by Louisa Bacio
“Yes, but I followed more of an innate homing device,” she explained.
Jana nodded as if Silver’s explanation made sense. “In reality, we have a good relationship with the rangers. Nathaniel negotiated an under-the-table treaty. They leave us alone, and we leave them alone. We don’t cause any harm, and actually help keep up and protect the forest. Plus, some of us work for the department, which helps keep up relations with those who don’t know.”
“What if a hiker or someone stumbles upon the Pack out here?” she asked.
Jana waved off her question. “Then they normally think we’re a bunch of crazies living outside of society. Most of them are plenty happy to leave as fast as possible, and don’t come back.”
Silver mentally filed away the question about wards. With her sister Lily being a witch, with ties to demon ancestry, if anyone knew such charms existed, she was sure Lily could help.
They reached a cabin that pretty much resembled the rest. On the front porch rested two rocking chairs and a side table, and a red flowered throw rug. “This one’s ours,” Jana said, gesturing toward the door. “We don’t normally keep things locked up around here. There’s no reason for it, but if you feel like you need it, I can give you a key.”
“Naw, that’s all right.” Imagine not locking up in New Orleans. Then again, if the average person broke into their place in the French Quarter with two vampires, two werewolves, and a witch inhabiting the residence, they’d be in major trouble.
Inside, the dwelling reflected another side of Jana’s personality with bright purples, blues, and greens, such a stark contrast to the monochromatic outside.
“I tend to like a lot of color,” Jana said almost apologetically. “If you don’t care for the scheme of your bedroom, I’m sure someone would be willing to trade you a different bedspread.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” Silver replied. She hadn’t realized quite how tired she was until she saw the bed. The comforter was a brilliant royal blue with orange accent pillows. Ambient light flowed in from the large bay window. She tossed her pack on a chair. “It’s simply lovely. Thank you again for letting me stay.”
“My pleasure.” Jana held Silver’s hand. “I hope you’re comfortable here, and stay for a while. It’ll be nice to have a friend again.”
After pointing out the bathroom and small kitchen, the other woman left Silver to get acclimated. The dresser drawers appeared big enough for her to shove her entire backpack in there if she wanted. But she didn’t. She unzipped the bag and removed her items of clothing, placing her undergarments in the top drawer, shirts and pants in the second one. All her toiletries went on top of the dresser for now, and the bag itself she stowed in the closet.
Outside in the night, a wolf howled and Silver smiled. Sounded like home.
Chapter Five
A few days later, all the members of the Pack met in the common area, readying themselves for the event to take place. Once a month, they shared this night together, young and old. Especially since she’d only run in a pack with her brother, Silver was amazed at the differences among the wolves. Sizes, shapes, and colorings all differed. Yet with all the variance, Silver remained the only one with such light-colored fur. Most were the traditional dark colors.
Those who didn’t shift, some women and young adult males, stayed back to watch the compound. Jana sat off to one side looking forlorn. Silver approached her, and the other woman’s eyes grew wide.
“That’s you, isn’t it, Silver?”
She nuzzled her friend’s hand, and lapped at the saltiness of her skin.
“I sure wish I could go with you. You don’t know what it’s like staying behind month after month, and year after year.”
If Silver could talk at that moment, she would assure Jana that hope wasn’t lost. There still was that chance for her to experience the change. From what she’d learned in her short time as a werewolf, females only shifted after reaching their sexual maturity. Jana may not suffer from a genetic “defect,” as indicated by Sheba. Maybe there was another reason she hadn’t undergone her shift yet.
Lupa moved from her position on the other side of the bench, and approached Silver slowly. Even though the dog was considered oversized for an animal, she was half the size of Silver’s wolf shape.
The other dog dropped her head toward the floor and whined, showing her subservience. Silver barked, giving off a few quick yaps. No reason for her companion to feel like she was less than.
Her father stood on an oversized boulder, overseeing everyone getting together. Head held high, the strength of his body showed in his broad shoulders and fierce determination. Seeing him in his wolf form was new for Silver. He took on more of a commanding presence.
A body brushed by hers, and the sensation flowed across her hair and instinctively her stomach quivered. She turned to see the new arrival, and knew it was Viktor. She didn’t need to see him shift to recognize him in wolf form. Pure masculine sex appeal. He exuded dominance, and he stood taller than any other wolf within the Pack, even taller than her father. If he wanted to fight for the lead position, Viktor would probably win. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to possess a desire to overthrow the ruler.
What was his ancestry? She hadn’t heard any mention of his parents, or other family members. Maybe he’d moved over from Sheba’s former pack, or someone became adopted in. Or, maybe like her, he’d lost his parents. Most everyone else within the Pack was related in some manner, or had migrated to the compound via marriages. She hadn’t done an exact headcount, but figured they were about thirty or forty strong, with about one-third young adults and children.
In order to keep from inbreeding, many of mating age traveled to other packs. Although werewolves tended to be territorial, those who were shifters, especially pure breeds, and healthy, were readily welcomed into another tribe. Expectations would be for Silver, though, to stay within the Wolfe Pack. With her father being the leader, he wanted to ensure his genetic lineage remained. So far, the only direct descendent was Lowell, Trevor’s son, but she wasn’t about to describe his unknown heritage, and she was pretty certain Trevor would keep her nephew in New Orleans. They wouldn’t be traveling out to visit the forest any time soon.
The adrenaline level of the Pack shifted quickly. The wolves readied themselves, standing and pawing at the floor. The anticipation of the hunt kicked up a notch, and Silver’s level of readiness made her muscles tense.
Nathaniel lifted his head toward the heavens and howled, drawn out and almost sorrowful. The other wolves joined in, and Silver found herself raising her head and joining in. With a powerful leap, Nate jumped from the rock and took off at a full run. The rest of the Pack fell into place behind him, and Silver and Viktor joined in.
The wolf, whom Silver knew was supposed to protect her, kept pace with her stride. He could totally take off, and leave her behind, but he seemed more than happy to run at a soft jog instead.
The minute they hit the heart of the forest, the light darkened. Instinct guided them through the trees and over sketchy areas in the path. At such a fast clip, the foliage passed by quickly, and Silver’s muscles protested after fifteen minutes.
How far would they run? The only experience she’d had as a werewolf was out at night with her brother, running through some of the city’s parks. She’d never been in an expanse so big. Literally, they all could branch out and get lost from each other. The magnitude of the space awed her and intrigued her. She wanted to run until her body gave out, tired and sated.
The old trees grew together, branches and leaves dancing and intertwining at the tops, blocking out the night sky. They ran together, panting and swerving, paws digging into the moist earth, and the scents of the wild filling their senses. Up ahead, a glimmer of light at the opening to the glen beckoned all, and they ran harder and faster.
In a burst of energy, those closest to the front sprung fo
rward, leaping into the soft meadow and breaking free into the open space. Silver strained, her heart racing, awaiting that moment of freedom, and finally bathed in the warmth of the sky’s radiance. The full moon hung heavy, shimmers of golden yellow reflected on the stream. Her soul expanded with joy.
One by one, the wolves of the pack began to howl, singing in unison, and she lifted her voice to join the others. A sense of belonging flowed through her. Together, they were part of something much bigger. As the chorus tapered off, the memory of power and feeling remained with her.
Viktor body-checked her, moving his shoulder into hers. He wore a big-ass grin. She’d never really thought about seeing a wolf smile before but that happiness spread from his eyes all the way to his upturned mouth.
She licked the tip of his nose, and he pulled back, checking her out.
Off to the side, a few male wolves wrestled, fighting for an unknown reason. A handful of she-weres took to the water, and after the long run, Silver thought it looked like a pretty good idea.
She padded over to the water’s edge. Viktor burst in front of her, growling and barking. When she tried to push by her he snarled, baring his teeth. Sure, she was new to the tribe, but that didn’t give his any reason to keep her from going in the water. She growled back, attempting to move forward.
Suddenly, he lunged forward and out of the grasses he brought up a large green and black striped snake. He held the creature right below its head. Deep fangs hung out, and Silver wondered about the possibility of fainting in wolf form. Viktor shook it, ran to the edge, and tossed it in the water, away from the swimmers.
In thanks, she nuzzled his neck, and he took a step back, almost bowing before her, his head sweeping close to the ground, and trotting off to another area of the meadow.
Although she’d become comfortable in her new environment, she had to remember not to become compliant. She didn’t know the terrain, and danger lurked where she least expected it.
Chapter Six
Slowly, Silver adjusted to Pack life. They tended to do things together: gathering food, cooking, cleaning. She’d always been drawn to being with others, and now understood her nature a bit better. Often, she caught Viktor watching her from afar. Her father had tasked him with ensuring her protection, but did his interest mean more?
“Would you like to see more of the surrounding area?” he asked one afternoon. “It may be safer for you if you knew more about where we lived.”
His offer surprised her. After being cooped up within the encampment, she ached to get out and explore. A few gave them inquisitive looks as they set out, and Jana caught Silver’s eye.
Viktor and Silver trekked out, starting on one of the connecting paths and eventually veering off. When the terrain became unsettled, Viktor would guide her, holding onto her elbow or her hand.
“You need to be careful when you venture out at times, especially during hunting season. Many wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a wolf, but sometimes mistakes happen, too,” he explained. “It can be dangerous.”
“Men and guns,” she said.
“What?”
“The danger’s inherent, right? When it comes to men and guns,” she said.
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those bleeding hearts out here in the forest. You know we live off the land for the most part, right?”
“I’m not arguing the necessity. But accidents do happen.”
He stopped to look at her, judging her comments. Either she passed muster, or he didn’t want to continue on with the discussion because he left it alone.
“Come on. Our destination is right ahead.”
The incline became steeper, and Silver’s calves burned from exertion. It certainly was a different workout than walking the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter. Although she was in the same state, it might as well be a world away.
Viktor moved behind her. “Shut your eyes,” he commanded, placing his large palms over her eyes in case she decided to peek. She briefly took in the strength of his body and his masculine scent, and they moved on.
“Now look.”
Slowly, she opened her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. As far out as she could see, trees crowded the horizon. “It’s magnificent,” she said, awe evident in her voice. “I never imagined.”
“I know exactly how you feel,” Viktor said, “When I left the forest for the city, I wasn’t used to isolated trees scattered here and there. It seemed so planned and forced. Here”—he swept his arm across the horizon—“no one can control nature. No matter how hard we try, nature has a way of striking back and teaching us a lesson.”
“What do you mean, when you left the forest? Didn’t you always live here?”
“No, I haven’t always been with the Pack,” Viktor said.
His admission startled Silver. She couldn’t imagine him anyplace else. “What do you mean? Where did you live?”
“My schooling was elsewhere. I may seem country, but I actually went to some of the best schools, and got a college degree in architecture.”
What he said made sense, but it was still difficult to picture. He blended in with the forest and nature so well, like he’d been there all of his life.
“Like some religions, we believe a young adult needs to go out and experience life before committing themselves to pack life. If a person doesn’t know any different, they may wonder and wander later in life. If they are given the opportunity to get a taste for the ‘real’ world and still want to come back here, well, that means it was meant to be.”
“Where did you go to school?” She had barely traveled herself, and now she was finding out Viktor possessed more depth than she assumed.
“Well, for kindergarten through twelfth grade, I was in local schools, and spent some time in New Orleans. When it came to college, though, I went out to California. UCSD, that’s in San Diego. I studied architecture and engineering.”
“California?” Her sister-in-law Lucy was from California, and it seemed like a huge coincidence, but from what Silver knew, Orange County and San Diego were not all that close. “So what made you come back here to Louisiana?”
“It’s in my blood. I had to. While I wanted to get that knowledge, and had some amazing experiences, I couldn’t see myself living out west forever. It wasn’t where I belonged.”
Funny how one’s body could call one to a geographical location. Silver knew exactly what Viktor was talking about. All these years she spent in New Orleans, and around the French Quarter; it should have been home to her, but not until she had arrived at the Pack did she feel like she’d truly come home, despite the fact it was a place she had never seen or even experienced. Now, she couldn’t even bear to think about potentially leaving. What if they didn’t want her there? What if her father Nathaniel rejected her for some reason?
“Did you meet any Others while you were out there? Lily mentioned a run-in with a vampire near her home, but what about werewolves?”
“Definitely, especially with all the wide-open spaces, the mountains, and all the environmental concerns. People care about the environment there, or at least they are made to by the government. California has some of the strictest laws protecting nature. In the wide scope, they wouldn’t make much of a difference. Locally, though, it shows.”
Silver infused her lungs with the clear air and the layered scents from the greens to the rich, dark soil. Life.
Her blood sizzled with her own existence, and beyond. The uncontrollable urge to run came over her. She turned to Viktor expectantly, and he was looking down at her, smiling.
“You want to shift and explore?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, please. How did you know?”
“You wouldn’t be a true werewolf if you didn’t feel that way.”
She punched him lightly on his shoulder, not that she made any sort of dent at all. “Were you testing me?”
&n
bsp; “Maybe a little, but guess what?”
“Hmmm?” She put her fist on her hip.
“You passed with flying colors. Now, let’s go.”
Silver hesitated. In order to shift, she needed to strip out of her clothes, and suddenly shyness overtook her. She wasn’t ready to be naked in front of Viktor, at least not yet. The thought excited her, and a dampness spread between her legs. His nostrils flared, as if he could smell her desire. She needed to learn his tells. When Nick was turned on, his fangs would extend.
“I’ll be right back,” she said. “I’m going to go get a little bit more comfortable.”
“You do that.”
After folding her clothes into a small pile, she pondered the best place to store them. That was a bad thing about shifting in an unknown area. It meant she had to return to his site in order to retrieve her items, or go without them. In New Orleans, Trev had taught her locations to keep an extra set.
A light breeze whipped around her body as she stood there nude. She envisioned the power of nature flowing through her limbs, providing her the strength and the magic to alter her frame. The first time she’d shifted, right after losing her virginity, it was a terrifying and painful experience, one she hadn’t been expecting. Since then, she’d learned to embrace her dual nature, and what that brought with it.
She hunched over, snout elongating, a thick downy coat of silver fur covering her body. Although she couldn’t see them at the moment, she knew her eyes remained blue, and she wondered what Viktor’s reaction would be to seeing her in wolf form. She’d soon find out.
With a timid pace, she came out from behind the brush she’d been hiding behind. Before her stood the most magnificent, humongous wolf she’d ever seen. Unlike her light coat, and her brother’s fur, which was blond, Viktor’s covering was dark black. As he moved, the muscles along his body rippled with a controlled power. He circled her, taking in her own scent. She moved with him, playing a game of cat and mouse, but she wouldn’t be the prey here.