by Cheree Alsop
“She’s been through a lot,” I said. I wondered why I felt the need to defend her, and questioned why I also felt I could trust the strangers around me.
“You both have,” Roger replied, sympathy in his eyes.
I glanced at Jaze. He knelt so he was at eye level. “You know you can trust us. Listen to your instinct. Everything will be okay.”
I took a deep breath and nodded.
“Let’s get you to the table,” Roger said. He reached down and helped me to my feet.
I refused to let go of Grace. I gathered her in my arms and limped slowly down the hall after the Hunters. It felt like a hallway out of a nightmare where the door kept getting further and further away. I knew it was the fever, and I was on the verge of collapse by the time I reached the room. I stumbled against the door, but strong arms took Grace from me while others carried me to the table. I looked over to see Jaze and Mouse make Grace comfortable on a cot in the corner.
“I’ll give you something to knock you out. It’ll be easier that way,” Meg said. Her eyes echoed that it would also be safer, but my mind screamed against being someone else’s plaything again, helpless and unable to defend myself.
I shook my head. “I can’t go under. Is there something else you can do?”
Meg gave an exasperated sigh and met Jet's eyes across the room. “One of your minions?” she asked, almost teasing. He shook his head and lifted an eyebrow at me questioningly.
“I don’t know you, any of you,” I explained apologetically. “I promised I’d look after Grace, and after the labs-“
“It’s alright,” Meg cut me off. “I’ll use a local and inject the area so you won’t feel it. You werewolves and your tough acts.” She shook her head and motioned for me to roll over on the table.
I did as I was told and gripped the curved metal edges when something cold was sprayed on the back of my calf, then the prick of a needle followed.
“You’re going to feel some pressure,” Meg said, her voice professional and even.
I wondered how many times she had removed bullets, then my thoughts were shattered by a biting pressure in my calf followed by the scent of infection and blood. The contents of my stomach rose in my throat. I clenched my teeth and tried to swallow.
“They got you good,” Meg said with a clank of metal instruments. More pressure followed and I shut my eyes.
Roger put a hand on my arm and squeezed reassuringly. “It’s alright. She just has to get the bullet out, clean it, stitch it, and you’ll be done.”
I pictured shiny metal prongs poking around for the bullet amid the blood and infection. That, combined with the exhaustion of running for four days followed by a seemingly never-ending car ride with a leg that felt like it would explode finally did me in. Fog clouded my thoughts and tiny lights burst behind my eyes. I took a deep breath and gave in to the relief of unconsciousness.
Chapter 6
“He’s done?” Jaze’s even voice made a dent in the fog.
“It was a tough one, but he’s done.” Meg’s reply took on a tone of disapproval. “He should have had it out days ago. I don’t know how he ran on a leg like that.”
“There’s a lot we don’t know about either of them,” Jaze said. “He’s different.”
“Tell us about it. Did you see his eyes?” Roger put in. “I’ve never seen anyone with red eyes.”
“He smells different, too,” Jaze confirmed. “There’s something off about him that I can’t place.”
Meg took a slight breath, then let it out like she wasn’t sure she wanted to say what was on her mind. She sighed. “There’s something else.”
“What?” Jet’s question held a note of suspicion.
“He’s not allergic to silver,” Meg said with an audible grimace as though she knew they weren’t going to like it.
“You ran a test while he was under?” Jaze’s voice carried a hint of distaste.
“I didn’t have to,” Meg said. “The bullet was silver. If he was a normal werewolf, he would have died by now.”
Everyone fell quiet.
“How’s he healing?” Jaze asked after a couple of minutes, his voice even.
Hands touched my leg. I kept my eyes closed and concentrated on the cold table beneath me.
“Fine,” Meg said. “He should be alright by morning. His fever’s already fading.”
“Good.” Jaze fell silent, then spoke up again, his tone contemplative. “Let’s take them both to my house. It’ll be a lot less traumatic for Grace if she wakes up in a house of werewolves instead of Hunters.”
Meg made a small sound, but Roger cleared his throat. “Can you blame her, honey? Remember how we used to be? She must have gone through something terrible to react like that.”
They moved me from the table to a blanket on the floor, then picked up the edges of the blanket and carried me. The gentle rocking of their steps swayed me back to unconsciousness.
***
When I awoke, I couldn't remember where I was. Light streamed through a curtained window and an unfamiliar blue and white checkered blanket covered me. Scents I didn’t recognize tangled in my nose along with one that pulled at my memory. I turned my head and saw a young woman sitting on a bed across from my mattress on the floor. Her knees were tucked under her chin with her arms wrapped around them, and her gaze was turned toward the sun that danced through the window onto her beautiful face. Her eyes stared toward the thin curtains, but they didn’t seem to focus.
The memory of the sightless eyes slammed home. I saw everything in one quick flash, the accident, the flames, Colleen’s tears, broken glass, blood, waking up at the lab, hiding, being hunted, and running with Grace. My chest ached with a burning throb of memory that threatened to burst out in a sob. I caught my breath and forced the emotions away, pretending, like I had so many times before, that I had no one to care about and nothing to lose.
Grace turned toward me. “Are you awake?” Her voice was timid.
“I am. Are you okay?” I rose to my feet and touched the corner of her bed uncertainly.
She gave a small smile. “You just had a bullet removed and you’re asking if I’m okay? The question is, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said reflexively, then realized it was true. I could stand without pain. My leg gave a mild throb to remind me of what had happened, but that was all. I flexed my calf. “I really am fine.”
The smile I remembered played about her mouth. “I’m glad to hear it. I was worried about you.” Her lips trembled and a wet sheen touched her eyes. “I’m so sorry about breaking down like that.”
“Hey now, none of that.” I sat on the bed next to her and she leaned against me as if she desperately needed contact with someone familiar. “You’ve been through a lot. You’re entitled to a breakdown as long as I get the next one.”
She sniffed and wiped away a tear. “Deal,” she said with a small laugh.
She fell silent for a moment, then asked, “Who are Renee and Colleen?”
My gut clenched, but I forced my voice to remain emotionless. “Where did you hear those names?”
“Just before we got here. You were having a fever dream in the car and you kept saying them. I couldn’t get you to wake up.”
The memory of faces peering down at me surfaced and I rubbed my eyes. I took a calming breath. “Renee was my girlfriend, and Colleen was my sister.” My throat tightened on the last part.
“Was?” she pressed gently.
“Colleen died in a car accident, the same accident I should have died in, that I remember dying in.”
“Oh.” She fell silent for a moment, a finger tracing circles on the knee of her pajama pants, then she said, “And Renee?”
“What about her?”
“You said was with her, too. Did she break up with you?”
A laugh caught in my throat and died away. “I could have broken up with her.”
Grace shook her head. “Uh-uh. You’re too nice. I don’t think you could
do that to someone.”
I stared at her. “You definitely have a warped view of who I am.”
“Do I?” she asked quietly.
I started to argue, then shook my head. “No, she didn’t break up with me. I died, remember? They probably had a funeral for me and everything. Given what I am now, I can’t go back anyway. So yeah, she was my girlfriend. End of story.”
“Ouch,” Grace said and I regretted my harsh tone.
She was about to say something else when the door to the room opened and a girl with dark brown hair and grayish eyes poked her head in. Grace’s hand found mine and I squeezed it to reassure her. The girl gave us a warm smile upon finding us awake. “Breakfast is on. Anyone in the mood for Mrs. Carso’s famous waffles?”
“Sounds good,” I replied. I nudged Grace with my shoulder and she nodded.
“I’m Taye,” the girl said, “Another of the werewolves who live here.”
“How many are there?” I asked, curious.
“Well, you met Jet and Jaze. Mouse doesn’t stay here, but he and Brock visit a lot to eat.” A smile touched her eyes. “You’ll see Brock the most, especially at dinner. Mouse is more of the silent type.”
“I noticed that.”
She tipped her head, thinking. “Other than that, Nikki is Jaze’s girlfriend, but she’s human, Meg and Roger’s daughter.” Grace’s fingers tightened at their names but she didn’t say anything. “Chet’s another werewolf, but you probably won’t see him for a while.”
“Why’s that?” I pressed.
“He’s the Alpha of the school pack. He and Jaze keep tabs on each other, but he doesn’t interfere, most of the time.” Her eyes glittered darkly when she said that, but she continued, “Then you have Jaze’s mom who’s not a werewolf but manages to keep us all in line. She’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”
My heart turned over at her statement. It was the way my dad always introduced my mom.
“Anyway,” Taye concluded, “Breakfast is on and there’re places at the table for both of you.”
I thanked her and she disappeared, leaving the door open a crack.
“I think this was her room,” Grace said quietly, her voice soft but steady.
“How can you tell?” I asked in surprise.
“Her scent.” She took a breath. “You’re a werewolf now. You need to learn to use your nose. You’d be surprised how much you can learn by someone’s scent.”
I took a deep breath and my eyes widened at Taye’s scent on the blankets and carpet. I wondered how I had missed it. I also smelled Jet, Jaze, his mother, and a very faint scent of someone else who must have inhabited the house before them. “That’s almost creepy,” I whispered.
“It’s handy if you’re on the lookout for Hunters,” Grace whispered back.
“Do they smell differently than humans? I hadn’t noticed.”
She shook her head. “They are humans, but you can usually smell a large amount of silver on them, you know, for their weapons.”
“Oh.” I paused, then smiled and whispered, “Why are we whispering?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered back. “You started it.”
I laughed and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. I can’t remember the last time we ate, and either my metabolism's messed up, or the wolf inside me is going to start eating me from the inside out.”
***
“It’s always nice to have new faces at the table,” Mrs. Carso said as she set another plate of fresh waffles on a hot pad.
“Are you bored of our faces, Mom?” Jaze asked with a gleam of humor in his eyes.
Mrs. Carso’s mouth fell open, then she laughed and hit him with the dish rag she carried. “A full table is a happy one.”
My heart slowed.
“Is something wrong, Kaynan?” Nikki asked.
I glanced at her, then studied the table. “It’s just something my mom always said when our family was together, that’s all.”
“Where is your family?” Jaze asked in a neutral tone.
“Northern California, near the coast.”
Brock, the human with spiky hair from the car ride, glanced at me, his mouth full. “You’re a long way from home.”
I nodded and finished cutting up Grace’s waffle, then slid the plate in front of her. “I put strawberry jelly on it, less messy than syrup.”
She gave me an appreciative smile, then began to eat slowly, sliding her fork across the plate to find the next piece.
“How about you, Grace. Where are you from?” Brock asked as he drizzled syrup over a waffle, then folded it up and shoved it in his mouth.
“Originally from Washington,” she said quietly. “But my pack moved when Hunters found us.”
Everyone fell silent at her statement. Jaze glanced at Nikki and I wished Grace could see the understanding in her eyes. “You met my parents last night,” she said. “They used to be the kind of Hunters you’re talking about.” Grace stopped eating, but she listened. “Jaze helped them understand that not all werewolves are bad. Now the Hunters work together with the packs to keep humans safe.”
“How long ago was that?” Grace asked, her voice even.
“Not long ago.” Nikki glanced at Jaze. “Just under half a year?” Jaze nodded in agreement.
A pained look swept across Grace’s face. “My uncle used to lead our pack, but he was killed a year ago by Hunters. My dad said he had it traced back to a werewolf, but he was killed, too, before he could figure out who did it.” Jaze’s face paled as Grace continued with a tear tracing down her face, “My brother took over as Alpha until a true Alpha came along. We were running when the men in suits found us and captured my fiancé Gabe and I. They killed him in the lab.”
They stared from me to Grace, expressions warring between disbelief to shock. “Oh, sweetheart,” Mrs. Carso said. She touched Grace’s shoulder and Grace turned toward her. Mrs. Carso gave her a hug and Grace sobbed on her shoulder.
“I promised her I would help find her pack,” I said, my throat tight. “But I don’t know where to start.”
“The Hunters can help us,” Jaze said. Grace’s shoulders tightened, but she didn’t protest. “They have better tabs than we do on the different packs across the country.”
“It’s a wonder they didn’t kill all the werewolves when they had the chance,” Brock said.
Jaze winced at his horrible timing. “They tried, thanks to Mason, but we’re a team now with the same goal.” He turned back to Grace. “They’ll help us find your pack and get you home.”
She nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Thank you.” She drifted her fork over her plate and I realized it was empty.
“Would you like some more?” I asked quietly.
She shook her head. “No, but that was delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, darling,” Mrs. Carso replied, taking her plate. “Let me know if you’d like a snack later.”
I smiled at the warmth in her voice and turned back to my barely-touched food.
“How about you?” Jaze asked. “Do you plan to return to your pack?”
My stomach tightened and I set down my fork. “I don’t have a pack,” I said quietly.
“Are you a lone wolf?” Brock asked eagerly. “Mouse was a lone wolf until Jaze came along. I guess he was just looking for the right Alpha-“
I shook my head and glanced at him. He quelled slightly under my red gaze, reminding me that even in my human form I wasn't normal. “I wasn’t a werewolf before I woke up in the lab.”
Brock’s fork dropped and the others stared at me. “They made you?” Jet asked, his normally level tone colored with dismay.
I nodded. “They were using werewolf blood to try to turn humans.”
“Making werewolves,” Nikki said, exchanging a look of shock with Mrs. Carso. “What are they thinking?”
“The perfect soldier.” Everyone turned to see Mouse standing in the doorway. He dropped his eyes and studied the floor at his
feet, his cheeks turning red.
“He’s right,” Jet said from his place by the back door.
Realization dawn in Jaze's eyes. “Soldiers who can phase into wolves, heal quickly, are stronger than humans, can see in the dark, and work in close-knit packs.”
“They’d be unstoppable.” Jet opened and closed his hands, creating fists so tight his knuckles turned white. “With the right training, that is.” Taye put a hand on his arm and he took a calming breath.
Jaze stood up. “We’ve got to stop them.”
Mrs. Carso cleared her throat. “Right now, you’ve got to go to school.”
“But Mom-“
She shook her head. “As far as we know, Kaynan is the only one they’ve turned. Until you find out more of what’s going on, rushing into things headfirst without any knowledge of what you’re chasing will only create more confusion. You’ll have time after school to worry about it.” She smiled at Mouse. “Good morning, dear. Would you like some waffles?”
I fought back a smile at the same reasoning my mother used that made so much sense it drove everyone nuts. Jaze looked like he wanted to argue, then he sighed and grabbed his backpack from the kitchen floor.
“No, ma’am. Thank you,” Mouse answered her question in a voice barely above a whisper. He met my eyes for a brief second, then looked away quickly and fumbled with the zipper on his backpack.
They left a few minutes later, leaving only Grace, Mrs. Carso, and I. The house felt empty and smaller without them.
“Well,” Mrs. Carso said in a motherly tone. “How did you sleep? Was the room alright?”
“It was very comfortable, thank you,” Grace said with a warm smile. “You’re so kind to open your home to us.”
“It’s what we do,” Jaze’s mother replied. She gave another smile, but it was tinged with sadness. “My husband was killed by Hunters, so I know how hard it is to trust them, but I would trust Meg and Roger with my life. They’ve saved both Jaze and Jet.”
Grace nodded and tipped her head toward her hands in her lap. “It’d be easier if I could see,” she said softly. “The whole world feels like it’s out to get me.”
