by Willow Cross
Chapter Twenty-One
“No. You’re not taking her and that’s final.” Pete kicked the railing on the porch in his frustration.
“Look. You don’t have any say so here. What part of Alpha do you not get?” Shad answered.
Jason drew in a deep breath. For thirty minutes, he’d listened to Shad and Pete argue over what was best for his sister. They both had valid points. Shad felt they needed to leave. They didn’t know who they could trust inside the pack and they didn’t know when the rest of the White Horns would be on them. An attack was being prepared, that much was certain, and with them out of the loop now, there was no way to know when it would come.
Pete saw things from a different perspective. Although Shad and Ashley had, in fact, saved their lives, Pete didn’t think either of them should be trusted either. After all, they were White Horns and had already lied on numerous occasions to both Jason and Sarah.
“How do we know it’s not an ambush?” Pete’s question pulled Jason from his musings.
“It’s not.” Shad answered through clenched teeth.
“And we’re supposed to believe, after all you’ve done, that you’re in love with her, right? All of a sudden, you can’t live without her, and now you’re going to do the right thing?” Sarcasm spewed through Pete’s words.
“Yeah. Something like that. Look, I don’t answer to either of you. This isn’t hard to figure out here. Jason, do you want to live?” Shad flipped his hand against Jason’s elbow.
“It’s not as simple as all that.” Jason answered with a sigh.
“It is that simple. You don’t know who you can trust. I’m not asking you to stay with my people. Let’s just leave here. We’ll go find our own place in the world. You with Ash and me with Sarah.”
“You are not taking Sarah anywhere.” Pete growled.
The front door opened, spilling light onto the porch and lawn. All three heads turned. Sarah, arm around Ashley’s shoulder for support, stood holding a book bag in her free hand. “We’re leaving. Go pack some stuff.” Shad said.
“No you‘re not, go back to bed.” Pete barked.
“Stop it, Pete. No one here can be trusted. Until we can get hold of Uncle Thomas, we are leaving and that’s final.” Jason interjected.
Pete glanced at his feet before meeting her gaze. “Fine. But I’m coming with you. I’m not leaving you two alone with White Horns.”
Relief washed over Sarah’s face. “I was hoping you’d come. I think you’ll be in danger if we leave you here.”
“No!” Shad bellowed. “We don’t know if we can trust him either.”
Sarah leaned against the wall and reached out to him. Shad moved to her side pulling her close. Placing her hand on his cheek, she said, “We can’t leave him here to die for helping us. Everyone in the pack knows Pete's been our friend for a while now. He’s close to Thomas, too. If they're all against us, he will suffer for it. Don’t ask me to put him in danger.”
Pete winced at the tone of her voice and look on her face. Reaching out, he brushed her arm. “Sarah, we don’t have to leave here. The pack is not against you. You are alpha, even if some were, you could control them.”
Her lips pulled into a sad smile. “That’s what you don’t get, Pete. None of you ever understood. My brother and I don’t want to control anyone. We don’t want to rule. All we want to do is live and be happy. That’s all we ever wanted.”
“But we can be happy here. I know we can. You just have to believe--”
The sound of a car coming up the driveway stopped the conversation. All heads turned to watch as a police car flashing red and blue lights, slowly moved towards them. When it stopped, two uniformed policemen exited the vehicle. “You Jason Masada?” One asked pointing at Pete.
“No. I’m Jason. What seems to be the trouble, officer?”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with me, son. We have some questions that need answering.”
“Questions about what?”
The cops positioned themselves, one on each side of the porch stairs. The man on the left reached down and flipped his holster open, leaving his hand on the butt of the gun.
“Hey. You got a warrant or something?” Ashley asked.
Shad folded his arms across his chest. “Yeah, you have to have a warrant to just take someone away from their home.”
The policeman to the right laughed. “You his attorney? We don’t need a warrant to ask questions. Now let him come on down here unless you want to come into custody too. I’m sure impeding an investigation charges would do quite nicely.”
“No! He didn’t do anything. What do you want him for?” Sarah’s knees began to buckle. Shad grabbed her before she could fall.
The cop on the left pulled his gun and aimed it at Jason’s head. “This could get ugly real fast kids. It’s your choice.”
Tears began trickling down Ashley’s face. She grabbed Jason’s massive arm, hiding her face against it.
The policeman on the right pointed to Jason. “Step on down here, boy.”
Jason extricated his arm from Ashley’s grasp and raised his hands above his head. Moving forward he walked down the three steps to ground level. The cop turned him around. Taking first one wrist, and then the other, the man cuffed him. “Jason Masada, you are being detained for questioning in murder of Thomas Masada. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…”
As the cop droned on, Sarah and Ashley held tightly to Shad. Pete stood silently shaking his head. Thomas is dead? God help us. What are we going to do now?
***
The smelly old cot creaked and groaned as Jason turned over. The only light in his cell came from the exit sign over the door at the end of the short hall. Not that he needed much light, other than cracks in the walls and scratched messages left from previous inmates, there wasn’t anything to see. He had been booked, questioned, and then left until morning when he went before the judge. Pulling the scratchy wool blanket over his shoulders, he tried to sleep.
He knew he hadn’t killed Thomas, but someone had. His mind replayed the interrogation with the detective in charge of the case. Inside a tiny, closet sized room, he'd told him that Thom was found naked and close to death outside his car along the side of the road. A county officer happened by and found him. The cop had pulled up behind his car, jumped out and ran to where his body lay half on the road. There were massive rips and tears all over him.
Kneeling down, he'd lifted Thomas' barely breathing body into his arms, the officer had asked. “Can you hear me? Mister?”
Thomas' eye fluttered open. A soft whisper escaped his lips.
Moving closer, the officer asked, “What did you say? Try again. Stay with me mister, help is on the way.”
With the last of his strength, Thomas grabbed the other man's shirt, rasping, “My nephew, Jason Masada, you have to find him,” before dying in the policeman's arms.
“Looked like he’d been mauled by a bear,” the investigator had said. “If he hadn't given us your name, we'd have thought it was just an animal attack.”
Jason's anger had spilled over then. Slamming his fist against the table, he yelled, “How could I have done that? Isn't it possible he just wanted you to contact me?”
A grim smile had spread over the detective's face. “Oh yes it is possible. But after we ran your name and discovered several bodies were found--in the same condition mind you--in your home town...Well you can see why we'd have questions.”
After a few more questions, they had decided to keep him overnight, until the Mount Vernon police department could send someone to question him.
Jason crossed his arms behind his head and stared at the dark ceiling above. It must have been one of us. Who would have done that? Why? Was all of this part of Phaedra’s plan? Did she even have a plan? Shit! I need to sleep. I’ll need my wits about me tomorrow.
Another metallic creak echoed through the
cells as Jason repositioned himself. Outside in the distance, he could hear wolves howling. Lots of wolves. Some of the voices he recognized, but others were foreign to him.
***
“I want to see my brother.” Sarah’s hand slammed on the desk as she glared at the uniformed man behind it.
The officer looked down his nose over his glasses. “I’ve already told you, Miss Masada, visiting hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm. Your brother is in lockup, and no visitors will be allowed to see him until he goes before the judge. I understand you are upset, especially with finding out about your uncle, but there is nothing I can do to help you.”
“Then I want to see the person in charge of his case.”
The man sighed and thumbed through pages on a clipboard. He shook his head. “Can’t do. Sorry. He’s gone home for the night.”
“We’ve been sitting here for hours. Why would he go home when he knew I wanted to speak to him?” Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of crooked operation are you running here? You won’t tell me anything about how my uncle died; no one will discuss any of this with me. Jason was with all four of us all afternoon. What is going on here?”
The man pushed at a stack of papers in front of him, picked them up, and lightly tapped them on the desk. Then looking over his should to either side, leaned forward, and said softly, “Look, Miss, I don’t know what’s going on here. Everyone is pretty much riled up. Some’s scared to death. All I know is your brother’s name was the last words out of your uncle’s mouth. I’ve seen the pictures of how they found him. If what they think happened, happened, well--”
“What do they think happened?” Shad interjected.
Again, the man looked over each shoulder and whispered. “They don’t know for sure what happened, but it looks like he was nearly ripped apart. And that is the same MO of several murders in your home town.” Then leaning back in his seat, he picked up a pen and began doodling on a blank sheet of paper. “Sorry, kids, that’s all I know. Now you best run along and come back in the morning. We can hold him seventy-two hours for questioning. After that, they’ll either arrest him and take him before the judge, or let him go.”
Sarah placed both hands on the desk, ready to give the man a piece of her mind, when Shad’s hand touched her shoulder. “Let’s go, Sarah. We’re not going to find out anything tonight.”
Sarah’s eyes glistened with tears as she turned to face him. “He didn’t do this. I know my brother. He’s been with me since yesterday morning. He didn’t do this.”
“I know he didn’t. We’ll figure this out. He has an airtight alibi. They won’t be able to pin this on him.”
***
Cricket chirps silenced. Only the wind and the howling filled the forest. A young girl stood on the front porch of the family‘s old farm house watching as her father sat in the rocking chair. His trusty rifle lay neatly across his lap. “Daddy? What’s all the noise about tonight?”
The man‘s eyes continued searching the tree line surrounding the house. “Don’t know, hun. You git on up in the house with your momma. Something’s fixen to bust loose, I reckon.”
A nervous look crossed over her face as she swayed from side to side. “Them wolves sound mad.”
“Yep. Reckon they do. Now scat. This ain’t no place for you tonight.”
“Yessir.” She said as she let the screen door slam behind her.
A woman’s face appeared behind the rusted screen. “Paul?”
“Yes, momma?”
“When you commin’ in?”
“You just tend to the children. Make sure the windows is shut up and locked tonight.”
“It’s just wolves, right?”
The man chuckled and spat to the side. “Woman, you lived here forty years, and you’re still saying it’s just wolves?”
“Never mind. Come in when you’re ready.” The front door closed with a slam, rattling the glass in the wood.
Just wolves. Ha. Don’t nobody in these parts pay attention to nothing around here? The man flipped the release on the double-barreled shotgun. The barrel popped open with a click. He checked again to make sure both barrels had shells in them, snapped it shut, and laid it across his knees.
***
Sarah’s voice shook as she spoke. “I think you better drop us off here, Shad.”
“Why? What’s wrong.”
Sarah turned her head to look at Pete in the back seat. “Yep, I hear them,” he answered.
Shad‘s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Hear what? What’s going on?”
Sarah placed her hand on his leg. She tried to mask the fear on her face, but failed miserably. “The pack is at our house. All of them.”
“So?”
“In wolf form.”
Ashley gasped, reached out, and touched Sarah’s shoulder. “You can’t go back there. You have no idea what they’ll do.”
Sarah reached up and squeezed the hand on her shoulder. “I have to. It’s my pack. They need me.”
“No!” Shad and Ashley said in unison.
Sarah released Ashley’s hand and gazed out the window. The trees flew by. Between them, here and there, tiny red pinpoints of light glowed. Sometimes just two, other times four or six. Sarah sighed and looked at Shad. “Stop the car. This is where we get out.”
The muscle in his jaw twitched as he spoke. “I’m not letting you do this.”
“You have no choice. I have to go to them. If I don’t keep control, God only knows what will happen.”
The car began to slow as Shad eased his foot from the gas to the brake. “What if they kill you?”
“Over my dead body.” Pete growled from the back seat.
Shad looked into the rear view mirror. “Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”
“On my life.”
Sarah leaned over and kissed Shad on the cheek. “Go home. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll be here at 6 am.” Shad said as he grabbed her head and roughly kissed her.
Pete and Sarah exited the car, slipping into the woods and out of sight.
Moving to the front seat, Ashley locked the doors. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”
Voice full of emotion, he answered, “They have to be. She has to be.”
***
The moment they entered the woods, Pete and Sarah shifted and ran. Voices instantly assailed them.
“What’s going on?”
“Where are you?”
“What’s happened to Thomas?”
The power of who and what she was consumed and calmed her. For the first time all day, Sarah was in control. “I am coming. Mark, where are the hunters?”
“They are here.”
“Good. We’re going to need them.” Wind whipped through her fur, small limbs and brush bounced off her as she raced through the forest. Reveling in the strength and power coursing through her body, Sarah’s head flew back. A monstrous howl erupted from her throat.
***
On a porch several miles away, a farmer sat rocking. Another howl, followed by many others, devoured the silence. The man pressed the release on his shotgun. He reached down between his legs, feeling for the small metal box he knew was there. Without taking his eyes from the trees, the man picked up the box, opened it, and began shoving shells in his overall pockets. The shells looked nothing like the two chambered rounds. Beautifully made, they looked more like art than weapons. They gleamed in the starlight, flashing as he turned them. Guess it’s about that time. Well come on then, I’m ready. He pulled the two rounds from the barrel, replacing them with the new, shiny, silver bullets.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jason sat up. The cell, still dark, had taken on a strange green glow from the exit sign. He listened, knowing he heard a voice, but not quite able to place it. “Jason, wake up!” Sarah’s voice came again.
“I’m awake now. Where are you?”
“At home. We are coming to get you.”
“The hunters are already outside waiting. Shift and join them. We’ll meet you outside town.”
“How do you propose I do that?”
“Oh for Pete’s sake. Do you think those bars can hold you in wolf form? Do I have to think of everything?”
“I’m not so sure about--”
“Jason, now. Shift and join us.”
Regardless of his feelings, his body responded to her order. Jason squeezed his eyes tight. Gripping both sides of the small sink and shaking his head, he fought against it, but the feeling surged forth and consumed him. His large hands lengthened and dark claws jutted from his fingers. With a loud crack, the sink ripped free from the wall, and crashed to the ground. Shards of porcelain flew across the floor as he dropped to his hands and knees. Fully changed, a low growl escaped him.
Muddled voices from his fellow inmates echoed through the cells. Awake now, they were bound to bring attention from the officers on duty.
Placing his head against the barred window, he pushed. Concrete cracked around the edges as the bars slowly gave way. A loud clattering went through the small cellblock as iron bars hit the paved alley behind the jail. As a wolf, Jason would have never fit, but in his human form, he was able to squeeze through. Lights came on and the yelling became louder.
Once outside, he shifted again. If anyone had been up to watch, they’d have seen the massive, pony-sized wolf running out of town as if his life depended on it.
***
Sarah and Pete waited on the outskirts of town with several clansmen. Filled with foreboding, she paced. There was more wrong tonight than Thomas being dead and her brother’s arrest. She could feel it deep inside her. A strange smell wafted through the air. The smell of wolves. Another pack was close and from the smell, there must be many. All throughout the valley, the sound of howling echoed through the night. Some belonged to her, but others were not of their clan. Two hunters were dispatched to help guard Jason in his return to her. The rest were in search of the rogue pack that invaded their territory.