by Lisa Kessler
But that wasn’t what held me back. I closed my eyes, replaying that fateful night in my mind. Me telling Malcolm we needed to get him to the hospital so I could repair the internal bleeding, and him refusing.
Commanding me as my Alpha not to move him. To let him die.
I rubbed my eyes and looked up at the clouds. If Kilani were a werewolf, I’d never be capable of letting her go. I’d risk my Pack, my entire race, and take her to a hospital. Save her. I’d put her life above everyone else’s.
If she remained human, we could still get married, love each other, and live a normal life for the most part. But we wouldn’t be able to have children.
She’d bought a cradle for the baby she never carried to term. My gut clenched. She’d wanted that child.
I stared at my reflection in the pond, the ripples distorting my face. Until this moment, I’d never considered children. I loved Adam’s children, little Malcolm and Madeleine; being their Pack uncle brought me joy and laughter. But a father…
This wasn’t a decision I could make on my own. I needed to talk to Kilani. But if she still chose to be a werewolf…
I’d cross that bridge when I got there.
The screen door wailed, announcing my arrival. Kilani came out from the bedroom with a box of pictures. I frowned. “Glad it was me and not Nero coming in?”
“Wow.” She put the box on the counter. “You’re in a great mood.”
“Just worried that you’re forgetting the danger.”
She came closer, chin up, not the least bit intimidated. “Between my visions and my grandmother’s messages from our ancestors, we knew it was you. So what’s the real problem here?”
The urge to punch something simmered in my gut. I took her hand. “We need to talk. Alone.”
Kilani pulled free of my grasp and went into the tiny kitchen area. “I’ll be right back, Grandma Nani.”
She returned to my side and handed me a banana, a short stubby banana.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it.” She smiled up at me, derailing my frustration. “It’s a Hawaiian banana. We call them apple bananas and they’re delicious.”
“You think a banana is going to mellow me out?” I raised a brow.
“I think you’re hungry, and this will help.”
My stomach growled, outing me. She chuckled and I peeled as Kilani and I walked out of the cabin. I found a big rock for two and we sat overlooking a lush green hillside. I finished the banana and rested my hand over hers.
“I need to talk to you about tonight.”
“Okay.” She glanced up at me. “The full moon.”
I nodded. “You asked me to change you, but I’m not sure it’s the right call. At least, not right now.”
She straightened, pulling her hand away to cross her arms. “You told me it’s forever. Are you second-guessing if you want to be with me?”
“No. Not at all.” I ran my hand up her back, hoping it might coax her to relax, but she remained stiff and stoic. “But we can be together without changing you. We can date, live together, get married… If you become a werewolf, you’ll be tied to Reno, to the Pack, and if anything happens to you medically, you’d have werewolf DNA too, so I wouldn’t be able to take you to the hospital. It would be like my dad and Malcolm all over again. I’m not strong enough for that. I couldn’t sit by and watch you slip through my fingers just to keep our secret from the humans.”
My voice choked, wobbling. I cleared my throat, staring off into the distance. “I’m trying to tell you I’m scared.”
“And you think I’m not?” She slid off the rock and stood in my line of vision, forcing me to meet her eyes. “I told you I loved you, and I meant it. But I will not be your handicap. I won’t be locked inside another car again while you fight my battles. And I’ve got news for you—if there’s a medical emergency in the Pack, I’ll be assisting you from now on. You don’t get to carry all the responsibility on your shoulders all alone. Not anymore.”
She paused and stepped closer, taking my hand. “That vision I had hasn’t changed, Jason. Maybe if I’m a werewolf, if my senses are enhanced like yours, we can make the outcome different.” She squeezed my hand. “Please. I can’t lose you, either.”
I stared into her eyes, my heart pounding. If I changed her tonight, there would be no going back. What if the past repeated itself?
It wouldn’t matter if we didn’t try for a future.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I stood and pulled her into my arms, kissing her hair, breathing her in. Gradually I loosened my hold on her and stared down into her eyes. “Wait for me by the waterfall tonight.”
She nodded. “Will I turn into a wolf, too?”
“Not until the next full moon. The bite will hurt, but it’ll heal up pretty fast.” I lifted her hand, my lips caressing her knuckles. “Hold out your hand. The wolf will do the rest.”
Nani filled us up with Spam and rice as the sun dipped lower into the horizon. The large orange harvest moon would be overhead soon. With the time difference in Hawaii, I figured my brother and the Pack were already howling around Lake Tahoe. Strange to imagine running alone tonight.
“Will the moon child sense the danger of the road? Will he stay back?”
I glanced at Nani. Tomorrow we’d be home in Reno. She would be surrounded by the Pack. Time for a little trust. “I scouted the area today. The wolf should recognize the safe areas. He won’t wander close to the road and humans.”
She collected my plate with a smile. “I never dreamed there would be a wolf on my island.”
“Just for one night.” I stood up and stretched. “Thanks for dinner. I better get outside. Keep the door locked, just in case.”
Nani glanced up from the kitchen sink. “We are protected.”
God, I hope that’s true.
Kilani came to my side. On her tiptoes, she kissed my cheek and whispered, “I’ll see you soon.”
The wolf growled inside of me. With the moon and our mate so close, it was dangerous for me to stay. The last thing I wanted was to shift in Nani’s cabin. I pressed my lips to Kilani’s forehead and smiled down at her. “Stay safe.”
I opened the door and stepped outside. The night was clear and warm, perfect for a run. I jogged to the north, deciding I’d leave my clothes by the waterfall. After the wolf claimed Kilani and bit her, I planned to force him back and shift back so that I could check her wound. After Nadya’s violent reaction when Nero’s mutated wolf bit her, I was a little gun shy. Kilani should be safe, but I wished I could be certain.
At the pool I stripped off my clothes, sweat dripping into my eyes. It was time.
Shifting hurt like being drawn and quartered, maybe worse. Even the movies that portrayed a grisly transformation didn’t scratch the surface of the real thing.
I growled, struggling to keep from screaming as my legs gave out and I fell onto my hands and knees. My back bowed up, cracking and snapping as every vertebra reformed and my tailbone regenerated. The bones in my fingers, all my knuckles, and my feet shattered, rebuilding into paws. I panted, no longer able to speak or cry out; my lips and vocal chords didn’t resemble a human man’s anymore.
Hair pushed through my skin, like thousands of needle pricks all over my body. My jaw elongated, teeth growing and changing form. Inside I fought to slow my breathing, surrendering to the change. Through the haze of agony, I tried to focus on my anatomy, marking what had changed and how much farther I had to go. My ears were the final transformation, stretching and elongating.
And finally I was whole.
The wolf stood, shaking off the dirt from his thick fur. We stretched and bolted into the darkness, free. He chased after a mongoose, riled up some bats, and tracked a deer. Deep within, I encouraged the wolf north. Kilani would be waiting at the waterfall and once the wolf caught our mate’s scent, he wouldn’t give up the trail until we were reunited.
After getting sidetracked by the unfamiliar smell of
a wild boar, my wolf finally ran north. We skidded to a stop, sniffing the air. The wolf pricked its ears. The crashing of the waterfall was close. The wind shifted, and we found Kilani’s scent.
The wolf took off in search of our mate, and deep inside I prayed this wasn’t a mistake.
Chapter Twenty-Four
KILANI
A huge red-brown wolf broke through the ferns, surprising me. Survival instincts kicked in, and I stumbled backward, almost tumbling into the water. This was Jason. Had to be. There weren’t wolves on Maui.
I forced my feet to stop, but there was no slowing my pulse. My heart galloped in my chest like a thoroughbred. “Jason?”
The wolf tilted its head, panting. His tongue lolled out, exposing long, sharp teeth. Shit. This was going to hurt. I rolled my eyes. Of course it would. This wolf had fangs long enough to pierce all the way through my hand. Was Jason still conscious inside?
Question I should have asked before I begged him to bite me.
“Can I have a minute first?” I knelt down. He was taller than me now, but he didn’t attack. “Would it be okay to touch you?”
I held my breath, grateful he didn’t leap forward and maul me. He came closer until we were nose to nose. My hand trembled as I stroked his neck. His coat was thick and smooth. Up this close, I recognized the bright hazel eyes. Jason’s eyes.
“You’re amazing.”
He licked my cheek, and I laughed, my fear and trepidation fading.
“Gross.” I wiped my face and straightened up a little so I could scoot beside him. “So you’re all right with me petting you?” He rubbed against my legs in answer. I scratched behind his ears and kissed the top of his head. “I’m a little nervous.”
The large wolf laid on his belly next to me. I followed his lead and sat in the dirt too, sliding my hand down his back. His cold nose bumped the fingers of my free hand, and before I could snatch it away, his jaws snapped closed.
I gasped, the jolt of pain stealing my scream. He immediately released me and tenderly licked at the wound, doctoring it. Tears rolled down my face, but I had to laugh.
“Wolf spit isn’t sanitary.”
He chuffed and continued his nursing until the blood was gone. In the bright moonlight, six puncture wounds oozed, but he hadn’t torn my skin. No stitches. The wolf got up and started walking away.
“Stay with me.”
He looked back, whined, and walked behind the trees. I started to get to my feet to follow when wet popping sounds stopped me in my tracks. Bones cracked, joints dislocated, and I plopped back down, wishing the waterfall were loud enough to cover the horror happening a few feet from me.
After what seemed like the longest ten minutes of my life, Jason came and sat beside me. I expected a naked man like the werewolf movies and TV shows, but he had his shorts and T-shirt on. They weren’t even ripped up.
“You’re dressed.”
“I left my clothes here when I shifted earlier.” He took my hand, careful not to touch the bite. “I wanted to be able to help you if things didn’t go according to plan.”
He turned my hand over, examining the other side. The moonlight glinted off the sweat rolling down his face. How difficult had it been for him to shift back so quickly?
I nudged him with my shoulder. “If wolf spit was disinfectant, I’d be in great shape.”
“It’s our saliva that changes your DNA and makes you like us. He was probably just being sure you were ours.” Jason kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry there’s not a better way to do it.”
“I think he was trying to be gentle. He distracted me first.”
Jason lifted my hand into the light again and finally started to smile. “You’re healing.”
“What?” I jerked my hand back, inspecting it. Two of the puncture wounds had already closed and the others were fading. “It’s impossible.”
“It’s the mate bond. We become one and the wound turns into a scar. You should be fully healed within an hour.”
“But I won’t change into a wolf?”
He shook his head. “Not until next month.”
“When will I have the heightened senses?”
He shrugged. “It’s different for everyone. Some people notice their hearing is better right away, and some have an enhanced sense of smell. Most of the time your strength and speed is increased within the first twenty-four hours.”
I stared into the darkness, waiting for X-ray vision to kick in. Would I be able to tell that I could see farther than before? I opened and closed my hand, marveling at how quickly the wound was healing.
“I hope it kicks in fast for me. Tomorrow is going to be tricky with those guys watching for us at the airport.”
Jason took my hand. “I didn’t claim you and change you so you could protect me from one of your visions.” His gaze searched mine. “I’m serious. Just because you’re a werewolf now doesn’t make you indestructible. A bullet or a stab wound will kill one of us just like any human. I need you to be safe.”
“And I need that for you, too.” I broke eye contact, staring at the moonlight sparkling on the water. “Maybe we should just stay here? We could try to wait them out.”
Jason tossed a pebble into the pond, sending out ripples of light. “We need the Pack if we’re going to keep you and your grandmother away from Nero. If we stay and hide out here, they’ll just send a larger team and we’d be outnumbered.”
I hadn’t thought of that angle. I rolled my head, hoping to get the buzzing in my ears to stop. “Have you warmed up to Grandma Nani’s scented-oil plan?”
“No. If I can’t track him, he could sneak up on us without warning.”
I sighed, staring up at the stars like they might have the answer. “Do you have a different plan to get through the airport without them spotting us?”
“I do, but you’re not going to like it.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. I crossed my arms over my chest. “What did you have in mind?”
“Damian is a jaguar shifter. He’s familiar with our scent, but he doesn’t know you’re a wolf now. He and his team will be after me. If I’m out of the picture, getting to you should be simple. They don’t know you’re more than human. That’s our ace in the hole. I can distract him and get him chasing my scent, while you and your grandmother get on the plane. Tell the gate agents she needs early boarding, and I’ll meet you guys on the flight.”
“Split up?” My brain short-circuited for a second. I shook my head, stuttering. “N-No. No, there’s no way… No. He’ll kill you. I’ve seen it.”
“He won’t. I’ll be ready for that. I won’t let him get close enough. As long as he chases me, you and Nani can get on that plane.”
“There’s got to be a better way.”
He raised a brow. “I’m listening.”
I got up and dusted off my backside.
“Where are you going?”
“My hand is healed. I’m going back to the cabin. Grandma Nani might be able to help.”
He stood, but he looked less than convinced.
“I’m serious. She knew what you were without us telling her anything, right? She’s a strong Kahuna. Don’t doubt the power of our ancestors on these islands. They protect her.”
Candles flickered in the tiny living room. Grandma Nani sat on a woven bamboo mat with her legs crossed. Her eyes opened the moment I stepped inside. “What have you done, mynah bird?”
I frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She was on her feet much faster than I expected, biting into her lower lip. Without a word, she grabbed my hands, quickly running her finger along my new scar.
“Maybe I should be asking Jason.”
She let go of me and muscled past to get into Jason’s personal space. He was so much taller than her, she had to tip her head all the way back. She looked like she was trying to see into space. I gnawed at the inside of my cheek. This seemed like a really bad time for inappropriate giggles.
�
�What did you do to my granddaughter?”
He raised a brow. “Your granddaughter is my mate, but I think you already knew that when we arrived.”
“Kilani was still human, Kahuna magic in her bloodstream. You’ve tainted her.” She swatted his arm, clearly not intimidated by his size or the fact he was a huge wolf less than an hour ago. “I never got to train her. She doesn’t understand the powers she possessed. Now she will never know.”
He ground his teeth together, his nostrils flaring, but he kept his voice even and controlled. “Becoming a werewolf, and being my mate, has not tainted her. Kilani is stronger now, her senses heightened. Our bite doesn’t change who she was, it just adds to her abilities.”
She narrowed her eyes and spun around to face me. Clutching my wrist, she pulled me into the modest kitchen area. A pot bubbled on her two-burner stovetop.
“Smell this, mynah bird.”
I leaned closer, took a deep breath, and coughed, stumbling backward. The room tilted as I slid down the wall.
“Are you insane?” Jason yelled somewhere in the distance. “What did you do to her?”
He was beside me. I couldn’t see him, but…I recognized his scent. My sense of smell was heightened. Whatever Grandma Nani had in her pot, the effect must have intensified with my new werewolf blood changing me.
I floated, weightless somehow, struggling to identify the scents that assaulted me. Seaweed…rainbow eucalyptus bark…and…popolo, Black nightshade.
“Popolo.” I opened my eyes, squinting at the candlelight. Apparently my vision was now enhanced, too, and thanks to my grandmother’s concoction, my pupils had to be the size of quarters. “Seaweed, rainbow eucalyptus, and nightshade. You knew it would knock me out.”
“Only if you still had my blood in your veins.” Grandma Nani knelt down, examining my eyes. “I didn’t realize your new abilities would increase the potency. It should have made you dizzy, not leave you knocked out on my floor.”