Feral

by Nicole Luiken

  An itchy prickle ran over her skin, but no fur came.

  The feral feinted left, snapping his teeth.

  Dean danced back out of the way, kicking off his jeans.

  Chloe pushed between them, shoving the feral away. “Stop it! Just stop it!” If her dad had been there he would have blistered Chloe’s hide—only an Alpha could get away with that kind of move—but she didn’t know what else to do. She clouted Marcus’s ear. “Go!”

  Marcus backed up and whined. Dean growled at him. Chloe stepped forward, blocking him. “Run!” The feral loped off, but he stopped at the top of the hill and looked down at her in—confusion? disappointment? —before vanishing out of sight.

  Dean got right up in her face, trying to glare her down. “What were you thinking? Never get between two wolves in a fight. You know that, Chloe.”

  Chloe suppressed the instinct to cringe before a Dominant wolf. She did know it, but—“It worked, okay?”

  Dean stared at her, disbelief written on his square face. “That wasn’t me and Kyle tussling, that was a werewolf who isn’t Pack, either an intruder or a feral. You could have been mauled. What were you doing with it in the first place?” He started to pull on his jeans. “Who was it?”

  She shrugged.

  “Was it someone from Quesnel Pack sniffing around our territory?” he demanded.

  She had to nip that idea in the bud before he started a war. “Quesnel wouldn’t send a juvenile. I think he’s a runaway. From Saskatchewan,” she added.

  Dean scoffed. “A runaway would go to the city, not here. A runaway would have Changed so they wouldn’t risk getting shot as a feral. ”

  Chloe shut down her expression.

  “That’s it, isn’t it?” Dean curled his lip. “Only you would try to make friends with a feral. I bet you’re just doing this to get attention. Everyone knows how much you’ve missed being teacher’s pet.”

  Teacher’s pet? Indignation fizzed in Chloe’s veins. She opened her mouth to protest, then stopped. Because two years ago she had been a bit of a teacher’s pet. In Coach’s eyes she could do no wrong—just like Dean couldn’t now. Had she been this arrogant then? Well, if she had, she’d been more than punished for it these last fourteen months.

  “You’re lucky it hasn’t ripped your throat out,” Dean continued. He pulled his hoodie over his head.

  “He wouldn’t do that.”

  Dean raised his eyebrows. “It won’t get the chance, because as soon as I get home I’m going to tell my dad, and he and the rest of the Pack will drive off your little pet feral.” He turned away.

  In desperation, Chloe caught his arm. “He isn’t feral,” she ground out. “He’s Pack. It’s Marcus Jennings.”

  Dean’s eyes widened. “What? Marcus is dead!”

  “All they found in the wreckage were burned bones,” Chloe said stubbornly. “He could have escaped.”

  “But you haven’t actually seen him, right? He hasn’t Changed into Marcus?”

  “No, but the feral is the right age and—”

  Dean made a scoffing noise. “No way is that Marcus. The Jennings are dead. Your dad flew north and checked the wreckage for survivors himself.”

  Chloe shrugged. “Maybe Marcus was wounded or crazy with grief.” Because his whole family died. Her throat tightened. Abby’s death had hurt bad enough. Add on two more deaths on top of that …

  “You’re delusional,” Dean declared. “If that was Marcus, and he could Change, he’d be chowing down in your kitchen right now. But he isn’t. So either it isn’t Marcus, or Marcus has been a wolf long enough to lose the ability to Change, and he’s a feral who needs to be killed before he hurts someone. Either way, my dad or Coach will put a bullet through his brain.”

  “No.” Chloe grabbed his arm again, voice fierce. “You can’t tell anyone.”

  “Says Chloe the Dud. Why would I listen to you?” Dean asked.

  Blood pounded in her ears. So what if she hadn’t Changed yet? Last year she would never have let Dean get away with talking to her like this, and she wasn’t going to any more either. She looked him dead in the eye. “Because if you don’t listen to me I’ll tell your dad you’ve been sneaking around to see a townie.”

  Dean’s mouth hung open for a moment. “Have you been spying on me?” He sounded incredulous.

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “Get over yourself. I haven’t the least interest in who you date. But the two of you weren’t exactly discreet.”

  “You wouldn’t dare tell.” He stepped close, trying to Dominate her again, but she locked her knees and kept her chin up.

  “Try me.”

  Dean sneered, but backed away and left.

  The feral rejoined her as soon as Dean was out of sight. “Oh, Marcus.” Chloe dropped to her knees and cupped his furry face, trying to make him understand. “He may not keep his mouth shut. You have to hide. Don’t come near me for a few days. It’s too dangerous.”

  He whined, blue eyes uncomprehending. And when she walked home, he followed right to the edge of the driveway.

  Her mom was waiting for her when she returned. Arms folded. Mouth grim. Uh-oh. But surely it was too soon for Dean to have tattled on her …

  “I just had a phone call from the Alpha—”

  Chloe winced. Oh, right. That.

  “I was going to ask if you took something of Judy’s, but I can see the teddy bear in your hands. What’s going on, Chloe? Why would you steal a stuffed toy?”

  “It’s Abby’s old bear.” Chloe clutched it tighter. “I wanted to have a kind of private memorial for her. And I didn’t steal it. I borrowed it.”

  “Taking something without permission isn’t borrowing,” her mother said acerbically. “Why on earth didn’t you just ask Judy?”

  Because it was too important, and she would have said no just to spite me. Chloe shrugged. “I’m done now. I’ll give it back tomorrow.”

  “No,” her mom said, voice hard. “Not good enough. You will march back over there right now and return it. Furthermore, you will grovel.”

  “What?” Chloe burst out. “I’m not going to grovel! Judy’s been a total snot to me lately.”

  Her mother remained firm. “I’m sorry you and Judy aren’t getting along, but it doesn’t excuse your actions. No, you listen to me, Chloe Katherine.”

  The use of her middle name and the Dominant stare stopped the hot words bubbling up in Chloe’s throat.

  “I don’t think you understand what you’ve done. You walked into Judy’s room—her territory, and by extension the Alphas’ territory—and took something that didn’t belong to you. We’re wolves, Chloe. You might as well have peed on her bed.”

  “Oh.” Her stomach sank.

  “So you will return the bear, immediately, and you will humbly beg Judy’s forgiveness and the Alphas’. Then you will accept whatever punishment they deem necessary.” Her mother took a breath. “Because if you don’t, you will be setting yourself outside the Pack, and that’s a very dangerous precedent for someone in your position.”

  By which she meant someone who might be a Recessive.

  “Is that what you want?” her mom finished.

  Chloe shook her head, blinking back tears. No. Judy was wrong. Chloe was Pack. She didn’t want to be an outsider. Just the thought made her panicky. She wanted to belong.

  Her mom put her hands on Chloe’s shoulders. “I know this will be unpleasant, but it needs to be done. In half an hour it will be over. Now run. You’re already late.”

  Unpleasant didn’t even begin to cover it. The next half hour standing before the entire Frayne family was the most excruciating one of Chloe’s life, made worse by the constant worry that Nathan would get a phone call from Dean’s dad about Marcus.

  Chloe started out by giving Hyde back to Judy, who snatched him away as if Chloe’s touch might contaminate him. “Judy, I’m sorry for taking Hyde without your permission and for entering your room while you weren’t there.” She kept her gaze lowered in
the proper submissive posture, for the count of three, then checked to see how her apology was being received.

  From the thin line of Judy’s lips, not well.

  Chloe then turned to the Alpha and lowered her head still further. “Alpha, I apologize for coming into your home with bad intentions.” Was that enough? She stole another glance up.

  Olivia had no expression on her face. Chloe couldn’t read her at all, and her heart gave an extra little thump. What if the Alpha didn’t accept her apology? What if the Alpha kicked her out? Minor transgressions might be tolerated from a Pack member, but would chafe more from someone everyone regarded as a Dud.

  Chloe swallowed and tried again. “I humbly beg both your pardons.”

  Still silence.

  Sweat broke out under her arms. The other werewolves would smell her panic. “Please assign me a punishment so that I can make amends for my offense of trespass.”

  “Oooh, make her cook meals for us for a month and serve us dinner,” Judy said.

  A flick of anger went through Chloe. All she’d done was borrow Hyde! She started to lift her head to protest, but the Alpha shifted, and Chloe quelled the impulse. “I will do as the Alpha commands,” she said instead, forcing the bitter words out.

  “She could scrub the floors,” Judy suggested. “On her knees. With a toothbrush.”

  Spiteful cat.

  Keeping her gaze subservient went against every instinct Chloe possessed. Her muscles locked, arms quivering with the effort of not storming out the door or yelling at Judy.

  I need to prove that I am part of the Pack.

  Finally, after an eternity, Olivia spoke: “I think something outside the house would be more appropriate. Chloe, be here this Saturday an hour after dawn. Bring work gloves. You can show your contrition by raking leaves and working in the garden. I will expect a full day’s work from you and hard effort.”

  “Yes, Alpha. Thank you, Alpha.” Chloe bowed again.

  Olivia lifted a hand in dismissal, but before Chloe turned to go Nathan spoke for the first time. “Wait.”

  As she stood still, he walked right up to her, invading her personal space. She cast her eyes down again, hands fisted at her sides.

  He growled at her, something he’d never done during all her and Judy and Abby’s years of mischief. “Your standing invitation to our house is hereby revoked.” He turned away as if he couldn’t stand the sight of her.

  She’d always gotten on well with Nathan, and his new lack of trust punched home. Tears leaked from Chloe’s eyes. She stumbled home in a fog of misery.

  The only good thing was no one had asked her why she’d taken the bear in the first place. Chloe hadn’t had to lie, and the feral remained a secret.

  Of course, if Dean told, a mountain was going to crash onto her head. All evening she waited in suspense for the phone to ring—but it didn’t.

  Perhaps Ilona meant more to Dean than she’d thought.

  Chloe knew Judy would have spread the word about her disgrace, so she’d braced herself for the Pack kids to treat her as a pariah. What she hadn’t anticipated was Ilona’s hostility. The townie girl glared at her and deliberately sat in a different seat both on the bus, then again in homeroom, in order to be farther away from Chloe.

  Chloe was mystified and a little hurt. What on earth had she done to Ilona?

  Ilona didn’t leave her wondering long. On the way to their first class she blocked Chloe’s path and demanded: “What do you have against me and Dean?”

  Ah. Dean must have told her about Chloe’s threat—without telling her why Chloe had threatened him. “Me? Nothing.” Chloe seized the chance to get a little of her own back. “Dean’s the one keeping your relationship a secret. Doesn’t that bother you?”

  For a moment Ilona seemed stumped, then her chin lifted. “Maybe I like the illicit thrill of a secret romance.”

  A tic started by Chloe’s eye. Illicit thrill? Really? “Whatever.”

  Some of her skepticism must have bled through, because Ilona raised her voice. “Hey, Dean!”

  He stopped fiddling with his locker and turned, his expression wary.

  “Call me next time your dad’s away and you’re feeling lonely.” She shot him a smoldering glance.

  Dean looked first worried, then pole axed. A broad grin swept over his face. “I’ll do that.”

  Brian nudged him. “Dude! You are so going to get some.”

  Dean began to wrestle with Brian. Ilona shot Chloe a so-there look and vanished down the hall. Chloe shook her head in disbelief, but all she cared about was Dean keeping his mouth shut. And Ilona had just given him a large incentive to keep quiet.

  After school, Chloe gritted her teeth and went to track and field practice. Until Coach actually cut her, she would act as if she were still on the team. However, she did her warm-up stretches at a careful distance from her Packmates. Which was probably why she smelled the strange werewolf first.

  Sweat. Musk. Lake water. Not Pack. Danger!

  chapter

  7

  Chloe shot to her feet and homed in on the interloper. A biker in black leathers had crunched into the school parking lot. He put down the kickstand, took off his black-and-red helmet and shook out a long mane of sweaty, dirty blond hair. Goatee. Earrings. Tattoos.

  Coach and the boys weren’t in sight. Of her Packmates only Judy was anywhere close by. Figured.

  The biker climbed off his motorbike and moved toward Judy.

  Instinct sent Chloe on an intercept course. Apparently, part of her still regarded Judy as the smaller, weaker Pack member who needed protection.

  The biker grinned at her, showing crooked teeth. “Hello, there. I’m guessing you’re Chloe.”

  He knew her name? Wariness replaced aggression. She tilted her head. “Maybe. And who are you?”

  “Scout. I’m from the La Ronge, Saskatchewan Pack. I was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but the roads were beautiful and I ended up here a day early. Thought maybe I should stop in town and call ahead before entering your Pack’s territory.”

  “And you just happened to end up at the school?” Chloe asked skeptically.

  He laughed, a pleasant growly sound. “No. You caught me. I heard you were a sharp one.”

  That didn’t make sense. Why would a werewolf from a Saskatchewan Pack know or care anything about her?

  Before she could ask, Judy jogged up. “Who—” she broke off and took a step back. “You’re a werewolf!”

  Well, duh.

  But Scout nodded politely. “Yes. I’m Scout from the La Ronge Pack.” He unzipped his leather jacket enough to pull back the collar and show his Bite mark. It marked him as belonging to a Pack and not a feral.

  Most of the stuff people ‘knew’ about werewolves was total garbage. The full moon was nice for hunting, but, as Chloe had proved, it didn’t cause the Change. Silver didn’t poison them—heck her mother got a rash if she didn’t wear silver or gold. Garlic? Chloe and her dad had it on ice cream every Garlic Festival. And she’d been born a werewolf. If a werewolf bit a human, they might get infected (the same as if a human bit a human) but that was all.

  However, every werewolf able to Change received a special Bite from their Alpha as part of their initiation into the Pack. Unlike normal wounds, an Alpha Bite always scarred.

  Judy responded in kind, tugging aside her T-shirt to show her three-month-old Bite. “I’m Judy Frayne.”

  “The Alphas’ daughter,” Scout finished. He nodded respectfully, then turned expectantly to Chloe.

  Heat flushed her cheeks. “I don’t have my Bite. I haven’t Changed yet.”

  “Oh?” Scout looked oddly disappointed.

  Judy laughed harshly. “She’s a Dud.”

  Cat. Chloe fought back a snarl. “Pack Lore says some wolves don’t Change until age eighteen. I’m only seventeen.”

  “Waiting for your first Change is tough,” Scout said diplomatically. Really, he was a lot smoother than his appearance had indicated. B
ut he’d need to be to represent his Pack.

  He sniffed the wind. “More of your Pack are coming. So I’m just going to ease back a few steps and stand over there. To prevent misunderstandings.” He retreated to his bike.

  Coach and the boys rounded the corner at a fast clip. From the sand clinging to Kyle’s shins Chloe gathered they’d been practising long jump.

  “Who’s he?” Coach demanded.

  Scout lifted his hands. “Calm down. Your Alphas are expecting me.”

  Coach stopped a few feet away, hands on hips so that his biceps bulged. The three boys ranged behind him.

  “I’m Scout from the La Ronge Pack.” He showed his Bite again.

  Coach didn’t reciprocate. “You’re early,” he said.

  “By a day,” Scout said easily. “The weather was so nice, I couldn’t resist opening up the throttle a bit on the highway. You have some very pretty country here. Everyone’s heard of your Preserve.” Was that a touch of envy in his voice? “So, can you escort me to your Alphas?”

  Sudden alarm flared in Judy’s eyes, and she smelled of fear. Chloe took a step closer to her to cover the betraying odour. Of course. If he stays at her house, he’ll see how weak the Alpha is.

  “I have a better idea. You go sit your ass in a hotel for a day and arrive when you’re supposed to.” Coach bared his teeth.

  Scout stiffened, the laid-back persona suddenly slipping to show the wolf beneath. His posture switched to a readiness to fight, and his lips drew back from his teeth. “And who are you to give me orders? You’re not Alpha or Beta of the Pine Hollow Pack. In fact, I don’t know you at all.” He squinted. “Or maybe I do. Bill Josephs, isn’t it?”

  “No,” Coach growled. “It’s Conrad Wharton.” He glared at Scout, asserting Dominance.

  The moment hung there. Scout and Coach were both well-muscled, both young and strong, though Coach had an edge in mass. Chloe couldn’t breathe for the tension. Would they fight?

  Scout glanced aside, then got angry for the betraying gesture. “I’m an official representative from the La Ronge Pack. I will be treated with respect!”