CHAPTER 38
I slept a lot longer than anticipated. This peace magic effected me as much as the pack. I felt safe and loved, as if I was being watched over by something bigger than what I could see with my eyes. It was evening when I finally made my way into the living room where sleeping bodies littered the couch and floor. Alan's formidable frame stood highlighted by the moonlight shining through the open back door. He stood a few steps from the door staring into the forest. Again, all he had on was a pair of jeans. Farther off I heard yips and growls. Without turning around he beckoned me with his hand to come to him.
"You influence the pack for one day, while sleeping I might add," he turned ironic eyes to me, "and the tension has left their shoulders. Even as far as their regular work day."
"Is that good?"
He swiveled his head to me again, "Good, for now. Not later. Peace is not the way of shape shifters. We must always be on our guard."
I asked why and regretted it as soon as he gave me an angry look.
"For problems like Taurin." He stared off into the night again.
"You work at the Affairs' Office?"
"Yes. From Oregon. I'm only called into Sacramento as needed. I can do most of my work through my home office."
"You're very forthcoming," I observed.
He glanced my way, "It's nothing that anybody can't learn."
I gave a head shake and looked out at the shining lawn.
"I was so happy when I helped push through a kill warrant on him. Then I went into a rage when I found out he bonded." His eyes sparkled hatefully when he looked over at me briefly, then he chuckled to himself, "I thought for sure that you were coerced. But, you weren't were you?"
"You're sure it's me he bonded to?" I asked ignoring the question without looking at him.
"Yes. You're not a servant and you permeate too much of him."
"How do you know I'm not a servant?"
We both continued to look over the lawn and not at each other. "Because I work for the Affairs' Office. I know a bit more than your average werewolf. You're the demon hunter who bonded to Taurin. You smell like his ice... and stone, that one I don't understand." He turned to look at me.
I ignored his thinly veiled question and said instead, "You sent your wolves to kill us."
"I sent mercenary wolves who were looking for a challenge."
"They found it," I said dryly.
"I guess they did because they never came back for their money."
I shook my head silently, "What do you know of the bullets they used?"
Alan gave me a fake smile, "Why, Dove, is this any conversation to be having as the Peacekeeper!?" He placed his hand on his heart in mock concern.
I snorted silently and looked at him, "You're playing with me."
His face and voice grew cold, "When I play with you, you'll know."
"So, what now?" I asked.
Alan turned to look into his house. "Enjoy my hospitality, enjoy the company. No one will dare step out of place."
"Not even your Lupa?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just keep spreading peace and you will keep her confused." He said with a wry smile.
"A match made in heaven?"
"Something like that."
I watched him walk out onto the lawn. When he disappeared into the woods I turned to the living room. A few eyes reflected back light to me, but I knew they weren't turned into their wolf self. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a handful of carrots and an apple. As I walked back to my room eyes followed me and I was unnerved. The hush of silence was thick and I made no eye contact. Once secluded away and giving myself a measure of unrealistic safety with a closed door I breathed a sigh of relief.
I thought about everything while I chewed on the carrots. Then I realized something. First, I didn't have demons bothering me. Second, I really didn't have demons bothering me. I reveled in the feeling of not having them around. After all, that was the idea when I went to Seattle a few days ago. Yet, it was strange not to feel their connection to me. I crunched into the red apple and did a shallow search for them inside of me. Nothing. Something blocked my demon hunter abilities. I deduced that it was the pack magic, which was a revelation since, technically, this was the answer to my meeting with Zanzibar. Although, I wasn't going to have that magic in me after tomorrow night. This meant that I still needed an answer on how to control the demon magic inside of me.
I continued to rifle through my spirit and decided it was time to meditate. I took my mind down into the spiral of myself and listened to what I needed to hear underneath my conscious thoughts. A deep sense of knowing draped over me as I discovered that it wasn't pack magic that kept me from sensing them. Or rather, it was. I was the arrow that decided which magic was going to dominate. Yet, I instinctively knew that without another choice I was all demon hunter and there would be nothing to block it out. At least, not until I talked to Zanzibar.
With these revelations running through my mind I concentrated on Taurin and Ezra's sparks. They ignited in a burst with the merest thought. The smell of wolf faded from inside of me and I filled up with the scent of cloves and winter. 'There you are,' I said and Taurin answered.
'Dove. You've been silent.'
'Yesss,' came Ezra's whispered hiss.
I inhaled deeply through my nose, trying to breathe in scents that weren't outside of me. 'I'll see you both tomorrow night?' I asked hesitantly.
Taurin scoffed, 'Of course!'
Ezra's fire flared sluggishly through my spirit, like it was asleep or drugged. I frowned and projected my confusion somehow to them without words.
'Ezra put himself into a deep trance after we came back. Probably a tactic to stop himself from killing me,' he laughed.
'Oh. I'll make it out of here ok. I just need to stay focused on wolf magic. That's why you haven't heard from me.'
'Hmm,' was all Ezra said. His fire flared brighter, but still moved slowly.
