Howl (Howl Book 1)

by Kalani Zoldyck

  I wrinkled my nose in disgust, but then remembered the blood running down my skin. After that, the filthy rats weren't that bad.

  "We're not." Gabriel managed to growl out as he turned himself in a cautious circle. His eyes scanned the room; never missing a detail. Me, I wasn't sure what we were supposed to be looking for, so I settled for searching for an exit.

  I glanced at my brother, "Where's the pack?"

  His eyes were light when he turned to me, "On their way."

  "So this is part of a plan?" I asked.

  "No, this wasn't part of the plan!" Caleb's voice boomed across the walls, "You weren't supposed to be here."

  Mom flinched, while I relaxed. I turned, to see Nathaniel, Caleb, and Leo strolling, half crouched in loose fighting stances, towards us. They entered from a hallway, opposite of the one we ascended from.

  That's when I noticed the odd design of the room. It was made like a labyrinth. Each corner opened into another hall, while sets of doors aligned the walls. My panic returned so much that I didn't even notice Nathaniel coming up to my side.

  My thoughts went to my packmates, before our potential escape route. How could we find Cassie in a place like this?

  "Are you even listening to me, Elaina?" Caleb's pissed off growl caused me to snap around. I didn't answer though, because he already knew the answer.

  "Elaine," Nathan grabbed my arm and gently turned me around so I was facing him, "You shouldn't have followed us here."

  I jerked out of his hold, "I didn't follow you. We came here to find my parents."

  Nathaniel got right in my face. I almost fell backwards because of the rage pouring off him, "Finding your parents wasn't the only part of this mission." He hissed angrily.

  I narrowed my eyes, "Weren't they good enough to be top priority?" I didn't yell, but my anger was evident in my tone.

  "Elaine!" Nathaniel, obviously outraged at what I had just said, growled in attempt to contain his fury, "Nicolais is in this castle."

  I thought over his words, "You're going to kill him?" I said that in form of a question, but I knew the answer. Nicolais was a crazed werewolf. Just like wolves in the wild, we ridded those who caused a disturbance in the packs.

  "It would solve a lot of problems." Gabriel commented from somewhere behind me. I chose to ignore him and focused on his oldest brother.

  "However, with you here…" Nathan trailed off, but his eyes told me what he didn't say aloud.

  I growled and backed away from him, "I'm an adult in the pack. I've been through a change. And I've proved myself during this mission. Why can't you take me seriously?"

  Nathan narrowed his eyes at me, "There are some things you aren't ready to deal with." He must have seen the pain in my expression because he softened his stare, and took a step closer to me. Then, in a voice only I could hear, he added, "There are some things we don't want you to have to deal with yet."

  I knew he spoke of the war. Many in the packs had grown up in times of war, and therefore were used to the barbaric ways of the battles. I, however, like Cassiel, had never faced anything like that before.

  "Caleb gets to be here." I sounded childish, even though I knew Caleb had never been to battle before, even though he was the London pack's Beta.

  Leo surprised me by addressing my pathetic attempt of winning the argument, "Elaine," He snapped urgently, and I looked at him through the corner of my eye, "Stop being selfish. Your time on the battlefield will come, but now wasn't supposed to be it."

  Gabriel growled, "You aren't her alpha, you don't get to make that choice."

  "Neither do you!" Leonard barked at Gabriel, with rage in his eyes, before turning to me again. I noticed that, not only did Gabriel take a few steps closer to the London alpha, but he also laid his hand over the handle of his sword. Caleb seemed to notice this as well, for he moved to stand between them.

  I winced when Nathaniel also turned his gaze on me. I hugged my mom to my chest as everyone seemed to gang up on me.

  "I still don't understand." I spoke confidently despite my secret desire to make myself as small as humanly possible to get away from their penetrating eyes. "Why am I always excluded, even when I'm a full member of the pack?"

  "He is a dangerous man." Gabriel spoke hoarsely.

  "He is greedy for power and won't stop until he gets it." Leo finally explained.

  The way his eyes burned into mine made me mentally withdraw from him. My human side shuddered under the intensity, while my wolf wished to growl. However, before I could even raise my lip in defiance, a voice entered the room.

  Well, it wasn't really a voice, exactly. It was an echo of a voice.

  A cackle of insane laughter consumed the room. The sound bounced off the walls, so it made it nearly impossible to pinpoint where the person actually was. But that didn't stop us from looking.

  I knew just when Nathan spotted him. His muscles grew larger and tense, while his eyes grew light with vehemence. However, that wasn't what creeped me out. No, what scared me or made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, was my mom's reaction to the voice. Her eyes snapped open and immediately began darting around, not necessarily looking for the owner of the laughing man, but who or what came with him.

  I tried to console her, but nothing seemed to work. She didn't seem to hear me or notice me. Her muscles bunched, and I knew she'd try to jump out of my arms. Panicked, I did the only thing I could think of. I adjusted her in my arms and grabbed her jaw with my free hand. Her fear stricken eyes snapped to mine, and I knew I had her attention. I looked deep into her eyes, past the shrill panic and fear that caused her the white of her eyes to show like a horse who could sense the wolf's approach. Instead, I saw my mother, who was so strong and fearless, who begged to be released from the cage she'd been unwillingly shoved into.

  "Change." I whispered half an order, half plead.

  I saw her struggle and the wolf magic flicker to her eyes, but nothing except pained whimpers came out of her efforts.

  I heard a few growls behind me, and both my fear, and my mother's, returned in spades. Slowly, cautiously, I turned around. Nathan and Josh were closest to me, like a wall shielding me from the man, but Gabriel stood ready to fight, ready to defend. My gaze scanned the room, until I saw him.

  Mom must have seen him at the same time, because she began to squirm uncontrollably in my arms. I stepped into a loose fighting stance… because I didn't particularly see what the big deal was, unless you counted hygiene or sanity.

  The man wasn't a becoming sight to say the least. He seemed to be half starved, emaciated, and could barely keep the shirt he wore from sliding off his small frame. The shirt was almost gray from age, with drops of blood around the trim, and was fraying in several spots. His jeans were simply swallowing him, even though they couldn't have been larger than a size 4.

  To me, he didn't seem to be a threat.

  "You've come at last…" The man couldn't seem to keep from laughing, although nothing about this situation deemed worthy of humor.

  He wasn't much of a threat, but he scared me a little. I guessed the unstable minded did that to everyone, though. I slowly backed away, and tried hard to shelter my mom from the sight. She was shaking hard now, but at least she wasn't trying to jump out of my arms.

  "He'll be, he'll be, he'll be so pleased." The man stammered as he stepped out of the half hidden archway. He hunched over as he walked. Part of me wondered if he actually needed to do that. He didn't appear to be injured, nor did he seem old enough to have acquired that form of illness.

  Nathaniel and Josh sidestepped a little, so they were still between me and the strange man.

  I dared not to speak. First, I didn't want to man's attention to be drawn to me, and secondly… my human and wolf sides agreed to keep their mouths shut, no matter how curious they were.

  "Time hasn't been kind to you Nicolais." Leonard spoke, at last.

  I gasped.

  That man was Nicolais? That was the man we'd been
taught to fear? He could barely talk! Let alone command our opposing army!

  The small sound I made forced the man, Nicolais apparently, to glance my way.

  Disturbingly, my sight sent him into another round of giggles. I cringed at the bizarre sound, and shied away from him once again, even though both my brother and Nathaniel were keeping us plenty apart.

  "Pleased, pleased indeed, he will be." I half expected Nicolais to start clapping, that's how childishly enthused he seemed to be.

  I stood, wondering why no one was attacking the clearly defenseless man. I watched my packmates and those of the London pack, as they stared at the supposed enemy alpha.

  "Who will be pleased?" Leo spoke calmly; without one trace of rage, violence, or fear (not that I'd expect that from him). It was as if he were speaking to a scared child, not a deranged werewolf.

  With my mom trembling like a hurricane, I took a step closer; so I could peer around Nathaniel, who had formed too much of a wall between me and the enemy. His muscular back was in the way!

  I watched as Nicolais limped closer to the London Alpha.

  Caleb's eyes darted between Nicolais and his father. He seemed to be just as confused as I was which was slightly comforting.

  "A friend." Nicolais slyly commented. By then he was close enough to Leo, to touch him. That didn't seem to sit well with Leo's son.

  Caleb whipped out his sword and in one motion was stepping in front of his father protectively.

  You would have thought Caleb had shot him.

  Nicolais let out a cry so shrill a three year old girl would have been envious. He fell to his knees and rabidly crawled across the rough floor. His hands clawed at the concrete, trying move faster, and I winced as if I were in pain myself.

  "I tried to be nice!" He wailed painfully. I jumped at the volume of his voice. Josh was at my side now. His sword was out. Mine would have been ready too, if it weren't for mom. She was getting worse. It was like she sensed something we couldn't. Her small whimpers had increased in sound, and she was now jerking around in my arms.

  I attempted to shush her, but nothing worked.

  "You wouldn't listen!" Nicolais turned barbarian as he whirled around to face the London Alpha and Beta. "You can only be blamed for what happens, what happens, next."

  I widened my fighting stance and readied myself. However, nothing happened right away. A soft growl vibrated in my throat as my mom continued to thrash around. That seemed to help a little, because she started to settle.

  "Your fault… your fault." He continued to chant as he moved, on all fours, to one of the closed doors.

  I watched him carefully, and stood readily as he threw open the aged and wooden doors.

  I was ready for a beast, a wolf, a werewolf, even a damn vampire that I thought didn't exist. However, I couldn't even believe my eyes when I saw my father reel into view.

  My first instinct was to go to him, but Josh blocked me from moving forward and sent a warning growl in my direction. I narrowed my eyes at the back of his head, but stayed back, despite my heart begging me to run to my dad.

  Mom seemed to be having the same difficulties as me. Her claws grazed against my skin and she kicked at me, but I refused to let her go. I looked past her, and noticed my father's dilated eyes. They weren't even yellow; like they would be if he were out of control. Instead, they were completely black. I didn't know what to make of that.

  "Dad," I called out to him. I expected to see his eyes snap to mine in relief, joy, or at least some positive emotion. However, I only received a savage growl. He turned on me, not recognizing me or his mate, with saliva dripping from his rabid mouth. "Dad, snap out of it. Whatever these monsters have done for you isn't real. You aren't on their side!" Josh tried to restrain me by pushing back on my shoulders, but I fought against him and yelled at my father, "You are Quentin of the Bewdley pack, mate of Elizabeth, my father, and one of the best damn swordsman in Europe!"

  He had to know all that. He had to know that this man, no matter how off the rocker he was, was our enemy. He simply couldn't have given up hope!

  My insides fell as a panicked disappointment took control of my heart. I had trouble breathing through the tears that broiled in my throat as I watched my father half lunge towards us. I jumped and stifled a scream when he lunged again. This time, he dove into the air, right at me.

  I almost fell to my knees in fear and kept mom firmly against my chest.

  Through my squinted eyes I saw Josh being thrown to the side. I wasn't sure if he was after Leo, who was somewhere behind me, or me. But that didn't matter.

  I screamed, "No!" I closed my eyes when I saw him start to shift in the air as he leapt once more. I waited for the strike of his claws, or the bite of his canines, but I was met with nothing except sweat streaming down my neck.

  The sounds of a fight, growls, snaps of jaws, and the sickening thud of skin falling against the concrete, caused my eyes to snap open. I watched in horror as Sean's wolf form shoved my father's, erm kind of wolf form, into the wall. Both already had blood on their fur.

  I didn't know how to explain my father. He wasn't a wolf, or at least entirely. Sure, he was on all fours, black fur had grown over his skin, and his canines looked normal, but there was something different about him. He was almost a hybrid. Unlike the ones we'd met at the entrance of the castle, he wasn't large like a bear.

  Instead, he was almost part wolf part panther.

  His tail, which was normally bushed, was now long and sleek with short black fur. Then there was his stance. I hated to think it, but he looked almost catlike as he jumped off out Sean's hold.

  My brother raced across the room. His boots warned of his approach, but that wouldn't have changed the outcome. My father, no matter how out of sorts he was, was a strong fighter. He was the third command of the pack. That had to have meant something.

  I watched in horror as my father whirled around and turned his vicious teeth to my brother. He snapped at the air, which sent saliva sprinkling over the floor. I let out a ragged breath as Sean fell heavily to the floor. I couldn't tell if he was still breathing.

  For two seconds I let down my guard. Unfortunately, that gave mom the chance she'd been waiting for.

  She leapt out of my arms just as dad lunged at Josh.

  I didn't scream. My wolf had taken over, and wouldn't let me send out any glimmer of fear. I bolted after her. My legs were longer, and she was wounded, so I caught up quickly. Then, I didn't even think. I jumped, with my arms open, and landed half on her back.

  "Shhhh…" I shushed her as she struggled in my arms. She thrashed under me, and started to cry out as the fight not half a room away from us turned for the worse, but I held onto her neck. "Stop." I hissed out as I struggled to keep my balance.

  Suddenly, she went as stiff as a board.

  I held onto her tightly. I wasn't sure if I should trust the obedient side of my mother. She could be waiting for me to let go, so she could run again.

  But then, as she lowered herself into a cowering position, I knew she hadn't stopped because of me.

  "Elaine," Caleb's voice shook slightly, and I looked up.

  My dad had Josh shoved against the wall. My brother's face was twisted in pain as dad continued to push against him. A shiver ran down my body and I rose to my feet. It looked like the beast that had been my father was going to break Josh's back!

  I started towards them, "Josh!", but someone grabbed my arm before I could get any closer.

  I spun around, ready to punch the person keeping me from saving what was left of my blood-family, but froze when I saw Gabriel. Sweat was dripping from his tanned face, while his dark hair clung to his skin. I noticed blood on his amour, but couldn't make out where the wounds were. But, I didn't look too hard. Once I saw his expression, I froze.

  Gabriel wasn't looking at me, or my mom's submissive and fearful form near our feet. Instead his eyes were fixed on the wall farthest from us. His jaw was stiff and his lips were pressed toge
ther, but his eyes weren't light in rage. I noticed a small smirk twisting at the edges of his lips.

  That's when I remembered, Gabriel lived for battles.

  "How rude of you, Nicolais," I jumped, and grabbed hold of Gabriel's hand, which was still holding onto my arm. The new voice scared me more than the deranged chuckle had. Maybe it was the fact that it was a voice, instead of the type of sound you hear on those Halloween Haunted House CD's. Whatever the reason, my heart sprang into my throat and I turned my eyes to where the voice had come from.

  My breath hitched in my throat when I saw the newcomer step out of the same hall that Josh had previously led us through.

  Had he been one of those savages who'd chased us? Was he the one who slammed himself into the door in an attempt to open it?

  …Cassiel…

  I struggled to regain my composure as the man spoke again, "You should have waited for me, before greeting our guests."

  I was wary of this man. I knew something was off. Either he was crazy, just not as openly mad as his friend, or he was simply being sarcastic. I kind of hoped he was crazy. Sarcasm would imply that he was aware of what he was doing, and that would mean he was just plain sadistic.

  I shuddered.

  Insane would be better.

  "Anyway," His voice didn't hint to lunacy. On the contrary, he had a nice masculine voice; deep, smooth, mature. "Welcome to Romania." He chuckled darkly as he opened his arms in a greeting gesture.

  My jaw slackened and I snuck a glance at Gabriel. His free hand, the one I wasn't holding onto, was gripping his sword. Then I looked over my shoulder.

  Josh was now on the floor. He was on his hands and knees, heaving for breath. I could smell his desperate fear and instantly wanted to go to him, but stopped. The beast who'd taken over my father's form turned his eyes on me. The eyes of my father were always wise and in control. But now, they were pits of blackness. Nothing except blind rage boiled inside them.

  His strides reminded me of the wolf in the Rugrats Movie. The creature swayed and attempted to steady himself by pounding his paws heavily onto the concrete as he took each step.