The Calling

by Lily Graison

  He paused and then said, "During."

  Her pulse leaped and a lump formed in her throat. Why did he pause like that? "Did you sleep with her when she was there?"

  "No," he said, his voice strong and sure. "I haven't been with anyone else since the day I met you."

  "Are you lying?"

  His eyes widened and his face turned red. "What reason do I have to lie to you?"

  "To save your ass?" she said, jealousy making her words clipped. "Getting caught with your dick in some ho would make even a saint lie."

  "I haven't touched her since the day I left this place, Rayna. Believe me or not."

  She wanted to believe him but she'd seen Carmen. The woman was exotic looking and had a body even she would kill to have. She could see her seducing anyone she wanted to and she probably did.

  "Rayna."

  She focused her gaze on him and sighed, waving her hand to dismiss the whole issue. "It doesn't matter now anyway," she said, not happy about it but what could she do? Nothing. "So, when Carmen found out you weren't interested, as you say, what?"

  "I wasn't interested," he said, giving her a pointed look. "And she found out why when she saw me with you."

  "I see. So, what, in a jealous rage she sent some crazed werewolf to get rid of me?"

  "No, she threatened to kill you herself." Chills raced down her spine at that. She'd been in the same room with a woman who wanted her dead? "Luckily for you she was more afraid of me than she was of risking her own neck. She left saying I'd come crawling to her before it was all said and done. The threat was there, as flimsy as it was, but it was enough. I broke it off with you and tried to keep you far enough away no one would link me to you."

  "And then the first body turned up."

  He nodded. "I didn't put the pieces together until the third one. When I looked at all three victims and realized they were all brunettes and twenty-nine, I immediately thought of you. When I saw they graduated from Hamilton, I knew whoever was killing those women wasn't your average serial killer. The method of death was too brutal for a human so I started looking harder. That's when I smelled the wolf on the victims and knew whoever it was, was looking for you."

  "So you tore my heart out and stomped on it every chance you got so Carmen's pet werewolf wouldn't find me?" He didn't answer but she saw the truth of her words on his face. He left her, and treated her like shit, to protect her. She didn't know whether she should kiss him or kick his ass.

  "What are you thinking?" he asked.

  "You don't want to know."

  "That bad?"

  She smiled and looked away, leaning back against the wall. "I don't know what to think."

  "Do you want to know what I think?" He reached out and hooked a finger under her chin, turning her head toward him. "I think, now that everything is out in the open, I don't have a reason to push you away anymore."

  She stared up at him and narrowed her eyes. "Oh, so now that I know your secret, one you didn't trust me enough to tell me to begin with, everything is fine? That I should just forget what an asshole you've been to me for the last six months? Is that what you think?"

  He smiled. "Yeah, that's what I think."

  Why was he smiling? Did he honestly think she was just going to forgive him just like that? Of course he did. She laughed and shook her head, dislodging his hand from her face. "You are the biggest horses' ass I've ever known, Garrett Kincaid! All those poor, innocent rabbits you slaughter while all furry have rotted your brain."

  "Maybe, but you still want me."

  She snorted. "In your dreams."

  His arm shot out, lightening quick, and wrapped around her waist, jerking her to him. He raised his other hand, cupping her cheek before working his fingers into her hair. "Always," he said, leaning down to kiss her. He licked her bottom lip, forcing his tongue inside her mouth and she went limp in his arms. Just like the night before when he'd kissed her, she lost all reason to think. The only thing that registered was the incredible heat from his body, his scent and the feel of his mouth on hers. Tingles raced laps up and down her spine as she reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck while her stomach clenched in anticipation. Asshole he may be but her body hummed with the knowledge of the things he could do, the things he could make her feel and she cursed herself for a fool as she moaned into his mouth and pushed her hips against him, trying to get closer.

  He broke the kiss and looked down at her. "Your fear isn't the only thing I can smell, Rayna." He smiled and inhaled deeply, his eyes closing briefly. "I can smell how much you want me."

  "Smell..." Her eyes widened when she realized what he meant. There was no denying how her body reacted to him. "Oh," she said. "And eww. Don't be smelling me like that."

  He laughed, kissed her lightly on the lips and brushed his own across her cheek. "There's nothing `eww' about it," he said, kissing her jaw before working his way down the side of her neck. "Being able to tell from across the room how much you want me does more than just stroke my ego. It makes me want to throw you to the nearest hard surface I can find and fuck you until you're screaming my name. Do you have any idea what the scent of you does to the wolf?"

  "No," she whispered, tilting her head to one side, her eyes closing as he peppered kisses along her skin.

  "He wants you as much as I do. Wants to claim you. Make you his and his alone."

  Rayna opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "Claim me? What do you mean?"

  The door opened and Jacob, breathless, rushed inside the cabin. "We have company."

  Garrett let go of her as if he'd been burned and turned to the window. "How many?"

  "More than you can take on by yourself."

  Garrett turned and looked at her, their intimate moment forgotten. "Go put your clothes on. Be ready to run in less than five."

  She nodded her head and ran, darting into the laundry room and snatching her clothes out of the dryer. She stripped, not caring if anyone saw her, and jerked her clothes on before running back to the living room and grabbing her sneakers. Her hands were shaking and she tried to calm down, looking up when she'd slid her feet into her shoes and stood. "What are we going to do?"

  Garrett turned to look at her. "You, are going to go out the back with Jacob," he said. Turning to look at Jacob, he said, "Get her to my truck and get as far away from here as you can."

  "And what about you?" she said.

  "Don't worry about me." He turned from the window and walked across the room, grabbing his own shoes. "If you can't outrun them, Jacob, then don't do anything stupid. They want her alive but you, I don't think they'll care too much about."

  "Gee, thanks," Jacob said, but smiled as he did. "I can lose them. I know these woods like the back of my hand."

  Garrett nodded and stood, walking back across the room. He reached the door before Rayna yelled, "Wait!" She crossed the room to him, grabbing his arm and said, "What are you going to do?"

  He turned and looked at her, giving her a faint smile. "What I do best," he said. "Now go with Jacob. I'll come for you as soon as I get rid of the welcoming party." He kissed her, hard and fast, and turned back to the door.

  "Garrett?"

  He turned his head and smiled. "It'll be fine, Rayna."

  "How? How can it be fine? You don't even know how many are out there."

  "They'll not attack unless they have to and as long as you're gone it won't make much difference if they do."

  So he was just going to offer himself up as bait? I don't think so! She clenched her teeth and gave him a look she hoped let him know she was serious. "You walk out that door, Garrett Kincaid, and I swear I'll be one step behind you."

  He let go of the doorknob and gave her a look that chilled her to the bone. "No, you won't."

  Rayna lifted her chin, ignoring his heated glare. "And how are you going to stop me?"

  She actually heard his teeth grind as he clenched his jaw and stared at her. It took seconds for him to go from pissed off to furiou
s. When he advanced on her, she held her ground, but just barely. "You will go with Jacob. You will get into my truck and head away from Wolf's Creek and if I find out you've done anything other than that, you will need to run. From me."

  "I'm not scared of you," she said, hoping he didn't hear her voice tremble. "And I'm not leaving this house without you."

  His expression turned to stone and his warm, honey brown eyes bled to wolf amber. She could hear a soft rumbling come from his chest. Not exactly a growl but... something. He didn't say anything but continued to stare at her until she wanted to slink away unseen. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and tried to sound braver than she felt. "You wouldn't let them do anything to hurt me and I'm not going to allow them to hurt you because of me. Either you come with us or I stay. Your choice."

  "I'm not running from them, Rayna."

  "Then run with me," she said. "If your pride is all that's keeping you from tucking tail, then you get me out of here. Don't leave my safety in Jacob's hands."

  He glanced at Jacob for brief seconds before looking back down at her. "Why are you so fucking stubborn?"

  "The same reason your so fucking cocky. We were born that way."

  His mouth twitched in one corner and if she hadn't been staring at him, she would have never seen it. He blew out a breath before looking over her head to Jacob. "Go see if it's all clear out back."

  When Jacob left the room, Garrett grabbed her, pulling her flush up against him. "Don't think you can bully me into doing everything you want, Rayna."

  She smiled and leaned up on her toes, kissing him soundly on the mouth. "Then don't think you can bully me into doing everything you want. Just because you can go all furry doesn't make you boss. Even old dogs can be taught new tricks." He did growl then and she kissed him again for good measure before pulling herself from his arms and grabbed his hand, turning and starting toward the back of the house.

  Jacob was staring out the window when they stopped behind him and he eased the door open. "It's clear," he said. "No movement and I don't smell anyone."

  Garrett put his hand on her shoulder and eased her toward the door. "What's the shortest path to the creek?"

  "The shortest isn't the best," he said. "If we head toward the upper ridge first, we can lose them in the brush. Remember how it smells up there?"

  Garrett nodded and his nose crinkled. "Which way?"

  "Run straight for the woodshed," Jacob said. "There's a path just behind it. When it veers to the left, turn right, through the brush. There's no path but keep a straight line and we'll be fine."

  Rayna nodded and peeked out the door. The shed was on the left side of the house, half hidden by a dense growth of trees. Her heart was in her throat and she swallowed to get the lump forming to clear. Garrett gave her one last look before placing his hand on her back and nodding to Jacob, who slung the door open.

  Her feet hit the planks on the porch hard and she jumped the step to the ground, running hell bent for the woodshed. When she was behind it, she turned her head to see if Garrett was indeed following her and froze. She had a perfect view of the front of the cabin and what she saw nearly stopped her heart. Dozens of people were lined along the trees and the number of wolves was too numerous to count. Seeing them the night before had scared her, seeing them in the light of day terrified the hell out of her. They ranged in colors from black to red, gold and brown. They were all huge; those on four legs were crouched low to the ground and the ones standing erect towered to dizzying heights.

  Jacob finally ran behind the shed, Garrett right behind him. She turned, running for the trail and hoped like hell Garrett was still with her. She'd kick his ass if he ditched her now. Jacob took the lead and she could hear the heavy footfalls of Garrett behind her. She ran until her lungs ached from the effort and her muscles burned from exertion trying to keep up with Jacob with not much luck. He darted through the vegetation like a spry rabbit, dodging trees and logs, jumping them with an ease born of a creature used to the forest. A fallen tree limb buried in the underbrush caught her foot, tripping her, and she tried not to scream as she fell. Garrett caught her before she hit the ground.

  "Are you all right?" he asked.

  She panted for breath and nodded her head at him. He wasn't even winded, she noticed. He smiled and said, "Do you trust me?" She wanted to say, "Of course," but couldn't get enough air into her lungs to do so.

  He winked at her and she managed a small squeak when he grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. She barely got her arms around his neck before he was running again.

  Rayna held on, burying her face in his neck as the trees sped by in a blur. Her stomach felt queasy as she watched them and eventually closed her eyes as he raced through the forest.

  The faint sound of running water reached her long minutes later and Garrett slowed before coming to a complete stop. Rayna lifted her head, looking behind them and saw nothing but forest. Looking at Jacob she saw him turning in a circle with an odd look on his face. When he turned toward them, she knew something was wrong. "What is it?"

  "Shh," Garrett said, his hold on her tightening. He turned his head, scanning the forest and her heart raced when he eased her to the ground. "Go to Jacob," he said, quietly.

  She didn't argue. Jacob grabbed her arm the moment she reached him and pulled her close to his body. Like Garrett, he was barely winded but he held himself as stiff as Garrett was. They sensed something she couldn't.

  Looking up at him confirmed it. His gaze was fixed over the rise, and she turned her head to look. Movement in the trees, brief flashes of shapes darted amongst the brush and when she saw the first wolf jump toward them, she screamed.

  Jacob grabbed her with both hands, one over her mouth, before he turned, looking behind him and started pulling her away. She screamed into his hand, her heels scoring the ground as the area filled with wolves. When the first howl echoed through the trees, she looked toward Garrett, her eyes widening as she encountered a sight she never wanted to see.

  He was changing. Shifting into the wolf.

  Tears burnt her eyes as she watched his bones shift under his skin, lengthening and reshaping, his flesh convulsing as the clear liquid she'd seen on Bryce dripped and slid off his body. Thick hair grew in wild patches, racing down his limbs, his clothes ripping as he grew larger. His face contorted, his mouth elongating as teeth sharp enough to break bones sprang forth. He lifted his head and howled, the sound causing every hair on her body to stand on end. She was crying in earnest by the time Jacob picked her up and darted through the trees, away from Garrett and the dozens of wolves he faced alone.

  Chapter 8

  Rayna sat huddled under a thick clump of brush. She barely smelled the pungent odor it gave off. Her head was too stopped up from crying for her to smell much of anything. Her eyes still burned and itched and the tremble in her limbs still hadn't stopped. She couldn't get the sight of Garrett shifting out of her head no matter how hard she tried. Knowing what he was and seeing him like that was one thing. Watching as his body transformed right in front of her was another. It had scared the hell out of her when Bryce had done it in Malcolm's little demonstration.

  Watching Garrett do it terrified her beyond reason.

  She glanced toward Jacob. He was sitting close to her, his eyes scanning the area. He looked ready to jump out of his skin. She swallowed and sniffed, wishing she had a tissue before wiping her face dry. "Do you think he's all right?" she whispered.

  "Yes," he said, without looking at her. "Don't worry about him so much. You'll bruise his ego if he finds out." He turned his head and smiled at her and she knew he was trying to make light of the situation. She wanted to thank him for it but it didn't erase the fear. "What are we going to do?"

  He shook his head. "That's a very good question," he said. He turned to face her, sitting down and wrapping his arms around his knees. "I can't take them on myself," he said. "I can, but it won't do either of us any good, especially me." He grinned at her
and hugged his legs tighter. "They'd wipe the floor with my ass. I'm what they refer to as an Omega. I'm the lowest member of the pack, the weakest, if you will. The majority of the others are Beta's. They're stronger than me but nothing compared to the Alpha's. So, I can try to fight our way out if we're found but the only thing it's going to do is prove to you how utterly unsafe you are in my care."

  "So you're saying we just hide then?"

  "Unless you have a better idea," he said. "They won't be able to find us here, though. The odor these plants give off will mask our scent. As long as we stay still, they'd have to trip over us to find us."

  "Will they be able to hear us?"

  "If they're close enough," he said. "The rushing water from the creek will tune us out a bit."

  Rayna fell silent, her mind going in so many directions she didn't know which path to take. Fear was still eating at her nerves and she sighed before wrapping her arms around her legs and laying her head on her knees. She stared at Jacob, taking in his youthful appearance. She couldn't imagine him a wolf. He was tall and gangly and imagining him as one of those massive creatures was mind-boggling.

  She closed her eyes, again seeing Garrett in her mind's eye. Her pulse leaped as she recalled seeing him change and she wasn't sure she'd ever get that image out of her head. When Bryce had shifted, his screams had nearly done her in. It was a slow and agonizing process to watch. When Garrett had shifted, it looked like the most natural thing in the world. He hadn't screamed at all and the change took him so quickly she would have missed it had she turned her head. But seeing him shift had cemented the fact of what he was into her head. There was no way for her to deny it no matter how much she wanted to. Garrett was a werewolf. A big, mean, scary looking son of a bitch. She shuddered and hugged her knees tighter as his wolf image filled her head.

  "The chances of them finding us here are slim."

  "I wasn't thinking about the others," she said.

  "Well, you certainly don't have a reason to be afraid of Garrett."