by Melissa Haag
I moved to look out the window. The number of those lingering in the yard had thinned.
“I’m not sure. I have no urge to leave soon. Not until things are settled with Charlene. Let’s go to the main room and see how many will be staying with us.”
We found Grey and Henry peeling the skins from three rabbits while the two men I’d previously challenged, Bine and Zerek, lingered by the hand pump, looking at it curiously. Likely they’d avoided humans and human contraptions their whole lives.
“Want the skins?” Henry asked me as I approached.
“No, thanks. The fur makes me cough.”
“Me too. Give me yours,” he said to Grey. “I’ll go toss them into the woods. You can spit the meat on the fire. Winifred told me everything we feed Charlene needs to be cooked thoroughly or she’ll get sick.”
Grey nodded, and I helped him take the rabbits to the fire.
She was afraid when I went up there, I sent to Grey. But when I told her we weren’t leaving she seemed to calm down. I don’t know what to make of her.
She’s female. I don’t think you’re supposed to, he sent back with a grin.
Not long after that, Charlene and Mary walked into the room. Charlene’s stomach growled, and she glanced at the rabbits roasting on the fire but she didn’t ask about them. Instead, she looked at Bine and Zerek then moved toward Grey and me.
“I’m Charlene,” she said, extending her hand to him.
Grey looked down at her hand, grinned, then wrapped his fingers around hers.
She wants me to touch her. What do you think about that, little brother?
I think you’re an idiot and should stop touching my future Mate.
“I’m Grey, Thomas’ brother.” He released her. “These two are Bine and Zerek.” He motioned to the two males who moved closer.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, glancing at them. “Thomas said you wanted to know what I planned to do next. Honestly, I don’t know what to do next. For me to live here through the winter...well, it’s a long list. And I don’t know what your plans are. Will all of you be staying too? It could change what we should do first.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“If it’s the eight of us, we need to consider how we’ll feed ourselves. I’m guessing as hunters, you follow the food. If you’re staying in one place and the game leaves, then what? Also, if you’re living indoors without your fur, how will you stay warm?”
Her words surprised me. She was thinking of us before thinking of herself. Why? Humans always thought of themselves first.
“You’re going to need shirts, shoes, socks, and other things. We’ll need more bedding, a large supply of wood, and jackets, mittens, and hats. And we can’t steal what we need. If we mean to stay here permanently, robbing the surrounding homes and communities would put us at risk. We need to find a way to earn money. Money will buy us the food and clothes we need.”
I wasn’t sure what to do about most of what she said. However, starting on a large supply of wood was easy.
“Bine,” I said, addressing the male I’d challenged when we’d arrived. “Head out to find an ax. Zerek, pull any deadfall from the woods into the clearing. Enlist whoever is willing to help.”
The two nodded and moved to leave as Henry returned. He shut the outside door behind them.
“Do you have suggestions for how we can earn money?” I asked, looking at Charlene.
Her pulse changed for a moment before steadying.
“There’s always the route Winifred took. Go out and get jobs.”
I frowned. What would we possibly be able to do for a human that they would be willing to pay us?
“Or there were some useful things at the junkyard,” she said. “Perhaps more could be found there and sold in town. If we can spare any wood, we could also sell that.”
I glanced at Gregory and Grey. Gather as many men who are willing and take them to the junkyard. Work with Winifred to figure out what might be of value.
They both nodded and Gregory held out his hand to Mary. She went to him with a grin.
“We’ll find something good,” she said to Charlene as they left.
“I heard you had one of the buildings dismantled for the boards. How do you plan to use those?” I asked.
“To board up the windows with no glass. It should help keep the cold out.”
I looked at Henry and Paul and they nodded and walked out the door.
“What else?” I asked.
She crossed her arms and studied me. Alone with her for the first time in days, I studied her too. I remembered the way her skin and hair had felt when I touched her. Soft. Almost frail. She was too easy to damage. Would she be safe enough here?
“Why the sudden willingness to help? I thought you didn’t want me making changes here.”
“Without some changes, you won’t be able to stay. Like you said, you’re different. More fragile.”
I stepped closer, memorizing every dip and curve of her face, and admitted the truth.
“I want you to stay.” And my wanting had nothing to do with the safety of my race.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed.
“Why? The bite didn’t work.”
“No, it didn’t. But it doesn’t change what I know. You belong to me.”
Her sweet scent lulled me. I wanted to reach out and touch her but didn’t think she would welcome it yet. She needed time to forget the failed bite. Time to see that I would be a good Mate.
She gave me a long look then turned and moved to the bags we’d left by the pump. I watched as she pulled out a large piece of cloth. She studied it critically for several moments.
I moved closer, curious. Standing just behind her, I recalled the way she’d somehow pushed back those men. Would she do the same to me? What more could she do? I studied the way the firelight played on her hair, no longer sure if her secrets mattered to me.
“What is that for?” I asked, looking back up at the cloth.
“Whatever we need, I suppose.”
She set it aside and went to the bags by the table. I moved to stand behind her again. Part of me wanted to test her. To see if she would push me away like she had those men outside. Mostly I moved closer because I liked the way her scent wrapped around me, and I could see what she was doing.
Over her shoulder, I watched her place the contents of the bags on the table. Many of the food items I’d seen before. Pasta, dried beans, and rice were easy for hunters to store in isolated cabins.
“Can you ask Winifred to let Mary know that we could use a cabinet or shelf to store the food?” she asked, turning.
Her pulse jumped when she saw our faces were inches apart. Her lips tempted me. She’d liked it when I’d kissed her before. Would she again?
Charlene would like a shelf or cabinet to store dry food, I sent Gregory to distract myself from temptation.
“Do you always have to stand so close?” she asked.
I almost smiled. “If I wasn’t worried about being knocked on my back, I’d stand even closer.” I reached for the beans, an excuse to lean closer. “And, no, I don’t need to ask Winifred. I let Gregory know.”
“How?”
“Just like Winifred can communicate with all of us, I can communicate with the members of my pack.”
“Members of your pack. You’re Gregory’s...what? Leader?”
“Yes.”
“That explains a lot,” she said as she stepped away.
Henry walked in carrying several planks. While I looked over at him, Charlene tried to slip away.
“Charlene,” he called, “we’ve never boarded windows before.”
She paused for a moment then turned to face us. If she wanted our help, she wouldn’t be able to keep running from us. I hid my grin and silently followed her when she led Henry to the first room she wanted boarded up.
She was smart about it. The rooms closest to the main room had repaired windows. The rooms further a
way would be boarded. The heat from the fireplace would never reach the boarded rooms.
When Henry and Paul were set and working steadily, she moved to go but was again stopped.
“Charlene?” a voice called.
I followed her to the main room where Bine stood holding an ax.
“I’ve never cut wood before,” he said, looking at her.
I’d watched humans do it and knew the general motions. But, if I answered, Charlene would leave. So I kept silent.
“I brought a dead tree into the clearing,” he said. “I know you want it broken up, but how big?”
Charlene went outside and explained what kindling meant. She even took the ax to show Bine how to make it.
“No,” I said, stepping forward. “Swinging that might hurt your neck. Explain how and let Bine try.”
She gave me a disgruntled look but handed the ax back to Bine and explained what she wanted him to do. It took some time. Other males gathered around to listen to her speak. She had a pleasantly smooth voice when she wasn’t filled with fear.
When she finished, the sun kissed the horizon and Bine started swinging the ax with purpose. A few of the men went into the woods to find more trees.
“I’m tired,” she said, looking me in the eye. “I’m going to my room. You can stop following me now.”
She walked away and I grinned. I would never stop following her. After waiting a few moments, I went inside.
A long while later as I was lying on the floor in the bedroom next to hers, listening to her small movements, I heard the first of many wolves enter the yard. Standing, I looked out the window.
Gregory and Mary were working together to carry a bulky object. Grey walked behind them, carrying something else. More males emerged from the trees. Every one of them had something in their arms, over their shoulder, or on their backs.
What is all of that? I sent Grey.
Junk mostly. Winifred claims we can fix some of it and sell it for money. Some of it Charlene might be able to use.
They carried it inside, then the males left, heading back to the trees. I knew they weren’t leaving for good but bedding down for the night.
“Charlene,” Mary yelled from below.
I listened to Charlene move before she called back that she was upstairs.
Mary’s slight steps as she ran up the stairs drew me from the window. I heard Charlene’s door opened a moment later.
“Come see everything we’ve found,” Mary said.
They left their room, and from under my door, I could see the glow from Charlene’s lamp.
“It’s an odd collection of things, but I think we found some amazing pieces,” Mary said.
They were on the stairs when I opened my door and stepped out. I knew Charlene heard me from the sudden tension in her shoulders, but she didn’t turn around.
“I’m glad it wasn’t a wasted trip,” she said, moving quickly to follow Mary.
I was right behind them when they pushed through the big doors.
Broken human junk filled the room. Mary watched excitedly as Charlene stepped in further and set the lamp on the table. It cast shadows making things harder to see.
“Wow, Mary. How did you get this all back?”
I wouldn’t have asked how, but why. What use could we possibly have for so much garbage?
“Winifred asked a few others to help us.” Mary moved further into the room and patted a large looking metal upright chest. “This is an old refrigerator. We can use it for storing food. Nothing will be able to get to it. And this,” she said, tapping something else big and metal and partially hidden in the refrigerator’s shadow, “will come in handy for cooking.”
Charlene moved closer and grinned. It was the first time I’d seen her smile. That familiar squeeze was back around my heart.
“That is totally amazing,” she said.
“And check this out,” Mary said, waving to a small, potbellied stove. “This is for your room. In winter.”
“I can’t wait to look at the rest of this stuff tomorrow when we have better light.”
I looked around at the clutter of human items. Like the flowers, I didn’t understand them. But, to Charlene, they seemed to mean something.
Gregory and I followed the females as they left the room.
Mary seems pretty happy, I sent to Gregory. He grinned at me but said nothing.
When the females were in their room with the door closed, I heard Mary start talking again.
“That was the best evening of my life. We talked about everything. Did you know that he’s Thomas’ cousin? He’s only four years older than me—that’s a relief—and said he wouldn’t mind living here if that’s what I wanted to do.”
“Cousin?” I said quietly to Gregory.
He shrugged a little. “Mary said she thinks Charlene likes you, but she’s too afraid because of what’s happened to want anyone around but me and Mary’s kin. She thought saying you’re a cousin might make Charlene more comfortable around you.”
“He does seem pretty sweet,” Charlene said, in the other room.
“See?” Gregory said. “I’m sweet.”
“Quiet,” I said, tilting my head to listen.
“I’m very excited for you. How much longer are you going to make him wait?” Charlene asked.
“He asked the same thing today. I don’t have a set time. When it feels like it’s time, I’ll tell him.”
At the soft thump of Charlene’s shoes hitting the floor and the rustle of her bedding, I settled back into my position on the floor.
“Good night, Mary,” Charlene said softly.
“Did you have a nice day with Thomas?” Mary whispered after a few moments.
Charlene remained silent.
“Good night, Charlene,” Mary said softly after a moment. “I hope you have a better day tomorrow.”
I frowned.
“Try being sweet,” Gregory said in the darkness.
I didn’t do sweet.
SEVEN
Before the sun lit the sky, I was up and pacing the room, impatient to see Charlene again. Not just to see her, but to see her smile. I needed her to be happy here. To want to stay.
Yesterday, we’d done everything she’d asked. I’d thought she’d liked our efforts. Why hadn’t she had a good day?
Want to go for a run? Grey sent me.
I stopped pacing and focused on trying to calm myself. He could probably feel my agitation. It wasn’t a pack thing but a brother thing. He always seemed to know.
Meet you outside, I sent back.
I left the room and made my way down the stairs. The things filling the main room still made me shake my head. It seemed more had been added overnight and, to me, it all looked useless.
When I stepped outside, Grey was already there waiting. He didn’t say anything as I joined him and started toward the trees. In the shadows of their tall trunks, we stripped out of our clothes and shifted. I shook out my fur and exhaled in relief, feeling more like myself than I had in a long while.
Thank you.
Any time.
He took off, and I raced to keep up with him. We wove through the woods, crossing scent trails that overlapped in the area closest to the building. The further we ran, the more infrequent those trails became. Ahead, the lake shimmered in the moonlight. I didn’t slow. Running full speed, I jumped off the bank and shifted as I sailed in the air, landing with a splash.
Grey was standing on the bank, grinning at me when I surfaced.
“Don’t forget to let your wolf out,” he said. “Even if we start living in buildings, we’re too wild to ignore the call of the trees for too long.”
“That wasn’t my problem.” I started toward shore.
“What then?”
I pulled myself from the water, shook the water from my hair, then sat on the grass.
“It’s her. Yesterday, we did everything she wanted, but when Mary came back and asked how the day went, she kept quiet.” I broke off a p
iece of grass and rolled it between my thumb and finger. “She smiled last night. When she saw that stove you brought back.” Exhaling heavily, I tossed the grass aside. “I want her to smile because of me.”
“She will. Be patient Thomas. She’s not leaving. Neither are you.”
Patient. Before coming here, I would have said I was patient. How many nights had we crouched in the shadows watching humans? Too many to count. I’d never felt as restless then as I did now.
“Let’s hunt then head back,” Grey said.
Shifting back to our fur, we hunted for game in the trees and marshes around the lake. Grey didn’t take the hunt too seriously, sniffing out first a badger then a squirrel. Once we’d both caught and consumed a pheasant, we headed back.
The run had helped clear my head enough to see that I did need more patience when it came to Charlene. I didn’t yet understand what she liked to know what would make her happy. Just like my run-ins with prior humans, I needed to take some time to learn Charlene.
Males were already moving around the yard when we returned. Bine had his ax ready and was watching two other males pull a tree from the woods.
“There’s a hare on the spit,” Henry said when he saw us. “Mary said that Charlene’s awake and coming down.”
We went inside just as Mary and Charlene entered the crowded main room. Charlene’s gaze drifted over all the random objects before she started to move around the room, slowly considering every piece. It would take a long time to sort through it all. Spending that much time with her, I was sure I’d figure out a way to make her happy today.
“Okay,” she said finally. “Let’s store the tools in the other building. Maybe take a table out there, too, so we can take stock of what tools we have.”
I opened the door and called to the males outside.
“Anyone willing to help?”
Several with nothing to do stepped into the room. I looked at Charlene, letting her tell them what she wanted. They would be quicker to help if the request came from her.
“Can you two start carrying the tools to the other building?” she said, pointing to two men toward the front of the group. “And you two carry a table over? Then maybe the four of you can organize the tools and tell us what we have?”
