Read Online The Hunter's Moon (The Secret Warrior Series) by Beth Trissel - Free Book Online Page B

How could he possibly guess at this?
    Still no hum of conversation buzzed around her. Apparently, they were breakfasting, then talking. Every action was decreed by Okema. She sipped her coffee, not bad, and nibbled corncakes. If she weren’t a nervous wreck, she’d enjoy the food. Cooking over burning logs and hot coals really did make it taste better.
    The clink of cutlery and crackle of the fire were companionable. Now and then, Jackson caught her eye. He seemed to want to tell her something, but refrained, and she wasn’t risking the slightest whisper. He’d have to communicate in some extra sensory way, or the ultrahigh frequency sound waves used by bats.
    Nix that. Okema would probably pick up on it.
    Finally, he laid down his fork. She hadn’t cleaned her plate but did the same. Finished or not, everyone in the circle stopped eating. Then Okema fixed his silvery eyes on the gathering, shifting his gaze from person to person, probably accessing their souls.
    He waved his lined hand at Morgan. “You see what she is?”
    Tension seized her, and she joined Okema in searching faces. Willow and Hawthorne seemed uncertain. Her inner wolf must be invisible to them. She’d anticipated the glint of knowledge in Peter and Buck’s eyes. Oh, yeah. They knew.
    Jimmy hadn’t a clue.
    “She is a Morcant.” Okema bent toward the boy. “Your clan from the old days,” he explained, in a gentler tone. “You are also Morcant, but a male. The females are far more lethal.”
    Jimmy eyed Morgan dubiously, then regarded the chief as if this superior being were mistaken, implausible as that might seem. “Lethal? Not unless you give her an Uzi and aim her in the right direction. Morgan likes to draw, watch movies, and text friends on her phone. Inside stuff. She can’t shoot a bow, or anything you think Morcants can, sir,” he added, politely.
    “Okema,” he corrected. “Your sister will soon change. For this, she must learn new skills. She does not belong in the kitchen, but outdoors training to be a warrior woman.”
    Jimmy considered. “You must really need help bad here.”
    A slight smile crossed Okema’s aged countenance. “Indeed. You will also train. Jackson and Hawthorne will aid you both.”
    “No school?” Jimmy brightened.
    “For you, some of the time.” Okema fixed his inscrutable gaze on Morgan. “For her, not until she has mastered much.” He leaned near and spoke in her ear. “I know what you saw. Feel your fear. You must master this beast and join the Wapicoli in our battles. The Panteras will attack you and your brother at their first opportunity. They would destroy us all.”
    “Why all of you? Are you also witnesses?” she whispered.
    “Not as you, yet we have seen much. The Panteras are longtime enemies of the Wapicoli. And the Morcants. They killed your parents.”
    A tidal wave of incredulity swept over her. “It was an accident.”
    “The truth was hidden from you. They also killed Jackson’s mother and grandfather. They have slain many.”
    Too stunned to reply, she opened and closed her mouth.
    “You can never go back into witness protection. Your only hope lies here.”
    She found her voice. “What if the government sends out agents to find us?”
    “They will. And shall find your burned-out vehicle. If this fails to satisfy them as to your fate, we cannot allow them to take you.”
    She read the truth in his timeless gaze, like the sheen of stars in the heavens. “Then here we stay. With your aid.”
    He nodded his approval. “In return, you will pledge your allegiance to the Wapicoli.”
    “Agreed.”
    Jimmy looked questioningly from one to the other.
    She spoke again to Okema. “I think you had better tell him, too. He’s very smart.”
    “Morcant males are always clever,” he said under his breath. “They must be to protect themselves from the females,”
    As she’d feared.
    He inclined his head. “Very well. Jimmy Morcant, prepare to hear much you will not