by J. J. Massa
Eventually he pulled back and looked at her. “I don’t blame you for worrying about me. Don’t worry. And now I know where you get those beautiful eyes. If we ever have pups, I hope they have your eyes.” With another lick at those delectable whiskers, he said, “You can’t be finished eating. Come on, help me with these fries and this milkshake.”
Self-consciously, she nibbled a couple of fries. With difficulty, Yancey managed to open some catsup, ultimately wearing only one packet’s worth.
He caught her looking at him from time to time and looking away when she saw him glancing over at her. He smiled to himself. Finally, they had both eaten their fill and she helped him pick up the litter.
“This was very nice of you…Yancey,” she said hesitantly.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it? Saying my name, I mean.” When she dipped her head shyly, he nuzzled her neck.
She pulled back a little but she didn’t cringe. He felt like he was making progress.
“It feels awkward. I’ve never called you by your first name. Not to your face…” she murmured.
He lay down on the little ledge and said, “Will you look at the moon with me for a minute?”
“Okay,” she agreed, sinking to her stomach.
Neither spoke for a while, staring up at the full moon in the sky. Carefully, he edged closer to her. He managed to move in next to her when she could no longer keep her eyes open.
Yancey enjoyed feeling her warm little body next to his larger, more solid frame. He liked watching her sleep. As she dozed, he imagined seeing her swell with his pups. That wouldn’t happen any time soon. He tried to envision what she must look like in human form.
After an hour, his little mate awakened startled and flustered. “I’m so sorry, Mr., um, I mean Yancey. I was just so sleepy.”
“Don’t worry, Little Mate. I’ve enjoyed laying here beside you.” Maybe he shouldn’t have said that. She acted even more flustered. “I-I,” she took a deep breath. “I think I shouldn’t come back during the week. It’s too much…”
“Shh, don’t worry. I do understand. I’ll miss you though. Maybe you could say hello to me at work?” he ventured.
“Th-thank you for supper,” she croaked, agreeing to nothing.
He just shook his head from side to side ruefully when she feinted left and then shot around him on the right, heading down the hill. Without a doubt, this little Were, his very sweet mate, was going to keep him guessing.
* * * * *
Philly quietly let herself into the house, transforming in the kitchen. She knew Sheriff Timmons was nearby, just as she’d known that Yancey wasn’t that far away. If something happened, she could call out and he’d come running. He would hear.
Moving into her bedroom, she slipped on a soft robe and sat down on her bed, scooting up to the headboard. Without thinking about it, she picked up her sketchpad and charcoal, drawing out a stained glass window.
She made some sections shaded one way and others shaded a different way.
Pups. Yancey Livingston had mentioned pups. Hers and his. Pups with her blue eyes. Did she want to have pups with him? He was her mate.
The idea both thrilled her and frightened her through and through. How many times over the years had she imagined having pups with him? Would she ever be able to let him touch her that way? Did she even want to make love with him again? And it wasn’t making love, was it, the thing they’d done, he’d done? He didn’t really love her, did he?
With a start, Philly looked down at her sketchpad. She’d drawn two little pups, one prancing and one rolling with a large ball in between, all in shaded sections to be placed in a window somewhere. Hurriedly, she put the sketchpad down on her bedside table and headed to the shower. She was obviously overtired and needed plenty of sleep.
* * * * *
The two shaggy wolves moved along the edge of the wood line. They could both see the small house in the little valley below. Both had followed from upwind and from a distance as the small black wolf had made her way up the hill and away from the large red wolf.
They knew the large red wolf was some kind of Montgomery and were cautious to stay as far away as they could while still watching what happened. They’d quietly discussed the possibility of cornering the little black wolf on her trek back to the house.
Stewie, always the one to naysay, had pointed out the possibility of a scuffle and the problems that could result from attracting the Montgomery wolf’s attention. Stan had agreed so they’d continued on.
The little wolf wasn’t paying attention to anything. She never even realized that she was being followed. Stan considered bringing her down right there outside of her little house until his brother nudged him, drawing his attention to a dark shape moving around in the shadows.
Their father was there, watching over the two young women. Stan growled low, the sound lost in the creaking of the door as the blue-eyed wolf made her way inside.
The two lupines tracked her through the house, watching through the window from the rise of the hill as she pulled on her robe, sat down on her bed and began to draw. Tonight, she would dream in safety. Tomorrow night, anything could happen. When her light went out, the Timmons brothers slunk off into the shadows.
Chapter 9
Lakon, Mya, Yancey and Myles were listening to tracks for their next album. The last song had played, and the quiet sound of static filled the small room. They’d absently left the tape playing while they discussed which tracks to keep and which to do over.
Suddenly, the sounds of a casual conversation between two women could be heard from the surrounding speakers. When Lakon would have turned it off, Myles grabbed his hand, and with his other, rewound the conversation.
“Hey, Philly,” he recognized Ashley’s voice as he heard her enter the recording booth. “The sound engineer said you were in here.”
“It’s the only safe place in the building right now,” the little Were, Philly, answered in a rueful voice. “You’re not working at the truck stop tonight? How’d you get here?”
Yancey shot to his feet. “That’s her!” he shouted.
“Shh,” Myles growled. He wanted to hear every word that Ashley said. She hadn’t spoken to him in weeks.
“When’re you going to see him again?” Ashley asked her.
“We’ll come back to that. Tell me what’s wrong.” Philly’s voice was firm. The sound of paper rustling could be heard. “I was right,” Philly breathed apparently responding to something on the paper, “He is stupid.”
“No, Hon, he’s not stupid. It’s cause and effect. I’m slow but I’m sure. I can take a hint.” Ashley’s voice sounded resolute. Myles’ brow furrowed and he looked around the room. No one said anything. He had no idea what Ashley and Philly were talking about.
“Whatcha mean, Ash?” Philly sounded confused. Good question…
“If this newspaper photo is a gauge, much like the other three hundred over the last year alone, he doesn’t really want to be my mate.” Myles shot to his feet. Not want to be her mate? What was she talking about?
“You think that’s it?” Philly asked.
“I just don’t know. Maybe he wants someone with more experience. It sure looks like he’s getting plenty. And how many times does he have to tell me that I don’t really feel how I feel?” Myles’s brow was furrowed. She was young. It wasn’t his fault that she was so much younger than he was. Everyone in the room was listening raptly.
“Maybe you should talk to Mya?” Philly suggested. Ashley chuckled.
Myles glanced at Mya who was turning an interesting shade of pink.
“Remember when she called that night before we left?” she asked. “This’ll slay ya,” Ashley chuckled again. “It’s not really funny. Apparently she thought that I had snuck into Atlanta and had sex with Yancey to make Myles jealous.”
Yancey choked, looking around at Mya in horror. Myles stared at his sister who was holding out a hand and shaking her head from side to side, frantically
.
“What? Are you kidding me?” Philly’s voice was shocked. All eyes turned to Mya now. Her face flushed even redder.
“I guess Uncle Lakon came to believe the same thing,” Ashley was talking again. “He’s been acting funny around me lately. So you know what that means?”
“No,” Philly said as if she were considering the problem seriously. She went on, “No I guess I don’t,” she said archly. “Please, do explain,” Philly chuckled softly.
“Apparently my alleged mate’s twin sister and his best friend, slash brother, both think I’m a slut.” Lakon and Mya looked shocked. Myles was stunned. “That’s not the best part.”
“Go ahead,” Philly’s voice was still a little amused. “I can’t wait to hear the best part.” Myles was pretty sure that he didn’t want to hear the best part at all.
“Remember now,” Ashley reminded her friend, “My hot night in Atlanta hauling Yancey’s ashes was all in an effort to make Myles jealous.” Philly apparently agreed, though she didn’t answer out loud. Yancey closed his eyes and shook his head from side to side.
“Given that I have kept my identity a giant secret, how is Myles going to get jealous? In other words, they not only think I’m a slut, they must think I’m pretty stupid, too,” Ashley said with a flourish. Both Mya and Lakon blanched.
“So what are you going to do?” Philly asked her.
“I’m going to finish this rescue class I’m taking and if that blue-eyed hunk asks me out one more time, I’m going to go…” Myles started to growl. “If he wants me to sleep with him…I probably won’t do that--contrary to popular belief, I am neither stupid nor a slut. Once we get you all sorted out, I’m going overseas.”
Myles stared at the recorder again, his teeth long. He was fighting for control, and winning for the most part, so his face was still relatively free of hair.
“Me all sorted out, huh?” Philly’s tinkling laughter could be heard now. “Well, to answer your earlier diversionary question, I guess I’ll see him again on Saturday. Work days are just too hard.”
“Are you feeling any better about things, Philly?” Ashley asked her friend quietly.
“I didn’t tell you yet but…” she hesitated. “I told him about my father.”
Ashley gasped. “You did? Philly, that’s great! That is great isn’t it?”
“Well, he didn’t run screaming into the night. In fact…” Philly sounded kind of shy. “He said if we ever have pups, he hoped they had my blue eyes.”
Ashley squealed and clapped. “I’m so glad he’s not a total loss! Maybe in time…”
Yancey seemed surprised and uncertain. Myles couldn’t be sure. “That’s just it, Ashley,” Philly whispered. Yancey leaned closer to the speaker. “How can he be so incredible sometimes and then not even know who I am after almost twelve years?”
“I really don’t know. I just can’t figure. Try to consider that he’s had what they call a “significant emotional event”. Force yourself out of this little room and try to give him a chance to see you, okay?” Ashley’s voice sounded soft and warm. Yancey plopped down into the nearest chair.
“You really think it’s that easy?” Philly’s voice was hesitant. Myles saw Yancey nodding his head frantically.
“It’s never going to be easy, hon, but I do think that’s the way to go.”
“What about you? Maybe you should take your own advice.”
Ashley responded with a chuckle. “Oh, no, girlfriend! I am going to take the advice of my elders, Philomela Crossland!” Ashley said strongly. Her voice sounded resolute. “I am a mere child of seventeen. I do not know my own mind. I do not know my own heart.”
Philly was laughing outright now. “Is that so? Well do share! What do your elders recommend?”
“I am going to eat right, get plenty of exercise, and take vitamins. I’m going to stay in school, I won’t do drugs, and I’m going to practice safe sex…I’m sure there’s more.” She paused. “Help me out here…”
“Just say no, something about moderation, don’t drink and drive… You know I was never any good at memorizing. That’s why you had to help me with my homework so much. Hey!” Philly stopped herself. “What’s up with Sheriff Timmons? I didn’t see him when I left for work this morning.”
Myles and Yancey looked at each other. Ashley let out a sigh.
“He gave me a ride, today. Poor guy. He means well, but he’s just not the brightest bulb… I shouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t want to be where he is.” Myles rumbled a growl. Ashley was so softhearted.
“Where is he? What’s going on?” Philly sounded a little alarmed.
“He thinks Stewie and Stan are,” she chuckled, “still stalking us--how’s that for alliteration?” Myles growled again. Yancey, Lakon, and Mya all seemed surprised. “He’s afraid they’ve split up, one after you, one after me. He figured you were safer during the day. He was only too happy to bring me here now. He’s off on the hunt I guess.”
“What? He’s trying to catch them?” Philly asked in alarm.
“I keep telling him that if they see him, they’ll run away. Poor guy. That’s why I let him sleep on the porch last night. Seems like everyone knows about what they did…”
The girls’ voices were fading now and the door could be heard closing behind them.
Nobody in the room said anything for long moments. Myles didn’t give anyone time to speak to him. He was going to find Ashley right now!
Chapter 10
Myles apparently never found Ashley, Yancey decided, because his mood spiraled downhill. Yancey wasn’t the only one who was avoiding him this week. Apparently Philly was now avoiding both men.
Yancey knew she worked at the recording studio at least part of the time, but he had yet to pigeonhole her. He wasn’t terribly worried though because the next day was Saturday. It was also Ashley’s eighteenth birthday.
He knew he’d see Philly at her birthday party and that Myles would see Ashley there as well. Lakon had sent everyone home early today. He and Mya had been commuting every other day between Pinnacle, NC and their home in Franklin.
They could have recorded in Franklin had it not been so hard on the various groups they wanted to work with, including local musicians. The equipment could be awkward and cumbersome as well. With all that in mind, they’d agreed to drive back and forth for the few months they’d be recording.
Yancey and Myles agreed to have dinner together at the Wolf’s Lair Restaurant in Dobson, NC before taking the four-hour drive to Franklin.
They were talking quietly when Myles head came up. Yancey sniffed the air and listened. He felt a big stone drop in his stomach.
“Thanks for coming out with me, Ashley. I was beginning to think you didn’t like me,” he heard a young male say to someone he didn’t need to see. Yancey didn’t recognize the man’s voice. He sure knew who was with him, however.
He hoped fervently that that was as intimate as the young man became or he’d be fighting to prevent a murder. With Myles’s tremendous strength, he knew it would be difficult.
“You’re welcome, Lyle. It’s so sweet of you to take me out for my birthday. I hope you understand that I have to make it an early night.” Ashley had a very pleasant voice. He’d always thought so.
So far, so good. “So your family is giving you a big party, huh? That’s really cool. Do you come from a large family? Will your boyfriend be there?” There was an uncomfortable silence. “I’m sorry--I didn’t mean to ask that.”
“Don’t worry about it, Lyle,” Ashley said in her soothing voice. “Why don’t you tell me what you’ll be doing this weekend?”
Good save, Ash, good save!
Myles looked like he was going to spit nails. Yancey wished there was some way he could get the other Were out of there, thought he knew that was just pointless dreaming. He looked long and hard at Myles while listening to Ashley’s date talk about a house he was building.
Yancey loved Myles Brooks-Montgomery like his own brothe
r. He’d lay down his life for him just as he knew that Myles would for Yancey. Right now, Yancey thought about what Mik had said a week ago when he’d said that Myles was ignoring what his head was telling him.
The live music was just starting up when a waiter interrupted Ashley’s date. Although the waiter whispered, both werewolves heard him tell her that a man was waiting to speak to her.
Myles eyes were glued to Ashley as she stood and followed the waiter to the front of the restaurant. Objectively, Yancey admitted that she was very nice looking with her dark brown, wavy hair and her dark chocolate eyes. Her oval face was delicate and alluring. It could look equally impish or innocent. She was five feet of perfect curves, brains and beauty. Myles was a fool.
Yancey felt his heart stop when Ashley said, “Sheriff Timmons, what is it? Is Philly okay?”
“Look, I think the boys are around and I don’t want any trouble. I know you don’t either. You think you two could leave tonight after your date?” There was a slight pause and then, “Honey, you do know…”
Myles rumbled, apparently at the Sheriff’s use of the word “honey”.
“I know, Sheriff. I may not be Were but I know.” She chuckled and shook her head. “For ten years I came home alone like a good girl. One time I go out and there he is. Don’t worry. If you know, your sons know. They won’t be that stupid. Have Philly meet me at the school.”
“Happy Birthday, Honey,” the Sheriff smiled. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he left.
Ashley turned and walked back to the table where the young man she was with stood and held her chair. He was a large and bulky young man. He seated Ashley and sat down across from her.
“Everything okay?” he asked. Yancey could hear the conversation as clearly as if they were all seated at the same table. If he could, he knew that Myles could as well.
“Mostly. Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to meet my friend Philomela over at Surry Community College. We’ll leave from there.”
