At what point did you realize Markus's true nature?

I've got to admit that when the penny finally dropped and I was all "Ohhhhh.... now that makes sense..." that I thought I should have figured it out sooner. For me, I don't think I realized he was truly Pavla's surviving cub/son until his need to visit the prison surfaced.

When Danilo told Markus about his brother who was sick and died Markus said, I'm not sick, I'm fierce. He makes claws out of his hands,bares his small teeth. I am as fierce as a wolf. At this point I thought oh my I bet he is the wolf cub.

When the story states there are children living at the asylum and that Danilo hears the "howls" of their nightmares I though perhaps we will soon read about the cub that may be a changling like his mother.

I'm with kimk. Looking back, it should have been obvious but until his insistence on visiting the prison, it didn't occur to me. Made it a very good twist.

I began to suspect he had some relationship to Pavla when he was continually drawn back to the prison. But to be honest, I must admit I didn't really remember the wolf cub that ran away until he cried out "Momma."

When he fought back so fiercely with the other children at the asylum! Add that to the "howling" I suspected it may be so. When he caught the mouse and ate it once he and Danilo left the asylum - I knew.

I was really slow on catching that. Until his calling his mamma at the prison it really didn't occur to me.

I didn't realize it until Markus wanted to visit the prison and while there he was drawn to Pavla.

I really overlooked that one. Dah! I had to be told! Made for a great twist in the story for me however.

The howls in the asylum made me wonder if a wolf cub would emerge. This was confirmed when he killed the animal...a vole I think
Did anyone wonder if Markus and Danillo were bound because they both loved Pavla?

The howls in the asylum made me wonder if a wolf cub would emerge. This was confirmed when he killed the animal...a vole I think
Did anyone wonder if Markus and Danillo were bound because they both loved Pavla?

I started wondering when Danilo heard the howling while in prison, and later found himself constantly drawn to watch this boy. Danilo was struck by how docile he was until attacked, and then how fierce he was in fighting back. Therefore, so was I. But I wasn't sure any more than Danilo was. The ambiguity is what keeps us reading, I think, throughout this novel. Our expectations are heightened by the "wobbling" back and forth, between what feels real and what is magical, only real in a symbolic sense.

I also became suspicious when he was introduced as a character at the insane asylum & was even more sure when he killed the animal when he & Danilo left the asylum.

There was a point where Danilo says something in passing about the boy's golden eyes. I felt, when I read it, that he was the missing cub. Definitely after Markus caught that rodent in the field.

I agree with Kimk. When he insisted on visiting the prison. I should have figured out before that.

I thought something was up when Markus was drawn to the prison, but I wasn't sure of the connection

I realized who Markus really is when Danilo heard the "howling" of the childrens' nightmares. Danilo's attraction to the boy and the amazing hearing and hunting skills Markus exhibited on their journey confirmed that suspicion.