"Oh no! Nope! Absolutely not!" Macy was yelling, pointing aggressively up the stairs while talking to Sarah as Kim entered. "All the canines who just plan to become humans need to get fully clothed! Their is way too much adult content in this house otherwise!"

  Sarah, currently a massive grey and white wolf, growled playfully at her.

  "No! Bad werewolf!" Macy scolded, not backing down an inch. "Daddy Wolf agrees with me!"

  Daniel was sitting in the armchair, his powerful presence filling the room like pressurized gas. His human form only slightly muted the aura of the Great Storm. The smile on his strong face was small, but it reached his ancient eyes.

  "Go along now, Sarah," Mary said as she came in behind Kim.

  A reluctant Sarah, ran up the stairs two shift. And dress.

  "Macy, my dear," Mary continued, walking over to sit on the arm of Daniel's chair. "As much as my husband seems to find you amusing, please don't raise your voice around the male werewolves. Their hearing is sensitive, and their patience is... variable."

  They touched foreheads for a long moment—a quiet check-in, more than just affection. Kim had learned that touch was the primary language of wolves. When Mary rested her head against his, she was gauging his threat levels, his hunger, and his soul.

  "I'm well, love," Daniel promised, his voice a low rumble as he stroked her cheek.

  She smiled, satisfied, and turned back to mothering mode. "Now, let's talk about who has been giving the Grey Wolves dog food."

  Macy and Shannon exchanged sheepish looks.

  "Well..." Shannon whispered, looking at the floor. "It's good dog food. It’s grain-free."

  In wolf form, Kim padded over to Daniel and touched her head to his. It was a sign of submission and love. Fred, the only pack member brave enough to come inside, hesitated by the door. Daniel waved him over, disarming the wolf's fear by gently stroking his fur and bending to touch his face to the grey wolf's muzzle.

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  "These are wolves, dear," Mary said gently to the humans. "I know when Sarah or Kim are around, they're well-behaved. But if they're hungry and one day you don't have treats... pray one of us is close. Or you could end up as the treat."

  "Sasha wouldn't eat a human, Mom!" Sarah announced as she stalked back into the room, fully dressed and ignoring Macy pointedly.

  "Oh, come on!" Macy complained. "You know I could get in real trouble if anyone spots... well, you know. The full moon isn't a spectator sport for the neighbors!" Kim couldn't help but get a kick out of seeing her quick witted friend tongue tied.

  Sarah jumped into her father's arms, curling up like a toddler. "You didn't have to agree with her!" she scolded him.

  Kim was trying to quietly enjoy the scene from the rug.

  "How come Kim gets a pass?" Sarah pouted, pointing at the white wolf.

  "Kim's still shifted—it's different! She’s currently a rug!" Macy answered, careful with her volume this time.

  Mary sighed, turning to her husband. "Are you sure you're okay, love?"

  He nodded, but even in wolf form, Kim could sense the strain building. The domesticity was nice, but Daniel wasn't built for indoors. She quickly trotted to the next room, shifted back, threw on a robe, and returned to the living room.

  Macy and Sarah had already made up and were teasing Adam about his choice of radio station in the truck.

  "Alright, kids," Mary announced, cutting through the noise. "We need to speak to Kim privately."

  Sarah's eyes lit up. "Come on, let's go, let's go, let's go!" she insisted, grabbing Adam’s hand.

  Macy leaned close to Kim as she passed. "I expect details. If it’s about a boy, code red. If it’s about murder, code blue."

  Kim laughed and pulled her into a quick forehead touch—the same way she did with the werewolves. Despite her childish side, Macy had a wisdom Kim had come to value as much as her humor.Once the room emptied, the air grew heavy.Daniel looked at Kim, his face grave. "It seems once again we must ask much of you, young one," he said.

  "Whatever I can do," Kim said immediately. "I get that you're going to ask me to take care of Sarah for the summer. I'm heading to Eastern Europe for part of it, but that's not until August—I can reschedule."

  Mary shook her head. "It's more than that. We want to be around. We both do. But there's a Skinwalker stirring up trouble. We're going to hunt it down. It may be a while before we can check in."

  Daniel, clearly struggling with the words, added, "Do you recall the wolf from the other night? When we hunted the elk?"

  She nodded.

  Mary continued, "That is our friend, Waglú?e. He leads the Lakota pack. He's a good man—and perhaps the only one on this continent as old as me."

  "He's agreed to check in on you," Daniel added.

  “He won't hunt in these lands. The Lokota have a treaty with the Sasquatches who they refer to as a hidden tribe. Or something like that.” Mary's disdain for the treaty was evident. “Anyway please theirs is food here for him. He can manage humans almost as well as I can.”

  She paused, looking at Daniel, then back to Kim. The warmth left her eyes, replaced by a deep, ancient sorrow.?“Lastly, sweetheart... the reason we talk to you alone is because we have discovered the identity of the Skinwalker.”?Kim waited, her stomach tightening.?“It is Sekwan.

  ”?The name hit Kim like a physical blow. The air left her lungs.?Sekwan. The woman who had practically raised her. The woman she had hugged just days ago.?“No,” Kim whispered, her voice shaking. “That’s... she was just here.”