“What happens to pack members who can’t afford to pay?” Emma asked, brow wrinkling. “I don’t want people to suffer to pay my tuition.”
Simon barked out a laugh, but I couldn’t see what was so funny. His answer could have a major impact on Emma’s future. It wasn’t something to laugh about.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
Son of a dung beetle.
Simon was really starting to get on my nerves.
“Oh you two,” Simon said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. “You really thought I’d be out busting kneecaps to get the money.”
I looked guiltily at the floor. It was
exactly
what I had been thinking. Shooting a quick glance at Emma I could tell it was what she had been worried about as well.
“Did you really think Cal would go along with that?” Simon asked. “Come on, you both know him better than that. We’ll tax those who can afford to contribute and the entire pack will benefit by receiving Emma’s medical and veterinary services. Cal is all about protecting the rights of his pack members. I’ve never known an alpha so determined to have a pack democracy.”
Emma looked relieved and I sighed and blew steam from my mug. “I wasn’t worried about Cal’s leadership,” I said. “I was concerned about your interpretation of pack law while he’s unconscious.”
“Not to worry, love,” Simon said. “He’ll be awake soon enough.”
“Speaking of which, you guys ready for some drumming?” I asked. I pulled off my cardigan and tossed it over one of the kitchen chairs.
“Time to wake sleeping beauty,” Simon said.
I nodded and strode to the center of the room. “Time to dance,” I said.
*****
The room was awash in the smell of lavender and honey. The heady scent filled me with hope as I stomped my booted feet against the cabin floor. My feet matched the pounding rhythm of Emma and Simon’s steady drumming and my arms rose up as I soared around the room. The air felt charged with spirit energy, my skin tingling, and the hair on my arms stood at attention.
Sweat soaked my face as I breathed heavily beneath the porcelain mask and I wished again that I owned something less stifling to wear. Today I had come prepared with a few tricks up my sleeve, or rather tucked away in my backpack. With only four days left before Samhain I was worried that the veil may already be thinning and that evil, malevolent spirits may try to interfere with our dance. What could be more fun for a trickster spirit than to prevent the return of a pure spirit to his body?
Oh yeah, I was taking every possible precaution. Simon had raised an eyebrow when I pulled out the geisha mask and tied it on with the affixed black ribbons, but apparently he was saving his comments for later. I added my evil eye pendant and a wristlet of Tibetan bells. Next I grabbed my carved gourds, Legs and Boo, who I held in my hands as I danced. Spider legs flashing out, bells jingling, and ghost gourd swinging as I twirled and spun.
I called Cal’s spirit wolf to me and this time was rewarded by the faint smell of wet dog. I continued to dance and reach out to the in-between realm where Cal and his wolf spirit remained trapped. Drawing on the strength of the pack ancestors, their benevolent spirits channeled through my new spirit-ink tattoo, I called again to Cal’s wolf spirit.
Come to me. We need you.
I swayed, shimmied, and leapt into the air. The geisha mask now felt glued to my face with sweat, but I increased my pace with Emma and Simon’s frenzied drumming. I focused on the image of Cal’s wolf spirit as the room spun around me like a drunken amusement park tilt-a-whirl. Cool air brushed icy tendrils across my fevered skin as the room was filled with spirits of the dead. Lavender and honey spiced air was rapidly mixing with the scented effluvium of our unwanted guests.
Please Cal, I can’t hold on much longer.
As the gorge rose in my throat, I danced with even greater ferocity. I wasn’t going to let Cal go without a fight. I was going to get him back even if it meant losing a part of myself. Good thing they’re not at full strength.
Yet.
Fighting against mischievous spirits, I struggled to focus on Cal and his wolf spirit. I sensed that his wolf spirit was close, but I didn’t see him and couldn’t catch his scent over the plethora of spirit smells that inundated the room. I felt the room slipping away and struggled to stay conscious, to drag oxygen into my lungs and continue to dance.
Over the sound of drumming, bells jingling, feet stomping, and my ragged breathing I heard a moan that sent chills up my spine.
What the heck was that?
What had we called to our cabin? Eyes wide I spun around looking for the source of the frightful moaning and froze, feet rooted to the dusty floor boards, as movement caught my eye.
Oh my God.
Emma and Simon stopped drumming and the room fell into stunned silence as we all turned to look into the darkened corner.
Cal!
Cal was moaning, moving fitfully on the bed, and flung his arm over his face as though having a bad dream. Trembling with adrenaline and exhaustion I ran to his bedside.
“Cal!” I exclaimed. “Cal, wake up.”
As I reached for Cal’s hand his eyes fluttered open to reveal the vibrant blue pools I longed to sink into. He looked confused, but the dazed look was quickly replaced by fear. Cal’s eyes widened as he gasped, pushing himself against the bed as though trying to distance himself from us.
From me.
“Who are you?” Cal asked, voice rasping. “What…what do you want?”
Cold tentacles of fear slithered in to wrap themselves around my heart.
How could he not know me?
Had he returned to us…damaged? I felt a tear slide down my sweat soaked face.
“Yuki,” Emma said. Her voice sounded far away. “Yuki, it’s not what you think.”
“Relax kitten,” Simon said softly. “Take off the mask. You’re confusing the poor boy and scaring yourself.”
“Yuki?” Cal asked, sounding confused.
Oh. Right.
In my excitement I had forgotten about the geisha mask I was wearing. I pulled off the mask and set it on the bed. Cal’s eyes lit up in wonder as he reached up to cup my face in his hand.
“Is it really you?” Cal asked. “Am I still dreaming?”
“It’s me,” I said.
I leaned into his hand and his thumb brushed my lips filling me with need. I suddenly had to be closer to him and moved in for a kiss. Cal pushed up to meet me halfway and our lips met, first gently then with the hunger of our recent separation.
“God, I missed you,” Cal said, pulling away to look into my eyes.
“I missed you more,” I said, grinning.
“Not possible,” Cal said, his words brushing our lips together.
Feeling tears roll down my cheeks, I pulled him closer and tasted the salt of tears and sweat mixing with our kiss.
“Ahem,” Simon said, interrupting.
I moved apart from Cal reluctantly, but held onto his hand as I shifted to the chair beside the bed.
“Our esteemed doctor thought you might be hungry for something other than kisses after your long nap,” Simon said, gesturing to Emma.
Emma stood, blushing furiously, holding a steaming bowl of venison stew. “You need to build your strength, but eat slowly,” Emma said. “You’ve been unconscious for three days. If you eat too fast, you’ll be sick.”
Cal pushed himself into a sitting position without help, but he sank heavily against the pillows and his hand shook as he reached out to take the bowl from Emma.
“Thanks,” Cal said. “I’m starving.”
I watched Cal, fascinated with his every movement. Just moments ago he had lain here unconscious, on the brink of death.
And we brought him back.
My heart swelled at the thought, but before I could jump up and give my friends the hugs they deserved I felt someone wrapping a blanket around me.
“You were shivering,” Simon said simply.
I nodded my head in reply, suddenly too overwhelmed with emotion to say thank you. I pulled the blanket more tightly over my bare arms and leaned back against the chair. I closed my eyes as the tears streamed down my face with pure unadulterated joy. Cal was back. He was safe, healthy, and awake. My friends had helped make that happen and I wouldn’t forget it. I held on to the warm glow in my chest for a moment longer and allowed myself to be the happiest girl in the world. The storm may be coming, but I wouldn’t have to face it alone. At the end of the day that was all that mattered.
*****
It was amazing how much had happened since the incident in the cave. Cal had been unconscious for three days and, as alpha, needed to be brought up to speed on recent events.
“So this guy Nathan, who killed Gavin and hunted werewolves, hated us because of his own fear and self loathing?” Cal asked.
We had suspected that the werewolf killer was one of the Old Blood, but it still came as a shock to Cal. I think deep down it would have been easier to deal with if the murderer was a confused human with no knowledge of true werewolves. Though in Nathan’s defense, nobody had been kind enough to inform him about werewolves, not even his own mother. Everything he knew was gleaned from his own painful experience which became tainted by encroaching madness. Nathan may have been a twisted killer determined to hunt down and murder werewolves, but he was also a victim.
“No one was there to explain to him what was happening to him when his spirit wolf awakened,” I said. “It must have been terrifying.”
Simon shrugged, but then he would have a different perspective. He was the one pack member who was born fully aware of his wolf spirit. Of all the werewolves, he was the one least likely to relate to what Nathan had gone through.
“What kind of parent abandons their child and doesn’t even warn them about the wolf dormant in their blood?” Cal asked.
“A very, very bad parent,” Emma answered.
“Why did the pack let this happen?” I asked. “Wouldn’t the old alpha have known about a single mom just up and leaving her teenage son? I mean, I know the pack is really large, but someone must be responsible for keeping tabs on members, right?”
“No,” Simon said, looking thoughtful. “No, we didn’t have someone like Cal, someone born to be our alpha, when this happened. Whoever was powerful enough could take the position as our interim pack leader until a true alpha had reached the age of maturity, but that meant a lot of fighting and power plays within the pack. We haven’t had stable leadership for years. That’s why Cal is so important to us.”
“I noticed when we were trying to get the word out to the pack about a potential killer that we didn’t have any kind of central database for members,” Cal said. “I had some information, but there were many people we couldn’t reach.”
Simon nodded. “It’s true,” he said. “In the past we were all so worried about remaining hidden and protecting our secret that we never kept accurate records of our members. I think, over time, the active alpha would come to know their pack, but there were no lists of names, nor any way to contact the entire pack in the event of an emergency. Not without going to the alpha for help.”
“They used the information for leverage,” Emma said. “If the alpha was relied on for that information, then he could maintain his power.”
“Yes,” Simon said.
“But all that is going to change,” I said. Emma and Simon both turned to me with eyebrows raised. “Cal’s not like that. I get that there were some power hungry alphas in the past, but Cal would never use his power for himself. He would use his position within the pack to help others.”
“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” Cal asked, looking at me. “Yuki’s right. Even before the attacks I was trying to make plans for a pack democracy. I have a responsibility to protect the pack and that is exactly what I intend to do.”
“No more abandoned teens?” Emma asked.
“Not if I can help it,” Cal said. “Simon, let’s start working on a central database of pack members.”
Simon sighed and rolled his eyes. “No rest for the wicked,” he said.
“Emma, I’d like to add our medical records to the database as well,” Cal said. “We could use your input.”
“Heck yeah,” Emma said, eyes lighting up.
Emma was in organizational Heaven, Simon was in slacker Hell, and Cal just glowed. For the first time since taking on the responsibility of pack alpha, the weight of leadership didn’t seem so heavy on his shoulders. Being alpha was going to have its challenges, but right now he seemed ready to face his destiny. Cal shined like my very own sun, holding the approaching storm clouds at bay.
Chapter 22
October 27
th
I woke from a dream to the sound of thunder roaring overhead. Well, dream is putting it nicely. It was really more of a nightmare, complete with storm clouds of creepy fluttering moths carrying spirits of the dead directly to my doorstep. In my dream though, I lived in a tomb, so my doorstep was this huge, gothic, stone edifice. The last thing I saw as I pushed the tomb doors shut was the icy stare of an angel, carved from marble, glaring at me from atop a nearby mausoleum. As the tomb doors shut with a bang everything went black and I was left alone in the darkness with only the sound of beating wings for company.
Yeah, definitely a nightmare.
I shook off the left over feeling of horror and slid out of bed. Rain lashed the window and I eyed my warm blankets with regret. Unfortunately I had missed school recently to attend Gavin’s funeral and didn’t have a good enough reason to crawl back into bed. I guess I would just have to face another day of high school.
I’d rather return to my nightmare crypt.
With a sigh I hurried for the shower hoping any lightning would wait until I was done.
Emerging clean and unzapped I grabbed my favorite red plaid mini skirt, black skull leggings, and baby doll tee. I reached for my black, buckle coat, but the array of straps reminded me of a straightjacket. I decided I wasn’t quite secure enough in my sanity to wear that one today.
Maybe after Samhain.
Instead I pulled on a black zip up hoodie and shiny red boots.
Looking in my vanity mirror I scowled and was reminded of the flyer the J-team had distributed around school.
Visit the House of Horror to see Wakefield High School’s very own resident witch.
I’m sure Jay and Jared thought they were totally clever with that prank, but I wasn’t impressed. Was that the best they could do? Because, seriously, I was getting used to dealing with giant talking dung beetles, werewolf murderers, and stinky spirits of the dead. These things retained a certain fright factor, but the J-team?
Not so much.