Unshift
183

183 Ava: Jericho’s Acceptance

Since neither shifter seems very interested in talking, I sit with only my thoughts for company.

Even Selene is silent in my head, though she rests her chin on my leg, her eyes deceptively closed.

She’s not asleep, but still dealing with whatever demons are inside of her right now.

Both guards tense as Selene’s ears flick around.

Someone’s coming, she says, lifting her head to stare at the door. When both guards relax after that distracted look from them linking with someone, she does too, despite sniffing at the air.

Jericho, she says, as the door opens and his grizzled head pokes into the room.

Jericho glances around, looking at both guards with clear contempt, before nodding to me. “Girl,” he says gruffly.

in

My lips twitch into a faint smile, an unexpected warmth blooming

my chest at his informal address. At least one thing hasn’t changed. He still treats me the same, even after everything that’s happened.

“Wait outside,” Jericho orders the two ill–at–ease shifters, jerking his head toward the door. They hesitate for a moment, exchanging an uncertain look, but a single raised eyebrow from Jericho has them scurrying out of the room.

The door closes with a soft click, and Jerich

Jes

Acceptanés

back to me. “How’re you doing? Feeling okay?”

I open my mouth, ready to assure him that I’m fine, but the words lodge in my throat. Am I okay? After the riot, Todd’s mother, the vampire attack, and all the little truths Vanessa has managed to open my eyes to… I don’t think I am.

But complaining about it doesn’t seem right, either.

Jericho seems to sense my inner turmoil. He sighs, running a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Listen, girl, all young pups make mistakes. It’s part of growing up.”

“Young pup?” The term catches me off guard. I haven’t been called that since I was a child.

Maybe a few times, but I don’t really remember them.

A wry smile tugs at the corner of Jericho’s mouth. “You’re still young, a baby in my eyes. I’ve been around long enough to see countless pups stumble and fall. Done it myself, in fact.”

“Yourself?” It’s hard to imagine him, a grizzled old man of little praise and a lot of torture, making mistakes as a child.

It’s hard to imagine he even had a childhood.

In my head, he just appeared in this world one day, old and cantankerous, yelling at innocent out–of–shape wolf shifters until they run out of sheer terror.

“You need to manage your expectations,” Jericho continues, his gaze intense. “But I like the look in your eyes now. You seem like you’ve gotten a little stronger.”

Stronger? His assessment comes as a surprise Idaue

stronger. In fact, I feel embarrassed by how strong I thought I was

not so long ago.

Blinded by peace.

“I really need to go back to training” I mutter, rubbing Selene’s head. She’s already lowered her head and closed her eyes again, leaving me to Jericho’s presence alone. “I feel like I’ve already softened up.”

Jericho’s eyebrows raise a fraction. “Are you an idiot? Muddle–headed sheepdog, maybe?”

Rude. But I don’t have the energy to rise to his bait. “What do you

mean by that?”

Answering with nothing but a curt grunt, he instead takes the opportunity to pace my room in short, slow strides. It takes a little time for me to realize he’s inspecting everything, his nostrils flaring as he scents the air.

“Nothing,” he says, sounding surprised. “Not even a hint.”

“Of what?”

“The vampire.” Turning, he gazes at me, his face stern. “Explain what happened. Leave nothing out.

Explaining everything to his grizzled face is somehow easier than I thought it would be.

Maybe it’s because it never changes, never shows its judgment.

He just nods and asks questions when he has them.

When I finish explaining my vague connection with Sister Miriam, he stares at the ceiling in thought, one booted foot tapping against the floor as time passes.

“As crazy as it sounds, girl, my gut’s telling me this vampire’s more

of an ally than an enemy.”

Surprised, I scoot a little further off the edge of my bed. “Why? Lucas doesn’t trust her at all.”

“Oh. I don’t trust any vampire that sounds so long in the tooth. But.” and his eyes snap down from the ceiling to meet with mine, “no vampire acts like this toward someone they’re hunting. No, she has a plan, and you feature in it. She’s courting you to her side. That’s not a bad thing.

The doubt on my face must be crystal clear, because he barks out a laugh. “Even vampires have their own politics. They’re deeper and murkier than you ever want to be knee–deep in, but there is no loyalty in their blood. They don’t have the sense of pack that we do. It’s all power and control in their cities.”

“How much do you know about vampires?” The question slips out before I can stop myself. Curiosity has me over–eager.

Jericho’s weathered face splits into a grin. “More than these young pups, that’s for damn sure. They’ve grown up in a time of peace, never had to fight for their lives against those bloodsuckers.” He leans back, the chair creaking under his weight. “Back in my day, we had a few scuffles. Nothing major, but enough to keep us on

our toes.”

“You fought vampires?”

“Not exactly fought. More like… disagreements that got a little physical They sometimes came to the city, you see. Before all the laws came into effect.” His eyes glaze over, lost in memories. “Thad a friend once, a vampire. He told me stories about the

Unregistered cities. They’re not nearly as isolated as most wolves

think.”

“What do you mean?”

Jericho shrugs, the moment of nostalgia passing. “Ah, it doesn’t matter. No one wants to listen to the ramblings of an old man

anyway.”

“That’s not true,” I protest. “I’m sure Lucas and Kellan would want to hear what you have to say. They respect you.”

Jericho slaps his knee, a bark of laughter escaping him. “I like you, girl. You’ve got spirit. But you’ve learned very little during your time in this pack.”

More proof that I’ve been so focused on my own problems, to the detriment of anything around me. I squirm beneath his regard. “I’m

sorry.”

He waves a hand. “Girl, it’s no secret that my son avoids me. He’d rather catch the plague.”

“Oh. I’m sure its not-

“It’s that bad,” he cuts me off, all traces of mirth disappearing from his face. “But don’t worry yourself over it. A runt like you has no business dealing with that sort of thing.”

This is a pack dynamic I should have known, considering how much time I’ve spent with both of them.

na Jencho’s Acceptance.

I rub my eyebrows with a sigh. “I’ve been selfish.”

Jericho’s expression softens for a second. It’s so fast that I’m not sure if it was even real.

He’s back to his grunting, cantankerous way within moments. “Selfish? I suppose. But you’re young. You have a lifetime of

mistakes coming your way. You’ll probably kill a few more people. What are you going to do about that?”