.” “What?” “We don’t know him.” “I know.” “He followed us through a forest.” “I know.” “He has a rifle.” “I looked at the rifle.
“I can see that.” “And you’re okay with this?” I looked at Tony again.
He hadn’t moved.
Hadn’t tried to convince me.
Hadn’t promised me some perfect life.
He was simply waiting.
“Yes.” Jace stared at me.
“And you’re sure?” I nodded.
“I’m sure.” “How?” My mouth opened.
Then closed.
Because I didn’t know.
There was no reason for it.
No explanation.
I just knew.
“He’s safe.” Jace frowned.
“How do you know?” “I…” I looked at Tony.
“I just do.” For anyone else, that probably wouldn’t have been enough.
But Jace knew me.
He knew I didn’t trust easily.
Eventually he sighed.
“All right.” Tony stood.
I immediately held up a finger.
“But we’re only looking.” He raised both hands.
“Looking.” “If we don’t like it, we’re leaving.” “Fine.” “You won’t stop us.” “No.” “And if anyone comes looking for us…” Tony’s smile disappeared.
“Your old pack?” I nodded.
“They won’t be happy.” “How unhappy?” Jace answered.
“Very.” Tony looked between us.
“They’re dangerous,” I said.
For the first time since he’d appeared, Tony looked completely serious.
“What’s the Alpha’s name?” Jace and I exchanged a glance.
“Derrick.” Something flickered across Tony’s face.
So quickly I almost missed it.
“Derrick?” I frowned.
“Do you know him?” Tony’s expression became unreadable.
“I’ve heard the name.” Something about the answer made me think there was more to it.
Before I could ask, Tony looked directly at me.
“If Derrick comes looking for you, he doesn’t take either of you anywhere unless you choose to go.” His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
My throat tightened.
“You can’t promise that.” Tony’s gaze didn’t leave mine.
“Yes, I can.” And once again, I believed him.
Completely.
Tony clapped his hands together.
“Right!” The sudden change made me jump.
“We’ve got about an hour’s walk.” Jace stared at him.
“An hour?” “Our place isn’t exactly advertised.” Tony adjusted the rifle over his shoulder.
“Kind of defeats the purpose of being a safe haven.” He started towards the trees.
Then stopped.
Turned.
And pointed at me.
“Come on, Little Tiger.” I groaned.
“No.” Tony grinned.
“It’s staying.” “You’ve known me for about ten minutes.” “Long enough.” “You can’t just give people nicknames.” “Apparently I can.” Jace picked up his backpack.
“I like it.” I turned on him.
“You’re supposed to be on my side.” “I am.” “Then tell him to stop.” Jace looked at Tony.
Tony looked at Jace.
Jace shrugged.
“Sorry.
It’s pretty good.” “Traitor.” Tony laughed as he disappeared between the trees.
I bent down and grabbed my backpack.
Then I stopped.
Our little camp.
The dying fire.
The blankets.
The bells Jace had carefully tied between the trees.
For a few hours, this had been the first place I’d ever chosen to sleep.
Now we were leaving it behind too.
Jace stepped beside me.
“You sure?” I looked at Tony disappearing into the darkness.
Then towards the forest behind us.
Somewhere out there, Derrick’s wolves were still searching.
Ahead of me was a complete stranger offering a place with no Alpha, no rankings and no one demanding I repay them simply for existing.
It sounded impossible.
Maybe it was.
But something deep inside me kept insisting otherwise.
Go.
I didn’t hear the word.
Not exactly.
I felt it.
I tightened the straps of my backpack.
“I’m sure.” And we followed Tony into the darkness.