“Jerrica, wake up,” a voice demanded. “It’s just a dream.”
She jolted awake to find her mom standing over her bed. Jerrica went to sit up and realized she had gone wolf in her sleep. She dragged her larger wolf’s body to an upright position, then tried to shift. Nothing happened.
Jerrica met her mom’s gaze. “I can’t shift.”
Her mother sat on the bed next to her. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. What if I get stuck like this?”
“I doubt that will happen. You’re just upset from your bad dream and can’t concentrate properly. You have to be calm to focus.” Her mom put her arm around Jerrica’s back.
“And how would you know?”
Her mom chuckled. “I was there when Calan started your lessons on how to shift, remember? Plus, it makes sense. What was the bad dream about?”
She took a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m not calm enough to make the shift. The dream really got to me. I dreamed of the day I was bitten. Only this time I was alone. I shifted, but I still couldn’t fight my way free. John and his son were there. You woke me up just as they were taking chunks out of me.”
“Seeing them as zombies must have set you off. It was only a dream.”
“I know, but even in a nightmare, I couldn’t do what I was created for. I froze. If I can’t fix this, the shamans might take back what they gave me.”
The four long-dead native shamans were the ones who’d put Calan into his long sleep at the start of the zombie apocalypse, and after Calan had been alone for decades, they’d decided he needed a mate. So they’d given him the ability to change his mate into another Defender by a single bite while in his wolf form.
Her mom smiled. “I doubt they’d do that. You will always be Calan’s mate. The shamans can’t change that. They want their Werewolf Defender happy, and you make him happy. He loves you—and you love him.”
Jerrica sighed. “You’re right.” She paused. “Ah, Mom, are you scratching me behind my ears as if I were a dog?”
“Sorry,” her mother said with a chuckle. “You’re so big and furry that I just couldn’t resist.”
She shifted forms. “Okay, that was a little weird.”
“Maybe, but it calmed you enough to be human again.”
“You have me there. I didn’t even really think about it. I just did it.”
“See? I told you that you’d be able to.” Her mom kissed her cheek. “If you’re all right, I’m going back to bed. We have three hours before we have to get up.”
Jerrica nodded. “Sorry I woke you.”
“You might be an immortal shapeshifter now, but I will always be your mother and look after you, whether you want me to or not.”
Her mom stood, then headed down the ladder to the main floor. Jerrica climbed under the covers once more and closed her eyes. She didn’t know if she’d be able to go back to sleep, but she had to try. Being tired wouldn’t help her stay on her game when she patrolled the field and orchard with Calan.
* * * *
The lunch wagon had arrived at the field, and Jerrica had decided Calan should come with her to get their food, even if he was still in wolf form. She didn’t feel like facing Becca without him, and she didn’t want to give Becca the idea that she could so easily push Jerrica out of the way.
Calan walked at her side as they headed for the wagon. Jerrica spotted Becca with Maria as they loaded the crates with the sandwiches onto the tailgate. Jerrica had to wonder how rude the other girl would be to her and how nice she would act toward Calan.
She and Calan were near the front of the line. There were only two other people ahead of them. It was less than a minute before they stood in front of Maria and Becca. As expected, Becca gave Calan a super-sweet smile, while totally ignoring Jerrica.
Maria smiled at Jerrica and held out two sandwiches. Jerrica reached out to take them, but Becca practically shoved Maria out of the way as she presented a thick sandwich to Calan.
“I promised I’d make you a special sandwich, Calan,” Becca said. “This one is all yours.” She watched him expectantly. It was obvious she was waiting for him to take it.
Calan remained as a wolf. “Thanks, Becca. You can give it to Jerrica. She’ll feed it to me. I prefer to stay in this form while out in the field.”
He’d directed what he’d said to anyone who was closest to them. If he hadn’t, Jerrica wouldn’t have been able to ‘hear’ what he’d said. And from the knowing look Maria gave her, Jerrica knew the woman had heard as well.
Becca made no move to give Jerrica the sandwich. “Then I’ll feed it to you.”
“That won’t be necessary. You’re busy helping Maria. Jerrica can do it.”
“No. I want to do it.” Becca looked at Maria. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Becca sank her hand into the fur at Calan’s neck and tugged him out of the line and off to the side. Jerrica took her sandwich from Maria, then followed. By the time she joined Calan and Becca, the girl had already offered him half of what she held.
Jerrica went to say something, but before she could get out a word, Calan opened his mouth and allowed Becca to place the sandwich half inside. He waited for Becca to pull her fingers away, then chewed the whole thing up and swallowed. Jerrica didn’t want to admit she was jealous, but she couldn’t deny it. She was the only one who’d fed Calan while he was in wolf form. It especially didn’t sit well with her when he eagerly ate the second half from Becca’s hand.
Becca petted Calan on the neck while he chewed. “Since you ate that so fast, I guess you liked it.” She stared at him for a few seconds with her smile growing larger. “I’m glad you did.” She paused again, as if listening. Jerrica was pretty sure Calan was talking telepathically, only to Becca. “I’m not going to tell you everything that’s in it. It’s my secret. Don’t worry. I’ll make you one every day.” The girl gave Calan one last pat, then walked back to the wagon.
Not liking what she’d seen very much, Jerrica turned to walk toward the lookout hill without saying a word to Calan. He easily caught up to her and stayed at her side. She ignored him.
At the top of the hill, Jerrica sat before she unwrapped her sandwich then took a bite. She kept her gaze to the surrounding area, scanning for any potential threats, ready to act if a zombie came into view. She wore her bow and quiver on her back, attached to the harness her father had made.
Calan sat on his haunches beside her. “Okay. What’s wrong? I know you’re ignoring me.”
She turned her gaze to him. “You really can’t guess?”
“Because of Becca?”
“Yeah. Becca. Did you really have to let her feed you?”
“I didn’t want to be rude or cause a scene. Plus, she went to the extra work to make it just for me. I hate to admit it, but it was really good.”
“You then decided to ‘talk’ to her without including me, which made it so I couldn’t hear both sides of the conversation. I was standing right there, and you just left me out.”
Calan rubbed his head against her cheek. “I’m sorry. I guess I wasn’t thinking. If I’d known you’d be so upset about Becca feeding me, I would have tried harder to stop her.”
Jerrica had a feeling she’d overreacted just a little bit. It was just that seeing Calan being so friendly to her nemesis was not something she wanted to happen, especially since Becca still treated Jerrica like crap. If it had been anyone else, she probably wouldn’t have minded so much.
“And I’m sorry I was…jealous,” she said. “I don’t want Becca to think she can try to take my place when it comes to you.”
Calan met her gaze. “You don’t ever have to worry about that. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Nothing will change that, no matter what Becca thinks. Hurry up and finish eating. We need to go to the orchard.”
Jerrica took a big bite of her sandwich and pushed what had happened between Calan and Becca aside. She was getting upset over nothing. He was hers. Forever. Nothing would tear t
hem apart, not even stuck-up, self-centered girls who believed they should always win.
* * * *
Four days had gone by, and Becca continued to make a special sandwich for Calan every lunch. Jerrica learned to tolerate it, since he didn’t turn down what the other girl offered. And Jerrica had to put up with watching Becca feed him. She couldn’t quite extinguish a teeny, tiny spark of jealousy whenever it happened. Jerrica kept it to herself, though, especially since Calan seemed to look forward to the sandwiches.
It was the end of the day, and the workers were heading toward the gates. Jerrica and Calan hung back in the field before following, as they usually did until everyone was safely behind the walls.
The sound of shuffling feet and low moans reached Jerrica’s ears before a zombie appeared out of the trees at the far end of the field. Since it was only one, and Calan was in wolf form, she looked at him to see if he’d take it down.
He shook his lupine head. “You can have this one.” She reached behind her for her bow, but he stopped her. “No. Not that way. As a true Werewolf Defender.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
“You’ll never get over your fear unless you face it.”
Jerrica took a deep breath and nodded. Calan was right. She had to at least try. If she couldn’t handle it, she had her bow. And her mate was there, as well, to step in if it became necessary. She really didn’t need to worry. Nothing bad would happen to her.
She shifted to her wolf form, the harness on her back adjusting to her larger size. Jerrica walked toward the zombie. It didn’t acknowledge her presence. It kept shuffling in the direction of the settlement. She could do this. It was only one undead. It’d be easy.
Her pep talk to herself lasted only as long as it took for her to reach the zombie. Coming practically face to face with it, Jerrica lost her nerve. She froze. She couldn’t even shift to use her bow.
A loud growl rent the air, and Calan roughly pushed her out of the way with the side of his body. He reared up, then brought the zombie down to the ground with his sharp claws before he bit through its skull, ending it.
He took on his human form and turned on her. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “It was just one zombie. It wasn’t as if I told you to take out a herd of them. You’re useless. I can’t even call you a Defender, since you don’t do anything to deserve that title.”
Shocked by the outburst, Jerrica couldn’t bring herself to say anything in return. Not once since she’d met Calan had he ever raised his voice to her. And after he’d changed her, he’d been nothing but patient. That attack came out of nowhere and was totally out of character for him.
“You have nothing to say?” he asked sharply.
Jerrica spun around, still wolf, then ran toward the gates. She didn’t bother to look back at Calan. Right now, she didn’t want to be near him. His words had hurt. She had no idea what had set him off, and she wasn’t about to find out. Inside the walls, she kept running until she reached her family’s cabin.
She went human once she was on the porch. Jerrica opened the door before she stepped inside. Her mom smiled when she saw her. Jerrica didn’t return it as she crossed the room to climb the loft’s ladder.
Her mother called up. “Where’s Calan?”
“Outside the walls.”
“Should I hold off dinner until he arrives? Your dad is in the barn.”
“Don’t bother. Calan can find his own dinner,” Jerrica said, with a hint of anger lacing her words.
There was a moment of silence before her mother replied. “Okay. I take it you two had a fight. I’ll keep some food for him if he does show up.”
Jerrica didn’t care one way or the other. Her hurt had become anger. For all she cared, Calan could get Becca to make one of her sandwiches for him, since he loved them so much.
* * * *
Calan watched Jerrica until she disappeared through the gates. He turned toward the zombie. With a wave of his hand, he burned it to ash. He grumbled under his breath. Jerrica should have been the one to do it since she should have been the one to end the undead’s existence. Seeing her freeze up as she had had angered him. She was a Defender too. He didn’t have to always be the one to take out zombies. She was supposed to be just like him. So far, she wasn’t even close. If mankind had had to rely on her to save them from the creatures that hunted them, they’d have been all turned by now. He kicked the pile of ash, sending it flying in the breeze.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Calan didn’t really know what had caused him to be so upset with Jerrica. It wasn’t as if her being unable to act around zombies was something new. He understood her fear. Why it bothered him today, he had no clue.
Calan headed toward the gates. He should go to Jerrica to apologize, but he didn’t really want to. His anger still lingered just beneath the surface. Seeing her might set it off again. He could say something he shouldn’t—and would regret.
Once through the gates, he took the road that would bring him to his cabin. He could have stayed outside the walls and done some hunting, but that didn’t appeal to him. He’d already spent too much time doing that and he needed a break. Patrolling the field and orchard all day, then having to hunt the undead at night… He could only do that for so long before he felt as if he were only being used.
Since becoming the Werewolf Defender, not once had he taken time off from ending zombies. At each settlement he went to, it was always the same. They welcomed him with open arms, then expected him to spend night and day clearing out the undead so they could have a better life. What about him? Did they care if he wanted a better one too? No. They just took advantage of him and figured them praising him would be good enough.
He arrived at his cabin to find Becca standing in front of it. She held a basket, which he could smell held food. She might be mean, but lately she’d been nice to him, making those special sandwiches. He had to admit he craved them now.
As he came closer, Becca smiled. “Hi, Calan.”
“Hi. I didn’t know you were going to stop by.”
She held up the basket. “I thought to bring you some dinner.”
Calan stopped in front of her. “How did you know I’d come here, or that I needed food? I usually eat with Jerrica and her family.”
Becca gave him a sheepish look. “I’ve been coming here the last couple of evenings, taking a chance that you would show up.”
He took a sniff and his mouth watered at the delicious scent coming from the basket. It smelled just as good as her sandwiches. “I guess today you lucked out. I’m not eating at Jerrica’s this evening, so I won’t pass up what you have there.”
“Good.” She held out the basket.
“Why don’t you come inside and share it with me?”
Becca shook her head. “It’s okay. I already ate.”
Calan put his hand over Becca’s that held the basket. “Then you can keep me company while I eat.”
He kept hold of her hand and turned her to the cabin’s door. There was no reason for him not to enjoy the food and have Becca visit.
Chapter Five
The next morning Jerrica woke up, ate her breakfast, then went outside to head to the gates. Calan wasn’t in the yard, where he’d normally be at this time if he didn’t want anything to eat. She walked to the edge of the property where it met the road. She looked in the direction he would have to take to reach her family’s cabin, but there was still no sign of him.
Jerrica waited a couple of minutes before she figured Calan wasn’t going to show up. Maybe he’d gone to the gates without her. After their argument last evening, it didn’t come as a total surprise.
She walked down the road. About halfway to the gates, she spotted Austin coming toward her at a fast clip. Jerrica hurried to meet him.
“Austin,” she said once they were within speaking distance. “What’s the matter? Are there zombies out in the field?”
He shook his head. �
�It’s nothing like that.” Austin paused and looked her in the face. “It’s Calan.”
“What about him?” Jerrica knew Calan wouldn’t be hurt. He couldn’t be. He was immortal.
“He’s with Becca.”
“Okay.” She didn’t know why Calan talking to Becca would cause Austin to get to her in such a rush.
Austin took hold of her elbow and started her once more walking toward the gates. “You have to see.”
She gently pulled out of his grip and kept pace at his side. Obviously, Austin thought it was something of a big deal. Jerrica would form her own opinion about that. She’d already had to watch Becca try to monopolize Calan’s attention during lunch breaks for more than a few days, so she didn’t think Calan and Becca talking was the end of the world or anything.
Once they reached their destination, Jerrica knew exactly why Austin had seemed concerned. Calan and Becca stood facing each other in the middle of the workers. He had his arms resting on the tops of her shoulders, and their faces were very close as they spoke. He looked at Becca as if she were all that mattered, as he usually looked at Jerrica.
Her heart dropped to her stomach. Jerrica slowed her steps and came to a standstill at the very edge of the group waiting to go through the gates. If Calan noticed her arrival, he didn’t show it in any way. He was totally focused on the other girl. Jerrica felt as if he’d slapped her.
Mathias came to stand in front of Jerrica, blocking her view of Calan and Becca. “What’s going on?” he asked.
She didn’t need him to explain what he meant by his question. Everyone had noticed Calan and Becca. They all stared at them and whispered among themselves. More than a few glances landed on Jerrica before there were more whispers. She could have clearly heard what was being said, but she didn’t want to know.
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