by Strider, Jez
“This sucks.” Jak mumbled, joining her in the midsized car.
“It was your idea.”
He shot her a frown, reached into a shopping bag from the convenience store, and grabbed a bag of chips. “What does Kaden do anyway? Like for a job?” He crunched loudly on the snack then sucked the cheese off his fingers.
“I don’t know. Take care of the pack. His father owned a business in town. Some of the pack worked there. Made handcrafted, traditional knives and things. Tourists love that stuff.”
“What about your parents?” He asked.
Marala was anxious and irritable. She rubbed her eyes and leaned against the headrest. “Mom homeschooled the children whose parents wouldn’t let them go to public school. Dad was high pack. They’re protectors of the village. Make sure wild animals don’t hurt the weaker people or kids. Repair things… hunt if things gets rough.”
“And a hunter shot them?” Jak rolled down the top of the chip bag, the way the conversation was going appeared to make him lose his appetite.
“I was young. Eight. They were out for a run. Wolves do that. Helps with the stress. When they didn’t return, the pack went out and found the blood trail. The hunters were long gone with the bodies.” Mara hated recounting the memory, but the time for lies had passed.
“Sorry that happened. Who took care of you?”
“Everyone. I stayed with Levi and Elle. You’ll like them if they’re still around.” She turned her head to the side and studied Jak. “You okay?” She sure wasn’t. Thinking about her parents, the past, coming home. It was almost too much.
He nodded. “Yeah. It’s so quiet. No cars or police sirens.”
“Try to get some sleep.” She ruffled his hair and he swatted at her hand.
“I’m almost a wolf, Mom. You can’t do that.”
She kept the frown off her face, but only barely. “Goodnight, Jak.”
“’Night.” He slipped an ear bud in each ear and closed his eyes.
So much for the quiet.
Kaden let loose a slew of curses when a tree branch smacked across his face. He’d been tromping through the forest all day and night with no sign of The Wanderer. Kade hated all the mumbo jumbo about the moon, medicine men, and bonding. He believed in it, but despised being bound to it all. Maybe it was the lack of a stable counterpart to sate his lust. Or the ever present emptiness in his life. Half of him was gone. A normal wolf would have leapt off a cliff by now.
“Where are you, Wanderer?” He yelled loudly, sending lesser critters scurrying.
Nothing. Then a whisper all around him. “You know what to do. You’ve done it before.” The ghostly voice said.
“I am no longer the pathetic pup that came to you. As pack leader, I command you to reveal yourself.” Kaden kept his voice steady, though whispers in the woods would make almost anyone want to turn tail and run.
The Wanderer stepped through a cluster of maple trees. He wore a blindfold. His visions did not come from his eyes, but from within his mind. He was dressed in common clothing, offerings from the other wolves at his shrine. Kaden had never left any gifts.
“Pack leader? In title or action? All I hear is discordant howls among the pack.”
“I don’t have time for games.”
The man lifted one finger to his mouth. “Shh. Listen.” He held one hand up to his ear. “They don’t believe in you.”
Kaden growled lightly. “No, shit. You need to listen and tell me where to find the lost boy.”
“Where is your boy?” He sat down on the ground calmly.
“Safe with his mother.”
“Is he? Their return will split the wolves, but without them, you will never save the pack.” Wind blew through The Wanderer’s long, unkempt hair, a trail of leaves with it.
“They’re coming home?” Kaden drew in a sharp breath, relief flooded him, but then fear made him shiver.
“At the full moon, she will save them.”
“What does that mean!?” Kade screamed, the wind picking up. The leaves began to form into a whirlwind, blocking his path and vision when he tried to step toward the prophet.
“Run to them.” The words faded into a barely audible whisper. When the violent weather abated, The Wanderer had disappeared.
Kaden didn’t need to be told twice. He ripped off his clothing as he ran and shifted. The sun rose higher in the sky as he pounded through the forest at break neck speed. The village was no place for his family to be alone with the possibility of a traitor in their midst.
What am I doing? Taylor asked himself as he shoved his luggage into the overhead compartment and took his window seat. His investigative nature wouldn’t let go of the mystery of Marala and her ex.
After his trip to the massage parlor, he’d called his buddy and had him run the license plate number on Kaden’s Jeep. The vehicle was registered to an address in Tennessee. Taylor had never been there, but since Mara had a light drawl, he figured he was on the right track.
He had a great plan. Make sure she was okay, no domestic violence or anything going on, snoop around about the wolf stuff, take some pretty pictures of the scenery, and then get his ass back home. What harm could it do?
An attractive woman slipped into the seat beside him. “Hi.” She said shyly.
Like all women, she was immediately drawn to him. All women except for Marala. Maybe that was the real reason he had to find her. The opposite sex did not reject him and he was not about to give up without a fight.
“Hello?” Then a strange pecking sound.
Mara groaned a little. Why is someone at the door so early? Disoriented, she opened her eyes to see a man staring at her through the driver’s side window. A scream caught in her throat, but then she recognized him. He’d stepped back and she opened the car door, climbed out, and threw her arms around his neck.
“Levi!” Seeing one of her former foster parents made her happier than she’d expected.
Jak opened his door, looking groggier than his mother. He rubbed one eye with his left hand and yawned.
“You haven’t aged a day.” Levi’s gaze locked on Jak. “I’ll be damned. He looks like a young Kaden. And a little of you, too.” He smiled at Mara, releasing her from the hug and walking over to Jak with an extended hand.
“I’m Jak Dakota.” He shook the hand firmly, just as he had when he’d met his father.
“It’s an honor to meet the next pack leader.”
Mara sighed. “You don’t know that he’ll be leader.”
Levi shrugged while Jak looked on with a pale face. “There has been trouble, so he may not be. Either way, Kaden will be leader for a long time. Speaking of which, I was on my way to town to speak with some people. He told me to call and tell you not to come.”
“Go figure. Wants me to bring Jak home and then changes his mind. All he’s ever cared about was himself.” As her mother would have said, Mara’s face turned red as a pickled beet. Both men sensed the fury emanating off her and Jak wasn’t even a wolf yet.
“Miss Mara.” Levi called her as he had when she was a child. Never scolding, always soothing. “It would be best if you left. The leader is, well, volatile.”
Jak looked directly at his mother and shook his head. “No. We stay.” He pointed at the ground for emphasis.
“He’s right, Levi. As much as I hate to admit it, it’s time we returned.”
“Of course.” The wolf gestured to his truck on the other side of the log barrier. “Let’s gather up your things and I’ll give you a ride to the village. Afterward, I’ll return your rental car. It is a rental, right?”
Mara nodded. “Yes.”
She hefted a couple of trash bags out of the car, dodged Levi’s offer to carry them, and tossed them into the bed of the rusty bucket of a truck. Jak did the same. When the items had all been removed, Mara took a seat in the cab and Jak climbed into the back.
“The wolves will give him a hard time since he’s a city boy.” Levi said when he slid onto the torn
leather bench seat and shifted the truck into gear. It groaned in protest.
“I know, but he’s from a respected line of wolves. He’ll be fine.”
“You’re bloodline is not as... revered.”
Mara had heard that before. A red headed, fair-skinned, and green-eyed woman among a bunch of wolves descended from Native Americans stood out. “Just because my ancestors were not native to America does not mean they were not a loyal and loved bloodline.”
Levi nodded. “I didn’t intend to disrespect your lineage. Just reminding you of how some of the pack feels.”
“I shouldn’t have to remind you that I was chosen.”
“I remember. How did that work out?”
She held her tongue, knowing the fatherly figure meant well. “It’s yet to be seen.” What she meant by that, she didn’t know. Her intention was not to play the “chosen” card, especially so early, but if it kept people off Jak’s back… so be it.
Her scent nearly knocked Kaden out of form. The lusciously natural, sweet smell told him The Wanderer had been right long before his saw Marala. Kade burst forth from the forest and crossed his small town swiftly, charging straight for his front porch. The wolf, so stealthy in the dark, stood out like a large black shadow in the sunlight.
Mara, Jak, and Levi had been sitting on Kaden’s front porch in wooden rockers while they waited. When Kade growled, Levi jumped out of his chair and moved it in front of him as it the chair would stop the wolf from attacking.
Kaden sniffed at Mara. She smelled of fear and like Levi. Another threat vibrated in his throat and he took a step of warning toward his second in command.
“I’ll leave you alone. Things, uh, to do….” The beta lowered his eyes, not turning his back on the pack alpha until he was far enough away that he would be able to shift and maybe make it to his house in time.
Kade nudged Mara toward the door with his nose. She twisted the handle. It was unlocked. He was glad the stubborn woman knew better than to argue with him in his territory, his home turf.
“Dad?” Jak’s voice came out barely more than a whisper. In his rage, Kaden hadn’t paid any attention to his son. The wolf’s eyes softened a little, shocked by the moniker. He may have been Jak’s father, but he’d yet to prove he was any sort of dad.
“Everything looks the same.” Mara said softly when she walked inside.
Kaden had no interest in redecorating his parents’ long time home. Even if it was his house now. There were no small critters preserved by a taxidermist. Only a rival of equal strength was worthy of preservation in the house. A massive, black wolf, strikingly similar to Kaden, had been stuffed and mounted. The imposing creature stood in the corner of the living room. It was a constant reminder of the brutal deeds performed to maintain stability within the pack.
The rest of the house had normal cabin décor. Wooden furniture, deep maroons and greens rounded out the color scheme, and tons of photos. At the top of each doorway and window dreamcatchers hung. Not the kind from the flea market either. These were made by the female wolves of the pack with reverence and respect for the spirits.
Kaden scoffed before shifting into human form and walking stark naked to his bedroom without a word. Mara and Jak exchanged glances.
“Don’t worry. The wolf in us doesn’t always think logically.” Mara said to her son.
“Yeah. I’ll never be that aggressive.” He gulped.
“Probably not.”
Jak grimaced. “Not too thrilled about everyone seeing my equipment either….”
“Obviously your father has little qualms about it.” She rolled her eyes, but found herself envisioning Kaden’s tight butt as he walked down the hallway.
The lack of sleep and grimy feeling from not having showered made Kaden crankier than usual. And that horrible scruff was getting far too close to full on beard. He scratched at it angrily before pulling out a razor.
He cleaned up and then shaved slowly, careful to get rid of even the tiniest stray hair. As a wolf he could deal with being a mangy creature, not as a human. The aftershave burned, but he barely noticed the sensation. He inhaled a little, deciding he smelled presentable for his mate. Not that his natural aroma didn’t send her up the wall. He knew the effect it had on her. Hers did the same to him.
Hastily, he jerked on a pair of boxer briefs, relatively clean jeans, and a red sleeveless flannel patterned shirt which he left open in the front. His hair would have to air dry on its own because, even for Mara, a blow dryer was out of the question. He didn’t own one.
Mara and Jak stared at Kaden when he entered the room. “That’s better.” He smiled, but it felt odd with his mood, and he lost the expression.
“Quite the welcome home. Though, from what I understand you decided you didn’t want us in your life after all.” Mara said.
Kaden blinked a few times. “Why would you think that? I told Levi to call and tell you to wait because there’s been trouble.”
She didn’t look convinced. “The boy that went missing?”
He nodded. “Yes. He hasn’t been located.”
Jak hefted his backpack, redistributing the weight. Kaden glanced at his son, noting the boy looked unsure if he was welcome or not.
“Jak, sorry about out there. Levi’s scent was on your mother and I flipped out a little. I assume she hugged him or something, but it’s harder to think as the wolf.” He stepped toward the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We good?”
“Yeah, we’re cool.” He tried to sound confident. “Do you want us to leave?”
Kaden shook his head then looked to Mara. “Never.”
Her eyes lowered, not out of respect or fear, but from the needy intensity with which his eyes bore into hers. “Where should we stay?” She asked.
“Here, where else?”
“I thought Jak might get to know some people if he stayed in the bunks with the other unmated guys.”
“Normally I would agree, but I’d rather he stay here until we find the missing boy and he settles in.”
Mara bit her lip, but agreed. “I’ll stay with Levi and Elle, if they don’t mind. Do they have children yet?”
“Not for lack of trying. The births have dwindled to nearly none.” He almost ordered her to stay in his home, but thought better of it. “Please stay here. Jak can have Dad’s old office. You can have my room.”
“The couch will be fine for me. Thank you.”
“No, it won’t. Take the room. I rarely sleep in there.”
“Ah, other women keep you company elsewhere?” Mara asked.
Kade stepped toward her and grabbed her by the shoulders. The girl he’d loved had turned into a bitter bitch. It broke his heart. She shrunk away evidently fearful of what he might do to her. Instead of shaking her and slapping her face, which tempted him, he wrapped her in an all-encompassing hug. Warm water wet his bare chest. Was she crying?
He didn’t apologize again for all his mistakes, instead, he held her. His right arm opened wide. His son stepped closer and Kaden pulled the teenager into the embrace as well.
“None of that went as planned.” Mara threw open a cabinet in search of plates, didn’t find any, and tried two more.
Kaden had stepped out briefly after their uncomfortable emotional encounter. Jak was in the office, making it into his own room. His father had said he could change anything around he wanted. The room hadn’t been used in years.
Mara finally found the plates and placed three on the counter. Everyone, including her, was starving. She tried to distract herself from how stupid she was behaving by preparing the sandwiches. It didn’t work. Her head bowed down and she placed the knife flat on the counter, her hand resting on top of it.
I hate him. Tears threatened to spill again. The thought wasn’t a lie… exactly. She wanted to pound her fists against his chest and scream enough curse words to make a demon blush. So many years spent with anger. Shedding it was nearly impossible. And being home caused the original, sickening ache of be
trayal to twist her insides. Like a knife driven into her gut, an open wound in her heart.
I love him. She wrapped her fingers around the handle of the knife and held it in her hand. Loving him made her rage more than hating him. Her hand lifted and she stabbed downward, driving the blade into the cutting board. When she let go, the knife stood straight up on its own. She splayed her fingers and examined her palm. It was red from how tightly she’d been holding onto the handle.
“Mom, is that sandwich done yet?” Jak called out.
Mara frowned, taking hold of the knife again and tugging. It didn’t budge from the huge chunk of chopping block. “Not yet.” She yelled, trying to get back into motherly mode instead of that of an unstable psycho.
“This room is awesome.” He yelled, not coming into the kitchen.
After several more tugs, she finally dislodged the blade. “Great!” She drew in a tense breath and sighed.
“I found a bunch of neat stuff. Arrowheads, old books, and even some records. Didn’t see a record player, though.” He told her when he entered the kitchen.
“Why do you want to listen to a record when you have tons of music downloaded?” So long as she kept the conversation going, hopefully she could stop herself from freaking out again.
“Come on, Mom. It’s not the same. That crackle, the warm buzz, the sound not digitalized to perfection!” He sat down on a bar stool, treating the albums like revered treasure.
“If you say so.”
“Sweet!” Jak held up a copy of Abbey Road by The Beatles, showing Mara.
She finished making his sandwich and slid it across the bar. “That is a good one.” The plate barely bumped into the stack of records.
“Geez, watch the vinyl.” He snatched the sandwich and the records. “Thanks,” came out muffled since the bread blocked his mouth.
She laughed a little. The crazy kid could brighten her darkest moods. Good thing, too, because she had a lot of them.
Kaden, running on fumes and unfamiliar emotion, left the house to meet with the high pack. He hoped one of them had made progress because all he’d gotten was an ill omen from an annoyingly ambiguous, but always right, wandering man. The sun hurt his tired eyes and he groaned in frustration. He pushed the meeting hall door open. The wolves were in their usual seats, looking almost as tired as he felt.
