“I’m fine. Everything’s just a little fuzzy.” I narrowed my eyes a bit and tilted my head to one side. “Where’s Joseph? Oh no, Is he … dead—”
“Of course I’m not dead.” My heart rose and fell all at the same time, and relief filled me as Joseph walked into the room, shirtless, towel drying his hair. “I hear you kicked ass.” He grinned broadly, causing his siblings to smile, too.
I tilted my head and chewed at the inside of my lip. “But you were shot,” I trailed off while my gaze shifted from Joseph to Luna. “Wait a minute. You were shot, too.” I stared at her bloody shoulder, bewildered.
“I hate to break up the party, but we’ve got to get the hell out of here.” Joshua said evenly.
I promptly remembered that I had gone after Joshua. I stood up and followed him into the kitchen. “I’m sorry, Joshua.” I put my hand on his arm when he reached for the fridge, but he jerked it away. “I didn’t mean to—”
“I know you didn’t.” He spun around to face me. “I just forgot what it’s like the first time someone turns. Just a little unnerving, that’s all.” He smiled thinly and patted my shoulder. “You and Luna go through the house and take anything you think we might need. Tell James and Joseph to look for the keys to those four-wheelers.” He nodded toward the back door. “I’m going to get what food and drinks we can carry.”
Luna came downstairs dragging a duffel bag. She obviously found a lot more upstairs than I did downstairs. I heard Joseph calling us from the back door.
“Come on. We gotta go now.” Joseph was holding the screen door when me and Luna came trotting through the kitchen. James and Joshua were under the carport topping of the gas tanks and firing up the four-wheelers one after another.
Joseph promptly tied down our gear on the ones that had cargo bars on the back, and James was the lookout, crouched down by the side of the house where he could spot anyone as soon as they turned off the highway.
Joseph looked at me. “How are you at driving one of these?”
“Um, not too great I’m afraid. I mean I can drive one, I just …” I trailed off.
He laughed. “Hop on. You can ride with me.”
James came running and started yelling before reaching us. “Let’s go, let’s go! Headlights just turned onto the driveway,” he said, jumping onto one of the ATVs. Luna and Joshua followed suit, and we took off through the back of the property.
Even though it was completely dark, we rode without our lights off. I promptly realized I could see just like it was day time, something I couldn’t do a week earlier. We hit a small gulley, and I flew up off the seat, but quickly wrapped my arms tighter around Joseph. He took his left hand and placed it over my interlaced fingers. His hand felt warm and strong, helping me to relax a bit. I scooted closer to him and rested my chin on his shoulder.
We rode for hours until finally stopping once we made it to the mountains. Nobody wasted any time climbing off the ATVs and stretching our aching muscles. James and Joshua went for firewood, while Joseph, Luna and I made camp.
Luna seemed nervous and fidgety. She rambled about stuff that had absolutely nothing to do with anything.
I kneeled on my knees right next to where she was sitting. “Did what I think happened earlier tonight, really happen?” I asked earnestly.
She looked through one of the bags, taking out three large cans of beef stew and sodas. I didn’t think she was going to answer me.
“Luna?” I gently placed my hand on her arm.
“You turned.” Her reply was flat, emotionless, and she’d said it without even looking at me.
“Why now? Why not the night I was about to be attacked in the woods, or the other day when I was with William?” I searched her eyes for an answer, but she didn’t seem to have one.
She didn’t get a chance to answer because James and Joshua approached us with two armloads of firewood. Joseph had spread out the only two sleeping bags we’d found back at Walters house. I cringed when I thought about his house.
If we hadn’t gotten in J.D’s truck, none of this would have happened. I told them I’d had a bad feeling about that old man, and I had been right.
That was all water under the bridge now. I’d turned into a monster and almost killed one of my friends. My throat tightened and my eyes grew blurry. I promptly turned away from the fire James had gotten roaring, and tried to blink away any tears.
“Here, Gen.”
I turned around, and Joseph had sat down on his knees next to me, waiting to share one of the cans of stew. We didn’t have dishes, so we would all be eating out of the same cans.
I took a few small bites and gave it back. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry,” I said quietly, and stood.
“I know why your upset,” Joseph called after me. When I didn’t answer, he rose and followed me. “Hey.” He gently grabbed at my shoulder, but I jerked away. “Gen, you need to talk to me.”
I spun around to face him, my face wet with confused tears. “I don’t understand why this had to happen to me. I was a perfectly normal, confused teenager. And now I’m a … a werewolf princess.”
“I can’t pretend to know how your feeling. I could only imagine the horrific thoughts that would be racing through my mind if I suddenly found out I was a princess.” Joseph chuckled warmly and I couldn’t help but laugh a little, too.
He reached out and gently wiped at one of the tears running down my cheek. “See, it’s not the end of the world. You have so many people who believe in you and a pack to fight with you.”
“It’s just all too overwhelming. I’m supposed to be doing normal teenager stuff. This is not what I had in mind,” I paused and sighed heavily. “My life’s never going to be the same again, is it?”
Joseph pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms tightly around me, and I pressed my face into his chest. I felt his heart beating against my cheek, strong and erratic, and I felt a nervous pit growing in my stomach. He pushed me back just enough to look at me. I trembled as he lifted my chin and fixed his gaze on me. I stared silently into his big soft eyes.
Joseph suddenly tensed and loosened his hold when soft footsteps approached behind me. I quickly dropped my arms. Adrenaline rushed through my veins, and my body began to shake violently. It was happening again and I didn’t know how stop it.
Chapter 27
“Gen,” Joseph screamed. “You’re killing him!”
Anxiety gripped me. I shook my head to clear the haziness, and when I looked down, James was pinned beneath me. I fell to the side, shocked, appalled. I had turned into some sort of crazed monster. Totally out of control. I got to my feet. Unable to look at Luna or her brothers, I quickly turned away. “I need some time … alone,” I said and hurried inside the tree line at the base of the mountain.
I hadn’t made it far when I heard Joseph and James calling me. instead of answering I kept running until I couldn’t hear them anymore. I felt like I had to get away from them. They weren’t safe around me. No one was. I had never felt so alone, and my heart ached. I fell to the ground and sobbed.
What had happened to my life? One minute I was just this girl, and the next I was a … oh my God I was a killer. I lay there thinking about everything. Murderers, rapists, kidnappers, and me. I wanted to die. I mean, how could we justify killing others?
***
When I opened my eyes Luna was sitting next to me, stroking my long tangles.
“Hi,” she said, but not in her normal perky voice. She peered down at me with a reassuring smile.
I jerked upward and leaned on my elbows. “How did I get back here?” For a brief moment I thought it had all been a bad dream. But the look I saw on James’ face told me it had been very real.
“I’m going to do some scouting further ahead in the mountains. I won’t be long.” He was talking to Luna, but shot me a quick glance before disappearing through the trees.
“I’m sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just can’t control myself.” I fought back the tears,
which I seemed to be doing a lot lately.
“I understand, Gen. I still have trouble sometimes too. My brothers are teaching me, just like they will teach you.”
I shot her a confused look.
“You heard me,” a grin fluttered across her lips. “You didn’t think I came along just to take care of you guys, did you?”
“I want to ask you something.” I took a drink of the water she offered. “Why was Joshua so distant after I attacked him if he knew I would have trouble controlling it at first? I saw the same look in James’ eyes, too.”
“Because, Gen. You’re much stronger than they are—than any of us are. With you just turning, you should be weak, but you’re not.”
“What happens if I can’t get it under control?”
“You will. The boys are going to help train you.”
I glanced around. “Where are they?”
“Gone to catch rabbits,” Luna grinned wickedly.
“Huh?”
“Let’s get everything packed up while we’re waiting.” Luna stood and held out her hand to me. “And, Gen? Just know that killing for the sake of saving others is not frowned upon by the Gods,” she uttered and smiled softly.
I couldn’t help but smile sheepishly. I realized I’d caught his scent before I even saw him. Something else I hadn’t noticed about myself before.
“Where’s Joshua?” I asked, leaning to see around Joseph.
“Hiding.” A sly grin slowly appeared on Joseph’s face.
I just looked at him, bewildered at first, and then aggravated. I guess he noticed my furrowed brow and quickly realized I wasn’t amused by all the mystery.
“All right. He’s in the woods close by and when I give the signal, he’ll release a rabbit. Your job is to chase and catch it without hurting it.”
“But what if I can’t? I don’t want to hurt a poor defenseless rabbit. No.” I shook my head. “I won’t do it,” I snapped and pursed my lips.
“Luna will be right beside you. She won’t let you hurt the rabbit.” He assured.
Joseph was beginning to lose his patience with me. “Why won’t you come? Luna might be weaker, but dud, she is lightning fast,” he informed proudly, and put his arm around Luna’s shoulders, squeezing her close to him. Her face flushed. She promptly lowered her eyes and smiled, looking just like a little girl.
They might not have been identical twins like Joshua and James, but they were obviously just as close.
“Come on, Gen, I promise I won’t let anything bad happen,” Luna said, and pulled me by the arm.
“All right already. How do we do this?” I asked with trepidation.
“Follow me, ladies.” He waved at us to follow.
As soon as Joseph whistled, I instantly heard the rabbit scurry and then it’s scent wafted in the air. I looked out of the corner of my eye and Luna had already changed. She let out a loud growl, and I started to panic. I didn’t know why but I wasn’t changing, so I closed my eyes and pictured my mom screaming for help, like she had in my nightmare. Adrenaline tore through me, and then the violent shaking. I quickly dropped to the ground. The haziness lasted only a short time. Unlike before, I was fully aware as I began to change. The pain wasn’t nearly as intense, and it seemed like just a brief moment until my animal instincts took over.
I glanced at Luna. She was crouched and ready. I reared up, letting out a deep growl before I bolted with her on my heels. I followed the rabbit’s scent, and it took only a few seconds until I spotted him zigzagging between the trees. I picked up the pace even more. My strides were long and fast, but Luna’s were faster. She really could fly.
Just as I swiped at the rabbit’s hind legs, Luna came around me and scooped him up by the back of the neck. My long claws dug into one of her legs, and she rolled, dropping the rabbit from her mouth. I crouched low, and snarled at her, ready to pounce.
She looked into my eyes, and spoke with her mind, calming me. The calming effect was like nothing I had ever felt. My breathing slowed, and I changed back at the same time she did.
“Luna, you’re hurt,” I said softly, as I looked at her bloody leg through her ripped jeans.
“Nah, I’m fine,” she smiled, but I knew she was lying by the way her features promptly stiffened to a painful mask.
“Pretty nice,” Joseph called out, with this huge grin on his face as he jogged toward us.
I shot him a hard look over my shoulder. “I hurt her, Joseph.”
He ran and jumped over me, landing next to his sister. I watched as he pulled apart the tear in her jeans and examined the cut. He had such a gentle way about him. It made my heart flutter just to watch him.
“She’ll be fine. See, it’s just a small cut.” He held the tear open for me to look. “It should heal quickly.”
“Are we quitting or what?” Joshua appeared from behind a thick patch of bushes holding two rabbits by their ears, one in each hand. “What’s going on?” he asked earnestly.
When I saw those rabbits a raw hunger consumed me. My adrenaline started to rush again, and I knew what was about to happen.
I transformed instantly, but didn’t allow myself to move. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block it out.
“Let her do it on her own.” I heard Joshua say. “Gen, open your eyes,” Joshua called out to me from across the clearing.
I opened my eyes just as he kneeled down and released both rabbits. They scurried away, and it took every bit of strength in me not to give chase. I wanted those two rabbits in the worst way, but I fought through it and suddenly the urge was gone, and I was me again, except I was utterly exhausted.
My knees shook and I was about to fall when Joseph grabbed me up, and swung me around in circles. Luna was laughing and cheering and even Joshua smiled, which was something I had rarely seen him do. Not that he was a grouch or anything, but he was just more of the serious type.
We all joked and laughed on the way back to our camp. I didn’t realized we had run so far. It seemed like it had only taken me a couple minutes to chase down the rabbit, but we had been walking back for almost an hour and still hadn’t made it back to camp.
I guess I was weak from changing twice so close together, and the sun’s rays seemed to also be taking a toll on me. My legs ached, and I finally reached the point I couldn’t walk any farther. “I need to rest,” I gasped, and dropped into a crouch. “The sun seems to really be draining me. I don’t see how you guys can take it …” I trailed off, sitting down.
“Come on, we’re almost there.” Joseph lifted me off the ground.
I was so tired I couldn’t even wrap my arms around his neck as he carried me. I lay my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.
“What happened to her?” I heard James ask earnestly.
Joseph leaned me against the base of the tree that had the largest amount of shade. “I guess changing took a lot out of her.”
“That’s ridiculous. Changing doesn’t affect someone like that and you know it,” James scoffed at Joseph. “Whatever’s going on with Gen has nothing to do with her becoming an Adlet wolf.”
Chapter 28
I was almost asleep until I overheard Joshua say my name.
“Shh … keep your voice down. She doesn’t know that, and until we figure out why it’s affecting her this way, there’s no need to tell her.” Joseph’s voice was low and throaty.
Tell me what? What’s ‘affecting’ me?
“Well, transforming shouldn’t take all her strength, even when she’s first learning to control it.” He paused for a minute. “It’s obvious something’s not right and we’ve got to figure out what before we get to Devils Pass,” Joshua snapped.
“She’s just tired, that’s all.” Joseph didn’t sound too convincing.
James chimed in. “Joseph, you know it’s going to take all of us to get past Zane’s henchmen. If she’s not one hundred percent, we’re as good as dead.”
They all grew quiet, so I opened my eyes. Luna was the first to see m
e awake.
“Feeling better?” she smiled weakly, and I could tell it was forced.
“Yeah. Much better,” I lied. “How’s your leg?”
“Healed. See?” Luna had changed into a pair of blue jean shorts, which showed off her muscular legs. When she pointed out the place on her thigh, it was nothing more than a thin red line. “We’re fast healers.” She peered at me and giggled, I assumed, at my wide open eyes.
“Let’s get going. We still have a long way to go,” James said, and climbed onto his ATV, and we all followed suit.
The sun’s rays burned heavily on my bare skin, and my energy lessened by the minute. I cupped my eyes and peered up at the sun. It was about to drop behind the mountains and I counted each second.
I caught myself falling asleep several times, and almost fell off the ATV more than once. I think Joseph felt it the last time because he clamped his hand securely over mine.
We didn’t stop until well after dark. We were in the mountains, somewhere in New Mexico. When I climbed off the ATV, I quickly realized I had loads of energy. I felt almost like I had drank a bunch of energy drinks.
“Where’d the sudden burst of energy come from?” Joseph asked skeptically.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Who cares where it came from.” I danced around. “The important thing is I feel great.”
“Don’t burn it all off yet. You’re going hunting, again.” Joshua warned.
“Okay. Let’s go.” I slapped my hands together feeling like I could take on the whole world.
“This time it will be harder. No light. You’ll have to rely on pure animal instinct. And, you’ll have to be able to transform quickly,” Joshua added gruffly.
The further we walked into the trees, the more nervous I became. It wasn’t going to be me and Luna like it was before. The brothers were coming this time. I had to transform, hunt down a rabbit, catch it, then transform back … all without any help. If I went too far, Luna wouldn’t be there to stop me.
Ties to the Blood Moon 2nd Edition Page 14