Red the Wolf Tracker

by Pauline Creeden

  We go on quite a while with us both getting in hits. But Scott is wild, and though my survival instincts are strong, my heart isn’t in it the way his is. Finally, I take a blow to the temple that knocks me down on the concrete. Stars crowd my vision, and as I lie there, heaving, I decide not to get back up.

  Viktor walks to where I’m lying and stands over me with a smile. “I am proud of you, my boy! No one has ever been able to hold his own against Scott, except me, of course. You fought for over half an hour. Now go home and rest. I’ll see you tomorrow night, same time.”

  Laughter and reveling fill the alley for a moment before it’s cut off by the closing of a door. I look toward the door and see Viktor whisper something to Scott before heading in. Scott nods, glances at me before he follows. All the pack has retreated into the club, leaving me to slowly get up and hobble away. I walk home, shower, and drop into bed, out before I even lie down.

  RED

  I wake at my normal 4am, excited for the day. I still have to do the dishes, get ready for school, and take care of Grandma before I leave at 6am. After changing into my school uniform, I make a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, fix our plates and pour some juice. I take the platter of our food into Grandma’s room and see her struggling for breath.

  “Grandma!” I slam down the platter, run over, and pull the oxygen mask from where it has fallen off the bed. I get it around her head, and all I can do is wait while she gasps for breath. I gently hold her hand and push her hair back. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”

  It takes a few minutes, but she gathers her breath again and reaches up to take the mask off, so she can talk. “Red, why aren’t you in school?”

  “Grandma, it’s only 4:30. I still have time. Right now, I brought you food and thought we could have breakfast together.” I roll the portable table over and get it where she can reach it. “After we’re done eating I’ll do the dishes, and then get ready for school.”

  “I really don’t want to eat anything, I’m just not hungry,” she replies weakly.

  “Just a few bites for me? The toast at least? How about a bit of the apple juice?”

  “Fine. A bit of toast and some juice.”

  “Here are your pills. I’ll put the next dose right here beside you and set the alarm, so you’ll remember to take them while I’m at school.”

  “Yes, yes. I’m not a child!” Grandma snaps.

  I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you aren’t a child. I’m sorry, but I want you to stay healthy for a while yet. I need you still.” I try to hang on, which I am barely able to do. I don’t want her to see me being weak.

  We sit in silence and eat. I finish my plate and take Grandma’s with me, with just two bites out of the toast and barely any juice gone. When I get into the kitchen I let the tears flow while I do the dishes. Once finished, I grab the counter, take a deep breath, and wipe the tears. No more of that. I rush through and finish getting ready.

  I walk back into Grandma’s room with my backpack on, ready to go. “Grandma, I’m headed to school. I’ll be home shortly after. Do you need anything before I go?”

  “No, child. I’m sorry for my anger a bit ago. I just hate being weak.”

  I rush over and give her a hug. “I know, Grandma. I wasn’t hurt by it. I love you.”

  “I love you too, child.”

  After one last squeeze, I let her go and start on my way to school. Peter isn’t at the bottom of the stairs when I get there. I sigh and pull my phone out to text him.

  Where r u?

  Be right there.

  I put my phone in my bag and lean back to look out the window. The street outside is already busy, and the early morning sun casts a golden glow over the city. Then my eyes catch a strange movement. A man comes out from between two buildings, his gaze fixed on me. I stare at him. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Peter’s apartment door squeals open.

  “We need to walk. Now!” I grab his arm and start pulling him away.

  “What is your problem? Sorry I made you wait. Sheesh.”

  “It isn’t that. A man across the street gave me the heebie-jeebies and I need to get out of here.” I pull him toward the back door, and we head down a side alley, putting us back on the street a few buildings down.

  I glance back and find the man following us, ducking between cars. Peter glances back and pales.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Peter glances down at me. “Nothing. Why?”

  “That man scared you.. I can tell you’re lying.”

  “Yes, he scared me, but it’s nothing you need to worry about. Is that better?” Peter sighs.

  I pull him to a stop, look around and see that the other man isn’t there. I look at Peter with a small smile and sad eyes, “No, but I’ll trust you to tell me when you’re ready. You can trust me with anything you know?”

  “I know. How is Grandma doing?” Peter changes the subject as he pulls me back into a walk.

  “Not good. I don’t know what to do. Nothing will help her at this point. It’s tearing me apart.” My voice trembles and cracks at the end. I’m mad at Peter for abandoning me while I’m trying so hard to keep everything together. Tears blur my vision.

  Peter pulls me to a stop and holds me, saying nothing while gently rubbing my back. First I try to pull away, but it’s a halfhearted try. I breathe in the scent of him, smiling because he still uses the lilac shampoo I bought him for Christmas when we were twelve. He said it was a girly smell back then, but he started using it. He had his mom buy the same brand from then on.

  After a few moments of accepting the comfort of his arms, I step up on my tiptoes and give him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  He releases me and takes my hand while resuming our walk. “You don’t have to thank me for giving you a shoulder to cry on. I know I’ve been a terrible friend lately. I’m sorry about that.”

  “It’s okay. I know you have something on your mind. I just wish you would share with me.” I break off as we get to the front gate of Wonderland Guardian Academy—known to normal humans as Wilhelmina Grant Academy for girls. I really don’t want to go in since they can’t teach me anything. Only Grandma can—but she isn’t able to anymore. I frown up at the building. Only torture and scorn lies with its walls.

  “Those girls still bothering you? You want me to beat someone up?” Peter offers.

  “Pfft. No. I can handle myself… just wish I didn’t have to.”

  “Why don’t you transfer to my school? I bet things would be easier for you there. It wouldn’t surprise me if you were valedictorian, the way you always help me with my homework.”

  I shake my head and smile at him. “No way. I’m not that smart. Besides, this is the same school my mother and grandmother went to. I’m staying. I’m glad I live close enough so I don’t have to live here the way other girls do.”

  Peter surveys the building beyond the gates then glances the way we came. Is he as looking for the guy who had been following us? He meets eyes with me again. “Want me to come walk you home after?”

  “If you have time, I’d love to see you after school.”

  “I’ll be here. 3 o’clock?”

  “Yup.” I reach up and hug him, and he tenses up before relaxing slightly. I smile. “Thank you!”

  He releases me, backing up slowly. “No thanks needed, Red. I’ll try to be a better friend. Now get into school!”

  I stand and watch him leave. I adjust my school uniform and turn through the gates.

  PETER

  I walk away from Red, leaving her standing at the gates to face her personal demons within. I have to deal with my own demon—Scott—and find out why he was watching me. I quicken my pace, heading back home.

  I’m halfway there when I find Scott milling about, pretending he didn’t just make eye contact with me. I go over to him and get in his face. I growl. “Why are you following me?”

  “Talk to Viktor. He wanted me to follow you and see who yo
u hang out with,” Scott replies with a shrug and a grin.

  Cocky son-of-a—I hike my backpack higher on my shoulder and turn on my heel. No school for me today. I stomp angrily towards The Den, and Scott takes a couple of long strides to catch up.

  “I wouldn’t go just now if I were you. He told you to come this evening, not when you feel like it,” Scott warns.

  “I don’t care what he told me. He has no right!”

  Scott grabs my arm, swings me into an alley, and pushes me up against a wall. “I am trying to teach you, pup! Viktor is not a master to piss off or challenge. He has all the rights to do what he wants to do to any of us. He is alpha. We are his. You have no privacy anymore. You thought last night was bad, wait until you really screw up. He won’t stop me from beating you even more—in fact, he will order me to do it.”

  I hang my head and close my eyes to rein in my anger. I lift my head and smack his arms away. I sigh. I don’t want to admit it, but he’s offering aid to me. “I understand Scott. Thank you for helping to clear my head.”

  “Good boy!” Scott has the audacity to pat my head like a dog.

  “Gah!” I duck under his arm, and we both laugh. I eye him. “Why are you helping me?”

  Scott tilts his head and studies me before answering. “For some reason there is something I like about you, pup, and Viktor’s probably right in choosing you to be our future alpha. But probably not for the reasons he sees. I believe you’d be a different kind of alpha than him—have us do things that are productive. Not all werewolves want this kind of life anymore. Most of us want to be productive members of society, even if the old man doesn’t believe it.”

  “Really? You all look like you enjoy pack life at The Den.”

  “We have to hide our true feelings or Viktor will have us killed. So we rarely talk about it. Now, are you going home, pup? Or school, so that I can get a nap in? Oh, and who is the girl? Your sweetheart?”

  “What? No! Just the daughter of my mom’s friend. She walks to my home so I can walk her the rest of the way to school—she scares easily,” I respond quickly. I can’t let him know she lives in my building. If he knows what she is, I won’t be able to protect her. I shudder. That’s it—I need to break off our friendship after school today. It’s for her own good. “Ok, I’m headed home to nap. I can’t sleep very well lately.”

  “That’s because you are by yourself. You need to be with your pack and you’ll sleep better. Have a good nap, pup, and I’ll see you tonight.”

  I watch Scott saunter out of the alley and down the street, whistling, before I continue home. Once I get there, I decide to do what I told Scott I was going to do and take a nap. I really was tired, but only because of the stressof trying to live two lives.

  I need to break it off with Red and her grandma so there’s less chance of them being found. That’s what matters the most—their safety. But how can I keep them safe? Distance. I need to put some distance between us.

  I flop on my bed and pull out my phone and begin to dial Viktor’s number but quickly hit the end button. I find Scott’s name in my phone and call him instead.

  “What do you want, pup?” Scott grumbles.

  “I was thinking about moving in with the pack. Tonight.”

  “What will you tell your family?”

  “My mom won’t care. She’s always busy. I’ll just tell her I’m staying with a friend for a while.”

  Scott just breathes on the other end and my heart races. I tense my jaw, having second thoughts.

  “Bring your stuff tonight, and after your meeting with Viktor, I’ll take you there.”

  “Thanks, Scott. Later.”

  “Later.”

  We both hang up, and I start to go through all my clothes, choosing ones Red has never seen or touched that I know of. I put them in my duffle bag and collect a few other things to take with me when I see my favorite photo of Red beside my bed. I sit down and pick it up.

  We were at the lake near the city, just me, Red, and Grandma, last summer, before I got bitten. After we enjoyed lunch, Grandma took a nap while we decided to swim in the lake. I took my shirt off and waited for Red to uncover her bathing suit. She looked even more beautiful than normal. I grabbed her hand and ran to the lake, dragging her in after me. She always had to acclimate herself, even when it was warm, but I didn’t give her time for that. I turned around while dragging her and gave a slight pull, throwing her off balance and right into my arms. I had to stop myself from kissing her, especially when she blushed lightly. We continued playing and swimming until Grandma hollered it was time to go. We splashed each other as we got out of the lake, causing Grandma to laugh at us. She told us to stand together so she could get a picture with one of those disposable cameras. I made sure I was behind Red slightly and then hugged her with my face right beside hers. Grandma snapped the pic, and then I kissed Red on the cheek right after. I jumped back before she could swat me. Grandma gave me the picture just two days later.

  I set it down. I can’t take it with me. If I do, they might figure it out if they’ve ever seen Grandma. Red is the spitting image of her. Tears sting the back of my eyes, but I swallow. I must do this to keep Red and Grandma safe, no matter how much I hate it.

  I’m better off just leaving now. If I wait around and see Red once more, I may not be able to leave. I grab my duffle and finish shoving in the odds and ends, including my favorite sweatshirt—the one Red steals from me all the time, which is probably why it’s my favorite. I write a short note to my mom with the lie I’d thought up earlier and leave it on the kitchen counter. I sit down to write Red a letter which won’t have that lie.

  Red, my greatest friend,

  I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused the last couple of weeks with my distance. I know you’ve needed me, but once you read this, you’ll understand why I did it.

  First, you and Grandma mean the world to me. Please explain to her what you feel she should know from this. I don’t want any added stress on her or you. But you deserve to know what happened.

  Second, I will always care about you and love you, in more ways than you know. I know this will hurt you, but in the end, you will be protected and alive and that’s what I need to know. It is the most important thing to me.

  Now on to what happened. Just a few weeks after our last trip to the lake, I was out heading through the park, coming back home. I know you’ve warned me to stay out of there at night. but I was in a hurry. That was the night we were going to hang out and go see a movie but didn’t. The next thing I know a wolf ran up to me, knocked me down, and bit my arm when I tried to block him. Suddenly a man was standing there and picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all. He started walking, taking me god knows where, telling me that I was the first he’s made in a long time, and if I survived the turning, he had great plans for me. I would be the one to lead him to the Wolf Tracker. I was made by Viktor, the alpha werewolf, himself.

  I don’t know if he knows who you both are yet or not, because before I got over the turning, Grandma had already gotten worse, and I took pains to not see her at all. This is why I also avoided seeing you. I was trying to protect you from them.

  The man following us this morning was Scott, Viktor’s second basically. He questioned who you were, but I think I threw him off the trail by telling him you were just a friend from down the street. I’ve taken great lengths to keep your scent off of me, too.

  In order to protect you both, I have to leave and live with the pack. I’m sorry, but this is the best way for me to keep you both safe.

  Love always,

  Peter

  I quickly fold it up and put into an envelope and write Red’s name on the outside. I pick up my duffle bag and leave the apartment walking up two flights to Red’s and shove the envelope under the door. I place my hand on the door for a second and say goodbye. I run down the stairs, out the front, and head to the park.

  Red

  Thankfully most of the day at school passed uneventfully,
but I had a feeling that was going to change. The Oz Clan walks towards me. Just what I need.

  “Hi, Red!” they all chorus together. Then Evanora steps closer with a grin. “Where have you been? You’ve missed so many days of class.”

  “Hi, guys. I was allowed to take some days off since my grandma has gotten worse.”

  “Oh, that’s right. That means you’ll be coming into some powers soon!” Glenda exclaims.

  I just stand there gaping at her. “You mean ’cause Grandma is going to die. Wow. You’re even more insensitive than I ever realized, and I thought you were the good one.”

  I turn and stomp away, anger seething within me. My hands fist at my sides.

  Glenda hurries from behind and grabs my arm. I turn quickly and punch her in the face. I didn’t mean to do this —it was just instinct. I stare at my closed fist. I’d moved faster than I could even think. My reflexes were more in tune than normal. Did that mean Grandma was close to death? Was the magic slowly seeping into me from her?

  Glenda sits on the floor screaming. Her eyes grow a brighter shade of blue and the air around her crackles with magic. The other three Oz sisters rush over and block her from me. Theodora grabs her by the shoulders and shakes her slightly. “She isn’t worth getting kicked out of Wonderland for, Glenda! Focus.”

  I turn and storm away quickly before I lose my own focus. I stop by my locker and grab what I need to get through the weekend. Thank goodness I only have to come three days a week now, but that’s even too much. I then rush out the doors, down the steps, and to the gate looking for Peter. I stop when I notice he isn’t around. I pull out my phone, which says it’s 3:02, and shoot a text to him.

  Where are you? I stand, waiting for a reply for about ten minutes before I give up. I start walking home, dialing his number as I go. No answer.

  I’m worried so I start jogging towards the apartment building. I reach the front and run up to his apartment on the first floor, pounding on the door. No answer. Where is he? I thought he was coming around again. I shake my head and start up the stairs to my apartment, digging out my keys as I go. I unlock the door and step in. It isn’t until I turn to lock the door again that I see the envelope on the floor. My stomach churns as I reach down and notice it’s Peter’s handwriting.