Willow

by Donna Lynn Hope

  Reece acknowledged him by nodding.

  “I’m not sure about the woman but the wolves targeted JC’s father. JC and his dad had been backing up to the car very slowly. JC’s dad was in front of him acting as a human shield. The wolves emerged from the cover of trees but didn’t charge. They sauntered forward, as if they were stalking.”

  Reece shook his head, as if this were a personal memory of his.

  “JC reached the door first and his dad ordered him to get in. That’s when the wolves charged, pulling JC’s father from his grasp. JC watched helplessly as the wolves thrashing bodies concealed from him the horror of his father’s death. It was over quickly but JC remained, unable to leave his father behind. I can’t imagine the terror and the grief he must have felt as he stayed locked inside that car waiting for the wolves to leave and the sun to rise.”

  “Wolves don’t normally hunt people down,” a brunette said.

  Reece shook his head in polite disagreement. “These wolves were different. They didn’t stalk for the purpose of food, they stalked to kill.”

  I was surprised that the next question came from me. “What happened to JC?”

  Reece turned his head in my direction and his eyes seemed to wink. “He stayed in the car all night. The wolves paced, they sat, one jumped on the car to look through the windshield, but they left him alone. By the time dawn broke they left the small clearing. JC waited until he was sure they were gone and then he went out to retrieve his dad’s body and drove for help.”

  In the moments that followed there were no more questions and as a range of tales were whispered among the circle, candles were extinguished until just a few remained. I felt Reece leaning towards me. I wanted to ask him if the story he told was about his father but I didn’t want to pry. If it were true then no wonder Jericho looked like a man scarred over time. My thoughts took me to my dreams and I wondered why wolves played a significant role in them.

  One of the trio had asked Reece if they were something more than wolves and Reece had confirmed that fact, but if the wolves were something of legend why did they stalk and kill a man? Was it because he had helped to kill an alpha pair? And what of the wolves, especially the champagne colored wolf that visited me in my slumber?

  My thoughts were interrupted by the rumbling of several engines as they came down the dirt road. While most everyone looked towards the road, I looked up to see that the trio appeared tense. They began to confer amongst themselves as the rumble grew louder.

  Motorcycles. Another trio. Haven looked from them to meet my gaze. He said something to the others and in a matter of seconds he was standing in front of me. His stance forced Reece to rise almost immediately, followed by me. Haven looked from Reece’s stone cold face to mine but before he could say anything one of the riders dismounted. His dark brown hair was straight and shoulder length. He was neither handsome nor unattractive. His leather jacket was tight against his slender form and unlike the rest of us, he wasn’t wearing any gloves and I wondered why he didn’t appear to be cold.

  “Well, well, well,” he said looking around.

  He spotted Haven and a cunning grin began to form. Haven turned back to me, extending his hand, “Come with me.”

  Hearing this from several feet away the rider turned his attention our way. Without even speaking to his two companions, they all strode towards us. I looked from one to the other. They were about the same size and shape – tall and trim and each had an overwhelming air of arrogance about him. Reece took my arm and Haven stood in front of me, blocking my view. Irritated, I pulled away and moved enough so that I could see.

  “They’re not friends,” Reece said, still reaching out to me. “We’ve never seen them before.”

  “Don’t let us break up your soiree,” the rider insisted as he spread his arms wide.

  Turning to Haven he looked him over and said, “It’s been a long time. Too long...”

  Haven’s face was that of marble.

  I had been so focused on the three riders I didn’t even notice that Haven’s companions had joined us. Without staring I gave them the once over. The one standing to the right of Haven was a tall blonde. He was the one who had spoken earlier but his dark hood continued to conceal most of his face. Lacey stood at the end and they were all facing down the riders.

  Spotting me, the rider with shoulder length hair raised his eyebrows and turned back to Haven. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

  When Haven didn’t respond he inclined his head towards me and told the others, “Look who we have here...there is no mistaking that face is there?”

  Haven seemed to draw up in height, his jaw stiffened, and no one laughed, joked or responded.

  The space around us was so restless you could cut the tension with a knife. I couldn’t understand why everything seemed to be dependent on what these uninvited riders were going to do. No one was talking, no one was even leaving. Everyone was waiting. I couldn’t stand it. I wanted to pack up and leave. Lifting my eyes to meet the amber colored ones inspecting me I introduced myself.

  “Willow,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “We were just leaving.”

  He attempted to move closer to me, still staring into my eyes, but Haven and the others inched together, creating a barrier.

  “It didn’t look that way to us,” one of his companions sneered.

  I shivered as he looked me up and down. Unlike the others, he had shaved his head and a large tattoo, which resembled a triple moon, cascaded around the back of his head. His liquid gray eyes were inspecting us and rested longer than necessary on me.

  “Well, we were,” Amber spoke up. She took my hand and dragged me behind her before I could protest. As I brushed past the rider I heard his intake of breath and realized he was reaching out to touch me when he was blocked just as fast by Haven who grabbed his arm and thrust it away.

  “Easy,” the rider with the moon tattoo said. “Don’t give me an excuse.”

  Slyly glancing at me for the briefest of moments he turned back to Haven and lifted his dark lashes as if he were about to share a secret.

  “She is a sweet one isn’t she?”

  Methodically he licked his lips, causing Haven to flinch in anger. The rider with the moon tattoo looked at me again before glancing at the other riders.

  “Looks like the scouts were right.”

  The rider with shoulder length dark hair grabbed both of his fists and all was silent for a moment. They looked as though they were talking without speaking. Shuddering, I tucked my chin into my scarf and walked away with Amber by my side. I had no intention of staying around to be a part of some freak show and I was bothered by all the weird behavior.

  “Wait,” I said, stopping suddenly. “Our chairs.”

  Amber prompted me to keep walking. “Reece will get them.”

  When we reached the truck I sensed him before I heard him. I looked over my shoulder to see Haven standing just inches behind me.

  “What now?” I demanded to know, not caring if I sounded rude.

  I found his behavior rude, not to mention confusing. In fact, the entire night was just that.

  Haven took hold of my arm and guided me away from Amber who was pretending to mind her own business.

  “Let’s talk.”

  He pulled his hand away from my arm and looked down at me. I stood there impatiently, with my arms crossed. “I’m listening.”

  “You’re not making this easy,” he said. “There are things we should discuss.”

  “So where have you been?” I asked. “You know how to get in contact with me and you wait until now to reach out to me? Did anyone ever tell you that you have awesome timing?”

  He walked a few steps forward, backing me up until I was almost resting against a tree.

  “I can’t be your friend,” he said as he placed his right hand on the tree by the side of my head.

  He gazed at me until I felt forced to look away. I was uncomfortable but at the same time I was inflamed
. How could that be? I tried to create space between us as he had the physical advantage. My attraction to him was maddening but I didn’t want him to know it. And that was the problem. I was hiding my feelings. I was a hypocrite. People shouldn’t be left to wonder how another person feels about them. They shouldn’t have to guess where they stand but I couldn’t bring myself to speak what I was thinking.

  I turned my attention to him. “What do you mean?”

  “It means what you think it does,” he said, causing the blood to rush to my cheeks. He clearly had all the advantage and that knowledge both frustrated and pleased me. I knew I couldn’t trust myself around him so it was best to put some distance between us.

  “I should be going,” I whispered as I attempted to move past him. “And what makes you think I need a friend anyway?”

  “Stop running,” he demanded, putting his other hand on the tree, blocking my passage.

  I didn’t know why but I began to panic. Was it the truth in his words or the fact he could read me so well? I spotted Reece who was carrying all our chairs and I called out to him, “Reece, are we leaving?”

  I heard Haven chuckle. “Very well Willow.”

  He dropped his arm, letting me pass. “We’re not finished though.”

  I looked back at him but said nothing more.

  “What was that about?” Reece asked as he looked in Haven’s direction distastefully. “Could he have been any closer to you?”

  “We were just talking Reece. So, what happened back there, who are they?”

  “Who knows,” he shrugged. He put the chairs in the back of his truck and when he saw that I was waiting for further information, he sighed. “No one knows Willow. They aren’t from around here but they don’t look like they’re up to any good.”

  “And people fear what they don’t know...”

  We both looked up to see that Lacey had been listening all along.

  As if on cue to diffuse an awkward moment Amber called out to Reece and I watched as he walked over to her. They stood in front of the truck and talked in hushed voices.

  “Haven likes you, you know.” Lacey’s dark eyes were looking at me longer than necessary.

  “Oh,” I said flatly, suddenly regretting how stupid it sounded.

  “Reece too,” she added. “How can one girl get so lucky?”

  Lucky? Yeah right. I was an orphan. I didn’t know where I belonged and the only best friend I ever had was a dog.

  “New blood,” was all I said.

  “What do you mean by that?” she asked.

  “I’m new here. There is always interest at first.”

  “You underestimate yourself,” she said.

  “I think most of us do,” I retorted.

  We both heard the engine and turned to see a rider approaching. The only thing that identified him was his dark hoodie. He was wearing a black helmet and motioned for Lacey who left my side without saying goodbye. I watched as she climbed on the back of the motorcycle. She was putting her helmet on when she nodded in my direction. That’s when I heard him.

  “Ride with me,” Haven announced.

  I turned to stare at him. “You didn’t even ask so what makes you think I’d say yes?”

  “I’m asking,” he said.

  “Look,” I started. “I came with my friends and I intend to leave with them.”

  “Where’s your sense of adventure?” He asked.

  I felt the sudden urge to leave, or run away as he had put it. He was waiting for me to reply so I walked towards the door of Reece’s truck. “I don’t have much of one.”

  Haven moved in so close that I could feel a spark of adrenaline and I enjoyed how alive it made me feel.

  “Life is too brief to be scared of taking risks,” he informed me. “Especially the ones that have the chance to make you happy.”

  I looked into the trees and said nothing. He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “When was the last time you were happy?”

  I didn’t have an answer.

  “What’s going on? What’s the plan?” Reece asked as he and Amber came around to stand with the two of us.

  I looked at Haven and attempted a genuine smile. “I appreciate the offer, I do, but I’m staying with Amber and Reece. It would be rude not to go home with them.”

  Hearing me, Reece opened the side door, “And we are leaving now.”

  He obviously stated that for Haven’s benefit and not mine. The two stared each other down.

  “Willow?” The interruption came from Reece.

  Haven glared at him before looking down at me, “I’ll see you soon...”

  Chapter 14

  We were driving down the gravel road when bright headlights came up behind us, drawing a curse from Reece.

  Amber looked behind us, “I wonder who that is?” She sounded concerned.

  “I don’t know but what an ass!” Reece said, cursing again. “I can barely see.”

  “Let them pass once we’re off this road,” I suggested.

  The headlights were blinding as they drew closer and there seemed to be more than one.

  “Motorcycles,” I reported. “Can you pull over enough to let them by? I know the road is narrow but they should be able to pass.”

  Angered, Reece slowed down and pulled dangerously close to some trees, giving passage to the riders. One by one they rode by, the last of which was the rider with the moon tattoo. He turned and stared into our vehicle and in a matter of seconds he was out of view. Reece grumbled to himself and Amber looked from him to me, “They’re going to hurt someone,” she said.

  Once we were on the main road we relaxed and Reece turned on some music. We were chatting about the stories people told around the fire and agreed that until the last twenty minutes it had been a fun evening. Through the laughter that followed headlights once again flooded through the back window, temporarily blinding Reece. He swerved but regained control quickly.

  “Can you pull over?” I asked as alarm altered the inflection of my voice.

  “Do it!” Amber ordered.

  Reece slowed down and so did the rider behind us. We were almost stopped when we saw them. Lacey and the blonde in the hoodie were in a heated discussion with the three riders. They were parked off the main road and there were no lights cast except from the moon which was gibbous and not yet full.

  The rider pulled up next to Reece and motioned for him to roll down his window.

  “You shouldn’t stop. You need to get out of here,” Haven yelled. We could barely understand him since he was wearing his helmet. His brows were furrowed and he appeared to be angry.

  “What’s going on over there?” Reece asked.

  “None of your business,” Haven hissed. He raised his gloved hand and motioned for us to drive off. I heard Amber unbuckle her seat belt and she started to climb over the seat when Reece blocked her.

  “Oh no you don’t,” he told her.

  “I’m not staying put when Lacey is so outnumbered,” Amber argued. “Now let me pass.”

  While they argued I saw that someone was approaching the truck. It was the man with the moon tattoo. Haven rode his bike around to the front of Reece’s truck and dismounted quickly. He took off his helmet and dropped it on the ground. He put up his left hand and shoved the man back. The man flexed himself and shoved Haven back with both hands. That’s when the others came towards them. The man with the shoulder length dark hair approached Haven calmly and as he did, the man with the tattoo took that opportunity to reach for the passenger door before I could lock it. As quick as I had ever seen someone move, he unbuckled my seat belt and was attempting to pull me out of the truck when Amber shouted and Reece grabbed my arm. I leaned back and kicked the man above his groin. Haven reached around and twisted the man’s arm behind his back and thrust him away from me. The man jumped up and took a confrontational stance. Haven stared him down.

  Now that the rest of us were involved we couldn’t drive off but we didn’t leave the truck either.
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br />   “Easy you two,” the dark-haired one said. He looked towards the man with the tattoo and raised a finger in warning. “Back off Justin.”

  Justin spit on the ground. “You can’t let them drive off now that we’ve found them.”

  “Ambushing them in front of witnesses is not the way to do business!” The dark-haired one said.

  “Darius, let them go,” the blonde spoke up. He was addressing the dark-haired man but glanced at Haven.

  It was then that I noticed the third rider. He was holding Lacey by her other arm but was taking directions from the others. He was thinner and more ordinary looking than them and had not said a word all night.

  “They’re not going anywhere. Not yet,” Justin said.

  “You aren’t in charge,” Darius said authoritatively. “If you’re challenging me, it’s not going to end well for you.”

  “You are only in charge because Haven went rogue and you’re screwing the boss.”

  The silence that followed was short-lived.

  “You’re sleeping with my mom?” The blonde questioned angrily.

  Haven looked over his shoulder and shouted to Reece.

  “Get out of here now.”

  Reece didn’t have to be told twice. He started the truck, spun his tires, and drove away as fast as he could.

  “What did they want with me?” I wondered aloud. “I am no one to them.”

  Amber reached over the back of the seat and wrapped her arms around me.

  “I don’t know...” Reece said under his breath.

  Minutes passed and bright lights once again flooded the cab and one separated from the others. Simultaneously we heard a thud on the back of the truck and saw a bright light bobbing in the ditch with the rider closing in on us. I don’t know which I heard first, Amber’s screams or the shattering of glass. I don’t know which I felt first - razor-sharp shards of glass as they sprayed my face or the searing pain as a hand violently grabbed a handful of hair and began pulling me out the window. I had never refastened my seat belt and there was nothing holding me in place. I heard Amber and Reece cry out. I felt Reece’s hand on my leg as he tried to pin me in place. With one hand I was holding on to the roof of the cab and with the other I was gripping the hand that was pulling me free of the window. Another thud sounded and the truck swerved again and the force of the grip disappeared, replaced by the terrifying sensation of falling. Before I could scream I felt a constriction around my abdomen, which briefly knocked the wind out of me. I swung around until I was on the back of a motorcycle – Haven’s motorcycle. I had a death grip on him and when I dared to look towards the truck with Reece and Amber still inside I saw a sight that both frightened and awed me.