Chapter 9: History Lesson

Phinn POV

Phinn had smelled something. When Arion had pushed past him, he had caught a scent that wasn’t hers. Hell, it wasn’t wolf. It was human.

It was the butcher’s boy.

The butcher’s boy? Phinn was in disbelief. He knew that Arion was reckless, she always was. But this?! This was too much. If she was really seeing that…that human, then she was bringing shame to the whole pack and a huge possible threat.

‘She needs to get over this puppy phase. I need hard evidence to show her that he is not what he says.’ As Phinn’s mind raced, he realized what he had to do. Dorin was the only other one who witnessed the incident that day. He knew he had!

Maybe he couldn’t get him to tell him directly, but he knew a way.

If his questions rattled Dorin enough, he would go to Phinn’s father, Roderick. Only if pack-related and urgent, would it then go to the alpha.

After dinner, he would approach his teacher.

***

Focusing on the bigger picture and not simply his personal emotions had proven to be difficult.

He had eaten in silence, not trusting himself enough to carry conversation. He simply watched Arion and noticed she couldn’t stop smiling.

Angering him more, he had looked away and noticed Reni had carried the same glow.

‘What is this? She is corrupting the pack.’ Phinn’s mind was trying to wrap around the quickly escalating situation.

Thankfully, the dinner went quickly.

As members started to retire for the night, Phinn spotted Dorin heading towards the stables.

The old shifter was humming to himself, letting the horses know who was entering. Long ago it seemed, he had told Phinn that he felt it calmed them down. When Phinn had asked from what, he simply replied: ‘us.’

Dorin had approached one of the mares, slowly stroking her from forehead to nose. The horse’s eyes closed sleepily.

Phinn spooked the horse when stepping around the corner, though Dorin did not look surprised.

Facing his elder, Phinn squared up and took a deep breath.

“I know what you saw.”

“I’m sure I do not know what you are talking about.” Dorin had calmed the mare. “But I do know that you need to work on your breathing while stalking.”

“What?” Phinn was instantly offended. “No, I- No, that’s not the point. You know exactly what I am talking about.”

Dorin remained stroking the velvet nose.

Phinn was growing angry at the silence. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to rattle Dorin enough for this to work.

“Listen, I believe that you saw what I saw and it means something. It may even be putting us all at risk whatever he is!”

“My dear pup, why would you think that suddenly we are all at risk?”

He didn’t want to out Arion yet, he had to save that card. His growing frustration was making it tempting though. Maybe he could say certain parts.

“Because that boy, or whatever he is, is interested in our alpha’s daughter!” Phinn saw Dorin take a single gulp. He struck the right cord. “I know you saw that as well.”

Dorin turned to Phinn. “Did you see this because you too were watching Arion the whole day?”

He then took an intimidating step toward Phinn. The young wolf froze, suddenly feeling the strength of Dorin’s wolf aura. He was pushing it onto him, threatening him. Phinn felt his inner wolf tuck his tail and almost turn belly up when Dorin spoke.

“I watch Arion because it is one of my duties in serving our alpha. You have no claim or right to her simply as the beta’s son. She has not impressed on or chosen you. Until then, you treat her as your pack-mate. If she does not pick or impress on you, you will need to accept that as a grown wolf should.”

“I understand, but that’s-“

“Good.” Dorin’s voice snapped. “If you understand, you will drop whatever it is you think you saw. If you do not, I will have to report your behavior and the illusions it brings you.”

With that, Dorin left a speechless Phinn standing with the horses.

Phinn was simply stunned. He had never seen Dorin become so angry when it didn’t involve a lesson being forgotten. This had to be bigger than he was letting on. Dorin exploded at the topic of Arion and the boy. Now Phinn needed to know more than ever.

Hurrying in the shadows, Phinn followed the fast-paced elder. This time, making sure to control his breathing.

***

“We have to talk.”

Dorin had busted into the weapons quarter where Roderick was sharpening tools.

The abruptness pulled Roderick out of rhythm, causing him to drop the wet stone.

“Ugh, Dorin, you don’t have to be so dramatic when entering.”

“Yes, I do. We may have a serious problem.”

At that, Roderick’s ears perked up and he walked behind Dorin to shut the door.

On the other side, through a decent gap in the warped boards, Phinn listened intently. The hole allowed him to hear from a hidden corner outside. It also gave him a small view into the room.

“And what is the problem, Dorin?” Roderick asked as he went back to his station, gesturing for Dorin to have a seat.

“The problem is the same one I told you about the day after the festival!” Dorin stated, throwing himself down into the seat.

“That isn’t a problem. It’s a possible hindrance, but not a problem. Not right now.”

“I understand why you say that, but we cannot ignore what I saw. We cannot ignore either, that he may try and see her again.”

“Listen, no one has been brave enough to venture out this far. Especially two young boys.”

Phinn had noticed Dorin starting to shake his head.

“No, no, this is different. The boy isn’t human. Even your son has noticed.”

Roderick stopped his sharpening.

“My son saw the incident?”

“Well yes. And he approached me about it this evening again and that’s why I am here. If he noticed, this could cause a bigger issue.”

The beta was thinking.

“Don’t worry though Roderick. When asked, I have told him nothing and have not confirmed any suspicions he may have. He only noticed because he was watching Arion.”

“That’s a problem in itself. Phinn drooling over Malaki’s daughter. It would be enough for him to pursue this.”

“I put a…an aggressive stop to it just before coming here.”

Roderick looked at Dorin and simply nodded in understanding and thanks. He didn’t need a further explanation.

“Tell me what is making you worry more than the fact that he healed and feigns interest in Arion?”

Dorin stopped wringing his hands before finally answering.

“Doesn’t it bother you, the similarities from what is beginning to happen? Last time we saw this interaction-“

“Yes, I know. The shifter that disobeyed that rule though has lived in our stories as warnings for years.”

Phinn was confused. How did this have anything to do about the shifter Ezekiel, that was turned rogue so long ago?

Roderick continued. “The wolf loved a human, the pack turned him out for exposing them.”

“As well as disobeying their rules.” The old teacher couldn’t help himself.

“Yes, as well as that. Ezekiel alone brought that demise to himself since his human lover told her family. Then, his whole pack was almost completely slaughtered. How is this the same right now?”

“Think after that. All packs were informed of the atrocity after Ezekiel went rogue. He was essentially backlisted. Our pack was his last hope but Malaki’s grandfather turned him away. He blamed all wolves, but especially our pack when his human bride died in childbirth. He had a son who he then had to teach himself. To be human as well as controlling the wolf.”

“I am still not seeing the conn-“

“Think!” Dorin had surprised Phinn, causing him to suck in a breath. Thinking about what he was just told about his breathing, he threw his hands over his mouth to stifle the gasp. In trying to control his breathing, his elbows had knocked over all of the buckets stacked behind him.

As they fell, he quickly tried to escape out the back not wanting to be caught eavesdropping on a highly confidential meeting.

Phinn had managed to be outside and in the clear by the time he saw his father and Dorin leave the weapons area. They hadn’t suspected a thing. Probably thought it was just a rodent or one of the young pups playing.

‘I just don’t understand the whole story yet, and Dad seemed confused as well,’ Phinn mused, replaying the conversation in his head. All he knew for sure after hearing that is that Dorin was worried and now his father.

The question was now, what did the old rogue have to do with Arion and the human? Maybe a look at the old family logs was in order.