Werewolf Defender

by Marisa Chenery

  She smiled. “I guess.”

  “We’ll eat, then all three of us will put our heads together. Surely you, your mom and I can think of a way to get John to overturn his decision. And if we can’t, then, as I said before, there are others here who look up to Calan. If there are enough of us, John will have to listen.”

  Jerrica could only hope. All she could think about was Calan out there beyond the walls with only a small cave for shelter. She wouldn’t feel better until she saw him again. She was positive he’d be at the field tomorrow morning.

  * * * *

  After leaving the settlement, Calan had gone for a long run to calm his anger. Damn John and his spoiled daughter. If not for them, he’d be at Jerrica’s place, eating dinner with her and her family. Being separated from her wasn’t going to help with what he was going through, either.

  Ever since the night he’d dreamed about the spirits, the urge to bite Jerrica to turn her had increased with each day that went by. Yesterday at his cabin when they’d ended up on his bed, he’d come close to doing just that. If he hadn’t pushed himself away, he would have shifted to wolf form and sunk his teeth into her neck.

  She was the one, his mate. Having to leave Jerrica behind, knowing he couldn’t see her whenever he wanted, brought home the fact that he’d fallen for her. Calan couldn’t picture going back to his old life, especially when there was a way to have her with him forever.

  Calan slowed his pace when the scent of a rabbit hit his nose. It didn’t take him long to pick up where the aroma had come from and zero in on where the animal was. It was going to be his dinner. He’d lost count of how many rabbits he’d eaten over the years.

  The chase was over almost before it began, with Calan the victor. With his meal firmly in his mouth, he headed for the cave he’d taken Jerrica to. He set the rabbit down, then shifted to his human form. After a quick trip back outside to gather enough wood for a fire, he skinned and dressed his dinner. He used the small jackknife he’d traded a deer for from the settlement’s blacksmith the other day. He also used it and his flint to get the fire going. He cooked the rabbit over it.

  As he ate, he thought of Jerrica once more and the way she’d stood up to John. It made Calan smile. It’d been a long time since someone had tried to protect him that way. He was so used to being the one who did the protecting.

  Even though John had ordered him away from the settlement, that didn’t mean Calan wouldn’t patrol around its walls or go on the hunt for zombies that were too close for comfort. As long as Jerrica was there, he’d do everything he could to keep her safe, even allowing himself to get kicked out.

  When John had threatened to throw Jerrica out to get Calan to leave, a small part of him had thought it’d solve his problem about telling her what she was to him and how he wanted to turn her. Unable to go back to the settlement, it was the best thing to keep her protected from the zombies. He never would have allowed that to happen, though. She deserved to make that choice without it being forced on her by anyone.

  As Calan finished his meal then took the remnants outside and buried them a short distance away from the cave, he made the decision that he had to tell Jerrica what the spirits had told him. The sooner she knew, the sooner she could make her choice, and he’d know whether or not he’d get to keep her as his.

  Chapter Ten

  The next morning Jerrica was one of the first to walk through the gates and head for the fields. She scanned it, looking for Calan. Seeing him standing in wolf form a short distance away, she broke into a run, not caring what anyone else thought. She’d hardly slept during the night since she’d been worried about him.

  As she came closer, he shifted to human form, then held open his arms for her. Jerrica ran into them and held him tightly as he gathered her close and kissed her as if it’d been a year instead of not even a day since he’d seen her last. She clung to him as well. Now that she was with him again, she could admit most of her sleepless night had stemmed from a small part of her that had worried Calan had left for good.

  Once he released her mouth, she said, “You stayed.”

  He smiled. “Of course I did. I told you I would. I’d never leave you like that.”

  The sound of someone clearing their throat had Jerrica pulling away from Calan and turning to see who it was. It was Mathias. She prepared herself to have a fight with him if he thought to send Calan away. It turned out not to be necessary.

  Mathias smiled. “It’s good to see you, Calan. I’d hoped I would.”

  “I take it you’re not going to tell me I have to leave.”

  “No. Unlike our fool of a leader, I know you did nothing wrong and don’t deserve being kicked out of the settlement. You’re more than welcome to stay. That way I know all of us who are working out here will be safe.”

  Jerrica returned Mathias’ smile. “Good, because I was all prepared to fight you on it if you felt differently.”

  “Did you now? I have a feeling I would have lost. You’re a tough opponent, my girl. The two of you can patrol as you usually do.” Mathias headed to the rest of the workers.

  Once they were alone, Jerrica said, “My dad is going to talk to some of the settlers who have issues with John’s leadership to see what they can do about getting you back inside the walls.”

  “That’s nice of him, but I doubt John will change his mind. It’d make people question his leadership.”

  “If they aren’t already doing that now. We might be isolated here, but the story of the Werewolf Defender reached us long ago, when those who escaped the cities found the settlement then stayed. You became a legend. John tried to put you in a bad light, which hopefully will backfire on him.”

  Calan put his arms around Jerrica’s waist and tugged her around to face him. “When I awoke after being turned, the cities—what was left of them—were the first places I went to save the ones who’d bugged in instead of bugged out. Back then, they were lucky to have survived. I guess I saved enough of them that word spread about me. I don’t know who first called me the Werewolf Defender, but it stuck. Soon people knew who I was and stopped freaking out when they saw me arrive in my wolf form.”

  “I knew who you were as soon as I saw you. And I definitely wasn’t freaked out by you. I was about the zombies, though.”

  “Well, I couldn’t tell. You looked calm and steady as you shot your arrows. Unlike Becca, who only stood there and screamed when in the same situation.”

  “I don’t want to talk about her. It just makes me mad.”

  Calan brushed his lips across hers. “No more talk about Becca or John. I’m happy to be with you again.” He grew serious. “Will you come with me to the cave at the end of the day? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

  “Sure. When we head to the orchard, I’ll get my dad to ask my mom if she can pack us some food to take with us. She can meet me at the gates when the others go inside.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Can I talk to Jerrica for a minute?”

  Jerrica stepped out of Calan’s arms and turned to find Austin standing behind her. “Hey, Austin. I guess you can talk to me.”

  “Thanks. And, Calan, I saw how you and Jerrica saved Becca. You did what was necessary to save her. I think it’s totally unfair what John did to you.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Calan looked at Jerrica. “I’m going wolf. I’ll meet you over by the targets.”

  Jerrica watched Calan shift then head to the part of the field he’d indicated before she turned to Austin. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “I wanted to see how you were holding up. I was ready to wring John’s neck when he threatened to kick you out of the settlement to get Calan to leave.”

  She chuckled. “You would have had to stand in line behind my father. I’ve never seen him so angry.”

  “Which is understandable. You’re his child. I’d feel the same way if it were my kid he wanted to put in danger for no other reason than to thr
ow his weight around.” Austin paused. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear this, but remember, I’m here for you. If things don’t work out between you and Calan, I still want to be more than friends.”

  “I know, but right now I’m with Calan, and I can’t see us not working out.”

  “So you’ll leave with him when he goes?”

  “I don’t know. We really haven’t talked about that.”

  Austin stepped closer. “What can he offer you, Jerrica? Now he’s not even allowed inside the settlement. How’s that going to work? I know you don’t feel for me the same way you do him, but I at least can give you a stable life. You wouldn’t have to worry that I’d one day just up and leave.”

  Jerrica sighed. “Austin, stop. You pushing me like this isn’t going to have me leaving Calan for you, not that I would.”

  He searched her face. “You love him, don’t you?”

  “I think so.”

  “Then I’ve already lost you.”

  “I was never yours to lose in the first place. Look, Austin, I want us to be friends. Don’t let this thing between us drive us apart.”

  “I’ll try, but I can’t promise you anything. I’d better get to work before Mathias starts cracking the whip at me.”

  Jerrica blew out a loud breath after Austin walked away. She turned and headed to Calan, who was waiting for her. Her place was at his side.

  * * * *

  Just before the lunch wagon was to arrive, Jerrica and Calan had gone to the orchard to talk to her father. He’d been happy to see Calan. It’d taken a little convincing on Jerrica’s part for her dad to feel comfortable with her going off with Calan at the end of the work day. After she’d explained about the cave and how Calan’s scent seemed to mask hers from the zombies while she was around him and he was a wolf, he’d reluctantly agreed. He’d even agreed to talk to her mom about packing a meal for them.

  Hunter, who’d been working with their father, had voiced his opinion on what he thought of John and his verdict to keep Calan out of the settlement. Her brother had promised he’d be more than happy to go along with their dad when he went to talk to the other settlers about trying to sway John.

  After that, Jerrica and Calan returned to the fields. The lunch wagon had arrived while they’d been gone. They joined the last of the line that had formed. Once they reached the front, she held out her hand for her lunch, which she was given. She then held out her other to take Calan’s. Maria, the woman who always made the lunches for the workers and delivered them, shook her head.

  “It’s not for me,” Jerrica said. “It’s for Calan.”

  Maria gave her an apologetic look. “I know. Sorry. I’m not allowed to give him anything. John made it very clear that I wasn’t supposed to feed the Werewolf Defender. Calan was kicked out of the settlement, so John said not to.” She leaned closer to Jerrica and Calan and said quietly, “John wasn’t happy to learn Calan came to the fields today, but he knows he can’t do anything about it since it’s outside the gates. Myself, I’d gladly give Calan something to eat, but John is on the walls, watching.”

  Jerrica peered in the direction of the settlement. She could make out the figure of their leader standing on top the walls. She looked back at Maria. “I can see that. Don’t worry about it. Calan and I will share. John can’t stop me from giving away my lunch.”

  Maria smiled. “No, he can’t. That being the case, I’ll make you a bigger sandwich tomorrow.” She winked.

  Jerrica and Calan walked away then headed for their lookout spot. She took a seat on the grass before she opened her sandwich. She held out half of it to him. “Here, you can have this.”

  Calan shook his lupine head. “It’s all right. You eat it. I can skip lunch today.”

  “You shouldn’t have to. John is being an a-hole. I can’t believe he told Maria not to give you any food.”

  “He’s doing it, thinking it’ll drive me away, which isn’t going to work. I can provide for myself.”

  “I still don’t like it. Has this ever happened to you before? Has a leader of a settlement kicked you out of it?”

  Calan shook his head again. “No. John’s the first. Most of the time, they hate to see me go.”

  “As it should be, since when you come to a settlement, it means the risk of zombie attacks goes down. The way John has acted, I’m beginning to think Becca comes by her bad behavior honestly.”

  “It looks that way, doesn’t it?”

  Jerrica lifted half her sandwich toward Calan again. “You’re going to eat this, and I’m going to insist you do. I’ll be fine with the other piece. Tomorrow I’ll bring something from home, just in case Maria forgets to make my sandwich bigger.”

  “Fine, if you insist.” Calan used his teeth to take the half from her hand, then gobbled it up in two bites. “Happy now?”

  Jerrica smiled. “Yes. And thanks for not mistaking my hand for food. The way you ate that, I’m surprised you even tasted it.”

  “If I was in human form right now, I’d be rolling my eyes, just so you know. Eat your food already.”

  She took a big bite of her half of the sandwich and chuckled.

  * * * *

  Calan waited a short distance away from the settlement’s gates as the workers left the fields for the day. Jerrica was in the front of the group. He decided not to go with her, since John was once more on top the walls. Calan figured the leader wanted to make sure he didn’t try to go inside with the others—not that he would. He wasn’t about to put Jerrica in the middle of it, and he was sure that would happen if he set foot—or paw—through the gates.

  From where he sat waiting, Calan had a good view into the settlement. He was able to see Jerrica meet with her mother. They spoke briefly before Jerrica’s mom handed her the basket she held. After a hug, Jerrica turned and headed out the gates.

  Once Jerrica reached him, Calan lowered to the ground to make it easier for her to climb onto his back while holding the basket. After she did, he rose to his paws and took off in an easy run toward the cave.

  After they arrived, he waited for Jerrica to slip off his back before he shifted to his human form. Calan set to work gathering some wood and getting a fire started. He once again used his jackknife and flint to get the tinder lit.

  “When did you get the knife? I recognize it as Austin’s father’s work.” Jerrica unfolded the blanket her mother had included in the basket, and she spread it on the ground.

  “Shortly after we first came to the cave and I had to use your arrow to start the fire. I figured I should have a knife.”

  “I know you had the flint before you came here. How did you light a fire if you didn’t have steel?”

  “I did have another knife, but I gave it away to someone who I thought needed it more than I did, at the other settlement I was at before yours.”

  “And how far away was it from here?”

  “It took me a week to travel between the two places.”

  “So how did you cook your food while on the road?”

  Calan grinned. “I didn’t.”

  “What about meat? Any game you caught, you’d have to cook.”

  “In my wolf form, I can eat it the way a real wolf does.”

  “I don’t think I want to be around when you eat like that. That sounds disgusting.”

  He laughed. “I don’t do it very often—only when I need to. You’ll be happy to hear I cooked the rabbit I caught yesterday for dinner.”

  Once Calan had the fire really going, he sat on the blanket next to Jerrica. She’d already taken the food her mother had given them out of the basket. This time it was a venison stew with dumplings. There was even some iced tea for them to share.

  He couldn’t help watching Jerrica as she ate. She was gorgeous, and he doubted he’d ever get sick of looking at her. He was nervous about having to tell her what the spirits said she was to him. Calan wasn’t at all sure how she’d take the news.

  “You’re quiet all of a sudden,” Jerrica sai
d.

  “Sorry. I was thinking about what I want to tell you.”

  “Do you want to say it now while we eat?”

  “No, we can finish our meal first.” Calan took a sip of his drink. “I didn’t ask before, but what did Austin want this morning?”

  “You couldn’t hear what we said from that distance?”

  “No, you were too far away.”

  Jerrica smiled. “I’ll have to remember that if there’s ever a chance I want to keep something a surprise for you and want to tell someone else. As for what Austin wanted, he once again reminded me he’d be there for me once you left. He said he still wants me to be his.”

  “And of course you turned him down.”

  “Of course, but I think this time he may have finally come to the conclusion that I’m going to stay with you.”

  “Why is that?”

  Jerrica looked down at her plate on her lap, then back up at Calan. “Well, he asked me if I was in love with you, and I basically said…yes.”

  Calan put his hand on the back of Jerrica’s neck and tugged her closer, so their lips met so fast he almost dumped his food onto the ground. He kissed her, letting how he felt for her rise to the surface.

  After he released her lips, he smiled. “I love you too.”

  “You do?” she asked a bit breathlessly.

  “Yes. And now knowing you feel the same way about me as I do you, it’s going to make what I have to say to you a lot easier.”

  Jerrica set her plate close to the fire. “You might as well tell me now. The fire should keep our food warm.”

  “All right.” Calan placed his plate next to hers then took a deep breath. “Okay, here it goes. Do you remember asking me if I’d ever heard the chanting again, like I did when I was turned?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I did…recently.”

  “When?”

  “It was that night when I first brought you to this cave, and you said you’d be my girlfriend. While I slept, I had a dream vision. That’s the best way I can describe it. I was dreaming then they came.”