Beloved Runt

EDMON HUNTINGTON

I found myself staring at the door that had just swung shut. The longer I stayed in this place, the more my unease grew. Too many things were lining up in a way that made me nervous.

First off, I’d been herded through the woods by a group of wolves who were way too coordinated for a bunch of country bumpkins.

Sure, they knew the lay of the land better than I did, but that didn’t fully account for their strategic prowess. Why would a pack out in the sticks need to be so well defended?

Then, when I finally arrived, I was ushered straight into a room that had clearly been prepared for me, despite the fact that I hadn’t given them any notice.

The scent of cleaner and fresh linens still hung in the air. I doubted they made a habit of cleaning unused guest rooms on a daily, or even weekly, basis.

And now, I had a stack of freshly laundered clothes that were just my size. Considering my size was on the larger side, this was a bit of a surprise. Even in the capital, finding clothes that fit me was a challenge. Most of what I wore had to be custom made.

The wolves here were bigger, but their human forms weren’t. Unless they had a giant in their midst, I couldn’t figure out why they’d have clothes in my size.

And then there was the girl. She was an odd one, and not just because of how she looked. She had a limp that was barely noticeable when she walked in, but became glaringly obvious when she hurried out.

She was tiny for a wolf. Probably a runt. Her skin was as pale as porcelain and her hair was a mass of black curls.

I couldn’t help but worry about her. She tried to hide it, but I noticed the three distinct scars on the right side of her face. They ran from her brow to her cheek, narrowly missing her eye.

She attempted to cover them with her hair, but I could still see them. Claw marks.

She was a jittery little thing. I could swear I saw her trembling where she stood. But at least she was honest.

Everything she said was the truth. She genuinely didn’t know I was in the guest room. Her surprise and her demeanor were all genuine. Still, I was concerned for her.

Runts were usually shy, but the scar and the limp, coupled with her behavior, suggested she’d been through some sort of trauma. I’d have to make sure they were treating her right. Abuse was not something I could stand for, especially when it came to those who were weaker.

Before I could get caught up in any other mysteries, I needed to check in with my nephew. He’d be worried about me.

I sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed. Thanks to our affinity, I could still mind-link the Royal pack, but it would take a lot of concentration to make it work over this distance.

I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, reaching out to my nephew. After a few moments, the connection was made.

“Your Majesty…”

“…Lord Edmon. Uncle. I was starting to worry. I haven’t heard from you in a while. Did you find the pack?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m here.”

“And what do you make of it?”

I struggled to find the right words. “The pack is…different.”

“Different? Is there a problem?”

“I’m not sure yet, Your Majesty. There are just a lot of odd coincidences.”

“Like what?”

“When I entered their territory, I found the pack to be very organized.”

“That doesn’t sound like a problem.”

“They managed to corner me in a ravine, preventing me from running. It was deliberate and calculated.”

“That is strange… Do you think they’re planning something?”

“I’m not sure yet. Also, when I arrived, they claimed they didn’t know I was coming, yet they had a room freshly cleaned and ready for me. I could smell the wood polish and the linens were fresh.”

I could feel my nephew’s thoughts whirling through the link as he pondered the information. He knew something was off, just like I did.

“Maybe you should leave, Uncle, and come back later with some warriors.”

My nephew was always cautious. It’s what made him a good leader.

“I’ll be okay. If I think there’s a threat, I’ll leave, but now that I’m here, I want to see if they’re up to anything before they have a chance to cover it up.”

“Be careful, Uncle. Your life isn’t worth a few extra facts. Was there anything else noteworthy?”

I was about to mention the girl but stopped myself. I was worried about her, but it wasn’t enough to burden my nephew with it.

“No, that’s all for now. I’ll meet with the alpha and then report back.”

“Alright. Take care, Uncle. Thank you.”

With that, the connection was severed. I got off the bed and opened the door to the hallway, only to be met by the alpha’s son, Dalton. Dalton’s face was serious, but not as stern as it had been in the forest.

“Excuse me, sir,” he said, bowing his head. “I wanted to apologize for what happened when you arrived” Lie. “I didn’t know you were a royal visitor.” ~Truth.~ “If I had, I would have given you a warmer welcome.” ~Lie.~

The boy was apologizing, but he didn’t mean it. His father probably made him do it. Still, it was best not to seem suspicious.

“No worries, lad. You were just doing your job protecting the pack, and you did a good job of it, if I may say so.”

“Thank you, sir. If you would follow me to the great hall, there’s some stew ready if you’re hungry. My father said he’ll meet you there.”

I gestured for Dalton to lead the way and followed him down the hall, and then down the stairs.

As I walked, I could feel the cold wood floor beneath my bare feet. The girl had managed to find some decent clothes, but shoes were another story.

Dalton guided me into a grand room, dominated by a massive table. It was likely used for pack meetings. At one end of the table, Langston and his other son, Edwin, were seated. They both rose as I entered.

“Lord Edmon. Welcome to the Ever Green pack. Please, take a seat.” I settled into the chair on Langston’s right. Dalton took the seat across from me, while Edwin sat to my left.

In front of me was a bowl of piping hot stew and a few slices of bread. I took a small taste of the stew.

Despite its humble appearance, the flavor was incredible. It was the perfect thing to chase away the chill.

We ate in silence. As we neared the end of our meal, the alpha turned to me.

“So, Lord Edmon. What do you hope to see during your visit?” He was direct, no small talk, just business. I appreciated that. I began to list the usual items.

“I’d like to review your account books to ensure everything is in order, and of course, your pack roster. I’d also like to observe your warriors during their training.” The alpha nodded as I spoke.

“Dalton can show you our records. Beyond the pack registries, there isn’t much else to see.” Truth.

“Given our remote location, we have to be self-sufficient. We grow and store our own food, and most of our electricity comes from solar panels.” All true.

I was impressed. I hadn’t expected the pack to be so forward-thinking in its resources. Perhaps there was nothing suspicious happening here after all.

“I’m eager to see what you’ve accomplished. So far, it sounds very impressive.” The alpha seemed pleased by my praise.

“We’re a humble group, but we do our best,” the eldest son chimed in. “The warriors usually train in the morning before starting our duties. If you’d like to watch us practice, I can show you our records afterward.”

“That sounds agreeable,” I responded. So far, everything seemed normal. A rough start, perhaps, but otherwise, normal.

“There is one more thing…” I added. Alpha Langston turned to me with a smile. “I’d like to meet the women of the pack.” I heard a loud clang as Dalton dropped his spoon on the table, staring at me in shock.

“Why would you need to meet the women?” he demanded. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he returned my gaze.

“Dalton!” his father interjected, breaking our stare-down. Dalton turned to his father, lowering his head in submission.

“Please forgive my son. He takes his role in protecting the pack very seriously. Especially when it comes to our more vulnerable members.” Truth.

I studied Dalton’s face, concealing my suspicion. Did his protective duties extend to the limping girl I had seen earlier? The evidence suggested otherwise.

“But I must ask, my lord…why do you wish to meet the women? You aren’t seeking a mate, are you?” Langston asked.

“No.” I had a mate once. I didn’t need or want another.

“I see… Well, forgive me, my lord, but the women…they are shy and protective of their young. If they understood the reason for your request, it would ease their minds.”

The alpha was clever with his words. Someone less informed might mistake his probing for genuine concern for his pack.

“The Crown wants to ensure a pack is self-sustaining. A significant part of that is determined by the female population in a pack. Do you have a luna for your pack?” A shadow crossed Langston’s face at the mention of a luna.

“My wife passed away a long time ago,” he said quietly. Truth.

“My condolences,” I replied. Langston nodded. “And does your son have a mate?” I turned to look at Dalton.

“My mate is not from my pack.” Truth. “And my duties have kept me from searching for her.” ~Lie~.

“Well, then, there’s the issue. A luna is essential for a strong pack. Without one, the pack weakens, and over time it can disintegrate. Unless you have someone filling that role?” I looked to them for an answer.

The two exchanged a glance, communicating silently through their link. After a moment, Langston turned back to me.

“We do not.” Lie. I narrowed my eyes at his response. It took all my self-control not to growl at them. But I had to pretend I didn’t know, to avoid raising their defenses.

“Without a luna, your pack could eventually deteriorate to the point of collapse. The Crown doesn’t want that to happen.

“If I can confirm that you have a strong female population, the Crown won’t need to intervene in your pack’s population management.”

“Intervene—how?” Dalton asked sharply.

“In several ways. You and others could be forced to leave to find your mates. The Crown could also assign new members to your pack or, in extreme cases, dissolve the pack altogether…”

“Of course, this won’t be necessary if the Crown is assured you have a stable pack membership of both men and women.”

“Thank you, Lord Edmon, for your explanation,” Langston said calmly, “I’ll make sure it’s done.”

“Thank you, Alpha Langston. I appreciate it.”

“How long do you plan to stay with us, if I may ask?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Langston?” I asked, suppressing a chuckle.

“Not at all, my lord. I just know you’re a busy man. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your other duties. We’re more than happy to host you for as long as you plan to stay.” Lie.

“I just thought if you were here for an extended time, I could arrange for some better fitting clothes, although it seems you’ve managed to make do.”

In truth, I would have loved a well-fitted suit right now. I had left my usual travel gear behind for the sake of easy travel.

I'd figured this would be a quick pit stop. Maybe an overnight stay, then back to the real world. But things didn’t pan out that way.

“I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I finish my tasks. Like you said, Alpha Langston, I’m a busy man.”

“Then we’ll have the women come by tomorrow afternoon. You can meet them after you’ve reviewed our records.”

“Efficient,” I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I knew what he was up to.

They wanted me gone. I wasn’t sure why, but I was determined to find out before they managed to kick me out.

“Well, my sons and I will bid you goodnight, Lord Edmon. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.” He was showing me the door. Langston and his sons rose from their seats. I followed suit.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Alpha Langston,” I said, making my way out of the grand hallway and back to my guest room.

Dinner had left me more suspicious than before. They were too eager to help, too ready to see me off.

No one accompanied me back to my room, and I was glad for the quiet. It gave me a chance to mull over everything they’d told me.

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I almost missed the shoebox sitting outside my door. I eyed it warily. Surely, the alpha wouldn’t be foolish enough to try and kill me?

There was a note folded neatly on top of the box. I picked it up and unfolded it, revealing a tidy handwriting.

To our guest

Our floors can get chilly at night. I’ll try to find you a pair of shoes that fit. In the meantime, please use what’s in the box. Let us know if you need anything else.

—Artie

I couldn’t help but smile, thinking back to our earlier encounter. She was an odd one, but considerate.

I opened the shoebox to find a pair of hand-knitted socks. They were a bit small, but the material was stretchy enough to accommodate my feet.

I carried the box and its contents into my room. Once inside, I sat on the bed and slipped the socks on. My feet started to warm up immediately.

I’d have to find out more about this Artie tomorrow.