by K. R. Smith
“To um…”
“Yes?”
“Um…”
“Yeah?!” He demanded.
“To Grant Elm.”
“Grant Elm?!?” He echoed. “But that guy is ten years older than you!”
“I know that.”
“Why the hell are you marrying Grant Elm?!” He walked up to shout in my face.
“Because the Elders and the pack…”
“What about the Elders and the pack?”
“Because my family and the Elders and the pack said so.”
“The PACK?!” Derik yelled. “A bunch of Werewolves are telling you to marry another Werewolf?!”
“Yeah, basically.” I said helplessly.
“Then say no!” He grabbed hold of both of my arms.
“I wish it was as simple as that…”
“Why isn’t it as simple as that? My God you haven’t - you haven’t MATED with him, have you?!” Derik released me in disgust.
“No! Not yet…but that’s what they want me to do.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s a Werewolf and they think that mating with one of my kind will help control the bloodlust.” I poured out.
“What?”
“To help me stop craving human flesh.”
“What…?” He stared in shock.
“I want to eat human, Derik.” My eyes watered. “The very first night I turned, I tried to run to town and eat a townsperson.”
“You tried to what?”
“But Declan stopped me. My speed being a Circulator has made me exceptionally fast. I outran the pack and Declan just managed to catch me before I left Lokoti land. I nearly ate a human being that night…”
“DECLAN stopped you?” His eyes bulged. I stood there as he walked away, shaking his head in disbelief. A full minute passed as I guess he had to process all of this. Then he turned back around to face me, “but why are the other Werewolves marrying you to Grant Elm?”
“By mating with him, it’s supposed to help curb my craving for human flesh and calm me down.”
“Calm you down?” He looked on, hurt. “But what about me? What about us? I thought that your parents always approved of us!”
“They did…until I turned into a Werewolf.” I confessed. “My change has all of the pack and the Elders in an uproar. I’m a freak! I’m not meant to be…now they don’t know what to do with me.”
“Except to marry you off to another Werewolf?!”
“Yeah, basically.”
“You’re just going to go along with this?” His eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know what else to do, Derik! I even scare myself! You don’t understand the bloodlust! I’m not B Wisetail anymore but I’m a monster! I’m a creature of the night! Even with you standing here right now, you smell like a roast dinner complete with my Great Grandma’s special gravy!”
“You want to EAT me?” He blanched.
“Not specifically but generally speaking, yes.”
“What?!”
“I don’t want to eat you or our tribe but I crave human flesh. I want to hunt. I want to gorge myself on fresh kill.” I confessed, “and because I’m fast and hard to catch, the pack and the Elders have decided that it’s best that I be bonded to an older Werewolf like Grant who can curb my bloodlust. He’s supposed to become attuned to me and take me hunting.”
Derik rubbed his red eyes and sniffed, as he looked away, “and I suppose Cambridge is now out of the question.”
“For me it is but not for you.” I couldn’t keep the disappointment from my voice. “Because I’m Lokoti Werewolf, I supposedly can’t leave Lokoti land for long periods of time.”
“I wish you never turned into a Werewolf.” He said miserably.
“You and me both.”
“So what you’re saying is that if you had remained a human being, then you could be with me? But because of your transformation, you’re being married off to Grant?”
“Basically.” I shrugged helplessly.
He turned silent once more as he turned to walk a little away. He remained quiet for a good two minutes, making me start to think that this was the end of our conversation. I turned to leave, when Derik faced me once more.
“Say no.”
“Say no?” I looked back.
“Tell your family and the Elders and the pack that you’re marrying me.”
“What?” I gave a funny look.
“Marry me Bianca!” He walked up and tried to put his arms around my waist, but I took a step away.
“Derik?”
“I’ll be your mate.”
“But Derik, you can’t take me hunting.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re not a Werewolf!” I stated the obvious. “If you were around when I lost control of my bloodlust? I mean, I would do everything in my power to ensure that you wouldn’t come to harm. But if one day something went wrong, or the bloodlust became too much…”
“Bianca you would no more eat me than your father would eat your mother!”
“You’re right.” I admitted. “I’m bound to protect the tribe, as well as my loved ones which is why I hunger for the flesh of the humans in Alma.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You can’t stop me if I did go for a townsperson. I would become a murderer. I would have a human death on my head.” I looked downcast.
“Then Declan would stop you again.” He thought up.
I flinched at the sound of his name before I said sadly, “I’m sorry but I stopped being the girl who was your best friend all our lives, the night I changed. You wouldn’t be able to stop me if I saw a non-Lokoti in my path.”
“Then I’ll get a rifle with tranquilizer darts!”
My hot tears spilled over, as I half laughed and half cried. “I’m sorry Derik, but that wouldn’t work.”
“What if you came here and lived with me as my mate? Then if you turned, Declan would be able to take you hunting.” He cried out in frustration.
“Derik,” my tearful gaze met his, “I’m sorry but that just wouldn’t work.”
He looked on longingly. “B, I love you.”
I rasped out, “I know Derik and I’m so sorry! You’re my best friend and the last person in the world that I would ever want to hurt.”
Quickly, I threw my arms about him for a second or two, before I released him to hurry out of his back yard.
My face looked like a river of tears as I cried all the walk home. I openly sobbed as I walked out of the community centre to the road which went up the hill to my house. I walked up the hill, barely noticing the cheerful sunny day of the last of the warm weather for fall. I stomped past my relatives’ houses as if I blamed my Werewolf relations, as I cried all the way to my house.
When I turned into my yard, I saw Grant’s jeep was parked on the driveway, along with two of the Tribal Elders trucks. But I didn’t want to see them. I didn’t want to listen to their plans for Grant’s and my future together…I wouldn’t be able to stand it.
I veered off to walk into the woods, when I heard Dad call out; “B, is that you? Can you come inside please?”
Frickin’ hell! I took several deep breaths, wiped my face dry with my sleeves and then I turned back around. I weaved between the vehicles before I climbed the veranda steps. As soon as I walked in through the front door, I found not just Grant here with two of the Tribal Elders, Aunt Beth and Grandpa; but I also found Uncle Ian and Grandfather were here too.
Everyone was seated around the dining table like some kind of conference was going on, complete with Aunt Beth and Mum writing notes.
“Hi B.” Grant smiled warmly in my direction.
“B.” Grandfather nodded.
“Come in, B.” Aunt Beth waved me over. “Join us, please.”
There was a spare seat at the table, but I didn’t take it. Instead I wandered over to the couch and sat on the arm rest, keeping my distance from the instigators of my misery. Everyone f
rowned at my unhappiness and Mum and Dad exchanged concerned glances. I picked up one of the cushions and began to fidget with the tassels so I wouldn’t have to look at anyone.
Grandfather cleared his throat. “Before we go on with the wedding plans, I have some good news for B.” However I didn’t look up as I began to plait the tassels. He announced, “your Gran has sent off your application to Cambridge University to study via correspondence.”
“Really?” Mum asked excitedly. “She can do her Bachelor of Arts in History by correspondence?”
“Uh huh. Your mother thinks that B has a good chance to be accepted too. Apparently the organization Hodge Endeavor still holds some sway over there. Hodge Endeavor will be paying for her education, which Cambridge looks favourably on as her scholarship fund. Last night, your Gran sent off via email one of B’s history papers with her application.” Grandfather claimed.
“B that’s great news!” Dad said chirpily.
In the corner of my eye, I caught my parents take hold of each other’s hands and exchange gleeful looks. I bit down on my lower lip as I ducked my head further to hide my face. Just keep plaiting B… just keep plaiting…the build up of bile in my throat became worse, but I managed to swallow it back.
What would have made me happy was if I still had my best friend to share the ‘good news’ with. What really would have made me ecstatic, was if my best friend and I could have gone to Cambridge to study together. I just wish I could leave this life of a Werewolf behind; to walk away from my monumental mistake with Declan; walk away from the bloodlust that made me feel perpetually hungry or even angry; walk away from the constant pounding in my ears of everybody’s hearts beating along with my own…
“B,” Dad frowned, “you could at least say thank you.”
“Thank you.” I repeated automatically like a robot.
“You know in the library at Blythe, there’s Elisha’s, Jarrod’s, Xavier’s and Bastian’s old Uni work from their days at Cambridge. Mum kept them. We could have a look through their old notes at the class structure with the lectures and tutorials and things like that.” My mother thought up.
“But I won’t be going to any lectures or tutorials.” I growled in frustration.
“Maybe not, but at least it will give you an idea on how the lessons will be structured.” She reasoned.
I bit so hard on my lower lip, forcing myself to remain quiet that soon I tasted blood - my blood.
“Let’s continue with our plans.” Grandpa said. “We only have five days before the wedding to enable Grant and Bianca to prepare for the next full moon.”
“Because of this type of arrangement, the Tribal Elders feel that instead of the usual celebration of a Housewarming that we should formalize this union with a Joining Ceremony.” Aunt Beth announced.
“A Joining Ceremony?” Mum echoed in surprise.
“In the old days, when a man or woman or a werewolf and woman coupled, there was a Joining Ceremony. It’s when the Tribal Elders acknowledge their joining.” Grandpa explained.
“I can’t remember when the last Joining Ceremony happened. All the other weddings we’ve been to were Housewarmings to set up for the new couple.” Dad thought aloud.
“That’s what happened when we were ‘married’, we had a Housewarming.” Mum agreed. “Why does it have to be different with Grant and B?”
“In the old days, a wedding came in two parts; the Joining Ceremony and then the Housewarming. At the Joining Ceremony the Elders blessed the man and woman’s union and then the Housewarming was the tribe’s way of helping the new couple set up their home. In the last few decades, the Joining Ceremony has been dropped with just keeping the Housewarming. Since B and Grant’s union is arranged, the Tribal Elders thought it should be formalized.” Aunt Beth explained.
“When was the last Joining Ceremony?” Dad inquired.
“The last ceremony was last held around 50 years ago, with our last arranged marriage.” Grandpa told him.
“Arabella and I had an Anglican Wedding Ceremony to appease her family shortly after we mated. That was a Joining Ceremony as such but different customs.” Grandfather shrugged.
“I know what happens during an Anglican Wedding Ceremony, I saw Mum and Dad’s wedding DVD.” My mother pondered. “But what happens during a Lokoti Joining Ceremony?”
“On the Holy Grounds before the three Sacred Totems, the nine Tribal Elders convene, with the tribe as witnesses.” Aunt Beth spoke gravely, showing her reverence towards the ritual. “The man and woman come forward and ask for the Elders blessing. We give thanks to our mother the earth and to our father, the Lokoti Wolf. We tell the man and woman that by this Joining Ceremony they will become like the Lokoti Wolf, by mating for life. Then from the sacred cup that has been kept by the Tribal Elders for generations, the man and woman each mixes a drop of blood into the mead and drink from it, sealing their fates together. By doing this, the Tribal Elders acknowledge the man and woman as Husband and Wife and are empowered by the Lokoti Wolf to bless the union.”
There was a moment’s silence as the table seemed to contemplate this. However, my stomach felt like it was full of snakes, all writhing and wriggling around inside. I felt like a complete fraud, expected to go through a ritual like that to a man I hardly knew!
“Does the man and woman have to wear special clothes?” Mum asked next.
“The Tribal Elders will be wearing the Lokoti clothing of old and so should the Husband and Wife.” Aunt Beth advised.
“What does that entail?” My mother looked to her father-in-law.
“B can wear my grandmother’s skins that she wore for her Joining Ceremony.” Grandpa offered.
“And Grant can wear our grandfather’s skins that he wore for his Joining Ceremony.” Uncle Ian patted his brother on the back.
“Good.” Aunt Beth said in approval. “By the couple wearing the traditional clothes of their ancestors, this will seal their futures together as they respect their past.”
This almost made me laugh, but I managed to stifle the snicker.
“B.” I heard Grandfather say in disapproval, catching me out.
“B, come and sit at the table please.” Dad ordered.
But I couldn’t…I just couldn’t sit at the same table as the conspirators. I couldn’t bring myself to be in league with their plans. Mum saw that I wasn’t going to move, or that I was unable to and she quickly moved along.
“So about this Housewarming,” she changed the subject. “Hunter told me you have a house already sorted out?”
I guess she must have been speaking to Grant, as he answered with; “ah yeah, I’ve bought the old Windchime place up the top of this hill.”
“Oh, the one at the end of the road?” Mum sounded happy. “Well, we’re all going to remain together on the same hill then. I like that, as it adds a certain sense of familial to it.”
“We can make the Joining Ceremony at 10 o’clock in the morning and then at midday the Housewarming can begin.” Aunt Beth said. “We’ll have all afternoon to celebrate as we set up the new couple’s home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Uncle Ian agreed. “Grant, Hunter, Em and I will have the place spick and span, repaired and ready by Saturday.”
“We certainly will.” Dad said confidently.
I sucked on my bleeding lip as my fingers madly plaited away the tassels on the square cushion; I had plaited two sides already. Then there was a pause in the conversation as I sensed Grandfather and everyone else look over in my direction.
“I could show you the house this afternoon if you like, B.” Grant offered.
Frickin’ hell, I felt the clothes around my underarms become drenched in a cold sweat. I turned the cushion around and began plaiting the third side as I literally felt like I was unable to speak.
“That sounds like a great idea, Grant.” My mother spoke for me again. “That way B can get an idea of the lay out of the place, so when the furniture and household goods start arriving, she’ll
know where to put it all.”
Dad frowned; “B, can you please come and sit at the table and involve yourself in the conversation?”
“Hunter.” Grandpa said softly and shook his head at him to back off.
“A Housewarming this Saturday may be a bit too soon. Is it enough warning for the tribe to scrape together the furniture for the couple’s new place?” Mum wondered.
“It should be fine, Jess.” Grandfather smiled on his daughter. “The Lokoti are a resourceful people.”
“I’ve just finished building the couple’s dining table and chairs and they’ll have two rocking chairs for their lounge room.” Uncle Ian boasted about his furniture construction business.
“You build good furniture, Ian.” Aunt Beth said in approval. “That tallboy and two bedside tables that I gave to my granddaughter for her Housewarming look great.”
“Grant made the two bedside tables.” He said proudly.
He did? I listened in with mild interest to keep my temper at bay. It was almost working too…
“Good work Grant.” Aunt Beth said warmly. “So have you decided to permanently work with your brother in his furniture construction business? Or do you just help out occasionally with the other odd jobs you do around the tribe?”
“I’ve been helping Ian with the furniture or Hunter with house repairs around the community.” Grant told her.
“Talking about construction.” Dad spoke up. “I’ve now scraped up enough glass for us to start the greenhouse repairs at your new place.”
“Cool.” He gave a nod and then he threw a sideways glance my way before he spoke again. “I guess we’ll have the greenhouse fixed before Saturday. B and I could start potting and planting as soon as we move in.”
“Oh and B?” Mum spoke again. “I’ve bought new packets of seed for you. I’ve bought something like ten different kinds of vegetables to get you started in your new place.”
I turned the cushion around as I began to plait the last side.
“Thanks Jess.” Grant said appreciatively for the both of us.
Grandpa cleared his throat. “You certainly seem to be good with your hands, B. Have you thought about taking up knitting or something like it?”
I didn’t answer as I just kept working. My hands twisted and moved as I plaited and plaited. The plaits on the cushion looked like they’d always been like that.
