“Hey man, it’s great to meet you, too.” Jaime’s shoulders relaxed. “Finally.”
Tristan tossed me a pointed look. I sunk into my seat. What else could I do?
The straw bales were soft but terribly scratchy even through my jeans. Introductions over, I leaned back against the rigid metal frame, the back of my head resting on the top bar. It was frigid to my skin even through my hat.
Jaime wrapped an arm around my back. “You’re going to want to move forward. This will be a bumpy ride.”
No doubt.
The tractor began its slow journey over the hills of the tree farm. Bumpy was an understatement. We were jostled around, sometimes rather ferociously, at every rock and dip. The constant, rumble of the tractor reverberated off the trees around us, planted in precise rows. We turned down a tractor path and made our way toward the forest. As we crept closer to the pitch black woods, a teenager sitting not far from us shrieked with fake terror.
Next to him, a toddler bellowed from genuine fright at hearing the sound. The baby’s mother gave the teenager a nasty look as she cuddled her child closer to calm him.
The kid either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He turned to his friends around him, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “You know, my grandma used to tell me stories about monsters in these woods. She said that they were men who looked just like us but they would change into ferocious beasts when the moon was out.”
I stiffened without meaning to. Jaime squeezed my hand.
The boy continued. “It’s true! They had three-inch long canines, kind of like a saber-tooth tiger. Their fur was like spikes, so sharp it would slice your skin at the slightest touch. But the scariest part of all was they walked among us during the day, acting like totally normal people. Grandma would say that they tried to get close to their victims. Like, spend time with them, let their children play together and gain their trust, but when night fell, their friends were the first to go.”
“Oh shut up, Johnny. You’re going to scare the little kids.” One girl called out though it only goaded him to continue.
“Come on Jill, we’ve all heard the stories. I, for one, made sure to wear silver tonight so that if one of these horrible creatures were to attack us, at least I would have some protection.”
Jill rolled her eyes and turned to the boy to her right. “Uh oh, Jillybean didn’t bring her silver. She’s going to be in trouble if we get high jacked.”
Silver? Seriously? Did this jackass get his werewolf lore only from Hollywood? What an idiot.
Johnny’s voice became serious. “And Jill, look around this area – wolves are a part of everything. Kane’s high school mascot is the wolf. Even our police cars have images of wolves on them. Don’t you find that strange?”
I was starting to seriously dislike this kid.
Jill scoffed at him. “It’s because wolves roam forested areas like this one. You can hear them howling from time to time. It’s no different than if we lived in near the Arctic Circle and our mascot was the polar bear.” Their group of friends laughed out loud. “But it’s a far cry to say that because we have wolves on our police cars that there MUST be werewolves in this town.”
“Actually, Jillybean, the wolf is ingrained in our town’s collective psyche because of the werewolves.”
Jill snorted. A few in their group snickered behind mittens and gloves.
“Think about it. Humans are at the top of the food chain, right? We know there are regular wolves in these forests but they’re not a threat because they’re lower than us. But what happens when you combine the wolf and man into one? What would be a threat to it? Nothing. Now you have a new head of the food chain. Our collective consciousness finds that terrifying and thrilling at the same time. We both fear and revere it.”
Quit philosophizing and shut the hell up!
“You’re talking about a legend like its real. Werewolves don’t exist.” Jill was becoming infuriated and frankly, so was I.
“Then why do the stories about them persist even to this day? I grew up hearing about them. There must be some truth to it.” He looked at Jill with a look so priggish I wanted to hit him.
“Aren’t you a little old to believe the scary bedtime stories your grandma told you?” A middle-aged lady asked the teenager reproachfully.
A fair-haired man on the opposite end of the wagon spoke up. “Actually I’ve heard stories about them too, but they were very different.”
“Werewolves? Seriously?” The lady looked irritated at being contradicted by a grown man. “I know you’re too old for nonsense.”
“No really, there supposedly were werewolves in these woods at one point.”
“I grew up in here in Mt. Jewett, which has plenty of woods, and I’ve never heard this ludicrous story.” The lady crossed her arms as if her point finalized the conversation.
Apparently, the man wasn’t ready to end it so easily.
“My great-aunt would always tell me that playing in the woods without an adult was dangerous because man-wolves roamed the area. They would approach children looking just like a human until they were ready to attack. Then they’d turn into the foulest beasts Hell could spew out. Usually, there’d be nothing left of the little one because the creature would eat every last bit of him, bones, eyes, everything.”
Vomit lurched into my throat. I swallowed hard and took deep breaths through my nose and out my mouth, like you’re supposed to when you’re fighting back stomach bile. I stole a glance at my companions. Jaime seemed mildly interested in the stories while Tristan and Daniel were as still as statues, masks of horror and disgust distorting their features.
A younger father held onto his son. “You took the old legends too far, asshole. This is a family ride, not a gore-fest.” His young child whimpered as he cowered under his dad’s arm.
The asshole began to speak again when another man, somewhere around his fifties but with an imposing build and gravely voice, cut him off. “Dude, you need to shut your trap or I’ll shut it for you.” From the size of biceps and shoulders, I’d have put money down that he really could make the other guy ‘shut his trap’.
Mercifully, the conversation was now over.
I stirred in my seat so that I could get a better view of the forest around us. Though the trees formed a thick blanket of darkness around us, I could still see through it. To distract myself, I indulged in wondering whether or not the fox I just saw was running home to his family. How many siblings did he have? Were they the same golden red as he? A few stags ran off into thick brush as we passed. Their small hooves crunching twigs and leaves delicately as they bounded away.
Jaime pulled me closer to him, drawing my attention away form the forest’s nighttime activities.
“They’re just stories, Sophie. There’s nothing out there that’s going to hurt you.” He chuckled, merrily.
“I know.” I half-heartedly smiled and turned my back to the woods. I refocused my attention to the sky above. As I studied the tiny sparkles, a felt a hot breath on my ear.
“So he’s my competition, huh?” Daniel whispered so low that no one other than Tristan might hear. “And he’s human.” I tilted my face ever so slightly toward his. “I forgive you for breaking my heart, sweetness.” Then he kissed my cheek, soft as a cloud but a kiss just the same. He sent an unreadable look in Jaime’s direction.
Jaime hadn’t noticed a thing.
I couldn’t help but be distracted for the remainder of the evening. Between knowing that people sill whispered horrible stories about my kind eating children, Daniel and Tristan catching me with Jaime, topping it all off with Daniel’s trespassing kiss, I desperately wanted the night over with. I needed to curl up with my patchwork quilt, away from the night’s events, and simply be alone.
Jaime must have sensed my disquiet because he didn’t pressure me to stay at his place after the hayride.
“Worried that your brother will tell on you?” He asked.
“Yes and no.” Ironi
cally, that hadn’t been the worst part of my night.
“Are you afraid to go home alone?” Jaime poked fun at my unease. “With the possibility of dangerous creatures lurking in the dark?”
“No.” I said sharply. “I’m just really tired. I stayed up too late reading last night.”
“Okay.” He nodded. A moment of silence passed between us. Jaime’s whole demeanor was inviting. I had a fleeting desire to stay right where I was but the night’s events left me feeling exhausted and cold. “Will I get to see you tomorrow?” He asked.
I shrugged. “Who knows? I have no idea what’s in store for me when I get home.” I was almost beyond caring.
*
I found Gavin on the couch with today’s Kane Republican in his hands when I stepped in the door.
“Tristan and Daniel said they met up with you at the hayride.” He said without looking up. Every muscle in my body froze. I had been almost beyond caring after the hayride but as the words flew through the air, every ounce of fear swept back into me. Breathe, just breathe. “How was it?” He asked fatherly, putting the paper down. Nothing in his tone suggested he knew.
“Interesting. And disturbing.” My mouth was bone dry. “Some jerks were spouting off at the mouth about local werewolf legends.” Take the focus off me.
He looked resigned. “Well, I figured all the stories couldn’t die out.”
“So you knew there were some whispers about us still being in the area?”
“Not exactly. Werewolf stories come from all over the world. There will always be stories of shape-shifters and the like. But you said these stories say we’re still in the area?”
“Yeah. One guy, an adult no less, told our group that growing up he was told not to play alone in the woods because werewolves would eat him alive until there was nothing left.”
“That is disturbing.” His said darkly.
“Is there anything we should do? Can anything be done?”
“I doubt it.” He sighed and leaned his head back on the couch. “Let me think about it. Maybe we need to stay on the western side of the forest, even further away from hiking trails and towns. Or limit our hunt times even more. I’ll talk to Granddad and see what he thinks.”
“Alright.” I nodded in agreement. My legs wobbled underneath me as I turned toward the stairs.
“Thank you for letting me know. Our avoidance of human society puts us at a disadvantage when it comes to hearing things like this.” Gavin returned to his paper.
At the top of the steps my bedroom door was ajar. As I approached, a light flicked on in my room.
~Decisions~
Tristan was sitting on my bed waiting for me. Tentatively, I approached him though he was definitely upset.
“I haven’t told on you.”
“I know.” I pulled the door shut and sat down next to him.
“Daniel won’t tell either. He doesn’t believe it’s his place to break that kind of news to Gavin.”
I didn’t have a response.
“I’m so angry with you I could destroy a building. And you’ve hurt me immensely.” Tristan’s throat convulsed as a he spoke. “But I do understand why you do it. I’m not stupid or blind. I saw the look on his face when he sat next to you. He loves you Sophie. Truly and absolutely loves you.”
Jaime hadn’t actually ever said the words to me. But I believed deep down Tristan was right. And I knew how I felt.
“I have to know something. Do you care at all for Daniel?”
“No.” I startled. “Daniel is a lot of things – he's charming and deadly hot but he's not for me.”
“And you won’t give up your human, will you?” The question was blunt yet caring. I couldn’t answer him but I didn’t have to. Tristan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Do you think he is capable of handling the truth?”
“What?” I gasped.
“Look, the thought of you spilling the beans to Jaime scares me stupid. But it’s already in the works to match you with Daniel, whether you want him or not. And if you love this human as much as you say, now is the time to act before you are obliged to do something you don’t want to do.”
“Who told you that?”
“Granddad, Gavin, and Mom have their sights set on you two as a mated pair. Mom is practically drooling at the thought of you being mated to such a good catch; he has a career path and will be able to provide a solid home for you and your children. He is proving himself to be a very loving man with the babies. And most of all, he is a strong fighter, a natural Beta. This has Gavin doing cartwheels because now he has another wingman when Thomas can’t be around.” Tristan grabbed my shoulders and turned me toward him. “And it doesn’t help that Daniel wanders around this place practically swooning over you. Everyone knows he wants you.”
“He hit on me – once. But I didn’t think…. “
“You’re not thinking Sophie! That’s the problem! You’ve let yourself be blinded to everything around you. You’re not paying attention to anything anymore. You’re too focused on this human! While you’re off screwing around, everyone here is pitting you with Daniel.”
“They wouldn’t make me…”
“You don’t think so? Just wait until they find out about Jaime and see how sure you are then! Gavin will do anything to protect this family, including giving you to Daniel, by force if necessary.”
“Daniel can’t be trusted, I’m sure of it.” My throat constricted as the words spilled out.
“Everyone else in this family trusts him explicitly; Gavin especially. They’ve buddied up so cozily that I’m certain Gavin would give you away tomorrow if Daniel asked.”
“But Daniel hasn’t asked, has he?”
“No, I’m sure you would know if he had. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Especially now that he knows you’ve been hiding a human lover. Daniel was near violent with jealousy when we talked on the ride home. He sees you as his even though it hasn’t been formally stated.” Tristan took another deep breath and held me closer, speaking low and hurried. “The Daniel I saw tonight after he discovered your human lover was...unnerving. It actually scared me, Sophie. And if you’re forced to be mated with him I fear that he would…I don't know...in retribution for your....” His voice trailed off as he squeezed his eyes shut. “I can’t even think about. You’re my sister, my better half, and my best friend.”
“So you don’t trust him either?” I whispered.
“No,” Tristan let go of me. “No, I don’t. But I don’t have any real reason not to, other than the guy I saw in him tonight, which I can't tell anyone about because that would mean telling on you. So it’s just a gut feeling. No one here will listen to my gut, especially when Daniel has made himself into such a natural and valuable member of the pack.”
I folded my arms across my chest and squeezed. I couldn’t image it coming to this. We’re a family. They would never force me into a mating – would they? To keep me from Jaime – to keep our secret… Oh my god… They would give me away? I couldn’t break free if Gavin ordered it… Daniel and I - a mated pair… The room spun as the reality sunk in.
“I can’t think of a way to resolve this mess.” Tristan strode over to my door. “But I care about you too much to see you compelled into a paring with someone who neither of us trust. So quit your childish games. Grow up and decide what you want and whether or not you’re willing to fight for it.” The door slammed behind him.
~Confessions~
“I can do this. I will do this.” I spoke the words aloud as I pulled up at the research center around five-thirty; just about the time Jaime would be getting ready to leave. Tristan’s words had quite an effect on me. There was no more hiding under the covers willing reality away, not when my future was going to be shaped against my will. I spent the last two weeks convincing myself that if I believed enough in our love, Jaime would be able to take the declaration of my true self in stride. Everything works out in the end, right?
I walked past the elevato
rs to the stairwell and walked down one level to the basement where Jaime’s office was located. I assumed he would still be there putting away whatever paperwork he had been working on during the day, since his lab was empty.
“Hey Sophie.” Jaime smiled warily at me as I walked in.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw him. Nothing was out of the ordinary; he was wearing his dark green ranger coat over his uniform of the same color. His mousy brown hair was still just a little messy and his bright blue eyes shined as they looked at me. He was absolutely handsome. But there was something in the air, a tenseness that I felt instantly. It occurred to me that this might be a really bad time to tell Jaime what I wanted to say. My resolve was only so strong and I had to talk myself into even coming here. If there was any chance this wouldn't be a good time, I wasn’t sure I would be able to convince myself to come back.
I sniffed the air for some sign of what could be bothering Jaime – a diseased deer? No. An imbalance of algae in the streams that he was testing? No, nothing. I listened to Jaime’s heartbeat. It was definitely pounding harder than normal. He was angry and stressed about something. There was no one else in the lab with him. I sniffed the air again. Jaime’s assistant Bob been here earlier in the day but his scent was at least four hours old. No one had been here in quite a while.
Jaime noticed that I stopped walking toward him. “Are you okay?” He asked me, his tone trying to sound light. His heartbeat changed, too. It sped up a little though it still pounded harder in his chest.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I just…” I stammered. “I thought something was bothering you and I wondered if I should come back tomorrow.” I said quickly.
“You’re very perceptive, you know that?” He dragged a hand over his face in frustration and something else which I didn’t quite understand. “The thing is one of my rangers didn’t come back after rounds earlier today. After being gone for several hours, we sent a group out to his route, thinking maybe we’d run into him along the way. But no – we haven’t heard from him or found any trace of him except his vehicle which was abandoned. The police won’t let me file a missing person report until it’s been at least twenty-four hours. I had just hung up with the chief of police when you got here.” He grabbed his stack of paperwork and keys. “Do you want to go somewhere? I just want to hang with you tonight. Just some relaxing time with my beautiful woman.” I purposely ignored the word relaxing
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