1 comments/ 7609 views/ 14 favorites What Goes Around Ch. 01 By: Sherrybaby14 Author's Note: Hi! This is sort of a prequel to "All Is Fair", I'm pretty excited about it! You do NOT need to read AIF to know what is going on, but the lore will be the same. I know I hinted towards Andrew's story, but I decided to go in a different direction first. I will try to update regularly, but probably not as often as AIF. Also, the story takes place in the 1830s, so some of the words I use are not really "PC". I debated on this, but thought it was more important to try to keep SOME historical accuracy (I mean some because I am in no way a historian). Happy Reading and as always I love your feedback. ***** The wagon stopped moving. Daphne heard her father continue to yell at the oxen to continue on, but she was certain this time it was a mechanical problem again. She stood up from the bench and stuck her head outside. "Daphne," her father yelled. "Stay inside, you'll get all wet and catch a fever." The rain was coming down in buckets, but after the last several weeks the wagon's covering was warn through anyway. "Not any more wet than I was getting in there," she yelled back as she hoped to the ground. Just as she thought the axel was broken. They did not have a spare. "Daddy," Daphne yelled. "It's the axel, we hit a rock." "Get back in the wagon," he yelled. "I won't lose you too." He was right next to her, shooing her inside. Pangs of guilt hit Daphne. Leaving North Carolina to travel to Oregon was the worst idea her father ever had. They'd already lost her mother and brother to the stomach illness. It wouldn't be fair to leave her father all alone. "We should stay here until the rain stops," Daphne said. "Look at that sky," her father replied. "It's only 4 pm and it's almost black out. This rain isn't stopping. If we stay we will get hit with a flash flood." Daphne glanced at the trail. Her father was right. "Be careful," she said. Her father finally won out and pushed Daphne back into the wagon. She grabbed the map and traced her finger along the trail. The next stop was Soda Springs, but they still had several hundred miles to go. She kept hoping her father would find a place he decided they could stay and set up shop, but she knew him better. They were going to follow the trail all the way into the Oregon Country and possibly even further. She wouldn't be shocked if they ended up at the ocean. A loud crash of lightning flashed through the sky, followed with a quick roar of thunder. Daphne stuck her head back outside. Her father was on his back in the mud, his head underneath the wagon trying to fix the broken axel. "The thunder is too close," Daphne yelled. "Get back inside." "I've almost got it," her father yelled back. Another crash of lighting came down. It was close enough to scare the oxen who took off, just as her father must have secured the axel. Daphne felt like everything was happening in slow motion. The wagon lurched forward and the giant wheels ran over her father. She didn't try to stop the oxen, instead she flung herself from the wagon, slipping in the mud at the process. When she got to her father she kneeled over him and touched his face. "Daddy?" Daphne yelled. "Please tell me you're alright." His eyes were wide open, staring straight up at nothing. His neck was crushed. Daphne knew he was dead, but refused to admit it to herself. She put her head next to his heart, there was no beating, no rising and falling of the chest. The tears started to flow, but the rain picked up again and Daphne couldn't hear her own sobs over the thunder. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The tiny one room cabin was starting to leak. Hugh knew exactly what this meant. If he made the improvements the Alpha would find out and take his cabin away again, pass it on to a more deserving wolf. When the Alpha first told him he was eligible for his own home on the pack lands Hugh started designing his dream home, only to be informed his home was already built. It was the worst, most decrepit building on the property, but Hugh didn't care. They told him he couldn't neglect his duties to fix it up, so he didn't. Instead he used every free minute he hadOn that home. It took several years, but when he was done Hugh had never been more proud of himself. Of course it was short lived. Once word spread around the pack about how fine his home had become it was taken away. "I don't understand," Hugh said. "You're just an Omega," Alpha Garrett said. "And not even a full one at that. What sort of message does that send to the Betas if I allow you to continue living here?" "One that says with hard work you can build your dream home," Hugh said. "More like, I must give that halfbreed Omega too much free time," Alpha Garret replied. "I sacrificed sleep to make this my home," Hugh said. "Worked extra hard so I would have free time, which I devoted to this." "You should be proud of yourself," Alpha Garret said. "You've created a wonderful home for Beta Teller to live. It was like the Alpha knew exactly where to cut Hugh. Beta Teller was the worst, least deserving member of the pack, outside of the Alpha's daughter that is. Hugh chastised himself for these thought, Alpha Garrett was right, it was for the betterment of the pack. Hugh nodded his head. "Grab your personal items," Alpha Garrett said. "Nothing that goes with this house though and I will show you to your new home." Hugh let out a sigh, he was scared he would be sent back to live in the barn, but at least Alpha Garrett was being generous enough to give him a new home instead. That was four homes ago, Hugh learned from his mistakes. No matter how miniscule the fix, there was always a more deserving wolf to take his place, so for now he would have to live with a leaky roof. At least this one was on the edge of their property, and unlikely to attract a new owner in its current state. There were only one hundred and eight members in the Garrett pack, and every single one of them outranked him, so there was no way he could put up a fight with Alpha Garrett's decision. Even though it was raining that didn't mean Hugh had a pass on his duties for the day. He worked for thirteen hours in the elements and the rain left him with a chill in his bones. He threw another log onto the fire and gave the soup he was preparing a stir. He wondered what they were eating at the big house tonight. Probably steaks from the cows he tended too, with bread from the fields he worked. He shook his head at his own bitterness, Alpha Garrett was a good man to take him in. When his mother died, the last thing she told him was to stay with a pack, he had to trust her advice. "A wolf without a pack will go insane," she said right before she died from her broken heart. At least Hugh would never have to worry about that. There was no way his mate was out there, after all, he wasn't a full wolf. How could he ever have a mate? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The rain was getting harder. Pieces of the muddy cliffs around them were starting to break off. Daphne's father's warning about a flash flood was starting to ring more and more likely. She tried to move his body out of the road, but he was too heavy. It felt wrong just to leave him, but if she didn't make it to higher ground she would end up joining him. "Rest father," Daphne said. "Say hello to mother and my brother for me." She closed his eyelids and gave him a kiss on the cheek. When she stood up she almost changed her mind, but noticed the water level on the ground was starting to rise. It almost hit the hem of her skirt. If Daphne wanted to survive she had to get to higher ground. She ran to her right, through the mud and puddles. By the time she reached the nearest embankment the water was almost to her knees. The cliff was taller than her, but being only 5'3" she expected that. The current started to pick up in the makeshift river she was standing in. Daphne tried her hardest to jump and grab on to something she could pull herself out with. Right when she thought all hope was lost her hand grabbed a wild root. She gripped on tight and pulled herself up out of the cold water and on to the wet land above. Her face, dress, and blond curly hair were soaked and covered with mud. She probably looked unrecognizable. Not that there was anyone to see her either way. She needed to keep moving, hopefully find a cave or a large tree she could try and stay dry in until the rain past. There was no use going after her wagon, she was sure it was long gone. Instead of following the trail she decided to move inland, to higher ground. To her death from an Indian or a wild animal would be better than drowning, at least she could have a chance of survival in one of those situations. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Daphne was stopped dead in her tracks as an arrow shot in the ground right in front of her. She spun around, trying to see where it came from. On the hill above her stood a single Indian. Daphne raised her hands in the air, hoping he took it as a sign of surrender. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Hugh's internal clock woke him up well before dawn. He hoped to get out to the fields before the sun rose too high and finish with the spring planting today. Then he had to head to the big house and clean the kitchen, next he had to head into the woods to chop down some trees. The pack needed more firewood. That should take him until dusk to prepare. He poured the rest of his soup from last night and drank it down quickly. Then he pulled on a pair of pants, they were getting baggy again. The physicality of his jobs kept him ultra slim, especially when he wasn't getting enough to eat. He knew that his cheek bones were starting to look hollow and his black hair was overgrown. Maybe he would talk to Alpha Garrett about increasing his rations, or at least having a new pair of pants made. He pulled on his white shirt and headed out for the day. The time in the field went by fast and soon he was in the big house. The Omega cook rolled her eyes when she saw him. "They really shouldn't let you in this house at all," she said. "It's not proper." "I'm only here to clean," Hugh replied. He kept his head down and walked for the broom. "Well since you're here to clean once you're done take the bin of dirty dishes down to the stream and wash those," the cook said. "Yes ma'am," Hugh said. "I swear those blue eyes of yours are a gift from the devil," the cook said. "A reminder of what your mother did." Hugh wasn't about to engage this women in a conversation about his mother. The scent of eggs and bacon was overwhelming. He gave up hope a long time ago that there would be any left over for him. His wolf hadn't accepted that fact yet and continued to claw at Hugh to go and steal some food. Hugh forced his wolf down and started sweeping the floor. "Why don't you look where you're going mongrel?" Hugh looked up to see Nina, the Alpha's daughter, standing right in the middle of the kitchen. Her black hair went down her back in waves, she had too much makeup on, and her bust was sticking out of a red garden dress that looked too fancy for the daytime. "Do you like my dress?" She asked. "Very lovely Miss Garrett," Hugh said. "If you speak to me again I'll tell my father," Nina said. "What are you doing in the house?" Hugh shook his head and continued sweeping. She just gave him permission to ignore her. He couldn't believe they used to be friends when they were little. The life Hugh had in front of him changed the day his mother died. He had only been around for twenty-five years, but to a human he would look about five years old. He hit maturity at fifty, where he resembled 18 and hadn't appeared to age a day over the next thirty years. "Mongrel I asked you a question," Nina said. When Hugh didn't reply again she walked over to the fresh water he had brought in to clean the floor and counters with. Hugh went to grab it out of her hand, but he was too slow, she flung the bucket over him, covering him with water. Then started laughing. The leak in Hugh's ceiling came to mind, then the hunger pain in his gut, and for some reason he knew this was his breaking point. He lunged at the Alpha's daughter and wrapped his hand around her neck. "If you ever had to work a single day in your lazy, over privileged life maybe you could understand a single thing about me," Hugh said through gritted teeth. He knew his blue eyes had turned red. Instead of Nina bringing her wolf to the surface and fighting back, her brown eyes were scared and submissive. "Hugh Benson that is enough," Alpha Garrett yelled. "Put my daughter down." Hugh released his grip on Nina who ran back towards her father and hid behind him. The Omega cook in the kitchen also dropped her head. There was confusion plastered all over Alpha Garrett's face. Knowing Hugh was in for a serious beating he didn't think it could get any worse, so he stormed out of the big house stripping his clothes in the process and shifted into his silver wolf before taking off running through the trees. He didn't even care that those were his only pair of pants. He needed to run free. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Daphne was cold and tired. She didn't put up a fight when the man bound her hands together in front of her and started leading her through the terrain. She didn't speak, mainly because she was so numb and could only picture her father's body, with his eyes wide open. Part of her was angry with him. Angry that he insisted on moving the family out of North Carolina. Sure, it was far from perfect there, but she missed their huge farmhouse and giant tobacco fields. At least in North Carolina they were all alive and together. The man pulling Daphne stopped. She wasn't paying enough attention and walked right into him. He turned around and raised his arm. She flinched expecting a blow, but instead he dropped it and tied the end of the rope he was holding to a tree. He spoke to her for the first time, as predicted it was in a language she didn't understand. The way she looked at the situation either he was tying her to the tree to leave her for the animals to eat, or was going to check something and be right back. Daphne was so exhausted either situation was fine with her. She smiled and nodded and he walked off. Her legs hurt from walking. They moved during the entire night. She hadn't slept in well over twenty four hours. At least the rain had stopped. The sweat had to have washed away some of the mud from her face and hair. Daphne repositioned herself so she could sit down. She leaned back against the tree and forced her mind to go blank as she drifted off to sleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Hugh couldn't remember the last time he ran that far or for that long. It felt exhilarating. Even with no lunch and a minimal breakfast he was filled with energy. Once the sun was started to set he decided it was time to make it back to his cabin. He wouldn't seek out Alpha Garrett for his punishment. He expected a whipping, it had been years since the last one but the memory was enough to keep Hugh from acting out. He changed back into his human form right outside his cabin. To his surprise his pants and shirt were folded right outside the front door. He dressed before walking inside. He was even more surprised at what he walked into. Sitting on his chair was a trey with food. There was a small note pined to the top. It had been years since Hugh had to read anything, but he remembered the words and letters clear as day. I brought you some lunch. I'll be by later with your dinner. Hugh lifted up the cover on the tray to see slices of ham, bread and butter, and cheese. It was all cold, but Hugh was ravenous. He gobbled down all the food in front of him, curious as to who dropped it off. A knock came to the door. Hugh started to wonder if this was some sort of trap, maybe a final meal and Alpha Garret was about to kill him. When he opened the door he was surprised to see the Omega cook standing with another tray. She pushed past him and entered his small cabin. "What are you doing here?" Hugh asked. "I see you ate your lunch," she said. "Are you hungry? I can leave this or take it back and come later making sure it stays warm? Did you find your clothes? I took the liberty of stitching up your pants for you. They looked a little baggy, but I didn't take them in too much because you need to put some meat on your bones." Hugh knew his mouth was open. He didn't know what to say. "I wanted to make your favorite," she said. "But then I realized I didn't know what you liked, then I realized the way I've treated you over the years you probably don't know what you like. So I decided to just make the food I can prepare the best." She lifted the lid off of her tray. It was steak and potatoes. Hugh couldn't remember the last time he had a potato. "Where did you...," Hugh started. "I have my secret stash from when some of the men go trading," the cook said. "Are you not hungry?" "No," Hugh said. "I would love to eat. Thank you Madam Omega." "Please," she said. "Call me June." "Thank you June," Hugh said. He picked up the fork and knife and started cutting away at the steak. He hadn't used utensils in a long time and was a bit rusty. June smiled at him and signaled she would like to help. "It's easier if you hold the knife like this," she said. "And use your fork to hold the meat down while you cut." The way she was helping Hugh was not the least bit condescending. "I don't understand," Hugh said. "Why are you here? Bringing me food? Being nice to me? This morning you insulted my mother and didn't think I should be allowed indoors." "I am so sorry about everything I have ever said to you in the past, every look I have ever given you, every poor word I have used," she said. "May Luna have mercy on my soul for those terrible mistakes. If you give me the opportunity I would be glad to earn your forgiveness and pledge to make it up to you for the rest of my days on this green earth." "Uhhh...sure," Hugh said. "Thank you Sir," she said. "Hugh." June's eyes went big and she nodded her head again. "It is a great honor that you will allow me to use your first name," June said. Hugh dropped his fork and looked at her quizzically. "What is going on?" Hugh asked. "I know you know something, what caused this large change?" "Isn't it obvious?" June asked. "You are..." "The mate of the Alpha's daughter," Alpha Garrett finished as he walked into Hugh's small cabin. The large man had an even bigger smile. He walked over to Hugh and gave him a large hug. "What?" Hugh asked. "I always thought I couldn't have a mate." "We were wrong," Alpha Garrett said. "So wrong. Nina felt it this morning, in the kitchen. She's been going crazy for you all day. Tell me if you heart and head dizzy for her as well?" Hugh hadn't thought much about Nina. In fact his mind spent most of the day with his wolf in the lead and he was more interested in getting as far away from this place as possible than thinking about mates. "No," Hugh said. "No they aren't. I think there must be some mistake." "No mistake," Alpha Garrett said. "Maybe your status is stopping you from feeling the bond. Your human side is blocking it, but trust me when I say that she is feeling the bond enough for the both of you." "This is true?" Hugh asked. "I have a mate." "Actually..." June started. "Silence Omega," Alpha Garrett said. "Stop trying to suck up to the boy. Get out of here and back to the kitchen where you belong." "But...," June started. Hugh watched as his Alpha's eyes turned red and he glared down at June. She let out a little whimper and ran out of the cabin. What Goes Around Ch. 01 "So what do you say you and I head over to the big house, where you and your mate can spend some time together?" Nina was his mate? It didn't make any sense. He hated Nina. She was terrible and a snob. There is no way that Luna would have picked someone like that for him. But he heard all the stories about true love and soul mates over the years assuming that was never in the cards for him. Maybe it was? Maybe it was his defect that was blocking his feelings. Hugh decided it was worth a chance to find out and see. He nodded his head and the Alpha patted him on the back before they made their way to his house. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Someone was lightly shaking Daphne's shoulders, but she didn't want to get up. She let out a groan and hoped they would go away. "I know you must be tired," a sweet voice said. "But you're not far from a warm comfy bed, much better than sitting under a tree." Daphne opened her eyes and the face talking to her came into focus. It was a beautiful woman, with long black hair and large almond colored eyes. Her tan skin accentuated by her brown clothing. All the memories came crashing back to Daphne and she realized her hands were already untied. "You speak English?" Daphne asked. "My name is Katalantia," she said. "But you can call me Kat. What is your name?" "Daphne." "Can you stand up Daphne?" Daphne nodded her head. Kat gripped her elbow and helped her up. There were four men with her, including the one who tied her to the tree. "Where are you taking me?" Daphne asked. "Brooksinos found you," Kat said. "He said you watched your father die and then pulled yourself to safety. It would have been wrong for him to leave such a strong girl to fend for herself." "How did you say his name?" Daphne asked. "I want to thank him." "You can just call him Brooks," Kat said. Daphne walked up to him and bowed her head. "Thank you Brooks," she said. "You're welcome," Brooks replied. "You speak English too?" Daphne asked. "Not well," he said. "You're going to come home with me tonight," Kat said. "I will feed you, get you cleaned up and something to wear. Then you can sleep for as long as you need, then tomorrow you can tell me about your troubles and how to get you back on your path?" "Thank you," Daphne said. "Thank you so much." She felt like crying again, but this time it was with tears of happiness. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* When Hugh approached the big house he started heading around to the back. "Where are you going?" Alpha Garrett asked. "Inside?" Hugh said. "You can come in the front door." The last time Hugh went inside the front door was when his mother was still alive. They entered the main sitting room. On the chairs were Nina and her mother Josephine. Josephine stood up first. "Hugh," she said. "It is so good to see you. You've grown up so big." She walked towards him with her arms wide open, ready for an embrace. Now this was starting to get really weird. The last time Josephine Garrett had spoken to him was on the day that his mother died. Hugh stood over her body, crying and clutching her hand. "That's it," Josephine said. "Your promise is over." "What about her son?" Alpha Garrett replied. "What was the pledge you made to your father?" Josephine asked. "That I would always look out for Amy," Alpha Garret said. "Amy is dead now," Josephine replied. "Not once did you pledge to take care of her halfbreed bastard." "You expect me to toss him out?" Alpha Garrett asked. "Don't be so dramatic," Josephine said. "It's best to start treating him for what he really is. An Omega, a low level one at that. He's probably lower than an Omega. If you let him keep living here with us and playing with our Alpha daughter it will only be harder on him in the long run." Hugh didn't realize they were even talking about him at the time. He assumed it was some other poor little boy whose mother recently died, but later that night he moved out to the barn. He spotted Josephine from time-to-time over the next fifty-five years and she acted like he was a stranger. Before he could back away Josephine caught him in a light embrace. He didn't know what to do with his hands since he had no desire to hug her back. She pulled away and looked up at him with a smile. "You're so tall," Josephine said. "Maybe almost six and a half feet, you should put some weight on. Fill yourself out a little. Of course our Nina is almost six feet tall, so she can keep up with you somewhat." She leaned in and gave Hugh a kiss on the cheek, making him more confused than he was before. "No need to worry," Josephine said. "We have a long time to catch up with one another. Especially once you two are mated." Josephine moved out of the way and Nina stepped forward. The candlelight danced across her face. Hugh expected his wolf to go crazy if she was his mate, but instead he was indifferent. She walked towards him and he noticed she had on even more makeup than this morning. As Hugh was thinking that Nina flung herself forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, smashing her mouth into his. His wolf still gave no inkling that this was amazing, but he didn't seem to mind it either. Hugh felt her tongue trying to break through his lips and he let himself relax. Even though he was seen as an outcast in the pack that did not mean this was his first kiss. Lots of the girls thought he was attractive and would come visit him in the fields or at his home. He always imagined they had some fantasy about angering their fathers. This kiss did not feel any different from any of those. "We will let you two get some privacy," Josephine said. "We know how mates can be when they first encounter each other." Hugh assumed that meant the two older wolves would leave the room, but Nina grabbed his hand and started dragging him up the stairs. They rounded them until the top floor, where the Alphas and a few select Betas had their rooms. Nina stopped at the second door on the left and opened it up. She set the candle she was carrying down on the dresser, Hugh noticed the room was large, larger than his entire cottage. Before he could think anymore Nina pulled him by the hand and threw him down on the bed before jumping on top of him and kissing him some more. He noticed her hands moving and saw she had pulled the top of her dress down. Then she grabbed each one of Hugh's hands and placed them over her, squeezing his fingers for him. She was more than a handful, but something about this felt so wrong. "Wait," Hugh said. "Stop." He turned his head to the side so she would stop kissing him. Nina seemed to pick up on his cues and stood up from the bed. "This doesn't feel right to me," Hugh said. Bathed with a single candle Nina nodded her head. She reached behind her and pulled a ribbon. The rest of her dress dropped to the floor. This was a first for Hugh. She reached for his pants and started to unbuckle them. "I mean," Hugh said. "You're beautiful, but if you're my mate I think we should wait." "I am your mate," Nina said. It was the first words she had spoken. They weren't filled with love or assurance, or even lust. Instead they were more of an order. For the first time all night Hugh's wolf wanted to come to the surface and snap at her. "Do not bark orders at me," Hugh said. He was shocked at his outburst. Nina seemed to get the idea though. She dropped the buckle on his pants as well as her head. Hugh felt bad. It wasn't her fault he wasn't feeling the bond. "What if we just lay here instead?" Hugh asked. "We could talk a little." "I am awfully tired," Nina said. "I was so worried about seeing you again today that I think I rattled myself." "Then no talk," Hugh said. "I should head back to my cabin." "Please stay," Nina said. "Please?" "Sleep in your bed with you?" Hugh asked. "I want...need to be close to you," Nina said. "I suppose that is alright," Hugh said. He pulled the covers back and Nina climbed in, not bothering to put any of the clothing back on. She snuggled up to Hugh and he awkwardly draped his arm around her. He never thought he would have a mate and he was starting to think he still never would. ~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~ "Your tribe is so big," Daphne said. "Is that the right word? Tribe?" "Yes," Kat said. "We are one of the largest in the area." "Probably the whole continent," Daphne said. "And you're the leader?" "My father," Kat said. "But he is getting older and I am taking on more and more responsibility." "My father was the same way," Daphne said. "I mean, he didn't care that I was a girl. He taught me how to shoot, care for our crops, defend myself, but the downside is I'm not very good at sewing or cooking." Daphne loved the dress they had given her. It was the same brown material as Kats, and it showed off a lot more of her skin that her previous dress had. Her arms were practically bare and the hem stopped just below her knees. She wore a belt that cinched at her waist giving the look a very feminine feel. Daphne slept better here than she had since leaving North Carolina. "I am sorry about your family," Kat said. "Thank you," Daphne said. "You know what I feel worse about? I left my father's body. He was dragged off in the flood. I didn't get the chance to bury him. "I believe it is more important to him that you are still alive than honoring his body," Kat said. "He wasn't there anymore. His spirit went on." "That is a beautiful thing to say," Daphne said, and she meant it. "Now about your plans," Kat said. "Would you like to go on to Oregon or back to North Carolina?" "Neither," Daphne said. "I don't have anyone anywhere. The closest city is probably the best bet for me." Kat gave a frown. "I'm only saying that because I don't want to impose on you, any more than I already have," Daphne said. "Don't even make any special trips for me. Just when the next person heads out close enough to a village I can go with?" "I'm sure something can be worked out," Kat said. "Come out with me. I will introduce you to my father. If you're going to stay with us for a while we will have to put you to work." Daphne smiled, and followed Kat out of her structure. She read stories about Indians but these people were not what she expected at all. These were nice caring people who did so without reason. It made her sick to think about the stories she had read. People looked at Daphne and whispered. Her blond hair and fair features made her stand out pretty bad. They stopped walking and Kat tapped on the door to a building twice. Someone responded in another language and Kat walked inside. Seated on the floor was an older woman. She had supplied in front of her, but Daphne didn't know what any of them were. Kat and her spoke for a moment, then signaled for Daphne to take a seat. "This is my grandmother," Kat said. "She is very spiritual." "Like your tribe's minister?" Daphne asked. "No," Kat said. "More like the tribe thinks she's looney, but I believe her. She has led me to good luck in the past. I wanted her to see you." The older woman started to talk in the other language. Kat started to answer back. Then the woman started repeating one word over and over again. "What is she saying?" Daphne asked. "Sorry," Kat said. "She must not be herself today. Maybe she needs more sleep." "But what is she saying?" Daphne asked. "She's saying 'wolf'," Kat said. "As in I'm a wolf? Like I'm going to hurt you?" Daphne asked. "I wouldn't worry too much," Kat said. "Let's go meet my father." The older woman kept chanting the word at Daphne even until they were outside the door. "Please do me the favor of keeping that to yourself," Kat said. "I am sure my father will be pleased to meet you, but he tends to believe my grandmother as well. I don't want to put any ideas in his head." "I promise not to repeat it," Daphne said. She couldn't understand why the woman was chanting that anyway. There was nothing wolflike about Daphne at all. She would never try to harm anyone settled here.