by K. N. Banet
“I would die before I let another werecat take my territory, but it’s not because of the land,” I whispered. I glanced over my shoulder at him, seeing the thoughtful and sad expression on his face.
“You’ve died enough in the name of my family,” he said gently. “There’s no reason—”
“Don’t make the decision for me. Don’t ever make that decision for me.”
With that, I turned back and kept trudging. On the path, I tried to scent another werecat or anything else, but aside from Jabari’s old scent, I found nothing. Heath must not have either because he kept walking in silence behind me.
I checked my phone, even though it had no service. I wanted the time. Unless we took naps at Gaia’s house, we should have plenty of daylight to get out of the woods, get cell phone service, and call the people we needed to call.
“I still haven’t smelled any wolves,” Heath said softly. “It’s worrying. I can smell werecats and humans on this trail, but neither of those is out of the ordinary from what we’ve been told.”
“Same. Jabari, Gaia, and those three. Not even a hint of Titan.” I paused on the path, looking around. “Do you think the wolf disappearances are actually connected to this?”
“My gut says so. While I would love to hunt them down first, just to find out their fate, that’s a harder chase than finding out what killed your werecats and could lead to the same answers. If those who know the land couldn’t find the wolf campsite, there’s not much hope for us. It’s been a month, so the scents have probably died.”
“Sorry. I know Geoffrey is hoping you can figure this out for him. Those werewolves deserve as much justice as the werecats.”
“Thank you for thinking so.” He smiled at me and continued down the path, leaving me behind him now. “Would your family think so?”
“I don’t think they care past how it helps or hurts them,” I admitted. “It’s not that they’re callous or anything with life, but they have a much-earned distrust for wolves.”
“They’re all from pre-War, aren’t they?”
“Yeah.” So far as I knew. From what little I knew about much of their lives, they all had experience during the War and had fought in it. “It’s more than that. You know Hasan lost a daughter to werewolves. He told me what happened. It, uh, didn’t look good on the part of the werewolves.”
“Of course,” Heath sighed. “There’s good and bad in all the species, isn’t there?”
“Yeah, I would assume so. With great power and all that shit.”
He chuckled sadly. “And all that shit.”
We made it to a small clearing with a cabin in only two hours. I kept walking, refusing to pause at the black section of the earth where they had cremated Gaia. Once I was at the house, I pushed in, sniffing quickly. Heath caught up and stayed near me. It was one bedroom with a tiny living room and kitchen, even smaller than the romantic little house the two werecats met at to be together. Everything was skins and hand done.
“She lived off the land all year,” I commented softly. “What do you smell?”
“You, me, Jabari, Gaia, and human. Still no wolves or anything else.”
“Yet she was found right in the middle of the room with a broken neck and back in her human form,” I growled. “Heath, it doesn’t make any damn sense. She was a werecat. Anything in her territory should have been easy to—”
“What if the humans lied about her injuries?” he asked, cutting me off. I let it sink in, trying to approach it from that angle.
“Why? Why would they kill and cover up two dead werecats, then call it in?”
“Haley is nervous,” he reminded me.
“Haley is a know-it-all, and this is her world. We’re outsiders. Her behavior makes sense.”
“I’m not disagreeing, I’m just saying maybe we’re disregarding the humans a little too soon.”
I growled softly, not at Heath but his point. “They would have to have a reason. From where I’m standing, they worshiped these werecats.”
“Maybe they thought the cats killed the wolves,” he suggested, shrugging.
“I don’t think they liked the werewolves that much,” I countered. Hearing his sigh, I bet he agreed with me.
“So, what can sneak up on a werecat?” He leaned onto the kitchen counter, frowning. “You don’t feel humans.”
“No, we don’t. They’re like any other animal unless they’re a witch or something. They have to have some sort of…magical signature.” I groaned. “Heath, there’s nothing. Nothing I can think of, anyway. I think I need to talk to Hasan and the family about this. I…I just don’t know. What sneaks up on a werecat, kills her physically like described, then walks away without leaving a trace?”
He shrugged, and I could see a deep sadness in his eyes. He had no idea either, and it was killing both of us. Standing in the place where she died, the weight of her death hung heavy, and the idea of catching the killer seemed like a long shot.
“If the wolves didn’t do it and the humans don’t make sense, then who?” I yelled at the end, kicking a piece of furniture and sending it to the wall. “God damn it!”
“We’ll find out. I promise you, Jacky. We’ll find out who killed those up here.” Heath didn’t come near me, not that I blamed him. Failure taunted me. “Maybe since we’re not learning anything here, we can leave for the day, stay nearby, then head out to see Titan’s home tomorrow. Maybe it’ll have some clues.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I muttered, storming out. Sure, I had learned more about what was going on than Jabari probably had before coming into the mountains, but I was no closer to knowing the murderer than I had been on the plane to Seattle. “At least there shouldn’t be a war. If the werewolves didn’t do this, and the werecats didn’t kill the wolves, there’s no reason for a war.”
“There would still be a war if Jabari is dead or if you die,” Heath said as he walked out behind me. “Maybe we can try to track your brother. He was obviously here.”
“He was, but scent tracking isn’t my strong suit. It’s yours.”
“My nose is better as a werewolf and in my actual wolf form. The full moon was only a couple of nights ago. A Change will be fast.”
“But…can you talk to me in your wolf form? I know about pack magic, but I don’t know all the logistics of it.”
“Should be able to. Your mind is receptive to it in ways another werecat probably isn’t thanks to…that gift you have. Have you used it since that night?” When I didn’t immediately answer, he stepped around me and met my gaze. “Your eyes are gold right now, Jacky.”
“Yeah…I’m pissed off…and scared. I’m not an old werecat. I’m very young, actually. If something can…kill them and make Jabari go missing, I have no chance against it. None.”
“And neither do I. Maybe we should head back and start our search fresh tomorrow.”
“Jabari could be dead tomorrow,” I mumbled, looking out into the trees. “Fuck, he could be dead now. I mean, he’s…literally, a few thousand years old, much older than Gaia and Titan but still…”
“That’s older than dirt,” Heath muttered, shaking his head. “How the hell do you cats stay alive so long?”
“I think I’ve said it before, but it’s because we don’t fight each other as much as you wolves.” I sighed. “Let’s go. I promised not to go into the woods, and I don’t want to push my luck.”
We started walking away, probably both thinking about the mystery we found ourselves in. When we reached the edge of the clearing, Heath asked me one more question.
“Did Hasan ever teach you about anything that would fit this?”
“Not that I can remember, but it was four years of lessons. If I remember anything, you’ll be the first person I tell.”
If that was our only hope, we didn’t have much to look forward to.
17
Chapter Seventeen
“I’m going to Change,” Heath said before we got too far from the house. “I’ll feel better i
f at least one of us is in our more powerful form, and I have the nose to find older trails.”
I looked around, not seeing anything. If anything, the surrounding forest was beautifully serene. When nothing seemed unusual, I nodded.
“I’ll carry your clothing,” I told him, keeping my back to him. I listened as he undressed, the sound of his zipper seeming too loud for the quiet world we were standing in. A weird thing to notice, no doubt, but I couldn’t help it. I felt something hit the back of my legs and looked around to see it, catching a glimpse of bare legs as I stared at the pile of clothing. I picked them up, trying to fold them as I went so they would be easier to carry. I didn’t dare comment on the soft boxer briefs with…well, I figured they were dog bones. Were those supposed to be a joke?
I’m not sure what to even think about them. Are they a dick joke? Are they a werewolf joke? Did he buy them for himself, or were they a prank gift from someone? Who would buy this man patterned underwear?
Questions for another time. We had more pressing things to deal with, like getting out of the woods safely.
We have time. Keep calm, keep moving, and we’ll be out of here well before nightfall.
I listened to bone crunching, grunts, and growls as Heath went through the fast but painful-looking shift from man to massive wolf.
“Can you hear me?”
“Yup. We’re good,” I answered. “Let’s get moving.”
He huffed and began to trot toward the trail back. I followed behind him as we entered the woods and fell into an easy formation. I walked the trail, keeping my eyes and ears out for anything. As a wolf, he sniffed around the trail sides, looking for any place where it seemed someone or something might have been following alongside the path or taken off in a different direction. We trekked for a long time, not speaking. It was odd for me to talk to a wolf, and he probably had nothing to say because he wasn’t finding anything.
Either way, it was a silent walk.
We were nearly to the house when Heath whined.
“I smell something, and it’s bad news, I bet.”
“What?”
“Gasoline,” he answered before taking off faster. I ran after him, unable to keep up.
“Heath!” I called. “Wait up!” I really didn’t want to get left behind in the woods—not now.
I watched him slow down, and together, we ran at a reasonable pace to the place where the two werecats once met and where we left our ride. I was about thirty yards away when I could smell what he had. The gasoline was strong in the air.
“Oh fuck,” I snapped. “No. No. No. No.” I continued to run for the ATV the humans had left behind for us and snarled at the fuel line—severed clean, all the fuel poured onto the ground.
“Does it seem purposeful?”
“Yes,” I answered, my hand shaking as I continued to stare at it. “What do you bet our rental is in the same condition?”
He growled. “You think?”
“They wouldn’t be stupid enough to screw us here without fucking with the car. I don’t smell anyone new. Just those three. Unless it’s our scentless killer.” I leaned over, holding my face in my clean hand. “God damn it. Even if we make it back to the car before dark, if it’s fucked up, we’d have to repair it at night.”
“Or we can fortify here and make a break for it at dawn,” he suggested. “I’ll stay in wolf form as protection. We’ll borrow their…home.”
I looked over at the house. Hasan is going to kill me. He’s going to send the entire damn family out here, and people are going to get hurt.
I felt like a fuck up. I was a fuck up.
So fucking stupid, Jacky. I should have known better! Why didn’t I know better than to leave my ride out unsecured?
“We’ll stay the night here,” I said, sighing heavily. “This is probably easier to secure than that little shack they used to hold this shit.” I dropped the cut fuel line and stood up, shaking my head. “I’m going to need help securing if you’re okay with changing back to human form.”
“I would rather you get into werecat form,” he countered. “We’re both safer in these forms.”
“That works, but I want to lock us in the building.” I started marching to the door, Heath on my tail. Once we were both inside, I shut the door and locked it. It probably wouldn’t be too much help, so I shoved the couch in the way of the door as well. Then I went into the bedroom and lifted the bed to block the window. Slowly, I made my way around the house, closing all ways inside. If someone wanted to get in, they would have to move shit out of their way, which would give us a sign to get ready for a fight.
Once I was satisfied, I checked the time. There were another four hours until nightfall. It was going to be a long night. I stripped and folded my clothing, putting it on the kitchen counter. Once that was done, I began my own shift, letting the werecat form tear through me at a speed that still surprised me and hurt—still so painful. When I was done, I looked over to Heath and found him watching me.
“It irks my male pride that you’re so much bigger than me.”
“Is now really the time to worry about your ego?” I retorted without heat. “We’re ancient big cats in the same way you’re actually a dire wolf. We’ve always been bigger than you.”
“I know. Have you ever wondered about the origin of our species? I have. No one has any answers.”
“I haven’t, actually. Next time I talk to Hasan—if I’m alive at the end of the conversation—I’ll bring it up. If there’s one werecat out there with answers, it would be him.” I considered the fae too. They could also hold the key, but the cost of receiving the answers to those sorts of questions was probably high, too high.
“You don’t have to. It’s just a curiosity. I don’t believe it changes anything for us in the end.” He sounded somewhat defeated.
“Are you one of those who thinks we’re all damned in the end and all that?” I didn’t. I thought I was a monster, but I didn’t really consider the afterlife. I had no choice in this life, and I did my best to do what I could with it. That had to count for something with whatever higher power was out there, right?
“Somewhat. I grew up in a heavily Christian society. Mind you, we weren’t all Christians back then, or we didn’t use that term. I was raised Protestant. My parents hated our Catholic neighbors.” He rolled onto his side. “I lost that faith a long time ago. I’ve just always wondered if maybe our origins would hold the secret to removing the curse on us. And that’s what it is, a curse.”
“I know. I’ve been told other species of supernaturals call us the Moon Cursed Ones or just the Moon Cursed. It makes sense. We lose nearly all of our control on the full moon, and if we aren’t careful, we can hurt someone.” I gave an audible grumble. “But many of us didn’t ask for this.”
“I know. Neither of us did.” He shifted and rolled to his other side as if he couldn’t get comfortable. “I’m wondering if we should try to sleep now so we can stay awake for the night.”
“You can nap, and I’ll cover for now. You just have to watch my back tonight, so I can get some sleep in.”
“Good idea.”
Moments later, the wolf was snoring. I huffed and laid my head down on my front feet. I wasn’t used to staying in this form for very long. Normally, I was very active while a werecat and shifted back into my human form once I was done hunting, eating, or checking my territory. The idea of staying in werecat form to sleep bothered me enough; any exhaustion I felt from the early morning was long gone. I was wide awake, alone with my thoughts, and had nowhere I could safely go. I couldn’t even roam around to stretch my legs.
Already I was feeling cooped up.
This is what I get. Hasan told me not to go into the woods. I went without even fucking thinking about it. It was only supposed to be a short hike and back, and here I am. I know they fucked with the car. I just know it. Taking the risk to check on it and having to find better shelter than that shack was too much.
What could possi
bly be doing this? What’s in these damn woods, killing people?
Who is helping them? I swear if those fucking humans cut the fuel line, I’m going to kill them.
My mind went to awful places while Heath slept. I bounced back and forth between killing and not killing the humans, solely based on their species status. The world could ignore several dead werewolves and werecats. Dead humans would bring the eyes of the local authorities. If answers weren’t found, uncomfortable questions would be asked.
I groomed for a little while, trying to put the thought of killing humans off my mind. I tried not to think about the mysterious killer out in the woods.
Then I thought of something.
Heath was good at making sure his feelings didn’t infiltrate his scent. I wasn’t sure how he did it, though I figured a certain amount of self-control was part of it.
What if a wolf—or four—figured out how to hide their scents completely?
I narrowed my eyes on my wolf, sleeping soundly across the small living room. I was already planning my round of questioning as the sun dipped, and the rays coming through the windows began to disappear.
When I felt he’d slept long enough, I walked over to him and nosed his side, then jumped back as he woke up. A yawn revealed impressive canines and a clean, dangerous row of white teeth. I could have thought mine were nicer, but the reality was, wolves survived because their fangs made sense. Ancient sabertooth felines had a niche bite that might have contributed to their extinction. His impressive set was more useful and versatile than mine.
“Is it nightfall already?” he asked, his voice sleepy in my head. I’d never heard him tired before, and it had a husky quality that I immediately wanted to hear more of.
“Yeah. So, I was thinking—”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” he teased, something akin to a smile showing up on his face. His voice still had that huskiness I liked.
“I noticed a lot of the time, I can’t scent your emotions on you. What if the wolves learned how to remain unscented?”
