Pack of Wolves by Maggie Claire (read along books .TXT) 📕

of this,” Suryc announces, his suspicions mounting as Wren stills. “Why? Blind acceptance? Or are you hiding something?”

Wren shrugs, a small smirk tilting his lips as he replies, “I am as surprised and distrustful of you as you are of me. I’ve just learned to keep my mouth shut and my ears open.” Wren carefully shifts his head, eyeing the terrain for areas of weakness, blind-spots for predators, and any other potential threat. It’s as natural an instinct as breathing for him. “I’ll stay on your side until it is no longer in my best interest to be here.”

Suryc nods his huge head in understanding, no judgement clouding his words with anger. “I thought as much. It is a dangerous game to play both sides. Cunning, but not without its disadvantages. If you choose to stay with me, I will keep close watch on your movements. I do not trust those who have no loyalties.” Suryc snaps his tail quickly, knocking Wren down to the ground with the effort. He plants his feet on either side of Wren’s head, leaving no room for an escape attempt as he growls, “If you betray my Cadogan, I will hunt you down. Nothing will stop me, and the life of a Ddraig is a long one. If you give me a reason, I will haunt your blessed shadows for the rest of your days. Do you understand?”

“I don’t intend to hurt Condor,” Wren cries, searching for a means of escaping the Ddraig’s grasp. “Please, let me up!”

“I do not doubt your current sincerity,” Suryc answers, his claws securing Wren to the ground when he tries to scuttle away. “In this moment, your words are truth. However, if you are only out to save yourself, your word is changeable and means very little to me.” Suryc raises his head, fire erupting around him to illuminate their surroundings.

All along the ground, tiny Ddraigs frolic in the tall grass fronds. They jump and stomp their way through the fields, some wheezing smoke in an effort to start fire. The smallest ones still stumble clumsily, learning to walk as they navigate the uneven grounds.

“What is this place?” Wren wonders aloud, turning his head to better view the babies. “How far did we fly exactly?”

“I covered many miles to bring you here. Aside from following my Cadogan, these are the reasons I fight for this land.” Suryc smiles, carefully lifting his claws so that Wren can sit up. “These are the youngest born in our den. I’ve brought you close enough to their nest without putting them in danger.” A tiny green and black one crawls over to Wren, fidgeting as it inspects the newcomer. “Siri didn’t even tell Iris about this place, all in an effort to keep it secret and safe. These young ones are completely defenseless on their own.”

“So why bring me here?” Wren whispers, running his fingers along the baby’s scales. Their colors mesmerize him, pulsing and shifting with every step the baby makes as he waddles closer to Suryc. “Why take such a risk?”

“To show you one of many reasons why the Ddraigs cannot act as you do. If I just choose sides according to whatever saves me, who will protect these young ones? If we have no loyalty, who ensures their safety?” Suryc lowers his giant head until his eyes are on Wren’s level. “Cyrus has spent the last few weeks depending on you. But how long can he trust that you will remain loyal to him? Can you understand what I mean?”

For a long time, Wren is silent, pondering Suryc’s words while he plays with the young ones that quickly swarm him. “I get it, I do. I just cannot afford to think as you do,” he admits as he brushes the ridged back of a young one the color of ripe eggplants at harvest. “My former housemates stayed loyal to me because of the threat that I posed. The information I gathered, the disguises I could wear, the intrigue that comes so naturally to me—that’s all that’s ever kept me alive. Playing the odds and remaining faithful only to myself has worked so far. These young Ddraigs—I feel for you, I really do, but this is not my fight.”

“That’s not good enough!” Suryc bellows, causing the young Ddraigs around him to scuttle away in fright. “The fight, as you call it, will claim you eventually. Either you’ll be on the side of the Ddraigs, or you’ll be siding with the Wolf.”

“Then I will do what I must. It’s the only rule that keeps you alive in this damned place,” Wren barks, his hackles rising as his temper flares. He quickly dampens his emotional reaction, squelching all feeling from his voice as though he could douse his fury with a wet blanket and extinguish its effects. It does no good to show what I feel, he reminds himself, growing still and quiet as he watches Suryc pace.

“Forgive me,” Suryc growls, his voice fading to a thin whisper. “But you still don’t understand; it’s not just these babes that are in jeopardy. Every Ddraig only hatches when their Cadogan is born. That means—”

“All the warriors for these Ddraigs are children,” Wren interrupts, a hollow ache forming in his stomach. As the seconds pass by, the babies grow curious once more. Another Ddraig, this one with scales that shift between the deepest sapphire to the brightest magenta, approaches Wren’s side. Leaning over to scratch underneath the creature’s chin, Wren smiles despite himself. Children. All these newborn babes caught up in a battle they cannot even begin to understand. I…. Wren stops himself from thinking on the matter any further, tightly pulling on the reins that keep his emotions in check. “Look, I will promise not to do anything that blatantly puts you and your kind in danger. On that, I will give you my word; not just for your Ddraigs, but for the children in my lands.”

Suryc sighs, unhappy with Wren’s vow. “I