Unnaturals (20 page)

`Shopping?' Wilson laughed at his question as Lilly plated up her meal, grinning at him.

`Yeah, of course. A girl has to have new clothes after fifty years of wearing kids' stuff.'

`I suppose,' he said, enjoying her humour. `I'll get my steak. You sit and eat.'

`Yes, Master Wilson, as you command.' She nodded and sat at the table.

Her words brought a frown that darkened his good mood. Was she serious?

`Relax will you?' she said, looking over her glass of juice.

`Sorry, just still getting used to, well, you know.'

Her smile pushed his frown away.

`Sure do. It's weird for us discovering we're not the only ones here who are different.' Lilly popped a fork full of food into her mouth as he sat down.

`About that—' The hairs on his arms stiffened.

`What's wrong?' Lilly moved fast to join him, hand on his arm.

`Spider sense is going nuts.' He glanced at the huge window at the end of the kitchen.

`What! Oh, you mean— Wow, you have
that
.'

`No idea what to call it.' His knees buckled and Lilly's grip changed to hold him up.

`Wilson!'

`It's that wolf,' he muttered. `I feel him, in my mind.'

`Goddess!'

Lilly's warm hands flared bright. The cold of the kitchen floor raced up his back.

`I don't understand, Wil. How can this happen? You're not a wolf.'

A familiar rumble echoed in his mind. Dad. `Not me, not me. It's Dad.'

`I don't understand.' She touched his face.

`Sorry,' he slurred. Chaos swirled in his mind. `We're all connected. Since the island, I get flashes; feelings.'

`And now? What is it you feel?'

`Dad — fighting the wolf.'

Ruth lay on the huge bed, listening.

`They sound mad, or angry.' She ran her hand through Nikki's hair as she enjoyed the sensation of lips and tongue on her navel.

`They are fighting, yes,' Nikki said, looking up. `But it isn't the Mason and Renee we know. We are safe in here.'

Ruth closed her eyes as a finger trailed over her sex. `This is amazing but… but the sounds they're making are frightening.'

Nikki pressed her lips onto the heat of Ruth's sex, making her squirm in delight, momentarily forgetting the sounds outside. `Perhaps we need to make our own noise?' Nikki whispered.

Ruth gasped at the delicate touch of her tongue. `Oh yes, yes.' Ruth let her body respond to the waves of pleasure, arching her back, wanting more. `You're a tease,' she whispered, hands wound into Nikki's hair.

A howl of agony filled the air. Pleasure vanished, the heat of desire replaced by a cold clawing in her stomach.

Nikki leapt up and went to the window.

Ruth sucked air into her lungs, rolled off the bed and joined her. She tried to swallow. `That's not them, is it?'

`Fuck, no,' Nikki cursed, pulling on clothes.

Another wail rose above the snarling and more howling erupted. Ruth trembled as goosebumps tightened across her arms and back. `You're not going out there, are you?'

`I have to. Ralph's stuck his big nose into it.'

`Ralph?' Ruth grabbed a pair of shorts and a shirt out of the wardrobe.

`What are you doing?'

`You're not going out there by yourself.'

`Listen, you can't—'

Ruth waited as Nikki stared hard at her. `I'm wasting my breath, aren't I?'

Ruth kissed her on the cheek. `You're a fast learner. Who's Ralph?'

`Renee's old boyfriend. They never really went out but he's been hanging around her since he was a boy.'

`And he's out there? Is he like Renee?'

`He's a wolf.'

Ruth stopped trying to pull a shoe on and looked at Nikki. `You're telling me that there's a wolf is out here?'

`Not exactly.' Nikki went to the window. Ruth took her hand. `Ralph has human form most of the time, and he's one of Gaia's wolves. They're soldiers, smart, conscious in their wolf form and can 'path, a bit like Mason and Renee.'

`He's here because of them, isn't he? Damn it, why didn't Renee say something?' Ruth followed Nikki to the door.

`Because the moment Renee found someone her curse can't kill, she forgot everything else.'

Ruth stopped and pulled Nikki back. `Renee is cursed? How?'

`Look, she's never been able to have sex or be with a man. She kisses them and they die. She kissed Mason and, well, you know the rest. Renee has been searching for someone a long time and now Ralph will likely get himself killed.'

A chorus of howls and wailing grew down at the lake.

`Ralph's pack is here.' Nikki stepped outside and scanned the trees.

`You're scared.' Nikki's scent had changed and her hand was sweating.

`Wolves can't be hurt by Darkells' energy. Bloodells can do some damage, but really it takes simple brute force to stop one.' Nikki glanced back at her. `Plus I don't have the respect Renee has with the wolves.'

They looked down towards the lake. The ground rippled. Nikki's fear had triggered Ruth's gift.

`Is that you?' Nikki held her tight, her nervousness clear. Ruth's protective urge grew.

`Yep. Warming up, just in case.' Ruth flashed a smile as power fed into her. `I'll handle any wolves wanting to bite and you can look out for our two.'

`You're serious?'

`This last year has seen every nasty creature imaginable try to kill me and my family.' Ruth let the energy build into a soft blue glow on her free hand. `Now I can fight back.'

`I'm impressed,' Nikki said as her own gift grew to match Ruth's. `Just remember, no one here is the enemy. Just stun if you have to.'

`I'll do my best.' Ruth looked at her hand, hot with Gaia's energy. `Is it wrong to feel exited?'

`No,' Nikki grinned at her as they moved off. `I've been excited since I met you.'

`Shameless flirt,' Ruth smiled, following her towards the lake.

 

Bone grated in his leg. He could feel it tearing at his flesh.

Hot blood wet his hands.

His Wolf, gone.

The air churned as a tree shattered, sending shards at him.

`This is nuts, Ralph,' Ricco said as they sheltered behind a fallen tree. `We're getting our arses kicked. She is not happy to see you.'

A swirl of red disappeared into the night. He pointed at the inky darkness following Renee. `And whatever that is, isn't meant to be fucked with. Shit, it's not even human or a Bloodells and nothing—'

`All right.' Ralph spat blood. His ribs burned. Blood from a gash in his forehead made it difficult to see. `Where's Jon?'

`Still battle frozen, but they didn't touch him.'

Ralph twisted, trying to see Justin high up in a tree. `And what are you doing?'

`Leave him be.' Ricco pressed down on the shattered leg, drawing a yelp. `At least he's safe. Your leg is bad, boss. We need to go.'

`No, we have to stay.'

`Bullshit. She's not even her anymore. We don't belong here.'

Ralph gritted his teeth against the pain in his leg and ribs. He tasted blood in his mouth. `Set it, now.'

Ricco shook his head. `You're insane.'

Strength began to flow into Ricco. His hands warmed beyond pleasant and Ralph took a deep breath. White agony flashed behind his eyes. `Shit!'

`We still need to leave, boss. You're bleeding into your lungs. You need time to heal.'

Ralph shook his head. He had to stay. Had to see her again.

Justin came shimmying down from the gum he'd been tossed into. `Boss, they're gone.' The boy winced as he landed, arm and torso blackened with bruising.

`Get Jon.' Ralph pulled himself up as Ricco limped over to his brother, a wolf standing motionless near the stone wall.

`Jon froze the instant we crossed the wall.' Justin leant against a fallen tree rubbing his arm. `He's gunna be pissed off.'

Ralph nodded, listening for Renee. Ricco morphed to his wolf and bit his brother, hard.

Jon's morph was instant. `Fuck me! Again?'

`Shut it, you lot. Listen.' Ralph strained his senses. He didn't need to be Wolf to hear like one. Nothing.

Her scent had disappeared as well. And he couldn't feel her. He had always been able to feel her, no matter where she was. He was her Wolf. Always had been.

`Where'd they go?'

Ralph felt his rib pop back into place. `Can't be far.' A soft flutter came in his chest as a damaged lung reformed and his breathing improved.

`Oi, boss. Two more,' Ricco said quietly, nodding towards two small lights moving through the trees.

He snuffed the scents travelling on the breeze. `Nikki. The other one was with them when they came back today. A woman.'

`We staying or going?' Ricco shuffled.

`This isn't over yet. Something's going on and we need to find out what.'

Ricco turned, then tensed, eyes skywards. Ralph spun around, hearing it too. A sound he'd heard only once before. `Suit up, they're back.'

His Wolf came. Beside him the pack stood back to back, tails touching, eyes skywards.

He could feel their unease growing with his own. The growing sense of what it was to be prey itched at his back. He did not stop watching the sky.

She was up there. With him.

 

Renee let Huntress fade from her.

Mason's muscled back worked under her breasts. She felt every movement. Wanting him. `
That was so erotic.'

`Yes.'
Mason's reply came without hesitation. His body felt warm under her.

`The pain and blood? It felt good?'

He nodded. Her arms tight around his chest, she rested her head against his scaled back.

`Your heart sounds so loud.'
She smiled as it boomed in her ear.

`Like yours.'

`I want you so much.'
Renee sighed, Mason's heartbeat loud in her ears.
`I know you want me. Your scent changes when you're aroused. By me.'

`It's hard to focus with you pressed so hot against my back.'

`Land, and I will press my heat where it should be pressed.'
His reply was silence. He was resisting, still.
`There can be no secrets. Even the silence speaks.'

`If we… It will not just be sex.'

Renee bit his neck.
`None of this is just sex. I want more. You want more. I can feel it in you. I want to give myself to you and have our children. This I want.'

His silence deepened. She did not care.

`What am I?'

`Mason. Hunter. The power of two gods — Gaia and Darla — lives inside you. But you are who you always were, like me. We control our gifts, not the other way round.'

`What if we lose control?'

`Chaos. To live as our other selves would mean instincts and desires would rule. Blood, death and sex is what we would seek. No race would be safe if we faded away and let our gifts run free.'

`So we're monsters?'

`Only if we let that happen.'
Muscles flexed under her and she shifted with his body.

`The wolves — are they a problem?'

`No.'
Renee felt her face burn, remembering the sound Ralph made when she'd hit him.

`He loves you. It screamed from every part of his body. He is yours?'

`Yes. And no.'
They passed through a cloud. Droplets of moisture sizzled on her skin.
`He could always find me, anywhere. He wants me but the curse would kill him, and I don't want him that way.'

`Yet you care for him still?'

`Yes. He is my friend, and I have hurt him.'
She glanced down as Mason circled. Colours filled her vision.
`Nikki comes with Ruth to the lake.'

`I see them. The wolves are fearful.'

`Yes. Go to them.'

`I don't know if I can show myself to Ruth
—
like this.'

`You underestimate her. It is me she struggles with, not you.'

`Perhaps.'

She clung to Mason as they twisted and fell towards the lake.

 

Ruth and Nikki stopped at the edge of the clearing.

`What are they doing?' Ruth whispered, not taking her eyes off the four huge wolves standing back to back, heads tipped back, eyes gazing at the sky.

`Looking for something?'

`Up there?' Ruth felt Nikki move closer. `What would be up there?'

Nikki leant against her. Renee dropped to the ground, feet sinking into the soft soil. Darkness hung above her. Renee moved.

`Goddess,' Nikki whispered as Renee stood up, naked. `She looks so—'

`Dangerous.' Ruth swallowed the rest of her words. Renee was perfect. In every way. Ruth could see it blazing in her aura.

`Jesus, Renee! What the hell is going on?'

The larger wolf had transformed to a tall, dark-haired man. The other wolves stood watching.

`Shut it, Ralph!' Renee turned on him. `What the hell did you think you were doing, coming here as a pack?'

`What did you think would happen? All hell broke loose here today. The house is full of Darkells and then, he attacks you.'

`He didn't attack me, you idiot.' She stepped closer and Ruth felt the change coming.

`Look at me.' Renee's skin darkened in the moonlight. Her hair knitted itself into a hard mane across her back. Muscles rose hard, flexing under it. `You saw what we were. Don't make this about protection under the treaty. You were here because you can't help yourself.'

`That's right. I can't. Not when it comes to you.' His voice cracked, went hoarse, and he reached out to her. His heartache ate at Ruth. Renee stepped back, avoiding his touch.

`He loves her so much,' Ruth whispered, absorbed by his anguish. Waves of it buffeted her, the emotions around her so powerful she could feel them like her own. `But it doesn't matter. She can't love him back.'

Ralph turned on Ruth. `And who the hell are you?'

Nikki moved in front of her. `She's with me.'

`Leave Ruth be, Ralph,' Renee growled. `This is between me and you, no one else.'

`You're the one who's made this into a spectacle.' His eyes went to Renee but flicked back to Ruth. `I'm not the one who involved outsiders.'

`Don't look at her like that.' Renee pushed him with her hands. `Ruth is here because that's the way it's meant to be. A lot has happened you don't understand and that is why you should leave now.'