Russel held up a finger to her, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

“Nothing like that, as far as I or my family have seen,” the man said.

The two continued their conversation a bit longer until the ranger decided the person didn’t have anything to contribute and then moved on to the next local. Russel quit paying attention after a while when it became clear no one in Howlton had seen or heard of any werewolves.

“The ranger is asking for information on werewolves but hasn’t been having much luck,” Russel whispered. He turned toward her and did his best to be as inconspicuous as possible. If the ranger got wind of him being a werewolf, they would be in some serious trouble. “Act like you belong here. Don’t draw attention to yourself. We need that ranger to go about their business and leave us alone.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” she said. “She’s a stranger here too. She won’t know we aren’t from around here.”

“Lola?” a voice asked.

Her heart dropped at the sound of her name being called and a wash of fear went through her. She didn’t think anyone from Howlton would have remembered her. She hadn’t been to the town in over six years. Or was it someone from Gloucester? Did they manage to get out before the destruction and slaughter?

Russel was hunching in on himself a bit, forcing himself to remain still even though he wanted to look at whoever had just said Lola’s name.

She turned toward the sound and found a tall and long-limbed boy two or three years older than her staring with evident shock on his face. When she looked fully at him, there was relief in his eyes. His name was Brenner, she remembered. The son of the town’s breadmaker.

“Thank all the gods in hea…,” he started to say but a harsh look from Lola shut him up real quick. She gestured for him to come over, keeping a finger up to her mouth to keep him quiet while he did. He sat down in an empty seat next to her, confusion on his face. “I thought…” He paused a second, as if trying to find the right words. “I thought the worst when I heard what happened.”

“I need you to be quiet, Bren,” Lola whispered, her voice harsh. Insistent.

He looked at her, the confusion deepening.

“Why? What happened?” Brenner’s voice was getting agitated.

Russel reached out and laid a hand firmly on the boy’s forearm. Brenner looked at the strange man.

“Lola is in a lot of danger,” he said. It was clear the boy liked her, maybe even cared deeply for her. He used that insight now to manipulate him. “No one can know she is here, you understand? If news spreads that someone survived, the wolves that destroyed Gloucester will come for her.”

“Who are you?” Brenner asked. He looked at Lola. “Is that true? Are they trying to kill you?”

She didn’t say anything. Instead, she simply nodded her head. Several emotions warred for space inside her.

“And you are what, protecting her? Out of the kindness of your heart?” Brenner looked at Russel, not bothering to hide his skepticism.

Russel was about to respond but the server brought their food. She placed two plates full of steaming piles of meat and potatoes, then placed a loaf of bread between them on a cutting board.

“Oh, hi there, Brenner,” she said cheerily. “Will ya be wanting ale and food too?”

“No thanks, Mary,” he replied. “I’m fine.”

“Ya sure?” Mary asked.

“Yep. Right as rain,” he told her. She smiled at him and then made her way back to the bar. Once she was gone, Brenner looked at Russel. “Who exactly are you, mate?”