Dark of Night

by T. F. Walsh

  Enre’s weight slowed the dracwulf’s rush, and I kept them in sight, but the distance between us lengthened. Then the fog and darkness snatched them away.

  My foot jammed beneath a tree root, and I lurched. The forest floor came out of nowhere. I hit the ground, and my mind plunged into a darkened abyss, blacker than the night surrounding me.

  In my vision, I floated mid-air with Braşov at my feet. I struggled to view the heavens, and the closer I looked at the stars, the more they resembled Enre’s eyes. Hundreds of blue crystals blinked and stared in every direction. They swayed closer. I kicked and punched them away.

  • • •

  I jerked awake. Leaves lay tossed across the forest floor. Tree branches trembled and the blustery weather was merciless. I curled in a ball, guessing that several hours had passed since I fell. I pressed the wound at my side and uncontrollable quivers seized my body, pulsing through my torso like electric currents.

  Enre was lost and perhaps eaten. I had made a fatal error: I assumed I held control of my wolf outside the full moon. God, his capture was my fault. Tears burned in my eyes, and my throat constricted. But I needed to believe there was a chance of Enre’s survival and pushed off the ground, searching for city lights. I staggered for what seemed like hours and winced with every step. When I finally crashed past the front door of the pack house, I screamed for help.

  Botolf emerged, wearing flowery pajamas. Sandulf followed and flipped the lights on. They both looked shocked, taking in all the blood and leaves covering my body.

  The pack leader’s voice trembled. “Daciana, what happened?”

  Botolf rushed over to me. “Lean against me.”

  I let him take my weight and we limped over to the single chair in the house. Then he vanished into the hallway.

  Sandulf asked again. “What happened?”

  I opened my mouth to speak but only a squeak shrilled. I took a breath and hit upon my voice. “We found the dracwulf. Enre and I couldn’t stop it.”

  My body convulsed. Botolf returned with a bucket of water and several towels. He started to clean the wound on my hip. My teeth gritted each time he touched the lesion.

  Sandulf touched my cheek. “Where’s Enre?”

  A breath lodged in my throat. “The beast took him.”

  “What?”

  My words dragged and slurred. “I have to find him.”

  “You’re not going anywhere in this state,” Botolf blurted.

  “It’s my fault. My wolf didn’t come out.” I lost control of my emotions, and tears fell free.

  Botolf squeezed my shoulder, his expression showing his horror.

  Images of Enre eaten alive numbed me. I swayed with nausea and clung to Botolf’s arm to steady my body as I leaned out of the chair. For my own sanity, Enre had to be alive. Otherwise I couldn’t live with myself, knowing the role I played in his death.

  Sandulf slipped his finger beneath my chin, lifting my head, until I caught a glimpse of fear in the pack leader’s eyes.

  “I couldn’t stop her. I wanted to, but no matter what we did, she kept attacking.” I cupped my face.

  Sandulf groaned. “You’ll be okay.”

  “She’s headed west.”

  “Let your body rest.”

  “He might be alive.” I thrust myself off the seat, nudging Botolf in the process. “I need to find him now, before it’s too late!” My legs gave out, and I collapsed half on the chair, half in Botolf’s arms.

  Sandulf’s growl pierced my ears. “I told you to return home and then no one would get hurt.” He rubbed his mouth. “Not Enre,” he murmured to himself. Then to me, “What did you do?”

  I glanced at the alpha, his cheeks paler than snow.

  “He’s … bitten. We can … him … ” My words broke off.

  Hyperventilation made it difficult to breathe and speak at the same time. The realization of what had happened slithered along my neck like a slick tongue. A swirl of black spots returned to my vision. The bigger they became, the farther I dropped into the pit of my darkened mind.

  Chapter Eleven

  I felt sunlight on my face. I stirred awake in the pack house bedroom. For a few seconds, I lay there fighting the fog from my sleep. Outside, the wind whistled and rattled the windows. Then like a train at full speed, the memories hit: Enre’s body being dragged by the beast, his eyes harboring the horror of someone about to die, and my own devastation at being abandoned by my inner wolf when I needed her most.

  My head felt as if a vise squeezed it, and I touched moist bandages at my side. A spasm traveled through my body. I tugged the bear-fur to my chin.

  The previous night’s events played on my mind, and I couldn’t find the off button. I wondered whether Enre was still alive, lying in a pit somewhere on the forest floor, alone and hurt, or perhaps the dracwulf … No. I didn’t even want to give thought to such a possibility. I scrunched my eyelids tight and shook my head. His capture had been my fault.

  The wooden floorboards groaned. Someone stood outside the door. I wiped my cheeks and supported myself on my elbows. “Come in already.”

  The door creaked ajar, and Botolf entered with clean bandages dangling from his hand. He wore his usual Hawaiian shirts and khaki pants. Carrot-colored sunsets flowed across the middle of his top with overgrown fuchsia hibiscus flowers strewn along the shore. Anyone meeting Botolf for the first time might mistake him for a rich, retired man who traveled on cruise ships in his spare time.

  I stole a glance behind him into an empty hall; there was no scent of Sandulf in the house. Sandulf had to admit the mess was his creation. Perhaps he was still searching for Enre, or cleaning up after himself.

  “Daciana?”

  I glanced up.

  “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Like shit.” My voice engorged with pain. “Did they find Enre?” The twinges returned, my elbows gave way, and I fell back onto the fur.

  “You need to rest and let yourself heal. Don’t force it.”

  A scream clung to my throat, but my anger flared at the situation, not Botolf. Another round of stings hit, and my face scrunched up.

  “Let me change your bandages.”

  Using all my strength, I turned onto my good side toward the window, relishing the sun’s warmth. I bit back a shriek, wishing Botolf ripped the bandages off in one motion, rather than prolonging the sensation of tearing skin from the sticky bandages.

  I spoke through gritted teeth. “Where’s Sandulf?”

  Botolf let out a long puff of air. “He hasn’t returned to the house since the night you turned up.”

  “That was yesterday.”

  He slid the sweat-slicked hair off my cheek. “My sweet girl, you’ve been asleep for over twenty-four hours. Sandulf’s been gone for a full day and night. It’s Monday morning.”

  Dread filled me as I contemplated the dracwulf attacking Connell while I slept. What if he had given up on me already, moved on, and forgotten about our love? His words about me disappearing for nights at a time echoed in my throbbing head. The ache at my side reminded me I couldn’t get out of bed, but I needed to know he was safe.

  I tried to twist around, but Botolf pressed his fingers into my back. “Hold still.”

  Botolf stayed in the house because he followed the pack leader’s order. Whether I had joined Enre on the hunt made no difference, Enre would have gone anyway. His stubbornness won most arguments, but it didn’t excuse me from not stopping him.

  In a victorious voice, Botolf said, “Done.”

  I rolled over as Botolf was wrapping the bloody bandages into a ball.

  “How long does someone have to be missing before we send out a search party?”

  His heavy brows lowered. “Don’t blame yourself. This wasn’t your fault.”r />
  I turned my gaze to the window, refusing to let him see my tears. “Yes it was. I shouldn’t have encouraged Enre.”

  “Get more sleep. Hopefully you’ll be walking by this time tomorrow.” He patted my shoulder. “Your wound is healing faster than I expected.”

  Botolf departed and shut the door behind him.

  The room sunk into silence, and I remained on my back beneath the blanket, praying for fast healing. My injury burned, and I fought against another surge of annoyance and shame. I slipped in and out of consciousness over the next few hours. Painful screams boomed in my head, but I was unable make out if they came from my fitful dreams or me.

  • • •

  Muffled voices brought me out of deep sleep. I recognized the pack leader’s scent along with several other wulfkin. With the blanket off me, I climbed to my feet and clutched my bandaged side. My fingers turned red.

  Good news, the pain had died down. Bad news, I didn’t pick up Enre’s timber mark in the house.

  Going through the pile of my old clothes Botolf hadn’t thrown out yet, I dressed in gray hipster track pants that barely reached my calves and a faded black T-shirt with a rip in the shoulder, and then headed straight for the bathroom. I grimaced at my appearance. I looked like the Hulk bursting out of my clothes. My brown hair hung limp to my shoulders, tangled with bits of blood. Joy, I was a mutant about to confront Sandulf.

  The need to vomit gushed forward. I bent over the toilet and let it out. My wolf jerked inside me, coiling on herself, stretching and pushing against my organs. Her whimpers sailed up my throat. The moon’s call burned across my flesh crueler than before, and the desperate urge to rip free from my skin had to be the Lunar Eutine’s lure. The nausea returned, and only bile rushed out that time. Inside of me, I already felt a change. Something primal and feral leeched to my insides, spreading like a toxic vine.

  I relieved myself, washed my hands and face with the icy tap water. “Calm down,” I told myself. “At least Radu has the book.” I breathed one small sigh of relief, and headed into the main room.

  The bright sunlight from the windows blinded me. I focused on the five heads turning toward me at once. Sandulf, Botolf, Radu, Matias, and Lutia sat on the fur rugs in the center of the room, hushing their whispers.

  “How’s your injury?” Radu spoke with a genuine caring tone.

  I shrugged, unable to shape words. Between Lutia’s grin and Sandulf’s hard stare, my defenses rose. The alpha’s khaki pants and shirt were clean and indicated he hadn’t hunted for Enre that day.

  “What’s happened?”

  The group exchanged glances. A twitch traveled over Botolf’s face, betraying his calm mask. Had Enre’s body been found? Glancing around the room, a folded newspaper nestled beneath the window, multiple plates stacked on a chair, and a mound of fresh wood gathered near the fireplace. No Enre.

  I kept my voice low despite the heat bubbling inside me. “Talk to me.”

  Radu, Matias and Botolf bowed their heads forward. Lutia’s lips broadened. Sandulf — on the other hand — stared at me with cold eyes, his nose wrinkled and lips peeling back. “You’re obviously having a problem understanding my orders?” He stood up.

  My instincts roared to get out of there, but I held my ground, refusing to let Sandulf push me aside. In a few days, I might never return to the pack house, and I couldn’t keep running from him.

  Sandulf stepped closer, and Botolf leaned out of his path. “I asked you to do one simple thing, and you let me down.”

  “I tried to stop the cops.”

  “No.” His voice barked. “I said I would take care of the dracwulf. Now look what you’ve done.” His gaze streamed over the other pack members who avoided his glare.

  I attempted to fold my arms, but my injury refused to quiet down, and I almost lost my footing as I tensed through the pain. “But you didn’t do anything about it.”

  His voice rumbled into a snarl like an approaching thunderstorm. “Enre’s capture is your fault!”

  A shiver snaked down my back. I’d crossed the line with Sandulf, broken any faith he had in me, and he elbowed me aside in front of the entire pack.

  The alpha moved with such swiftness that before I had a chance to react, he pinned me against the wall by my shoulders. “You keep pushing me,” he growled.

  My side stung. The words poured out of me, and I couldn’t stop them. “You created a dracwulf, and you accuse me?” I roared, more like a lion than a wolf. “You should be out searching for Enre.” The knot in my gut tensed. “You caused this mess. Enre and I were the only ones willing to do something about it.”

  “Who are you to challenge my authority?” Raw anger filled his voice.

  I jerked away, my whole body trembling. “I’m the one who watched Enre being dragged away by the dracwulf. I followed the animal’s trail until I blacked out. I’m the one who has to live with that image for the rest of my life.” My breath quickened, and my wolf whined to come out. “He was my hunting partner. And we’re all dead if the Varlac find out.”

  I searched the other wulfkins’ faces for support. Radu shook his head and mouthed the word “stop.” Hell with it.

  Sandulf swallowed loud enough to draw my attention. “The Varlac is not your concern.”

  “Why not? Is that another secret you’re keeping from us?”

  His gaze hardened. “Your Lunar Eutine is almost here, and now that you’re back home, we’ll put this behind us. I’ll find you a new mate, considering you got Enre killed.”

  “Don’t you dare blame me!” I shouted, my voice climbing with each word. “What have you been doing for the past day? Have you found Enre or destroyed the dracwulf? You must know where the animal hides.”

  A howl burst from Sandulf’s throat, his body quivered with rage, and I saw his struggle to control a transformation. “I can kill you for speaking to me that way.”

  “Go for it.” I placed my hands on my hips despite the pain flaring through my limbs. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold it, but damn if I would let him push me around when his actions created the problems.

  Sandulf shook his head. With one movement, he slammed me into the wall with the back of his hand. “Is this what you want?”

  I used the wall to hold myself up and refused to show weakness. My legs had a different agenda. They gave out beneath me, and I crumpled to the ground. “Did you tell everyone how you sent the dracwulf to kill humans I knew? Or about the encroaching pack?” Since we were sharing, I held nothing back.

  He broke into laughter; it was forced and all for show. “I’d be careful of what you say if I were you, because sometimes what you care for the most can be taken away in a flash.”

  I lifted myself up, and strangled the angry words ready to fly free, suspecting he spoke of Connell. He knew about him — about us. An invisible hand trapped my heart, though Sandulf’s implication that it may happen told me Connell was safe, for the time being.

  Sandulf stalked toward the window and pretended something outside caught his interest. After a long pause, he said, “You’ve run out of options, Daciana. Accept your fate as a wulfkin, or die. No abandoning your pack. You seem very familiar with the rules, so I’m guessing you know no one can stop me from implementing that one.”

  Too many thoughts tore my mind to shreds. I still didn’t know if Radu found a recipe or whether it would work, Connell was in danger, I blamed myself for Enre’s capture, and my injury sapped me of whatever strength I had left. The desire to return to my room and crash was overwhelming, but I had crossed the line of no return.

  Sandulf turned around. “The only reason I’m keeping you alive right now is because I need the police out of the woods. Do that, and you’ll have one more day in your precious human world to tie up any loose ends. Then you’re mine. And don’t try to run away, becaus
e I’ll find you.”

  A heavy blanket of silence fell on the room.

  Lutia’s shrill voice finally broke it. “It’s obvious she doesn’t belong here; just finish her off, Sandulf.” She somehow managed to climb to her feet in her mini denim skirt and tank top, and not flash anyone.

  Sandulf’s chest rumbled. “Let it go, Lutia.”

  She sauntered toward me with hands on hips, and heels click-clacking against the wooden floor. Her flaxen hair hung over her shoulders reaching her stomach, while the color of her eyes resembled storm clouds, always changing and unpredictable.

  Lutia stood a bit taller than me. Her pulse sped, and I inhaled her scent.

  Every breath I took angered my wolf further.

  “Daciana, take Sandulf’s advice.” Her strong Finnish accent stretched my name to sound like “Dachshund.” “Accept your future as a female wulfkin, and help expand the pack. That’s your duty.”

  What concerned Lutia was Lutia, and I had no time for her hypocritical rant. I had disliked her from our first encounter. She appeared on our doorstep one morning, asking for protection from alleged hunters, and Sandulf, never one to turn away wulfkin in need of help, accepted her in our home. She ingrained herself into the pack. I never did find out where she came from before she joined us. Perhaps she left a rogue pack, after betraying them.

  She wiggled her finger at me.

  I could no longer contain myself and snatched her finger, twisting it back until her bone cracked. Her screeches pierced my ears. Swinging my bent arm, I threw my elbow into her face. Blood speckled my shirt and arms. At least, it stopped her howling noise.

  “You bitch!” Lutia’s voice trembled.

  “Is that meant to be an insult?” I spun on my heels and bolted outside, needing air.

  Sandulf’s voice drummed in my ears. “Let her go. She’ll be back.”