She didn’t feel the heat coming from the fire that had taken to the blanket at the feet of her and her prey. Not one of the victim’s fists that pounded into her side was enough to deter her as she tore flesh from bone, relishing in the tang on her tongue. The howl from the trees of the wolf she had beaten to the wondrous meal, alerting the forest to her destruction, only egged her on to finish her meal before having to defend it.
What did stop her was the rising of the sun.
Chapter 15
The blood stained snow blanketed around Mackenzie’s naked body, as the fire licked at her skin. The sensation was strange, being burned and frozen all at the same time. When her body was finally able to obey her commands, she quickly moved, tossing the snow on top of the burning blanket.
She didn’t understand why there would be a burning blanket so close to her unless she had made her way back to camp as a wolf. Then she realized she wasn’t at camp. Slowly, turning her head to the right, she saw everything.
Dropping to her knees, she stared, speechless as Geoff hovered over a body. Feeling its neck and dropping his head to put an ear beside its mouth.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I did it again. Oh God. Not again.” Mackenzie began to chant the same thing over and over. The tears refused to fall, but the desperation of the nightmare was ever present. The thundering of her heart was the only sound she heard until the whole world went dark.
Screams pierced through the darkness and a quick succession of slaps against her face woke her. Geoff kneeled over her, worry in his eyes.
“Hey, there you are. Are you okay?” As much as she wanted to get lost in thoughts about what his concern for her meant, or that they were literally inches from one another without a single shred of clothing on, the cries behind him were drawing her attention.
“Who is screaming?” Then she realized she hadn’t killed the person at all. She just almost did, leaving them to a fate she wasn’t sure was any better than death.
Trying desperately to look around him, Geoff grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look into his eyes.
“Don’t. Just go back to camp and get Margret. Tell her you need her to come quick. That someone was bitten badly but they’re still alive.”
All she could do was nod her head. She knew she had done it. Geoff was too old and too controlled. Plus, she was the one covered in blood with a stomach sloshing full of things she would rather leave a mystery.
Standing and running a few feet into the trees, she stopped briefly to look over her shoulder. There, lying in the snow, writhing about, and crying out in pain was a man. He had blonde hair that looked to be matted in blood, his pale skin was turning a slight shade of blue from the cold, and there were broken glasses lying beside him. She couldn’t tell what color his eyes were, but she knew if he survived, that within a few days they would match her own.
~*~
Running through the trees while naked was not for anyone who couldn’t heal themselves. Mackenzie felt every stinging scratch and cut on the way back to the camp ground, but every injury followed by the tingle of her skin knitting itself back together.
The clearing where the fire pits had been set up had a few pack members getting dressed and talking lively with one another, laughing and playing around. She was disgusted by their lack of concern for the night before. Perhaps they could control their beasts, but not everyone could. Their kind— her very pack—was killing helpless animals and people all over the world. Mackenzie didn’t think she would ever be able to see the change as her pack mates did.
Never slowing from a full sprint, the others finally took note of her blood-covered body and horrified look on her face. They ran to her. When she finally stopped in front of her pile of clothing, she hastily pulled them on, without even bothering to wash off the evidence of the most vile thing she had ever done in her life. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t remember it. It didn’t matter that she had no control. She ruined his life and fated him to the exact same.
“Where is Margret?” Mackenzie asked through a shaky voice. Do not cry. Do not cry. Keep it together. I am strong. I can do this.
“I don’t know. She hasn’t made it back yet. She was with Natalie last night.” Mason, one of the older members was looking at her with worry. “I can help. What’s wrong?”
He gripped her shoulders and turned her toward him to keep her from scanning the tree lines, hoping to see the swaying of the low branches and leaves, indicating someone’s return.
Looking up at him, she realized he had been one of the members at the meeting the day before. That meant that Margret trusted him. He was there and Margret wasn’t. He would have to do.
“Geoff said to get Margret. I hurt someone. Real bad.” Heart thundering and stomach dropping, she felt light headed. Here it was, time to tell the pack how bad she was at being a wolf. How much trouble she is and to watch them run away or kick her to the curb. They didn’t all know about the person from the last cycle, but Margret did.
“Let’s go. Show me the way.” Then they were running. She had thought that she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him, but more than a few times Mason called out, asking her to wait for him. Maybe age had nothing to do with strength and speed, as the legends assumed. Maybe the younger are the stronger and faster. But it was not the time to worry about those things. She had to get to the man.
Halfway back she heard sobs. Coming to an abrupt halt, while waiting for Mason to catch up, she scanned her surroundings. She knew the voice that echoed through the cries, begging for forgiveness and screaming apology. It was Natalie. This meant that Margret wasn’t too far off.
“Natalie! Are you there? What’s wrong?” Momentarily veering off course, Mackenzie slipped between trees, following the sounds that were pouring out of her friend.
When she came into view, Margret was with her, holding her and rocking, much like a mother to an upset child. She was petting her hair and whispering in her ear. Mackenzie almost didn’t want to interrupt, knowing something horrible had happened.
Looking around she saw them. A couple, torn to shreds and lifeless laying on the forest floor, and a small child, shaking and bloody.
“Margret?” she whispered. Mason had finally caught up and let out a single curse word when he saw the scene around him.
“This isn’t the time, Mackenzie.”
“There’s another one. But, he isn’t dead.” Margret’s head snapped up and looked to her. For a split second, a smile ghosted across Margret’s face. Then it vanished so quickly and was replaced with a look of complete worry that Mackenzie wasn’t even sure she had seen it to begin with.
“Mason, take over here. The child is alive, and you know what to do.”
Mason’s eyes widened and he forced a swallow before nodding his head in acceptance. Natalie wailed even louder and Margret stood. “Let’s go.”
~*~
Mackenzie was afraid to ask Margret what she meant when she told Mason that he knew what had to be done with the child. She had a horrible feeling that poor kid wasn’t going to make it out of the woods, but she didn’t want to believe it. These people were supposed to be a good pack, loving and welcoming to all. At least that’s what she had been led to believe.
“How much further?” Margret asked after ten minutes of silence. Only Mackenzie didn’t have to answer because the screams echoing through the trees answered for her.
“There.” Mackenzie pointed to the large copse of dense trees where she had attacked the man.
Geoff had heard their approach and darted out, flagging them in his direction. “Quick, I don’t know how long ‘til the knitting completes and he can run his ass out of here.”
When the blonde-haired man came into view, he was leaning up against a tree. His face was scrunched up in agony. Geoff covered his body with the charred blanket. Any added warmth in the freezing temperatures would help the man.
“How did this happen?” Margret asked, looking between them. “I thought you were suppose
d to stay with her? These wounds are severe. He is going to be lucky to finish healing before his body just decides it’s had enough.”
“We knew Mackenzie was fast, but Margret, I. Could. Not. Keep. Up.” He said each word slowly and pointedly. It was as if they knew something she didn’t and between waking up to another grave mistake, seeing the other dead bodies, and not knowing what was going to happen to that child, she was tired of being on the outside of information loop.
“What the hell does that mean? What is going to happen to that little girl back there with Mason and Natalie, and what is happening with him?” She was yelling and gesturing wildly to get their attention.
“You need to calm down. You are just really fast. Some are really strong, some are really sly, and you are really fast. It’s a learning curve. It just means next time we need to assign a faster wolf to you, that’s all. The child? Well, that is for another day when you aren’t upset already, and this man will be okay if we can get him back to the house soon. He will start the change within hours and he needs to be somewhere safe.” Margret had said matter-of-factly.
Mackenzie wanted to argue. Wanted to jump up and down screaming like a petulant child who had just gotten a ‘because I said so’ from their mother. But her energy was gone. Due to the emotional strain of the morning mixed with the fact she still didn’t know everything she needed to about her new life, she was willing to trust in Margret and let her handle things. So far, she hadn’t said or done anything to make Mackenzie question that trust.
“Geoff, pick him up. Mackenzie, stay behind and clean this up as much as possible. Get rid of the lantern, the blanket, the blood. Make it look like nothing happened here, then get back to the house without being seen and clean yourself up.”
Chapter 16
Geoff tried more than once to pick the man up, but each time he would fight back as best as he could. After a few minutes, Geoff growled his annoyance and knocked him out with one swift punch.
“What the hell? What did you do that for?” Mackenzie demanded. Geoff threw the man over his shoulder and turned to look at her. She could tell he was doing everything he could not to show his annoyance at her attitude, especially since it was her fault they were in the situation.
“How else would he have allowed me to carry him? You do your job; I do mine. I will see you back at the house.” Mackenzie watched as Geoff and Margret padded through the trees, going faster than a normal pace, but slow enough not to harm the man any further.
When she was finally alone, she sank to her knees. The cold snow seeped through her jeans and soaked her skin. She took one look at the carnage around her and sobbed.
After a few minutes of weakness, she wiped the salty tears from her cheeks and stood.
The snow was the easy part. She used the charred blanket to carry clean snow from one side and covered the rusty colored snow. Mackenzie had to try time and again to throw the lantern high into the tree before it would stay. Crying in frustration, she grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around as many rocks as she could find between the ‘scene of the crime’ and the stream. Throwing it as far into the center as possible, the only thing left was the man’s bag, which she knew she would carry back with her. He would want it. He would want a piece of his life that most likely would be ending, one way, or another.
~*~
Walking through the front door of the massive house felt like a walk of shame. Every head snapped in her direction and whispers echoed all around her. She didn’t have to ask anyone where her victim was; she just followed the trail of people, through the front entryway, along the hall, through the kitchen, and out to the back den.
Margret sat next to the still unconscious man who lay on one couch while Geoff and Tanya, a woman who stood at least five inches taller than Mackenzie, and had green hair and more tattoos than empty skin, unfolded the pull out bed from the inside of the other couch.
Mackenzie hadn’t spent much time with Tanya. Honestly, she kind of scared her, but in that moment, she looked to Mackenzie with sympathy and understanding, not the usual annoyance.
“He should be waking up soon. We will have a short amount of time to talk to him before the change begins. Go shower. If he sees you covered in his blood, it will only make it worse.”
Margret didn’t give her a chance to argue, standing and leading her out of the room then closing the door behind her.
~*~
Natalie lay on her bed when Mackenzie appeared. She was staring at the ceiling, still disheveled and covered in mud and blood with a few stray leaves in her hair. Teresa was next to her, arms wrapped around her waist with her head on Natalie’s shoulder. Seeing the two of them still together and close after such a tragedy made Mackenzie realize that the pack was still a family and they still loved each other. No amount of fuckups could take that away.
“Mackenzie? You okay?”
Not able to actually answer, she just shook her head and headed for the shower. Peeling off the clothing that had begun to stick to her skin with dried blood, she climbed into the shower. Steam gathered around her as the hot water washed away all evidence of her crime. The red stained water swirled around the drain and disappeared from sight. All that was left was the memory. Too bad she still couldn’t remember the night before.
When the water ran cold, Mackenzie left the confines of the bathroom, dressed and returned to the den. The wolf that had bit her left her without so much as a second thought. She wouldn’t do that to the man on the couch.
His eyes began to flutter as a low groan escaped his lips. Every muscle in Mackenzie’s body went rigid. Fear pummeled her even though she knew that there was nothing he could do to physically hurt her. She was terrified of seeing her own eyes staring back at her. When deep blue eyes locked with hers, she let out a sigh of relief. That is until he screamed and tried to get away from everyone in the room.
Backed into a corner, he was screaming. “Don’t come near me! Where the hell am I? What are you?”
The last one was directed at Mackenzie. He had to have seen her change back. She was a monster. Even if she felt close to normal living with the pack, to anyone else, she was still a freak, a monster, a murderer.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions. But we need you to calm down.” Margret took the lead and Mackenzie was more than happy with that. She found that she couldn’t speak. Her voice ran off with her humanity, it seemed.
“CALM DOWN? Why the fuck would I calm down? SHE WAS A FUCKING ANIMAL!” His body shook and even though he was yelling, trying to be brave, the amount of fear rolling off him was palpable.
“You were bitten and survived. Your wounds have healed. You are turning. If you want any kind of explanation, you need to calm down and listen.”
“You people are insane! I’m going nuts. That has to be it. I am still outside freezing to death. Hypothermia has made me hallucinate!”
Mackenzie stood from the couch and walked over to Geoff, keeping her eyes on the man who still muttered to himself. Placing a hand on Geoff’s shoulder, she leaned in to whisper in his ear. She had every intention of speaking to him without the man hearing, but the scent of him, his hair tickling her nose, and the low rumble that filled his chest when her body slightly touched his made her lose her train of thought.
A throat clearing by Margret with a pointed look shook Mackenzie from her daze and she managed to complete what she set out to do.
“Change. You can do it without the moon, right? Show him. Prove to him what we are saying is true.”
A slight nod of his head was the only response she was able to get from him. She wasn’t sure if the moment had affected him as it had her, but looking at the terrified man told her it wasn’t the time or place to worry about it.
“What is your name?” Geoff asked as he moved closer.
“Liam Hardy,” the blonde replied. His voice came out stronger, more confident than before. Mackenzie wasn’t sure if it was because he was trying to prove his courage or strength to another
man, but whatever the reason, it was better than the quivering voice.
“Liam, you are not hallucinating, you are not insane, and we are not lying to you. You were bitten under the full moon and survived,” Margret said, then motioned to Geoff. At that moment, Geoff turned and Liam passed out.
Chapter 17
Moving Liam from the floor where he passed out to the pull out couch proved to be more difficult than previously. The change had begun and his skin was flushed red and hot to the touch, and his body writhed about.
“Is this normal?” Mackenzie asked in a whisper not wanting to wake Liam. She figured sleeping was probably the only way to keep the pain away.
“Yes. Every bitten Were goes through this. You did, but the body shuts the mind off for a reason. His bones are breaking and healing. Cartilage is shifting or growing. Muscles are stretching. It’s a whole process that the body goes through. The only thing to do now is wait.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” Waiting might be part of the process, but maybe she could make him more comfortable. He may not recognize what she was doing, but she did.
Grabbing a bucket of cool water, a washcloth, and some blankets, she went back to the den. Margret and Geoff stood off to the side, whispering with one another so low that even with her super hearing, she couldn’t tell what they were saying.
“I am so sorry, Liam. You can’t hear me, but I won’t leave you. We can figure this whole thing out together. You are not alone.” Her voice was soft and she knew the others could hear her, but she didn’t care.
Dipping the cloth into the cool water then ringing it out, she placed it on his forehead.
“Mack? Come on. Let’s leave Margret to deal with this. You need to rest.” Geoff stood so close she could feel his breath on her neck. As much as she wanted to turn around to see how close he was and to go wherever he asked her to, asshole or not, she couldn’t leave Liam. He was her responsibility. She would be his sire. He needed her.
The Tempering (The Mackenzie Duncan Series) Page 11