by Trina M. Lee
“Kill him.” Falon spoke up from where he stood near the open attached kitchen. “It’s not worth the risk of keeping him around. He’s just one werewolf.”
The way his tone changed on that last bit rubbed me the wrong way. I had a feeling there was a hidden jibe there.
“It isn’t your call to make,” I snapped, my words ending on a growl. I glared hard at Falon who leaned back against the kitchen island, casual and unaffected.
“No, Alexa. It’s yours.” Shya swept an arm toward the wolf on the floor with a grand, dramatic gesture. “Claim him as your wolf or leave him to us.”
Trepidation filled me. I didn’t want anyone’s life in my hands. Not like this. I gazed down at the wolf, my wolf, and I felt a territorial obligation to him. “What’s your name?”
“Coby Haines.”
“Well, Coby Haines, this is your lucky day. I’m not going to decide your fate. You are. Are you ready to die now? To escape the wolf in the only way possible? Or, do you want me to claim you as pack? You’ll be mine to protect, and in return you’ll keep a low profile.”
A snort of derision came from Falon. I ignored him. Shya was quiet, but I could feel the weight of his watchful gaze upon me, judging my choice.
Coby cast a careful glance at Falon, then Shya before settling his gaze on me. “I’m not ready to die. I just want help.”
“You’ll get it.” The way I saw it, I owed Coby. For the past few months, he’d been out there, changed because of me, and I hadn’t even known. What he did was thoughtless, but he deserved a chance.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Taking Coby’s hand, I pulled him to his feet and steered him toward the door. “I assume I can leave now, Shya. Unless there’s anything else.”
Shya’s amused smile never wavered. “Have a nice night, Alexa.”
The eerie sensations floating around inside Shya’s house spilled over outside. The entire property felt cursed, like it writhed with something black and bottomless. The house was outside of town, down a dirt road east of the city. I assumed Shya had several reasons to live in a secluded area. Everything about the place, including Shya himself, set off my personal warning bells. I was hasty to get away.
Coby hesitated near my car. He looked back at the house for a moment as if torn before grasping the passenger door handle. If I were him, I would second-guess getting into a car with the person who turned me, too.
“Are you going to get in?” I dropped into the driver’s seat and started the car. I was in a hurry to leave. “It’ll be a long walk back to town.” Well, it would be on human legs.
I opened the windows and the sunroof, drinking in the night air. It was delectably cool in comparison to the insane heat inside.
“I have nowhere to go. Not anymore.” Coby got into the car but continued to glance nervously out the window.
“Well, you’re not staying here. I’ll drive, you talk.”
I snuck a look at him. He had to be in his late twenties or early thirties, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. With light, ash brown hair and a five o’clock shadow, he was ruggedly attractive. He turned hazel eyes on me that were all wolf.
His wolf looked out at me, and I knew how close he was to losing it. He was still so new, but I wasn’t worried. Wolves were my comfort zone, even those who could barely hold it together. I held his gaze, enforcing my dominance without moving a muscle. I saw it in him when he accepted the unspoken hierarchy. His wolf backed down, and Coby visibly relaxed in his seat.
“Look,” I began, giving the Charger a little more gas than necessary in my haste to peal out of Shya’s long driveway. “I wish there was something I could say. I know an apology isn’t going to cut it.”
“Save it. I don’t want an apology. I just want help. No offense, but I really don’t want to end up like you, attacking people on the street.”
That stung but he spoke the truth. When I’d been newly turned and in his place, I hadn’t wanted to end up like me either.
“Fair enough.”
An awkward silence descended. My fingers were tight on the steering wheel. I was at a loss for words. I imagined a part of him wanted to tear my head off for what I’d done to him, but he seemed mostly resigned to accept it.
“I know how hard this is in the beginning. Everyone smells like prey, and the simple act of the sun setting sets the wolf loose sometimes. It gets easier. Really.”
The silence was making me uncomfortable. If he wasn’t going to talk then I was.
“There’s a pack in a small town outside the city, in Stony Plain. We run together every full moon. Many of us live normal lives, keep normal jobs. But, we have each other’s backs. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“Normal jobs?” His tone was skeptical. “I thought I was going to kill my co-workers. I couldn’t stand to be around them. That smell. So strong and …”
“Human?” I supplied. “Yeah, that takes some getting used to.”
“I lost my job. Then I lost my apartment. And now, I wait to lose myself every time it happens. Every time I can’t fight it off.” He stared out the window, saying what he’d probably never said to anyone else but longed to. “I’m starting to see things differently. We’re still human, but we’re more than that, too. Just tell me one thing. Tell me we’ll never be as inhuman as they were. Back at the house.”
I had once consoled myself with the assurance that as long as there were vampires and demons, I was minor league on the monster scale. I’d been so wrong.
“I wish I could tell you what you want to hear. I can tell you this though: Embrace the wolf. That part of you is more special than you know now. But, don’t let it control your actions. And if you want to stay sane, stay away from vampires and demons.”
Gravely serious, Coby turned to study me. I got the feeling he was trying to put his finger on what was so different about me. Most werewolves could feel that I wasn’t entirely the same creature.
“This is all so surreal. I feel like I’m living in a horrible dream, and I can’t wake up.”
I could relate to that. I knew Coby wanted some kind of reassurance, but I had offered all I could. He would have to go through the motions day by day and let the puzzle pieces fall into place. That was the only way he’d accept the wolf and what it meant. Some people never did accept it. They didn’t last long.
“I have an extra room in my house. It’s a big house. If you need somewhere to crash for a while… There’s a forest on the edge of town. It’s safe and a comfort to have so close by. You’re welcome to stay.”
I expected Coby to turn down my offer. He looked positively miserable when he muttered, “Thank you. I’d really appreciate that.”
I hoped he couldn’t tell how uneasy the entire situation had me. It wasn’t every day I had a demon throw a werewolf at me and tell me he was mine to take care of. Yet, I was an Alpha wolf. I would step up to the plate to protect and guide him. As surprising as this was, it was my responsibility. I cringed to think of what Shaz and Kylarai would say when they found out about this. If only that was my biggest problem right now.
Chapter Nine
It was well after three in the morning by the time I got Coby comfortable in Raoul’s room. The master bedroom seemed like the best place for him. It was on the top floor of the house, two floors above my room, and it was equipped with an en suite bathroom.
I stood awkwardly in the doorway with an armful of blankets. Since Raoul’s death, I rarely went near his old room. Too many memories.
“Help yourself to anything you want from the kitchen,” I said in what I hoped was a friendly tone. “I’m not sure the selection is the best. I can get groceries. There’s a list on the fridge that you can add to.”
I was rambling a little. I fully expected to be at the top of Coby’s least favorite people list. Nothing I could do about that, so I was going to overdo it on hospitality.
“I appreciate that.” Coby wore a mask of weariness. His shoulders slumped as he sat heavily on the
side of the bed. “Don’t trip over yourself trying to make me comfortable. I’m fine. Thank you.”
My smile was so tight it hurt. It must have looked incredibly forced. “I’ll be downstairs.”
We shared another long, uneasy silence. I jumped into action, depositing the blankets on the bed. I uttered a quick, “Goodnight,” and vacated the room like I was being chased by a swarm of bees.
I busied myself in the kitchen making green tea. It felt too empty. Something was missing. Shaz. It was his favorite room. He was a master in the kitchen.
It dawned on me that I hadn’t heard from him all night. Leaving my mug next to the kettle, I dug my phone out of my bag. One missed call, but it was from Kale. Shaz hadn’t called or so much as text messaged.
With a tired sigh, I punched in Kale’s number and waited. He answered on the third ring. The noise of The Wicked Kiss was loud in the background.
A woman’s voice whispered low but close to the phone, followed by Kale’s low chuckle. “Alexa, hey. Are you alright? I was a little worried when you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Really? It sounds like you have your hands full. Shouldn’t the club be closed by now?” My tone was harsher than it needed to be. Kale, on the phone with a woman in his lap, was not my ideal conversation.
“The doors are closed for the night. This is the after-hours crowd.” The sound became muffled as he moved to a quieter location. “Sorry. I wasn’t sure you’d call back tonight. I wanted to talk to you earlier about a theory I had, but this isn’t a good time.”
“Um, right.” I held the phone with one hand and poured hot water into my mug with the other. Did Kale have an idea as to who was after me? “Well, maybe we can talk tomorrow then.”
“I’ll stop by the club after dark. I have to make a stop at the dreamwalker’s house first. It shouldn’t take long.” His voice dropped as if he didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing him.
I stirred the tea bag around in my cup and frowned. “Why so early? Isn’t that more of a middle of the night kind of thing?”
There was a long pause before he answered me. “Usually. It’s better if I don’t say too much. I shouldn’t have brought you there the other night.”
“Why not? What’s going on?” I demanded. “If he’s in danger I want to know about it, Kale.”
“You have to trust me on this one, ok? I’m not going to let anything happen to him. But, you have to stay away from this. You have enough things to deal with as it is.”
I scoffed and took a sip of my tea. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“What does that mean?”
“Never mind. I’ll explain later. I’ll see you at the club then.”
After I hung up, I stood there sipping my tea and pondering what was going on with the dreamwalker. I didn’t trust Shya or his interest in any of us. After watching Falon torture that demon, I was more suspicious than ever.
I wasn’t going to get to sleep any time soon, so I got settled on the couch with my tea and Arys’s past. Though Coby was two floors away, I could sense his presence. Oddly enough, I found it comforting.
I steered clear of entries involving bloodshed and mayhem; so much more lay within the aged pages. Arys had a side that I didn’t see much of, but it was fascinating.
April 18, 1855
It’s been three years since I’ve seen Harley. Still, I feel him everywhere. The tie that binds is breakable only by final death. So many times, I’ve considered giving myself to the sun. And, every time I know I’ll never do it. Not for him.
Once again, we are apart, and I am finally able to think clearly. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. It won’t be long before he makes his way back to me. He always does. It’s been so long since the night he turned me, but it always feels like yesterday.
I prefer to be alone, to play the game my way. I feel like I’m waiting for someone who will never arrive. Passing the time grows difficult, so I seek out other outlets for the growing frustration. Painting. An art form I barely noticed before has now come to mean so much. That thoughtless process requires something deeper than words, thought or basic emotion. I stare at a blank canvas until the space between it and myself ceases to exist. For days, even weeks, I lose myself, surfacing from the powerful pull of creation to find something new and wonderful staring back at me.
Or someone.
The first time I saw those dark eyes peering back at me from the canvas, I wept. Pale, ashen fur cloaked her. A vicious predator, she stared out at me with fear and accusation, demanding I find her. I destroyed the painting. Set it ablaze. I won’t bring her to life again. I can’t bear it.
The unmistakable sound of footsteps outside pulled me from Arys’s past straight to my feet. Adrenaline swept away my wonder at his artistic flare.
It was still dark, though dawn was just over an hour away.
The noise came from the back patio. A heavy tread, paced back and forth from one end to the other. I moved slowly toward the stairs that led up into the kitchen. The sliding patio doors would be locked, but that wasn’t going to stop a vampire who wanted in. And, since this wasn’t Hollywood, no invitation was needed.
I paused on the stairs, listening hard. I reached out metaphysically, trying to get a feel for whoever lurked outside. Vampire, definitely. It was tough to get a read on him or her. There may have been more than one.
I glanced toward the upper floor. Coby was likely asleep, unaware of the potential trouble. The heavy pacing gait continued, and I knew it was a trap. I was being lured out.
Knowing this was just what they wanted, I crept silently to the patio door, threw open the blinds and flicked on the outside light. There was nobody there.
As silly as it was, I checked the lock anyway. They were toying with me. But why bother? Why not just kill me? Or try to.
I waited, knowing that my unwelcome visitor was going to make his move just any moment now. To act too quickly would be a mistake on my part. I expected an attack of some kind. I anticipated the moment when a vampire would crash inside and try to kill me
I was in no way prepared for the patio to burst into flames.
The heat and force of the sudden ignition threw me back. Seconds later the double glass patio doors shattered. Thousands of deadly shards landed where I’d just been standing. A few pieces cut through my pants, biting into my flesh.
Throwing myself through the kitchen into the front room, I reached the door in time to find it engulfed in flames. They’d covered the entire perimeter. Coby and I were trapped inside.
“Coby!” I screamed his name as I ran down a floor to the living room to check the north facing windows, finding a haze of orange.
I snatched Arys’s journal from where it had fallen and shoved it into my bag with my phone and car keys. If I wanted to make it out, that would be all I could take with me.
Again, I screamed for Coby. I was frantically searching for a way out. It didn’t take long for the fire to find its way inside. Smoke filled my lungs and burned my eyes as the shriek of the smoke detectors assaulted my ears.
I slung the strap of my bag across my chest and ran for the upper floor. I crashed into Coby on his way down. He reached out to steady me on the stairs as I lost my balance.
“We have to get out.” I coughed as the smoke rolled in thicker. My eyes burned and watered, blurring my vision.
Flames crawled through the kitchen toward us, trapping us near the front door, which was already a mass of crackling fire. There was nowhere to go but up.
Without a word, Coby pulled me along behind him, back up the stairs to the master bedroom. He slammed the door shut behind us while I ran to open the window. I gulped the burst of outside air into my burning lungs. Before long, the fire would reach us; it was moving fast.
A cold spark deep in my core informed me that Arys was near. I would have wept with relief, but we still had a fire to escape. Coby joined me at the window, surveying our only option.
“We have to jump,” he decl
ared. “And, we have to do it before that reaches us.”
I followed his gaze to the wall of flames eating their way through the main floor of the house and climbing toward us fast. The heat was already scorching us where we stood. We were high enough for the fall to be risky, but we didn’t have another alternative.
I felt Arys’s touch on my mind. His worry was as strong as his rage. I had no time to engage with him.
Not if I wanted to live.
Briefly, I considered the shift to wolf. We’d be stronger that way, but Coby was too new. I couldn’t know how he would act as a wolf. Besides, the neighbors would have called 911 by now. We would have to jump, now.
“You first.” Coby’s hand was firm on my back, urging me to go for it.
I hesitated for just a moment. Casting one last look back around the bedroom, where I’d spent so many nights back when the wolf was new, I saw Raoul’s house for the last time. It had never really felt like mine. Why should it now?
It was the home of many memories, both good and bad. Friendships had formed inside that house. Hearts had broken. Hell, I lost my virginity in the office downstairs. But, I had no time for nostalgia. My time in Raoul’s house was finally done.
I took one last look into Coby’s hazel eyes, wild with panic. He was new. He didn’t belong here. For some reason, that made it easier to let go. I climbed up into the window frame, steadied myself the best I could, and jumped.
For that one heart stopping second I was airborne, all I felt was relief. Relief that my entanglement with Raoul was over. The house and everything it represented had reached its final end.
However, pain quickly followed as I hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud. I followed the momentum and rolled away from the house.
Coby was right behind me; an anguished cry escaped him as he landed. I took a moment to clear my head and assess my injuries. I seemed to be ok other than my aching lungs and a twisted ankle.
I was barely on my feet when Arys materialized from the darkness beyond the glow of the flames.