The bushes rustled again and Thordin\u2019s grip on his weapon tightened. His heart began to beat a little faster. The glint of gold had to have been eyes\u2014what else could it have been? There had been a wolf in those bushes, a gold-eyed wolf, and it either meant them harm or no ill will.<\/p>\n
The battleaxe in his hands would ensure that regardless, no harm would come to the people of the tiny settlement that he\u2019d adopted as his home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u201d an unfamiliar voice with a thick accent said. \u201cPeace. I\u2019m coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thordin\u2019s eyes narrowed. Matt grasped his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I know the voice. I think he was here with Drew\u2019s half-brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know Daniel?\u201d The voice asked. A mass of black curls appeared over the top of the bush, followed bright hazel eyes and a winter-pale forehead. Those eyes narrowed for a brief moment, the stranger\u2019s gaze focusing on Matt, not on Thordin. Hope lightened the man\u2019s heavy accent. \u201cI remember you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt nodded, slipping past Thordin to the edge of the brush. \u201cYou need clothes, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClothes would be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thordin grabbed a fistful of Matt\u2019s jacket. \u201cWho the hell is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt twisted to look at the older man. \u201cHe was part of a pack of werewolves that showed up here before you and Neve and Cameron. We can trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sure about that?\u201d Thordin eyed the stranger warily. The man\u2019s lips were turning blue. Maybe he really was<\/em> completely naked and hiding in that bush. \u201cA name, stranger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGwilym,\u201d the man said, the Welsh undertones vaguely familiar and identifiable to the man who\u2019d lived a life centuries past and then thirty years of one wandering from one end of a continent to the other. Thordin frowned, continuing to study the newcomer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d trust him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPack alpha is Drew\u2019s younger brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Thordin nodded slightly. \u201cRight. Go and get him clothes and get Thom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Matt asked.<\/p>\n Thordin smirked. \u201cTry to figure out if I<\/em> think he\u2019s worth trusting.\u201d<\/p>\n He got an inappropriate amount of satisfaction from the stranger\u2019s nervous swallow. Thordin grinned even wider at the man as Matt looked between them.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t unless he tries to hurt me.\u201d Thordin waved him away. \u201cGo. We\u2019re not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n After another moment\u2019s hesitation, Matt turned and went, leaving Thordin alone with the stranger named Gwilym.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Thordin said softly, \u201cnow you can tell me why you\u2019re really<\/em> here.\u201d<\/p>\n Gwilym just swallowed hard and shuddered.<\/p>\n Thordin smiled and waited.<\/p>\n It was only a matter of time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The bushes rustled again and Thordin\u2019s grip on his weapon tightened. His heart began to beat a little faster. The glint of gold had to have been eyes\u2014what else could it have been? There had been a wolf in those … Continue reading