#Chapter 220 – Hide and Seek

“Come on, Papa!” Ian shouts, grabbing his father’s hand and tugging him out towards the forest.

“Ian,” Victor scolds, digging in his feet and refusing to be pulled forward without a plan. “Come on, you know better than this. A good soldier isn’t going into those woods without a plan.”

Ian frowns at his dad, frustrated at being held back, but he stops tugging. Victor hides a smile at his son’s impulsive spirit, always seeking his next adventure. It was a courageous trait, but one he’d have to learn how to check and balance.

“Okay, then,” Ian says, crossing his arms and looking up at his dad. “What’s the plan?”

Unfortunately, Victor doesn’t have an easy answer for that. Or, frankly, an answer at all. God damn it, but this was a weird trip. He thought it was going to be a matter of heading into the woods, doing a little camping, finding some woman –

But now? Hide and seek with spiritual forces, with his Luna and his child as the prize?

He sighs anxiously, rubbing a hand down his face. What the hell was he supposed to do?

“Papaaaa,” Ian whines, still holding his hand next to him. “Come on – there is no plan. We have to go.”

Victor frowns down at his son. “Son, we can’t just go charging into those trees –“

“Why nooooot,” he whines again, his face going plaintive. Victor opens his mouth to scold him, to tell him to be more disciplined, but Ian speaks quickly. “Come on, papa, what has the forest been telling you so far – have plans worked? Have any of the things you planned to do on this trip lead you anywhere?”

Shocked, a little, at his son’s insight, Victor’s mouth falls open a bit. Because, honestly, Ian is correct. Dead correct, at that.

None of Victor’s plans had worked out. Not on this trip, and frankly, not in his life. His plan, when he’d done everything “right” according to the rules of society – of marrying Amelia, having children with her, quietly controlling his pack, negotiating and following contracts – all of that had fallen apart in his hands.

The only moments that had brought him any real truth or joy had been…well, they’d been the moments when he’d followed his impulses, reacted against societal norms because something in his body or his spirit told him it was right.

That night with Evelyn, for instance, so many years ago – it should not have happened, but it brought him his sons. Then, bringing her back into his life, moving her into the cottage out back, spending more and more time with her – those had been the things that had brought him joy, fulfillment.

Well, they’d also been the things that brought him dangerously close to death. But – in his heart -he knows that this is his best, true path to a good life. That following his impulses did indeed shake apart the foundations of his life with Amelia, but that that life needed to be destroyed, carried away, so that he could live this one.

and realizing that he’s been staring into space thinking for a few moments now. “Okay, Ian,” he says, looking down at his boy.

Ian says, punching a fist into

in his father’s, but stops suddenly and

Ian shouts, rubbing his forehead where it hit

looking around.

steps forward, his hand out,

Or not precisely solid, but, an invisible sort of thickness in

putting his palms against the hardness in the air and pushing with all of his might. But his feet

adamant.

invisible air. “What the hell are we supposed to

quietly, pointing upwards

upwards, looking into the dawn sky. He blinks,

the blue sky. Victor’s first reaction is simply to admire it – it’s a beautiful sight, and so

But…

frowns. “Ian,” he says. “How

says, frowning

a crescent when we left. It should…it

murmurs, looking up at it again. “Maybe it’s just

has to do. He sighs, hanging

it, papa?” Ian asks, looking with a concerned face up

says, looking back up at the sky. “The moon. What do you think

and then he gasps, his face lighting up. “Really!?” He says, thrilled at the prospect. “Really,

can do it?” He

wide with earnest enthusiasm. “Yes, I can do it! I

of their wolf form – the increased senses, the sharper teeth, the ability to grow claws – as a part

handle – fights with other animals, stranded without resources – or because it was just too good to want to come back to the

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