Lucius had been traveling for the past few days.
He did not search for Malia the way the Blackridge wolves had searched. They had gone through territories asking questions and following rumors. Lucius knew that method could waste weeks.
He searched differently.
He knew forests. He knew how wolves moved between settlements, where travelers stopped, which paths they used, and who was likely to know something.
Most importantly, he knew how to talk to people.
At the first settlement, an old wolf shook his head. “Malia? I haven’t seen her.”
“What about a woman traveling alone?”
“Many wolves pass through here.”
“She would have been carrying herself like someone trying not to be noticed.”
The old wolf thought for a moment. “No. I don’t remember anyone like that.”
Lucius thanked him and
