by Jianne Carlo
Heat scaled Melanie’s face. “I didn’t mean to—”
“I should’ve given it to all of you to read ages ago. Actually I should’ve taught you all the lore. Another wrong to right. Sometimes it feels like I’ll be atoning for the rest of my life.” Mama set the tray on the table.
“Don’t say that, Mama. All I need is you like this.” Melanie bit back the word normal.
“How is it you know so little of the wolf lore?”
His thighs bunched beneath her legs. But he answered Mama’s question and, to Melanie’s surprise, told Mama everything, including the truth about his birth mother.
“And Mrs. Dorland is unaware, even today, of your wolf heritage?”
“As far as I know. You have to understand that both Drake and I try not to talk about the past on the advice of the doctors. After Mom was committed, she spiraled downhill fast. The clinic where my Uncle Boyd had placed her said she was lost to us. We weren’t able to visit her regularly until I turned twenty-three. I called often, and we had frequent reports. It was only when we moved her to another clinic that she even recognized us.”
“How sad. That must have pained the two of you so.”
Melanie swallowed around the constriction in her throat and willed the tears back.
“We learned to deal with it.”
“Forgive me if this is too forward, but how will she cope when she learns of you and Melanie?” Mama’s voice wavered at the end.
“I don’t know.”
“Is she still…fragile?”
“Will she break down again is I think what you wanted to ask.” Mike shook his head. “I honestly don’t have a clue. She’s determined to lead a normal life. Actually she insisted on moving back to Chabegawn. Said she had to face her devils.”
“It sounds to me like your mother’s a much stronger woman than you and your brother believe. Does she love the two of you?”
Mike flinched. He blinked and looked away. “Drake believes she does.”
Mama leaned forward and covered the hand Mike had rested on the sofa with hers. “Trust me. She couldn’t love one son without loving the other.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he focused on a spot above the door. “Drake wasn’t the one who committed her.”
Melanie wanted to absorb the pain written on his face. Mike’s expression was anything other than stoic. She laid her palm on his cheek. “Didn’t your mom try to commit suicide?”
“I never even anticipated it. I was so caught up in myself.” Bitterness wrapped his voice to a coarse growl.
“You were eighteen. Your father had been paralyzed, and then he died. You had a younger brother, a mother who’d fallen apart, and the burden of the mill. How could you even think of blaming yourself?” Melanie tried to keep her tone even.
“Melanie’s right, Mike. Drink your tea, Melanie, and nibble on this.” Mama handed her a cookie. “Can you talk about the call now, child? Are you well enough?”
Hen’s feathers. She had totally blanked the episode. “Yes. Of course.”
“Was it like the one in the cabin? Did you see it through the killer’s eyes?” At Mama’s surprised gasp, Mike related what had occurred in the cabin.
“That’s not good, Mike. Don’t let her pass out again. She has to stay awake when the call comes. Her grandmother died because she went into a catatonic state. She passed out, and the call took control. No matter what you have to do—shock her out of it.”
Mike’s bronzed complexion greened. “I promise you. It won’t happen again.”
“Child, tell us what you know.”
Still trying to digest her mother’s strident warning, Melanie closed her eyes and let the images play again. “He was surprised at first, then so sad. The plea for forgiveness. Then rage filled him.”
“Who? The killer or Shuman?”
Distracted because Mama kept looking out the window and wringing her hands in her lap, Melanie answered absently, “Shuman. What’s wrong?” She followed her mother’s glance and realized someone had opened the windows. If it weren’t for Mike’s body heat and the throw, she’d be freezing.
“What’s taking Susie and Gray so long?” Mama’s voice had deepened with concern.
“Where’d they go?” Mike asked.
“To the shed to get the suitcase.” Mama checked the old-fashioned watch on her narrow wrist.
“I’ll go check on them.” Mike set Melanie to one side. “I’ll secure all the doors and windows before I leave. Melanie, where’s your cell phone?”
“In my purse in my room.”
“I’ll get it for you. Drake’s number is programmed to two. If you hear anything, call me first, then him. Don’t let anyone but him in. Not Pincer. Not anyone.”
“We won’t. Except if it’s Gray or Susie.” Melanie willed a calm she didn’t feel. “Go. We’ll be fine.”
Less than three minutes elapsed and they were alone in the living room.
“Are you sure it was Shuman, child?”
“Yes. I’m positive.”
“Full circle.” Her mother’s features pinched.
“You expected it?” So many things had happened so fast. Melanie knuckled her temple, trying to erase the remnants of her headache.
“Let me get you another cup of tea.”
Melanie captured her mother’s hands. “I don’t want any more tea. Talk to me, Mama. Tell me about Shuman.”
“Your grandfather said the shadow of the moon’s line would end with Shuman. He tried to change fate.” Mama sighed. “We all did.”
A blast of hot air rolled across their held hands.
“I don’t understand.”
“There are things that I must tell you, Susie, and Gray. Things you must know. Where did those two go? What’s taking Mike so long?”
“Mike just left, Mama.” Melanie rubbed both of her hands over Mama’s icy fingers. “You’re not upset? About me and Mike?”
Chapter Thirteen
“I’m happy for you. Mike’s a good man. He’ll bring you joy.”
“You can live with us, Mama. After Susie and Gray are gone. I’m sure Mike wouldn’t mind.” When had she become such a rabid liar? But Mama on her own might become friends with Jack Daniels again.
“Shush, child. Don’t even think of it. For so many years after your father died, I wanted to die too. Losing your mate is like losing your soul. I was empty, and I self-medicated with Jack Daniels. It’s taken a long time for me to cherish his memory. I was so angry at him for leaving me alone. I want grandchildren, Melanie. I want our line to continue. I want you to pass on your maggishahwi healing to your daughters. I want you to live a long and happy life.”
“Oh, Mama.” Melanie didn’t even try to stem the tears. “I love you. We all do. I want you around to spoil my babies.”
“I plan to be. I’ve been thinking though that I might like to live elsewhere. To leave the pain behind and take only the memories of the good times.”
“I don’t want you to go away so soon after getting you back, Mama.” She noticed Mama had started wearing her wedding ring again.
“I’m not going anywhere right away. I want to take this promotion and, maybe after I’ve worked as an event manager for a couple of years, start my own firm.”
Mama could’ve knocked her over with a parrot feather right then and there. “Your own business? Well, now we know where Susie gets her ambition from.”
“You think so?” Mama cocked her head.
“Oh, I can pretty much guarantee that. Gray and Susie are the fired-up ones. You may not get any grandbabies from Susie. What kind of event planning do you want to do?”
“I figure that there’s a ton of kids out there who never get birthday parties because of their circumstances. If I can find the right tribe, the right leader—maybe he’d agree to finance weekly birthday parties for children in foster homes or other communities.”
“Why, Kitchi White, do you plan to be a career woman?” Melanie laughed out loud. “Wouldn�
��t Papa be tickled pink?”
“I’m not sure. He never really wanted me out of his sight. The White alphas are extremely possessive. Though I have a feeling your Mike could give your father a run for his money. And from the way he looks at you—you’ll be pregnant before the month’s out.”
Melanie’s cheeks flamed. “Mama.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, and Melanie’s curiosity got the better of her. “Why before the month’s out?”
“It’s a three-quarter moon tonight.” Mama wore a self-satisfied smile. “You’ll come into heat at full moon.”
Since she’d met Mike Dorland again, it seemed like self-combustion might turn into reality.
“That first heat can be scary. Exciting, but a little scary. You may have to tie Mike down.”
“I cannot believe I’m having this conversation with you, Mama.”
“I’m assuming I don’t have to have a birds-and-bees talk with you.”
She blushed all over again. “I think you’d have to do that at eleven these days, what with the Internet and all. No, no talk required.”
They fell silent for a bit.
“How could Mike hold himself responsible for his mother’s breakdown?”
“He’s an alpha. All alphas believe they should notice every detail of the pack. And not noticing his mother’s descent into a mental breakdown will probably always eat away at him. It was the same for your father. He blamed himself for not noticing Boyd’s frequent returns to town.”
“Boyd? Mike’s uncle?” Melanie frowned. “Why?”
“It was well-known that Boyd, though he didn’t have a wolf heritage, wanted the power of a black wolf. He lived for some time with a tribe that practiced the rituals.” Mama took a cookie from the plate on the table and bit.
Did Mike know of this? “I don’t understand.”
Mama swallowed before answering. “Your grandfather and father were descended from one of the original Ixota Migziwa. They were guardians of the earth and stood as protectors from the black wolf rage. It was their duty to keep the black wolves out of this area.”
“Area? Like the reservation? Or the town?”
“The tricounty area. When we moved here, that was the pact He Who Sees With Eagle Eyes made with the chief before Shuman. Once we settled in, he became preoccupied with teaching your grandmother how to block the calls and then your grandmother died and he went to the desert. When he was gone Bernie came to tell your father about Boyd.”
“Bernie? As in Mac and Bernie?” Surprise had her squeaking out the question.
“Bernie worked at the mill in the accounting department. He noticed one of his coworkers drinking with Boyd at a men’s club in Hurit County.” Mama said the words “men’s club” in obvious quotation marks.
“Who was the coworker?”
“I don’t know. I overheard your father and Bernie talking about it. They were planning to set a trap for Boyd.” Mama put her fingers to her lips. “Shush. Listen.”
“I had to do it, Susie, and that’s it. I don’t want to hear another word from you. You’re the one who behaved like an idiot following me like that.”
“Gray.” Mama stood.
“What was I supposed to do when I caught you taking that rifle from the shed?”
Rifle? Lord no. Please God, no.
“Susie. Let’s go let them in together.”
The sound of a deep engine purring drowned the eerie quiet. Melanie exchanged glances with her mother.
A car door slammed.
“Who the hell are you?” Gray’s bass voice reverberated.
“Drake Dorland.”
Melanie switched on the lights Mike had doused and marched to the front door. She turned the key in the lock and flicked the outside porch switch. “Will you three get inside here pronto?”
Susie, followed by a muttering Gray, tramped through the doorway with Drake on their heels.
“What were you doing at Cherise Bookman’s?” Drake, arms akimbo, went nose to nose with Gray.
“Cherise Bookman?” Mama sent Gray a you-are-dead-meat scowl. “Are you having an affair with a married woman?”
“No, Mama. I’m not. And I can’t believe you’d think that of me.” Gray shoved Drake’s chest. “Get out of my face.”
“Make me.”
“Enough. Simmer down, both of you. Gray, Susie—explain where you’ve been and why.” Mama pointed to the sofa. “Sit.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Drake, wearing a chastised expression, slumped into the chair on the left.
Gray didn’t sit but leaned a shoulder on the fireplace mantle. “Ever since Cherise’s husband disappeared, Sheriff Pincer’s been harassing her. She called me right as I was packing to leave. He was at her house. Said he had proof that her husband’s behind all the bear killings. She was in a panic.”
Melanie cringed and ground her teeth. “What did you do, Gray Theodore White?”
“You have so little belief in me, Sis.” Gray shook his head. “I went to her place. But Pincer had a car staked outside her house. I called Mike. I know my limits. Unlike some people.” Gray trained a testosterone-pissing-contest glare at Drake.
“We’ll see about that,” Drake mumbled.
“Wait a minute, how do you know Cherise Bookman?” Susie folded her arms.
“She’s tutoring Yvonne in calculus. I met with Yvonne earlier to teach her some self-defense moves.”
“Oh for the lord’s sake, Gray. That’s no explanation.”
Gray let out a heartfelt sigh. “Yvonne told me that her teacher was scared because someone’s been breaking into her house and she thought it was her ex-husband. Apparently that morning she found her cat mutilated on the front porch. Cherise came to get Yvonne for her lesson. One thing led to another.”
“Oh Gray. I’m so proud of you.” Melanie couldn’t get another word out. Her brother complained about her taking in the walking wounded but his protective streak made her look ruthless.
“And you had to take a rifle with you?” Mama raised both brows.
“Precisely my thoughts.” Susie glared at Gray.
“The rifle was a just-in-case kind of thing.” Gray rolled his eyes. “I know how to handle a gun. I just didn’t want to tango with Pincer. Not after the fingerprint crap.”
“I should’ve thrown that old rifle out years ago.” Mama scowled at everyone, but Gray in particular.
Melanie repressed a small smile. Mama was so back to normal. “What did Mike do? About Cherise, I mean?”
“Don’t know. He just said he’d handle Pincer and told me to get back here pronto. That’s when I bumped into Susie.”
“Mike called me. He wants us all to head out to the resort. He’ll join us as soon as he can. We need to leave right away.” Drake’s statement sent everyone into a flurry of activity.
By the time they arrived at the resort, Melanie wanted to brain both her brother and Drake. If it hadn’t been for Mama’s interference, the two men would have stopped in the middle of the road to settle who was more alpha.
Relief washed over Melanie after she unpacked her belongings and carted them to the cabin rented for her and Mike. Quaint, built of sweet-smelling pine logs, the furnishings and decorations shouted rustic charm. Melanie smiled when she found an old-fashioned footed tub in the bathroom. And what a bathroom. A huge bay window framed the length of the porcelain bath. The panoramic view showed that the cottage sat on a slight rise and that a large evergreen hedge fronted the dirt driveway leading to a lean-to garage.
A long soak held the appeal of postcoital Mike cuddling, but first she wanted to tackle the journal.
Melanie curled up on the sofa adjacent to a huge stone fireplace. She found the last paragraph she’d read and turned the page. Blank. Two more empty pages followed, and then another. Then on the fourth page, the journal began again, but the handwriting had changed, and so had the tone. The words were rushed now, and instead of legends, the paragraphs seemed more like quick summaries.
> THE HUMAN POPULATION covered the earth, creeping across every available piece of land. The sun, earth, and water spirits no longer worked together. Bii’lingan fought the infringing human domination by building volcanoes deep in the oceans and unleashing them with greater and greater frequency. He cleaved an immense divide in Gaa’lingan’s vast land, and his waters separated the world.
Angered, the cunning O’aajiisi took a different strategy. He removed the power to shift from the entire wolf population. He sowed discontent among the wolves and gifted those who were disgruntled with great charisma and the power to cast a hypnotic spell over the humans. The dissatisfied wolves warred and ultimately turned on the one who had given them power, the sun spirit O’aajiisi.
I’naawsi, the moon spirit, saw a chance to win all the wolves to her side and returned the shifting power to all wolves, but only when she ruled the skies.
The great ancestor of the guardian white wolves, the first Ixota Migziwa, sought to make peace among all the warring tribes and to forge a treaty between the angry spirits. He called on Haa’lingan, the world creator, and asked Haa’lingan to save the planet that he’d built. The wise Haa’lingan realized that if all the spirits, all the humans, and the creatures that inhabited the oceans and the land fought each other and among themselves, nothing would remain.
Haa’lingan decided that since the world’s unraveling had begun with wolves, it must end with wolves, and gifted Ixota Migziwa and all his descendants with the power to envision what would come in the future.
Ixota Migziwa asked the warring wolves to surrender their shifting power. Some did. Some pretended to. Some refused and flaunted their powers. Those who paraded their shifting power gave rise to the myth of the werewolf and the black wolf. Many humans, especially those who craved power, revered the black wolves.
Melanie rubbed her eyes. Then she counted the pages left in the journal. She had read about three-quarters. Not a single mention of a maggishahwi. She sighed. While the information proved fascinating, she’d hoped to learn more about the call of a soul. Deliberately not allowing herself to think about Shuman’s last call, she set the journal on the coffee table and ran herself a bath. She was half dozing in the hot lavender-scented water in front of the enormous picture window when Mike’s pickup rumbled up to the cottage, gravel spitting and scrunching as he brought the vehicle to a halt. She lost sight of him when he hopped out of the passenger side and strode down the hill. Sighing, she lifted a shoulder from the foam just as the key turned in the lock. Mike must’ve gone to the front desk for a duplicate key.