by Karen Ruth
I knew he was right, I had to be quiet. I tried my best to calm down.
Reed’s voice spoke as he was crouched on the floor huddled over something blocking my view. “Blood.”
He said to us looking us in the eyes. “I do not recognize the scent.”
I ran over to him and went to the blood spot. My worst fears came alive as I muttered. “Catherine.”
I dropped my head towards the floor. Lucas and Reed exchanged gazes.
“It is too small of a blood splat for her to be in serious damage. She has to be around here somewhere."
Lucas went towards the house and opened the door. A few minutes his voice popped into our heads
“Nina! Reed! Get over here. In the kitchen, now!”
I jumped up faster than I ever did before to run into the kitchen, Reed right behind me. I saw my sister huddled up in a corner as Lucas was crouched beside her. Her arm covered in blood and tears dropped to the floor. I could not see her face for she had it bent down towards the tear-stricken floor. My heart was beating a million miles an hour trying to pop out of my chest. I could not breathe as Lucas grabbed her arm to inspect the damage. His voice spoke for us all to hear bringing my worst fears alive,
“she’s been bitten.”
I ran up to Catherine as horror filled my body. I took her arm from Lucas and inspected the damage for myself. Sure enough, there laid a bite mark. “What can we do to stop it!?” I yelled at Lucas who in turn just lowered his head and avoided eye contact.
“You can’t Nina. What’s done is done.” I ignored him and focused my attention on Reed.
“Reed?!” I yelled at him.
“I’m sorry Nina.” Was all that he said.
There had to be a way to fix it. There just had to.
“Catherine, what happened?” I asked her, shaking her shoulders trying to get her attention.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I was feeding the pigs outside and I heard footsteps behind me. I assumed it was you and I was about to tell you that I was fine and to go back home, but when I turned around it was Seth. Stupid me, I was too petrified to move and remained still as he approached me. He said that I was to tell you that you should be more careful in watching me and he also said that he will marry you one way or another. He told me to run before he would change his plan on what he had in store for me. I ran as fast as I could to get into the house. Then, before I could register what was happening, he transformed into a big black wolf and he jumped on my back and knocked me over. I tried to scoot away from him, but then he bit me and immediately got off of me. He backed away from me and I ran into the house and locked the doors until I heard you guys outside. I was so scared, Nina. I thought I was going to die. You were right, I should have stayed at the house where it was safe. What was I thinking?” Tears began to flow from her eyes even harder.
Lucas looked over to Reed and said, “Come on.” They stood up and walked out of the door.
I took Catherine in my arms trying to calm her down.
“Shhh, it’s ok.”
“Will I be like you now, a werewolf?” She asked me as she looked into my eyes.
I couldn’t muster any words so I just shook my head clarifying to her that she would indeed be a werewolf. “I don’t know if I want this life.” She told me. “I thought I would but now I’m scared, Nina.”
I responded to her. “It will be alright Catherine. I will do my best to help you with your transition. I will be by your side whenever you need me. If you have a question just ask me, ok? I may not know the answer to it but I will find someone who does.”
Tears were starting to spill from my eyes as well as we held each other rocking back and forth. I failed my sister and it was all my fault. If I wouldn’t have been so strict with her she would still be a normal human. It was only due time before she would change.
“How long have you been in here?” I asked her.
“I left the house right after you did this morning. I tried to sneak here, not wanting you to find me. So probably around four hours.” “You were bitten for four hours?!” I freaked out on her.
“Not quite, it took about a half an hour for anyone to show up here.”
“Oh Catherine, I am so sorry. I can’t even imagine what you are going through.”
I stood up and went over to the sink in the kitchen. I grabbed a rag from one of the drawers and wetted it down.
“Don’t apologize Nina.” I heard her say. “I should have listened to you in the first place. You told me not to come here and you were right.”
“I pretty much drove you here,” I told her as I began to wipe the blood from her arm making her cringe.
“Nina, stop.” My sister said as she forcefully grabbed my hand that was wiping her arm. “Do not blame yourself. I do not want to hear anything coming from your mouth anymore about this ok?” She said to me, a strict motherly tone coming from her mouth.
I nodded my head and lowered my eyes. She let go of my hand and I began to wipe her arm once more.
She wiped the tears from her eyes and said casually “so when do I turn?”
I just looked at her surprised that she could be so calm already after all of this.
“I have no idea honestly.” I’ll ask Lucas and Reed in one minute. First, we need to get a bandage on that.”
“Alright.” She answered me as she stood up and I followed her movements.
“You go get the bandages for your wound and I will go get Lucas and Reed alright?” I asked her not really wanting to leave her.
“Ok,” and with that, she left the room to find the Band-Aids.
I walked outside needing some fresh air. I took a deep breath breathing in as much as I possibly could. I spotted Lucas and Reed leaning against the wall discussing something under their breaths. As I walked up to them, they began to go silent. I looked at them before saying “What?” I asked.
Reed said, “we were just discussing what is going to happen to Catherine.”
“What do you mean? Won’t she just turn into a wolf in a few hours or something like that?” Reed lowered his head not wanting to answer.
This began to frighten me. “What?” I pushed them further this time looking directly at Lucas.
He let out a deep breath. “Oh Nina, there is so much you still need to learn. If Catherine was a male, what you said would be correct. As she is not there is no certainty that she will be a wolf.”
“That’s good then!” I exclaimed excitedly. “That means she will still be normal.
Reed looked up at me his eyes full of sorrow as they both said nothing. Once more my heart sank.
“What?” I asked afraid to hear the answer.
Lucas spoke very slowly “Nina, she will not still be human if she doesn’t transform.” I cut him off as he spoke.
“What do you mean she won’t be human? If not human then what will she be?”
Reed spoke very gently to me drawing in my attention, “Nina let him speak. It’s very important.” I turned back around to face Lucas as what he said made me want to collapse.
“Nina, do you remember what I told you about the genes?”
I simply nodded not wanting to speak anymore.
“Either she will change by midnight or if her body doesn’t accept it, she will die. I’m so sorry Nina.”
“But won’t her body accept it because I myself am a werewolf?”
“No, I will be completely honest with you Nina. Since her body was already exposed to the possibility of becoming a wolf with her genes and she didn’t, she has an even lower chance of a survival rate.
My body began to shake as I heard the most dreaded news I have ever heard in my entire life. Lucas walked over to me to steady me as he began to set me down so I wouldn’t fall over.
“It’s all my fault, I should have just turned myself into Luc.”
“My dear sweet Nina, please don’t think that,” Lucas said as he sat me down to rest my head on his lap.
He began to push the hair
from my eyes setting it behind my ears.
“If you would have turned yourself in, I don’t know what I would have done. You don’t know how much you are worth to me.”
I looked into his eyes as I said, “thank you for trying to cheer me up.”
“I’m being honest Nina. We have no idea what kind of things he would have done to you. Just thinking about it makes me want to go find him and tear his throat from his neck.”
Anger flashed in Lucas’s eyes. I gently placed my palm on the side of his face as he closed his eyes trying to calm him down.
The door opened and Reed’s voice broke out. “She’s coming.”
I jumped off of Lucas’s lap and went over to her.
“What’s wrong?” She asked as she saw the tears falling from my eyes.
Her eyes darted between the three of us. I simply walked over to her and gave her the biggest hug I have ever given her. I did not want to let go being that I had no idea if I would ever see her again.
“When am I supposed to change?” She asked me confused about what was going on.
I let go of my sister to examine her face. I let out a deep breath before I spoke. I lowered my eyes to the floor as the words came from my mouth. “I’m so sorry Catherine. You have until midnight to change.”
“What if I don’t?” She asked me reading from my voice there was more to the story.
I looked over to Lucas pleading for him to finish for me. His voice spoke out ever so slowly, “Catherine if you don’t change, it means your body rejected it. In other words, it means that you will die.”
I watched her eyes go wide as horror filled her, but she quickly covered it back up.
“Oh my,” she said. “I was not expecting that. Well if that’s the case, we should do something fun.”
My mouth dropped open as I just looked at her.
“You’re not afraid or upset?” I asked her.
“Of course I am, but there is no time to grieve is there? Everyone come inside and let’s find something fun to do.”
I just shook my head and said, “As you wish.”
I looked back to the others and waved my hand causing them to move closer to us. I grabbed Lucas’s hand in mine as we all went into the house together. My sister gave me a small smirk as she saw us hand in hand. I just rolled my eyes at her, ignoring her.
We all stood in the kitchen as I heard Reed’s voice break out in my head, “how do you guys live in such a small place.”
I just turned around to look at him while Lucas punched his arm and raised his hands.
“Ow, what?” he asked him. “Is that rude or something.”
I just laughed at him and said “Nah it’s alright. It’s all I’ve ever known. On a serious note, I would rather live in a small place like this than the castle.”
He just shrugged his shoulders and said “fair enough.”
Catherine just looked at us and gave us a puzzling look.
“What did he say? I didn’t hear him say anything.”
I walked over to her and let go of Lucas’s hand.
“Apparently, we can talk in each other’s minds. Something sort of cool to look forward to when you become a wolf.”
“Sweet!” She exclaimed.
She looked around my body to focus her gaze on the others. “I told her that being a wolf can be fun!”
“Yes, you did,” I laughed at her excitement trying to distract myself from what could happen in only a few dreaded hours.
“Well I don’t believe we have officially met,” Reed said to Catherine as he came to stand next to me. “My name is Reed and you must be Catherine.”
“Hello,” she simply said smiling.
Reed gently grabbed her hand and kissed it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed him to the side.
“Ouch Nina. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you are getting jealous. Don’t let Lucas find out that you still want me.” He said as he smiled.
“Don’t mind Reed, he is the biggest player you could possibly meet.”
“Shh Nina, don’t tell her that.” He looked straight at Catherine and said, “I have no idea what she is talking about, I am a complete angel madam.”
“Oh, sure you are,” I said to him.
Catherine just giggled and said, “Don’t worry Reed, I don’t judge. You seem pretty cool.”
“See! Someone gets me.” He exclaimed a smile exploding on his face.
“Oh Catherine, you now made a new best friend,” I said laughing into the air as Lucas walked behind me, putting his arms around me.
After a few minutes of Catherine and Reed talking she turned around to face Lucas and me. “Can I ask something of you guys?” Her face was turning a little red from what I could tell from her actions, she was embarrassed.
“What?” I asked her.
“Since I have no idea what will happen later I want one final thing. I was wondering if you guys would transform into your wolves one last time. It interests me seeing you guys like that.” I shrugged my shoulders and looked at the rest.
“I will, but up to you guys if you want to.”
“Of course I will, my dear sweet Nina,” Lucas said in my ear causing me to smile and look at him. His breath warm against my ear.
“Reed?” I asked before I realized he was already running out the door. I laughed and looked at Lucas. “Does that mean yes or is he running for his life.”
“I’m pretty sure that means yes.” He said to me giving out a small laugh.
“Yippee!” Catherine exclaimed like a child running out the door as well leaving Lucas and myself alone in the kitchen.
I tried to follow my sister out of the door, but Lucas wouldn’t drop his arms from around my waist. I turned around to face him before asking “what’s up?” He smiled as he looked down at me.
“You know we never did get to finish what we were going to do earlier before Reed interrupted us.” He caused butterflies to arise in my stomach.
“Oh, didn’t we?” I asked toying with him.
“Hmm nope, I don’t believe so.”
He started to slowly bend down toward me as I stood on my tippy toes. We were only inches apart before I put a finger on his lips and smiled.
“You can get a kiss later. Catherine’s waiting for us.”
I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran out the door.
I heard Lucas yell behind me, “Nina, you are such a tease!”
This caused me to smile even more. His footsteps echoed behind me as he ran to catch up.
When I entered the outdoors, I saw my sister standing there with Reed in his wolf form pretending to growl at her.
“Don’t mind him, he is quite the teddy bear. He thinks he is tough but he’s not isn’t that right Reed.” I said to him as I crouched down to pet his head.
He nipped at my hands, not causing any pain. “Feisty are we, Reed,” I said to him. “Don’t make me have to put you in time out.”
I heard his voice echo in my head. “Try it, I dare you.”
I just laughed and walked behind the house to change out of my clothes leaving the rest in the front yard.
I took off my shirt and began to unzip my pants before a smell overcame my senses. A scent that I knew all too well. I quickly zipped my pants back up and grabbed my shirt to cover my body before turning around.
“Rafiq, what are you doing here,” I growled.
“Ahh Nina, what kind of greeting is that. Don’t you miss me? Plus, I was actually quite enjoying the scene so if you could continue taking your clothes off that would be nice.”
“Get out of here,” I growled at him. “I never want to see you again, you traitor.”
He laughed an evil laugh at me. “But it was all too easy in making you trust me. So desperate for a friend that it clouded your judgment. Tisk tisk Nina, you really need to work on that. It’s sad really, your need to be loved. It makes you so weak, predictable even. Why else do you think Seth bi
t your sister?”
I said nothing to him.
“Stupid too, I see. Anyway, he did it to try and convince you to join us, without your sister in the way, you’re an easy target.” He laughed once more as he finished what he was saying.
I looked at him with pure hatred in my eyes as he placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked down at it and ripped it off my shoulder.
“I never want to see you again. I swear to God I will rip your throat out if you come anywhere near me or my family. You are a sick person that doesn’t deserve to live. It is taking all of my willpower not to turn and kill you where you stand.”
He lifted his hands up and said, “You couldn’t hurt me if you tried. You’re too much of a bleeding heart for that, it’s pathetic.” He walked away from me stopping to say one thing.
“I’ll be watching you, Nina, beware.” He walked into the woods and disappeared as the trees devoured him.
I tried to control my heartbeat, not wanting to upset my sister any further than what she was already. She couldn’t find out about what happened. She wanted a good day and I was determined to give it to her. I wouldn’t let something like this keep it from her. I finished getting undressed before I transformed into my wolf. I padded back over to where the rest were.
“What took you so long?” I heard my sister call out.
Being that I was in wolf form I couldn’t say anything to her. She realized her mistake and said, “oops, sorry I forgot.”
As Lucas walked up to me the wind blew causing my fur the ruffle. His ears went alert as he came close to me and I heard his voice full of worry in my head. “Nina! What happened? Why is Rafiq’s scent on your fur?”
He stood right next to me making sure I was ok. I noticed Reed looking over to me as well but keeping Catherine entertained.
“I’m ok Lucas, I promise. He came here to just torment me but he left. Please don’t freak out, I don’t want Catherine finding out. She deserves a good night."
He brushed his head against mine and said, “I promise as long as you promise something for me.”
“What?” I asked him.
“Please stay by my side the entire time we are here. I don’t want something bad happening to you.”
I looked him in the eyes and said “I promise.”
