by T. F. Walsh
The landscape swept by in a rush as I drove along the unforgiving track. Every so often, the descending moon glinted from behind clouds.
I was exhausted of everything, and refused to ponder about the things that swarmed my brain. The damage was done. I had to set things right before I started my new life with Connell.
I parked in the trekker’s parking lot, jumped out and started hunting.
Chapter Sixteen
Outside, the sun ascended, and the early morning winds raged. I kicked my foot into the car’s accelerator and raced through Braşov, hoping to beat Connell home. For hours I had followed the dracwulf’s heavy scent in circles with no result.
I laughed to myself. The Lunar Eutine ceremony was that night, and I was going into it uncertain if the elixir would work. My wolf roared awake inside me, a sure signal of the full moon’s approach.
Finding Connell wasn’t home meant one fewer thing for him to cross-examine me about. I staggered toward the bathroom and jumped into a scorching shower while I reflected on my last few shitty days. The dead body in my apartment screamed set-up. It was just another thing I had to address.
Emerging from the shower, I dragged on black jeans and a long-sleeve top. With a hot cup of coffee fresh from the percolator in my hands, I notice the clock on the microwave: 8:24 A.M. and still no sign of Connell.
I slouched on the kitchen stool and pondered how I’d collect a few drops of human blood for the elixir. The cutlery draw offered plenty of butter knives, and two huge carving blades. Not sure how Connell might react if I pulled either of them on him.
Uncertain what the day would bring, I decided to spend some time alongside Connell for a little while, and then depart with some lame-ass excuse about work to do more hunting. Most of all, I was tired of the bad luck I had when searching for the damn dracwulf, but I would find her today even if it meant ripping the woods apart with my bare hands. After the Lunar Eutine that night, if I turned human, I’d be as vulnerable as Connell against the creature.
The front door opened.
Connell strode into the kitchen, his red eyes half-closed and hair frizzy. A weak smile hung on his mouth as he placed the keys on the counter. Up close, I caught his perspiration and the stale police station smell. “I was worried you’d be gone when I returned.”
“I’m here.” I straightened my back. “Coffee?”
“Sounds perfect.” He studied me. Detecting lies was something he probably knew a lot about, coming in contact with criminals on a regular basis. Most of my excuses to Connell were lies, and I hoped I did a good enough job to conceal them. “You’re being a ninja today?”
Up on my feet, I threw him a pose with hands on my hips. “You like it?”
“You always look beautiful to me.” The sadness in his voice tore my insides, and he dropped his gaze.
Slumped into the seat, I wanted to fall into his arms, take away the pain and remind him how perfect we were together. The past week I’d driven a huge wedge between us, but who was I kidding? The cracks were already there from months of hiding secrets and Connell’s growing suspicions.
“I need a shower, or I’ll fall asleep on my feet.” He stumbled out of the room.
I placed my head in the crook of my arm as a headache pulsed in my temples. My back muscles pinched, and my wolf rose again, fiercer than during previous full moons, poking and thrusting against my insides, like I was nothing but a sack restraining her.
After fifteen or so minutes, Connell appeared in the doorframe wearing only blue jeans, and I couldn’t take my gaze off his chest and six-pack. His hair tousled around his face in heavy masses reaching his jaw line, and he ran his hands through his golden hair, brushing it back.
He poured himself coffee. From across the bar, his chocolate eyes were intent on me. “Vasile verified your whereabouts yesterday, but the police will need to interview you again.” He leaned his hip against the counter. “And I’ve held back the information about you hunting wolves, for now.” He gave me a dark look. “You’ve got yourself into enough trouble.”
I managed a half-smile. “Thanks.”
“I’ve reported the attack in the alleyway and provided a detailed description of the wolf.” He turned away. “And until they find who killed the woman in your apartment, you must remain in Braşov.”
“When will they send out the wolf hunting party?”
“It’s not that simple.” He took another mouthful of coffee. “They only have my report as a witness.” He shot me an expression drowned in resentment and sorrow, and then placed his cup into the sink. “We’re setting up watchers on the perimeter of the woods later tonight, and any wolf sighted will be shot on the spot. No trekkers are permitted at this time.”
My emotions tore between apologizing and confessing everything, yet all I managed to do was stare at his bare torso.
“Your institute has been issued passes to travel into the woods, and Vasile has yours. I can give you a lift there.” He cleared his throat and took my cup to the sink. “You’re awfully quiet.”
Heat exploded across my skin, and I climbed to my feet. “My mind is a swirl of thoughts, but I can’t pin any of it down. I’m devastated that my neighbor is dead, the police suspect me, and even worse, I feel you slipping away from me. So, what am I supposed to say?”
Instead of collecting me into his embrace and kissing me, Connell stood there like one of those God statues in museums that wore almost nothing, but were sculptured to perfection. I wanted to forget everything the day was about to bring and beg Connell to make love to me until I passed out. His hands dug into his pockets, pulling the jeans lower over his hipbone. My stomach tingled. He shifted his weight, and blond hair tumbled over his face.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen between us,” he said. “I wish you would have trusted me to help you.”
I choked up and started crying. For the past year, I pretended to be someone else, thinking nothing more of it until I fell for Connell, and as a result I was drowning in my own lies.
“I need some air.” I hurried to the front door and didn’t hear Connell follow me. Outside, the cloudless morning gripped me with its frozen breath, and I considered my options. With or without Connell, humanity was my destiny, not being Sandulf’s slave.
Connell soon emerged from the house and joined me on the footpath, rugged looking in a fleecy top. “There’s a park round the corner. A bit of fresh air might do us both good.” His hands returned to his pockets, instead of wrapping around me. “So, are there many people like you around?”
My shoulders tensed. “People like me?”
“Wolf hunters.”
“You could say it’s a dying breed.”
“How many wolves have you caught?”
Enre and I had tackled a lot of stray or dangerous wolves close to the city, and most of the time a growl and chase did the trick. We’d wrestled territorial bears, but never kept tally. “I don’t remember.”
He chuckled. “How many rogue wolves can there be in one forest?”
“You’d be surprised what a starved wolf or pack is capable of.”
“So I’m guessing you’re in the woods a lot, with your friend Enre? He did say he lived out in the farming district.”
“You could say that.” I stuck to my policy of not saying much.
We crossed the main road after a car sped past and followed a narrow path with white townhouses to our left and a towering terracotta-paved wall, spanning the length of the street, to our right. The whole time I stole glimpses of Connell.
The curved path brought us to an oversized iron gate spread wide open, complete with spiked bars. Beyond the entrance lay an open park the size of a football field. The path wove among trees stripped of leaves, and the breeze whistled past us. On the inner walls of the park, climbing vines clung to the bricks. At the
right time of year, their flowers would bloom and grace the entire wall in an array of color. Now they hugged the bricks like shriveled veins on a carcass. A bench to the side caught my attention. My mind wandered to brushing off the leaves, taking a seat, and forcing Connell to kiss me.
“There are a few hunters left, and it’s strictly a family business.” I gave him a tidbit. From the corner of my eye, I spotted a smile crawling up his cheeks.
Ahead, the track forked in two opposite directions. Connell led me off the path onto the squishy soil. The wind zoomed past and carried a concoction of exhaust fumes, the tart aroma of wild berries, and wet dog fur.
I stopped, and an intense heat rolled over me as I scanned the perimeter. Even though the trees were scarce of leaves, the extensive space and multitude of trunks blocked much of the area. Then I caught sight of stormy eyes set in a porcelain-pale slim face and long blonde hair that flapped in the gust like a cape.
Lutia sauntered in our direction, exaggerating the swing of her hips. Clad in indigo pants, heels, and a translucent long sleeve shirt, she broke into a smirk.
She paused a few steps away. “Well, I can see why you don’t want to leave this place.” Her gaze slid to Connell and scanned him head to toe.
Connell straightened his posture.
“What did she tell you?” Lutia’s voice was slick like a snake’s hiss.
His brows bunched together. “I’m not too sure what you mean. Who are you?”
“Leave him alone,” I said.
She curled a strand of hair on her finger. “Did she tell you she was already involved with another man? A man she got killed.”
“That’s a lie, and you know it.” My fists clenched.
Connell’s soft voice said, “Enre?”
I turned to him. “It’s a long story.”
“Yes, Enre.” Lutia’s voice purred.
Connell raised a questioning brow. “What’s going on?”
“She’s lying. Enre and I used to date.” Adrenaline punched through me at revealing a lie I had told him.
Lutia leaned her shoulder into a tree and watched.
“What do you want from me?” My gaze threw daggers toward her.
“What the hell is going on, Daci?” Connell’s voice grew edgy. “Stop hiding things from me.”
“She’s hiding many things, aren’t you?” Lutia reclined against the tree as if she was watching her favorite television show.
My reflexes snapped, and I grabbed a handful of her blouse, bringing her into me and muttering, “Remember my promise?”
Her expression fell serious, and her smirk vanished. “You can’t hurt me. I’m the female alpha.”
“Oh, I can and will.”
She whispered, “Sandulf will kick you out of the pack once you turn.” Her grin returned.
Connell squeezed my shoulder. “Let her go.”
I brushed Connell’s hand off and released Lutia, who said, “You little brat, you never listened to him and now you’ll pay the consequence.” The side of her lips curled into a snarl. “You’re no longer the special one.”
As tempted as I was to smash my fist into her perfect little nose, I simply said, “Leave.”
Her high-pitched laughter stabbed my ears. She stumbled backward, yanking down her crumpled shirt.
“Can’t wait for the fun to begin tonight.” Lutia strode back into the mass of tree trunks, disappearing from my sight like the wind. No matter what, Sandulf was determined to destroy my life.
“Tell me the truth this time.” Connell’s heavy voice crawled up my nape. “Who was that?”
There were so many untruths, I didn’t know where to start. Connell believed I hunted wolves in my spare time with a crazed family I never spoke about.
He reached out for my hand, and I grasped it quick. There was no doubt regarding his devotion, even if it wavered, but could he accept the truth?
“Lutia is a family friend. And yes, Enre and I used to date.”
Something flickered in his eyes, and he pulled his hand from mine. When he spoke, his words grew hard. “How long ago did you and Enre split?”
“More than a year ago.”
“Why lie to me about Enre? What are you hiding?” The look of disgust etched his face.
“My family is complicated.” I blinked away.
“Everything with you is complicated.” His voice climbed.
I avoided his glare and surveyed my grimy boots — scratched and tainted with patches of dried mud. I didn’t want to talk about me anymore.
“Strange things continue to happen to you. Like the dead body in your apartment, and who exactly was Enre, considering you said he was your family friend. Is that why you’re embarrassed to tell me? Why does that girl hate you, and who is Sandulf? Isn’t that your surname?”
“My family is hard to explain.” I held his stare.
His cheeks turned a rosy hue, and his jaw tightened. “Until you sort yourself out, this thing with us,” his hand flipped back and forth through the air between our chests, “is stopping right now.”
I moved closer.
“Don’t.” The color had drained from his face, and he scrutinized a nearby tree, his eyes glistening. “I deserve to know the truth.” Windblown hair slashed his face, and I yearned to run my fingers through the tangle.
“If I could tell you, I would.”
He snapped at me. “Don’t you understand? I lied to my boss for you. I’ve already been kicked off the case because I admitted we were in a relationship. I could lose my job.”
A bitter gale blew through the park, and I let it rip me with its icy fingers. “I’m sorry. It isn’t — ”
He cut me off with a wave of his hand. “I don’t want to hear any more of your lies.” His shoulders sagged forward. “You’ve got me all wound up. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Do you really love me, or is that a lie, too?”
The harshness of his words had my legs buckling beneath me. “Of course I love you.” I grabbed his arm, squeezed and met his hard-edged gaze. We stayed like that a few moments, staring into each other’s eyes.
“Tell me the whole truth, or I’m leaving right now.”
What could I say? My tangled web of lies had me cornered, and at that point I suspected he wouldn’t believe the truth. “Please, don’t. Just give me some time.”
He ripped his hand out of mine and strode away.
“Connell, no!” I froze. Tears saturated my cheeks, and I let myself weep, convinced I had lost any will to live. Was I worthy of him? My messed-up life kept me from ever knowing happiness. Then I found Connell and everything changed. Maybe he was better without me, without lies, without secrets.
I staggered to a bench and continued crying. I loved Connell more than anything, and the possibility that I lost him shattered my heart into a billion pieces. My thoughts distorted into nothing. I lay on my side, unable to fathom a life without him.
After a long while, I crawled to my feet and wiped my eyes. The sizzling heat spread to every part of my body, and I started the slow stagger toward the forest, my last salvation.
When I reached the edge of the Carpathian Mountains, I scoured the place for police — or watchers, as Connell had called them. Aside from the entrance gate, locked shut with metal chains, the area was clear.
I slipped inside and started to run, weaving between enormous trees and not caring that trunks scraped my arms or low-hanging branches thrashed me. I welcomed them.
Chapter Seventeen
Connell, the man I loved, was slipping from my grasp.
My hair, slick with sweat, stuck to the sides of my face and neck, and the sickening burden of Enre’s capture gurgled in my chest. His ocean blue eyes, behind strands of ink black hair pierced my thoughts with guilt. I was no closer to findin
g the dracwulf, regardless how many times I searched the damned woods. Within a week, I had managed to lose everything. A raw anger seeped into my veins. I wrapped my arms around my shoulders and shivered.
I had nothing left to lose. It was all taken from me. So I’d go down blazing, taking with me whoever stood in my way.
I returned to the area where the dracwulf marked her territory and heard a tiny whisper on the winds. Hunched near a thicket of bushes, I picked out Sandulf’s scent, along with decayed flesh. I leaned forward and peered through the shrubs. The alpha kneeled over a dead gray wolf and patted the animal’s body as his head shook.
I remembered the pack leader from my younger years, compassionate for the wolves and tenacious in his protection against intruders. Ever since Alina’s passing, he hadn’t been the same.
He climbed to his feet and walked away then paused by a tree, cocking his head toward the dead animal. A mournful expression consumed his expression. Without thinking, I stood and he snapped in my direction, a snarl hanging off his lips.
All kinds of questions raced inside my head. Had he stopped the dracwulf? Did he find Enre? How could he guarantee the Varlac would not hunt the pack down?
Sandulf’s lips pressed into thin, white lines. An awkward silence fell between us, and unlike in our earlier years, Sandulf no longer felt like my father, but a stranger. He fooled me into trusting him, all the while hiding the real monster living inside him.
“Just tell me why you’re risking the pack’s lives for your selfishness?” I blurted unexpectedly.
He leaned against the tree, his posture casual, yet there was nothing calm about the fierceness in his stare. “Tonight everything will change for you.”
My life had already changed, and I doubted things could ever be the same again. I dropped my gaze to the wolf. Insects circled and devoured the poor creature’s neck. “What happened?”
“Someone shot her.” Something in his voice softened.
“I’d say it was the police starting their wolf hunts. Another reason you should stop the dracwulf.”