Chapter 2: In Search

Somewhere in the Birchwoods Forest

Casimir Olwen was dreaming.

It was the same one reoccurring for the past ten years. And though it hurt no less, he knew that if he kept dwelling, forever was going to be worse than he feared.

So he forced himself awake and stared at the morning sky through the canopy of trees. His satchel of extra clothes was a decent pillow; he plopped it in his lap when he sat up to scrub his whiskered face and slick back his wild hair that he managed to keep in its few braids tied with strips of old cloth. There were leaves caught in the white strands, crunching into pieces. He sniffed; he smelled like them too—dirt and faint rot.

Getting to his feet, Casimir sighed heavily. Another night as a nomad. Am I really cut out for this? he thought. He brushed off his pants. ‘I better be,’ he muttered to himself, ‘I’ve been doing this for the past ten years.’

The wind rustled through the forest, carrying new scents. A cacophony of noises caught his ear. Casimir turned as the sounds of a hunt came closer—obviously wolves, as this part of the Birchwoods wasn’t too far from the Lovell pack’s territory.

It wasn’t all boring.

Four wolves were pursuing a doe through the scarce brush. They were brown-furred, marking them as, yes, the cynical Lovell pack. Cas sighed again and started walking in the opposite direction.

Barking laughter suddenly bounced through the clearing when they spotted him; he sensed them abandon their chase in favor of splitting up to surround Cas within seconds.

Cas didn’t want them to recognize him, so he decided to take his wolf form. Even if it ruined his clothes. They could communicate that way too. Even if that was the last thing he wanted to do.

The shift was otherwise quick and painless—just the sensation of his body enlarging, changing shape, mind and sight going black but for a second. As easy as leaping into smoke and emerging as an entirely new creature.

He halted when a male with a wolfish grin revealing thick yellowed teeth exposed by wrinkled chops cut him off. ‘What are you doing out by yourself, Whitecrown?’ the Lovell asked with a huff of laughter through the mind link that allowed seamless conversation in wolf forms.

The wolf on Casimir’s right shook out his head and paced. ‘Why does it matter, Edon? Just leave him. He looks like he hasn’t bathed in a week.’

The male on Cas’s left sounded equally uninterested. ‘Yeah. But it is weird to see a Whitecrown alone. I thought they were more tight-knit than Bloodrose.’

‘They turned into recluses,’ chuckled the front male—Edon. ‘Ever since their Alpha abandoned them ten years ago.’

Not all boring indeed. Sometimes it was entertaining when someone didn’t recognize him. Other times—like when he or his pack was insulted—it wasn’t so humorous.

Casimir inhaled deeply. On the exhale he had a grand ‘f*ck you’ prepared—but was interrupted by a female Lovell shouldering Edon out of the way so hard he stumbled into a tree. Ignoring his snarl, her light gold eyes scanned Cas up and down calculatedly. There was barely any emotion in their depths, but Casimir was struck by their beauty; they were only a few shades off from the typical Lovell wolf pack light brown, but they were still an oddity.

‘I know who he is,’ she noted into their minds, not breaking her gaze from his. ‘None of you recognize him?’

‘No,’ Edon growled. ‘Should we?’

The female cocked her head at Casimir. ‘Should they?’

Cas shook his head and flashed her as much of a grin as his wolf jaws could form, appreciating her recognition as well as the surprising consideration. ‘Not today, she-wolf. Though I would appreciate a recognition that I am right here, listening to everything you say.’

Her tongue wet her nose. ‘A missed opportunity,’ she said flippantly. ‘Leave him alone, brother. Your cocky attitude isn’t worth his time.’ She nosed his muzzle and started to walk away.

Edon bared his teeth. Cas wondered if there was a thorn stuck in his ass. Why are you acting out? he wondered with faint amusement.

Before the temperamental wolf could spew more meaningless threats, Cas twitched his ears and said, ‘It’s alright to bully when you’re bored.’

The she-wolf whirled, eyes sparking, torn between shock and intrigue. The other two wolves flattened their ears and backed up a few paces.

Cas may have been detached from pack goings-on for years now, and this young male may not know who Casimir was, but Cas knew him, and time had changed his attitude from the snarky adolescent to this…unpleasant adult.

Edon did not have his father’s cool anger, however. The young male was seeing red.

Cas’s gaze flicked to the she-wolf. She’d called Edon her brother. He didn’t know that Alpha Alarik Weylyn had a daughter. That was seemingly a hard thing to miss after knowing the Lovell family for several decades.

And didn’t hesitate to lunge at Cas.

His sister barked, but it was lost over the sound of Cas’s head slamming right into Edon’s. The young Lovell yelped and staggered backward.

Though Cas’ vision swam for a moment, his skull was used to the jarring force. He sat back on his haunches and glanced at the she-wolf, her eyes now burning with great interest.

‘You b*stard,’ Edon snarled through the mind link, shoving past his packmates as they tried to hold him back. ‘Now I want to know. Who the f*ck are you, thinking you can assault me so close to my territory?’

‘Interested in learning why you are in such a foul mood,’ Cas said casually. ‘Though if you are looking for a fight...I could indulge you.’

Edon parted his jaws, but his sister put herself between them, facing Cas. The interest was replaced by annoyance. ‘For the Moon Goddess’s sake, do not indulge his ego.’ She looked back at her brother. ‘And you stop antagonizing strangers. He’s not even close to the border. Let’s go home.’

And then she surprised Cas—which did not happen often—by meeting his eyes and offering, ‘Would you like to travel back with us, handsome stranger?’

While Edin raged, Cas lolled his tongue between his teeth in a grin. She was taking a chance at flirting but wearing a good mask of kind indifference.

She added, with a scowl at her packmates’ implied raised brows, ‘Because you shredded your clothes.’

Casimir didn’t bother pointing out he already had an extra pair. Who was he to deny hospitality from a beautiful female? Especially when it would piss off this hotheaded b*stard.

‘I would be honored.’

Shooting Edon a lofty look, she jerked her head in a signal to follow. Cas obliged, the two males barely hesitating in fear of defying the she-wolf. In many ways, Cas believed, females were far more dangerous to cross than males.

‘Since when do we offer shelter to strays?’ Edon called from behind them.

‘Since the moment you insulted him,’ she snapped, not bothering to look back.

Cas trotted up beside her. While his fur was white and flecked with brown, hers was a rich gold-brown, which meant her base form hair color had to be similar. He was a full head taller and a few good inches wider at the shoulders. When he caught a whiff of her, the musky aroma from her scent glands designated her dynamic as an Alpha.

How rare, Casimir wondered.

She noticed his obvious staring. ‘I apologize for my brother’s stupidity and arrogance. And fuzzy memory, apparently.’ She glanced up. ‘My name is Mingan Weylyn. Will you use yours?’

Cas considered. ‘I prefer to remain a wanderer for now.’

‘But my father will recognize you in an instant.’

‘Dad knows him?’ Edon Weylyn yowled. ‘Who the—’

Cas spoke as if the Lovell did not. ‘He will know not to reveal.’

‘What should we call you, then?’ Mingan Weylyn asked with curiosity.

Casimir already had a moniker. ‘Alban.’

Mingan’s ear quirked with amusement. ‘Alban,’ she repeated, ‘it is a pleasure.’

‘To be in your company is greater,’ Cas said, charmed. It made her rich gold eyes spark.

Edon was livid. ‘Stop f*cking flirting with my sister, you f*cking b*stard!’

‘If you lay a claw on him I will rip it out,’ Mingan said calmly.

‘You know she will,’ muttered one of the males. ‘So just drop it.’

Edon was quiet after that.

‘How did I not know Alarik had a daughter?’ Cas asked, finding himself completely at ease in Mingan’s brief company. He hadn’t had as many good first impressions as hers over the decade.

‘‘Protection,’ apparently.’ There was an edge of bitterness in her voice. ‘Because I’m his only daughter out of his many sons, he keeps me from meeting any wolves of importance so there is no chance of friendship—or otherwise—especially with those titled Alpha.’ Mingan eyed him almost hungrily. ‘Not like there are that many. He’s not going to like seeing you next to me.’

Alarik’s cool temper was paired unequally with his amicability. Clearly, his son did not inherit either. Casimir knew that while they were longtime acquaintances, the Lovell Alpha would not hesitate to banish him straight out of the pack’s camp. Though his daughter already seemed to have the same ability to disarm a companion with good chatter.

They padded through the forest briskly. Cas’s nose was hit with old and familiar scents, smells he missed and did not. Years upon years upon years of mediating peace between packs had exhausted him. Once, he enjoyed mingling with wolves of different personalities from different perspectives. Each soul he met filled him with wonder that despite the wolf culture being geographically close, their world was still large, and each experience was uniquely one’s own.

And his… Well, he was still looking for a better one.

Cas looked again at Mingan. Maybe she would spur it.

‘Stop.’

Cas was jerked out of his thoughts, halting a few feet from a small group of protectors and hunters—his Epsilon sentinels—led by Alarik Weylyn himself, all in their wolf forms. Just as the Lovell pack Alpha met Cas’s gaze—just as recognition and shock flashed in his light brown eyes—Mingan placed herself in front of him.

‘We came across a traveler, Father. Alban.’

‘Move, Mingan.’ Alarik’s deep tone was tight even telepathically. ‘Get away from him.’

Her ears swiveled back, whether in compliance with the order of an Alpha or embarrassment to be harshly scolded in front of”‘a handsome stranger,” as she flatteringly called him. Either way, she obeyed without a glance at Cas, slinking past her packmates to sit behind them.

‘You three!’ Alarik barked at the wolves now shamefully hiding behind Cas, who he sensed flinch. ‘Get back to camp. Now.’

Edon was smart and didn’t talk back as the males fled with tails between their legs. Cas’s brows knitted at his old friend, whose expression smoothed, and shook his head. ‘The rest of you can leave. Mingan, stay behind me.’

His sentinels hesitated in leaving their Alpha with Cas; it was difficult to know if they thought him a stranger or if they actually recognized him as the former Alpha of the Whitecrown pack. But they could not defy his order, so they turned and trekked back to their camp.

Alarik heaved a sigh. ‘Finally alone. I see you met my daughter.’

Mingan was lying down, head resting on her paws, looking straight ahead instead of at Cas. He admired her loyalty but knew just from the look in her eyes that she was making every effort not to disobey. She grumbled, ‘Who could have met him twenty years ago if—’

‘Ah, you figured out who he is.’

‘I’m not stupid.’

Cas found it easy to smile at the banter, but certainly not outwardly. It reminded him of years past between his own family. This banter only made him wary of Alarik’s credibility as a father.

The Lovell leader’s light brown gaze met his. They were still clear, but not as sharp as they used to be. ‘Casimir.’ His tone was torn between exasperation, bewilderment, and caution. ‘Where in the Moon Goddess’s h*ll did you come from? I thought you were dead or a thousand miles away.’

‘I am certainly alive and ten years is enough to add up to a thousand miles and likely more, but I am currently fulfilling an offer of hospitality by your generous daughter after she spared me from your son’s attack.’

Alarik’s eyes flashed and he whipped his head to Mingan. ‘Go tell your brother that he is suspended from leaving camp.’

She glared back fiercely. ‘Tell him yourself. I’m not a pup anymore.’ She looked at Cas. ‘But I will follow through on getting him food and clothes, so don’t try to stop me.’

This banter is toxic, Cas thought with a sudden apprehension. He took a step back, dipping his head. ‘My presence causes a stir already. Thank you, Mingan, for your kindness and confidentiality, but the wilderness calls me away.’

‘Wait,’ they both called, but Cas’s social store had been used up, and he began a path south.