by Jody Morse
Samara grabbed a chair. She turned to Luke and motioned for him to sit next to her. She grabbed a piece of chicken with her fork and began eating it a little more hastily than she would have if she were with a group of human guys.
Luke sat down next to her and folded his arms on the table.
“Dude, what’s wrong?” Chris asked. “You’re not eating anything?”
Luke shook his head. “No, I’m not hungry.”
Colby raised his eyebrows. “That’s not like you. You’re always hungry. Are you feelin’ okay, man?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just no appetite.”
What’s wrong? Samara asked him in her head.
Just a little nervous. I’m afraid about tonight. I still have a really bad feeling. I just want you to be okay. You don’t have to do this. There’s still time to back out.
Luke, I’ll be fine. Please stop worrying, she told him.
As if to prove to her that he would stop worrying, Luke grabbed a hot dog and began munching on it.
*
Sometime around six o’clock, Samara had Luke drop her off at home. She didn’t want her parents to get too suspicious about her being out all day long, so she was going to pretend that she was going to bed early. Samara had even decided that she was going to stuff her blanket with pillows to hopefully trick her mom if she did peek in her room tonight.
When she opened the front door, Seth was sitting on the couch watching a scary movie. He looked up when she came in and beamed her a wide smile. “Sam! Are you excited for tonight?”
Samara faked a smile. “Um, yeah. I’m just wondering something. Does it hurt?” She really had been wondering if it was going to be painful. Even though she wasn’t going to be doing her initiation with the Vyka tonight, she had been wondering if Colby would mind doing the ceremony for her tonight. She just wanted to be an Ima already; she didn’t want people – and mostly Declan – to continue trying to change her mind. Then again, Samara wasn’t even sure if Declan would talk to her again after tonight.
“It didn’t hurt me,” Seth replied. He shrugged. “I heard it’s different for everyone though, so I don’t know if it will for you.”
“Lovely.” Samara decided that no matter how it felt, it was going to be worth it; being a part of a pack was probably the only way she was going to be able to live with this. “What’s going on with Lilly? Is she ever going to come back to the Vyka?”
Seth shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think she wants to. She still hasn’t come to terms with being a werewolf.”
“Is there something going on between her and Jason?” Samara asked. “It seems like she doesn’t really like him.”
“Yep, there is something going on. I don’t really know what it is, though,” Seth began. “Something happened – something that only the two of them know about. I’ve seen them talk about to each other, but they won’t let anyone else in on it. Whatever it is seems to really piss Lilly off.”
“Hmm.” Samara wished she knew what it was. She wanted to talk to Lilly again -- to let her know that she was on her side. After tonight was over, she was going to have to find her.
“Hi, Samara,” Mr. McKinley called from the kitchen. “I feel like we haven’t seen each other in ages.”
“Hi, Dad,” Samara said back, smiling. There was one good thing that had come from all of this. Ever since Seth found out that she was also a werewolf, he and Mr. McKinley hadn’t been fighting so much anymore. She felt relieved that she no longer had to worry so much about them.
“So, your mom tells me that a boy is going to be eating dinner over here Wednesday night,” Mr. McKinley went on. “Luke, is it?”
“Oh, yeah,” Samara replied, remembering that she was supposed to invite him over. She had gotten so caught up in everything else that was happening right now that she had nearly forgotten that Luke, her mate, was going to meet her parents.
“Well, I look forward to it,” Mr. McKinley said. “I think that we may have been a little bit too strict with you about dating over the past few years. You’re in high school now, and there are going to be lots of boys who will want to date you. From what your mom’s told me, at least this one seems nice enough.”
“Luke is really nice,” Samara said. She was telling the complete and honest truth; Luke was a great guy.
Aww, thanks babe, Luke’s voice said.
Okay, you need to give me a little bit of privacy sometimes, Samara snapped back at him, embarrassed that he had heard their conversation. Seriously. Stop butting in so much.
Samara? This time it was Declan’s voice. Why is Luke still talking to you if you’re going to become a Vyka tonight?
Because he’s a pain in the ass, Samara replied, blurting out the first answer that came to mind and hoping that Luke understood why she was saying it. Now, both of you, please stay out of my thoughts.
“Samara?” Mr. McKinley asked, looking at her funny.
“Huh?” Samara realized that her dad had been talking to her the whole entire time she had been conversing with Luke and Declan. “Sorry, I have a headache.”
“It’s okay,” Mr. McKinley replied. “I just asked if you want spaghetti and meatballs tonight.”
“That’s fine,” Samara replied. “I’m going to my room. I’ll be back soon.” Once she got in her room, she closed her bedroom door and sat down on her bed. Samara blocked Declan out of her mind and spoke to Luke only. Don’t forget to meet me at nine.
I wouldn’t forget it for the world.
*
As it started getting closer to nine o’clock, Samara’s nerves began kicking in. She was beginning to feel nauseous and she was very jittery. As she paced back and forth, Samara realized that she needed to calm down so that Jason and the Vyka didn’t find it suspicious. Then again, she realized that she could use the excuse that she was just really nervous about initiation. It was a life-changing event, after all.
There was a knock at her door. “What?” she called.
Seth opened the door and came into her room. “I’m going to leave now. Do you want to go together?”
“I’ll just see you there,” Samara said, glancing down at the floor. It hurt to face her brother right now. She hated having to lie to him, but she knew that there was no way she could tell him the truth. He was far too faithful to Jason for her to trust him. Besides, this was his pack that she was messing with.
“Okay, that’s cool,” Seth replied, a note of disappointment in his voice. He turned and walked out of the room.
Samara sat next to the window. Once she saw him walk into the woods, she pulled her hair into a bun on top of her head. She pulled the wig over it. Glancing in the mirror, she made sure one last time that it looked completely natural. It did.
She opened her window and climbed out the same way that she always did. It wasn’t going to be the same, though. Tonight was going to be different. Tonight, she was going to make enemies with people who thought they were adopting her as one of them.
It made her feel like shit.
But what choice did she have? If she didn’t find out the Vyka’s secret, her life would be even more at stake. Not just her life, but the lives of the Ima pack as well. She couldn’t abandon them – they needed her more than anyone.
Luke was waiting for her by the lake. The water sparkled with the moon’s reflection.
“Are you ready?” Samara asked.
Luke shook his head. “No. I’m not ready. I have to tell you something.” He got down on one knee and grabbed her hands.
Samara gasped. She wasn’t ready to accept a marriage proposal. She was only fifteen years old!
“Samara, I just want you to know that I’m going to do all that I can to protect you tonight. I will do all that I can to keep your safe, I promise. What I can’t promise is that something out of my control won’t happen. So, I just want you to know that no matter what goes on tonight, I really care about you – the way I’ve never cared about anyone before. You’re my mate, a
nd I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Me, either,” Samara whispered as he got to his feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her.
Luke leaned in closer and caught her lips in his. His touch made her feel warm and fiery and cold and frozen at the same time; it sent shivers down her spine and sent the butterflies that had formed in her stomach swirling around in circles.
For the moment, while they were entangled in each other’s arms, it felt like they were the only ones in the forest.
Their kiss came to an abrupt stop when they heard a howl coming from the woods behind them.
“Ugh,” Samara said out loud. “I’m nervous. So, so nervous.”
“I know, babe,” Luke replied sympathetically, squeezing her hand. “Just remember that I’ll be behind you the whole time – and the rest of the pack will be nearby, all within watching distance. If something does happen to you, we have you covered.”
“I know you do,” Samara replied, turning to walk up the path. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
When Luke stopped at his post behind a big oak tree, Samara gave him one last kiss and continued walking. Once she reached the grassy circle, she found them standing there, around the fire, in human form. Josh, Declan, Seth, Mark, and Ethan were all there. Jason was missing, though.
“Where’s Jason?” Samara asked as she approached them. “Should we wait for him?”
Mark shook his head. “Yeah, he’s just picking up a few last minute supplies for the initiation. He’ll be here. The whole pack needs to be here or it won’t work. He told us to start getting everything ready though.” He eyed her wig. “We need a piece of your hair.”
Samara nodded. She stared at the people who stood around her, some of who she cared about and others who meant nothing to her. Feeling torn about the situation, she said, “Okay, let’s get started then. Who’s got the scissors?”
“Me,” Declan said, walking towards her. “I’m supposed to cut your hair, but you can do it. I don’t care. I know how much you hate people being in your bubble.”
“Thanks,” Samara smiled. She was relieved that Declan was making this a little bit easier for her. Her hair might look the same, but it definitely didn’t feel the same. He would notice the difference if he were to cut it off himself.
Samara separated a few pieces of her hair from the wig and clipped them off with the scissors. When she was holding the hair in her hands, she looked at the wolves, waiting for more instructions.
“Now throw your hair in the fire. Then it’s our turn.” Samara jumped when she heard Jason’s voice behind her. She turned to look at him, but he was eyeing the rest of the pack.
“You idiots can’t do anything right. She wasn’t supposed to cut her own hair. It’s a Vyka tradition that you just ruined.”
Samara watched as the pack members silently stared at the ground, afraid to speak.
“Now, let’s continue on with the ceremony.” When no one moved, Jason yelled, “Now!”
Shakily, Samara tossed her hair into the blazing fire. The flames rose for a moment before calming back down.
Samara handed the scissors to Josh, who was standing next to her. She watched as he cut a tiny piece of his hair and threw it into the fire.
The scissors were passed to each of the guys, until they had all fed the flames with their locks of hair.
“Now what?” Samara asked. She began twirling her hair, in an attempt to make it look like a nervous habit. She didn’t even have to make up a pretend reason of why she was nervous anymore. Jason’s yelling had really scared her.
Jason instructed her to lie down next to the fire. He stood, looking down at her, while the other wolves took their places around the flames.
Samaras heart pounded harder in her chest as Jason spoke in a language she didn’t recognize. The rest of the pack began chanting in the same language.
Jason tossed a glass bottle into the fire. It shattered, turning the flames a bright shade of scarlet before burning out.
Jason’s chants abruptly stopped. Hushed whispers echoed throughout the darkness of the night.
“What happened?” Josh asked the question she knew they were all wondering.
Jason was silent as he struck a match and started the fire again.
They all stared at her with disbelief on their faces.
“I don’t know what happened,” Jason sighed, sitting down.
“So, am I initiated then?” Samara wondered out loud. She needed to ask Jason about his pack’s secret, but she couldn’t think of a way to slip it into the conversation.
“No. When the fire burnt out, that signaled that the pack wasn’t accepting you. I don’t understand it. We did everything right,” Jason replied.
“Unless if . . .” Josh said, his words trailing off. Samara’s gut clenched. Josh had figured it out. He was going to rat her out to the pack.
“Unless if what?” Jason snapped back impatiently.
“You said that the whole pack had to participate. Well, the whole pack isn’t here,” Josh said, matter-of-factly. Samara breathed a sigh of relief. They weren’t on to her.
Jason’s eyes filled with recognition as he realized what Josh was implying. “I’ll go find her,” he said, jumping up and taking off through the woods.
“No! Let me do it,” Josh shouted, a hint of fear in his voice, as he chased after his brother.
“Find who?” Samara asked.
“Lilly.”
Samara, help! You have to come to Starlight Lake right now! Luke’s voice ran in her thoughts.
What’s wrong? Samara asked Luke.
I can’t explain. No time. Hurry.
Taking one final look at the guys who were sitting around the fire, Samara ran down the path, ripped off her clothes, and changed into her wolf form.
Chapter 23
****
She ran down the path on all fours, as fast as her paws could carry her. It suddenly felt longer than it ever had before. From behind her, she could hear the Vyka shouting at her to come back, but Samara kept going.
As she approached the lake, she could hear the angry growls escaping from the lungs of each wolf. There were six of them, fighting against a black wolf. It was Jason. This is where he had run off to.
Samara spotted Luke, who was standing there in wolf form, observing it all. She could tell it was him right away by the overwhelming attraction that she felt for him.
What’s going on? Samara asked.
Luke nuzzled her with his head. I don’t have time to talk about it right now. I don’t even understand what’s going on myself. I need to join in. I need to help my pack.
Me, too, Samara replied, taking a step towards the fighting wolves.
No, Luke commanded. I want you to stay out of this.
No. It’s my pack too.
Fine. But stay near the back with Lilly.
Samara watched as Luke ran towards the fighting wolves and let out a ferocious growl.
Jason turned on him, coming at him from behind, and biting his neck.
“No!” Samara screamed. She didn’t care what Luke wanted; she ran towards Jason, whose teeth were biting into her mate’s neck, and sunk her teeth deep into his hind leg.
Jason released his grip on Luke and glanced back at her; his golden eyes flashed with immense anger.
Moments later, Samara heard the sound of other wolves from behind them, growling as they made their way to the lake.
Jason had called his pack. They were closing in on them, prepared to fight.
Jason took a step towards her, baring his teeth.
Samara realized at that moment that he knew; if he didn’t know, he wouldn’t be turning on her.
Just as Jason was ready to attack Samara, Luke pounced onto his back. Jason yelped as his teeth tore through his skin.
*
Samara watched as one of the gray wolves fell to the ground. As Jason led his pack away, she felt a sick feeling form in her stomach. When sh
e saw that the fallen wolf’s eyes were closed, she let out a loud howl.
Look for the next book in the Howl series in March 2012.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23