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The sun rose over the treeline, and my jogging had slowed to a wheezy stroll when the first few people came out of the kennels to study the pyres.
There was no sign of the Locket pack as wolves filled the lawn.
Eventually, I stopped running. A hot and sweaty mess. The shapeless linen clothes I’d been provided clung to my body as the frigid wind chilled my sweat against my skin.
I’d go to Kaleb’s room, I decided. My subtle attempt to spy had failed, and I wasn’t about to let them leave me behind.
With a goal in mind, I marched back to the kennels, weaving through the giant unlit bonfires and the excited chatter. I’d almost reached the door when a group stepped into my path.I excused myself and tried to go around, but they followed my movements, showing that their obstruction was on purpose.
I recognized the women only from their proximity to Wyatt whenever I’d seen him surrounded by his harem.
As a joke, he’d given them the names Tina, Gina, and Rina, but I could see why. They were wolves, sharing the same orange-tinted eyes as many of the Wolfkin, but their features were so similar that they had to be related somehow.
“You’re Mallory, right?” One of the women said, her hair tied back in a high ponytail. “Wyatt told us to look out for you. He won’t be back until the celebration later.”
I cursed under my breath. “He left already?”
Ponytail pressed her lips into a thin line and shrugged. “I am Teagan.” She waved her hand toward the other wolves. “That’s Tara and Tabitha.”
“We grew up with Wyatt.” Tara looked down her nose at me. “But I’m very interested in knowing why a wolf, such as yourself, can’t protect herself?”
I grimaced.
Tabitha leaned forward before I could answer, rocking on her heels, her hands knitted together. “Why would Wyatt want to protectyouanyway?”
“She’s a Weaver.” Teagan pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated.
I pressed my lips together, glancing at the tree line. “When did they leave?”
“Ages ago.” Tabitha’s eyes glittered with mischief.
I winced, rubbing my hands over my sodden clothes. “But they said they’d be back?”
“Hmm.” Tara bit back a smirk.
I gestured to the pyres. “Are we having a bonfire?”
Teagan smiled. “It’s the final day of Samhain. We’ll light the fires to usher the spirits to the Tuatha Dé Danann, and then we get to go home.”
“Home?” I wondered.
“Our pack resides in the Night Court, in the forest of Everfall,” Teagan explained. “We will return once we have served the Huntsman for this year.”
“And the celebrations?” I watched as a group of wolves began to bring barrels of beer and casks of wine, setting them down on the lawn. “The Huntsman just lets you throw a massive party?”
Tabitha shrugged. “The real fun begins in a minute.”
“Real fun?” I echoed, glancing at the clockwork castle. My stomach sank.
Tara looped her arm through mine and began moving before my thoughts caught up.
I tried to pry myself free, but Tara was surprisingly strong. “I need to shower.” I protested.
“We’re going to the Gate,” Tabitha said in a sing-song voice. “One final Hunt before Samhain is over. Then we celebrate.”
“What about them?” I gestured to the wolves setting up for the party.
Teagan barked a laugh. “You’re not nervous, are you?”
