The moon was fading, though I could still feel its pull.
We were sitting in the living room. Kelly and Joe had cut down a tree in the woods behind the house, a Douglas fir we’d covered in lights and ornaments. I was showing Gavin the little baubles my brothers and I had made as kids, clay handprints and torn paper snowflakes covered in old glitter. Kelly and Joe were in the attic, trying to get the last of the decorations. Gordo sat on the couch, nursing a beer, watching us.
Gavin said, “You made these.”
“Yeah, man. We did. Not very good, I know, but I’m not exactly the creative type. Joe and Kelly were better at stuff like that, even if Joe tended to eat the glue.”
“I was three!” Joe shouted from somewhere above us.
“And now he’s the Alpha of all,” Gordo muttered. “We’re doomed.”
Gavin looked down at the box in his lap. He was sitting on the floor next to me, his knee pressed against mine. He was wearing his pink sweater again. It was his favorite. He looked younger than he had since I’d known him. He’d told me he was thirty-two, which put him less than a year older than me, but now that he’d cleaned up, he could pass for years younger.
He said, “Here? You made these here?”
I nodded. “And in Caswell.”
“When you had to go back.”
“Yeah.” I glanced at Gordo. “Though had to is probably a little strong.”
“Why?”
“Questions,” I muttered as Gordo snorted. “Always questions with you.”
“Ha, ha,” Gavin said. “Answer me.”
I sighed. “Dad was… young when he was made Alpha. His father was murdered, along with most of his pack. Hunters.”
“Ouroboros,” Gordo said, voice hard.
“What’s that?” Gavin asked.
“Snake eating its own tail. Ancient symbol. Supposed to represent infinity.”
I said, “They told him he needed to go back to Caswell. That he was the Alpha of all and that people were depending on him.”
“He left,” Gavin said. “Took all of you.”
“Not all,” I said. “And that wasn’t right.” Gordo’s hand tightened on his beer bottle. “I wasn’t old enough to understand.
To do anything about it. But I know now what my father didn’t, even though he thought he was doing the right thing. We don’t leave pack behind. Ever.”
“Ever,” Gavin repeated. “Because pack pack pack.”
“Yeah. Pack pack pack.”
“Why not just stay here?” he asked. “Or bring Caswell here? Why in two different places?”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Easier, right? All wolves and witches in one place. Everyone now spread out. All over. Far away.”
I didn’t know how to answer.
Thankfully, Gordo did. “You know Caswell. You know Green Creek. Can you tell the difference?”
Gavin frowned before nodding slowly. “Caswell is… strong. Wolves. Witches. Territory is old. Many wolves been there. Could feel them. In the earth. Many different bloodlines.”