The Shadow Moon: Wolf Awakenings

by Caroline Frye

  Channing turns and storms into his office. “Just leave it the hell alone, Tala!” The windows rattle when he slams his door. There isn’t another sound. No one dares intervene.

  Things remain tense between us for the rest of the day. When I leave work that night, I don’t say bye to everyone like I normally do. Everyone heard us quarreling and everyone knows my business. I stomp out with Channing’s words burning in my mind, and a few choice words for him caught in my throat.

  Rafe is waiting for me when I leave the building, he pulls me aside. “Tala,” his voice lowers. “Don’t let it get to you…he’s short with everybody—he means well.”

  I shrug. “Um, don’t worry. I need a couple days off anyway.”

  “Just want you to know you have another friend here,” he says patting my shoulder.

  I thank him and start for the parking lot. Rafe seems like a nice guy. Channing can say all he wants. I’m not going to stop my investigation.

  CHANNING

  I am beside myself with way too much frustration to work--or even think straight. The entire office staff witnessed me being cut down by Tala. They heard us striking blows and most of it proved true. Yet, only I know the truth and it isn’t anything I wish to share. Not with my fellow officers or with Tala. Why doesn’t she listen to me and stay put out of the crime situation? She is too much of a rookie to jump in with both feet. She’ll end up hurt, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to fight her.

  Something about Tala draws me to her. I felt the attraction from day one. Her body, her smell, the way her words cut me like a knife. I can’t explain it yet, but she has a hold on me. A hold that try as I may, I can’t shake. The reality of it burns inside my gut like a wildfire. For fear that the wild attraction is such a hot flame that I may never put it out. And too, that I may never want to. This fire could end my career. It could end my freedom. And it could be the death of me.

  When I jumped into the pack to save her, I knew I would willingly trade my life for hers. That character, Ian, has set his eyes on her, but he’s not going to get her. I’ve been keeping a tab on her; in the woods and at the club. I saw them on their way home last night. If Ian thinks he can step in and turn her head, he’s crazy. This town isn’t big enough for the both of us—I have him in my sights.

  TALA

  On my way home, after my run in with Channing at the station, I stop at the local bake shop and grab some coffee and extra creamer. I pick up a couple of mugs. Gracie likes to collect them. Although, I’m not sure why—they are mustard yellow and look like most other cups, but Gracie has weird tastes, so I grab the cups and jump in line.

  While I’m in line at the checkout, I bump into one of the cops investigating the recent killings. It’s a cop I haven’t talked to before and he’s also got a coffee and is smiling down at me like I’m a jelly filled donut.

  I smile back and strike up a conversation about the deaths and disappearances. I learn his name is Fletcher, and I ask him about the case. “Have you gotten any leads?” I ask casually, stirring creamer into my coffee.

  Fletcher sighs and takes a sip of coffee. “Nothing yet,” he says. “Clues don’t appear overnight. It usually takes a lot of digging around. Sometimes a clue will just appear from out of nowhere when you’re least expecting it.”

  I take a small sip and lean forward smiling. “Now surely, Channing has an idea or two about what’s happening, but he won’t tell me a thing.”

  Fletcher diverts the conversation and tells me all about Will Channing. Who his family is, when he became police captain, etc. I know what Fletcher is doing, but I listen intently to learn more about my boss and about Fletcher. Clues come from everywhere, and who knows, I might just learn something that will come in handy for later, so I let him talk.

  We finish our coffees and I’m ready to get going, but Fletcher asks if he can buy me a second coffee. We talk for hours.

  I feel good for once. I know I’m not supposed to talk about this stuff but the fact that he’s talking to me about it anyway makes me feel special, especially after what Channing said. Discussing the case with someone makes me feel like I’m contributing.

  When Fletcher asks to know more about what Channing has been doing to investigate the deaths my guard goes up and I become slightly suspicious.

  Time to pull out the dumb rookie card. I nibble my lip, smiling. “Uh, I’m not really sure. He has everyone at the station working on the case, except me. I think he has a lead, but he won’t share so...I haven’t seen you around much, what exactly are your duties? If you don’t mind me asking?”

  Fletcher’s eyebrow goes up, and he almost stutters. “I ahhh...I’m just sort of an informant. You know, usually in plain clothes looking incognito.” He grins again, but then he grabs his cup and stands. “It’s getting late, I’ve got to get going. I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time.”

  I say my goodbyes and head home feeling much better but wondering what Fletcher had hoped to learn with all the questions. He didn’t fool me for a second, his friendly actions were all pretense. He was fishing for something. Perhaps he’s in with the stranger that threatened me? Either way, he’s now high on my list of suspects.

  By the time I leave, I know a lot more than I did when I first came into the shop. Fletcher was a very talkative character, but when I looked into his eyes, I sensed he knew more than he was telling. When I get home, I grab a drink and quickly make notes about the evening. With everything he told me, it would fill a chapter in my notebook. And there’s a possibility he will have more than one chapter. I didn’t believe everything he said. First, I’ll see what the other cops have to say about this new officer.

  When I get to the Witherfell police station the next morning, my stomach churning remembering the quarrel. I’m hesitant to go inside after my encounter with Channing the previous evening. I’m afraid of what I might say if he speaks to me. But after a moment of reflection I draw in my horns and march into the station full of determination and hope that the day will be better. I’m taken by complete surprise when Channing comes over. He leans in so close to me I smell his aftershave—and apologizes. His breath mingles with my own. He draws closer… and hesitates, as if savoring the smell of me. I catch my breath…and pull away slowly, as if caught in a dream. I hear him speaking. My eyes flash, and I nod. But…for a moment it’s as if I’m caught in his spell. I watch his lips move, imagining them pressing against my own. A sigh escapes my lips, and I take a step back and pull myself together.

  “I didn’t expect you to get so involved, but I understand that you just want to help. I just worry that something might happen to you. After all, something wild is prowling around killing people. I don’t want one of those people to be you.”

  I nod again.

  I’m shocked by his straightforwardness concerning his feelings for me—that was utterly out of the blue. I hadn’t noticed how blue his eyes are until now. A soft and cool like the morning sky. Our lips are so close they nearly touch, and for a moment my breath catches in my throat. I could totally start to like him...fall for him. But I dismiss the thought almost instantly and step back, catching my breath.

  “I’m sorry too. I know I can get impassioned about a topic. And I don’t mean to have anyone worrying about me or getting upset about me. I’m a big girl...I can take care of myself.”

  I don’t need a babysitter, or a man. What I need is space to figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. And I need time alone to think about what I want. I can’t let anything stand in my way, not my job or Will Channing. No matter how much I’m attracted to him.

  After Channing and I have cleared the air we walk our separate ways and get back to work. Channing in his office. Me doing my own private investigation by casually questioning one officer—then another. I gain very little information about the stranger. No one seems to know anything about him. Which is super odd.

  Just as we are finishing up for the day to leave the station, the cop I was talkin
g to the night before, Fletcher comes into the station dressed in full uniform looking serious.

  He calls me over and thanks me for talking to him last night. As he talks, I give him a good look over, searching for any clue I can find. He explains that he’s an investigator and has been assigned to the case involving the recent murders. He looks and acts like the real thing. He says someone saw a man matching Channing’s description. “Where were you last night?” he asks Channing.

  Taken by surprise, Channing scowls trying to think quick. He gets a confused look on his face. “I...was home.”

  “And you live near Trundledown Bridge, right?” Fletcher asks, looking around the office at the other officers. They shake their heads, so he reaches in his pocket and pulls out his handcuffs. “Then I have no choice, since you were near the scene and at the moment—my only suspect.”

  Before I can object, he turns to Channing and arrests him on the suspicion of murder.

  Chapter 10

  TALA

  I can’t believe that Channing has been arrested—and by Fletcher. There is just no way that Channing is a killer. He couldn’t possibly have done something like that. Not a decent guy like him. Sure, he’s hard-headed and physically strong enough to pull it off, but he’s not a killer. The station will be without a captain without Channing. That means no one to dish out orders or keep a check on the other officers. So instead of going to work, I head over to the spot where they found the body, hoping I might get lucky and find a clue. The cops did a thorough sweep of the land but didn’t find anything and chances are slim that I will find something, but I must help Channing.

  I drive my bike to the site, it’s faster. The sun has gone down and I breathe in the musky smell of the woods. The forest is so dense, it’s nearly impossible to see anything beneath the large trees. I don’t give up but find a long stick and use it to search meticulously through the weeds, keeping my eyes and ears open for anything that moves but the night air almost roars with the chirping of crickets—it’s difficult to concentrate. As expected, I don’t find anything, but I do notice that there are fresh wolf tracks over the ground on top of the ones that I assume have been made by the police. I see the tracks are heading off into the distance, and I follow them.

  Even though it’s the edge of dark and beginning to rain, as usual, I take off half-cocked into the woods. I enjoy the woodsy smells and bugs chirping, but I can almost hear Gracie telling me to turn back and come home, but the investigation is up to me. I also know what Channing would say if he knew, but I don’t care. I’m the only one trying to save his sorry ass, so he might as well give up on giving me orders. I wade through underbrush, climb over rotting trees and rush headlong through the trees. If the wolves have anything to do with the recent killings I mean to find out.

  I follow the tracks until everything grows pitch dark. I can barely see where I’m stepping. Realizing that I have gone way farther than I intended, I stop and look around. Night has filled the woods, hugging me in a grip of blinding darkness. The path is barely visible and I’m not sure which way to go back. Why do I always take off on wild treks in the wood without thinking it through? Now I’m lost again. And this time...no one knows where I’ve gone.

  But if I don’t find the murdering culprit, who will?

  Caught in a panic, my heart pounds against my ribs. A cold shiver crawls up my arms and down my back. I should have left a message to let someone know where I was going. Once again, I realize my mistake too late. I turn and hurry through the trees, running blindly, feeling twisted limbs reaching out to grab me. When I find where the footprints lead, I hear familiar growling sounds and turn. Red eyes blink through the thick darkness. The hungry growls of wolves jar me to my senses, but when I realize, they see me...I freeze.

  No one can help me now, not even Grams. She would probably scold me if she were alive. Nor Channing, I know what he would say—'What the hell! I told you not to go into the woods alone, Tala.’ But now, he’s locked up in a cell tighter than a tomb. And I’m trapped like an animal with only a few inches between me and a pack of wolves flashing sharp teeth of death.

  CHANNING

  At the Witherfell police station, hunkered in a small cell with a toilet and a bed, I pace the floor like a wild animal caught in a trap. I know I have been framed. I hope someone will figure out what the heck is going on and rescue me before it’s too late. I never killed anyone, but I can’t let anyone know where I really was, it will be incriminating too. What can I say that will set me free? That I’m innocent? I’m a shapeshifting wolf! And last night during the killing, I was running through the woods in my wolf form?

  I don’t know why I’ve been locked up or who ordered it. But I’m sure there’s someone trying to disrupt the investigation—someone who knows me. But why do that, unless they are behind the killings? Maybe they have something much worse planned and want me out of the way. I must get out of here, and fast. My officers need me, especially Tala. If the officers get into a mess with the killers, Tala will undoubtedly be the first one killed. She never knows when to stop.

  I can barely breathe, recalling my apology to her earlier that morning. We were so near our breath mingled. Our heartbeats became one. I felt something for her, and I’m sure that she felt it too. We had been so near, that I felt the warmth of her body, and the scent of her hair still lingers in my mind promising something exciting and wonderful.

  I must break out of my own jail.

  Chapter 11

  TALA

  In the massive clearing, deep in the shelter of the woods the wolves continue their growling as they stalk around me like ravenous beasts. The growls grow deep in their throats, crawling upward and becoming longer and more vicious with each second. Long sharp teeth gleam like white daggers in the moonlight. The savage beasts move together encircling me, raising and lowering their heads. They sniff my scent, waiting for the right moment to pounce from the thick darkness of the trees.

  I sense and can feel their desire. My senses go on high alert. I smell the wolves and the fear of them makes my blood run cold. I smell their wildness and their yearning for blood. Terror grips my body. My heart pounds in my head like a drum at an execution, hammering every nerve ending. My mouth is dry. I swallow slowly, trying not to antagonize the wolves. I hope to make it out of here, but the wolves have my scent, and they are working themselves into a hungry frenzy. They’re only waiting for the right moment to attack. If just one of them makes a move—they will all jump me.

  The wolves grow fiercer and bolder. Their hungry, blood-thirsty jaws and sharp, bone-crushing teeth shine in the moonlight craving blood. Thinking that my end is near, my body trembles with a chilling feeling of doom. All hope sinks. Then suddenly, something inside me changes. My emotions disappear, and my spirit takes over. My body becomes cold, my heart slows—and an unusual coolness clouds all fear from my mind.

  I become unafraid as a calmness deep within my soul comes to the surface. My nostrils flare like the nostrils of a wild animal. A bold, new fierceness masks the face of the person that I was—weak and afraid. Not even my eyes are my own but that of a crazed beast, as the hair on my arms and legs bristles.

  They circle me, sniffing the air, snarling and growling. They leap toward me with deep piercing eyes, bristled fur and saliva dripping from their fangs. I sprint for the nearest tree, clinging to it and climbing it in ways that I didn’t know I was capable of—my nails digging into the bark, my legs clutching the tree. Now my heart beats out of control. An invisible surge of strength empowers me. It burns with electric fierceness into the muscles of my arms and legs. My eyes blaze with blinding light. The night becomes as bright as day. I cling to my human form as a burst of energy leaps through me. I’m seeing everything around me through the eyes of my inner wolf.

  Next thing I know, I leap between them. I kick the wolves in the face, knocking them against tree trunks, fighting with all the power of my inner wolf. The wolves are yipping and howling in pain, but they don’t intend
to give up on their fresh meal. Bones break, blood spills, and pain devours them, but they keep coming.

  I’m not sure how, but I’m pretty sure that I managed to break the jaw of one of the wolves. I can’t stop myself. The all-consuming power inside me makes me sends them flying through the trees. I’m not in control of my body, whatever it takes to get the job done...to escape the wolves.

  Blood streams down my cheeks and runs down my shirt and arms like water. I can’t stop until the wolves tuck their tails and run off into the forest.

  I lean against a tree and slump to the ground, exhausted and bruised. I wipe blood from my face, relieved to have survived. They would have killed me too...if I hadn’t morphed into Wonder Woman. Where had the savagery came from?

  I stagger to my feet and stand quietly, squinting into the forest, listening. There are no sounds of any kind. The wolves are gone. I dart back toward the field where I’d left my bike. I run without looking back, tearing through the darkness, stumbling through the brush and mangled roots. The darkness becomes a blur, nothing matters except to get far away from the woods as quickly as possible.

  Exhausted and bleeding, I head to the emergency room. When I stagger into the hospital all eyes are on me. They see a girl that’s bloody and wounded and hurry to my side. I’m seen immediately. But at first there’s a hold up. The nurses talk to the doctor about something on my chart. I hear them whispering and catch the word ‘Rhnull.’ I’m not sure what the big deal is, and I don’t care. I want to get out of there and talk to Grams. I want to tell her about the wolves and what happened to me. While the doctor stiches me up, he tells me how foolish I was to venture into the woods on my own.