Chapter 74: Old Preconceptions

Sage has lost his mind, after all.

"I can't." I take a step back from him, chest tight with fear. If I let myself become a full wolf, I'll be lost, an animal. He's not gone, I know that, but I'm different from him. I was born a werewolf, not created by this new means Belaisle and Rupe have concocted. I'll be gone, my humanity given to the wolf and I will never, ever, return.

Won't I?

Charlie, Sage sends, standing, shaking himself before fixing his green eyes on me. Says who?

Says... centuries of werelore. Says the Black Souls.

I cough, choke, try to breathe as anger and deep, echoing sadness bubble around inside me, aimed at the horrible sorcerers who enslaved my people, not just with their magic, but with the power of belief. Even now, standing here, I understand how deeply my people's loss of freedom runs, that we are far from the liberation I thought we won the day Syd loosed us from the power of the Black Souls.