Winter fluttered her lashes, amused by the thought. We will find them, Scarlet-friend. They will join us. Your Wolf is proof that they are men, not monsters.

I really wish you would stop comparing them with Wolf. Wolf is different. The rest of them they are monsters. I met Wolfs pack in Paris, and they were brutal and terrible. And that was her special ops, and theyre still mostly human! You cant reason with these monsters any more than you could a a

A pack of wolves?

Scarlet glared. Exactly.

Ryu was my friend.

Scarlet threw her hands into the air. What are you going to do, play fetch with them? You are thinking about this all wrong. They are under Levanas control, or whoever their thaumaturge is. They will do what theyre told, and that will be to eat us.

They were young boys forced into a difficult situation. They did not ask for this life, just as your Wolf didnt ask for it, but they have done what they needed to do to survive. If they are given the opportunity to break their binds of enslavement, I believe they will take it. I believe they will side with us.

Winter heard a distant, low howl, and shivered. Scarlet didnt seem to hear it, though, so she said nothing.

You have no idea whose side theyll take. Theyve been so messed with, theyll side with whoever is offering them a bigger piece of steak. Scarlet hesitated. Whats wrong? Are you hallucinating right now?

Winter forced a smile. Not unless you are a figment of my imagination, but how could I ever be sure one way or the other? So I will go on believing you are real.

Scarlet looked unimpressed with her logic. You know what these men become, dont you? You know they can never be normal again.

I would think that you, of all people, would believe in their ability to change. Wolf changed because of his love for you. Why can they not change also? She started walking again.

Wolf isits not the same. Winter, I know youre used to batting your eyelashes at everyone who walks by and expecting them to fall in love with you, but thats not going to happen here. They are going to laugh at you and mock you and then they are going to

Eat me. Yes. I understand.

You dont seem to be grasping the meaning behind the words. This isnt a metaphor. Im talking about huge teeth and digestive systems.

Fat and bones and marrow and meat, Winter sang. We only wanted a snack to eat.

Scarlet grunted. You can be so disturbing.

Winter hooked her elbow with Scarlets. Dont be afraid. They will help us.

Before Scarlet could mount another argument, a peculiar smell assaulted their senses, sharp and pungent. An animal smell, like in the menagerie, but different. Sweat and salt and body odor mingling in the caves stale air, along with something rank, like old meat.

Well, said Scarlet, I think we found them.

A chill crawled down Winters neck. Neither of them moved for a long while.

If we can smell them, said Scarlet, they can smell us.

Winter raised her chin. Ill understand if you leave. I can go on without you.

Scarlet seemed to consider it, but then she shrugged. Her expression was reckless. Im beginning to think were all going to end up wolf food anyway by the time this is over.

Facing her, Winter cupped Scarlets face in both hands. It is not like you to talk like that.

Scarlet clenched her jaw. They took Wolf and they took Cinder, and as much as I want to see Levana ripped into tiny pieces and fed to her own mutants, I just dont think we have a whole lot of hope without them. She gulped, her resentment clouding over. And I I dont want to see this place. He was trained here too, you know. Im afraid to see what he came from, what he who he was.

He is your Wolf now, and you are his alpha.

Scarlet laughed. According to Jacin, you need a pack to be an alpha.

Jacin. The name brought sunshine and blood and kisses and growls rising to Winters skin. She gave it a moment to sink back toward her bones, before she tilted Scarlets head down and placed a kiss on the top of her flame-and-fury hair. I will get you your pack.

Fifty-Six

They hadnt gone much farther before they detected noise rumbling through the caverns. Low and thunderous, like a distant train. They came to another fork in the tunnel, and while one path led into further darkness and rock and nothingness, the other ran into a set of iron doors. Hinged into the regolith walls, the doors looked ancient. Their sole ornamentation was a faded label painted on the lower corner of each doorSTOREROOM 16, SECTOR LW-12.

A tiny screen had been embedded into the wall beside the doors. It was old and outdated and the text kept flickering. LUNAR REGIMENT 117, PACKS 10091020.

The ground and walls thrummed with activity beyond those doorslaughter and shouting and thumping footsteps. For the first time since shed embarked on this quest, Winter felt a flutter of nervousness in her stomach.

Scarlet glanced at her. It isnt too late to go back.

I disagree.

Sighing, Scarlet studied the screen. Eleven packs, so around a hundred soldiers, give or take.