by E.J. Stevens
Ugh. This was real y not helping my headache, which was starting to feel like demons were trying to claw their way out of my head…through my eyes.
“What now?” I asked, rol ing my eyes and immediately wishing that I hadn’t. I had to dig my fingernails into my palm to keep from whimpering. Never show any signs of weakness in front of the J-Team. Not if you want to survive high school.
“What now?” Jay asked sarcastical y. “What do you think, Freakazoid? Students are dying, that’s what’s what.”
“Yeah, I heard,” I said, staring him in the eye. It was a difficult thing to achieve, since Jay was like six feet tal and I was barely five-one, even with my awesome purple boots on, but I was determined not to back down from a thug like Jay. “In fact, the entire school heard when principal Anderson made the announcement this morning. What does it have to do with me?”
I was losing patience and having to hold my breath, since Jay had leant in threateningly and was now close enough that I could smel the tuna sandwich he had for lunch. So gross.
“Like you don’t know,” he snarled.
“Actual y, I have no idea,” I said. “We’re done here. I have to get to class”
I started walking toward class, but Jared, the other half of the J-team, blocked my path. I should have known that Jay wouldn’t have threatened me without back-up.
“You’re not going anywhere, Witch,” Jared said, grabbing the strap of my backpack.
This was bad. Really, really bad. While Jay and I had talked, the hal way had cleared of other students. Everyone else had gone to class.
Al except for Cal, who stepped confidently out of the shadows like a knight in shining armor.
“Yes, she is,” said Cal.
Cal looked calm and unthreatening with his hands hanging loosely at his sides, but I knew him wel enough to know that he was at his most dangerous. Well, for his human form anyway. Cal may have looked relaxed, but he was actual y coiled to spring in any direction with supernatural speed and strength.
Jay and Jared smirked, seeing only a new victim to torment. They didn’t know that Cal was in incredible shape and had the advantage of his werewolf abilities. He was also real y ticked off. Not good.
Jared pul ed me closer and Jay sneered, taking one step closer to Cal.
“Wel , wel , if it isn’t the witch-loving hippie,” Jay said.
“Let her go,” Cal growled.
He was staring at Jared, who stil held the strap of my backpack in his vice grip. Cal’s wolf must have shown in his eyes because Jared trembled behind me. Jay wasn’t as perceptive.
“Why should we do that?” Jay taunted. “What are you gonna do about it? Spray us with patchouli or chant some heathen prayer?”
Jay smirked and puffed out his chest. I saw the wild beast stalking him behind Cal’s eyes, but apparently Jay was clueless. He stil seemed to think that they were winning. I would have felt bad for him if he wasn’t such a jerk.
Cal may have had the upper hand, but I was worried about him nonetheless. He had gained an amazing amount of control over his wolf spirit in just a few short months, but that didn’t mean that he had mastered it completely. If Cal became too enraged, his wolf spirit could take over and he would transform. Cal could risk exposing his secret and jeopardizing the pack’s safety. All to protect me.
I wasn’t about to let that happen. I had been the one to accidental y cal Cal’s wolf spirit during the homecoming dance a few months ago and I stil hadn’t total y forgiven myself. Cal had begun to transform and it was only with the help of our friend Emma that we managed to escape the school grounds without anyone discovering his secret.
Unfortunately, not everyone made it through the experience unscathed. Cal had shifted completely into his wolf form while stil inside Emma’s car. When we tried to get him out of the car and into his parents’ cabin, he broke his foreleg, or rather his arm. That was when we learned about Emma’s mad healing skil s and Simon’s surprising loyalty to Cal. If it hadn’t been for Emma and Simon, I’m not sure if Cal and I would have survived that night.
We had al been spending a bit too much time together lately, but I never wished for Emma and Simon’s company as much as I did right at that moment. Cal may be able to save me from these bul ies, but I could never live with myself if he risked everything while doing so.
Looking directly at Cal, I cal ed out to him, but he was focused intently on Jared. In particular, he was glaring at the hand that stil gripped my backpack. I don’t think Jared even realized that he was stil holding onto it.
“Cal, it’s okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and soothing. “Jared, let go of my bag. Or else.” Okay, I won’t get cool points for that last comment, but I couldn’t think of anything more profound to say. So sue me.
“Don’t do it, Jared,” Jay ordered. “This witch kil ed Dylan and she could be coming after us next.” Cal started to lunge forward, but I shook my head for him to stop. He froze about a foot away from Jay. That was close. Too close.
“Why would you guys think I had anything to do with Dylan’s death?” I asked. “And why would I come after you next?”
I could think of a few reasons for going after the J-team if I were inclined to violence, which I’m not, but I didn’t share that info. Not the right place, sure as heck not the right time.
“We al know that you’re an evil witch,” Jay scoffed.
“Plus, you’re a freak who hates footbal players and everyone knows that Dylan was on the team with us the past four years. So you used the curse and your witch powers to kil Dylan and you’re planning on coming for the rest of the team next. Wel , we’re not going to let that happen. Are we, Jared?”
“Uh, Jay, maybe she didn’t do it,” Jared said. He was trembling and his eyes hadn’t left Cal’s face.
“Of course she did it!” Jay yel ed. “If you don’t get that witch out of our school now, you’l regret it.” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to Jared or Cal, until Jared started dragging me toward the fire exit. Oh no. I may not like high school, in fact I loathed the place, but I was not being tossed out the back door like a bag of trash.
No bul ies were going to force me to leave school. Ever.
“Help!” I yel ed at the top of my lungs.
Taking advantage of the Yuki-scream-startle-factor, I jumped up, hitting him under the chin with the top of my head, and stomped down on the top of Jared’s foot. The pain that shot through my head was nearly enough to blind me, but it could wait in line. I was already battling a major migraine and I wasn’t going to faint like a wimp. Not today.
I was way too mad for that to happen.
As soon as I screamed, Cal shot into action. With a blur of movement he crouched low and foot swept Jay, who landed in a heap. Jared was reaching for his injured foot as Cal lunged for him, forcing Jared to put his arms up to protect his face. At the very last second, Cal spun to the left and came up behind Jared with an arm around his neck.
“Cal off your friend,” Cal ordered calmly. “Tel him to walk away, now, or I’m pressing send. I’ve already dialed the principal’s office. Attacking a student, a girl, is a serious offense. Are you wil ing to risk possible expulsion and getting tossed off every sports team?” I don’t think Jay and Jared cared much about a possible suspension or expulsion, but getting kicked off the team? Oh yeah, that got their attention.
“Okay, man, we’re going,” Jared said. “Right, Jay?”
“Right,” Jay muttered.
Jay was on his hands and knees and had to reach for the trash can to raise himself up. Jared ran to his side as soon as Cal released his arm from around his neck. With one frightened look back at Cal, perhaps wondering if he’d cal the principal anyway, Jared put his arm around Jay’s shoulders and led him down the hal .
Cal gently put his arms around me and pul ed me to him. Sliding his fingers down my cheek, he lifted my chin and stared into my eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“You’re ama
zing,” I said, gazing with wonder into his concern-fil ed, crystal blue eyes. “You moved so fast that I could barely see you and yet you were so control ed that you didn’t even leave a mark.”
“That was the idea,” Cal said, his lips breaking into a lopsided grin. “No cuts or bruises means no evidence, and no evidence means…”
“No crime,” I said, smiling. “Like I said, you are amazing.”
“Anything for my Dung Beetle Princess,” he said. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, nothing hurt except my pride,” I said. I didn’t mention the bruised lump starting form at the top of my head. “I can’t believe that they thought I kil ed Dylan and have it in for the footbal team.”
“You don’t have it in for the footbal team?” Cal teased.
“Wel , I can’t stand most of them, especial y the team’s star players Jay and Jared, but it’s not like I’d go so far as to kil them al ,” I said. “Though their recent behavior is starting to sway me to the dark side.”
I reached up to touch my head and winced. Ouch.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Cal asked. His eyes and fingers traced my face and I’m sure he saw my pained expression as I touched my head. “I can walk you to the nurse’s office.”
“Actual y, I’l take you up on that gal ant offer,” I said. “I started to get a serious migraine just before the, um, attack. I could use some aspirin.”
“Dylan’s ghost?” Cal asked, raising one eyebrow questioningly.
“I think so,” I said. “I’m like ninety-nine percent sure, but I’d like to ask around and get to know more about him.” We were walking hand in hand down the hal and were nearly at the nurse’s office.
“Yuki?” Cal asked. “Promise me you won’t go asking any of the footbal players about him? At least not until after school when I can go with you.”
I was impatient to get to the bottom of the mystery of Dylan’s murder, but Cal was right. It wasn’t safe to go sniffing around the footbal team. Ewww… that conjured up a nasty image, complete with sweaty gym socks.
“Sure,” I said. “Meet me by my locker after school?”
“Wild werewolves couldn’t keep me away,” Cal said, leaning down for a kiss.
Chapter 2
Wild werewolves nearly did keep Cal away. Wel , one wild werewolf. I received a text from Cal apologizing for being late and that he would meet me at Mr. Green Genes after school, instead of at my locker as promised.
Apparently there was some kind of pack drama going on.
I spent the last class of the day worrying about a mob of footbal players, led by the J-team, stalking me at my locker. I tried to take deep, calming breaths, but the memory of the earlier attack caused my hands to sweat.
The salty sweat made the half-moon circles, where I had dug my fingernails into my palms, sting like crazy.
Fortunately, Emma was waiting for me when the last bel rang. The relief must have been apparent on my face, because she pushed herself away from the doorframe, where she had been leaning, and did a little satisfied twirl.
“Hey, girl,” Emma said. “I thought you could use some company.”
“You’re the best,” I said, smiling.
“I heard you had a run in with the J-team today,” Emma said.
“Yeah,” I said.
“I also heard you won this round,” she said, raising her hand to bump knuckles. “You rock.”
“Wel , it wasn’t al me,” I said, walking to my locker.
“Cal was there. Which is something that has been bugging me. Did Cal mention how he knew I was in trouble?”
“I think it was his wolf hearing,” Emma said, shrugging.
“We were leaving the cafeteria and his eyes just glazed over. He had his head tilted to the side, like he was listening to something, and then he went running off down the hal . He must have heard Jay saying something threatening to you and gone to check it out.”
“That’s one mystery solved at least,” I said. “Now only a gazil ion more to go.”
We had final y reached my locker and there were no jock thugs, paid assassins, or flying kil er monkeys waiting for me. Just tons of homework. I spun the lock with shaking fingers, trying to grip the dial with my fingertips, but even the very tips of my fingers were sweaty. I looked at the chipped, black polished fingers angrily as I rubbed them down the front of my shirt. Traitors.
Emma reached over and opened my locker before I could say BFF, or have a break down.
“Thanks,” I said, pul ing my homework out and shoving it into my backpack.
“No problem,” Emma said.
I watched Emma’s posture stiffen, and her eyes narrow, as two jocks in athletic jackets walked toward us.
One of the guys was belching the alphabet while his friend cheered him on. The two jocks didn’t even look our way, but I could see Emma prepare herself for battle. It was nice to know that my friend had my back.
“They’re gone,” Emma said.
“Why are jocks such pigs?” I asked, pushing the last book into my bag and slamming my locker shut.
“I blame their diet,” Emma said. “Most male athletes eat large quantities of meat. Some even start the day drinking raw eggs.”
“Gag me,” I said, shuddering.
We were final y leaving school and heading to Emma’s car. The prospect of grabbing a meal at Mr. Green Genes, and the familiar anti-meat banter from Emma, helped me to relax. I was stil coping with a spirit-induced migraine, but the knot of tension between my shoulder blades had started to unwind.
My stomach growled out loud, interrupting Emma’s rant. She looked at me with eyebrow raised and we both burst into peals of laughter.
For the first time today, I was feeling hopeful. With the help of my friends, I would help Dylan’s ghost find peace by figuring out the mystery of his death. That would mean no more stinky smel impression, painful headache, and hopeful y—fingers crossed—no more threatening run-ins with the J-team.
*****
When Emma pul ed her car up in front of Mr. Green Genes, I found out just what kind of drama had kept Cal from meeting me at my locker—the Simon kind. Simon was pacing back and forth on the sidewalk, angrily waving his hands in the air. Even angry, he managed to swagger in his tight, faded, blue jeans and was attracting a lot of attention—a lot of female attention. Of course.
Simon was a gorgeous werewolf somewhere in his thirties…you know, older than God. Unfortunately for females everywhere, Simon also thought he was a God, or at least God’s gift to women. The fact that he had a jagged scar, that bisected his ear and extended down his cheek to meet the corner of his lips, didn’t seem to detract from his male beauty. If anything it only added to his bad boy persona. Not that he needed any help.
Simon was the ultimate bad boy. He was a werewolf with a wild streak and a death wish. His wild nature was due to being born ful y aware of his wolf spirit. Members of the Old Blood didn’t usual y become aware of their wolf spirit until they reached maturity, with most pack members beginning to shift into wolf form in their late teens. Simon’s early awareness had given him the gift of knowing how to control his wolf spirit better than many of the elders, but it also left him a bit…off.
I was also learning more about what caused his reckless behavior. When Simon was just a young man, he was in a relationship with another werewolf. It had been love at first sight. Simon and Meredith were inseparable, so when Meredith was accepted into the University of Edinburgh, he went with her. Simon and Meredith had the kind of love that most people dream about, but it wasn’t meant to last. While racing together in wolf form, across the fields of Perthshire, Meredith was shot by hunters.
Simon managed to transform into his human form and drag Meredith away, but she died in his arms.
Their story is as tragic as their love was true. The loss of Meredith changed Simon and it didn’t take a brainy, rocket scientist to see that the guilt continued to eat at him every day. Simon was a survivor, but I often wond
ered if he regretted that ability. His reckless behavior seemed to indicate a desire to join Meredith, sooner rather than later.
The one thing that Simon hadn’t bargained for was Cal. Cal had been born with the spirit of the alpha wolf inside of him. When Cal reached maturity and began to communicate with his wolf spirit, he also became the alpha of the werewolf pack. Not only was Cal the pack’s alpha, the one werewolf they were bound to obey, but he had also earned the respect of his pack members—including Simon. Simon had become loyal to Cal, and when Cal was put into a coma while fighting to save a young pack member, Simon had stepped up to fil his shoes as pack leader. When Cal returned to consciousness, and learned of al that Simon had done, he nominated Simon to be his second in command. Now Simon had something to live for.
So what was he doing freaking out in front of Mr. Green Genes?
“Someone needs to switch to decaf,” Emma said, turning off the car and pul ing her keys from the ignition.
“Do we go out there or stay here, you know, where it’s safe?” I asked, only half joking.
Simon had become a good friend and I trusted him, sort of, but he looked real y upset and I had been manhandled enough for one day. I picked at my nail polish while debating what to do.
“We might as wel go save the day,” Emma said, rol ing her eyes. She pushed away from the steering wheel and climbed out of the car.
“Yeah, but where’s Cal?” I asked. “Isn’t that, like, his job?”
I may have taken a bit of extra time gathering my things while scanning the growing crowd looking for a certain shaggy head of hair. Where the heck was Cal? I spun in a circle one more time and final y caught sight of him. Cal stood with his hand on the chest of a guy I’d never seen before. Had he just broken up a fight between Simon and this stranger?
I turned to show Emma where Cal was, but she was already walking over to Simon. Nothing like tossing a bit of fuel on the fire. Emma and Simon never went a day without arguing, so I wasn’t confident that Emma could calm him down. Son of a dung beetle. I jumped over the concrete parking marker and onto the sidewalk, running to keep up with Emma.
