A man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties or approaching his forties walked toward them. He had long blond hair, neatly combed, a shaven face, narrow blue eyes, and the body of a general.
What struck Fenris wasn't the man's looks, but the way he walked—elegant yet commanding. Slow and bold.
He wore fine clothes of—
'Red and gold?' Fenris thought, surprised. Those were the colors reserved for the elites, nobles, and royalty. The twin colors of Pyros, the god of flames. No one else was allowed to wear them. It wasn't that Fenris cared for human laws.
But wearing them would make him stand out and seem suspicious, so he never did.
The man finally reached them all. The mage and the redheaded teen wolves bowed at the sight of him.
"Welcome home, Lycan," Gwen greeted on behalf of them all.
'Lycan?' Fenris thought, stunned. 'So this is the pack leader Buck's been talking about. I have to admit, he's… different.'
"Nice seeing everyone, and I see we have a new face as well," Lycan said, his eyes turning to Fenris, who still had Buck by the collar. "Mind letting go of him?"
"Oh, I will," Fenris said. "As soon as he gives me what's mine." Fenris' furious gaze returned to Buck, not paying Lycan any attention.
"Either let him go, or you will regret it," Lycan said.
Fenris snickered out of reflex. "Oh really? How exactly will I regret it? Do you plan on putting me in my place?"
Typical wolf behavior. He had been through this countless times—an older wolf trying to assert dominance over a younger member of the pack. His gaze shifted to Lycan for a moment.
"I may have the time or the energy but I don't have the tolerance to deal with you. Besides, I have no intention of fighting. This annoying idiot took my things. The moment I have them, I'm gone. So stay out of it."
"So be it but remember I warned you", Lycan said. "Buck release yourself".
'Like it will be that easy', Fenris thought.
Buck Headbutted Fenris. He was dazed; his grasp was no more.
Fenris growled as his broken bloody nose healed. "Why you–".
That wasn't the end.
A knee to the stomach. Fenris' intestines ruptured. Gasping and vomiting. Buck stomped on Fenris. Skull fractured.
Fenris was stuck, unable to move. All he could do was wait to heal and try again.
"You're weak," Lycan said, mockingly.
Fenris' side lips twitched at Lycan's comment.
"What? Don't like that? Then prove me wrong. Escape, Buck."
Fenris tried. Buck stamped once more. He bled through all holes in his face.
"Sorry, my friend," Buck whispered, heart breaking.
"You can't, can you?" Lycan continued. "Judging from my hearing, your skull's mostly healed by now, so I want you to think back. During your short-lived battle with Buck, did he shift even once?"
Fenris' eyes widened.
'He didn't.'
"Buck's told me all about your previous fights, Fenris. He begged me to let you join my pack. But looking at you right now…" Lycan paused, examining Fenris.
"…I'm not sure you're up to the task. If you're so eager to go back to the world that wants you dead, so be it."
Lycan gave Buck a look. Buck released Fenris. Fenris didn't get up. Buck's foot may have been gone, but Lycan's words—they weighed him down.
Lycan extended his hand to Buck.
"These things he's talking about—give them to me."
"But…"
"Trust me."
With a heavy heart and reluctant movement, Buck handed Lycan a small bag from his jacket.
Lycan threw it down Fenris' face. His items spilled out: his necklace, his map, Luna's letter.
"He couldn't even protect these items. I'm guessing that each represents someone you loved. People you lost. People you were too weak to defend.".
Lycan's half-right assumption pulled at Fenris' heart. The mysterious woman in his memories, his mother with a fading face—that necklace and the warmth that came with it were all he had of her.
Whatever had happened to her, he was too young. He could forgive himself for that.
The map and the letter though—
Fenris sat, still not quite ready to stand. He put on his necklace, stashed the map. But the letter he held onto a little longer.
'If I wasn't so weak, so helpless, maybe she wouldn't have left,' Fenris thought.
"As I said before Fenris you can leave. But you know what awaits you if you choose to. The cycle: Fight, Run and hide. For all your days you will live a life of fear and irrelevance. That is, if a hunter doesn't end you first"
"Buck tried to keep you here by holding onto things you cherished. I, however, have better leverage something to make sure you never feel helpless again."
Fenris' and Lycan's gazes met.
"Power. Buck made that choice, and he is stronger for it. And as for the hunters, I assure you they will never find you here."
"So what's your answer?"
Fenris looked away, contemplating Lycan's words. "How are you so sure the hunters won't find us?"
Lycan smiled slightly. Fenris' answer wasn't a no.
"Follow me and see for yourself."
Buck offered Fenris a hand. He slapped it away, standing up on his own.
"I'm still your friend, Fenris," Buck said.
"You never have been," Fenris said, coldly. He walked away, leaving a sad and regretful Buck.
Getting out of the castle, Fenris and Lycan passed the human guards. They bowed to Lycan as well.
"Do they know what you are?"
"Of course they do. I'm their leader".
"That's not what I meant".
"I know".
Lycan said no more. Fenris wanted to pry more but chose not to. He had yet to decide if he was going to stay or leave anyway.
Lycan stopped in his tracks. Fenris followed.
"We're here," Lycan said.
They were both in a very large grassy field. That seemed to spread out for at least a mile.
"Is this what you wanted to show me?" Fenris asked. "How does this keep the hunters from finding us?"
"Use your eyes," Lycan said.
"I am using them," Fenris said.
"Your wolf eyes," Lycan said.
Fenris complied. His golden eyes glowed. What he found intrigued him. Something that wasn't there had just appeared.
"What is that?"
"That is what's keeping us hidden from the hunters," Lycan answered.