Chapter 98 GUIDANCE
SEBASTIAN'S POV
The answer from Torin surprises me.
“Ancient wolves are not all inherently destructive compared to what most would say,” Torin says.
“But they’re literally described as living weapons.” I counter argue.
“In old war texts written by hysterical wolves,” he corrects calmly with a bored wave. “Those accounts were written during times of extreme conflict.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning history is often exaggerated by those who survive it.”
That’s… not the answer I expected.
Torin steps a little closer.
“What matters is just how you control it,” he says.
“And whether you intend to use whatever power you possess against the pack.”
“I don’t!”
The answer comes immediately.
Torin searches my face then he nods slowly.
“I believe you.”
I stare at him.
“You do?” Someone actually is on my side.
“For now.”
I’ll take it.
But the relief doesn’t last long for me because his next words tighten the knot in my chest all over again.
“However,” Torrin continues calmly, “this situation of yours will need to be monitored closely.”
Of course it will.
“By you?”
“Well by myself and the elders.”
Fantastic.
“That sounds ominous.”
“It is just a precaution.” He shrugs.
“I’m feeling very reassured.”
Torin ignores the sarcasm once more and faces me. “You will need every guidance you can get.”
“I have Ragnar.”
“And how is that helping you?”
Wow. Low blow Elder Torin.
“And the wolf inside you too.”
I stiffen slightly and avert my eyes away.
Torrin’s gaze sharpens.
“Yes,” he says quietly. “I noticed your reaction earlier when we were talking.”
Of course he did. He wasn't made an elder because of his slow wits.
Torrin studies me for one last moment then he sighs.
“I did not expect tonight to unfold this way Sebastian.”
“You and me both.” Is my reply.
A faint smile touches his face before it fades again.
Alisander remains frustratingly silent.
Thanks for the help, buddy.
“Sebastian,” he says seriously, “what you are carries enormous consequences and changes everything.”
“Yeah.” I know. I've been reminded repeatedly today.
“But it does not have to mean destruction.”
I met his gaze. Then doing something I never do, asking someone I would never even dare to talk to,
“Then help me make sure it doesn’t.”
For a long moment, Torrin simply watches me like he's deciding before he nods.
“Very well.”
I feel elation at that.
Finally, some good news for me I guess.
The walk back from the communal pack house is quieter than the one that brought me here.
Elder Torin walks beside me with his hands clasped behind his back and his posture perfectly straight like he’s strolling through the pack square instead of returning from a conversation that probably just altered the course of my entire life.
The lantern light fades behind us as we reach the main path and we're alone completely now.
Good.
The last thing I need right now is curious pack members asking why I’m wandering around with an elder in the middle of the night.
I rub the back of my neck. That would be the talk of the pack and give them juicy gossip to talk about for weeks.
“This has been… a rather very strange evening.”
Torin lets out a soft breath that might almost be a chuckle if not for him clearing his throat.
“Yes,” he says calmly. “It has.”
We walk another few steps before he speaks again.
“You handled your revelation better than most wolves would.”
I blink.
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is merely an observation, don't be so bothered about it.”
I glance sideways at him.
His expression is thoughtful, which is somehow more unsettling to me. I would have preferred suspicion.
“I’m still trying to process it,” I admit.
“That is rather wise.”
Torin slows slightly as we soon reach the junction.
“Tell me something, Sebastian.”
My shoulders tense automatically.
“What?”
“When Ragnar told you about being an ancient wolf… what exactly did he explain to you about it?”
There’s no accusation in his voice, just plain curiosity.
Still, something about the question makes me hesitate before I answer
“He explained… the basics I guess.”
“Which are?”
“That ancient wolves are powerful,” I say dryly. “Potentially dangerous and that packs tends to panic about things like that.”
Torin hums thoughtfully.
“That sounds just like Ragnar.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I defend him.
He glances at me briefly.
“Ragnar is an excellent leader in many ways. He's strong and fiercely protective.”
Something in the way he says the words feels… careful to me.
“But?” I ask, sensing that they may be one.
“But Ragnar tends to prioritize immediate safety over the deeper understanding of things.”
I frown slightly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Torrin says mildly, “that his first instinct is always to shield those he cares about rather than facing it head on.”
I look away toward the lodge lights.
I guess that just means Ragnar has no care for me then.
“That’s not exactly a bad thing.” I say weakly
“No,” Torin agrees easily with me. “It is admirable.”
We walk in silence for a few seconds.
Before he adds on quietly,
“However, protection can sometimes become a… limitation.”
I glance back at him.
“And why do you think that?”
“If someone shields you from the truth for too long,” Torin says, “you may never learn how to face it yourself.”
The words settle strangely in my chest.
It's the exact thing Alisander and Ragnar have been doing.
Ragnar for weeks whilst Alisander for my whole life apparently.
I shove my hands into my pockets.
“He didn’t hide the truth.”
“No?”
The question isn’t a challenge but it sounds like one. And worse, it's true.
“Well… not exactly.”
Ragnar did tell me. Just eventually.
After a lot of chaos.
Torin nods slowly as if that answer confirms something for him.
“I am not criticizing him to you,” he says.
“Sure sounds like it.”
His mouth curves faintly.
“You are very direct, Sebastian.”
“I’m just tired of people beating around the bush.”
“That is understandable.”
We reach the edge of the housing area as a cool breeze rustles through the trees to us.
So what happens to me now?