by C. Larsen
My lips part in surprise when I recognize her. “Alexis? What are you doing here?”
Alexis is the human Derek’s currently dating. She lives over in Ridgefield, the nearest town to Ashwood Creek, which is also where we go to school since our town is too small to have one of its own. Even though she’s been dating Derek for some time, he’s never invited her to his house. It’s against Pack Law to bring humans into our territory. It’s much too dangerous. Not just for her, though it certainly is that, but also for us. Our secrecy means everything. If the government ever found out that werewolves and witches actually exist, they’d round us up and lock us away in a lab somewhere. That’s also one of the reasons our relationships with them can never get serious. It would be too hard for us to hide what we are if we stayed with a human for any extended length of time.
“Gray, right?” she asks, lifting her shades so they rest on top of her head. “Sorry, is this where you live?” She motions to the manor behind me, her blue eyes studying it curiously. “I didn’t mean to show up here. I’m looking for Derek’s place, but the roads around here so confusing. Half of them aren’t even marked! I’ve been driving around forever.”
Our roads are unmarked on purpose, to discourage outsiders like you from poking around, I think. But instead of voicing this, I turn and glance up toward my house. Ivan’s still standing at the window, eyes locked on Alexis.
A rustling sounds in the woods to my right and I bite back a groan. Great, this is all I need right now.
Oblivious to the outsider in our midst, Max, one of our youngest pack members, comes bounding out of the trees. His dark hair hangs wildly around his eyes, bits of leaves and twigs caught in it, his skinny bare arms streaked with dirt. He slows when he sees me talking to Alexis, a rumble vibrating from his chest.
Pack members are homeschooled usually until ten or eleven, once Nikolay is sure they have control over their wolf side. At only nine years old, Max hasn’t started public school yet and isn’t used to being around outsiders. Hopefully Alexis won’t notice his growling… Hell, I’m just thankful he’s in human form and dressed, sort of. He’s wearing pants, at least.
Max walks up to me, gold eyes locked on Alexis, shoulders hunched aggressively.
“Wow, you must be freezing!” Alexis says to him, climbing out of her car. “Where are the rest of your clothes?”
“Kids,” I force a laugh and drop one heavy hand on Max’s shoulder, tightening my grip, warning him not to do anything. He wrinkles his nose, recognizing her scent as human. He looks up at me, eyes wide, but thankfully keeps his mouth shut. “I’m always telling this one to wear a jacket, but does he listen?”
“Yeah, my younger brother is exactly the same,” she says rolling her eyes.
I doubt that, but I nod and smile anyway. I hear Ivan’s heavy footfalls inside the manor as he moves toward the front door. I need to get rid of Alexis before he decides to come out and do it himself.
“So, uh, does Derek know you’re coming over?” I ask, surreptitiously slipping my cell phone out of my pocket to send him a quick text.
Get out here!
Damn Derek. I told him dating a human was a bad idea. Though, granted, I never thought she’d drive all the way out here to see him. And I’m betting Derek didn’t either…
“Oh, no. I’m surprising him,” Alexis says, smiling widely.
Yeah, this will certainly be a surprise.
The front door of the manor opens and Derek jogs down the porch steps, Ivan following behind more slowly.
Alexis’ eyes light up at the sight of Derek rushing over to us. She doesn’t seem to notice Ivan lingering on the porch, taking up a wide stance at the top of the stairs, arms crossed over his chest like some gangster guarding the club house.
“Lexi, what are you doing here?”
“Derek!” Ignoring his brusque question, Alexis stands on tiptoe and wraps her arms around his neck, leaning up to press her lips to his.
Derek’s face softens as he looks down at her, a smile tugging at his lips despite his attempt to hide it. “You really shouldn’t be here.”
“I wanted to surprise you,” she says, beaming. “I thought we could get breakfast.”
“This really isn’t a good time.” Derek casts a look over his shoulder. When he catches sight of Ivan’s expression, his own shutters closed. Reaching up, he disentangles himself from Alexis’ arms and takes a half step back, putting a little distance between them.
“You having a party here or something?” Oblivious to the tension in the air, she cranes her neck to look over my shoulder at all the parked cars in front of my house.
“Family reunion,” I say, giving Derek a look. A faint blush stains his cheeks, barely discernable on his tan complexion. This is why we don’t allow outsiders into our territory. They might see something they shouldn’t.
“We really should get back in there,” Derek says, placing one arm casually across her shoulders and attempting to shepherd her back into her car. “I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
With a disappointed sigh, she nods and allows Derek to open her car door for her, but then she catches sight of Ivan on the steps behind me and freezes. “Who’s that?” she asks, gaping up at him.
Can’t say I blame her; he’s certainly an impressive sight when he’s enraged. At six foot six, with biceps to rival a professional body builder’s, he can intimidate when he wants to. Even from across the yard, he looms over us, steel eyes glaring over a large, crooked nose. Alexis flinches when those stormy eyes meet hers, one hand wrapping protectively around her midsection as she cringes against the car.
“Is everything okay in there?” she asks Derek, leaning in close so her voice won’t be overheard.
Yeah, good luck with that. I’m sure he’s heard every word she said, even when he was inside the house. Werewolf hearing can really be a pain sometimes.
“I can call the cops if that guy’s bothering you.” Her voice drops even lower as her hand creeps toward her purse.
“No, everything’s cool,” I hurry to reassure her before she can reach her cell. “That’s my grandpa.” I can feel Ivan’s gaze burning a hole in the back of my skull. Why did she have to mention the police? Ivan’s going to kill Derek for this.
“Your grandpa?” She leans to the side, peering around us to get a better view. “He doesn’t look like any grandpa I’ve ever seen.” She raises her eyebrows skeptically.
Ivan certainly looks young, thanks to our slower aging. At most, he can pass for early fifties, though I know he’s well over a hundred. He’s still slim, muscles still limber, the silver at his temples the only sign of his years.
Derek’s face tightens, glancing up at Ivan’s looming presence himself. Anxiety pours off him, sharp and acrid. He knows Ivan isn’t going to let this little incident go.
“Yeah, well, they had ‘em young back in those days,” I say, keeping my tone light despite the anxiety pooling in my gut. Motioning toward Max, who’s still at my side, silent and staring, I say, “I need to get this one inside to warm up. I’ll see you Monday.” I step back, pulling Max with me and wait for Derek to say his goodbye.
Leaning down, Derek gives her a quick kiss, then pauses, one hand under her chin, his gaze tracing along her face as if memorizing her features.
The expression on his face as he stares at her… I've never seen that particular look on him before. A mixture of tenderness, longing, and fierce protectiveness pours off of him, startling me with its intensity. I know he's been seeing her for several months, but I had no idea how serious it was. How did I not notice how strongly he felt about her? I suppose I never paid much attention to their relationship. He’s had human girlfriends before, but they've always been casual relationships, someone to pass the time with, a distraction, a warm body. But this time is different.
As I watch them together, my chest pulls tight, strange emotions tumbling inside of me. Part of me is envious; he obviously has some very strong feelings for her. I wonder wha
t that must be like, to care about someone like that, have them care for you. But most of me is shocked—she is a human after all—and frightened. There’s a reason we’re told not to get too close to them. Despite his feelings for her, he has to know that this isn't going to end well. That it can't continue.
After Alexis climbs back behind the wheel, Derek steps back to stand next to me. Side by side, we watch her make a wide U-turn before heading back the way she came.
“You’re in some serious shit this time, man.” I slant a look over at Derek as he watches Alexis’ car disappear down the road, a mixture of longing and dread on his face.
“Yeah, I know.” He glances once more toward Ivan and his jaw tightens. “It doesn’t look like I’ll be making it into school tomorrow, not when he gets done with me.”
If Ivan gets a hold of Derek before Nikolay gets back, I doubt Derek will be in any shape for school for the rest of the week. Sighing, I clap him on the shoulder. “I’ll handle Ivan. You follow Alexis and make sure she gets out of here in one piece.”
“You sure, man? This is my screw up; I don’t want you taking any heat because of me.”
“You’ve taken the fall for me plenty of times. It’s my turn.” I give him a half-smirk I don’t quite feel. It’s true that Derek has covered for me in the past, just as I’ve covered for him. That’s what friends do. But this time it isn’t as simple as nicking a bottle of vodka from Nikolay’s personal stash or getting caught slacking on patrol duty. This screw up could have some serious repercussions.
Derek returns my smirk with a nod, relief in his eyes. “Thanks man, I owe you one.”
With one last glance at Ivan’s scowling face, Derek takes off at a lope, disappearing into the forest bordering the road.
Taking a deep breath, I lead Max up to the house, trying to ignore Ivan, who’s still planted at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, blocking our path. I keep my eyes focused just over his left shoulder and calmly wait, letting his power play go unchallenged. I know better than to goad him when he’s in this kind of mood.
After a long, tense moment, he finally steps back to let me and Max pass. As soon as we cross the threshold of the manor, Ivan slams the door behind us. “What was that?” he growls quietly.
“She was lost,” I tell him, heading into the den. “Nothing to worry about. She’s leaving now.”
“She came here looking for Derek.” Cold fury emanates off him in waves. Ivan hates humans almost as much as he does witches.
“We should wait for Nikolay before discussing this.” Hopefully by the time Nikolay shows up, Ivan’s rage will have dulled a bit. Doubtful, but I can hope. “You did great out there, Max,” I say, changing the subject.
“Really?” Max’s eyes, now a bright blue, light up at the praise.
“Yeah, you really kept your cool. You barely even growled at her. Very impressive.”
Max beams, his crooked front tooth making him look even younger than he is. “You think I’ll be ready for school soon?”
I remember when I was his age; I couldn’t wait to go to public school, to get out of this small town and experience something new. Different people, different places, different anything. Growing up in Ashwood can be claustrophobic, even with the several hundred thousand acres of wilderness surrounding us.
“Absolutely. When’s your birthday? Another month or so?” He nods. “I’ll talk to Nikolay. Maybe I can convince him to send you when you turn ten.”
Max grins again and follows me over to one of the sofas. Ivan’s gaze follows me. I just need to stall long enough for Nikolay to return. After their argument last night, Ivan will be wary about overstepping again so soon.
“So what happened on the hunt last night?” Max asks, bouncing up and down in his seat. “I heard Miles get hurt, but then my dad rushed me home, so I didn’t get to hear what else happened. Is Miles gonna be okay?”
I smile, his enthusiasm hard to resist. “He’ll be fine. Margie’s looking at him now.”
“Is it true you took down an eight-point buck? I heard Zak fought you over it, but I bet you won.”
“You’d bet right.”
“What did you—”
“Maxwell, stop pestering Gray. He has more important things to do than answer your never-ending questions,” Grant says, walking up to us and laying one large hand on Max’s shoulder. He’s a burly man, short compared to the rest of us, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in width. A large black beard covers most of his face, blending into the dark curly hair on his head.
“Aw, dad, I wasn’t pestering him. I always miss all the exciting parts of the hunt… Dad always keeps me in the back with him,” Max grumbles to me.
“I’m sure your dad is just looking out for you,” I tell him, glancing at Grant’s half-concealed smile. “The hunt can be dangerous, after all. Just look at what happened to Miles, and he’s much older than you.”
“I can look after myself,” he says, puffing out his chest. “I did good when the human came up and surprised us, didn’t I Gray? I didn’t growl or nothin’.”
Grant’s black eyes sharpen as he looks at me. “Human? Here?”
“It’s being taken care of.” I meet Grant’s gaze squarely until he looks away. “And Max is right. He did very good. Might even be ready for school soon.”
Max grins and bounces some more, but a scowl appears on Grant’s face. “School? He’s much too young for that. It’s too dangerous,” he says in his gruff voice.
“Sending our kids to public school early is the best way to teach them to interact with the outside world. The younger they are, the more easily they can assimilate. You know this.”
Grant makes a face, but doesn’t argue. Ever since his wife was killed by hunters two years ago, he’s been overprotective of Max. But as I’ve explained to him countless times, the best way to protect Max is to let him experience the world. He’ll have an easier time blending in with the humans if he learns to be around them. Keeping our kids cloistered in this speck of a town doesn’t do anyone any good.
Margie’s uneven limp sounds on the stairs and I immediately go to her, anxious for her report. “How is he?”
“Fine, just fine. Healing on his own now. Doesn’t need any more help from me,” she says, leaning on her cane.
“Good. That’s good.” My shoulders relax and I only now realize how tense they’ve been. “I’ll have Isabel take you home. Iz?” I call her over.
She’s a year older than me with dark blond hair and a wide face. She’s my closest friend in the pack, other than Derek and Miles. She walks over to me obediently. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”
“I know you will,” I say, giving her a small smile. “Do me a favor and stay with her awhile, make sure she gets some rest? This whole Miles business has really worn her out.”
“Absolutely, whatever you need.”
“Now, now, no need for that,” Margie protests. “Richard is waiting for me to help him harvest the herbs today. We need to get them cut before the frost comes.”
“I’ll help you collect the herbs from your garden,” Isabel soothes. “You can show me how to make that tea you like in the evenings. What was in it again? Chamomile?” she asks, leading Margie toward the door.
This is why I chose Isabel to take Margie back instead of one of the older women. She has a gentle way with her that’s lacking in many of the others. I know she doesn’t care a thing about herbs or teas, but she’ll continue doing and saying whatever she can to put her at ease. The others aren’t so patient.
Chapter 5
AS soon as Nikolay returns, I follow him into his study with Ivan close on my heels, ready to pounce.
“You hear what happened?” Ivan bursts out, his words clipped, accent as harsh as his temper. “A human came here, looking for Derek! Almost stumbled on Max while he was running in forest! This is a problem!” He slams his fist down on the mahogany desk, making the pens rattle in their holder.
Nikola
y narrows his eyes in warning before turning to me. “What’s this all about?”
“Derek’s girlfriend showed up to surprise him. I intercepted her and sent her home. Max was in human form,” I emphasize, glancing at Ivan, “and handled the situation well. It was a misunderstanding, easily rectified.”
“Misunderstanding?” Ivan says. “She threatened to call cops.”
“Only because she saw you looming over us from the porch like a 1920s gangster.” I consciously relax my fists and force myself to speak in a lazy, bored voice. “If you would have stayed back and let me handle it, it would have ended sooner than it did.”
“You handle it? You’re a pup,” he scoffs.
“I’m next in line to lead. You want me to act more like the Alpha’s son? Then let me handle this.” I face Ivan squarely, my eyes level with his.
He sizes me up, readying himself for a fight. We may be the same height, but Ivan has a little more muscle mass and a hell of a lot more experience. Despite his advanced age, I’m not delusional enough to believe I stand a chance against him. But standing up to him right now is the only way I’ll be able to protect Derek. Weres’ only respond to strength and guts. I need to prove I have both.
“Enough, both of you,” Nikolay says, breaking up the standoff. “Gray is right; he’s next in line. He needs to start showing the others that he can lead.” He glances at me from under his brows. “How are you going to handle this, Gray?”
“I’ve talked to Derek. He knows how serious this could have been. I’ll make sure she stays far away from town from now on.”
“Not good enough.” Ivan pierces me with cold, slate colored eyes. “This relationship cannot continue.”
A stone drops into the pit of my stomach. I can’t say I wasn’t expecting this, but after watching the tender way Derek was with her earlier, I can’t see this going over well with him. “Relationships with human aren’t forbidden in this pack,” I say, casting a glance at Nikolay to see how he’s reacting to this. “As long as Derek keeps the human away from town, we won’t have any problems.”