The Werewolf Whisperer (The Werewolf Whisperer Series Book 1)

by Camilla Ochlan

  Xochitl snatched the bottle from her, popped two aspirin and took a deep gulp of water.

  A few moments passed in silent contemplation, allowing Lucy the chance to notice the abundance of orange poppies lining the road on both sides. Spring was making its presence known, and Lucy loved California springs almost as much as California summers. The weather and the phenomenal landscape almost erased their problems for a moment.

  Almost.

  "Are we there yet?" Xochitl whined, breaking Lucy's reverie. Xochitl stuffed the water bottle in the hanging cup holder and started digging through her bag again, flipping her hair brush, some lip gloss and a switchblade on the seat next to her. Kai picked the items up one at a time, studying them closely until Xochitl noticed and slapped his hands away from her things.

  "We just passed Angels Camp. Can't be much longer now," Lucy said and turned on the car radio. Xochitl played with the volume control.

  "And now the KNUZ 88.3 FM news..." The radio announcer's words fell and rose in volume as Xochitl turned the knob back and forth. "It's been two days since the Werebeast incident at Empyrean High School and still no leads on the teenage Were who sent a local teacher to the hospital." The words, though delivered in a pleasant announcer's timbre, hit Lucy in the gut like a gunshot. Xochitl flinched her hand away from the radio control as if it had burned her.

  "Teacher? Hospital?" Lucy snapped her head and looked at Kai.

  "The young assailant, known to travel in the company of The Werewolf Whisperer, went on to maul two teenagers at a local diner." The announcer came up against a hard break. "After we come back, we will be speaking to Revered Dr. David Barns, Co-Founder of the Anti-Werebeast Commission. Please stay tuned for these important messages."

  "Kai, what teacher?" Lucy pressed.

  "Spill, Hound Chow!" Xochitl said and shoved the boy's shoulder to get his attention.

  Last night, they'd seen the news footage of Kai running from Empyrean High School, but the boy hadn't volunteered any information about attacking a teacher.

  Kai turned his face to look at the passing trees, ignoring Xochitl's prodding. "No English," he pronounced each word perfectly and without an accent.

  "Hound Chow. Hound Chow," the radio commercial sang. "It's all your Hound—"

  "Turn it off." Xochitl gave up on Kai and fumbled with her sunglasses.

  "Did you hear—" Lucy fumed, but Xochitl cut her off.

  "Coffee. Not until after coffee. I want coffee. We can talk about how screwed we are, after coffee." Xochitl leaned over Kai and rolled down the window.

  The crisp mountain air flowed through the car. "This Tolinka Hills place another one of your backwoods shit kickin' towns?" Xochitl asked and pulled her jacket closed.

  "Old mining town, I think. Never been there, but they'll have coffee." Lucy snapped her fingers in the direction of Kai, who'd stuck his head out the window up to his shoulders.

  "Is his tongue lolling out?" She laughed despite herself. "I can't stand it. Pull him back in and roll up the window, Xoch."

  "I need air," Xochitl said, fishing a pack of gum out of the glove box.

  "Just roll it up halfway. I don't want him jumping out." Lucy clicked her tongue to get Kai's attention.

  Xochitl glanced at the speedometer. "We're going sixty-five miles an hour. He's not gonna jump out. He's not an idiot," Xochitl said and crammed a green stick of gum into her mouth. She flicked the crumpled up foil at Lucy's ear.

  Without warning, Kai launched himself out of the window of the speeding car, rolled to his feet on the grass and darted into the woods.

  Lucy jammed on the brakes so hard, she made the tires squeal and El Gallo spin one hundred and eighty degrees. The smell of burning rubber hit her instantaneously, and she watched as little clouds wafted around them.

  "¡Jódame!" Xochitl yelled, suddenly wide-awake. "¿Estás loca?"

  Lucy, already out of the car, called out. "Kai! Kai! Come back Kai!" Panic took her breath.

  Did Kai bolt because he thinks I'm mad at him over the teacher? What if he hurt himself?

  Lucy ran both hands through her hair and stood still, looking at the dense sequoia forest.

  Xochitl slid over to the driver's side, muttering to herself in Spanish, and pulled the car over to the shoulder.

  "Yo! You just lost your driving privileges, chica," Xochitl said.

  "But Kai—" Lucy shouted back.

  "Kai's made outta rubber. He's fine." Xochitl gave Lucy a wry smile and looked around.

  "Hey, Luce. Sign there says Tolinka Hills is the next exit," Xochitl said and pointed ahead. "Maybe our boy is taking a shortcut."

  "After all we've been through, he runs off just like that," Lucy said, feeling dismayed.

  "Yeah, hell. If you love someone, let him go and all that shit. Probably just saw a rabbit." Xochitl hit the blinker and paused with uncharacteristic caution before pulling the car back onto the empty road.

  Maybe she wants to coddle El Gallo a little to make up for my rough handling. Maybe the hangover still has her a little wobbly.

  "Should you be driving?" Lucy started to cross back to the driver's side.

  "Get in!" Xochitl shouted. "It's shotgun for you from now on!" She shook her blond mane vigorously, seemingly back to her usual self with no trace of tequila aftereffects. "We'll find him later. I can track him with my GPS app."

  "You put a tracker on Kai?" Lucy snapped her seatbelt in place, uncertain Xochitl wasn't planning revenge for the half doughnut.

  "Of course not." Xochitl considered for a moment and then smirked, all at once in a better mood. "Last night is still a bit fuzzy, but I remember Lefty giving me a phone with a tracker on it." She smacked her forehead. "That's what he gave me. He said it's all government issue. Super secret spy shit...And I gave it to Kai. Because no teenage boy should be without a phone...with a tracker." Xochitl adjusted the mirrors. "So, make of that what you will."

  "Aren't you the clever girl," Lucy said, impressed and very relieved. "I'll get you a gallon of coffee when we get to Tolinka Hills."

  The tiny town of Tolinka Hills looked like a relic from the later days of the California Gold Rush. The town sign boasted Population 450, but looking at the silent street, Lucy was sure that number had dwindled.

  The two-lane Main Street took them past less than a dozen one-story frontier-style buildings and a few meticulously restored Victorians. Set back from the raised sidewalk, the storefronts seemed to be in various states of disrepair. Not one door stood open.

  The Old Mercantile, easily the largest single building, advertised Coyote Festival Sale on a colorful banner attached to the overhang.

  "Wonder what a coyote festival looks like," Xochitl pondered out loud.

  They drove past several antique stores; all displayed similar mining paraphernalia replicas and kitschy pseudo Victorian knickknacks. The ubiquitous vintage clothing store flaunted a fussy display complete with various dress forms draped in crinoline ball gowns and outfitted in fancy period menswear.

  "Think I might need that powder blue parasol," Lucy said, trying to lighten her increasingly black mood. "Perchance I shall swoon onto one of those daaaarling wooden benches." She pointed ahead to the chainsaw carved monstrosities situated on either side of the entrance of the old-fashioned candy store.

  "Fiddle-dee-dee!" Xochitl affected her best Scarlett. "Personally, I'd like some of that saltwater taffy those cabrones are falsely advertising on their pinche froufrou sign." She stretched her neck and looked at both sides of the street.

  "Why isn't anyone open?" Xochitl whined. "Need coffee. If I don't get coffee soon the hangover headache is gonna slide right into the caffeine withdrawal headache."

  Xochitl pulled alongside a promising restaurant. The tall building looked well cared for with a friendly western façade and pretty flowers in boxes at the second story windows. Xochitl took one of the many empty parking spots in front.

  "The Old Firehouse," Xochitl read the sign. "Looks like they remodeled t
he real thing. Cute."

  Lucy nodded. "Flowers upstairs are fake though," she said. "I can see a price tag attached to one of the stems."

  "Spoil sport." Xochitl climbed out of the car, stretching her arms in the air. "As long as they have coffee and make waffles, I don't care."

  Lucy stared at the other side of the street. All the shops were closed as far as she could see. A prominent whitewashed building perched on a little rise across the street.

  "Hmmmm." Lucy pointed to the words painted in an arch over the large building's second story balcony.

  "The Sodality of Beneficence." She raised an eyebrow. "These old towns have weird history sometimes."

  "That's probably just some Old West lodge." Xochitl glanced at the shuttered windows. "Probably long gone."

  Lucy looked up and down the road. A few cars sat parked along Main Street. She spotted thick layers of dust on the closest ones.

  More disquieting was the fact that they had yet to see one person in the town. No one walked the streets, strolled on the sidewalk or jostled in and out of stores.

  "This doesn't look good," Lucy said, but Xochitl walked right up to the "Old Firehouse" and pulled on the front door. It refused to budge.

  "Closed? It's closed," she said, incredulous. "You said they'd have coffee!" She knocked against the glass.

  "Looks like they haven't even got a they," Lucy said.

  Suddenly Kai appeared at the end of the empty street. He yipped and ran toward Lucy.

  "We didn't even miss you!" Xochitl shouted to the boy.

  "Come on Kai. Let's go. Come here," Lucy called and patted the front of her thighs.

  Kai shot toward her like a rocket, three yapping Ferals in hot pursuit.

  "¡Híjole!" Lucy and Xochitl said in unison.

  Kai turned at the Trading Post and flew out of sight. The Ferals spread out and chased after him without taking notice of Lucy and Xochitl.

  "Get 'em!" Lucy took off after the Weres without hesitation.

  Pursuing the Ferals at a good clip, Lucy and Xochitl followed the side street up a hill and out of town. They quickly came to a narrow bridge traversing a small rushing creek. The water wound its way into the forest, and Lucy saw the Ferals splash along the stony banks and disappear among the trees. The road stopped on the other side of the bridge, turning into a narrow dirt path. Lucy and Xochitl abandoned the path and angled toward where they thought the Ferals would emerge.

  The spring sun had gently warmed them while in town, but the temperature dropped several degrees as soon as they entered the shadowed thicket. Lucy shivered.

  The fragrance of earth and sequoias filled Lucy's nostrils, and the damp air caressed her skin.

  They couldn't continue their all-out run amidst the trees but hurried along with caution. Lucy's senses awoke, and she felt very in tune with her surroundings — colors were a little brighter, sounds clearer, scents sharper.

  "This way," Lucy whispered. "They aren't far."

  Xochitl gave Lucy a look that said, "I'm not going to ask," and pulled her Bowie knife from its sheath.

  They hadn't gone more than a dozen steps, careful of their footing through the raised roots and soft dips of the forest floor, when howls and whines intercut with a volley of high-speed Mandarin echoed through the trees.

  In the clearing ahead stood a tall, muscular man — white male, mid-to-late twenties, approximately six foot three, dark blond buzz cut, green field jacket, washed out jeans.

  The tall man casually held Kai by the nape of the neck, dangling him three feet above the ground like a helpless puppy. The boy kicked and flailed, but the man didn't budge.

  "No phones, dawgie," he said and tucked Kai's cell phone into one of the cargo pockets of his jacket. "Don't fuss." His words had a soft lilting drawl Lucy couldn't place.

  Kai shook himself and yelled, "Fàng wǒ xìa lái! ¡Cabrón!" He flexed his entire body and swung himself forward with gravitational impossibility. "Gǒu níang yǎng de! I'm gonna bite your face off."

  The man laughed out loud but held tight. "Well, aintcha just a regular Tower o' Babel."

  Catching Xochitl's eye, Lucy pointed to Kai and described a half circle with her index finger. Then she pointed to Xochitl and flicked her fingers toward the man.

  Xochitl nodded, understanding. She stepped into the clearing.

  "Hey pendejo, put him down!" Xochitl shouted and flourished the long knife.

  Lucy picked up a thick branch and held it with both hands like a cudgel. She circled around the man, hiding herself behind the trees until she stood nearly behind him.

  "Aitcha cute as a punkin'," the man called out to Xochitl. His voice was warm and deep. "Why don't ya put down the knife so we can discuss this, darlin'."

  "Kiss my ass!" Xochitl sounded insulted. "Let go of Kai, cabrón!"

  Lucy took a chance and dashed into the clearing, ready to bash the man on the head with her makeshift cudgel. A low growl stopped her. She skidded to a stop to see the three large Ferals who had chased Kai stalk toward her from behind a boulder.

  Wait! Those can’t be Ferals. They're too big.

  They were all adult males, dressed in similar denim and flannels. They had sharp, angular features and long wild hair. Their lean bodies reminded her of hungry desert wolves. Their eyes gleamed.

  Not Werebeasts either.

  They slinked toward her, sharp teeth bared. Their hands slowly and deliberately shifted into claws.

  Lucy took a step back.

  Holy shit! They're controlling their transformation. How?

  "Looks like we got us another critter," the tall man said. "Git it!" he commanded, and they charged.

  "Off!" Lucy shouted.

  The creatures stopped in their tracks. Lucy heard Kai drop to the ground and swear. She looked over to see Xochitl leaping forward to retrieve the boy.

  "Down. Stay!" Lucy called out.

  The trio crouched and whined, turning their heads to the man. He stood still, having let go of Kai and not moving toward Xochitl. Anger flashed in his bright green eyes, his calm broken.

  "Fuck me!" he rasped.

  Kai sat on the ground, head tilted and awaiting Lucy's next command.

  "Kai, go with Xochi!" Lucy ordered him away from the man. "Xochitl, go get the gun and the cuffs."

  "You 'got' him?" Xochitl's eyes were big and round. "Is he a Werebeast?"

  "No." Lucy felt short of breath. "Something else."

  "Be right back." Xochitl grabbed Kai by the hand, and they disappeared into the forest.

  *

  "I hate the woods," Xochitl mumbled and motioned for Kai to take point. They headed out of the woods and back over the small bridge that linked the town to the forest. She grasped her Bowie knife tight, her adrenaline pumping in her veins making her both jittery and acutely aware of her surroundings. Kai seemed on edge too. Not since they'd rescued him in San Pedro had Xochitl seen the kid so vulnerable, and she wondered if his encounter with the Alpha Dog and his pack had been too much for the teen Were.

  Driven by urgency, Xochitl picked up the pace. They sprinted onto Main Street and past The Trading Post where the sight of El Gallo made Xochitl feel a little more centered.

  Everything'll be okay. I'll get the Remi, get Lucy and get the hell outta Dodge.

  *

  Lucy and the man stared at each other. His face was narrow, high cheekbones and a fine straight nose giving his features a chiseled appearance. His eyes glowed a preternatural green, and his lips pressed together in frustration. He struggled to break free from her command; she could see him straining his neck.

  His companions settled comfortably on the ground, gazing at Lucy in adoration. Lucy almost snickered. The man looked like he wanted to kick his Betas.

  "Who are you?" Lucy finally said and stepped closer to him.

  He's taller than Gabe. Clean-shaven. And he smells familiar.

  "Name's Rylan." He'd recovered his cocky attitude.

  "Lucy Lowell."

  "I
know. I've been looking for ya," Rylan answered. His eyes bored into her as if he were trying to read her mind.

  "Did Hanna send you?" It occurred to her that this Rylan could be the friend Hanna asked her to seek out in Tolinka Hills. It could all still be a huge misunderstanding.

  "You're makin' a mistake, Lucy Lowell. Trustin' all the wrong people," Rylan said quietly. He seemed to have more to say, but a piercing whistle from the woods cut him off, and he turned his head sharply to the side.

  Lucy took her eyes off of Rylan, spun in the direction of the whistle and raised her cudgel.

  Lightning fast, a team of five figures in black tactical gear closed in around them. A shot rang out before Lucy could release Rylan from her command. A red tranquilizer dart appeared on his chest, and he crumpled to the ground.

  Lucy charged the man who'd shot Rylan and brought her cudgel down on his shoulder. The branch cracked, the man's collarbone shattered, and he let go of his rifle.

  Lucy felt two painful bites in her side. An agonizing electric current shot through her and dropped her to her knees. All was pain, and she writhed for what seemed like an eternity. Lucy knew that she was surrounded and tried to scream for Xochitl. The pain let up as suddenly as it had come. Lucy sat up as fast as she could only to see the butt of a rifle come toward her face. She felt her jaw crack, and she fell back down. Her head bounced on a hard surface and everything went black.

  *

  Xochitl adjusted the Karambit knife harness. She'd felt much better with her weapons sheathed in their proper places and her Remington 12 gauge gripped in her hand. She shut El Gallo's trunk and turned to Kai.

  Kai's head darted back and forth. His body tensed, anxiety pouring off of him.

  "You okay, kid?" Xochitl touched Kai's arm. Kai swung around, his eye's glowed gold, and he bared his razor-sharp teeth. "Kai?" She backed off.

  Kai cocked his head, and from the direction of the forest, Xochitl heard the echo of gunfire.

  "Láng jiějie!" Kai barked and took off down Main Street toward the edge of town.

  "Kai!" Xochitl bolted after the teen Were, who had already passed the Trading Post and was almost to the edge of town when he suddenly stopped.