The Calling

by Lily Graison

  She opened her eyes and looked up when Jacob's softly spoken words reached her. "I'm not," she lied.

  He smiled and shifted on the ground. "He wouldn't hurt you. Ever."

  "I know that," she said.

  "You know Garrett wouldn't hurt you but you don't know his wolf. That, you're afraid of."

  "Let me guess," she said. "The smelling thing again?" He grinned. "That's really creepy, you know."

  He shrugged a shoulder. "If you say so."

  The images were still there and she couldn't shake them. She stared at Jacob, trying to imagine what he looked like as a wolf and decided to ask. "What kind are you?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, I saw other wolves like Garrett," she said. "He was on two legs but there's others, they resembled real wolves, only bigger. Which are you?"

  "Oh. I'm a four-legger," he grinned. "I'm not strong enough to do a fancy half-shift."

  "That's what it is?"

  "Yes. The strong ones, the Alpha's, can control how much they actually shift. It's why they stay erect and can still talk. The weaker ones have no control so we end up on all fours."

  "So Garrett can actually shift and end up on four legs like the others?"

  "Yes. He just chooses not to. Most of the Alpha's don't. It makes it easier to fight when you have use of your arms."

  "Does it hurt?"

  "Does what hurt?"

  "When you change?"

  He nodded. "Yeah. Hurts like a bitch. All those howls you hear when we shift aren't for show. It's a necessity. Enough pain will make even the strongest man scream."

  "Garrett didn't."

  Jacob laughed. "That's because he's an arrogant bastard who wouldn't show anyone his pain if they cut both his damn legs off."

  Rayna smiled at that. It sounded just like Garrett. Always the bad ass no matter what the circumstances. Still, watching him change, bravely or not, would haunt her for months. "You said shift. Is that the correct term for it?"

  "Yes. A change is just going from one thing to another," he said, "What we do is shift our physical shape. It's where the term shape-shifter came from."

  She shook her head. "Do you have any idea how hard all this is to take in?"

  "About as hard as it is to accept when you wake up one day and you're no longer what you used to be."

  She made a non-committal noise in the back of her throat and looked out through the bushes. The sun was setting and a glance at her watch told her they'd been hiding for close to an hour. "Where do you think he is?" He didn't answer. "Do you think he's all right?"

  "Yes, for the second time. I'm sure he's fine." He chuckled and shook his head. "You know, for someone who looked ready to pee her pants the first time you saw him you act awfully concerned."

  "Well, he's still Garrett under all that hair."

  "Remember that the next time he's right in front of you," he said. "The wolf wants you. If you get skittish around him, it'll just make Garrett feel like shit. He might look different but Garrett is still in there. He sees everything. He hears what you say and he can smell your fear. Fear of him."

  She looked away and thought about what he said, trying to ignore the part where her fear might actually hurt Garrett. As much as he'd hurt her in the past, she didn't want to do the same to him. She sighed and looked up, tilting her head. "Garrett told me the wolf wanted me, too," she said, trying to shift her thoughts. "What did he mean by that exactly?"

  Jacob's cheeks reddened before he cleared his throat. "Well, just like every other creature on the planet, the wolf will search out a mate, just like humans do."

  "A mate? You mean a girlfriend?" She laughed and shook her head. "Why would his wolf want me for a girlfriend?"

  "Why wouldn't he?"

  "I'm not a werewolf."

  "So. The wolf finding a mate isn't just about the sex."

  The visual she got then made her own cheeks redden. Her face flamed before she looked away. She heard Jacob chuckle before he said, "What you do with the wolf is entirely up to you and before you ask, yes, I do know of wolves who engage in sex acts with humans. It's not for everyone but to each his own."

  She gaped at him. "Humans and wolves having sex?"

  He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Our parts still work after the shift and a woman is a woman, no matter what she looks like."

  She didn't even want to go there. Accepting the fact Garrett was a wolf was hard enough. Thinking about... that, was a stretch even she couldn't make and never would. "Okay, so if I'm not willing to have sex with Garrett's wolf, then why would it want me?"

  "I told you," he said. "It's not about the sex. It's no different than why you hooked up with Garrett to begin with. It's about attraction and desire. The wolf wants you for his own. Plain and simple."

  "But if Garrett has me then doesn't the wolf?"

  "No," he said. "Not really. It's an entirely different thing for a man to have you than for a wolf to. Humans, when they decide to make it permanent, get married. Wolves, claim a mate. Mark them so others can see."

  "Mark them? Like a dog marking his territory?" She laughed and pushed her hair out of her face. "This is unreal."

  Jacob laughed. "It's no where near the same thing," he said. "A claim is a very powerful thing. It isn't just about saying you belong to him and him alone. It's about protection and the desire to see to a mates needs above his own. Another wolf wouldn't even attempt to harm another wolf's mate unless he knew without a doubt he could fight him and win, cause anyone crazy enough to fuck with a wolf's mate will basically sign his death warrant. If Garrett's wolf had claimed you already, we wouldn't be sitting under this foul smelling ragweed. No one would be crazy enough to come after you knowing Garrett's wolf would rip their throat out for even looking at you funny."

  "Well if it's that damn simple, why hasn't he done it yet? Malcolm will back off, right?"

  "But it's not simple," he said. "The claim isn't. He has to mark you and that means a physical mark. Bites most of the time. It's easy for one wolf to claim another, not so much when it's a wolf and a human, not to mention that once a claim is made, it can't be broken. It isn't like you can divorce a wolf once the claim is made. Wolves mate for life and there's no going back. Even if you decide later on you don't want Garrett, the wolf won't just back away. He may let you go but you can damn sure bet he won't go far. He'll follow you to the day you die."

  She let his words run through her head. Lifelong mates and bites the most prevailing thought. Looking back up at him she said, "If a human is bit by a werewolf, they can be turned, right?"

  He nodded his head.

  "So Garrett can infect me if the wolf bites me during the claiming?"

  "Infection isn't always the case, but it's a big enough risk that Garrett isn't willing to take it no matter how much he wants to, and believe me, he wants to." He turned, peeking out through the brush before looking up at the sky. He stared at the surrounding forest for long minutes before turning back to face her. "I haven't heard anything since we jumped in here. Ready to make another run for it?"

  "Yes," she said, unfolding her arms from around her legs. "My ass has gone numb from sitting so long."

  "All right," he said. "Just stick close to me. We don't have much further to go to reach Garrett's truck."

  They climbed out and took a moment to stretch, Jacob scanning the forest again. When he was happy no one was around he grabbed her hand and once again, they were running.

  * * * *

  Malcolm knew by the look on Caleb's face things hadn't gone as planned. That and the fact he didn't have Rayna with him. He scowled and leaned back in his chair. "What happened?"

  Caleb growled and kicked a chair out from under the table and sat down. "Those pathetic dogs you sent with me all ran with their tails between their legs two minutes after Garrett shifted and took the first swing at one of them. Apparently knowing he killed two of us already and injured a dozen more was enough for them to piss themselves at the sight of h
im."

  "Well I'm going to assume you didn't run."

  "Of course I didn't," he said.

  "And?" Malcolm said.

  "And nothing. We both live to fight another day."

  "And the girl?"

  "She took off with Jacob. I sent a group after them and either they didn't find them or they used it as an excuse to run like the others did."

  Malcolm stared at Caleb and wondered what to do now. Caleb was the best fighter he had next to himself. If he couldn't subdue Garrett alone and no one was willing to stand with him, they didn't have much chance in getting Rayna away from him. He needed another plan and fast. "I'll think of something," he said. "In the meantime, I'd like for you to speak to Carmen."

  Caleb raised an eyebrow at him. "About what?"

  "I think she's the reason Garrett is here."

  "She's not still pining over him, if that's what you think. That's ancient history."

  "Then how did Garrett know Rayna was here?"

  Caleb shrugged his shoulder. "He was fucking her for months. Maybe he still is."

  "And maybe Carmen is scheming behind my back," he said, anger lacing his words. "This plan was her idea. She said Ms. Ford was the best choice for being our spokesperson but I'm beginning to think she has ulterior motives. As my second in command, I want you to find out. If she lured Garrett down here for her own selfish reasons and ruins our chance at this, I'll rip her heart out and feed it to the crows. Now go and see what you can find out."

  Caleb stood and walked out of the room, climbing the steps to the second story. He could smell Carmen's perfume from the top of the stairs and knew without being told she was entertaining the newest member of the pack. When he opened the bedroom door and saw her, naked and stretched out on top of Mitch, he laughed. "Couldn't wait, could you?"

  "He's tasty," Carmen said, leaning down and licking the side of the man's neck. "And his cock is fat, just the way I like them."

  The look on Mitch's face was comical at best. Fear was shining in his eyes but the lust he couldn't deny rode him hard. His dick was at attention and Caleb knew no matter what Carmen did to the man, he'd stay that way. She had certain talents no man could resist.

  "Did you come to watch or join us," she said, rising to her knees and straddling Mitch's chest.

  "Neither. Malcolm sent me up here."

  She looked at him and smiled. "Does he know I'm up here?"

  "No and I don't really think he'd care one way or the other if he did."

  Carmen scowled. "You'd think after making the old goat come as hard as I do he'd be at least a little jealous."

  "If he cared about you in the least, he might."

  She growled and Caleb saw Mitch tense under her, pulling on his restraints. "He thinks you called Garrett and told him of the plan."

  "Does he now," she said, smiling. "Did he tell you that?"

  "Yes. He also told me to find out if it's true."

  "Then tell him it isn't."

  Caleb grinned at her and walked to the bed. "And what do I get for saving your ass again?"

  "What would you like, lover?"

  He looked down at Mitch and grinned. "A game," he said.

  "Are you going to join us?"

  He nodded his head and pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it to the floor before unfastening his pants. "Always," he said. "But first, I want you to shift and ride him. I want to hear him scream."

  Chapter 9

  Rayna jumped when Jacob kicked the side of Garrett's truck, his foot denting the door. Not that it mattered with the way the truck looked now. All four tires were shredded, every window was busted out and it looked as if someone took a can opener and peeled back the metal on both sides. She didn't have to be told that the wolves who'd been hunting them destroyed their only means of escape. "What now," she asked.

  Jacob laughed but she could tell it was out of desperation, not humor. "I have no fucking clue," he said. "I just hope Garrett finds us before the others do."

  She glanced around, a chill running up her spine as she stared into the forest. "You don't think they're still here, do you?"

  "No. If they were they would have made themselves known by now."

  She watched him stalk to the creek bank and bend down, scooping a handful of water into his hands and splashing it onto his face and neck. He sat there for long minutes staring at the water before standing and walking back to the truck. He opened the doors, rummaging around inside before saying, "Ah, Garrett, you clever bastard." He turned and handed her a blanket before continuing his search. "There's camping gear in here. Luckily for us, Garrett still knows how to live prepared for anything," he said. "Too bad he didn't stash any food, though. I'm half starved." He straightened, another blanket in his arms.

  Rayna hugged the blanket he'd handed her to her chest and glanced around the clearing. "I take it we're camping then?"

  "Unless you want to hike back to the cabin?"

  The thought of that caused her to shudder. "No. I don't want to chance running into one of those wolves out there in the dark."

  The area they were in was pretty open. She could see a faint trail that could have been a road but the grass camouflaged it enough to make it appear as nothing but a beaten path. Why Garrett even parked here was a mystery. It was nowhere near the cabin.

  Walking around the truck, she spotted a large oak near the tree line with a bed of grass just under its branches. It looked as good a spot as any and she crossed to it before spreading the blanket out and sitting down, using the tree as a backrest. She'd just got settled when she heard a rustling behind her. When she saw Jacob turn and start toward her, she jumped to her feet and ran to him, hiding like a scared cat behind his back. She peeked over his shoulder and stared into the forest.

  Her pulse leaped and her heart slammed against her ribcage when she saw the wolf standing behind the tree she'd been leaning against. Her knees went weak. She'd been that close to the thing and hadn't even known it?

  She watched it and poked Jacob in the back when he did nothing but stand there staring. When the wolf stepped out from behind the tree and Jacob's body relaxed, she realized it must be Garrett.

  Jacob turned and said, "It's Garrett," and walked away without another word.

  The sun hadn't set completely and unlike the night before in the darkened, derelict cabin, Rayna could see Garrett clearly now. The hair covering his body was jet black and shined in the light making it appear almost blue in places. It looked soft and thick and those amber eyes glowed eerily out of the wolf's darkened face. He walked closer and her gaze covered every inch of him. He was impossibly tall, his legs bent at the knees as if he were stooping but she could tell he wasn't. His arms were long and his hands still looked somewhat human. Well, aside from all the hair and the very sharp looking claws. The face, however, didn't look human. It resembled more of a wolf's. His mouth was elongated with a maw she was sure held razor sharp teeth. His ears were long and laid slightly back, relaxed, on his head. He was watching her and still as death. Nothing on him moved and she found it more terrifying than if he'd been moving. Anything that could remain that still wasn't natural.

  Well, hello. Werewolf. Not exactly natural, now is it?

  "I'm not going to hurt you."

  She jumped, startled, when he spoke and her heart resumed racing. His words were somewhat garbled but she still understood him. The fact he was talking to her at all while looking like that was mind numbing. She smiled at him to try and cover her fear and moved back, away from the truck and toward the creek when he took a step toward her. When she was as far as she could get without crossing the creek, he walked completely into the clearing.

  The need to cry was overwhelming as she stared at him. Her heart felt like it was breaking. This terrifyingly scary creature was Garrett. Her Garrett. A man she'd been falling in love with before he decided he could no longer have her. A man who left her because of what he was. What he still is. A werewolf. It was too unbelievable for words.
She prayed she was going to wake up any moment and be back in Bluff's Point, standing behind a police line watching him work and trying to get his attention while he ignored her.

  He turned his head away from her and walked to the truck. She could tell he was pissed by the time he reached it. His ears were standing erect; his back was slightly arched with fur bristled. A snarl eased past a curled lip and she saw the sharp point of his teeth.

  Jacob rounded the truck and stopped beside him, laying his hands on the bent metal. "Do you want to hike out of here tonight or wait until sunrise?"

  Garrett looked up, staring into the darkening sky before turning to look at her. She was still cowering near the creek bank and when his gaze fell upon her it took everything in her not to take another step backwards. "We'll leave at first light," he said.

  Jacob nodded. "I found the blankets and other gear in your truck but not any food. Feel like going on a little hunt for us? None of us have eaten since breakfast."

  A nod was all she saw before Garrett turned and ran back into the forest. When he was out of sight, she released the breath she'd been holding. When Jacob turned to look at her, she knew what he was going to say before he even opened his mouth. "It's still Garrett."

  "I know," she said, weakly.

  "Then stop being so damn scared of him. You're stinking the whole clearing up and I for one don't have Garrett's control. That fear of yours smells like food to me." He turned and left her standing there feeling properly chastised. If Jacob smelled her fear, no doubt Garrett did. She sighed and walked back to her tree, waiting for Garrett to come back. Like it or not, she was going to have to overcome her fear of him. She couldn't have the man without the beast and she wasn't ready to give him up when it looked as if he was willing to give them a second chance. Scared shitless or not, she would make herself accept the furry side of him.

  * * * *

  When Garrett returned, he threw several fat rabbits at Jacob's feet and turned, running back into the forest. He didn't even glance in her direction. That was over two hours ago. They'd cleaned the rabbits, cooked them over a fire and as much as she loathed the thought of eating them, she was too hungry to refuse. The meat was dry and rather bland but her stomach had stopped growling. True dark had fallen over the clearing and the stars twinkling overhead were bright. The moon, one day past full, lit the entire area. Jacob was sitting by the fire, feeding twigs into it. He hadn't said anything to her since he'd put her in her place and for some reason, knowing Garrett was avoiding her and now Jacob was refusing to speak, she felt like she was completely alone.