by Mac Flynn
"If that's true then why were you prowling around last night like you wanted to invite someone to dinner with them as the main course?" I pointed out.
A shadow darkened Will's expression and his eyes flickered over to Vuk. "It seems that while Vuk is as loyal a servant as anyone could ever ask for the connection between us isn't strong enough to contain the beast, at least not anymore. For the first few years the wolf was weak, but over time it's become stronger. With each full moon I've felt myself swallowed by its will and feared I would one day murder someone. That is why I returned to the lake at the time of the picnic in order to find another person to help carry the burden."
My face fell. "So you decided to come to a heavily populated area knowing your werewolf self was getting stronger and had a taste for hors de human?" I questioned him.
"Yes, but we weren't entirely unprepared for the change. This cabin is very old, and beneath the floor is a small root cellar that was used during Prohibition to hide alcohol. Every night I would place myself inside and Vuk would place furniture atop the trap door to keep me inside," Will told me.
I frowned. "So how does that explain the last three nights? I heard howling the first night, and then you try to take a bite out of Steuben, and now tonight I find you wandering around with a bullseye on your back," I wondered.
"I'm afraid you're partially to blame for all the trouble," Will replied.
My mouth dropped open. "Me? You're the one who's dragged me into this trouble!" I argued.
"Your affect on my emotions has brought out the most basic desires inside me, and those desires are felt and amplified by the beast inside of me. It has struggled to free itself and visit you at your cabin to consecrate my affections for you," he explained.
"So what you're saying is you're physically attracted to me and the wolf wants to have sex with me?" I rephrased.
"That would be the blunt way to phrase it," he agreed.
I raised an eyebrow. "You're accepting the wolf's desires to make a booty call on me very calmly," I commented.
Will grinned. "They are my own, also," he reminded me.
"Is that why you gave me the locket?" I wondered.
His eyes wandered down to the locket that lay between my breasts. "I have more than carnal desires for you, and sought to protect both of us by giving you that locket. Unfortunately, there is a stipulation to the powers taking affect. In order to help me control the beast you must willingly and knowingly accept the responsibility," he explained.
"I'm not going to make any decisions until you tell me what you were doing out in the woods the last few nights. Why didn't you be a good dog and stay in the root cellar?" I insisted.
"Last night the beast used its intelligence to remove our body from the cabin before I could be put into the root cellar," he told me.
"So the wolf can control you when you're not covered in fur?" I questioned him.
"Unfortunately, it has grown that strong, though it still requires a moon that is at least partially full and not waning to control me and transform," he replied.
"And tonight's jaunt in the woods?" I persisted.
"I'm afraid that was my own doing. I lost faith in my ability to contain the beast and didn't wish to harm anyone in the cabins, so I ventured into the woods," he admitted.
"And ran straight into the gun sights of the ranchers," I finished for him.
"That wasn't my intention, but that is what happened," he agreed.
"And what have we learned from this little adventure?" I asked him.
He smiled. "That I should have put more faith in Vuk and yourself," he replied.
I stood and scowled down at him. "No, that you're a stubborn ass who needs to stop running away from his problems and face them," I told him.
Will raised an eyebrow. "I have faced my problems for seven years and find myself losing," he pointed out.
"With that attitude of course you'd lose, but that's why I'm here to help. And Vuk," I added, and the man smiled and bowed his head. I paced the floor in front of the couch and thought over what Will had told me. One of my hands idly toyed with the locket around my neck. "So these locket things are supposed to keep you in check, right?" I asked him.
"Correct," he replied.
"But I'm guessing mine isn't working very well, and neither is Vuk's, or you wouldn't have taken that walk this evening," I surmised.
"Vuk's power is as strong as ever, it is the wolf that is gaining strength," he corrected me. His eyes fell on my locket. "And your locket is limited in its power until you accept the responsibility willingly and knowingly."
I stopped my pacing and folded my arms across my chest. "Well, the willing part is almost true, but not the knowing. What kind of consequences would there be if I did help Vuk out and accept these responsibilities?"
"The benefits are super strength, the ability to heal at a much faster speed than normal humans, and wolf's eyes," he explained.
"Wolf's eyes?" I repeated.
"Yes, the ability to see in the dark," he replied.
"And the drawbacks?" I asked him.
I knew they were bad when Will pursed his lips. "You would be able to use those gifts because there will be a small portion of my wolf inside of you. You may also partially transform, enough to convince dogs that you are more than human," he told me.
I frowned and sat down on a nearby chair. "I can live without a pet dog, but I don't know about partially becoming one," I commented.
Will smiled gently at me. "I can't expect you to make the choice at this hour, and especially after the night's adventure, but I must ask that you make the decision soon. If you choose to reject the responsibility then for the good of the people in the other cabins Vuk and I must leave."
"Where would you go?" I wondered.
He leaned back and sighed. "I have a secluded castle in Germany that abuts a large forest. If I-if I lose control completely I won't be able to harm anyone there," he told me.
"So you'll lock yourself up in a castle for the rest of your life?" I rephrased.
"I would rather do that than be guilty of murder," he pointed out.
"And if I-if I did choose to accept the responsibility I wouldn't have a chance to reset the choice, would I?" I guessed.
"Once the responsibility is accepted there is no turning back," he told me.
My shoulders slumped and I hung my head. "Can I have a day to think this over? Just until sunset?" I pleaded.
"We can wait that long," Will replied.
I stood and straightened my dirty, sap-soaked, pine needle-covered clothes. "Then I'll let you know my decision then," I promised.
Will bowed his head to me, as did Vuk. I left the cabin for a very long day of thinking.
Chapter 19
I stumbled to my cabin and collapsed on the couch. My mind swirled with fragments of that night's adventure, Will's talk, and the decision I now had to make. I fumbled with the locket as I went over my options, all two of them. There was to be wolf, or not to be wolf, and that was definitely the question.
"To be a partially-hairy, cursed person for the rest of my life, or to leave Will alone to his own monsters?" I muttered to myself. What a pair of options. The only thing that could make them worse was if sunset came and I still hadn't make up my mind.
Falling asleep a few minutes after thinking that didn't help matters. The night adventure had really worn me down and I slept through most of the day. By the time the pounding sound on the door rang through the cabin it was well into the afternoon. I opened my bleary eyes and sat up. My hair stuck out in all directions and my mouth was so parched I spat sand. I stumbled over to the door and opened it to find Olivia on the porch with her ever-present smile.
"Good afternoon. Oh! Did I wake you?" she wondered.
"Um, no, I was just trying out some new hairstyles," I replied. I tried to brush down my hair with my hand but I only succeeded in catching my fingers in the tangles.
"Oh, well, that's good. I wanted to see if you we
re ready for the party," she informed me.
I stopped mid tug on a particularly large knot and blinked at her. "What party?" I asked her.
"Why, the party to celebrate your saving Steuben. Didn't anyone tell you?" she asked me.
"No, and I really don't need a party. Anyone would have done the same thing," I insisted. The last thing I needed was another complication in my already booked schedule of complications.
"Nonsense! An act of heroism isn't something one sees every day, and several of us agreed that a party was in order. Now let's get you into some nice clothes, your usual hairstyle that's so becoming of you, and let's get to the party," she insisted. She stepped inside, deftly grabbed my arm in her vice-like grip, and hauled me toward the bedroom and bathroom.
"I-I don't think I'm really up for a party," I protested.
It didn't matter because Olivia's mind was focused on my being at my own party, and she wouldn't let a little hesitation on my part get in the way of delivering me into the eager hands of a few of the other cabin folk who wanted to smother me with appreciate for my single act of stupidity. Olivia dragged me through a change of clothes, hairstyles, and out the door where her car awaited. The party was set to take place in a cabin at the opposite end of the lake, and we passed Will's cabin on the way there.
I looked at the closed curtains and the car sitting in the driveway, and my thoughts invariably wandered back to my indecision. I'd promised to give him my answer by sunset, and that was only one hour away. Now I would be half a lake away amid a group of strangers who would give me their affection and praise whether I wanted it or not.
A half trip around the lake later and Olivia parked us in front of one of the more gaudy cabins, complete with white siding and a small pool on the lake-facing side of the deck. There was already a small forest of fancy cars in the graveled parking lot and voices wafted from the tinted vinyl windows that looked out on the surrounding deck. Olivia 'helped' me up the stairs to the second floor front door, and when I mention 'helped' I mean she took my arm and half-dragged me up the steps. She knocked on the door and it was answered by Nicholas Dodson, owner to Hercules the labrador, mortal enemy to Will.
He smiled at us, stepped aside, and swept his hand into the room. The space was a square area with an open living room, dining room, and kitchen, complete with a billiard table in the far left corner as the front door was situated. The center of the room had a stepped, square pit where sat the large couch, chairs, and a coffee table in the middle. The kitchen and dining room were on the far right wall. Opposite the entrance was a wall of glass with a pair of glass doors that led out onto the pool deck. About a dozen people mingled
"Welcome to our little pad," Nick greeted us. Hercules came over to join his master in his greeting, and he warmly licked my hand.
"I'm so sorry we're late. There was some trouble with our guest of honor," Olivia told him.
"All's well that ends well, as they say," he replied with a chuckle. "But come in out of that cold evening air and make yourselves at home."
Olivia stepped us both inside and released me when the door shut behind us with an audible clack. She glanced around and frowned. "Are none of the others coming?" she wondered.
"You mean the ranchers? One of them called me to inform me they were finishing setting some traps and would be coming in a few minutes," Nick replied.
"All around the lake?" she asked him.
Nick chuckled. "As you instructed, and they plan another hunt tonight after sundown, but enough about them. Priscilla made some excellent hors d'oeuvre you must try," he invited us.
Their conversation steered into more mundane topics, but my mind remained on the talk of the ranchers and sundown. Everything would come to a head when the day came to an end. I still hadn't made my choice; to become a partial monster for Will or to go on with my life while his devolved into lurking around castles and forests. I was brought back to my present situation when someone grabbed my hand and vigorously shook it.
"I just want to thank you for your act of bravery, Miss Stevens," the man informed me. I recognized him as one of the other cabin owners, but we weren't on intimate terms. That meant I didn't even know his name, and probably wouldn't be able to pick him out of a police lineup.
A woman by his side smiled and nodded. "Yes, it was such a brave thing for you to save Steuben without any regard for yourself," she agreed.
Their little congratulatory speeches brought the other guests to me, and each one in turn shook my hand and tried to outdo the person before them. Olivia intruded on their shaking the hands off me and steered me toward one of the chairs. Steuben himself sat in one, and he smiled as I approached. The gatekeeper's arms and parts of his face were covered in bandages, and he moved stiffly when he stood and held out one bandaged hand.
"I'm mighty glad for what you did for me, Miss Stevens," Steuben informed me as we shook hands.
"It was nothing, really," I insisted. I turned to the others with a smile on my face, but that was at seeing the unguarded entrance behind them. "You all didn't have to go to so much trouble to thank me. I only did what anybody else would have done, so why don't you go on with your party and I'll just go back to my cabin for a short nap?" I insisted.
I took advantage of the lull between my speech and their processing it, and slipped between them toward the door. My hand reached out for the knob, but a half inch from the handle it turned on its own. The door swung open and before me stood the ranchers, and one particularly large man at the head of the group of twelve. They wore thick, heavy red coats, dirty pants, and many sported whiskers. Nick pulled me out of the way and turned to the men. Behind them in the parking lot below the cabin were their trucks, and I was relieved to not see dogs in the cabs.
"Come in, gentlemen, come in," he invited them.
The ranchers tromped inside, and removed their coats and hats. The door shut behind them and I was trapped again as Nick handed me off to Olivia while he handled his new guests. "How was the hunting?" Nick politely asked the gruff fellows.
"No hunting yet, at least not without our dogs or that sun being down," the lead man replied.
"Your dogs? Whatever is the matter with them?" Priscilla asked him.
"They were tracking the wolf last night and found a scent that didn't agree with them. They've been sneezing all day, but I expect they'll be fine for the chase tomorrow," the man explained.
"You mean if there's a chase tomorrow," Nick chuckled.
"That's what we're hoping with all these traps, but my men and I will ensure the job with our rifles," the man told him. He glanced around the room at the other revelers. "I think someone told me this was a party for the girl that saw the wolf. I'd like to speak with her." I wanted to hide, but Olivia tugged on my arm and caught the man's attention.
"This is Miss Grace Stevens," Olivia spoke up as she presented me in front of the men.
The rancher nodded his head. "A pleasure to meet you, miss. My name's Ron McDonald." He offered his hand and I shook it. His grip was like iron, and had all the confidence of a man who knew his line of work and trusted his instincts.
"Nice to meet you," I returned.
"I was wanting to ask you a few questions about the wolf, if it's not asking too much," he requested.
"N-no, I suppose not," I replied.
"Good. If you'd follow me." He strode through the partiers and ranchers toward the front deck. I reluctantly followed him and Olivia looked like she wanted to come along, but McDonald's tone told everyone that this was to be a private conversation. We stepped through the sliding glass doors and onto the empty deck. Everyone else was inside enjoying the heating, food, and company. Ron led me over to the railing on the other side of the pool. There was a great view of the lake, but he wasn't interested in that as he leaned one side against the railing and looked me in the eyes. "I want to know everything you can tell me about this monster," he told me.
I didn't think him hitting the nail on the head of the werewolf was s
uch a great start. "Monster?" I repeated.
"Steuben gave me a description of the creature, and I saw a flash of it last night during our hunt. It isn't a wolf," he replied. His sharp eyes scrutinized my face as I felt the color drain from it. "What can you tell me about the creature?"
"I-I can't really say much. I didn't get a good look at it in the dark," I lied.
McDonald leaned toward me and narrowed his eyes. "You're lying. Don't lie to me."
I looked away at the last rays of the setting sun. The party had gone on longer than I thought, and as we stood there the darkness of night engulfed us. "I-I'm not lying, really." I was badly lying, and he knew it.
"I'm not going to play any games with you, Miss Stevens because this is serious. This creature is very dangerous. Do I need to remind you that it nearly killed that gatekeeper and you?" he pointed out.
I wouldn't be treated like an infant, so I turned back and scowled at him. "I was the one beneath that thing, so I damn well know how dangerous it is," I argued.
"Then tell me what you saw so my men and I can have a better idea what we're dealing with," he countered.
"I really don't know-"
McDonald reached into his pocket and pulled out a bullet. The unusual metal of the casing shimmered in the weak light. "Do you know what this is?" he asked me.
"It's a bullet," I snapped back.
"It's a silver bullet. My men and I each have a dozen of these, and we intend to use them when we have a promising shot," he informed me. My eyes widened and I lay a trembling hand on the railing. McDonald put the bullet back in his pocket and leaned toward me. "Now tell me if my men and I are wasting our bullets, or if my hunch is right," he demanded.
I was saved by the bell, or rather, by the howl.
Chapter 20
The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention and saluted my fear as the sound of the howl died away. McDonald straightened and his eyes swept over the calm, dark lake. I jumped and swung around when the sliding glass door swung open and one of the other ranchers stuck their head out.
