by Lynn Landes
“Archer?” Makenna calls out to him but this time he doesn’t stop. One tear slips down his cheek as he pulls his shirt off and drops it to the ground.
“Archer!” she calls out stronger. Caleb holds her back as she begins to panic.
Archer stops and lifts his head to the moon. Then he runs. He runs blocking out the sounds of her screams. He drops to all fours, a wolf once more and he runs.
“ARCHER!!!” She screams fighting with Caleb to let her go. He wraps her in his arms and holds on tightly.
“It’s okay, nugget. Calm down. Everything’s going to be okay.” Lights surround them and her father screams her name laughing and crying at the same time.
Chapter
17
Sam was arrested and jailed, charged with kidnapping, torture, animal cruelty, and much more. They found wolves buried on his land and enough evidence to put him away for life.
Four days later Makenna stares through the window into the woods, hoping beyond hope, that she will see Archer again. Bad dreams have been haunting her and she wonders if she will ever be able to sleep through the night again. She did not tell the police about Archer. Oddly enough, Caleb and her father kept quiet too. They were all protecting the Arctic Wolf.
It is snowing again, as it does in the Northern Rockies. Is he safe? Is he warm? Is he with his pack? What if they don’t accept him? Will he be alone? She sniffs and fights back her tears. Strong hands touch her shoulder and she sighs.
“No more crying cousin. I know you are gonna miss me, but I will be back for spring break. I promise.” Caleb says laughing. They can hear the sounds of their grandparents in the kitchen laughing and cooking.
She turns with a small smile and looks up at him. “At least you are not leaving until after my birthday. I expect a present, bubby.”
The front bell rings and her smile fades. Is it him? Her heart begins to beat and she looks hopefully at the door. Her dad opens the door and welcomes Sakari to her party. Makenna’s smile fades but she tries not to show her disappointment when Sakari comes inside carrying presents and smiling. Caleb feels her pain and puts an arm around her shoulder. Sakari is followed by her Grandmother and they are all laughing when the party begins.
“Come on, I promise this will be a birthday you will never forget.” Caleb whispers and pulls her along with the family.
There is laughter and love, followed by cake and presents. Sakari gives her a new scarf handmade by her Grandmother. Her grandparents give her a professional leather portfolio for her to start keeping her art and photography in. Finally her father claps his hands together and says, “My turn.”
He leaves and runs outside to the cellar and comes back carrying a small bundle. Ice blue eyes peek out from inside a blanket. They are lined in black and the puppy whines. Gently he hands her the Siberian husky puppy and she cradles it and begins to cry. She buries her face in the puppy’s fur and sobs. Everyone falls quiet. Her father sits beside her.
“I’m sorry, Makenna. I thought you would love her. I can take her back if…” her dad starts to say.
“Her, it’s a her?” she asks lifting the puppy in the air, she stares into the blue eyes and laughs when she licks the tears from her face. “Oh Daddy, what’s her name?”
“Luna. Her name is Luna.” Her father says softly.
“Thank you. She’s perfect.”
Makenna watches the puppy playing in the snow and laughs with joy. Someday soon the tears will dry up replaced by anger that he left her, but for now she is allowing her heart to heal in its own way. Glancing at the woods she wonders once more, where he is. She thinks about his kiss and tries not to cry again. A sharp bark draws her attention as Caleb chases the puppy.
He scoops Luna up and walks toward her and his smile fades when he sees the tears. “I don’t see what the big deal is, Makenna. I know where he is, and when I come back for spring break we are going to go find him and get some answers.”
“What? You know where he is! Why didn’t you tell me before now?” she demands.
“Things have been crazy and I couldn’t get you alone until now. I led the pack to safety and I have a lot of questions for him and this moon of his? Give me a hug before I go and promise me that you will not cry anymore, Makenna.”
She looks up at her cousin and smiles in wonder. “You know you are the best cousin in the world.”
He hands her the puppy and says, “Of course, I am.” He turns to go to the truck where her father is waiting and turns back around. “Stay out of the woods, Makenna. He is too far away for you to find him alone.”
Later on his flight back to South Carolina, he thinks about what he told her. A light headache pulses behind his eyes. Archer is headed back to his pack but that does not mean that he will stay there. His flight lands around seven pm and his parents are waiting for him. They enjoy the drive home and he promises to tell them all about his trip, later after they show him pictures of Greece.
Caleb drops his bags inside his bedroom and hurries to his bathroom. His headache is worse and his stomach is cramping. “Great, a virus. Just what I need.” He turns the sink on and rinses his face with water, then looks in the mirror and leaps backward slamming into the wall. His eyes! Once light blue, are now silver!
“Caleb? Are you okay?” his mom calls out.
“Yeah, just gonna grab a quick shower.” He says turning on the shower head. The room begins to fill with steam and he glances into the mirror again. His eyes are now blue again.
“What’s going on?” He thinks about what is was like to become a wolf, but Archer was more than wolf. Caleb feels a pressure inside his head and his skin feels itchy and tight.
“NO! This can’t be happening!” Determined to stop whatever is happening, Caleb strips and stands in the hot shower. He closes his eyes and the first wave of pain flashes through his body. He doubles over and slides down the shower wall, laying in the tub floor. In his mind he pictures his human body, holding on tightly to that image he pushes the other images back. The image of the beautiful white wolf, and the werewolf he could become. “Not now!” he tells them, “Not now.”
The water turns cool and the pressure eases. Caleb stands and grabs a towel. He just bought himself some time, but what will happen if he can’t stop it next time?
“Damn,” he says to himself running his hands through his wet hair. Spring break can’t come soon enough.
Lynn Landes is the author and independent publisher of multiple fantasy books in all age brackets. Her stories span the spectrum of Romantic Fiction from Paranormal, Romantic Suspense to Christian fantasy. If you like fantasy, fairytale, temptation, and adventure be sure to check Lynn’s blog for upcoming titles.
I hope you enjoyed the story. You can write to me at:
[email protected].
Lynn Landes's blog
Note from the Author:
According to the World Wildlife Fund, “the Arctic Wolf is not a threatened species due to its isolation.” That does not mean they could not be in the future. Many of the world’s amazing species are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
I encourage you to click the link provided below to learn about more of the unique species. They all play a vital role to our environment, and it is our responsibility to make a difference.
God Bless,
Lynn Landes
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species
