by Melissa Haag
She grinned.
“Haven’t you ever had honey? You’ve had to come across honey bees out there.”
“We’re wolves not bears.”
She laughed, and I smiled.
“If you don’t want to finish it, I will. Where did it come from? Is there more?”
Willingly, I pushed my bowl toward her.
“I made a few trips to the junkyard, collecting coins from the seats of old cars. When I had enough, I went into town.”
“Like that?” She eyed my bare chest, and I shook my head.
“Winifred warned me that I’d need a shirt and shoes. Why would anyone want to wear those things on their feet?”
“Shoes protect our feet. Humans aren’t as sturdy as you are.”
“I’m learning,” I said.
“You are.”
I waited for her to finish and wash the bowls then led her outside. I still wasn’t sure she’d like the garden Anton had found. But after her admission of loneliness, I thought going to see it a perfect way to keep her busy, in my company, and hopefully in my arms.
“There’s a lot of ground to cover. May I carry you?” I asked.
A pink tint colored her cheeks as she nodded. I stepped close and scooped her up. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and leaned into my hold. I stared down at her upturned face. So close and tempting.
“Hold on,” I said.
I took off at a run, wanting to get her alone. It didn’t take long to sprint through the trees and reach the lake. The smell of sun and water tickled my nose, and I slowed to a walk before stepping out into sunlight.
She looked around as I set her on her feet.
“This way,” I said, taking her hand.
We skirted the marshy area around the lake, making our way east. The weeds and reeds thinned and larger pools became visible. The trees to our right suddenly disappeared into a large clearing.
“Anton found this while catching pheasants. He was watching what they ate and checking if there was a food source we could gather and store for the winter...if we can manage to keep any of them caged. He thinks this might be an old garden planted by the people who used to live here.
She parted the grass as she walked forward. With growing excitement, she pointed out a thick onion patch, carrots growing in random areas toward the trees, some chewed on melons, a few small green striped pumpkins, stalks of multi-colored corn, vine beans, and many varieties of squash.
“This is amazing,” she said, her gaze lingering on the carrots.
“Before you pick anything, I want to show you something else. It’s not useful like this. Just pretty.”
She let me take her hand again, and I led her east, away from the garden and back into the trees. It wasn’t a long walk to the lake. I knew, because of the clear sky, it would be pretty with the sun reflecting off its surface.
When we stepped out of the trees onto the lapping shoreline of the lake, her steps slowed. I watched the awe on her face as she looked out over the water. Slowly, she walked toward the shore, her shoes making divots in the sand. She kicked them off and rolled up her pant legs.
“It’ll be cold,” I said.
She still stepped in and squealed a little at the chill. Then, she stared down in the water and watched the little fish swim close. When a larger one darted in, she tensed.
“Thomas…” Her voice pitched with her worry.
I grinned and walked into the water.
“It’s just a fish.”
“Do you eat fish?” she asked.
I had a few times. They were usually more of a pain to catch than a rabbit so we left them be.
“Do you?” I asked.
“Not lately.”
The regretful way she said it got me moving. If she wanted fish, I’d catch every fish in the lake. The thing slithered from my grip, and I fumbled in the water, twisting and grabbing until I had its tail. It turned on me, opening its mouth. I hooked two fingers behind its gill and lifted it out of the water.
I looked at Charlene. She’d moved, but only to raise her arms like a drenched human scarecrow. I couldn’t hold back my laughter. She grinned and wiped the water dripping from her face.
“That fish won’t stay fresh for long. Let’s pick some of the vegetables and head back.” She slogged from the water and tried to wring what she could from her hair and clothes. After picking some carrots and onions, she reluctantly held the fish so I could run us home.
When we reached the building, I stayed outside to clean the fish. The muffled screech of the pump came from inside as I finished. Not sure what else to do with them, I tossed the fish head and remains into the trees. If there were others around, they would have gladly eaten the extra bits, but I knew Charlene wouldn’t appreciate me bringing them inside. Humans were funny about some parts.
Carrying the fish inside, I found two roasters on the table. She already had the vegetables cut and laid out in the bottoms along with some water and rice. And there were several pots of water on the stove for a bath.
“Where is everyone?” she asked as I set half the fish in each pan.
“I sent everyone out. Mary and Gregory are in town, trying to determine what jobs are available and what skills are required. The rest are at the junkyard. They wanted a break from cutting wood, and the man running the place was willing to pay them to break down some of the metal for recycling. They’ll earn more than if they would have taken the metal.”
“I’m impressed.”
“I can’t claim responsibility for any of those ideas. Winifred has been promoting jobs to individuals since you suggested it.” She’d been doing it long before that, but I didn’t think anyone had truly listened until Charlene’s arrival.
“And they all went along with it?”
“Mostly. There were a few grumbles at first, but they seem to be enjoying it now.”
I carried one of the steaming pots to the tub, dumped it, then refilled it from the pump. Behind me, I heard her pulse change over the screeching sound.
“I’m going to run and get some clean clothes,” she said, moving away.
“Hold on. I’ll go, too.” I stopped pumping and put the pot on the stove.
“There’s no need.” She stood by the door.
“I need to grab some clothes.” She looked nervous when I started walking toward her. Her gaze drifted down to my chest, and her cheeks flushed.
“I can grab them for you,” she said, meeting my gaze.
I studied her. As much as I wanted to give her what she wanted, I wasn’t ready to leave her alone.
“My kind tends to attack you when you’re alone. I’d rather not leave you.”
“Okay.” She turned away too quickly.
“Charlene, is something bothering you?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
I chuckled and followed her up the stairs.
“Honesty. It’s refreshing.”
“Not really. You’re just more of a pain when I lie.”
I grinned and waited in the hall as she grabbed clothes from her room. She waited there when I went into my room. Mary and Gregory now occupied the room Henry and Paul had taken. All that designated the room as mine was a spare pair of pants on the floor.
“It’s so...empty,” she said softly from the door. “Someday, it won’t be like this.”
“What do you see in your someday?” I asked, returning to her.
Her gaze unfocused.
“This building and the other buildings will be brimming with life, an ever changing community of families. Most will stay to raise their young in the protection of a safer environment. These rooms will be their homes within our home. And I see happiness. A lot of laughter and friendship. No more dying race or hiding in the woods.”
“I like what you see. And someday, I know you’ll help make it all happen.”
“How do you know?”
“Because, without you, no one has a reason to stay.”
I reach
ed up and brushed my fingers across her cheek. She sniffed and wrinkled her nose.
“We need our baths.”
She quickly left the room and started down the stairs. I followed, inhaling deeply. Yes, we smelled like fish, but under that, her appealing scent lured me.
“You know,” I said, “we wouldn’t need to heat as much water if we shared.”
“That’s not going to happen,” she said over her shoulder.
I chuckled and followed her back to the main room. After emptying the next batch of water into the tub, I watched her close herself into the bathroom.
Food will be done soon, I sent to the pack members still near sanctuary.
We’re already on our way, Gregory sent. The rest were further out.
It wasn’t long after I refilled the pots that Leif and Ann entered the main room. The small baby in Ann’s arms fascinated me.
“Congratulations,” I said. “May I look at her? I’ve never seen a cub so young before.”
Ann nodded, and I moved closer. I didn’t try to touch it or crowd Ann; I just got close enough to look.
“She’s so small,” I said quietly. Her little fingers were gripping the shirt wrapped around her.
“Thankfully so. Birthing her wasn’t easy.”
“We came to eat before the rest arrive,” Leif said. “If there’s enough to share.”
“Of course. It’s not done yet, but should be soon.”
Leif nodded and Ann gave him an expectant look. I could see they were silently communicating and started to move away.
“Thomas,” Leif said, stopping me. “When we were on our way here, we’d crossed paths with another couple. She was expecting, too. After hearing we intended to come to sanctuary, Daisy and Ernest said they would come, too. They were supposed to be a few days behind us. Ann’s worried,” his Mate gave him a hard look, “we’re worried something has happened to them. Could you ask your pack to watch for them? Earnest and Daisy. She was a month or two behind Ann.”
“Where did you last see them?”
“Near the Saskatchewan and Alberta border. We were coming from northern Saskatchewan to here.
Winifred, Ann and Leif, the pair who just had the female cub, said there was another pair coming to sanctuary. They are concerned something happened to the female, who was close to giving birth. They want me to have my pack watch for them. Given what happened to that family further north, I hesitate to ask. I don’t trust everyone in my pack. What if it’s a female cub?
Where were they?
Near the Saskatchewan and Alberta borders.
I will reach out to your hunting pack members and command them to report everyone they meet to me.
Thank you.
“We will look for them.”
Ann nodded in relief and went to sit at the table. It wasn’t long afterward that Mary and Gregory returned. Mary went straight for Ann and the cub.
While they talked, Gregory told me what they’d discovered in town.
“There aren’t many jobs. Most people looking to hire shook their head when they saw me.” He looked down at himself. He wore human clothes from shoes to shirt. “Mary said it was probably because of the holes in my shoes. There were a few who didn’t seem to mind, though.”
The bathroom door opened and Charlene walked out, fresh and clean and still a little damp.
“Your turn,” she said, looking at me. She went to the stove and started to remove the pans of fish and vegetables.
“We’ll talk later.” I clapped Gregory on the shoulder, told him he could take the shoes off, then closed myself into the bathroom with two fresh buckets of rinse water.
Using Charlene’s soapy bathwater didn’t bother me. I stripped and slid into the tepid mix and started to scrub with the soap bar she’d left for me.
In the main room, I listened to Charlene ask Ann questions about how the cub first changed. I could tell by her responses she didn’t like what she was hearing. We forced newborns to change into a wolf for their protection. They were warmer and easier to carry that way, when in the woods. Since she and I would stay here, it would be different for our cubs. I wouldn’t need to scare them to force the change and the concern about risking their lives wouldn’t be an issue.
The main door opened and I knew the rest of the pack had returned. Finished scrubbing, I rinsed then quickly dried.
When I stepped out, toweling my hair, Charlene had already sat beside Mary at the table.
“If you want to change, I’ll wash those clothes for you tomorrow,” Charlene said to the males as they all moved to the stove.
“Thank you. We appreciate it. And dinner,” Anton said.
“What did you learn in town?” I asked Gregory, wanting to remove Charlene’s attention from Anton.
Since he had his mouth full, Mary answered.
“There are a few jobs that might work. A plumber is looking for an apprentice. It would require someone to move into town, though.”
I sat beside Charlene as Mary spoke.
“The man has his own business and takes calls any time of night. He has a room in the back of his garage he’d rent out. He’d be willing to deduct the cost from the male’s wages to cover it.”
“I’ll go,” Bine said as he sat at the table. I wished Anton would have offered.
“We looked at the room,” Mary said. “It has a cot in it and nothing else. No electricity or stove for when the weather gets cold.”
“I’ll manage,” Bine said.
“Anything else?” I asked Mary.
“Nothing we thought anyone would be interested in. The library needs some part time help as does the grocery store for stacking shelves at night. The store might be too tempting.”
It would be. We found no issue in taking from humans in the past.
“Bine, your wages first need to house you, feed you, and clothe you. Anything you can spare should return to the pack so we may do the same for all the members,” I said. Bine dipped his head in agreement. “And when you need to run, come here.”
We both knew the urge to run would ride him hard the longer he stayed in his human form.
Charlene finished her meal and brought her plate to the sink. Instead of washing it like she usually did, she went to the supply cabinet and stared at the contents. Her stillness worried me, and I got up to stand behind her.
“Charlene?” I said softly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” she glanced over her shoulder at me. “I’m only thinking of supplies and lists and what we’ll need over the next few months.” She looked at the supplies again. “How much did Winifred get for the metal?”
I asked Winifred and relayed what she said.
“She was able to buy larger bags of oats, rice, beans, peas, pasta, flour, and sugar. She also has some spices, a tub of lard, yeast, books, more clothes, blankets, oil lamps, and chocolate chips.”
“Chocolate chips?” Charlene said, looking at me.
“She wants to bake the cookies here with you.”
Charlene’s expression turned suspicious.
“When is she arriving?” she asked.
Charlene seems wary of the chocolate chips and wants to know when you’ll be here.
I will arrive after midnight. She shouldn’t wait up for me. I’ll see her in the morning.
“She is just leaving now and doesn’t expect to be here for several hours. She suggests you go to sleep as usual, and she’ll see you in the morning.”
She nodded and went to the sink. I brought over some of the hot water from the stove and filled the wash pan. While she washed, I dried. I liked working beside her. It felt right.
The pack brought us their plates then quietly left. When we finished, Charlene turned to look at the empty room. I set my hands on her shoulders and gently rubbed her tense muscles.
“Did you enjoy today?” I asked.
She glanced back at me.
“I did. Why are you asking?”
“I don’t want you to be
lonely here, Charlene. If you’re feeling that way again, tell me. Please.”
She nodded. I dropped my hands and left her to make sure Bine had everything he needed to head into town. When I returned, she was already in bed, sleeping. I sat with her and dozed until close to dawn. Then I went down to speak with Winifred.
“Good morning, Thomas,” she said when I entered. She was in the process of setting a box on the table.
“Hello, Winifred.”
“After breakfast, I would like some time alone with Charlene.”
“Why?”
“I have questions for her.”
I crossed my arms and stared at her. I should have known she wouldn’t let go of what had happened since her last trip.
“She didn’t harm anyone.”
“Not this time, no. But what about next? We need to understand what she can do. Her limits. I want her to be here, Thomas. I do. But not if her presence puts everyone in danger.”
“It doesn’t.”
“How do you know?”
I wanted to snarl in frustration.
“And if it does? If she tells you something you don’t like? What then? I won’t allow you to kill her.”
Winifred looked at me for several long moments. We both knew what would happen if she harmed Charlene. I would lose faith in her and her ability to act on behalf of our race. So would many others. It would tear our people apart and likely result in Winifred’s death.
“I won’t kill her,” Winifred said softly. “If she proves to be a risk to us, that will be your brother’s final test for becoming an Elder.”
Pain exploding within me.
“You wouldn’t.” She knew I would never hurt Grey. Not when she would be the one forcing him to act.
She continued while I struggled with my anger and helplessness.
“If she’s a risk, it will be the only way to save our people. He knows this.” She exhaled heavily. “Thomas, I truly believe she is meant to be here. And I believe once she answers my questions, my obligation to ensure the safety of our people around her will be fulfilled and what we just discussed will never come to pass. Now, I would prefer to speak with Charlene first thing after we eat.”
She was right. Charlene was meant to be here. Winifred was only doing her duty to us. A duty she couldn’t ignore.
