“Gran?” he asked tentatively. I knew without hesitation that Kodi was really here, in my dream. It felt just like the other times when we had interacted through a shared dream.
“Hello, boyo. I’ve missed you,” she said, and it was the first time that I’d seen Maggie’s eyes wet with unshed tears. Kodi stepped forward to stand next to me but kept his eyes on his grandmother. I didn’t blame him. If I’d known my own, I would probably react in the same manner if my deceased grandparent was sitting in front of me. Another first, Maggie stood from her log, her green dress only inches from the dirt. She slowly strolled to stand in front of us and glanced at me with a smile before refocusing on Kodi. She reached out, unsure, but it only took a moment for Kodi to snap out of his shock enough to put his hand out to touch hers. I’d never known whether or not she could touch anyone in the dreams or not, but now I knew, and so did Kodi and he didn’t waste the opportunity. He stepped forward and embraced Maggie with a tear-filled laugh that also sounded of wonder.
“Gran, how are you here?” he asked as he drew back. She smiled and patted his cheek with her delicate, age-spotted hand.
“You know, in here,” she said and patted his chest. He looked at her in askance and she smiled before adding, “It’s time to tell her, boyo.”
Kodi took a deep breath and for a moment I thought he would argue with whatever she was talking about. Tell me what? Was he finally going to tell me what he kept saying that he wasn’t ready to? Kodi gave a silent nod to his grandmother before stepping away from her and turning to face me.
“Meg. The reason that we can share dreams is the same reason that everything has been different between you and I this year. We’re Bonded,” he said and watched me for my reaction. Once again, he’d said the word like it meant more than the usual use of the word.
“I’m going to need a little more detail than that,” I said. He looked down and shuffled his foot in the dirt and I wondered if he didn’t want to tell me or if he was just trying to figure out the right words to say.
“In werewolf terms, you and I were meant to be.”
I hadn’t realized I’d stopped breathing until the need for air became extremely apparent. I took a shuddering breath and hoped that my brain would kick itself like my lungs had.
“So, your interest in me this year, was all because of some werewolf trick obligating you to me?” I asked and tried to keep my voice from breaking like my heart surely was. He stepped closer and reached out, but I stepped back just as quickly.
“Meghan, please. I didn’t develop feelings for you because I was supposed to, it doesn’t work like that. It can’t create feelings. You’re wolf now, you can sense that I’m telling the truth,” he said desperately. I wanted to believe him. I sniffed the air and found nothing out of the ordinary. I looked at Maggie and she nodded while attempting a comforting smile. I lifted a foot to step toward him, but a memory surfaced, halting me.
“Fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to Bond me with her,” I whispered it.
“What?” I looked back up at him and his face pleaded with me.
“Those were the words you said to Stephen when we were camping. ‘Fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to Bond me with her’. Does that sound familiar to you?” I said and again I tried to control my voice.
Kodi shook his head. “You misunderstood.”
“Then make me understand,” and this time I couldn’t help the extra force behind my tone.
Kodi’s shoulders sagged dejectedly. “Stephen had just told me that the strange scent I smelled on you was the same as his grandfather’s after he got lung cancer. If your Bondmate dies, it hurts you. Like a hole in your being that can never be filled. What I’d meant by what I said, was that fate wouldn’t be so cruel, as to Bond me with someone who was already dying. If you had lived only to succumb to the cancer, I’d have mourned your loss, felt it, for the rest of my life without ever even knowing what I’d been missing.”
Kodi’s eyes were wet with unshed tears and he must have noticed because he wiped them away before continuing.
“But I do know you. I know what I’d be missing if I lost you and I won’t. I can’t.” In that moment, he sounded so broken, so defeated. I looked helplessly at Maggie but all she did was shake her head and I knew she couldn’t help me now. This was between me and Kodi. Eighteen years old was awfully young to be told you’d already met the person you were meant to be with. Suddenly I was reminded of something Kodi had said before.
“When we were talking about Simone, you said that werewolves couldn’t Bond with humans. I was plenty human at the beginning of the year,” I said softly.
“Exactly. I think it’s safe to say you’ve amazed me from the beginning. I have no idea why you were chosen to be my Bondmate as a human, I mean, maybe whatever power that chooses our Bondmates knew you were going to be a wolf. I’d never heard of anything like it, but I’d never heard of anyone speaking to the dead in their dreams either.”
“No offense, Gran,” he threw in her direction.
“None taken, lad,” she said with a smile before losing it as she turned to me. “Meghan, Kodi is right about the loss you feel when you lose your Bondmate, but even he doesn’t know to what extent.” She looked at him again.
“Gran, Grandpa Joe died in a Challenge,” he said told her, but he sounded unsure. She smiled at him, but it wasn’t a happy one. She gazed at the fire before speaking.
“Yes. You were too young to attend pack meets back then. Joseph was Alpha and he was Challenged by Scott McGrath, Simone’s grandfather. Scott was going to lose the Challenge, but coward as he was, he couldn’t just submit and take the loss. Instead he pulled out a gun and shot my poor Joseph. The first bullet he could have healed, maybe the second, but the third that hit him in his heart…there was no coming back from that.” She blinked tears away as she turned her attention from the fire back to him. “Your father shifted and bit off Scott’s hand that held the gun before chewing through his jugular. That night I watched my husband die unfairly. Your father became Alpha by avenging his father’s death. He’s always been strong, with a warrior’s heart like his father’s. You have that same heart, the both of you.”
Kodi and I looked at each other and I could tell by his expression that he’d had no idea about any of the information he’d just gained from his grandmother. I looked back at Maggie to find her already watching me.
“A year. I lasted one year with the pain of his loss, the crack in my soul. Werewolf healing can heal many things, dearie, but not a broken heart. One particularly difficult night, I dreamed of Joseph, like I had many times before, but this time was different. It was the same as your dreams where I appear to you. He took my hand in his and I felt like my heart was whole once more. I followed him and I’ve been at peace ever since,” she said and this time her smile did reach her eyes. She looked like a woman with no regrets.
Kodi looked like he’d been struck by lightning. Maggie had basically just confessed that she’d willingly died so that she wouldn’t hurt anymore. I couldn’t blame Kodi for not wanting to feel that hurt. I looked at him now and realized that even without the Bondmate factor my heart would ache if anything were to ever happen to Kodi. I would be beside myself. And right now, he was hurting.
Stepping forward, I walked to Kodi and said nothing but wrapped my arms tightly around him, settling my head against his shoulder. He squeezed me and I gave him a quick kiss on his neck. Closing my eyes, I inhaled and the very scent of him was home to me. So much clearer now that I was an actual werewolf, I could sense him, hear and feel his heartbeat. Bondmate or not, I loved him. I think he needed to hear that now more than ever. Hopefully, he reacts better to that than I had to the Bonding revelation.
“Kodi, I’m sorry for your grandparents, and I’m sorry about how I reacted to the Bondmate thing. You were right not to tell me before; I would have freaked. But, if you can accept it, then so can I,” I took a deep breath to center myself and brace for any and all reaction. “I re
member the first time I saw you. There was a girl who bumped into a boy. He freaked out, yelled at her and suddenly you were there. You shoved him, made him apologize to her and walk away. Then you looked at me, clear across the crowded hallway. I think I’ve loved you ever since.” I smiled sadly at how pathetic that must have sounded.
Kodi looked at me for a minute and I wondered if he was going to say anything at all. He seemed to be searching for something in my face, but I don’t know what it is he was looking for.
“Stripes,” he finally said.
“What?” I asked, clearly confused.
“Stripes. You were wearing a white tank top with these thick black stripes. Your hair was shorter, barely reached your shoulders. I looked up and you were just there. I remember thinking that your eyes looked like they were made of caramel,” he laughed.
His smile faded and he looked at me with all seriousness. “I knew I loved you the moment I thought I’d lost you. The first time. I’d gone to your tent to see if you were ready for the bonfire. I walked further into the woods past your tent and I smelled your blood. I yelled for Stephen and we tracked the blood to the river. I recognized Simone’s scent and knew that she had shifted and attacked you. The chances that you would have survived such an attack were slim and I knew that. I’d never been so scared in my life.”
I remembered how frantic he’d sounded before jumping into the river to get to me on the other side. I focused on the words I wanted to hear the most. He loved me. Kodi loves me.
“I love you too,” I said softly and pulled his head in for a kiss. It lasted just a moment longer than I’d thought it would, but I wasn’t going to complain. When we parted I turned to find Maggie, but she was no longer there. I searched the area but Kodi and I were the only people in the dream any longer. I looked back at him and he gave me a smile that let me know he was alright.
Twenty-One
When I woke up, I was laying on my side facing the wall opposite the window. Kodi’s arm was draped over my middle and I carefully turned to find him still fast asleep with a light snore. I decided that if I could sneak out of bed without waking him, I’d have a little fun with him. Gently, I picked up his arm and carefully placed it on the bed while moving to stand. I looked at him for a moment and couldn’t help but smile. He looked so young and care-free when he slept, unless you were looking at the shirtless part of him, there was no boyishness there.
I headed to the bathroom but left the door slightly ajar after making sure the hallway was clear. I stripped out of my clothes and closed my eyes. Picturing myself as a wolf with my jet-black fur and icy-blue eyes, I threw the image forward and just like that, I was lower to the ground and walking on four legs. It had worked. I really could shift at will now, with or without the moon. I nosed the door open and trotted back into Kodi’s room to hop up on the bed. Stepping carefully up near his head, I began licking his ear and waited for a reaction. I wasn’t disappointed. Hank and Karen Sutter, my former foster parents had had a wiener dog that liked to lick people’s ears. It was the most disturbing feeling and I couldn’t stand it. Apparently Kodi wasn’t too fond of the sensation either. At first, he remained fast asleep, only frowning and twitching his head. When that didn’t work, he rolled over to face the window, but that didn’t deter me. I moved with him and began licking his other ear.
Finally, he turned his head back just enough to blink sleepily at me. He reared back at first in surprise but after he woke up a bit more, he smiled and rubbed the top of my head.
“Good morning, Meghan. I see your control is even better than we thought,” he said in a voice still thick with sleep and I gave him a lick on his cheek to let him know that I agreed. He laughed and moved to sit up against his headboard. I plopped on his lap to lie across it much like he had done before I’d known he was anything other than a friendly wolf. He was right, it was comfortable. He stroked my fur and rubbed my head and it was very tempting to return to slumber-land. A knock sounded on the bedroom door and I lifted my head at the noise. Kodi’s mother entered and smiled at the sight of us.
“Breakfast is ready downstairs. The pack meeting is less than two hours away so you two should get moving,” she gave us another smile before closing the door behind her.
Kodi turned to look at me. “Let’s go surprise my dad,” he said excitedly before jumping off the bed. One second, he was pulling his shorts down and the next, he was a wolf hopping excitedly around the room. He headed for the door and I shot past him, racing him downstairs. We bumbled into the kitchen, a clumsy mass of fur and legs and found Jack sitting at the table eating breakfast. He looked much better than he had last night, and his skin had a little more color to it, but I could still sense that he was much weaker than normal. If I could sense it, wouldn’t the others be able to as well?
We ran in circles around the dining table and Jack laughed while Trina scolded us, as we had almost tripped her as she carried two more plates to the table. We gave happy barks, and yes, I discovered, wolves can bark.
Trina’s frown morphed into a grin and then everyone was laughing. We gave happy pants and I trotted up to Jack and sat down neatly while looking at him. I don’t know if it was because he was Alpha or my mate’s father, but something in me yearned for his approval and I wasn’t disappointed. I got a pat on the head for my efforts and he looked at Trina.
“You were right. She’s a rare girl and an even rarer wolf. She’s strong, protective, and a very fast learner. She thinks well on her feet. She will be an asset to the pack, and to Kodi, especially after he becomes Alpha,” he said and he’d been looking into my eyes as he’d given the analysis of me and I realized that he’d done to me what I’d done to Kodi and Stephen when he’d asked me what my wolf told me about them. As the Alpha I imagined it hadn’t taken nearly as much effort for him to come up with those facts than it had for me, but then again, I hadn’t been a werewolf quite yet.
Thrilled at the traits he’d credited me with, I excitedly took off upstairs to the bathroom and changed clothes. While spotting myself in the bathroom mirror I remembered what Maggie had said in last night’s dream before Kodi had showed up. She’d told me to hide my control from the others in the pack until I absolutely needed to shift, and to wear the terrycloth dress that Trina had bought me to shift in under my clothes to the meeting. I did as I was told and within ten minutes, Kodi and I were dressed and sitting at the table with his parents eating the best blueberry pancakes I’d ever had. Over breakfast, Jack informed me that I should keep my ability to shift at will a secret and I nodded without telling him that his mother had already advised me to do so. I didn’t want to worry him with the fact that she’d basically told me that at some point, I would have to shift and that I’d know when the moment came. Had she been warning me in her own cryptic way that I was going to be attacked? I would keep a special eye on Simone just in case, I decided.
Stephen had shown up to finish breakfast with us and we all headed to the clearing together. It took less time to reach it now that I also had that same inhuman agility they used to quickly run up dirt walls and bound over logs and boulders. With each step I grew more anxious. Not necessarily in a bad way, just wondering about what was going to happen at the meeting with Maggie’s warnings in mind. My excitement grew as well as I relished the image of Simone’s face when she finds out that I survived. I’d be so happy to disappoint her.
When we finally scaled the final dirt wall that lead to the clearing, Kodi and I held hands as we approached the rest of the pack. There were many expressions of surprise to see me, some happy, like the Trimbles and some, like the McGraths, not so much. Simone’s eyes locked in first on my face, then our entwined hands and she looked happy about neither. That’s right, sweetheart. Not only was I alive and well, but I had my wolf and I had Kodi. Feel the burn, baby.
I let Kodi lead me to the Trimbles, who stood with a couple I didn’t know, who turned out to be Officer Decker and his wife, Kimberly. Travis Decker was tanned with a military st
yle haircut and muscles that bulged through his tan t-shirt. Tools of the trade, I imagined. Kimberly looked Native American and I remembered the Barrett’s had told me that Moki’s pack was mainly Native American. She had beautiful chestnut hair that fell straight to her waist, slightly angled eyes the color of chocolate and elegant high cheekbones. They were an attractive couple. The Deckers and Trimbles congratulated me on surviving the Change and I thanked them, admitting that it hadn’t been easy. Everyone from the last meeting was in attendance, plus the Deckers made fourteen wolves total including me. After a few more minutes of chatting, Jack announced that it was time to start the meeting. We all sat on the logs, this time I sat between Trina and Kodi, with Stephen on the other side of him. There was an empty space on the other side of Trina for her husband, who stood to address the pack.
“As I’m sure you’re all aware, we have a new member of the pack. The first Changed wolf in the history of California. It took incredible strength of body and mind to survive and I don’t think half of us could have overcome such an onslaught. I would like that to sink in before any of you decide to test that strength now that it’s coupled with that of a wolf’s,” he sent a look at Simone, as did many others, and she was smart enough to turn her gaze to the ground.
“After our last meeting, a Challenge was presented to me. As per usual, when a Challenge is presented, upon acceptance it will be carried out at the next pack meeting, which is right now,” Jack said, and he sounded none too happy about it. Several pack members looked around at each other and I was sure that most worried that it was them that had been Challenged. I wasn’t surprised by the news and I had to assume that it was Simone who had presented the Challenge and I had no doubt that I’d be her opponent. To be honest, I liked the thought that I might get the opportunity for a little payback.
“Lucas, go ahead,” Jack said before taking his seat next to Trina He sat down slower than I thought he should have but most of his color had returned. The skin under his eyes seemed darker than normal and I wondered if anyone else noticed. I was surprised to see Simone’s brother stand to face the pack. That must have been why he’d shown up at Kodi’s house while he and Stephen had been out running. Perhaps it had been against some werewolf code of conduct for Jack to have let us know ahead of everyone else about the Challenge. The question now was who Lucas planned to fight.
High School Bites Page 19
