by Hmonroe
“Ouch! That's going to leave a bruise,” Luke said as he rubbed his leg. The wind blew the blanket into me as I dressed, but I walked out in no time with a smirk on my face, looking toward Luke.
“Sorry about your leg, brother,” I said sarcastically. Max changed as well and was talking to Luke as I started my way over to them.
“It still amazes me that you guys can shift like that. I watch you guys walk around with such grace and friendliness, and yet you look like a large bear I should be running away from.”
“It’s a good thing that we're on the same team then.” Max smiled. “So what's up, bro? Did you come to watch the fight?”
“Well, I do like a good fight, but Mom wanted me to tell you she has biscuits and gravy if you're hungry.”
“I think we are always hungry lately.”
“Yes! And a nap after that sounds good too!” I added.
***
6 hours later…
I stretched and swung my legs off the couch. Max slept in the soft, black recliner in the corner of the room. All was quiet in the house.
I entered the kitchen to notice homemade soup on the stove set on low. I lifted the pot lid to give it a good stir. Max showed up next to me. He held me around the waist. We looked at each other and both had the same idea.
Let’s get the bowls and spoons out. We dished up our plates and sat at the kitchen table.
“Do you know where everyone took off to?” I asked. “It doesn't feel right having it this quiet. They never just take off without saying something. Plus, it’s getting dark, and they have never been out this late before since we've been home.”
“I dozed off mid-afternoon and didn't hear them leave either,” Max said
“How long have we been sleeping?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I guess about three hours.” We both contemplated for a bit while we continued eating our soup, until a large thump made us jump from our seats.
“What was that?”
“I think it came from the bedrooms. Stay here.”
“You have trained me all this time and you want me to stay here?” I charged ahead to find the reason for the noise. I entered my room and turned on the light, ready to take care of any intruder.
“Jared?” I asked in surprise. Jared had a dark baseball cap on. “What are you doing climbing in through my window?”
Max let out a breath of anger. “You think you can just sneak in here and there won't be consequences? You need to leave before I kick you out!”
“You guys, wait. You're acting like I'm your enemy. Leah, it’s me, Jared. You really want me to leave?”
“You are the enemy!” Max yelled.
“Enemy? I've been trying to find Leah now for a while. I’m worried about her.”
“Do you believe this guy?” Max seemed disgusted as if he could see right through him. Jared’s eyes stayed on me. My hands rested on my hips as a tear tried to escape my eye.
“Leah, we spent every day together. You must understand that I haven't seen you for weeks, and you left school. I thought something was wrong.” Jared pleaded his case while Max took every word as a lie.
“Jared, I'm sorry. I just wanted to be alone. It would just be safe for all of us if you would have stayed away. Go visit your parents for a little while. Then go back to school. I'll keep in touch with you after my life gets back in order, but you need to go.”
“So you want me to leave? Leah, I wish you would talk to me. You know me better than this guy. You can trust me.”
“You sneak in my home and you want me to trust you? Please do what I asked and leave. You need to stay away right now, and don't come back to my house. Please respect me and go.” There was a quick pause. Jared knew that he wasn’t welcome. He had a strange sadness being asked to leave such a familiar place.
“I can see that you're not hurt, so I’ll go like you ask. But don't push me out of your life forever. I still love you.” Jared turned and left the way he had come.
***
THROUGH JARED’S EYES:
I wanted to tell my cousin where Max was so they could crush him. Leah would be in the crossfire during my revenge, but I would worry about that when the time came. Max had to leave so I could have Leah to myself again. He’s the one that had to leave.
I took my phone out and started dialing. A grouchy man on the other line answered.
“Did you find them?”
“They're here in Pagoda at her house.” I heard my cousin repeat what I’d said far from the phone. Then the phone disconnected. The word was spreading fast through the Sparks family that the wolf girl was in Pagoda, Colorado.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Max followed me out to the kitchen.
“Do you understand now why I don't trust him? He climbs in through your window and when he gets caught he claims he did it all for you.”
I rested my hand on the kitchen table to hold myself up. I was completely in thought while half listening to Max.
“I knew something was up with him. He must be working with the Sparks. It’s part of his family, and he's so determined to find you. He's probably running back to them right now to tell them where you are. That makes me sick. How could he say he loves you if he's doing this to you?” Max vented.
I just continued breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. Then a thought crossed my mind again: did we know where my brothers and parents were?
“Max, hold on. I know you're mad, but do we know where everyone is? Where's my family?”
“Right. We need to call them.” Max took his phone out to call my father. I called Leon. My phone rang and rang until it went to voicemail, but by the time I hung up, Max was telling my dad all about Jared. With relief I plopped myself down on a chair and waited until Max finished.
Five minutes later, he grabbed Leon’s truck key. “Let’s go. They got into a car accident. They’ve been trying to get it running again, but it sounds like they were just about to call us.”
“Oh no! Are they OK?”
“Yeah, but Dad said he wanted to show us something instead of talking too much over the phone.” We walked out to the truck quickly. “If Jared is behind all this, I’m going to crush him.”
“I still don't know if Jared is one of the bad guys. He did sneak inside my house, and the Sparks are related to him, but it’s Jared. He just wouldn't do something this bad.”
“I know you think that, but you must keep an open mind. Please don't trust him. You must trust your instincts and what your body is trying to tell you. Don't let your love for him blind you.”
Maybe my heart was drowning out my common sense.
We pulled over to where Dad's Suburban lay half in the ditch. Luke and Leon were pushing the vehicle from behind. Dad pushed the passenger’s door frame, and Mom accelerated on the gas pedal, leaving mud spattering in all directions. It didn't look like the vehicle had too much damage. The truck came to a stop and Max and I were out in seconds.
“Is anyone hurt?” I asked as we rushed over to them.
“No, but I think the Sparks family knows where you are,” Leon said.
Max and I looked at each other and we both thought one name, Jared. We gathered around Leon’s truck. Mom spoke first.
“We just wanted to go get food at the store. We're getting low on food, and everyone wanted to get out of the house for a bit. We made it to the store just fine, but when we got out and started heading home . . .” Mom was a little shaken up still. Dad took over.
“Our brakes were cut. It's an even slice. Someone did this deliberately, and after you told me on the phone about Jared stopping by it made me start to think.”
“He wanted to get as many people out of the house and make sure you didn't come home. He wanted to sneak into an empty house, or at least a house that had as few people as possible,” Max said, finishing Dad's thoughts.
“Exactly,” Dad stated.
I felt sick thinking Jared could be bad. I still couldn’t get myself to believe
it.
We all piled into the truck and left my parents’ broken-down suburban in the ditch. Everyone could sense the fight coming close. We didn't know for sure if they knew my location, but something inside of us told us they did.
When we arrived back home my brothers and dad jumped out of the back, while my mom slid out of the passenger's side door.
“I can smell that soup from here,” I said.
“Oh yes, dinner. It should be plenty done,” Mom commented.
“Soup!” Luke said. “Is it your homemade kind?”
“Yes, Luke. It's your favorite kind.”
“Leah and I had some before we left to pick you up. But when Jared popped in, we dropped the soup all over, and had to throw it away. Sorry, man.” Max lifted his shoulders and walked passed him.
I walked behind Max and gave Luke a wink.
“Max, are you kidding around again, man? There is soup left, right?”
Max and I started laughing. “You're just too easy, bro!” Max commented.
***
The next two days came and went. There was no sign of Jared, or anything that made us suspicious. The only thing new was the feeling of uncertainty in the pit of our stomachs. Call it wolf intuition if you'd like, but something big was going to happen. Max couldn't sit still, and he kept saying that my family should leave now, just in case something might happen. Of course, no one would listen. They were brave, but knowing they could easily be hurt made me worry. All the days we spent in Pagoda, we trained and never missed a day. I felt physically ready for whatever may come.
Silence filled the air, and it felt like a countdown in my chest. They were coming. 10 . . . 9 . . . 8. Max stood and looked at my father.
“They are here. I wouldn't mistake their smell for anything. They're here and close. This is your last chance to leave.”
“I'm here until the end,” Dad replied.
Everyone in the room stood up one by one, indicating they weren't going anywhere. 7 . . . 6 . . . 5. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and with my ears so alert I could hear everyone else’s beat as well. 4 . . . 3 . . . A sudden pounding on the door startled us.
“It's me, Jared! Please let me in! Please, please! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, but please let me in. We don't have much time!” The pounding proceeded. “They're coming. You must run! Leah, I'm sorry. I know I made wrong choices, but along the way I fell in love with you. I know you can't forgive me now, but I need to at least try to do something.” Max looked at me, and I gave a nod to let Jared in. If worse came to worst, at least we would have a hostage, right? As quick as Max's arm would go, he ripped open the door, grabbed Jared's collar, and threw him in the house. In that same moment the door slammed shut and was locked up again.
Leon grabbed Jared and pushed him in a chair. Luke wasn't far behind with duct tape. They wrapped him several times. Each foot and arm tied to the chair. Jared kept saying they didn't need to go to such extremes, but it wasn't long until duct tape was over his mouth. The tape didn't seem to stop him, he continued mumbling, driving me crazy! He was a deceiving, ungrateful jerk, but I went to him anyway.
I ripped off the tape. “What is going on? Why are you doing this to me? Do you not care that I might die? How could you live a lie for so many years?” Finally I couldn’t hold it in. My anger sent tears to my eyes. He didn't deserve to see me weak right now, but I couldn't hold it back.
“Leah, stop for minute. We don't have time.” An explosion from outside vibrated the home.
“They’re breaking through!” Dad said.
“Leah, you’re right it was just a lie, and at first I didn't care about you or what happened. I was just helping my family. After hearing these stories since birth you begin to live them. I had to date an evil wolf-girl so I could give them information.”
I slapped Jared across the face, but Max pulled me away before I could throw any more punches. Jared's head slumped.
“They are right outside,” Jared said in a whisper, and then for once all was quiet. 2 . . . 1. In that instant I turned toward Jared as rocks flew through windows. My family dodged rocks and flipped couches and chairs over for cover. In slow motion, I stood there not moving, looking straight into Jared's eyes. Glass swirled around me, as if I could see every piece and reach out and grab one.
It was time to fight and end this. I leaped forward and in an instant had four legs and beautiful, flowing fur. Now, even in this form, I stared at Jared to see the fear in his eyes. I stepped toward him with my lips pulled back and roared. Max then came behind me and laid his hand on my back.
“Let’s go,” he said, and then exploded in wolf form next to me. I couldn't help but look back at Jared to see what he thought of us now. His pants were soaked from terror.
He’s not worth it, I thought and turned with Max to take our place on the front porch of my home.
We walked out into the dark night, side by side. Our appearance made the enemy freeze. There wasn't a move made for minutes. I looked from left to right to try to find some cover to change. Max stayed hard and still and never took his eye off the men in front. A blanket laid over the porch swing, so I took a couple steps and grabbed the blanket with my mouth. With a swing of my neck it lay on my back. As I became human again, my hands clenched onto the blanket from either side and wrapped it around me.
The look of amazement resided all over their faces, but the boss looked disgusted. I still felt strong and in control even in this form. Max always had a way to strengthen my confidence just by being with me. Our bond was what was going to get us through this.
“Is this your plan? To come in here and smash the windows out? You have been brought up with lies. What you know about my family is wrong. You’ve been taught that I'm evil and a killer, but I'm not and neither were my ancestors. Do you really want to come here and hurt us without knowing the truth?”
“Even if what you say is true, it doesn't change the fact that I see two abominations in front of me. What about the land in Almont? If what you say is true then why is there not even one Sparks name in that town anymore and yet your Hawk name still lingers?” the boss yelled.
“Just like today, your family attacked my ancestors in fear of what one woman was. A shape shifter. It resulted in a bloodbath and scattered the remaining Sparks family. Your family started the war then, just as you have today.”
“Maybe or maybe not, but what is different this time is that we have no fear, and the only blood that is going to be spilled is yours.”
“Is there nothing I can say to convince you this is wrong? What you’re doing is crazy!”
“You’re what you are and that's enough for us.” They started forward.
“Wait, you should know one more thing.” I held my hand up. “Remember Jared? The one that faithfully reported back to you with information? Well just consider him dead if you continue this war.” Laughter filled the crowd in front of me.
“You think he matters? He’s weak, and too close to you. I already consider him dead. We are talking about the greater good anyway, right?”
I looked behind me through the open door where my family stood with guns as weapons. I then looked over to Max, who looked back at me. We couldn't talk to each other, but I knew we were thinking the same thing. We wouldn’t make the first move but we were ready if they did.
“You have one last chance to leave. If you’re having any second thoughts, now would be the time to act on them. Please leave my land in peace and we’ll all forget this ever had to happen.” I transformed again in seconds ready and waiting for them to make a choice.
The boss started forward and his minions followed with knives, guns, and silver crosses around their necks. They really believed they were about to kill an evil, mythical werewolf. Guns started to fire. The sound of fingers pressing against the metal triggers and the sound of its ticking closer and closer helped me get out of the way in time. As soon as guns started exploding, Max and I took off on opposite sides of the porch, and my mot
her shut the door to the house. Max and I were split up, but having a wolf on either side of the Sparks confused them. Some went for Max and some went for me.
Most of the men didn’t believe the fairy tale stories until today. The uncertainty radiated off every angry face. Now they just acted out of fear and loyalty to the boss. I only blamed one person here for the bloodshed. The boss weaved in between the crowds, getting closer and closer to Max.
While keeping an eye on the boss, I tore weapons out of hands and threw people out of the way. Some men stood on the outskirts, debating if this fight really was for them. I leaped over a man, hunched down, and jumped high again. Dodging bullets as long as they were spaced out was easy, but when I felt a sharp pain in my thigh, I knew there had been one too many.
The boss closed in on Max, and anger started to consume me. Pushing back the pain, I grabbed the nearest person and ripped off his arm. Then I tore into the next person’s leg. With blood dripping from my snarled mouth, a menacing roar filled the sky like thunder. It was all I needed to get the men to back off. In a full run, I darted in front of Max as the boss pulled his trigger. The bullet meant for Max slammed into my side. It was so hard to breathe, but before blackness took me, blood spattered as the boss’s head was torn off by a black wolf.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Get out of my way!” Dad said while clutching my bare human body. “Leon, start the truck!”
“Sir, let me see her,” Max said.
“There is no time for this. She needs a hospital.” Dad walked around Max, continuing to the truck. Luke stayed with my mom on the front porch, trying to give comfort. Jared, still tied to the chair, yelled my name.
“Shut up, traitor,” Mom said through sobs.
“Sir, please give me Leah. There is no time. She will be dead by the time we get to the hospital.”
“There is nothing you can do, and the more we debate about my daughter’s life . . .” Dad didn’t waste time to finish his sentence. He put me in the truck.