My hackles remain bristled, lips lifted to bare teeth stained with her own blood in my defeated opponent's face. The tone of her voice begs for reaction, for the snapping of teeth and rage fueled responses. But I’ve always been smart, quick to pick up on the ploys of others. She would not bait me into attacking her again, or losing my temper. ”You’ve made many mistakes in your assumptions about me and my pack - I suggest you not do it again,” I said in response to her grousing about being no one to me, just another name on a list. I had to quite literally keep myself from rolling my eyes. For all her talk about my family’s history, she clearly didn’t know a thing about us. ”Perhaps you are losing your hearing in your old age, Hietala - I asked you, who are you to speak against my family and our history? You have clearly been misinformed, and perhaps I should trace it back to the source and prune it once and for all.”

Once more she tried to goad me, clearly seeking some reaction, but I would never give her the satisfaction. At this point I had grown tired of her antics, for it seemed sarcasm and baseless insults were her only true form of weaponry. Perhaps she would like a taste of her own medicine? Maybe she was easier to provoke than me. ”I have no reason to keep you here, you’re of no use to me. Go, leave this place. Isn’t there someone you’re looking for? Emily, was it?” I intentionally mispronounced the name I had heard her whisper, promising a reunion. It felt a little sickening, using her own ploys against her. Not my style, nor my taste. Duly noted for the future.

I turned my attention to the other wolf, Ash was it? He hadn’t introduced himself, and Hietala had been cut off. ”So, if she’s some fallen ice queen, what does that make you?” My tone was much easier on him, genuinely curious. Whatever feud there was between them, if I’d had to spend any years dealing with this wretch on a day to day basis, I’d be a miserable wolf indeed. ”She goes, but you can stay - if you’d like. My scouts and warriors - and I myself,” I threw a pointed stare in Hietala’s direction, before turning back to the boy, ”will make sure she never crosses the border again. So if you need a break from her, this might be the best place to take it.” I shrugged. He’d offered his life in exchange for hers, taking the blame for this event upon himself. Clearly he had a sense of loyalty - however warped by his interactions with Hietala - and other qualities that redeemed him from his connection to her. Maybe it would be worthwhile to keep him around for a bit.