Chapter Sixteen

“No.”

The word was quiet. But firm. Maeve ran both hands through her hair.

“No, I can’t…”

She started pacing. The camp watched in silence.

“You all keep saying these things like they make perfect sense.”

She gestured toward Lucia.

“The Living Flame.”

Then toward Mateo.

“An ancient Devourer.”

Then toward the canyon walls.

“And now there’s apparently a magical security system around the camp.”

Tomas opened his mouth. Mateo lifted a hand. Not now. Maeve looked around the
fire.

“I’ve spent my entire life believing the world worked one way.”

She laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.

“And in the last few days, every single thing I thought I knew has been turned upside down.”

She looked down at her hands.

“I don’t know what happened with the fire.”

Her voice softened.

“I know I saw it.”

She swallowed.

“But maybe there’s another explanation.”

She looked back up.

“Maybe I’m sick.”

The words hung in the air.

“Maybe this is some weird medical condition.”

“Maeve…” Lucia began.

“No, seriously.”

She looked from face to face.

“I don’t know any of you.”

Her breathing had become uneven.

“And every answer I get just raises ten more questions.”

She laughed again, a little shakily.

“And then there are the werewolves.”

No one spoke. She pointed vaguely toward Lucia and Abuela Rosa.

“You said you’re wolves.”

Lucia remained calm.

“We are.”

Maeve let out a disbelieving laugh.

“See? That’s exactly what I mean.”

She looked around the fire.

“You say these things like they’re completely normal.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

Her eyes moved from face to face.

Sofía noticed first. “You’re staring at us like we’re zoo animals,” she said.

Maeve didn’t even try to deny it. “I mean… you are werewolves.”

Tomas laughed. “That’s fair.”

Maeve leaned forward slightly. “Okay, I have questions.”

Mateo sighed. “This is going to be bad.”

“No, no,” Maeve said, a bit of sarcasm creeping into her voice. “Important questions. Scientific questions.”

Javier, sitting on a log nearby, didn’t look up, but he was listening.

Maeve held up a finger. “First question. Full moon. Don’t you need a full moon?”

The entire pack went silent for half a second. Then they all started laughing.

Maeve frowned. “What? That’s a real question.”

Tomas wiped his eyes. “That’s movies, Maeve.”

“So, the full moon thing isn’t real?” she asked.

Mateo shook his head. “We can shift whenever we want.”

Maeve looked offended. “That is extremely misleading. Popular culture has failed me.”

Sofía smirked. “The full moon just makes it easier. Everything wolf-related gets louder. Instincts, senses, temper. But we’re not stuck waiting for the moon like idiots.”

Maeve nodded slowly. “Okay. Good to know. Next question.”

Mateo groaned. “There’s more?”

“Oh, there are many more,” Maeve said.

She held up another finger. “Silver. Does silver hurt you?”

Diego spoke up this time. “Hurts if you stab anyone with it.”

Maeve rolled her eyes. “Helpful.”

Lucia shook her head. “It’s not poison. It reacts to what’s underneath.”

Maeve narrowed her eyes. “Explain.”

“For most of us, it’s nothing,” Mateo said. “But if a wolf is corrupted…”

“It burns,” Sofía finished.

Maeve leaned back slightly. “So, it’s not the silver. It’s the wolf.”

“It always is,” Sofía said.

Maeve blinked. “So, the myth is wrong but also kind of right.”

“Yeah,” Mateo said. “Most myths start with something true and then get weird.”

Maeve nodded again, very seriously. “Okay. Next question.”

Mateo put his face in his hands. “We should not have encouraged this.”

Maeve looked around the circle. “Do you eat people?”

Tomas choked. Diego snorted. Mateo sighed. The entire pack, including Javier, stared at her.

Sofía looked at her in disbelief. “Maeve.”

“What?!” Maeve said defensively. “I’m asking legitimate questions!”

Mateo shook his head slowly. “No, Maeve. We don’t eat people.”

“Good,” she said. “That would have complicated things.”

A few quiet laughs followed.

Maeve looked back at the pack. “Okay, last question. When you’re…a wolf, are you still you or are you like… wolf-brain?”

Sofía answered. “Still us. Emotions stronger. Anger, fear, protectiveness, but still us.”

“So, the person becomes the wolf, but the wolf is still the person,” she said.

Mateo nodded. “Something like that.”

Maeve continued to stare at them, disbelief still etched onto her face.

“Okay, I can maybe accept that something happened with the fire because I saw it.”

She looked at her hands.

“I don’t understand it, but I saw it.”

Then she looked back up.

“But this?”

She gestured at all of them.

“Werewolves?”

She shook her head again.

“I haven’t seen any proof.”

The fire crackled softly.

“I’ve seen wolves.”

She pointed toward the canyon.

“But wolves exist.”

Then she looked back at the faces around the fire.

“People don’t turn into wolves.”

Silence. No one corrected her. No one laughed. No one argued. Her expression faltered. She looked around the circle. Why wasn’t anyone saying anything?

“What?”

Javier set his cup down. The small sound seemed louder than it should have been. He rose to his feet. Immediately, Maeve straightened.

“What are you doing?”

“You said you wanted proof.”

Her brow furrowed.

“That’s not what I…”

He took a step away from the fire. The others remained seated. Entirely too calm. Maeve looked from face to face. No one seemed alarmed or confused. In fact, they looked like they were waiting. A knot formed in her stomach.

“Javier?”

He looked at her.

“You should probably take a step back.”

“What?”

“Trust me.”

That was somehow the least reassuring thing he could have said.

“Why would I…”

The change came without warning. It wasn’t smooth or graceful. It was sudden and violent. A sharp crack echoed through the camp. Maeve flinched.

“Javier.”

Another crack. His shoulders pulled tight as his spine arched unnaturally. She stumbled backward.

“No.”

The word escaped her before she could stop it. His shirt strained, then tore. Dark fur spread across his skin. His hands twisted, lengthening into claws. His body reshaped itself in a way that should not have been possible.

“No!”

The word came out louder this time. His frame dropped lower. Bones shifted, popped, and reformed. And then, where a man had been standing only moments before, a large black wolf stood beside the fire. Silence. The camp remained completely still. Maeve couldn’t breathe. The wolf looked at her. Calm, steady, and familiar. Her heart pounded.

She felt sick. The sounds that accompanied the transformation made her become light-headed and ready to faint. She could feel her body becoming clammy while experiencing hot flashes at the same time. She squatted, finding purchase on the edge of a chair, and put her head between her knees.

No, no, no. This wasn’t possible.

Then the wolf took one step toward her, and she raised her head. Suddenly, she knew those eyes. Her breath caught. The ridge. The moonlight. The steady warmth beside her. Her hand buried in dark fur.

“It…”

The word failed her. The wolf stopped. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“It’s you.”

No one moved. No one spoke. Disbelief warred with recognition.

“You’re the wolf.”

The wolf blinked. The same patient look. The same one from the ridge. Her breath left her in a rush.

“You carried me. You stayed outside my cave. You put your head in my lap.”

The words hung in the air. Then…

“Oh my God!”

She looked horrified.

“I told you my feelings.”

Tomas made a strangled noise. Sofía looked down at her coffee. Diego suddenly found the fire very interesting. Maeve looked around the circle.

“You all knew?”

No one answered.

“YOU ALL KNEW?!”

Tomas finally lost the battle and burst out laughing. His laughter echoed around the fire.

“YOU LET ME…CUDDLE WITH THIS WOLF KNOWING IT WAS JAVIER?” Maeve demanded.

“We didn’t know you were going to do that,” Tomas said between laughs.

“You could have stopped me!”

“And miss this?” he said. “Absolutely not.”

The wolf huffed. Maeve pointed at him.

“Don’t you start.”

The black wolf sat down, looking entirely unbothered by the situation. She stared at him. Then looked around the circle. Then back at him.

“No. I can’t do this if you’re a wolf.”

The wolf tilted his head.

“Stop doing that.”

Another head tilt.

“You are way too expressive for a dog.”

The wolf looked almost offended.

“He’s offended,” Tomas said.

“I don’t care if he’s offended!”

The wolf stood. Then, before she could say another word, the change began again.
This time, she was watching for it. And somehow…that made it worse. Bones shifted. Fur receded. The wolf’s body lengthened, reshaping itself with a series of sharp cracks and pops, and a moment later, Javier stood before her. Completely naked. Maeve’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

A beat.

“Oh.”

Another beat. She turned around so quickly she nearly fell off the chair.

“Oh my God.”

Tomas burst into laughter again. This time, other members of the pack joined in.

“Really?” Javier asked, sounding more confused than embarrassed.

“Do not talk to me right now!”

“I’m just standing here.”

“That’s the problem!”

Mateo looked up at the sky as if seeking patience.

“Where are your clothes?” Maeve demanded.

“They ripped.”

“Why does everyone act like that’s normal?!”

“Because it is normal,” Tomas said.

“It is absolutely not normal!”

Javier looked around.

“I had clothes.”

“You had clothes?”

“I left them over there.”

He pointed toward a nearby log. Maeve refused to turn around.

“Can someone please get him some pants?”

“You’ve seen a naked man before, haven’t you?” Tomas asked.

“That is entirely beside the point!”

The entire camp had started smiling now. Even Mateo looked amused. Maeve pointed behind her.

“Everybody stop being comfortable with this!”

A hand touched her shoulder. Sofía.

“You can turn around.”

“Is he dressed?”

“Yes.”

“Fully?”

“Maeve.”

She exhaled. Then slowly turned. Javier stood there again, pulling his shirt over his head. As if none of this had been unusual. She stared at him. Then at the place where the wolf had been. Then back at Javier.

“You really are him.”

Javier’s hands stilled. The camp went quiet. She looked almost bewildered.

“The wolf.”

A pause.

“You.”

He nodded once.

“It’s still me.”

The words settled between them. Maeve stared at him for another long moment. Then she put her head back between her knees as the light-headedness hit again.

“I think my brain needs a minute.”

Maeve sat with her eyes closed, deep breathing to get her body back under control. Now she understood that everything that they had told her was true. The Living Flame, The Devourer, the wolf protectors…Rafael. But what part did Rafael play in this?

Javier took a step forward. Maeve looked up at him.

“You could have told me,” she said.

“You asked for proof,” he replied.

“That’s not the same thing.”

Her frustration returned, sharper now. She stood to face him.

“You let me think I understood what was happening,” she said.

“That I could trust your wolf.”

“It’s still me,” he said again.

Maeve turned away. Javier stood there, steady.

“When I shift, nothing changes about who I am.”

“That’s not what it felt like.”

“I know.”

A pause. The pack looked on.

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“It mattered to me.”

“I know that now.”

Maeve hesitated.

“That calm feeling,” she said slowly. “That wasn’t just the wolf.”

“It happens in both forms.”

Her breath caught.

“The ridge. The table.”

He nodded.

“I don’t even know you,” she said quietly.

“Then don’t act like you do,” he replied.

She blinked.

“But don’t ignore what you felt either. For whatever reason, we’re connected.”

“My wolf protector?” asked Maeve.

Javier shrugged. He really did not want to analyze it.

Silence settled again. Heavy and unresolved. Maeve exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair.

Tomas suddenly spoke up, pointing at Javier.

“I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say, vato!”

“Vato?” asked Maeve.

“Yeah, you know…like homie.”

There were a few snickers from those gathered, adding levity to the tense situation.

Maeve just rolled her eyes.

“This is insane.”

“No,” Javier said.

She looked at him.

“This is just new.”

That didn’t make it easier.

Maeve looked away, tension still in her shoulders, but softer now. She wasn’t convinced. She wasn’t comfortable, but these people, these wolves, were all she had to keep her safe right now, and to, hopefully, get her home.

“Fine,” she said looking at Javier, “but I refuse to stay hidden behind the runes.”

She turned to Mateo, “You can add me into your patrols.”

“I don’t think…” started Mateo.

“Good,” said Maeve, “thinking just complicates things. So, I’m assuming I need some training before I set out on my first patrol tonight. Let’s get started. Who’s volunteering?”

All heads turned toward Mateo, who stared at Maeve in disbelief.

Tomas was the first to speak.

“I’ll do it! Ella es loco, but I like crazy,” he laughed.

“Of course you do,” said Sofia.

But Javier interrupted, “I’ll train her, Mateo. I’m responsible for the patrols. It’s my duty to make sure new recruits are prepared.”

Mateo gave Javier a meaningful look. Javier ignored it. Mateo blew out a breath.

“Okay, Maeve,” he said, grabbing her attention.

“Javier will train you, and you can help patrol when he thinks you’re ready.”

Maeve nodded and looked at Javier expectantly.

“Lead the way,” she said.

Javier began walking toward the back of the camp, and Maeve followed. The rest of the pack began to disperse, as well.

Abuela Rosa appeared at Mateo’s side.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said to the alpha, “mi nieto is already getting attached.”

“You see it, too?

“Yes, but he does not.”

“I know. His wolf has responded before the man has. He believes that he is drawn to her because he is meant to be her wolf protector.”

“And that may be true,” said Abuela Rosa, “but I think there may be more.”

“So do I.”

Mateo patted Abuela Rosa’s hand.

“A lot is stirring with the arrival of The Flame. Ancient prophecies, The Devourer, Rafael, and the hearts of wolves. We can only control so much.”

“That’s what worries me,” she responded.

She squeezed Mateo’s hand back and began to walk away.

“Breakfast won’t cook itself,” she said.

Mateo watched her leave as he digested everything that had just taken place. This new development with Rafael was concerning. They were going to have to be very vigilant when it came to Maeve, but they couldn’t put her in shackles. She had to make her own choices when it came to the coming conflict, and they couldn’t win her trust by keeping her a prisoner.

Sighing, Mateo took the same path Abuela Rosa had taken, planning to help prepare the meal. He had spent the last few days sighing more than he ever had in his life, but he chuckled to himself over the scene he had just witnessed, and he had to admire Maeve’s resilience. She wasn’t letting any of this keep her down for long. Rather than letting the situation control her, she kept taking back her power. Mateo was certain that her true strength was yet to be seen.