Page 64 of Enemy Wolf

The two of them had no formal titles or duties as the leaders of our respective populations. We were all considered subjects of Howling Death.

“Any news?” I asked after closing the door behind me.

Bodhi shook his head. “The orders from Derric are to remain underground.” He pointed to a stack of papers in front of him on the long conference table. “Griselda and I were just re-tallying the stores of food and water. We can stay down here for two more weeks before we have to start rationing.”

“Two weeks?” I repeated. “Sweet moon, the poor families in here.”

“The young werewolves are finding it especially hard,” Griselda added sympathetically. “I’ve already had to provide anxiety potions to a few. It’s not natural for their animal natures to live in such cramped spaces.”

“There’s been no word at all?” I asked in disbelief. “No sighting of the dragon or anything?”

“We’re in contact with Howling Death twice a day,” Bodhi answered. “All they tell us is to stay hidden.”

That didn’t make any sense, and I rubbed my now-unmarked arm as I pondered it.

“If the dragon was flying around causing mayhem, wouldn’t the air pulled in here smell like smoke?” I looked between the two leaders. “Isn’t it suspicious to both of you that they’re saying nothing?”

“I trust Derric,” Griselda said. “The alpha is not entitled to tell us everything to keep us safe.”

“I understand that, but they should tell us something.” I held my hand out. “Where’s the phone? I’m calling them.”

“What?” Bodhi squawked. “You can’t!”

“Why not?”

“Well, because I just got off the phone with them an hour ago. And you can’t just call Howling Death, they’re very busy!”

“Watch me. Phone?”

Griselda chuckled as she stood from the table, then handed me a big brick of a satellite phone from a shelf against the concrete wall. “Can’t ever stop a witch from what she puts her mind to.”

“Thank you,” I said before dialing the Howling Death lodge’s landline.

After three rings, someone picked up with a gruff, “Yeah, Howling Death.”

“Hi. Um, it’s Shiloh.”

“Shiloh, hey.” The voice softened into a friendly tone. “It’s Ruse. How you holding up?”

I didn’t know Derric’s second-in-command well, except that Ruse had always been polite to me and a good tipper at the bar, despite occasionally getting rowdy after a few too many drinks.

“Good, thanks,” I answered him. “Just hanging in, you know.”

“We’re doing everything we can,” the werewolf told me earnestly. “I’m manning the phones for another hour or so, then I’m heading out to join the search. No one’s giving up.”

Something about his tone made me think there was a disconnect between what the two of us were talking about.

“So, you’re still searching for the dragon?” I asked. “There’s been no sign of him?”

There was a long pause on the other end. “Fucking moon, has no one told you?”

“Told me what?” My voice went shrill, hand cramping as I gripped the heavy phone harder. “What are you talking about?”

Ruse hesitated a long while before speaking again. I was just about to demand an explanation when he said, “We are still searching for the dragon, yes. There’s been no sign of him since that day at your place.”

That didn’t bode well. Did the mark just disappear for no reason, then?

“Okay, what else?”

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