I did. Hasan was ancient, and the likelihood he got anything wrong was low. It helped he was there when it happened. “The end agreement was simple. If we wanted the wolves to stop hunting us because we started the war, then we needed to give them something back. We’re viciously protective over something we consider ours, and they used that. Now, we’re not allowed to meddle in werewolf politics. We must also uphold the Duty to protect any human at threat through no fault of their own from supernatural species. It doesn’t matter the threat; it doesn’t matter the human. If a human approaches a werecat and gives me the ritual request for me to defend them, I do.” I sighed.
“Do you know how the war started? I mean, you just said werecats did it…”
“No. No one has ever told me exactly how the war began, only the Laws we were left with. And the Laws aren’t just for werewolves and werecats. The other big species all sat down as well, or sent representatives for the collective. Like the fae. There are hundreds of types of fae, but we look at them like a collective. There’s Laws covering everyone.” I shrugged. “There you have it. The Laws. Do you see why I can’t help your father? I’m sure he’s a nice man.” Not really, but I knew I needed to make her feel good. “I just can’t break an eight hundred year peace for one werewolf. I can’t do it.”
“I understand,” she whispered, pulling her legs up to her chest.
The drive to Walmart was a short one and I got out before her, scanning the parking lot. There were no other supernaturals in my territory, no other predators that needed to be handled, but my own instincts drove me to even look at humans as possible threats. That wasn’t a bad thing either. Every supernatural species employed humans. Normally it was for simple tasks like accountants and lawyers if the supernatural didn’t have those skills or the time, but sometimes it was for dirty business.
Dirty business like capturing a little girl to use as a hostage, or worse.
“Come on, Carey,” I said, thumping the hood of my hatchback as I walked around to her side. I got the door for her and closed it behind her, playing the perfect bodyguard. “What kind of style do you have? Anything in particular? We can also pick up some groceries—”
“You don’t need to try and be my friend,” she mumbled.
“You think I’m trying to be your friend?” I began to chuckle and it broke into a full out laugh as we walked across the parking lot. “Eleven-year-olds are not my friends. I’m trying to make this easier on you. There’s no reason for you to starve while under my protection. There’s no reason for you to do anything except hope your father is going to show up, okay?” I looked down at her, suddenly sad for her again. “Let me try to do this for you. You aren’t the only person out of your comfort zone here.”
“My dad might be dead,” she muttered, crossing her arms as we walked. “He might be dead. My brothers might be dead, and…”
I saw the tears come and reached out for her, wrapping an arm over her shoulder. Gently, I pulled her to me and let her hide her face in my side as we walked. It was all I could do.
Grabbing a cart, I took us to her section for clothing first and waved over it. “Pick enough out for a week,” I ordered gently. “This shouldn’t last too much longer than that.” I hoped, anyway.
She did as I asked, going to the racks and just taking things off, her eyes lacking any sort of spark of light. There wasn’t anything I could do about that, no matter how much I wanted to. Seeing her, all I wanted was to go to the city and find her father and deposit him at her feet. I wanted to find the wolves that ripped this family apart and left this girl in my care, alone, possibly forever.
I couldn’t even ask for updates, though. It would appear to be meddling. I couldn’t find out anything for her, and I didn’t feel comfortable with giving her a cellphone and having her talk to anyone. She needed to stay clear of everything too if this was going to be safe.
I should have paid more attention to my surroundings, but I