Danners

Oooh, Arric confirmed that Shea’s wolf already considers Cyn a pack mate — well, a mate mate, really — and seems to agree. The anticipation of the deer officially being welcomed, having a home, roots, has me buzzing with excitement. I’m glad the investigation is moving forward and smoothly at this point. Kieran remains adorable.

Casting Eike aside (and down a flight of concrete stairs) for a moment, let’s talk about the ... uh, lagothrope? Er, the werebunny. So many questions! How big of a bunny does one become? As humans do they excel at track and field because they’re swift and agile? Are they swift and agile and what other traits are common to the species? I hope we see more of these shifters beyond satisfying the sick, predatory yearnings of Eike’s group. (My undying gratitude to you if a scrappy young bunny shoves a carrot up the lieutenant’s ass.)

I don’t know ... I’d do the cutting with surgical steel so Eike’s flesh heals and is ready for a fresh carve. Eventually he goes into shock and can be stabilized, and then another trip to the butcher shop. Rinse and repeat until he begs to be put down. (Bonus points of he’s made to eat his own bait and tackle.) Or let him loose in a controlled environment and repeatedly make him run for his life. Never kill him but make him hurt, scared, and weak until the very end. Reminding him that, even though he’s at the top of the food chain, he’s still someone’s prey, would have a profound impact on someone like Eike. What’s the worst way for a werewolf to go? Slowly and painfully. If this doesn’t give you an idea of my opinion of Eike, I can get more creative. Hehe.

Way to hit Rita where it hurts! Good for Rick on all fronts. He’s finally starting to push back. Getting the best of Rita (for now) was a good start and then coming out to Jerry, who gets his own gold star for accepting his friend’s sexuality without missing a beat. I hope Rick isn’t planning to use Irene as a means to come out to Heinrich Senior, but getting her on the same page where Rita’s plot is concerned is an excellent idea. With the business and his dad’s money tied up in the bogus LLC, it seems like a great time to strike out on his own with the other remaining long term employee. Of course, Gus and Zoltan notwithstanding, I’m picturing Rick bringing a beau to and making one hell of a toast at Rita and Willy’s wedding reception. What a lovely fantasy. After this chapter especially, with Rick temporarily bolstering his self-confidence with anger, I’m so excited to find out what happens next! It’s about time he got angry — really angry — and stirred up some shit instead of flushing it.

I knew I liked Kieran. Being overlooked and underestimated is a powerful position and rightfully not considered most of the time. As scribe, and possessed of an eidetic memory, he’s far more capable than anyone knows. That he comes as a bumbling idiot is the cherry on top. I’m so glad that the more Sheamus settles into his new role, the stronger he’s pulled toward his mate. He’s even more protective of Cyn. Leads me to believe an Enforcer’s duty to protect the pack is as much spiritual as it is a part of the job description. Which also means he’s already beginning to consider the deer a part of the pack. Cyn is growing as well. He was innocent in the beginning of the story but also a little bit stunted. The closer he gets to his mate and the more accepted he becomes, the less ... hmm, conflicted ..?.. he seems to be. It’s like being afraid and without purpose keeps cernunnos from reaching their full potential, but Cyn has found a purpose (more than one, really) and it’s bringing out the best in him. If nothing comes of this search, at least they have a handful of new/old allies in on the mission and several additional targets associated with the tracking team to investigate. Any lead is a good lead. Next chapter, please!

This story was a mountain range of highs and lows, emotional peaks and worrisome valleys. It was a story still with the human elements — fully fleshed out characters, flaws and all — highlighted above the supernatural and not outdone by the scorching sex scenes. You kept us wondering and wandering alongside your protagonists and what a satisfying journey it was. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Mister Mann. I can’t help wanting more. Even though this is a perfect beginning to end their story on, I can’t help wanting more of Jimmy, Sawyer, Jada, and their new pack. Maybe you’ll indulge us with the adventures of college bound Andy and Matt? Eh? Well done. Fucking well done.

Zoltan needs a Power Ranger to take him down a notch. Poor Rick! All that work on his self-esteem, the improvement in his self-image, his one glimpse of hope — undone by one miserable, greedy little man. I hope Gus threatens to quit music altogether if he isn’t at least allowed to speak to Rick. Then again, seems like the damage is already done ... What matters now is how much Gus is willing to do to repair it.

I’m not totally convinced Kieran is a turncoat unless he is, by nature and by blood, a were-weasel. His mind is sharp, sure, but I’m unconvinced that alone would be enough to foil Arric’s test. Devil’s Advocate: Being the scribe, he’s privy to transcripts, logs, and possibly recorded messages, so it isn’t out of the question he’d be able to piece together evidence that one of the traitors was sent out and didn’t return. Eike was pulling rank and issuing his own orders pretty blatantly, after all. Or he could’ve received covert information from the “runt” involved with Eike’s team. Now, if young Kieran did manage to foil the Alpha’s test, I suppose one could cheat as with a lie detector test — tack in your shoe, self-hypnosis, that sort of thing. Pair that with noise canceling ear plugs and you’d muffle much of that terrible growl, and Kieran did seem to be ..: mmm, distracted? Oh, I suppose that opens the door to an actual ear piece with Eike on the other end. Or drugs, I suppose, but really, dosing a werewolf? Here’s hoping he isn’t the sociopathic mastermind behind Eike’s rebellion or a sociopath in general, only able to mimic emotions and not feel them himself. Actually, I kind of hope he is so Shea can teach him all about feeling ... pain. Never a dull moment in this neck of the woods! Love it.

Amazing that a simple promotion could have such a profound effect on Shea’s wolf. The change also seemed to help clarify the new Enforcer’s feelings for Cyn or at least gave him the wherewithal to speak them aloud. He staked his claim: he means for the deer to be his mate. I wonder what effect this might have on Cyn’s deer down the line. Being part of a pack is a spiritual, mystical thing and, unlike the mercurial bond between Cernunnos, one’s station leaves an indelible mark. When he joins Arric’s pack, even just as Shea’s chosen mate, I can only hope his soul blooms — both from the bond and because he’ll have someone to call home.

D’oh! Excellent point. There goes that theory.

Could also be that Maddie suppressed her wolf before she got pregnant and thus conceived a human child. Or a mostly human child whose powers remained dormant until bitten. (Maybe she lost her pack and put her wolf to sleep to avoid needing to find another.) Beyond the magic of it all, lycanthropy — the bloodline trait — may be passed on through the Y chromosome. Human father, human child. Lycan father, lycan child.

Attaboy, Sheamus! Now enforce some smooches on your boyfriend before he’s surrounded by strange wolves who may or may not want to take his life. Something tells me Cyn will find himself speaking before the council, whether or not he’s first sequestered in a room upstairs, and he’s going to need all the support he can get. Eike is attempting a real coup here. Hopefully he isn’t stupid — smart? — enough to blitz a council meeting in an attempt to eliminate the opposition. Actually, scratch that. Let him come. Enforcer Farren needs something to do.

I love that this was the complete opposite of the bite that turned Sawyer in the first place. This was filled with love and compassion, not predation and violence. Jimmy’s pack being set upon a foundation of acceptance seems fitting since all he wanted was to belong again. Also that its members are physically connected through Sawyer, spiritually through Jimmy. Maddie will make a powerful Beta, one who can advise her Alpha as one should instead of the shock trooper Grainger was to Fergus. (Or, as I’m gonna posthumously dub him, Ferget-us.) Oh, and I look forward to the flood of power that’s about to wash over Sawyer now that he, his wolf, and the moon are connected in full. That sense for magic he had should sharpen with age and experience, so perhaps they have a pack shaman on their hands.

Something tells me Irene’s anger and the numerous congratulatory messages are about Rita and Rick being in business together. Either Rita partnering with the plumbers or signing them exclusively for work on her new development. I’m guessing it’s business related because I refuse to accept her laying any kind of claim to Rick socially. Especially when Rick publicly rebuffed her. Constantly. Unerringly. Bluntly. I mean, if she did imply she and Rick are in bed together — meaning business but allowing for the implication of sex — I can only hope someone has the good sense to invite her home for a quiet, intimate dinner . . . and then feed her a hand grenade. Or a chainsaw. Whatever it is, it can’t be good. Rick, Gus — we’re rooting for you!

Granger was driven. He was also strong-willed and strong-willed individuals are able to resist or ignore an Alpha’s call. Doris was also unaffected, being the wife of the former Alpha and a force to be reckoned with herself. Oddly enough, I bet Jada and Sawyer would’ve resisted too had it come to that. Jada because she’s a top who has no interest being a bottom and Sawyer because he’s lived with temptation every day since rehab and resisted.

I love that Shea seems to teach Cyn a new way of expressing his feelings and companionship every day. When they’re out of danger — what I assume is a rifle in the hands of a hunter or a turncoat — and building a life together, exploring their relationship, I can only hope the trend continues and Shea never runs out of ways to show Cyn how much he cares. Speaking of teaching: I wonder if Cyn could eventually teach Shea and/or his team how to slow and silence their shifting. As invaluable as it is for a cernunnos, for a lycan tracking team it would provide an edge in the field. Plus, any advantage a wolf of Arric’s has is a feather in the alpha’s cap and a point of pride setting him above the rest. Pardon me for ending on a crass note, but when they started off with Shea behind Cyn, I couldn’t help thinking, “Great, now all he’s gonna do is follow the bouncing balls.” Snort. Another fun chapter.

Maddie the mama wolf, huh? Interesting. I love it. It certainly explains how blasé Maddie is about this whole experience and why she was prickly where Jimmy was concerned. Not to mention the spilled perfume to mask her scent in the living room, where Jimmy would’ve smelled something fishy — wolfy? — coming from the sofa cushions, throw pillows, etc. Her being purebred is fascinating to me. From her attitude I don’t think she is an Alpha, though she may be an alpha female of considerable power and knowledge. She was wise enough to surround herself with a surrogate pack of dogs, can (essentially?) lull her wolf to sleep, and seemed well-versed in wolf magic/lore. My gut instinct is she fell in love with a human, Sawyer’s father, and chose to suppress her wolf in order to live among humans. Or, if she got pregnant by a human and then gave birth to a human, her only choice was to raise Sawyer as a human herself or put him up for adoption. (Unless I blanked on Sawyer being adopted, in which case ignore this.) Hopefully she can guide Jimmy in fully awakening Sawyer’s wolf. Jada’s too if/when the time comes. I’m literally vibrating with excitement! After this and last week’s chapters, you know Mann’s got a hell of a reveal planned.

My guess? Jimmy wasn’t using it on them. His sole intent was countering the mind control Fergus used on the pack, so his howl attacked the sound itself and while painful and dissonant to the members of his pack, it didn’t call to their wolves. It seemed like Fergus’s pack had a certain chord that affected them, one that was unique to them. Fergus knew it instinctively because they were his. He didn’t know which one would affect Jada and Sawyer because his ego never allowed him to consider the need to sway ferals or strays that way. They were put down or physically forced to submit, respectively. Or maybe Jimmy is simply the wilier wolf. Whatever the case, the struggle between Jimmy and Fergus took center stage and what an epic battle it was.

Boy, this chapter was a sweet one. I’m happy for the couple. Cyn got to see the side of his boyfriend he and others of his kind instinctively avoid, and he didn’t flinch once. Sheamus got to show of his coat and his howl, two points of pride for a wolf. On a more intimate level, wolves are social and tactile animals and petting — grooming — is a way mated pairs bond. This certainly brought the couple closer together. (We’re one step closer to Cyn rolling around on a wolf skin rug! Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.) The deer is a brave one to be sure but I’m glad it’s his feelings for Sheamus that allowed him to be strong. For a guy who’s walked a lonely road for most of his young life, having someone to care about (and who cares about him in return) is more important than ever. Arric and Walter joining the hunt, eh? Eike better take a heike! (I’m so sorry.)

Oh ho ho, the plot thickens. Cyn’s bravery runs truer than any of the lycan know. All it takes is for one cernunnos to take a stand, to stop running and stand side by side with a wolf. He really could be the face of a movement. (Of course, in order for the movement to be communicated, they’d have to carve his likeness into trees and take out ads next to old country roads . . .) I know Cyn wants to remain by Sheamus and on one level that works, strategically speaking. No better way to draw out Eike and his followers. On the other hand, though, it will draw out Eike and his followers and keeping Cyn safe will be next to impossible in the field. However, if Cyn could tap his own kind and their herds, he’d easily be able to help track the wolves’ movement. After all, prey animals are far more alert of their hunters’ whereabouts because their survival depends on it. I’m torn and I bet Arric will be too. While Sheamus’s first instinct is to protect his boyfriend, the pack Alpha must weigh all the options. Walter too. This chapter was as delightful as the ones preceding it. I especially love Cyn teaching the lycans a thing or two in the kitchen (while demonstrating keen observation and tactile strength). Wasn’t sure about Walter at the end of the last chapter but he won me over along with Cyn. I hope we see the tracking team add another member soon. For all the gentleness of Cyn’s soul, we must remember that an adult buck can gore and kill an adult wolf in the defense of itself and its herd.

Well, on the plus side, if Gus is threatened with deportation, something tells me Rick won’t hesitate to propose marriage. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that — well, not like that anyway. This chapter had me smiling and chuckling over how Rick and Gus somehow transformed their boating disaster and a trip to the doctor into a date . . . sort of. Just goes to show it’s the person you’re with and not what you’re doing that truly makes a day special. Oh, and ICE needs to chill. Seriously.

Survivor’s guilt is so terrible. No one should feel that their life should be over, least of all because of circumstances beyond their control. The deer is such a gentle soul, full to the brim with compassion, and seeing him crushed breaks my heart. At least Sheamus is there to offer comfort on the pillow of his chest, understanding from a place of deep caring (bordering on love, I think) for Cyn, and much needed support in the circle of strong arms that will gladly hold him and never let go. More importantly, I think, he is probably the only person who can convince the cernunnos he deserves this second chance. There are a handful of others who can help give Cyn’s life new meaning — y’know, beyond that of an aimless nomad — but Sheamus is now and will be at the heart of the matter. As for who leaked Cyn’s hospital stay, my money’s on the doctor. There’s a reason Cyn’s instincts told him to flee from that man from the get go and not only because he was a deer surrounded by lycans. Prey animals are surprisingly good judges of character, needing to assess not only the most obvious threat but the best concealed. Or the cook who slapped together salads in a hospital operated by carnivores. Speaking of which, do you suppose a lycan cafeteria offers agar instead of cherry jello? Yet another compelling chapter. I’m looking forward to the intrigue of what’s looking on the horizon with Eiche and his wolves in sheep’s clothing. If Arric is this suspicious, the threat of betrayal must be very real.

The first thing I want Fergus or whichever lackey steps inside Maddie’s home to see is the owner standing firm, shotgun in hand, finger squeezing and ... I have to agree with the other comments about Maddie spilling her perfume being hinky. She seems neither the nervous nor the clumsy type, and she certainly wouldn’t waste good perfume without reason. And in the kitchen? That being said, there may be a more mundane reason behind it — covering up the smell of pot, for instance, or masking the gin sweats. Or Miss Maddie is a witch or a sensitive who used conveniently spilled perfume to cover the lingering scent of bones. In which case, when that door opens, I’d instead love to see ...

Arric is correct in his assessment of Cyn’s strength. Simply by being who he is, our dear, sweet Cernunnos has the power to influence a nation, just like he’s charmed the handful of lycans he’s met. I can’t wait to run alongside Cyn and share in his elation. You paint his view so vividly, it’s impossible not to imagine these scenes firsthand. The idea of the marathon does give me pause though, since it will be a security nightmare. One wrong turn, one moment out of sight, around a corner, and Cyn could find himself running a very different sort of race. Also, I couldn’t help but giggle when Arric thought about Cyn and Shea coupling because, in my mind, it lead to A lycan and cernunnos coupling will strengthen the governing laws across our pack and the nation, and hey, even if they can’t get pregnant, nothing’s stopping them from trying!

A tip from the frozen north: windshield washer fluid in a spray bottle. Quickest way to loosen hard-to-scrape ice on your side windows. Vodka works too but why waste good alcohol?