by Jayme Morse
The guy didn't appear to be scared, though. He shrugged nonchalantly. “I think it’s a just dog.” Samara chuckled inside her head. This reminded her of when Emma had argued with her for months that the wolf in her yard the first time had been a Husky when everyone else seemed to know it was a wolf.
Tina shook her head. “I’ve never seen a dog that looked like that before . . . I’ve never seen anything that looked like that before.” Samara remembered that her own white fur was striking; she might resemble a Samoyed, but there really were no dogs that she could be confused with and even she hadn’t known that white wolves existed before she became one herself.
Samara took a step forward, wanting to tell them that she wasn’t going to hurt them, that it was Ashley who she was angry at.
Her closeness to them seemed to intimidate them even more, though. They stared back at her like she was nothing more than a beast before they slowly inched away, unsure of what to do.
Samara had figured that, one day, she was going to come across a human while she was in wolf form. What she hadn’t realized was that it would hurt so much for people to be afraid of her.
To ease their worried faces, Samara turned around and ran through the woods behind Emma’s house, away from everyone.
*
When she got to Starlight Lake, Samara found a wolf sitting next to the water, in the same area where her pack normally hosted its fires and gatherings. It was a wolf who she couldn’t recognize – and its scent didn’t match her pack’s pineapple peppermint scent that they had when they were in wolf form. This wolf was a stranger . . . and it was in their territory.
Samara waited for it to turn around, to take notice of her, but the wolf continued to stare into the depths of the water. She felt grateful that that it didn’t recognize her presence because she was alone. If it had wanted to fight, she definitely was ready . . . especially by herself.
Guys, there’s another wolf in our territory, Samara thought, sending a message to her pack. She paused. She wasn’t exactly sure how, but she realized she did know who he was. I recognize him . . . I think it’s Rocco.
I’ve been looking all over for you. I’ll be right there, Luke responded right away. Samara immediately picked up on the urgency in his voice, and she felt a sense of relief. If she ever needed someone from the pack to back her up for anything, Luke would be the first one by her side. All thoughts about what she had just seen between him and Ashley Everest escaped her mind. Luke was her mate; nothing would ever come between them.
Colby was the next to respond. I’m right behind Luke.
None of the other guys answered her, but within minutes, she saw Kyle running towards her, his furry ears pinned back.
It wasn’t long before all of the other guys on her pack were coming at Samara from all angles, surrounding her in a protective barrier.
Now that her pack was here, Samara knew that it was time for her to do something. She couldn’t just let another wolf, a wolf whose own territory wasn’t even in the same area of woods – unlike the Vyka – pass through without questions.
Taking a few steps toward Rocco, Samara said, This is our territory. What brings you here?
Rocco sat down on the cold ground, curling his gray furry tail underneath of him. You.
Chapter 7
****
Luke growled, pinning his ears back. What do you want from Samara?
Staring at Samara from behind his icy blue eyes, Rocco growled back. She has two choices. She comes and joins our pack willingly . . . or we attack and conquer her.
Samara shook her head. No. I will not just come and join your pack willingly. I don’t want to be a Shomecossee.
Then, we have no choice but to kill you, Rocco replied, baring his teeth. You are far too powerful to be kept alive this close to our territory.
Try it and see what happens, Luke snarled back in between fierce growls. If you touch my mate, I will personally kill you.
Rocco chuckled at them. You’re high and mighty right now, but we’ll see what happens once you can no longer rely on your mate’s power. You’ll be nothing more than just a weak wolf. A pup.
This time it was Samara’s turn to growl at Rocco. No one insulted her mate like that and got away with it. Leave. Now, Samara commanded, her voice firm.
Rocco stood up and continued to stare at her for a few minutes before turning to walk away.
As he turned to walk away, he glanced over his shoulder. We will come for you when you’re least expecting it, McKinley.
As Rocco disappeared into the woods on the other side of Starlight Lake that led to the street, Samara paced back and forth. So much had happened since the night of her fake initiation with the Vyka that she had nearly forgotten that the Shomecossee had it out for her, too.
Samara turned to her pack. Guys? I need to learn how to fight. Now. No more procrastinating.
I agree, Luke replied. He eyed the pack. Finally, he asked, who wants to teach her first?
No one said anything for a minute. Finally, Steve spoke up. I think Colby should teach her first. She needs to learn some werewolf confidence before she can master anything else.
That sounds reasonable, Kyle agreed.
Okay, so it’s settled then, Luke replied. We’re each going to take one night this week to teach Samara what she needs to learn. Colby starts now. We really need to be prepared to fight the Vyka and Shomecossee now. These threats are real.
All of the guys except for Colby stood up and began walking away from the circle that they had formed next to the lake. Luke came over to Samara and nuzzled his forehead against her chest before following the other guys.
Colby took a few steps forward and sat down closer to her. I’ve never taught anyone this before. I don’t know if I’ll be a very good teacher.
Don’t worry, Samara said. I’m sure you’ll do great.
Okay, well, it’s mostly about posture, Colby told her. He stood up and walked in a line in front of her, pushing his shoulders back, making them appear broader and making himself seem taller. Pretend you’re a puppet whose master has a puppet string attached to your head that’s lifting your chin, shoulders, and neck.
Samara nodded. When she had taken ballet when she was eight years old, her instructor had taught them this method. This is going to be a piece of cake, Samara told Colby as she strutted past him, pretending she was flouncing across the room in ballet class.
That’s good, but you look too dainty. Fluff your chest up a little, Colby instructed.
How do I do that? Samara asked, puzzled. She had always wondered how dogs did that. Somehow, she had always assumed that it was just one of their natural instincts. She didn’t know that they could force their chests to fluff up.
You kind of just . . . move your chest, Colby said, looking down at his own chest as it fluffed up. When your skin moves, your fur goes with it.
Samara strutted past Colby again, this time pushing her chest slightly forward. It wasn’t much different from the advice that Emma had always given her over the years when she wanted Samara to learn how to grab a guy’s attention; it was strange that acting confident as a teenage girl was so similar to acting confident as a wolf.
That’s perfect, Colby said, as Samara sat back down on the cold ground across from him. You just have to remember that you need to remain confident, even when someone freaks you out. If you don’t remain confident, they’ll see you as a weakling, which will make them more eager to attack.
How do you know all of this? Samara asked. I mean, have you been in a lot of fights?
Colby shook his head. I’ve been in a few, but I’ve learned most of what I know from my parents. My father is one of the strongest Alphas in the area. I do know that what he says works, though. Colby paused and scratched his side with one of his hind paws. Do you remember the night at Emma’s party, when Luke and Jason got into an argument and I stayed behind?
Samara nodded and one of her ears flopped over. She had a crystal clear memory of
that night. It was the first time she had ever heard Luke communicate with her through mind-speak.
Jason and I went out to the woods, and I threatened him. He wanted to attack Luke because he thought he was the one who bit you at first, Colby told her. I told him to leave Luke alone. He didn’t listen to me about not telling you the truth, but I’m pretty sure my confident posture helped me prevent a battle between him and Luke.
So that’s what that argument had been about. Samara had been wondering all along why Jason and Luke had caused that scene at Emma’s party – and what had prompted her mate to leave early that night. If only Emma knew the real reason why Luke and Jason hated each other. . . .
Rocco must have known that I’m Alpha now or why else would he have shown up? Do you think someone’s told Jason yet?
No, I don’t think so. But if he’s been out this way, I’m sure he knows, too. Rocco knew because our scent has changed. You probably can’t notice the difference yet, because you’re still new, but I’m sure Rocco could smell that our scent is stronger. It’s only a matter of time before Jason shows up, too.
Do you think I’ll be able to intimidate either of them? Samara asked.
If I can, anyone can, Colby replied.
Thanks for teaching me, Colby, Samara said, standing up. She swiftly morphed back into a human and glanced down at the sweater and jeans that she had worn to the party. It was so nice to not have to worry about leaving a spare change of clothes behind a tree or somewhere to change into. Initiation had really made her life so much easier.
Colby changed, too. When he stood, in human form, next to her, she asked, “Colbs? I have a question for you.”
Colby raised a blonde eyebrow. “Since when do you call me Colbs?”
“I like making nicknames for people. I didn’t know what else to nickname you,” Samara explained, shrugging.
Colby laughed. “Okay, I guess Colbs it is. Anyway, what’s your question?”
“Why do you have that reddish heart on your fur? Is one of your parents a red wolf?” Samara asked. She didn’t want to tell him that the reason she was wondering was because she was trying to imagine what her own wolf babies with Luke would look like. Would they be gray wolves with white patches of fur? Or white with gray patches of fur?
Colby looked down at the ground. “No. Both of my parents are gray wolves.” He looked up at Samara, his eyes turning glassy. “When a werewolf’s mate dies, they get a patch somewhere on their fur that’s the same color that their mate was.”
Samara’s jaw dropped and she quickly closed it. “Your mate died?”
Colby nodded. “Yeah, her name was Meagan. She died over the summer.”
“I’m so sorry, Colby.” Samara remembered that Colby had once told her before she even knew he was her Alpha that werewolves generally didn’t find a second mate, that the only way they could have a second mate was if they switched packs. She couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for Colby to know that he would never be mated again, that the only type of “mate” he might have would be one for companionship, rather than for true love. And here Samara had been upset that she had to make a decision between two mates. Really, she should have been fortunate to have one at all.
Colby shrugged. “It still hurts, but I try not to think about her too much.”
“How did she die?” Samara asked, remembering that the only way a werewolf could die was if they were shot with a silver bullet in human form or if they were killed during an attack in wolf form. They couldn’t just die of natural causes like cancer or drowning like humans could.
“She was murdered,” Colby replied, looking down at his Converse sneakers. “By the Vyka.”
Chapter 8
****
Samara chased after Jason. They were both in wolf form. She followed him until he came to a halting stop in front of Starlight Lake.
Out of the darkness, she saw the golden eyes of her pack members as they came out of the shadows of the woods, cornering Jason from all angles. A panicked expression crossed his face as he stared blankly at the Ima, who growled at him, inching towards him from all sides.
A red, silky-furred wolf stepped out from behind a tree. This is for me, Jason. This is what you deserve.
Samara knew, instantly, that it was Meagan who had spoken. Colby bowed his head, making Samara wonder if he could see Meagan. Was she a ghost or a spirit? Samara wasn’t sure, but she was sure that Jason could see Meagan, too, just judging from the way he glared back at her.
Suddenly, Samara felt a wave of anger pass through her body. She felt angry for Colby, angry that Jason had taken away the love of his life. She felt angry at Jason for what he had done to Lilly . . . and to Josh, even though Josh was technically her enemy now. Not that she wanted him to be.
Samara leapt at Jason, sinking her teeth deep into his neck. Jason yipped as his blood gushed out from his flesh, filling her mouth with an iron-like taste. Soon, his yips turned into gurgled howls as he cried out in pain. Samara didn’t stop; she continued biting his neck until his body went limp.
Bolting upright in bed, Samara ran a hand through her hair, which was drenched in sweat. It was only just a dream. Jason wasn’t really dead.
Samara wondered if she would ever be able to work up the nerve to kill him – if she would ever be powerful enough to kill him if she ever wanted to.
I keep telling you that you’re going to be very powerful, Luke said. Why don’t you believe me?
Why do you always butt into my thoughts? Samara asked him, laughing.
Sorry, he replied. Samara could hear the smirk that had formed on his face from the tone of his voice.
It’s okay, Samara said gently. Sometimes, it makes me feel relieved to know that you can hear my thoughts . . . even if I don’t always want you to.
I get what you mean, Luke replied knowingly. It’s like we’re closer to each other, even when we’re far away . . . right?
That’s exactly what it’s like. Samara took a deep breath, relieved that Luke felt the same way about mind-speak. She hated to imagine what it was like for mates who didn’t want to be up in each other’s business whenever they felt like it. Training with Colby went well tonight.
I know. He told me, Luke said. I’m really glad to hear that. We decided that your next training session will be with Steve.
Samara recalled that Steve’s special “talent” was that he was able to figure out who was the weakest link. This would probably be an easy lesson, considering Colby had just taught her how not to be the weakest link. Okay. When do I get to train with you?
She heard Luke chuckle inside his mind. I’m probably going to be the last person you train with, unless you have some other type of training in mind.
Samara laughed out loud. No, that’s not what I meant, you pervert. Goodnight.
Closing her eyes, she quickly drifted back to sleep with a smile on her face. Life was good.
*
The next morning, Samara was woken up by the sound of her cell phone, which jangled against the wood of her nightstand. Grabbing the phone, she groggily answered. “Hello?”
“Where did you go last night?” Emma shrilled, piercing Samara’s ear.
Samara sat up in bed. She had just disappeared from Emma’s party last night without any warning. In fact, Samara had nearly forgotten the reason she had left was because it had upset her that Ashley Everest had put her hand on Luke’s shoulder. We need to talk, buddy, she told Luke in her head.
Ugh, you woke me up, Luke groaned back groggily. What do we need to talk about?
I’ll tell you in a sec, I’m on the phone with Emma right now, Samara replied, just as Emma asked, “Sam? Are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling good, so I just went home.” Samara sighed, hating that she had to lie to her best friend again. She hadn’t thought it was going to make her feel bad because they had become much less close over the past few months, but it did make her feel a twinge of guilt. Trying to make up
for the lie, she added, “I didn’t even tell Luke I was leaving.”
“Well, you really missed out,” Emma whined. “And I have good news!”
“What?” Samara asked, rolling her eyes.
“I met someone . . . a guy. And I think he really, really likes me!”
“Wait,” Samara said. “What about Jason?” Emma had seemed so stuck on Jason over the past few weeks that Samara hadn’t even realized that she might move onto someone new all on her own. Then again, she should have realized that it would happen eventually. Emma always got bored of guys so quickly. She’d probably had about sixteen boyfriends – which usually turned out to be just flings – since May. It was only October now.
“I don’t know,” Emma replied. “Things just weren’t working out between us. It was great at first, but he’s been weird lately. He’s never around. It’s like he just doesn’t care if he sees me anymore.”
Samara knew that Emma mentioning the fact that Jason was never around was just her way of saying that she needed a guy who would give her constant attention – and Jason obviously wasn’t giving it to her. “So, who’s this new guy?” Samara asked curiously. She hoped that Emma had at least chosen someone who was nicer than Jason this time around.
“His name’s Troy. Troy Davis,” Emma said. “He already asked me to the Homecoming dance!”
“Wow, he moves quick,” Samara said sarcastically, hoping that she didn’t sound as rude as she felt. “But that’s good. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah, there’s just one problem, and this is why I’m calling. I need your advice. How do I break up with Jason gracefully?”