Chapter 9: Sharp Armor

Brother.

The word seemed to echo in the night as the gray wolf disappeared into the forest. What did that mean? He pushed that thought away. Owen was gone now. The rogues lay slaughtered in around them and Daphne was safe.

He took a deep breath of relief. He had never known such terror as when he’d woken up to find her gone from their little camp. Her scent had been strong enough to follow, so he assumed she hadn’t been gone long.

Why had she left at all? Didn’t she know how dangerous the forest was? He wanted to ask her, but he couldn’t get the words together around the relief of her still being alive.

He turned sharply to look at her as the scent of her blood cut through the haze of his easing panic.  She had been hurt before they’d gone to sleep. Had he been too late to keep her from being hurt further? Would she be okay? Her heart beat was beating too fast.

“Daphne? Are you alright?”

Daphne shuddered as the gray wolf