The new wolf turns, and I feel a flicker of recognition. I know him from sowhere, but his na escapes . He jogs over, a friendly smile on his face. Young. Really young. A little scrawny compared to the others, but broad-shouldered and tan.
Tousled blond hair.
"Hi Luna, I'm Wes. Follow ."
As we start walking, I try to place where I've seen him before. "How are you doing, Wes?"
He shrugs, his smile fading slightly. "It's been rough for everyone, but we're managing."
I study his face, trying to gauge his age. He's barely more than a kid, judging by the patchy scruff across his face. "If you don't mind asking, how old are you?"
Wes glances at and laughs. "I'm sixteen."
My eyes widen in shock. "Sixteen," I repeat, my voice soft. Yet he's wearing tactical clothes similar to those my guards wear.
He nods, then adds, "We used to train together under Amara."
That's why I recognize him. mories of those group training sessions flash through my mind, and I feel a pang of guilt for not rembering him sooner.
"You're a lot different from what the rumors said," Wes comnts, pulling from my thoughts.
I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. I knew there were rumors, but no one's been willing to repeat them in my presence. "Oh? What kind of rumors?"
Wes looks sheepish for a mont. "Well, I used to believe you were just a filthy Blackwood, manipulating the Alpha. That you didn't have a wolf and were utterly worthless." He rushes to add, "But that changed when I watched you training. You worked harder than anyone."
Perhaps not all those eyes I felt on during training were filled with suspicion or derision. Maybe so, like Wes, were watching with growing respect.
A wave of regret washes over as I once again realize how prickly and defensive I've been. How many potential allies did I push away with my walls of ice?
"Where's your wolf today?" Wes asks, breaking the silence that had fallen between us.
"She's resting," I reply, grateful for the change in subject.
Wes nods, a hint of excitent in his voice. "It's pretty cool that our Luna has a separate wolf. It's all anyone's been talking about lately."
I'm not sure how to respond to that. But Wes's enthusiasm is infectious, and I find myself smiling despite my unease.
"It's certainly unique," I agree, trying to keep my tone light. "But tell more about you, Wes. How are you handling all of this?"
His face clouds over. "One day I'm worrying about training and school, and the next we're running for our lives. But..." He straightens his shoulders, a determined look in his eyes. "I want to help. I want to protect our pack."
We walk in companionable silence for a few monts before Wes speaks up again. "We're almost there. The storage area is just around this bend."
How dire is our situation, exactly? I hope Kellan hasn't been feeding in relative luxury compared to the others. Not that sandwiches are particularly luxurious in normal tis, but these days are different.
"Thank you for showing the way, Wes. And thank you for being honest with . It ans a lot."
* * *
It's honestly amazing no one's starved to death.
The shelves are practically empty. We have so beans and rice, cans of tuna, and several jars of peanut butter and jelly. There's flour and sugar, but no other baking supplies.
There's also bread, eggs, and several jars for protein shakes. Oatal. So boxes of cereal and a shelf filled with Pop-Tarts, with a simple paper taped to it saying "Only For Children." Only a few cases of bottled water left.
"Is this all?"
"We have a refrigerator inside, but yes. It's ager, but we do have people going out to hunt. There's a small vegetable garden, and we're making a greenhouse to extend our yield as long as possible." Wes points at a cupboard on a far wall. "We do have a small amount of cookies and chocolate for children, too."
"I see."
The sight of the nearly barren shelves has my stomach twisting. It's sobering to be here, to see it for myself.
"What are people most worried about right now?"
Wes shifts his weight, his eyes darting around the storage area before settling back on . "Well, Luna, there's a lot of concern because Alpha hasn't been around much lately. But honestly, most of the stress is about food and making sure the kids will be okay through the winter."
"How are people coping?"
"Most are just taking it day by day," Wes says with a shrug. "It's all we can do, really."
A knot forms in my throat as I consider my next question. "Wes, have you heard much talk against Lucas?"
His face freezes, and I can see the internal struggle playing out in his eyes. Slowly, he lowers his head, avoiding my gaze. "Yes, Luna."
My heart sinks, but I press on. "Are they talking about challenges?"
Wes nods, still not eting my eyes.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for his answer. "Do you feel the sa way?"
His head snaps up, eyes wide with surprise and a hint of hurt. "No! Absolutely not, Luna. Alpha's been good for the pack. He's done so much for us, even if... even if things are difficult right now."
The intensity of his disagreent catches off guard. I can see the frustration etched in the lines of his face, the way his jaw clenches as he speaks. It's clear this situation is weighing heavily on him, perhaps more than I initially realized.
Deciding to change the subject, I gesture back to the sparse shelves. "Let's talk more about the food situation. What are we most in need of?"
Wes seems to relax slightly at the shift in topic. "Well, there's a real lack of milk for the kids. That's been tough. But a lot of the adults have been getting by on what we're hunting. So it's not quite as dire as it might look here."
I raise an eyebrow, considering his words. "That might work for now, but what about when winter cos? The hunting will get harder, won't it?"
He nods, his expression grim. "We're all worried about that. The cold months are going to be tough if we can't stock up more before then."
When I resolved to beco a good Luna, I didn't realize I'd be taking over during a situation like this.
Trial by fire.
There's no point bemoaning fate. We're here. We're struggling. And I'm supposed to help these people.
You're doing great. Ask him about the hunts. It sounds like people are hunting for themselves and not for the pack.
"Who are our best hunters?"
"Ah—I don't know, Luna. We have a few families who aren't doing bad right now. They don't take much from the kitchens, I think."
"Okay. Show these refrigerators. Do we have freezers, too?"
"Yes."
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