As if in answer there was a knock on the driver’s side window. Awen jumped in fright, only to realize it was just a man. Not just any man—it was Chief Enyeto. Mati immediately bristled.
Awen rolled down the window. “Chief Enyeto?” she questioned. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard there was trouble with wolves in the area,” he answered. “Having car trouble?”
“Obviously,” Awen noted. “And it looks like you are too, seeing as we’re in the middle of nowhere and you don’t have one.” Just then Awen noticed that his right eye was in the process of changing from a milky grey to its normal color of brown. Like it was healing.
Enyeto noticed the change in her demeanor and smirked. “I told you what happens when you back a wolf into a corner, Awenasa,” he drawled. His eyes began to glow. “You should have left it alone.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” She stuck her chin out in defiance. She could hear Mati undoing his seatbelt to get out of the car but she put a hand out to stop him.
“That’s what your boss said.” Enyeto grinned menacingly. “Right before me and the boys ripped his throat out.”
Awen noticed that the smaller wolves had re-emerged from the darkness. They padded around the car but didn’t attempt to enter. Just about then, she had had enough of Enyeto.
“Put your hands up, dirtbag,” she growled, lifting her gun at him.
Enyeto simply backed away slowly, his smile never faltering. “He’ll leave a bloody mess and disappear into the night,” he reminded. His wolves gathered in front of him.
“Take one more step and I’ll shoot!” Awen warned.
“Go ahead, Awenasa,” he told her brightly. “I can promise you, this isn’t the last time you’ll see me.”
In what seemed a seamless transition, Enyeto shifted into a large silver wolf and bounded off into the night. Awen was too shocked to fire—not that it wouldn’t do any good. Not against Enyeto.
“He’s a werewolf,” she squeaked, turning to Mati. “Holy shit.”
CHAPTER SIX
Neither Awen or Mati heard anything from Enyeto in the following days. Awen had sent her car to be fixed, claiming that the copious amount of blood and the cracked windshield were the product of an unfortunate run-in with an elk. It turned out that the oxygen sensor cables had been torn out, and she couldn’t help but think if she hadn’t stopped to make out with Mati she would have never been in such a mess. Although, remembering those hot moments made her wonder if it was, perhaps, worth it.
She pulled up to the end of the road to Mati’s place, making sure to grab her gun before she hopped down from the Jeep and set off into the woods. When she emerged into the clearing around Mati’s cabin, he was waiting for her.
His expression was soft, and he came to envelop her in a hug. “How did it go?” he murmured into the top of her head.
Awen squeezed him harder. “It was awful,” she sniffled. “It was a closed casket, but I got to see the body beforehand. He was unrecognizable.”
Mati nearly shook with rage, but he attempted to keep a level head so that he could best comfort her.
“Is there any evidence to place it on that sick mother fu—”
“No,” she interrupted. She pulled back from the hug and kicked a nearby rock. “None. Despite the fact that he was lured out of his car, they couldn’t find any evidence of foul play. The report concluded that it was just a wolf attack.”
“I’m sorry,” Mati offered, wrapping her in another warm hug.
She settled her head against his chest. “They want me to take a few days off. I think I’m going to take them up on it.”
Mati rubbed her back. “I think that’s a good idea. What will you do?”
“I’ve been meaning to spend more time with my parents, and the festival is coming up,” she said. “And it’ll give me some time to think about what the hell we’re going to do about this Enyeto business.” She looked up at Mati and couldn’t help but smile.
His dark eyes were peering down at her, filled with a combination of worry and affection. He leaned down to her, meeting her lips with his.
Awen dug her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer to her. She deepened the kiss, needing that comfort.
Mati pulled back before her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear tenderly. “Let’s go see your parents,” he said. “Your mother made me promise I’d bring you by today. She came up yesterday with a basket of food.”
Awen smirked. It delighted her that he and her parents talked when she wasn’t around. She was also highly amused by the mental image of her mom hiking up there, lugging a basket and cursing every stone that got in her way.
They arrived at her parents’ house about an hour later. Aiyana greeted them on the porch, though when Awen bounced out of the car to hug her she saw that her mother’s expression was grim.
“You should come inside,” Aiyana said quietly, pulling her daughter into a tight hug. “There was another wolf attack last night.”
“Is everyone…” The look in Aiyana’s eyes caused Awen to trail off.
She shook her head sadly. “We lost Wematin.”
Awen reached for Mati’s hand. “Dad’s best friend?” she asked mournfully. “How is he?”
“Baying for blood,” Aiyana said. “He wants a war. Nobody else can know what we know about Enyeto, but I don’t know what else we can do.”
Awen said no more. Her and Mati entered the house, Aiyana trailing behind.
Her father was sitting at the dining room table, cleaning his gun. He made no acknowledgement of her entrance.
“Father?”
He kept cleaning.
Aiyana put a hand on Mati’s arm and led him over to the sitting room. Awen and her father needed their space.
“I’m sorry about Wematin,” Awen said, trying once more to get him to talk to her.
He didn’t even look up.
“We’re going to get Enyeto for this,” she assured. “He won’t hurt anyone else.”
“You’re damned sure he won’t.” Her father’s strangled voice nearly startled Awen. In one swift movement he had put the pieces of his gun back together, made sure it was loaded, and was headed towards the door.
“Wait!” Awen called after him, running out onto the porch. “Where are you going?”
Mati and Aiyana followed them outside but stayed back.
Keme turned to her, meeting her eyes for the first time that day. They were filled with anguish. “I just put a friend to rest!” he cried. “A brother! It’s time for me to make things right.”
“Father, he will kill you,” she warned lowly. “He’s a goddamn werewolf.”
“She’s right, sir,” Mati said, stepping forward. “I know you’re angry. I am too. But I’m the only one who can put an end to this.”
Keme threw his hands in the air in frustration. “Then end it!” he cried. “Or are you too busy trying to shack up with my daughter?”
Mati bowed his head in shame.
As Aiyana went over to scold her husband, Awen crept up to Mati and took his hand.
“He didn’t mean it,” she comforted. “He’s grieving.”
“He’s right though,” Mati conceded. “I’ve been so preoccupied with you...and a man has been murdered.” He stepped forward to the Chief.
Keme had tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’m...it’s been a tough week. You’ve done so much for us. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”
“There are no words for the loss you have suffered.” Mati held out his arm to the Chief and looked him straight in the eye.
Keme gripped Mati’s forearm.
“I swear on my honor as a man,” Mati continued, “I will deliver vengeance on your behalf. He will not harm anyone else.”
“Make him feel the wrath of my people,” Keme whispered lowly. He squeezed Mati’s arm. “Let him feel my anger as a father, and as a brother. See to it, my son.”
Awen’s eyes widened. “W
hat’s going on?”
“Protect Awenasa in my absence,” Mati said, ignoring her. “She is my heart and my home.” He turned to walk away.
Awen ran after him, clinging to his arm. “You can’t go!” she urged. “You can’t do this alone!”
He turned and kissed her deeply, holding her face in his large hands with a tenderness that shook Awen to her core. “I am not alone,” he breathed, running his fingers through her hair. “As long as your heart beats I will never be alone.”
And then he was gone. He jogged off into the forest before Awen had a chance to say anything else to him. A great roar resounded through the woods.
Mati’s bear was headed to what might be his final battle.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Two days passed. Two long, agonizing days in which Awen didn’t hear from Mati at all. There weren’t any more wolf attacks, which caused Awen to wonder if Enyeto was dead and it was all over. On the other hand, though, she figured that if that were the case then Mati would have come back to her.
The family had been busy preparing for the festival that marked the beginning of summer. Since Keme was the Chief, he had dozens of tasks to accomplish in preparation for the special day, and Awen had stayed with her parents so that she could help. She also didn’t want to be alone.
Awen also found that she had been enjoying fulfilling the role of the princess in her village. Everyone was excited that she was going to be at the festival; they thought she would bring good luck. She had been present at the lighting of the bonfire, which was lit two days before the festival and not extinguished until the day after, and had been greeted warmly by every person there. It was nice. Though she had chosen her own path in life, she couldn’t help but feel like she fit in there better than in her city apartment.
The small family was eating their dinner, watching through the window as the sun set for the day, when the power cut out.
“What the hell now,” Keme grumbled, stumbling out of his chair to find a flashlight.
A chill snaked its way through Awen as howls filled the night air. Then the screaming began, as people who had been out enjoying the balmy evening ran for the safety of their homes. The howling grew closer.
“He’s here,” Keme growled angrily. “My damn gun is on the porch.”
Awen cursed, “Mine’s in my car.” Her heart beat erratically.
Before they could discuss a plan of action, the dining room window smashed. A rock sailed through, striking Keme on the skull. He collapsed on the floor, and both women rushed over to him.
“I’ll live,” he muttered. “But that sonofabitch won’t.” A trail of blood oozed down his forehead, but other than that he seemed to be okay.
Awen chanced a look outside. She didn’t see anyone, so she took the opportunity to run to the kitchen and grab the hunting knife her father kept in the drawer there. She stuck it into the waistband of her jeans and pulled her shirt over it. Briefly, she considered if she would be able to make it to her car to get her gun.
“Awenasa!” a voice called from outside.
Well, she thought. That answers that question.
“Are you going to come out, princess?” It was Enyeto now, she could tell. “Or should I start killing off your villagers, one by one?”
“I’m coming!” she called back.
Her father seized her arm. “You are not going anywhere,” he said sternly. “That beast is going to kill you!”
Awen shook him off. “I’d rather it be me than one of you. This is all my fault.”
Keme gritted his teeth. “You will bury us before he has you.”
Before Awen could charge past her parents she heard Enyeto’s mocking voice again, “Have it your way!”
A wolf crashed through the window, landing on the table and glowering at them with wild eyes. It was one of the smaller wolves—presumably not one that turned into a person. Awen still wasn’t sure if Enyeto’s lackeys were werewolves or actual beasts.
The wolf lunged towards Awen, and she ripped the knife out from her waistband just in time plunge it into its neck. It howled, causing another two wolves to plow through the opening just as it died.
Instead of coming for her, the new wolves each grabbed one of her parents by their arms.
Awen’s mother screamed in pain. “Run, Awenasa!” she cried.
Awen would do no such thing. She dove at the wolves, slashing out wildly with the blade. She managed to sink it into the neck of the wolf holding her father’s arm, but as she struggled with the dying beast the other wolf dragged her mother to the front door, just as several wolves burst through it.
Awen raced towards her mother but was cut off and outnumbered. She stood still, her hand tightly gripping the knife, as she stared down the growling horde.
A cry of pain from behind her caused her to lose focus, and she turned to see her father being dragged out of the house by a black wolf. As he passed her she lunged to grab onto him, and the group at the door took that as an opportunity to seize her in their jaws.
Awen screamed, terror crashing over her as they bit through her clothes and into her skin, dragging her out onto the porch.
Enyeto was there, leaning beside her father’s rifle with a smug grin on his face. “So happy you could join me,” he mocked.
Awen paid him no mind, crawling over to the side of her deck that her parents were on. The wolves had trundled off into the front yard, and sat there stoically like guard dogs.
Her parents seemed to be fine, though her mother was shaking and crying in fear. Awen reached a hand out to comfort her, but was stopped when she heard the rifle cock from behind her.
“It didn’t have to come to this.”
Awen craned her neck. Enyeto was staring down at her over the barrel of the gun, which was aimed directly at her face.
“Do what you want with me, but please don’t hurt them,” Awen pleaded. “They’re innocent in all this.”
Enyeto chortled. “Now that wouldn’t be much fun, would it?” He appeared thoughtful for a moment. “Though I suppose I’ve already had buckets of fun with your teddy bear.”
Awen rushed to her feet. “What did you do to him?” she spat. She shook with rage, ready to pounce on him at any moment. In that moment it didn’t matter to her that he had a gun and a pack of wolves. Those were paltry defenses when compared to her rage.
Enyeto laughed coldly. “That’s the funny thing about an immortal curse,” he mused. “There are so many things that you can do to him and he’ll always heal. For example, you could feed him to a pack of wolves and he’d still recover.” He fixed her with a sly grin. “Albeit slowly.”
Awen lunged at him, screaming, “I’ll kill you!” She managed to scratch out at his face, but he reeled back and hit her with the butt of the rifle so hard that she was knocked to the ground. She watched as the scratches healed almost instantly, leaving lines of blood on his face but no scar.
“Many have tried,” he said flatly. “Many have failed.”
“What do you want?” Awen said through gritted teeth.
“Obviously, you dead,” he answered nonchalantly.
“Then do it,” she challenged, “but leave my family alone.”
“Why would I do that?” he sneered.
“I’ll come willingly,” she offered, “if you offer to leave them alone and stop tormenting my people.”
“No Awen!” her mother cried.
Awen ignored her.
Enyeto lowered the rifle, walking towards Awen.
She held her ground, even when he reached out a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. Then he lifted her chin to look up at him, capturing her gaze with his own. “That’s so boring, Awenasa,” he murmured. “I’ll get so much more enjoyment out of watching my wolves tear you apart on your own front porch.”
Ice rose up Awen’s throat. He was psychotic.
He turned from her, walking down the porch steps. The wolves began to snarl.
“How about a game?” Awen cried desperat
ely after him.
He froze, spinning slowly on the spot to face her. “I’m listening.”
“You can hunt me,” she offered. “Just you. I know these forests well and I’m a good fighter. I’d be a worthy opponent.”
Enyeto broke into a laugh. “You think that you would actually have a chance against me?” he chortled.
Awen didn’t back down. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. But either way, it’ll be a lot more interesting for you to hunt me down than it will be for you to let your pets do your work for you.”
Enyeto considered her proposal. “I imagine you’ll want me to leave your parents alone after I kill you?”
“Are you a betting man, Enyeto?” Awen took a brave step forward. “Because I think we can raise the stakes higher than just that.”
“I’m failing to see what additional benefit I could get from this little game of yours that would be enough to stop me from feeling motivated to kill your parents.”
“Let’s start with what will happen if I win, just so we’re clear,” she asserted. “Your lands will be forfeited to my people. Even if I don’t have enough evidence to connect you to any crimes, which quite frankly I do since you have been very sloppy tonight, I’ll still have enough to drag you through the mud. And, according to the laws of the treaty we signed around one hundred years ago, your tarnished reputation and death will mean your seat will pass to the closest tribe official in the area—my father.”
“You know your tribal law,” Enyeto sneered. “So tell me why I should take your offer then, if the terms are so steep?”
Awen smirked. “Because how many opportunities do you get to hunt down and kill the girl that broke your heart three hundred years ago?”
The silence that dropped over the porch was deafening. Enyeto’s sneer quickly turned into a hard frown.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he growled.
It had been a guess, based on a hunch she had had when she first made the connection between his father’s name and his shapeshifting abilities; however, by his reaction she could tell that she had been spot on.
“Awenasa broke your heart—told you she couldn’t accept your affection because she was promised to another,” she goaded, “and then you saw her sneaking around with Mati. I imagine it was easier for her to tell you that she was engaged than it would have been just to say the truth—that you disgusted her.”
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