Black Magic (Howl #4)

by Morse, Jayme

  Glancing over at the box that Luke was holding, Colby laughed. “How could I forget? Playing it was one of our favorite pastimes.”

  “Dweebs, Geeks, and Weirdos?” Samara asked, raising an eyebrow at the blue box that Luke held in his hands. “What is that?”

  “It’s a board game,” Luke explained. “It’s more like truth or dare, though. It’s really fun. Colby and I used to play it all the time. Good times.”

  “Hmm, the name of the game sounds fitting for the two of you,” Samara said, laughing at her own joke.

  Luke shot Samara a look that told her he didn’t think her joke was funny as he pulled some of the other games out of the box. There was Monopoly, the Game of Life, Scrabble, Candy Land, and Clue. One of the games in the box caught Samara’s eye. The board was a pretty shade of blue, which reminded her of the night sky; there were stars and a moon on it.

  “What is that?” she asked, pointing at the game board. On second glance, she noticed that there were letters and numbers inscribed on the board, along with the words YES and NO.

  “This?” Colby asked, holding the board up. “It’s a wolf spirit board.”

  “A what?” Samara raised her eyebrows at him.

  “It’s sort of like a Ouija board,” Colby explained. “The only difference is that Ouija boards can only be used to conjure human spirits.” He pointed at the wolf silhouettes, which were painted at the bottom of the board. “This is used to communicate with werewolf spirits.”

  “I didn’t know you would need a different game board to do that. Seth and I used to try to use a Ouija board to contact our dog, Buddy, after he died. No wonder it never worked,” Samara muttered, glancing at the movable indicator that came with the game. Instead of being heart-shaped like the other indicators she had seen with Ouija boards, this one was shaped like a crescent moon.

  Colby nodded. “Absolutely. Werewolf spirits require a different form of energy in order for us to communicate with them than human spirits do. Human spirits are actually more difficult to get in contact with, but it’s rare for humans to be able to contact spirits using a werewolf spirit board. It normally only works for werewolves. Werewolf spirits and human spirits are very different in other ways, too.”

  She glanced up at him. Ghosts had always intrigued her, even though she’d never really known that she could believe in them until now. Now, she knew she could believe in anything. “How else are werewolf spirits different from human spirits?”

  “Human spirits that linger here in this world are usually thought to do so because they have unfinished business,” Colby explained matter-of-factly. “But some werewolf experts believe that if we die, our spirits will linger on the Earth forever because the forest is where we belong.” He shrugged and stuffed the game back inside the box with the other board games. “I’m going to put this away so no one tries to contact any dark spirits.”

  Samara laughed. “Yeah, talking to werewolf ghosts isn’t on the top of my to-do list right now. It sounds like it could make for a fun rainy day, but we have more important things to worry about at the moment.” She glanced around the attic looking for something—anything—that could help lead them in the right direction. But nothing in the attic seemed to stand out to her.

  She glanced over at Luke. The look in his eyes told her that he felt just as frustrated about it as she did. He slumped against the attic floor and sighed. “Maybe we should just give up looking.”

  “We can’t just give up that easily,” Samara protested. “We really need to find something, or there’s no way we’re going to have a shot at beating the Vyka. We need to figure out how to conquer black magic.”

  Colby tapped his chin. “Actually, maybe Luke’s right about this. Maybe we should give up.”

  Samara shot a glare in his direction. “Why would you agree with that? It’s stupid! We can’t just give up over this.”

  “Chill, Sam. The reason I agree is because maybe the problem is that we’re looking too hard. Maybe once we stop looking for whatever it is that we’re looking for, it will show up on its own,” Colby explained.

  She considered the possibility. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Things do seem to show up when they’re least expected. Maybe we should just keep packing everything up, and whatever we’re trying to find will just show up on its own. It’s worth a try, at least.”

  Rising to her feet and brushing the dust off her knees, Samara followed Colby and Luke down the attic steps. Once they were in the hallway, Colby froze. “Emma’s here,” he whispered.

  “She is?” Samara raised an eyebrow at him. She was about to ask how he knew when she quickly remembered that he could hear Emma’s thoughts, the same way she could hear Luke’s sometimes. It was weird to think that Colby was able to keep in touch with her best friend even better than she was now. She couldn’t tell Emma anything she wanted to keep a secret ever again because Colby would find out now, too.

  Colby nodded. “Yes, she’s here. And she’s pissed.”

  Samara was about to ask him why Emma was in a bad mood when he sprinted down the hallway and rushed to the front door. She heard the sound of the door being flung open, followed by the sound of Emma’s heels hitting against the tiled floor.

  “Move out of my way, Colby!” Emma snapped at him, as she entered the house. “Sam, where are you?”

  “In here.” Samara stepped out into the living room and noticed the angry expression that Emma’s face had twisted into. Her mascara was also runny, like she had been crying. “What’s wrong?”

  “My mom didn’t believe me,” Emma replied, shaking her head. “About being a werewolf, I mean. I took your advice about telling her so that I wasn’t keeping secrets from her, but she didn’t think I was telling the truth. She wants to have me committed to a mental institution. She thinks I’m having some sort of a nervous breakdown, and that I need psychiatric help or something.”

  Samara sighed. “It’s hard for humans to believe the truth. Don’t worry, Emma. I won’t let her put you in a mental institution. I’ll go over there and talk to her with you. We’ll make her believe the truth.”

  A small smile tugged at Emma’s lips. “Thanks, but until then, I’m going to hang out with you guys. I’m so not going home right now. A straightjacket so wouldn’t be flattering for my figure.”

  “It’s cool for you to hang out here,” Samara replied. “We’re almost done packing up everything.”

  “Already?” Emma asked, surprised.

  Samara shrugged. “Moving goes quick when there’s a pack of werewolves to help out. I think we only have a few more rooms to go through.”

  Emma hesitated. “I can help, but don’t expect me to do anything that will chip my nails. I just had a manicure.”

  Samara rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. No one expects you to do any heavy lifting or anything like that.”

  “Yeah, we all know you’re a weakling,” Colby added with a chuckle.

  Emma glared at him. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she added, “I don’t think you have any place to be talking about weaklings, Colby Jack. You probably can’t even lift a two pound dumbbell.”

  Colby’s face fell. “I was just saying, you’re weaker than the rest of us because you’re the youngest pup here. There’s no reason to make personal attacks against me.”

  Emma’s face softened. “Sorry, Colby. I didn’t mean anything by what I said.

  Colby shrugged.

  Samara tried not to laugh. When were her best friend and Colby going to come to terms with the fact that, for some bizarre reason, fate had decided that they were meant to be together? They couldn’t keep hating each other . . . or acting like they hated each other, for that matter.

  At that moment, Linda stepped out from one of the guest bedrooms, carrying a heavy box that was piled high with holiday decorations in her arms. When she saw Emma, she put the box on the counter and extended her hand. “Hi, Emma. I’m Colby’s mom, Linda. The last time I saw you, you were passed out after your i
nitiation. We never actually got the chance to formally meet one another. I was hoping to meet you, but you left before I got back from the grocery store.”

  “Oh, um, hi.” Emma smiled at her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.” Linda’s lips turned into a small smile, and she chuckled.

  “What’s so funny, Mom?” Colby asked, nervously. He shifted in his shoes, an uncomfortable expression on his face.

  Samara wondered why he was so nervous about his mom talking to Emma, but then she remembered that his mom had seemed to know who Emma was when her name had been brought up once before. Colby had probably talked to his mom about Emma, and he was probably afraid that she was going to say something in front of her that would embarrass him.

  “I was just thinking about how blonde your future pups will be,” Linda explained. “You both have such blonde hair!”

  “Pups? What are you talking about?” Emma asked, raising her eyebrows.

  “She means children,” Colby replied, glaring at his mom.

  Emma’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment. “Children?”

  “Yes, Emma, children. Since Colby is your mate, you and him will probably have children eventually,” Samara explained. “After you get married and mark and everything.”

  “Mark?”

  “It’s a tattoo that you’ll get once you and Colby say your vows. Sort of like the one you got when you initiated into the Ima pack,” Linda explained.

  “What are you talking about?” Emma turned to her. “I don’t have a tattoo!”

  Samara burst into laughter. “Yes, you do. I’ve seen it already. How did you miss it?”

  “For serious! You check yourself out in every mirror you walk by,” Colby said, wide eyed. Pressing a palm to her forehead, he asked, “Are you sick lately or something?”

  Emma pushed him away and scanned the room for a mirror. “Where is it?” she asked, as she glanced into a mirror that hung in the living room.

  “It’s on your shoulder,” Samara replied.

  Emma rolled up her sleeve to find it. “I don’t see it.”

  “It’s back here,” Linda pointed, touching her finger lightly against the tiny blue paw print on Emma’s skin.

  Twisting her neck to see it, Emma gasped. “This is so not fair! I wanted to be the one who chose my first tattoo!”

  “Are you planning to get more?” Colby asked curiously. “Besides your mark, I mean.”

  “Yes, I want tattoos. Not that it’s any of your business,” Emma replied, rolling her eyes. “I’m not sure about this mark thing you’re talking about, though. Do I have to get one?”

  Samara nodded. “Yes, if you get married.”

  “Then I don’t want to get married,” Emma said, putting her hands on her hips and pouting.

  “It’s not that bad,” Linda laughed. “It’s just a tattoo that will be unique to the two of you. It usually has to do with your relationship, but it’s sometimes just a tiny symbol that best represents the two of you as a couple.”

  Raising her sleeve, Linda showed Emma the tiny pink heart that had been imprinted on her own skin. “This is the mark that I got when Darren and I got married. His first gift to me was a heart-shaped locket, which is probably why it’s a heart.” Colby’s mom had a wistful look in her eyes.

  Samara couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She hated to imagine what it would be like to find out your mate . . . the one person who you were meant to spend the rest of your life with . . . had lied and cheated and had a secret family that you never knew of.

  “But you and Colby’s dad are having problems,” Emma protested. When Colby gave her a questioning look, she explained, “I’m sorry, I know you haven’t told me about it. But it’s hard to block out your thoughts all the time. And it’s all you’ve been thinking about lately.” Turning back to Linda, she asked, “What happens with your mark thing if you and Colby’s dad get divorced? Does it just go away, or are you stuck with it for the rest of your life?”

  Linda’s face blanched, and rosy patches bloomed on her cheeks. “That’s a good question. I don’t think anyone actually knows the answer. You see, Emma, when two werewolves are mates, they eventually become inseparable. It’s like they’re one person. They normally don’t betray one another. They commit themselves to each other fully and completely. The only way they ever leave each other is if one mate dies, and the other lives.”

  Colby’s mom glanced away from them, her eyes glistening with tears. “From what I understand, our marks are permanent, but I’m not sure what would happen if one mate leaves the other by choice. I guess we’ll find out soon, right?” Before anyone else said another word, she picked up the box that she was carrying and hurried out the front door.

  “Great,” Colby mumbled. “My mate just made my mom cry. This is going to turn out to be a happy relationship.”

  “I didn’t try to make her cry, Colby. I was just trying to understand how this whole thing works.” Emma rolled her eyes at him again before turning to Samara. “What if I don’t want to ‘mark’ with Colby? And what if I don’t want to have puppies or babies or whatever with him? Nothing says we have to do those things, right?”

  Samara sighed. “I know this is all new to you, but maybe you need to just give it a chance. He’s the only mate you’ll ever have.”

  Emma glanced over at Colby, who was bending over to pick up one of the boxes on the floor. A hint of a smile crossed her lips. “Well, if you and I have puppies, I hope they get all of my genes.”

  “I’m surprised that you think that way,” Colby replied, glancing over his shoulder at her.

  “Oh, yeah? Why are you so surprised?” Emma asked, placing her hands on her hips defensively. “Our puppies will turn out so much cuter if they look more like me than you.”

  “Maybe because you’re thinking right now that my tractor’s sexy.” Colby winked at her.

  Emma’s face turned a shade of beet red, and she threw her arms up in the air frustratedly. “Ugh! Can you please stay out of my thoughts, or at least keep quiet about them when we’re around our friends? Please?”

  Samara giggled. “You guys need to just stop wasting everyone’s time and love each other already!”

  Kyana came out of the bedroom that she shared with Chris and said, “Guys? I think there’s something you all need to see.”

  Chapter 4

  Samara’s heart skipped a beat and goose bumps rose on her arms when she glanced down at the picture that Kyana had handed her.

  Darren’s black eyes were staring back at her; the way those eyes looked in the picture reminded her of the way he always watched her in person, intently and mysteriously. But that wasn’t what was so alarming about the photograph. In it, he had his arm wrapped around her Grandpa Joe’s shoulders.

  Joe was the Alpha of the Vyka pack, while Darren was the Alpha of the Ima. They were the two biggest rivaling packs in the area, so why in the world would her grandfather be hanging out with Colby’s father? If either of their packs had found out, they would have wanted to have them exiled because it was against pack rules to be friends with someone from an opposing pack.

  Handing the picture to Colby, Samara asked, “Did you know they were friends?”

  Colby glanced down at the photo, and he frowned. “No, I didn’t know that. My father—I mean, Darren—never denied that Joe McKinley was the most powerful werewolf that ever lived, but it always seemed to me that he didn’t actually know him.” Sighing, he handed the photo back to her. “Then again, there were a lot of things about my father’s life that he kept a secret. It doesn’t surprise me that this was one of them. There are probably other things I don’t know about.”

  Samara sighed and sat down on the floor. “Sometimes, I wish my grandfather was still around so I could ask him to tell me everything I need to know. I feel like it would help me figure a lot of things out.”

  “Like what?” Luke asked, coming to sit down next to her.

  “Like who I can and can�
�t trust.”

  *

  When eight o’clock rolled around, Samara followed Luke into the backyard, where Chris and Steve had already started a bonfire. She was disappointed that they hadn’t found anything, except for the random picture of Grandpa Joe and Darren; there didn’t seem to be anything in the house that involved black magic.

  As frustrating as it was to not find what they were looking for, she knew that she had to put on a happy face tonight. As Alpha, she was going to be leading the discussion about what to do with Darren. It made her nervous because she didn’t know the adult pack, but Linda was convinced that they would be on their side.

  Don’t be nervous. I’ll be right here with you the whole time, Luke told her through mind-speak, taking her hand.

  She interlocked her fingers with his and squeezed his hand tightly. I know you are. Thank you.

  Samara sat down in one of the lawn chairs next to Emma. She was talking to Kyana, who was sitting on a blanket on the ground in front of Chris’s chair.

  “You’ve never had eyebrows threaded?” Emma asked, genuinely shocked by this revelation. “It’s so much better than waxing. We’re going to have to make you an appointment at the salon, pronto.”

  Kyana smiled. “I’ve never cared that much about beauty. Papa always encouraged me to do things the old-fashioned way . . . the natural way.”

  “I like you just the way you are, baby,” Chris said, kissing her forehead. “You don’t need to worry about all that extra stuff.”

  “Oh, please.” Emma rolled her eyes. “You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t rather see her trying to dress up for you. No guy loves a girl in sweats all the time.”

  “I don’t care if she’s wearing sweats or jeans or a dress,” Chris replied, shaking his head. “In fact, in my perfect world, she would be wearing nothing.”

  “Yeah, well you know what needs to happen before that happens,” Kyana replied quietly.

  Steve laughed. “Uh-oh. Your girl’s holding out on you. It’s time to play the field.”