Chapter 99 Hollow Wolf
❀ Maeve ❀
An eternity later, I stood beside Nikolai on the top of one of the lower mountain peaks.
The air whipped my braided hair so strongly I felt the pull in my scalp.
New training pants, rosy cheeks, and a sense of future accomplishment assailed me.
“I should leave you here. Perhaps a life-or-death situation could spur your abilities.”
My head snapped toward him. “Now why would you do such a thing?”
“I just said.”
His form began to fade.
I gasped in disbelief.
The hands that had been on my hips as I enjoyed the view shot out to grab him, but he was already intangible.
“Don’t you dare!”
He smirked, and disappeared.
I let out an incredulous laugh.
Surely he wouldn’t.
Had training already begun?
He hadn’t informed me!
I heaved a deep breath, enjoying the sensation of wind so cold it seemed to freeze my throat.
The view was magnificent.
From here, I could see the sprawling castle of Veilmoor, its pointy roofs and lit rooms as small as pinpricks.
Beyond that was a steep hill on all sides of the castle’s extensive grounds. In the far north was Nikolai’s mansion.
Further out, I spied other properties dotting the white landscape. The other royals most probably owned their own private estates as well.
I swept my gaze on and on until it met the sea.
It was all so different from IronWolf.
Where the pack was close-knit and warm, with its behemoth of a stone fortress, the castle was its own brand of cold, intimidating architecture, surrounded on all sides by mountains.
I couldn’t even tell which direction Blackbridge lay, where the borders met. All I saw were snow-covered peaks.
A dark thought surfaced.
The fastest, safest way out was tracing. Even if I could plot an escape, I’d most likely starve and faint before I even cleared the acres of land.
With a decisive sigh, I took a step back from the edge and closed my eyes.
My tutor, bless his soul, had given me zero instructions. I’d known he’d try to sabotage my progress, so I wasn’t surprised.
How hard could it be? It was surely instinctive.
And I was born of a pure-blood Crimson.
My blood was power. Untapped power, just waiting to be wielded.
“Let’s try something simple first.”
I imagined tracing back to the spot I’d taken a step back from, pictured the deep pits of my footsteps.
Nothing.
I tempered down wisps of doubt.
“Maybe cast a wider net.”
Letting the memory of Nikolai’s hearth ghost over my skin, I pressed my lids together.
The firm but plush rugs. His scent on every inch of the room. The bed. The very walls.
My chest expanded with a shuddering breath.
A lick of pressure skirted down my spine.
The tips of my fingers tingled.
I was doing it… I was—
“That’s taking an awfully long time…”
I jerked out of my trance and whirled on him.
“You distracted me!” I hissed. “I actually felt it. Things were changing. I felt heat in my back—”
“That would be me. I couldn’t resist touching you.”
My jaw slackened. “How long have you been back?”
“Since you took a step backward.” His head tilted, lips quirking in an infuriating smile. “Why did you take a step backward?”
After barely checking the urge to strangle him, I said, “I have a more important question.”
“Whatever you desire to know.”
“How do I trace?”
“By transplanting into your destination. With scent, temperature, and sense memory. Amongst other things.”
My jaw dropped.
Had it really been that simple? I’d done just that.
Would it have worked if he hadn’t distracted me?
I firmly wiped a flurry of snow off my cheek, deciding then and there not to tell Nikolai my suspicions.
“I suggest practicing your wolf shifting first,” he continued. “I strongly believe the two are intertwined. Perhaps in mastering your wolf, you may be mentally equipped to take on your vampire side.”
But my vampire side was the one I needed most at the moment.
He stepped forward and hugged me to his chest. “I’m tracing us back down.”
I nodded against his snug chest, closing my eyes.
When he released me, I looked around our new location.
An open field just beside the mansion. I could hear the horses snickering in their sleep.
Stray servant, human and vampire alike, briskly moved in and out of the house.
Then I scented something new.
Wolf.
At the same time, Nikolai held my hand and turned me in the direction of the scent.
“This is William. He should have some tips for you.”
William was a teenager. Lanky and tall.
His throat bobbed as he fumbled to greet me.
He snatched back his hand from what was definitely a handshake attempt, then decided to curtsy as they did in Veilmoor.
“Hello, your grace. It’s an honor to be of service to you this fine night.”
My wolf senses tingled with excitement, but I dampened it at the reminder that he was probably a captive.
The boy should’ve been asleep. I scanned him for signs of neglect or abuse, but found none.
“It’s nice to meet you. So, think you can help me shift?”
I’d meant to be friendly, but his eyes widened with fear.
“Of course, y-your grace. I’ll do everything I can.”
I settled on a non-threatening smile. If I played my cards right, this boy could be a resource one day. I needed every angle and tool for my grand escape from my vampire mate.
He nodded, then glanced at Nikolai at my side. He blanched, returning his gaze to my feet instantly.
This was going to be grueling.
“So, um… since you can partially feel and use your wolf, that’s a good thing. Now you just have to connect with the soul.”
I nearly bounced on my toes. “And how do I do that?”
“Every wolf has a beast inside them. That’s your wolf core. Try to feel it within you. A blazing force, controlled, in the pit of your soul.”
I instantly closed my eyes.
Blazing force. Deep inside. Pit of the soul…
Nothing.
My chest was like a dank, hollowed-out stone that hadn’t seen a glowworm, talk less of a force.
When I opened my eyes, annoyed, William staggered backward.
I took a deep breath, imagining what I must look like to him. I didn’t want to frighten him. I wanted him on my side.
“Can we try something else? Like how to drag said force and just… shift? You know what, just show me.”
“Yeah… of course.”
He stood facing away from me, giving me his side.
“To shift, all you have to do is identify that beast inside you and permit it to rise.” He glanced at me sheepishly. “It’s instinctive for me now. Usually much faster than it sounds. Happens in a split second…”
As he spoke, his jawbones snapped and elongated, fur bursting out of his skin in rapid succession.
A loud crack or two of bones later, and William no longer stood before me.
Instead, I was looking at a sizable tawny wolf. His back was level with my eyeline, and even young, his maw boasted wicked-looking fangs and bite force.
He chuffed and tilted his head at me as if to say, your turn.
I nodded, feeling Nikolai’s gaze on me.
He hadn’t spoken a word. Just a silent, keen observer.
I ignored the palpable weight of his stare and shut my eyes.
Where to begin?
Since I couldn’t locate a spark or force or whatever William had said, I skipped that step.
Instead, I focused on the instinct I could already feel in my body.
I let my fangs drop in my mouth, pushed my claws as far as they would go.
Letting loose my senses, I permitted my base beast to rise.
Nothing.
It felt like something was missing. Something even heavier than the spark of the soul… the force.
I forced myself to concentrate. Willed my bones to break and contort.
Nothing.
I threw my hands up, letting them slap against my thighs as they came down.
“Nothing is happening!”
“Milaya,” Nikolai started forward. “You’ve stifled your instincts for the better part of months. Before that, you awakened late. Factor in all your trauma and history.” His hands settled on my shoulders. “It won’t be easy.”
I shrugged his hands away, blinking back tears.
And why the hell shouldn’t it be easy?
A hybrid mix of two powerful species, and I couldn’t do anything more than grow fangs and claws.
I wiped my cheeks, chest aching, as I walked a little farther from them.
Nikolai didn’t follow, but I saw William’s tawny wolf lunge past toward the mansion.
Nikolai must have permitted him to leave.
And that was it? End of training? I’d barely learned anything!
Just as I turned to challenge my mate, a figure caught my attention beside the mansion.
The tall silhouette of a man leaned against the side of the wall, one leg crossed.
Goosebumps pebbled my flesh.
I could feel his eyes on me.