Walking Wolf Road (Wolf Road Chronicles Book 1)

by Brandon M. Herbert

  “Jacob, can I tell you a secret?”

  He didn’t answer, but I could tell he was listening.

  “But you have to promise not to tell another living soul; not Mom and Dad, none of your friends, no one, ever.”

  He looked at me, obviously thinking about it very hard, and then he nodded.

  “You have to say you promise, or I won’t tell you.”

  “I promise, I’ll never tell anyone, not no one, ever!”

  “Pinky swear?” He wrapped his little digit around mine and we shook.

  I sighed and let my eyes wander as I tried to think; how the hell was I going to explain this?

  Chapter 12 – All I Want for Christmas…

  The lead-grey sky hovered close to earth as the first tentative flakes thickened into a light blanket on Christmas Eve. I gnawed on a summer sausage as I walked past Mom in the living room.

  She looked up from her magazine as I passed, “Do you just walk around chewing on that thing?”

  “Myah, sho?” I answered around a mouthful of meat.

  She shook her head and looked at her magazine again, “Nothing, it’s just so… canine. You’ve been turning into such a carnivore lately.”

  I snorted, and then choked. My coughing helped disguise my laughter until I was safe behind my bedroom door. Oh, if only she knew! It’d be a miracle if I could look at her at all tonight without laughing.

  So far at least, Jacob seemed to be holding up to his promise.

  I smiled as I sat down on the floor of my room and wrapped the last of the presents. Geri had been difficult to shop for, but Loki told me he liked video games, so I got him the latest “blow anything that moves into bloody chunks” game.

  I wrapped Loki’s gifts and set them with Geri’s. And finally, with the sweetish tang of scotch-tape lacing the air, everything was done. The gifts for my family waited in a sack under my bed. I stacked the Pack’s gifts in my arms and carted them upstairs where I arranged them around the tree.

  I sat down in the chair by the window and admired our tree until my gaze drifted outside where little puffs of white drifted to the ground. I relaxed and smiled as I watched their lethargic one-way ballet. Christmas music played on the stereo and the aroma of cooking meat escaped from the kitchen.

  The harsh tone of the phone’s ringer startled me, and I growled as I snatched it and pressed the green button.

  “Hello?” I grumbled.

  “This is Officer Parker, is that you Jimmy?” a scratchy tenor replied over heavy background noise.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” I replied more civilly as I sat up, he was the cop who came over after Mom called in the fight. He asked how Jacob and I were recovering, and then gave me the court date for the trial once I’d found a pen. I clicked off the receiver and heaved myself out of my comfy spot and walked into the scent-drowned kitchen to write the court date on the calendar.

  “Who called?” Mom asked while shredding some smoked salmon with a fork.

  “Officer Parker, he called to give us the court date.” I wrote the time in on the calendar. “What are we going to do about Mr. Spritari?”

  “Leave that business to me honey, I’ll take care of it. Here, try this and tell me what you think?” She paused and offered me a cracker with her salmon spread on it.

  “Hm, it’s good Mom. Maybe just a splash more lemon juice though.”

  “Thanks.” A timer went off, and she reached over the stove to turn off a burner. “Dinner’s almost ready; can you set the table and fetch the boys? I think your dad’s in his office.” I bit my tongue and got to work.

  Fetch boy, fetch…

  Two taper candles—red and green per tradition—lit the room along with the ambient glow from the tree in the living room. I filled wine glasses for Jake and myself with sparkling apple cider, while John poured some wine for Mom and himself. I drowned in the smell of the food, and had to close my eyes and swallow a mouthful of drool.

  The food was divine, and I ate until my stomach reached the point of detonation. Though, I found just enough room to ‘help’ Jacob with the rest of his roast. His little belly bulged and he languished in his chair like the happiest slug alive.

  “Whew, stick a fork in me, I’m done…” I muttered and slouched in my chair.

  “About time,” John muttered, “I thought you were going to start gnawing on the table. You shouldn’t eat so much or you’ll get fat again.” He leaned back and sipped his merlot.

  I glared at him, “So, are you the pot and I’m the kettle, or is it the other way around? I thought you used to play football? I bet the only run you could make around that gut is from the sofa to the fridge.”

  His mouth twisted into a scowl and he leaned forward. He opened his mouth to retort when Mom cut him off.

  “John, Jimmy, stop it both of you!” Mom snapped and pointed at us with her fork, “I will not have you ruining Christmas for the entire family. If you don’t stop picking at each other, I swear I will slap the both of you.”

  I bit my tongue and hid my smile.

  We cleaned up the dishes and packed the leftovers, waddling like penguins around our swollen bellies. Then Jacob hounded John, “Dad! Dad! Can we go out and look at Dec’ies now?”

  ‘Dec’ies’ was Jacob’s word for decorations. Every year we drove around after dinner looking at the lights and decorations that other people put up for the holidays.

  We drove around for almost an hour before returning home and serving up Crimson Pie and eggnog for desert. John started a fire, and we took our favorite spots around the room.

  Jake passed out cold, curled up in his chair. I picked him up and carried him upstairs to his room. He woke halfway up and mumbled “Don’t forget to put out cookies for Santa…”

  “Don’t worry,” I smiled at him, “I’ve got it covered.” He was out again by the time I set him down in his bed. I pulled his shoes off and covered him, then kissed his forehead, “Sweet dreams, buddy.”

  I’d figured out Santa on my own when I was five, younger than Jake was now. He still believed though, and the world robs you of innocence far too early. I threw a dollop of salmon spread in the middle of a plate and surrounded it with crackers, and then set it on the mantle near Jacob’s stocking. I got ready for bed and said my goodnights, then went downstairs.

  I turned on the lamp beside my bed and read, while I tracked their movements upstairs with my phantom ears. Their footsteps finally tromped upstairs and went quiet. I finished my chapter and stuck the torn-off corner of one of my assignments in as a bookmark, then slid the bag of gifts out from under my bed and started up the stairs.

  My ears twitched as I heard another sound over my head, coming down the stairs. I pulled the shadows over myself on reflex, and crept out to peek around the corner into the living room.

  Jake crouched down by the tree and inspected the presents Mom and John set out. It broke my heart that his time was almost up. But still, I crept around the room to stand in the shadows by the cooling fireplace and covered my mouth to muffle the sound as I ‘ho ho ho’d quietly. Jacob gasped and looked at the fireplace, oblivious to me, and then dropped the present he was holding and bolted upstairs.

  I waited while one of the parental units opened the door to check on Jake and went back to bed before I stepped over to the tree and set my packages out; some of which were labeled, ‘To: Jacob, From: Santa’.

  I knew I would lose the war, but I would drag the battle out as long as I could. I took a bite of the dip on the mantle, and left a cracker with a bite mark on the plate.

  The muffled thud of feet overhead woke me as I blinked drowsily and yawned without bothering to keep my tongue inside my mouth. Painfully bright light pounded through my window, and I blinked repeatedly to clear my eyes. I snuggled deeper into the soft warmth of my blankets, and smiled until Jacob barreled down the stairs and jumped on me.

  “Jimmy, Jimmy, get up, get up! It’s Christmas, come on, get up!”

  Dear lord, give me coffee! Now!r />
  I sent him back upstairs and groaned as I pushed my covers back, put on my slippers and shuffled up the stairs.

  Mom was in the kitchen, as red-eyed as I was, standing by the coffee maker with a cup ready as the blessed black stream collected in the carafe. Well, one hurdle down.

  “Merry Christmas baby,” she smiled at me and yawned. The thumps of Jake herding John down the stairs drew my attention, and I watched as his eyes took in the new presents and the almost empty plate over the fireplace. He gaped for a moment, and then joined us in the kitchen while ‘good morning’s and ‘Merry Christmas’s were exchanged around the coffee pot.

  “You seem to be up awfully late,” Mom teased Jacob, “Usually you’re awake at five, jumping all over us!”

  “Yeah,” John added, as he accepted a steaming mug, “Makes me wonder if maybe somebody stayed up later than he should have?” He gave Jake a stern look, “You’re lucky Santa didn’t just pass you over.”

  I smiled and made Jake some hot cocoa, and we took our drinks into the living room with us. Mom retrieved our stockings from the fireplace and then we opened our presents, putting special emphasis on the ones from ‘Santa’.

  I got a lot of—badly needed—new clothes that actually fit, and John gave me “The Wolfman”, and told me again how it was the first scary movie he ever saw as a kid. I could only smile and scratch my head, knowing that somewhere under the tree was the same movie, which I’d gotten for him. He also gave me a couple of the cd’s on my list, and Mom gave me one of the books I’d asked for, ‘The Magic of Shapeshifting’. Fen had recommended it to me months ago, and I’d only remembered when Mom pestered me into making a list for her.

  “That one was pretty hard to find,” she muttered, “Getting into some weird stuff there Jimmy…”

  I just smiled, “Fen told me about it, there’s supposed to be some cool folklore in here. Everything else I read just sounds like the same thing over and over again.” I improvised as I read the summary on the back cover.

  When the oven timer went off, I started a fresh pot of coffee and set the table. Breakfast was slow; the kitchen glowed with sunlight, the ceiling washed with glare from the snow outside. After breakfast we all went our own ways, and I took the seat by the window and read while Jake played with his new toys in the living room.

  I cracked open pistachios, and held the book open with my elbow when the phone rang. I scowled and held the earpiece up with my shoulder as I cracked another pistachio, “Hello?”

  “Merry Christmas pup!” Loki yelled into the phone and I jumped.

  “Merry Christmas, I think you just ruptured my eardrum.” I muttered and switched ears so I could hear her over the ringing. Regardless, my phantom tail wagged at the sound of her voice.

  “That was just your first gift, when can I bring your others by?” she chirped.

  “I dunno, if they’re as painful as that first one, I’m not sure I want ‘em.” I chided.

  “Oh, don’t be like that; are you trying to say there’s absolutely nothing I could give you?”

  Strictly platonic, I reminded myself. “I guess swing by whenever, I’m just sitting around and eating.”

  “Seriously, that’s all you’re doing for Christmas?”

  “Yup,” I turned the page, “What can I say, I’m not exactly a shining example of normalcy.”

  “Aw, you’re just fuzzy! I’m desperate to escape the extended family, so I’ll be by as soon as I can talk Dad into loaning me the truck, ‘kay?”

  “Wait, but… what does fuzzy have to do with anything?”

  “See ya later!” click, tone.

  I set the phone down and almost made it to the end of the page before it rang again. Growling, I answered.

  “Hey Jimmy, its Fen.”

  My mood brightened again, “What’s up?”

  “Not much, you?” His voice sounded small over the phone, even though he was just a couple blocks away.

  “Reading my new book.” I replied and cracked another nut, “You know, I’ve got something for you if you wanna swing by.”

  “Oh… Uh, sure, I’ll be over in a minute.” He hung up and I almost set down the phone, but I paused and then punched in a series of numbers.

  The phone rang once, “Hello?”

  “Hey Geri, its Jimmy.”

  “Oh hey, Merry Christmas dude. Funny, I’d just picked up the phone to call you.”

  Damn Pack mentality…

  Fen arrived a few minutes later. The warm weather surprised me when I opened the door, and Jake begged Mom to let him play outside.

  “Stay out of the puddles!” she called as he bolted past us, dinosaurs in hand.

  I shook my head and led Fen into the living room. I pulled his presents out from under the tree and handed them to him, “Merry Christmas.”

  He stared at the present in his hands with a blank expression. When he finally looked up at me and smiled, it looked both sad and angry; but he quickly hid it all behind a mask. I wondered what he was hiding, but smiled back anyway when he thanked me.

  He sat down in the chair by the window and tore the crimson paper; slowly, almost hesitantly. I swallowed hard and worried. Did I do something wrong? What if he already has it? Is he unhappy with me, or his presents?

  He finished unwrapping and just stared at it a moment, then flipped it over to look read the back? “Where did you find this?” he whispered.

  I have my sources,” I said, and winked. Google, mostly Google… “Open your other one.” I prodded, nervous.

  Like you’re trying to impress him?

  ‘Shut up!’ I mentally hissed at the internal voice, which sadly wasn’t wrong.

  You want him to like you…

  I tuned it out as he picked up the book from the new age store in the Springs and opened it. His brow creased when he recognized it, “Wait, isn’t this—how’d you—?”

  “You shouldn’t underestimate my powers of observation, I nabbed it when Loki dragged you away.”

  “Wow Jimmy, this is…” he looked at me with a genuine smile this time, the corners of his eyes crinkled a little, “This is amazing, thank you!”

  Whew…

  “Merry Christmas Fen.”

  “Merry Christmas Jimmy…” he sighed and shifted in the chair so he could reach into his pocket, “Here, this is for you. I know it’s not much, but—”

  “Thank you,” I interrupted, and was a rewarded with a small smile.

  “Here, Merry Christmas.” he handed me a small package with Santa’s head folded over the corner on the paper.

  I tore the paper off and lifted the lid on the black box inside and something glimmered at me when the sunlight fell inside. I poured the box out into my hand and a supple chain flowed through my fingers like water; a small cross pooled in the center of my palm. Awareness tingled up my arm. Pure silver…

  “It seems Loki was playing both teams. When she dragged me upstairs, she suggested this. You’re Christian like Geri, so we thought it’d suit you better.” Sunlight glistened on the slightly flared ends of the cross’s arms. “This one seemed to have a rather potent effect on shifting energy. I figured it’d be good for you since you’re progressing so fast.”

  “Wow, thank you…” I spoke quietly. Considering his reaction to the price tag on the book, this must have cost him dearly. My chest felt tight, but I didn’t want to show too much emotion and embarrass him. I lifted the pentagram he’d given me over my head and held it out for him. I’d grown so accustomed to its presence and weight that for a moment I felt ungrounded, disconnected. I pooled it in my hand and handed it back to its rightful owner. I was only borrowing it after all.

  He looked at it for a moment, “Keep it.”

  “Are you sure—?” He interrupted me with a hand.

  “Yes, I’m sure. But put on your new one, I want to see how it looks on you.”

  Blushing a little, I slipped the pentagram into my pocket and tried to pull the new necklace over my head, but the chain was
too short. I looked at it puzzled.

  “It’s a choker Jimmy, it’s supposed to be that short,” Fen laughed.

  I frowned and started working on the clasp. I cut myself under my fingernail as I tried to fasten it behind my neck.

  “Fuck!” I hissed as it slipped again, and a fat crimson droplet formed under my nail. Fen laughed as I sucked the blood off and glared at him.

  “Instead of chuckling your ass off over there, how ‘bout you give me a hand instead? Jackass…” I snapped.

  Still grinning, he held out his hand. I gave him the necklace and turned around. He reached around my neck to hook it when there was a knock on the door. Automatically I yelled, “Come in!”

  The door opened and Loki’s voice came around it before she did. “Hey Jimmy, Merry Christ—oh!” Fen’s hands froze behind my neck. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide with surprise as an embarrassed flush spread through her cheeks. I realized how Fen and I looked together right now, and turned red as well. Please God, don’t let John come downstairs right now and see this…

  “Uh, hi Fen,” she said like she’d just been busted doing something bad. Her hands toyed with the wrapped box she carried. “Merry Christmas.” She said almost questioningly and flashed a nervous smile; I could almost see her ears laid back.

  “Merry Christmas Loki.” Fen replied with an unusually cold undertone. His hands moved again and within a couple seconds he was done. I angled my head down as far as I could to look at my new silver necklace, but could only feel it in the hollow of my throat.

  “How’s it look?” I knew right away that Fen was pissed about something, but his face didn’t look it at all. He smiled and everything, but I could almost taste his annoyance and frustration in the air. Weird.

  “It looks good on you, that chain’s a good length, so it shouldn’t get caught on anything and snap.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Uh, here Jimmy,” Loki stepped forward and handed me her package. “But don’t open it yet, I need to run out to the truck and grab Fen’s gifts,” she blurted and dashed back out the door.