Shadowed Instincts

by Wendi Wilson

  “They took your Jeep, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, that should rule out car problems. It’s brand new. Maybe they stopped by the store for sodas?”

  Melanie pointed to the back of the room. “When there’s a soda machine right there?” she yelled. “Sorry,” she said, seeing Tara flinch. “I don’t mean to yell at you. I’m just worried.”

  “Have you tried texting Jeremy?”

  “Only like twelve times.”

  “I’ll call Chris.”

  Tara pulled her phone out of her back pocket and Melanie started pacing again. She kept her eyes on her friend and saw Tara’s face fall.

  “Voicemail?”

  “Yeah. Maybe they just-”

  Tara’s voice was cut off by shouting out in the foyer. They raced from the room to see Jeremy being carried in by Darren and Chad. Chris stumbled in after them with a large towel wrapped around his head.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” Melanie screamed as she ran forward.

  “Car accident. Jeremy was thrown from the Jeep. No seatbelt,” Chris stuttered as Tara ran forward and threw her arms around his waist.

  Melanie left them without a word and quickly followed her father and Chad upstairs to Jeremy’s room. Darren laid him gently on the bed. Hearing him moan, Melanie ran forward and pushed the two men out of the way so she could see him.

  “Jeremy,” she whispered, her eyes burning, “are you okay?” Then she looked up at her dad and asked more forcefully, “Is he okay? What happened?”

  “Melanie, he’s fine. He was thrown from the Jeep, but he only suffered a cracked rib and a few other scrapes and bruises. He’ll be up and about in no time.”

  “Mel,” Jeremy moaned.

  Melanie looked down at him and gently took his hand. “Jeremy, did you hear that? You’re going to be okay.”

  “Mel,” he said again, “I’m sorry about…your...Jeep.”

  With that, the grip on her hand relaxed and his eyes closed. “Jeremy? Jeremy! What’s happening?”

  “Melanie,” Darren said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Relax. Chad gave him a tranquilizer at the accident sight to ease his pain.”

  “Tranquilizer?”

  “Yeah,” Chad said. “I always keep a syringe in my glove compartment. Sometimes, during their first few shifts, young pups get overwhelmed by their senses and lose their way in the woods. I’ve had a couple run out and almost get hit by cars on the main road. They are naturally excitable during this time anyway, but the adrenaline makes them very hard to control. When Darren isn’t around to command them, I have to be able to take control.”

  “But I thought you could calm them by touching them.”

  “I can,” he said with a small smile, “but it takes time, particularly with the new ones. I just like to be prepared. Jeremy was in a lot of pain and I didn’t want to chance him losing it and shifting in front of his cousin.”

  “Chris! Is he okay?”

  “Yes,” Darren replied. “He was wearing his seatbelt, so he just got a big bump on his head. They were both lucky.”

  Melanie leaned over and, smoothing Jeremy’s hair back from his forehead, kissed him lightly there. “I’ll be back,” she whispered. Looking at Darren and Chad, she said “Let’s go find out what happened.”

  They found Chris, Tara and Elaine in the dining room. Melanie’s mom was pressing a bag of frozen peas to Chris’s head. Melanie ran forward and dropped down in the chair next to Chris. Tara was sitting on the floor by his feet.

  “Chris, are you okay?” Melanie asked.

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’ve got a hard head.”

  “What happened out there?”

  “Well, we were driving back and Jeremy wanted to see how fast your Jeep would go.” He gave Melanie an apologetic smile. “Okay, maybe I egged him on a bit. We hit about eighty miles per hour and he was starting to slow down when suddenly, out of nowhere, a big white dog jumped from the tree line, right in front of the car. Jeremy swerved to miss it, and I guess he lost control. That’s the last thing I remember before waking up. The Jeep was in the ditch on its side, and Jeremy’s seat was empty.”

  Melanie’s eyes narrowed and she balled her hands into tight fists. “A big, white dog, you say?”

  “Yeah. It was huge, like a shepherd or something.”

  “Melanie, no.” Chad said quietly from behind her, so that Tara, Chris and Elaine couldn’t hear.

  Melanie ignored him. “How long ago did this happen?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe half an hour?”

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, forcing a tight smile to her lips. “Dad, can I talk to you and Chad for a minute?”

  Tara jumped up from her position on the floor. “What’s going on, Mel?”

  “Nothing. Nothing. I’m just upset and worried about Jeremy. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  “Okay,” Tara said doubtfully, taking the chair Melanie left open.

  Melanie walked from the room and the two men followed her out. When they were far enough away for no one to hear them, Chad put his hand on Melanie’s shoulder to stop her. “Melanie, I know what you’re thinking. It can’t be true.”

  Melanie shrugged his hand from her shoulder and started forward again without responding. She hated being rude to Chad. She really liked and respected him, but she was too wound up at that moment to be polite.

  When they followed her into Darren’s office, she closed and locked the door behind them. She did not want to be interrupted.

  “Is this office soundproofed?”

  “Yes.” That was the first time Darren had spoken since Chris had said the words “white dog.”

  “Okay,” she said, “I think you should both sit down.” When neither made a move to sit, she said, “Suit yourselves.”

  “Melanie,” Chad started, but Darren held up a hand to cut him off.

  “Thanks, Dad. Chad, I know this is hard, but I really need you to just listen to me, okay?” At his nod, she continued, “When Jeremy was poisoned, I found a sports drink on his nightstand and tried to get him to drink some, thinking he was just dehydrated. When I realized how serious things were, I ran out to get you. When we got back to his room, it was gone, remember?”

  Darren nodded. “Yes, I remember looking for it under the bed.”

  “Right. Well, after Jeremy got better and was able to talk, I told him about the aspirin in his system. He said that all he’d had to drink the night before was a sports drink. The very one that he brought back to his room, that later disappeared.”

  “What does this have to do with what happened tonight and my son?” Chad interjected.

  “Jeremy said the bottle was sealed when he grabbed it from the fridge. The only time it was out of his sight was when he left to use the restroom. When he got back, Chris had left too, and Declan was there, alone.”

  “That doesn’t prove any-”

  “Declan has been using his powers on me!” Melanie exclaimed loudly, cutting him off.

  “What?” Darren and Chad shouted at the same time.

  “He, well…he likes me, I guess. He has been trying to get close to me and when he does, he always makes a point to touch me. His touch makes me feel warm, and safe, and like there’s nowhere else I should ever want to be. Sometimes it’s electric and makes butterflies erupt in my stomach.”

  “What you’re describing could also be natural attraction,” Chad said, defending his son.

  “I confronted him about it, Chad. He admitted to me that he wants me and that he was using his ability to get me to open up to the possibility of being with him. I think he wants to be alpha one day.”

  “No!”

  “Chad, calm down.”

  At Darren’s words, Melanie saw the tension drain out of Chad like a deflated balloon. Chad nodded at Darren and they both looked back at Melanie. She held her hands up in front of her and ticked the items off on her fingers as she spoke.

  “He wants me for himself, fo
r whatever reason. He was alone with Jeremy’s drink, which was the most likely source of his poisoning. I saw him leaving Jeremy’s room while he was recovering, but Jeremy was asleep so who knows what he was doing in there. And now, now, a big, white dog runs in front of the car, causing Jeremy to crash? Declan was with me and Tara until about fifteen minutes before the accident. He left quickly after we told him the boys went for pizza and were on their way back. What other explanation could there possibly be?”

  The two men just stared at her, no answers rushing to their lips. Melanie gave them each a stern look and left the room. Jeremy needed her. She went up to his room to sit with him until he woke up.

  Chapter 29

  “It wasn’t me.”

  Melanie turned in her seat at the breakfast table to see Declan standing in the doorway. She narrowed her eyes at him, then turned back to her bagel. She had been alone in the room, deep in thought, going over all possible scenarios in her mind. All avenues led her back to Declan.

  “Mel, look at me, please.”

  “Leave me alone, Declan.”

  Taking the seat across the table from her, he said, “I swear, Melanie, I didn’t do any of the stuff you’re accusing me of. I do like you, but God, I wouldn’t kill someone to get you!”

  He slammed his palm on the table with the last word and Melanie flinched. She looked up from her plate with an arched brow. Declan deflated and slouched back in his chair.

  “I don’t think you’d kill Jeremy just to get me, Declan.”

  “I swear, I-”

  “But,” she said, cutting him off, “I do think you’d do anything to be alpha. You figured you could get Jeremy out of the way, eventually win me over and become alpha through me.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Melanie.”

  She stood abruptly and pointed her finger at him. “Stay away from me. And stay the hell away from Jeremy if you know what’s good for you.”

  Stomping from the room, Melanie broke into a sprint as soon as she was out of his line of sight. She flew up the stairs and into the bathroom, slamming and locking it behind her. She took a few deep breaths and splashed some cold water on her face.

  After she had calmed down, she went back to Jeremy’s room to resume her bedside vigil. She sat down and took his hand, kissing it. Jeremy’s eyes fluttered open and he slowly turned his head in her direction.

  “Hey, you,” he said weakly.

  “Hey. How are you feeling?”

  “Like I got hit by a truck. What happened?”

  “Well, you’re close. You totaled my Jeep.”

  “Oh, God, Mel. I’m so sorry.”

  “Hush. It’s just a car. You’re okay and that’s all that really matters.”

  “Chris?”

  “He’s fine. He’s got a bump on his head. He was actually wearing a seatbelt. What were you thinking?”

  “What do you mean? I had on my seatbelt.”

  “No, you didn’t. You were thrown from the car during the accident.”

  “Mel,” he said attempting to sit up straighter but failing. Giving up and leaning back against the pillows, he said, “Tell me everything that happened.”

  “Well, Chris said you were speeding. He said you wanted to see how fast the Jeep could go and a big white dog jumped out in front of you. You swerved to miss it and rolled the jeep a few times. You were thrown from the car. You have a cracked rib, along with several scrapes and bruises.”

  “A white dog?”

  “Yes,” Melanie said meaningfully. “I’ve already accused Declan and he’s denying it, of course.”

  “I just…I don’t remember anything. I can’t believe I would drive so recklessly, and without a seat belt, especially. I must have hit my head or something. Did you tell your dad about our suspicions?”

  She nodded. “And Chad, too. They refused to believe it, but after everything that has happened, how else can they explain it?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, sighing and laying his head back on the pillow. “Maybe I have a concussion. My head is pounding like crazy.”

  “That might be a side effect of the tranquilizer.”

  “What?”

  “Chad had to shoot you up with a tranquilizer. He was scared you’d shift in front of Chris. You were delirious.”

  “Ugh. Okay. I think I need to sleep for a few more hours. Will you sit with me for a while? At least until I fall asleep?”

  “Of course,” she said gently brushing his hair back from his forehead. “I love you, Jeremy.”

  “Love you, too,” he mumbled as the warm tendrils of sleep pulled him under.

  *~*~*

  “How’s Jeremy?” Melanie heard as soon as she stepped foot into the entertainment room.

  Tara jumped up from the couch where she had been waiting for Melanie. She ran forward and threw her arms around her. Melanie returned her hug and Tara grunted.

  “Oh, sorry,” Melanie said, remembering her enhanced strength. She released Tara quickly and took a step back.

  “Wow,” Tara said, rolling her shoulders. “You’ve gotten strong.”

  “Yeah,” Melanie hedged. “I’ve been working out some.”

  “Anyway, how is Jeremy? Did he wake up?”

  “Yes. I think he’s going to be fine. He’s just a little groggy still, so he wanted to go back to sleep. How’s Chris?”

  “Amazingly well. He just got a bump on the head. He’s upstairs taking a nap.”

  “That’s good. What do you want to do while they sleep?”

  “I don’t care. I saw Declan earlier and asked him if he wanted to wait with me. He was acting weird, like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

  “I bet,” Melanie said under her breath.

  “What?” Tara asked.

  “Nothing. Nothing. I think we should hang out, just the two of us. You’re leaving Sunday, which means we only have two days left.”

  “I know. Then I won’t see you again until what? August?”

  “Something like that. I don’t think we have a set date yet. But definitely before school starts.”

  Melanie turned her head to look through the windows, out into the backyard. She wasn’t lying, exactly. She had no intention of staying in Wilkes past the summer, but her parents didn’t know that. She was walking a thin line between lies and the truth with all of them.

  “It’s a beautiful day outside,” Tara said, coming to stand beside her. “Do you want to go for a hike in the woods?”

  “Oh, I don’t kn-”

  “That sounds like a fine idea.”

  They both turned toward the voice and found Darren standing in the doorway. Oh crap, Melanie thought, I hope he didn’t hear me telling Tara I was definitely coming home in August.

  “Are you sure it’s safe?” she asked aloud. “No wild animals we should worry about?”

  Darren raised his eyebrows and smiled at her stress on the word animals. “It’s fine. You shouldn’t run into any animals while you’re out there. The noise will scare them away.”

  With the fear of Tara spotting one of the weres put to rest, she was fast warming up to the idea of a hike. She’d been cooped up in the house for too long. She looked at Tara and nodded.

  “Great,” Tara said. “Let me go throw on some sneakers and I’ll be right back.”

  “Ok, I’ll meet you out back,” Melanie said, grabbing Darren’s arm and steering him toward the back of the house.

  “Are you sure it’s okay? I know the sentinels are out in full force since the attack on Jeremy.”

  “They’ll hear you from a mile away, Melanie. Don’t worry, they know how to stay out of sight.”

  “What about Declan?”

  “What about him?”

  “What if he’s out there?”

  “Melanie, I still don’t believe that boy would do anything to hurt anyone. I’ve known him his whole life. Besides, according to your own theory, he wants you, right? So he’s not going to hurt you even if you are right. Which I highly
doubt.”

  “You can’t ignore the facts, dad.”

  Darren just grunted and left her by the back door. She walked out into the late morning sunshine and stretched her arms wide. The air was fresh and clean, and she inhaled deeply. Hearing the door behind her open, she turned quickly to see Tara walk out, pulling Chris behind her.

  “Hey, look who I found!” Tara exclaimed, mouthing the word “sorry” at Melanie where Chris couldn’t see. “He’s lonely and bored and wants to come with us on our hike.”

  “I don’t want to interfere with your girl time. I can just stay here,” he said in a low voice.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Chris. Come with us. But only if you feel up to it. How is your head?”

  “It’s good, thanks Mel. Hardly hurts anymore. I was lucky.”

  “Yeah, and so was Jeremy, thank God,” Melanie said.

  “Yeah. He was.”

  “You sure you’re okay? You sound a little down.”

  Chris took a deep breath and exhaled with a smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking about what might have happened. A hike with two beautiful girls sounds like just the right medicine.”

  They took their time exploring all the trails. The dappled sunlight shining through the leaves made everything appear magical. They talked and laughed, just enjoying the company and the scenery. They were turning to head back toward the house when Melanie heard it.

  “Stop,” she said quietly.

  “What is it?” Tara whispered.

  “Shh. I heard something, like a twig snapping.”

  Melanie peered through the trees in the direction of the noise she heard. In the distance, with her enhanced vision, she saw a flash of white fur just before it disappeared. Her lips tightened and she tried to relax her face before she turned to face her friends again.

  “Must’ve been a bird or a squirrel or something. Let’s go,” she said, leading the way down the trail that led back to the house.

  I swear, she thought, if I catch Declan spying on me and my friends again, I’m going to lose it.

  Chapter 30

  “I’m telling you, dad, he was out there, following us. It’s creepy! Can’t you make him back off?”

  “I thought you didn’t like it when I used my alpha power?”