Selena
Ulvic led me inside the cabin and I was distinctly aware of each wolf sniffing the air around me. He turned to them, snapping his fingers. “Mekiah, Reason, inside.”
The white wolf padded up the stairs, following the reddy-brown one through the front door. As I headed after Ulvic, I felt like I'd stepped into a hunter's cabin. Furs lined the room and weapons took up every available space; mounted on the walls in brackets, from shotguns to pistols and an entire section devoted to crossbows; from tiny, handheld designs, to enormous, deadly-looking things made of black metal.
I raised my brows, but Ulvic gave no explanation, moving to the bar that was set into one wall, surrounded by a collection of glasses, all branded with country names and flags.
He poured himself a cognac, swilling it in a glass marked with the French flag.
My eye was drawn to the two wolves as they padded across the room and disappeared through a door.
I blinked hard, turning to Ulvic. “Are you planning on explaining any of this to me?”
Ulvic sipped his cognac, sighed peacefully as if it had given him great relief and placed it down before answering, “I'm a Hunter.”
I instinctively stepped back, alert.
He raised his palms innocently. “Not like the Helsings. My focus is all on Werewolves. And I don't hurt a hair on their heads.”
“But you're a Hunter?” I pressed, still on edge.
“Yes, by blood only. The Werewolf Hunters have been out of business for almost a hundred years since we hunted the population nearly to extinction.”
“And now?” I asked.
“Now...I'm trying to right some of the wrongs my family did all those years ago.” He lifted his glass, gesturing to the weapons decorating the lounge. “I collected these over the years. I'm quite the traveller, you see.” He gestured to the array of glasses from all over the world. “Or at least, I was. Until I settled here on Skorpa with my wolf pack.”
“And why did you do that?”
“I searched for these wolves and slowly, one by one, I brought them here. I made a home for them, somewhere safe that they could live in peace and...” he gave a small grin. “Hopefully start to repopulate the species. Although, that's been much more difficult than you might imagine.”
I frowned thoughtfully. “If they're people, no doubt they want to make their own choices.”
“They do make their own choices. But they have very limited options if they want the Werewolf population to grow.”
My frown deepened, the logical side of my brain battling against the truth. Vampires existed...now Werewolves too? After what I'd witnessed in the games, I was starting to think nothing could surprise me any more.
The door opened before I could ask another question and two people entered, midway through dressing themselves. The man was huge; tall, muscular, with dark eyes that seemed to scour every inch of me. His hair was cropped short, giving him a dangerous appearance, but perhaps that was only due to my recent encounters with such men on Raskdød.
The girl was, by contrast, the exact opposite of him; petite with so much white-blonde hair that it hung around her like a curtain, right down to her waist. She was winding it into a plait as she approached, a task that no doubt would take her an age. Her skin shimmered bronze and her eyes were like two pale grey slices of the moon.
“This is Mekiah and Reason,” Ulvic introduced them.
“Your scent...” Mekiah moved toward me, lifting his chin. “No human smells that way.” His voice was so deep it rumbled like thunder in my ears; his accent was Russian, perhaps, but I couldn't be sure.
“Hi,” the girl said; she seemed timid, despite the fact she could evidently morph into a wolf at will. If I had such powers, I wondered if I'd ever be frightened again. “You feel nervous.”
I frowned, glancing at Ulvic.
“Reason has visions,” he explained.
“Not visions,” she snapped, seeming braver at once. Perhaps I'd been wrong about her after all. “I get a sense of human emotions, that's all.”
“Alright, enough psychic shit.” Mekiah walked to the bar, pouring himself a whiskey. “What's with the girl?”
I felt intensely awkward, being assessed by them both. Reason moved closer, almost floating with how much grace she moved with. “You have so much darkness awaiting you.” She sniffed the air and I fought the urge to move a step back.
“What?” I breathed, the hairs on the back of neck creeping up.
Her wide, grey eyes became shaded like clouds drawing over the moon. “There's pain on your path. So much pain...”
I glanced over to Ulvic, hoping he might intervene with the creepy predictions that were making my skin prickle.
Mekiah pointed at Reason with his glass. “See Ulvic. I'm not mating with this nutter.”
Reason snapped around, glaring at him. “And you think for a second I want you as my mate?”
Mekiah snarled – actually snarled - slamming his glass down so it broke into a hundred pieces.
“No– not Poland!” Ulvic tried to save what remained of the glass whilst Mekiah lunged forward, exploding like his skin was ripping apart. Fur burst from his body and I gasped in horror, rearing backwards. The muddy-brown wolf appeared in his place, growling at Reason who simply rolled her eyes.
“Oh grow up, Mekiah.” She spared a glance for Ulvic before marching away, disappearing into the room she'd appeared from and leaving me gazing on in complete shock.
Mekiah's clothes lay in tatters around him as he sat, growling at the door.
“Enough, Mekiah,” Ulvic barked. “You've caused enough damage.” He swept the remains of his glass into the bin with a sigh. Turning to me with a scowl, his eyes swept up and down my dress, landing on my bare feet. “Go to Reason, she'll find you some clothes.”
I nodded, tentatively heading after the girl and knocking on the door. She opened it a crack, her hard eyes softening at the sight of me. “Come in.” She stepped aside and I followed her.
“Ulvic said you might have some clothes...” I took in her bedroom which was decorated in soft browns and golds. A large painting hung on the wall portraying a white wolf sitting at a man's feet. It was abstract and smudged with heavy lines, but I could tell from the trench coat the man was supposed to be Ulvic.
“Thank you,” I said as she handed me some jeans and a woolly black jumper from a set of drawers. Reason pointed to a door across the room. “You can shower in there if you like.”
I nodded, flashing her a grateful smile before slipping into the little room. The hot stream of water on my skin was heaven. I let myself indulge in the quiet peace of it, but not for too long.
When I was dressed in the clothes - which fit well enough, despite being slightly too long for me - I returned to the bedroom.
Reason was perched on the edge of the bed.
“You've been on Raskdød?” she asked, standing and taking the golden dress that was bunched in my hands. Her fingers tightened on it and she held it to her nose.
“Yes,” I said quietly, a coarse rope seeming to tighten around my throat. Tears sprang to my eyes as I thought of Cass. Of everyone that had been lost to the game. I had battled against thinking about them since I'd left the island, not allowing myself to fall into despair. But now in the quiet safety of the cabin, my walls were starting to crumble.
Reason laid a hand on my shoulder. “You've been through a lot.” She lowered the dress, dropping it. “I've felt it.” She rested a hand on her heart, tears swimming in her eyes. “And a little of what is to come.”
I tilted my head back, daring to look into her eyes, unsure if I believed her but desperate to find hope there all the same. “How do you know?”
She considered her words. “I sense an aura from people. I can experience the emotions you've felt, those you're currently feeling and even some of those to come.” She gave me an apologetic smile. “It's difficult to explain.”
“Have you always been that way?” I asked.
“No...Ulvic says I'm special somehow, but I don't think he knows much more than I do.”
I ran my fingers under my damp eyes, pulling myself together. Varick was still in danger, and I couldn't waste any more time. “Thank you for the clothes.” I moved toward the door and Reason watched me with deep lines etched into her sun-kissed forehead. “Of course.” She gave me a sad smile that unnerved me.
I slipped away, feeling strangely bare. I'd always been guarded and she made me feel like my heart was sliced open for all to see.
Ulvic had pulled off his coat and settled in a chair across from Mekiah who was still in his wolf form, padding back and forth across the room. If I hadn't been through what I had, the Werewolves might have made me nervous. And though I didn't know much of their strength or their intentions toward me, I still felt strangely safe in their company.
Ulvic's casual appearance quickly got under my skin. I gazed at the weapons on his wall with intention. “We should start making a plan.”
“Take a breather, Selena.” Ulvic waved a hand, reaching into his pocket and taking out a top-of-the-range iPhone. “You're the plan. You give me a reason to walk back onto Raskdød.”
I folded my arms, waiting for him to elaborate but he didn't. He dialled a number and held the phone to his ear.
“Who are you calling?” I asked, stepping toward him, but he gestured for me to be quiet.
After a beat, he spoke, “Ah, Ignus, sorry to call so early.”
My hackles rose at the mention of his name.
Ulvic fixed his pale gaze on me. “It's about the girl who won the games.”
My heart did a somersault as I listened. Could I really trust Ulvic? What did I actually know about him?
Ulvic rose to his feet and I was diminished beneath his height. He raised a palm to calm me, but it did nothing to ease my erratic heartbeat, or the doubt that was flooding through me.
“Yes, I caught her offshore of Raskdød on one of your vessels.” He paused, tilting his head to the side as he took in my wary expression.
“That's what I thought,” Ulvic continued, his tone at ease. “I'll bring her back to you in the morning...no it's not a bother...oh...I suspected as much. Yes, I'll see you soon.” He tucked the phone away and I glared at him.
“Explain,” I demanded.
“Selena, relax,” Ulvic urged, raising both palms to me.
Mekiah started snarling and I glanced back and forth between them. “You're selling me out,” I accused.
Ulvic took two measured steps closer and my back pressed against the door. Reason appeared in the room, her gaze swivelling between us anxiously.
“I'm not selling you out,” Ulvic said firmly. “Look, Ignus won't suspect I'm up to anything if I bring you back to the island. Then we'll find a way to release your Vampire and my Alpha.”
My mind swam with questions. I didn't know who to trust any more. The only person left in the world who seemed to have my back was Varick. And god only knew what had happened to him. He may not have even been in this world any more.
“So much fear,” Reason breathed, pressing her fingers into her eyes. It made my heart beat even faster. Whose emotions were she reading?
“I'm going to help you,” Ulvic promised.
“Why didn't you explain the plan before calling the Helsings?” I snapped, my voice shaking. I had so much anger inside me, flowing like liquid magma through my veins. I just had no idea who to direct it at.
“A foolish miscalculation on my part,” Ulvic said, his brows dropping.
Realisation hit me like a shot to the chest. “If you had, I would have asked you to make sure Varick was still alive!”
Ulvic sighed, nodding. “He is. Ignus told me so.”
My world shattered. I tried to hide my reaction from the three strangers in the room, but any attempt was useless against Reason and the other two I had no choice about. I cupped my hand to my mouth, letting the news flood over me like a wave crashing against my heart.
I hadn't realised how truly afraid I was that Varick had been killed, so determined to believe he wasn't. And in the midst of all my hunger for revenge, my anger, I found myself crumbling inwards like a child over someone I barely knew. But who had saved me more than once, had gotten me through the game. Without him, I wouldn't still be standing here. And that's why I had to go back, at the very least, to repay the favour.
Ulvic's expression was stony when I gathered my senses, finding Reason hovering near me like she was listening to my very heartbeat. Mekiah's deep, brown eyes were pinned on me, too, full of contempt.
My heart sank like a pebble in an icy pool. I was the outsider here and if I wanted their help, I needed to cooperate.
Ulvic turned to Mekiah and Reason with hopeful eyes. “I'd like you both to help us.”
Mekiah barked at him forcefully, his fur raising threateningly in a line down his back. Reason flapped a hand at him. “Of course we'll help you, Ulvic.” Her eyes were round and full of light as she gazed at him, but Ulvic didn't seem to notice, moving to the bar to pour himself another drink.
Mekiah padded after him, disappearing behind the bar and standing, fully naked as a man a moment later. Ulvic's grip tightened on his glass as he firmly fixed his gaze on Mekiah - nowhere lower than his veiny neck or muscular torso. He was easily the size of two men melded together, and I had no doubt he could rip apart everyone in this room. Wolf or not.
“I'm not going anywhere. And neither is Reason.”
“You don't speak for me,” Reason chimed in, folding her arms. “I've made my decision.”
“I won't have it!” Mekiah roared, slamming his hand down flat on the tiled bar and sending a crack splintering across it. Ulvic seemed less than pleased, glaring at Mekiah with persisting calm.
“You will come, or I'll promote Emerico to Beta status and you can stay here to run around as our new Omega. How does that sound?”
I shifted awkwardly, surprised at the power Ulvic seemed to hold over the Werewolves. How did he manage it?
“It sounds like I'm about to rip out your throat, Hunter.” Mekiah glared down at Ulvic, moving into his personal space like a predator, primed to attack. Ulvic seemed no more fazed by him than he would if a child was pointing a wooden sword in his direction.
“Don't. Test. Me,” Ulvic said in a low tone. It was the first time I'd seen him even come close to losing his temper since I'd arrived. “You know I can make you come, all I need to do is say the word.”
Mekiah shifted like an animal, swaying back and forth on his feet. “Reason stays. I'll go,” he said eventually.
Reason tsked, moving to my side. “You don't control me Mekiah. I'm a Beta just like you.”
Mekiah's eyes swivelled to hers, his shoulders so rigid I was sure he was about to turn into a wolf again. After several tense seconds, he submitted. “Fine. A day, no longer. We retrieve Jameson and return here by sundown.”
“You aren't making the rules,” Ulvic said, waving him away. “Now go put some damn clothes on.”
Mekiah stomped across the room and I diverted my eyes from his naked behind as he disappeared into Reason's bedroom. It struck me as odd that their clothes were in the same place, considering they were clearly in no way a couple.
I moved toward the range of weapons on the wall, brushing my fingers over a handgun. I felt someone move up behind me and glanced back to see Ulvic there, his expression soft.
“How do I kill a Hunter?” I asked, biting my lip.
Ulvic picked up the gun I'd been touching, weighing it in his palm. “A shot to the head will do it. Or removing the heart,” Ulvic added. “If you're into that kind of thing.”
“So you're immortal? Like the Vs?” I inquired.
“Not quite,” Ulvic answered. “We live longer...we're stronger, essentially human in many ways. But we can't be killed as easily.”
I nodded, making a mental note for the next time I crossed paths with a Helsing. “And you?” I turned to Reason.
Her eyes softened. “Immortal...yes.” She seemed to read the next question in my eyes. “We can be turned by bites or scratches from other Werewolves, or else mate and produce wolf offspring. The wolf-borns are stronger, their blood pure. But if someone is turned, it depends on the one who did so. If they were strong, you will be too.”
“And are you a 'wolf-born'?” I asked, trying out the new words on my tongue.
She dipped her head modestly. “No...wolf-borns are often Alphas.”
Mekiah re-entered the room in a similar outfit to the one he'd torn to shreds earlier. My curiosity got the better of me as I asked Mekiah, “Are you a wolf-born?” I had no doubt of his strength from the looks of him.
He scowled, a low growl escaping his throat. “Yes, but Ulvic chose our Alpha. Even though he was turned.” He stormed from the cabin, letting the bitingly cold air into the room. Howls caught my ear from beyond the door and Mekiah joined them in human form, sounding like a lunatic calling to the moon.
Ulvic tutted. “Ignore him.”
“How do you have so much control over their pack?” I asked, not understanding.
Reason bowed her head. “He's our master.”
Ulvic sipped from his drink and I was certain he was hiding a smile. “Yes, I saved them. Each of these wolves owe me their loyalty and obedience. Something they cannot break without disowning the entire pack.”
I nodded, moving away from the doorway. At least I had warm clothes on now. I was done with ball gowns. The next time a Helsing saw me, I wouldn't be dressed as one of their little props.
“So what's the plan?” I questioned.
Ulvic pursed his lips before replying, “I'll hand you over. Then Reason and Mekiah will find a way into the castle whilst we distract the Helsings.”
I chewed my lip, doubt running through me like a stream. Our plan wasn't yet solid, and relied on me offering myself up as a prisoner again. But I'd do it for Varick. I'd place my life in the hands of the Helsings for him.
“Okay,” I breathed. “I'll do it.”