by Cheree Alsop
Roger set bandages on the wound, wrapped several strips around my stomach to hold them in place, then handed me a plastic bag with several more inside. “Change the bandage when you wake up. If it hasn’t stopped bleeding by morning, let us know, but I don’t think you’ll have any of the trouble the others do when it’s a silver wound.”
I thanked them both and tried to rise, but Meg held me down with a hand on my shoulder. “Rest for a few minutes. You lost a lot of blood and the last thing you need is to pass out and hit your head on something, then need stitches there as well.”
The others left the room with Meg and Roger.
“I thought he wasn't a trained fighter.” Jaze's voice came quietly through the closed door.
“He's not,” Jet replied. “He got lucky, but he's going to need some real training if those men come back.”
Jaze's voice rose with a hint of surprise. “You're planning on training him?”
Jet grunted. “Yeah, if he wants. He has potential.”
“He saved my life.” Jaze's voice was solemn. “I didn't expect that.”
I sat up slowly and held my side against the throb of pain that answered the movement. The gray room felt cold and sterile; the scent of blood sent a shiver through my skin. I wanted more than anything to be at Grace’s side, to feel safe again and away from the chaos my life had turned into. I rose and pushed off the table.
The door opened and Jaze's eyebrows lifted on seeing me up. “Want to go home?”
The question sent a pang of longing through me, but I nodded. He lifted my arm over his shoulder. Jet fell in behind us as we made our way down the hall and into the living room. Meg and Roger sat together on the couch reading a book. It was a cozy scene that reminded me of my parents until I saw the title of the book, '101 Ways to Flay a Werewolf'.
Meg caught my look and gave a chagrined smile. “You'd be surprised how much you can learn about werewolf anatomy from these old Hunter books. They were recalled during the reform, but we hung onto a few for research.”
Roger closed the book. “Actually, we were searching for any reference of werewolves who are immune to the effects of silver like you.”
“Any luck?” Jaze asked.
He shook his head with a sigh and set the book on the arm of the couch. “Unfortunately, no. There's also no mention of wolves being genetically created, like you mentioned.”
Jaze nodded. “I figured as much. Grace said that Kaynan was the only one who survived the experiment, but it'd be nice to know why.”
“What'd be nice,” Meg cut in, her tone curt, “Is to stop them from creating their own werewolves in the first place.”
Roger set a hand on her shoulder. “We're working on it, honey. First we have to find them.” He threw me a worried look. “We found the facility in Utah. Unfortunately, it's been abandoned. We have Hunters combing every inch of it for a lead on where they'll turn up next.”
“It was abandoned?” A pang of loss filled my chest. Everything about what I was and why was at the labs. “Did they leave anything behind?”
Roger shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. The computers, files, and everything were taken before we got there.”
I nodded, feeling numb and completely worn out. “What do we know about our attackers tonight?” I forced myself to ask.
“Not much,” Jaze admitted, frustration clear in his voice. “But we left quite a mess. The FBI should be on our tail before long. We should have been more careful.”
“We’ve been watching the news,” Meg said, her tone curious.
“What did they say about the bodies?” Jaze asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing, not a darn thing.” The disbelief on her face was echoed on Roger’s. “You’d think that something like a shooting at a gas station with,” she glanced at Jet, “At least several dead, would call for some sort of story.”
“Unless they’re covering it up,” Roger concluded.
“Which means your friends have got some powerful allies,” Jaze said to me, his eyes tight with concern.
My muscles tightened. I wanted more than anything to lie down and think of something besides werewolves. Jaze must have read my expression. “Let's go. I know Grace is anxious to see you.”
I thanked Meg and Roger, then Jaze helped me out the door and across the lawn. The midnight sky had lightened at the western edge, and the moon hovered close to the horizon behind us. I turned toward it and Jaze stopped.
“Feels good, doesn't it?” he said quietly.
I closed my eyes and filled my lungs with the humid night air while moonlight bathed my face with an almost palpable caress. I nodded. “Why?”
A smile touched Jaze's voice. “The moon is our mistress, or it's the other way around. It calls to us the same way sunflowers turn their faces to the path of the sun. It's in our blood.”
I nodded because even though it didn't make sense, I felt the call of the moon through my veins. My bones throbbed to answer the call and I fought a brief urge to phase.
“Like endless acceptance,” Jet said quietly behind me.
My heart surged in answer to his words. It felt like to the moon I was the most important thing in the world, as if each breath I took here was answered in the haunting moonlight. I took another deep breath, then turned back to Jaze's house.
“Kaynan!” Nikki, Taye, and Grace rose from the couch when we entered. The girls led Grace over and she threw her arms around my neck. “Never, ever do that again,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Which part, going to the mall, fighting off attackers, or taking a bullet so I could get a break?”
She grimaced. “All three.”
Nikki gave me a hug. “My mom says you're pretty tough. I told Grace I doubted a bullet would slow you down.”
“Not by much,” Jaze said from behind me.
Nikki's arms tightened. “Thank you for saving him,” she said. She gave me a warm smile and stepped back.
Taye gave me a hug as well. “You werewolves and your need to endure as much pain as possible.” She let go and shook her head at all three of us. “Next time, call the cops.”
“And tell them what? We're werewolves being attacked by humans who want to take us back to their lab so they can perform experiments on us?” Jaze asked, his smile wry.
Taye sighed and went back to sit on the floor by the couch. Nikki joined her as Mrs. Carso entered the room.
“Oh, Kaynan,” Jaze’s mom said, her voice filled with both relief and anxiety. “Thank goodness you were there.” She gave me a motherly hug, then stepped back to give me a critical once-over. “You better sit down before you fall over,” she said, motioning to the empty cushions. I settled slowly on the couch and Grace sat down next to me.
“It's not like I was waiting to be shot or anything, Mom,” Jaze said, chagrined.
“Just the same,” Mrs. Carso replied. “You boys need to figure out what's going on before they find us here and you don't get off as easily next time.”
“That was easy?” Brock asked, coming from the kitchen with a plate of heated pizza rolls.
“Easier than if they bring backup, which they will from here on out.” Jaze glanced at me. “We have to figure out how they tracked you to the mall. They didn't just get lucky.”
A throat cleared quietly and I noticed Mouse standing in the corner by the door. He definitely lived up to his name. “A microchip,” he said, not looking at anyone.
Jaze had taken a seat on the floor next to Nikki with his head lolling back on the cushion behind him. Now he lifted his head to look at the werewolf. “I’ll bet you're right.” His eyebrows rose. “He was probably embedded with a tracking chip. Now we just have to find it.”
Everyone fell silent for a moment, then Mouse said, “What about a vet? They locate microchips in dogs. Maybe they could find one in Kaynan.” He glanced at me with a small smile, then dropped his eyes again.
Jet leaned against the wall near the door. He was quiet for a minute, then
looked at Jaze. “My dad has a friend who's a vet. He could locate it for us, it's just-”
“What?” Jaze pressed.
Jet shrugged uncomfortably. “He doesn't know about werewolves.”
My heart fell until Taye turned to us with a smile. “He doesn't have to know Kaynan's a werewolf. He could just go as a large dog.”
I shook my head. “My fur's as red as my eyes.” I looked away from their surprised gazes. “There's never been a dog that color.”
“We could dye your fur,” Nikki said.
Mrs. Carso laughed. “That'd be a lot of dye. Are you sure it would work?”
“Sure.” Nikki sat up and glanced at Jaze, a blush coloring her cheeks. “I tried to dye Jaze’s fur orange once when I was bored.” Mrs. Carso's eyebrows lifted and she laughed. “Trust me, we were really bored.”
“But it worked?” Grace asked.
Nikki nodded, then looked at me. “But make sure you phase in the shower afterwards because it's a mess to clean up.”
“That's why there's an orange footprint by the bathroom,” Mrs. Carso said, her eyes twinkling. “I wondered how that got there.”
“Sorry,” Jaze and Nikki said at the same time; they looked at each other and laughed.
“Your dad won't mind getting us in touch with his friend?” Jaze asked.
Jet shook his head. “He'd do anything for you guys.” A rare smile touched his lips. “Tomorrow is Alex and Cassie's seventh birthday and they'd like everyone to be there.”
“Congratulations!” Taye said, her eyes bright, while Jaze said, “That will be awesome!”
“That’s so neat,” Grace echoed.
I glanced at her and saw the enthusiasm on her face.
“Birthdays are great and all, but is this special for some reason?” I asked, looking around.
Grace nodded and traced her fingers on the back of my hand in a way that was probably just casual, but sent a rush of heat down my spine. “Werewolves are able to phase after they turn seven. Tomorrow night’s the full moon, so they might be able to phase for the first time. It’s so neat to see the young ones as wolves, they’re so much fun.” Her voice took on a wistful tone. “I wish I could see it.”
I remembered the pull of the moon when we were outside and wondered if it would affect me the same way it did the others. “You can see it,” I said quietly. Faces turned to me, but I watched Grace. Her brow creased and I could see the battle she fought between wishing to see again and fear that it wouldn’t work. “It couldn’t hurt to try,” I pushed softly.
“Try what?” Mrs. Carso asked.
I frowned and tried to think of how to phrase it when Grace spoke. “Kaynan helped me see the night we were chased in Utah. He was somehow able to project the images he saw into my mind so that we could run together.” Her voice caught. “It felt like having my sight back.”
“It’ll work again,” I reassured her. “There’s no reason why it wouldn’t.”
“We don’t know why it worked at all,” Grace said.
“Does it only work when you’re in wolf form?” Taye asked.
I nodded. “And we have to be touching. It passes through contact somehow.”
“Can she send images back to you?” Nikki asked, curious.
“It seems to work only one way. But it works,” I said, turning my attention back to Grace. “You’ve been in the house since we got here. It would be good for you to get out.” Her lip quivered slightly and I covered her hand with my own. “I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
“What if they find us?” she whispered.
“Then we have the best group of fighters I’ve ever seen,” I said, meeting the gazes of the others who smiled and nodded. “And then there’s me, but Jet said he’d teach me something so I can do more than be a shield for bullets,” I tried to find a comfortable position on the couch, but moving sent another jolt of pain through my side so I sighed and gave up.
Mrs. Carso touched my shoulder. “Is there anything I can get you?”
The concern in her voice reminded me that the bullet had been meant for her son. I shook my head. “It’s healing, thanks. I’ll be feeling great tomorrow.”
“Want some pizza rolls?” Brock asked with his mouth full.
My stomach turned over at the thought of food and I shook my head. He shrugged and offered the plate to Jet, who took one, hesitated, then took two more. Brock’s eyes widened, but the others laughed at him.
“Still getting used to the fact that someone else can match your appetite?” Jaze asked.
Brock grumbled on his way back to the kitchen to refill his plate while Jet ate the pizza rolls he held.
“Well, you’ve got a long day tomorrow if you’re going to school and a birthday party at night,” Mrs. Carso reminded everyone. “It might be a good time to turn in for a few quick hours at least.”
Brock returned with a full plate and held it high so he could pick his shoes up from the floor. Jet quickly relieved him of half the pizza rolls and handed them to Taye who hid them behind her back. They turned away when Brock stood up. He glanced at the plate and his eyes widened. He looked at the floor to see if he had dropped any, glared suspiciously at Jet, then grumbled something about vanishing frozen food as he made his way back to the kitchen.
Jet grinned and tossed Jaze and Nikki a roll. When Brock returned, everyone was eating them. “Hey!” he said indignantly. Everyone laughed.
“Ready for bed?” Jaze asked. He held out a hand.
I grabbed it and he hauled me carefully to my feet. Grace rose and we made our way with the others up the stairs. Nikki led Grace to her bed while Jaze helped me to the mattress on the floor.
“Are you okay in here together?” Nikki asked in a tone that was careful not to cross any boundaries, but also gave us an out if the situation was uncomfortable.
Grace nodded. “I don’t know if I could sleep without Kaynan here. Everything is still so new.”
Nikki looked at me and smiled when I nodded. “Okay, let me know if there’s anything you need,” she said. She held out her hand to Jaze and they left the room talking softly.
“They’re a neat couple,” Grace said after the door shut and their footsteps faded away.
“They’re amazing,” I agreed. I thought of Renee and let out a heavy breath.
“Thinking of Renee?” Grace guessed softly.
I was surprised she remembered the name and rolled gingerly to face her bed from my mattress. “Yeah.”
“You should go to her,” Grace said. I caught the wistful, painful note in her voice and remembered Gabe. “She probably misses you a great deal.”
“She thinks I’m dead,” I replied. I tried to keep the pain out of my voice and failed. “That’s not a bad thing at this point.”
“It’s not like you’re a mindless monster,” Grace argued. “You’re a werewolf, one of a couple thousand in society as far as we know unless the labs succeed and created an entire army of them. You still have a heart and a soul.”
“Do I?” I asked softly.
Her jaw tightened and she nodded. “Of course you do,” she said firmly.
I shook my head. “I’m not so sure.” I took a shallow breath and winced at the pain in my side. “I died, Grace. I was dead. Who knows what they did to bring me back.” My throat tightened and my voice dropped. “Maybe I lost my soul in the process.”
She fell silent for a moment, then reached out a hand. I took it and felt relief at the touch of someone so pure and sweet, someone who gave me far more leeway than I deserved. I pushed away the burden of my guilt and fell asleep with her hand in mine.
Chapter 9
I awoke late in the day with sore muscles and a tender side, but the bullet wound had healed for the most part. I felt restless and wild, like the wolf side of me ached to take over and run for the tree-lined horizon. I shoved the feelings away with a rush of loathing for my werewolf blood and the beast I carried. I rose from the bed, pulled on a clean shirt, and went downstairs
to find Grace and Mrs. Carso in the living room talking while they crocheted.
Grace turned in my direction before I reached the bottom step and Mrs. Carso looked up to see what had caught her attention.
“Good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning, Kaynan. You look like you’re feeling much better today,” Mrs. Carso said with a warm smile.
“I am,” I replied. “I can’t believe I slept so long.” I leaned down to give Grace a hug. Her fingers brushed along my arm and I caught them up and gave them a quick kiss. She grinned and I followed my stomach to the kitchen.
“There’re crepes in the fridge with eggs and sausage if you’d like,” Mrs. Carso called out. “It was hard, but I got Brock and Jet to save you some.”
I laughed and pulled out the plastic container of thin crepes wrapped in paper towels. Even cold, the scent made my stomach growl and put a smile of anticipation on my face. If healing took a lot out of me, recovering made everything taste that much better.
Mrs. Carso asked if we wanted to go shopping to help pass the time until the others returned home, but shopping had never been my thing and I was still recovering from the bullet. Grace was obviously anxious to go, and Mrs. Carso reassured me that they would stay in public places and she would call me on the house phone if anything seemed suspicious. Grace was nervous to go without me at first, but eventually left for the much-needed outing.
I hated doing nothing. Even before the accident, I could never just sit around. Jaze, Jet, and Mouse were busy trying to track down the lab and said there was nothing I could do until they had a lead. I tried to rest, but my mind whirled at a thousand miles a second trying to guess what Tannin would do next. I was grateful Grace got out of the house with Mrs. Carso, but I missed her smile, her laugh, and the connection I felt with her as I had with no other person even before the accident.
Later, when she returned laughing and joking with Jaze’s mom, I saw a shred of the confident, self-reliant girl that was scarred when she lost her eyesight.