by Alisha Paige
She fingered the cold metal sitting in her lap and thought of the day that Sean taught her how to shoot. Even though Rob had bought the gun for her protection, he had never bothered to teach her a thing about it. She thought it ironic how Sean had taught her how to use it and she realized as she sat in the cold, dark room that if he came through that door, she would have no qualms about using it if either he or Aunt Bette came calling, God help her. She couldn’t experience that kind of terror again. She knew it would kill her. She hated Sean for holding her down and forcing her to watch the grotesque metamorphosis.
Her brain wanted so bad to reject the idea that sweet Aunt Bette had hideously turned into a wolf. It just didn’t make sense to her. People didn’t just turn into wolves on a whim. It wasn’t physically possible. It defied the laws of physics. She was living a nightmare, except she was beginning to think that she would never awake. The gun in her lap felt too solid and too real. Paige didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to call Meg or her parents. What would she say? They’d think she was nuts. They wouldn’t believe that her fiancé had just told her that he carried a gene that turns people into wolves and that his aunt just demonstrated it for her.
Yesterday she had been planning her wedding and tomorrow she was going shopping with Meg and her mom for a wedding gown. Not any more. She would call in the morning and say she was sick. Maybe she was. Maybe she was deathly ill with a high fever and having hallucinations. She still wasn’t sure. She heard thunder booming far away and knew the second storm was rolling toward the mountain. Another indication that she wasn’t dreaming. She had known another storm was coming. She had even discussed it with Aunt Bette and Sean, over dinner a few hours ago. Now it seemed like light years had passed. So much had happened and she was so very alone. A part of her missed Sean, but she was too terrified to miss him very much. She feared more for her life. She thought of calling the police, but they wouldn’t believe her either. Maybe she should just drive to the state mental hospital. They might not believe her, but she’d at least be locked in a safe place and given medication to help her forget. She was seriously considering it when the phone rang. She jumped and grabbed the gun in her lap. She let it ring ten times before the person finally gave up.
She had to go to the bathroom, but she was too scared to move. The doors were locked and she had even barricaded herself in with the loveseat. She had locked the windows, too, but she still didn’t feel safe. She suddenly wished she owned a pit bull, but then she remembered the size of Aunt Bette or the wolf or whatever she was called now. She doubted a pit bull would stand a chance against the creature. Only Siegfried and Roy would have ample protection. The phone rang again and kept ringing. She finally picked it up and listened.
“Paige? Are you there? Paige, talk to me.”
It was Sean and he sounded strangely...normal and worried. He didn’t sound like he would eat her. “Honey, talk to me. Are you okay? I’m coming over.”
“No,” Paige replied, her voice sounding gravelly. She realized she hadn’t said one word since she fled Aunt Bette’s.
“Baby, please. You promised to trust me,” Sean pleaded.
“That was before I knew you were half wolf,” she replied, listening to the bizarre comment as it left her lips, realizing it was no joke.
“Besides, it’s three in the morning,” she added.
“So? I doubt you’ve slept much and neither have I. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. Aunt Bette’s in the hospital.”
“What? Is she okay?” Paige asked, suddenly worried, then wondering if she should care. The last time she had seen Aunt Bette, she was on all fours and growling like a rabid dog.
“She’s going to be okay. She got caught in one of the traps that were set near her home. She thought she knew where all of them were, but I guess she didn’t,” Sean explained. He knew how strange all of this must have sounded to her, but now that she knew, he didn’t see the harm in telling her anything now. He just wanted to be with her and everything to go back to normal.
Paige shuddered. Was he telling her that Aunt Bette got caught while she was a wolf? In one of the traps that was set to catch the wolf that attacked Dark Horse?
“Did you find her?”
“Yes, she was howling pretty badly,” Sean replied, wincing inside. It sounded weird even to his ears.
“Is she, uh...is she still a wolf?”
“No, she’s changed back, but both of her feet were mangled really badly. They put some stitches in them at the hospital and they may have to operate on the left one tomorrow,” Sean explained.
The wolf gene had amazing healing powers, but they decreased as one aged. Sean knew she would heal in time, but he thought the cuts were bad enough to warrant medical attention. He had been a nervous wreck at the hospital. Aunt Bette had lost a lot of blood and had passed out in his truck on the way. He would have never forgiven himself if she had died trying to do him a favor, not to mention the fact that she would have died from a trap meant to catch him. What a horrible night. He thought that it would have been over by now and he and Paige would be making passionate love. He wanted her to tell him that it didn’t matter and she still loved him. It hadn’t turned out exactly as he planned, but he wasn’t giving up.
“I’m sorry. I hope she’ll be okay,” Paige replied softly as she laid the gun down on the night stand.
She felt a little safer, but just a little. Maybe she was stuck in the twilight zone. She still wasn’t totally convinced that she wasn’t dreaming. “Sean, am I dreaming? Is this real?” she asked seriously.
Sean paused and sighed deeply. Aunt Bette had warned him of this. “Yes, baby. You are wide awake and this is very real.”
“Oh.”
“But, it’s not as bad as you think. Remember when we had that discussion on Big Foot?”
“Yes,” Paige replied, recalling the memory of the conversation they shared when debating whether the Sasquatch truly exists.
“Your own father quit his job as a stock broker to research them.”
“It’s just a silly hobby for him and some of his old cronies. He just tells people that he quit his job for Big Foot. He was close to retiring anyhow. The offered him a great retirement package if he retired two years early.”
“I remember you saying that just because there was no proof for them that it didn’t mean they didn’t exist. You said that they were just an undiscovered species. Remember?”
“Yes, I do. I think they are a very gentle creature and I definitely believe they exist.”
Paige didn’t want to tell him how very serious her father and his cronies really were. They had spent thousands on surveillance equipment in five states alone.
“Then why can’t you see that we are just another species that co-exists with humans? Part of the reason that we stay in hiding is because of werewolf stereotypes concocted in Hollywood.”
“I guess I never thought of it that way. Well, actually, I’ve never thought of it at all. By the way, how many of your kind are out there?”
“We’re not sure exactly. Possibly hundreds of thousands live within packs or tribes, but like me, a lot of them stay in hiding unless they are discovered by one of their own kind.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, honey. I have so much to explain to you. Can I come over now?”
Paige stiffened and eyed her gun. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sean.”
Her voice sounded cold and far away. She was already beginning to distance herself from him, though she had just promised to trust him and love him no matter what. They had made love all day as the lightning flashed and thunder boomed and the oncoming storm was reminding him of how close they were only twenty four hours before.
“Honey, please. I’m begging you. Give me a chance. Give us a chance.”
“No, I’m not ready,” Paige replied curtly, with no hesitation.
What if he changed into the wolf? She didn’t ever want to witness that freak show again as long
as she lived.
“Then I’ll come over tomorrow,” Sean offered sadly.
“No, I’ll be out shopping for my...” Paige stopped. She wouldn’t be shopping. There wasn’t going to be a wedding.
“For your dress, right?” Sean provided, reminding her that they were engaged.
“No, I don’t think so, but I won’t be in.”
Sean hung his head and nearly dropped the phone. She sounded dead to him. Emotionless.
“Don’t you love me, Paige?”
“Yes. I don’t know.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I’m not sure I want to marry a wolf.”
“You wouldn’t be marrying a wolf. You’d be marrying Sean Wilson. I carry the wolf gene, that’s all,” he corrected.
“Do you hear yourself at all? Do you know how crazy all of this sounds?”
“I know. I know, but what about Big Foot? You think he has a right to live and thrive.”
“Yes, I do, but I don’t want to marry a Big Foot.”
“Are you scared of how our children will turn out?” Sean asked, fishing for a reason. How could she turn off her love for him he wondered?
She was stunned at such a ridiculous question. “I haven’t even thought of that, but now that you mention it.”
“Then why?”
“There’s lots of reasons. My cooking would never compare. In fact, you probably wouldn’t want me to cook, since you like your dinner served raw. I don’t know, Sean. It’s just weird. You’re half wolf for God’s sake. I just witnessed your aunt turn into a hideous beast and gallop off into the forest.”
“We did that so you would believe us. It was a last resort,” Sean explained.
“It was stupid. That was no way to win me over.”
“You weren’t buying any of it.”
“I’m still not. Try selling the idea to someone else. I just can’t.”
“But I love you,” Sean replied as panic began filling his heart.
“I love you too, Sean, but you should have been honest with me from the beginning.”
“I have been. That’s why I’m telling you now, before we get married. You would have never dated me if I told you then.”
“No, I wouldn’t have and it would have saved both of us a lot of heartache.”
Sean couldn’t believe how unfeeling and cold she had become. She didn’t sound upset at all. She just sounded finished.
“Can I ask you something?” Paige asked. She had wondered about it since he had mentioned Aunt Bette getting caught in the trap.
“Was it Aunt Bette who saved me from Dark Horse’s advances?”
“No,” Sean replied softly, holding back tears.
“Oh, I thought maybe...” Sean cut her off. “It was me,” he replied, remembering how badly he wanted to tear out Dark Horse’s throat for even trying to touch Paige. He had let him live so Paige wouldn’t have to witness his death in her kitchen.
Paige sucked in a breath, realizing for the first time that it had been Sean that had saved her. It was still hard for her to believe that Sean could turn into the same beast that Aunt Bette turned into. She had seen Aunt Bette as a wolf and it was Aunt Bette that was caught in a trap, so she just assumed it had been her that flew through her kitchen window that night.
“That was you?” Paige breathed. That explained Sean’s strange disappearance she thought. “But why did you leave me alone with him?”
Suddenly she remembered. They had heard a wolf and he had gone to investigate.
“Remember the wolf growl?”
“Yes.”
“That was me too. You thought the wolf sounded really close, so I went to check it out. It was very close, ‘cause I was changing into a wolf in your living room. There was a full moon that night. I followed you home when I saw Dark Horse following you. I didn’t trust him. Otherwise, I would have waited until the next day to see you. That’s why I left the art exhibit before dark.”
“But Aunt Bette just changed into a wolf and it’s not a full moon tonight.”
“We can change into a wolf whenever we want, but on a full moon, we have no choice. We change regardless.”
“Great,” Paige replied dryly. “I have to go now.”
“Paige?”
“What?” she replied emotionless.
“I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
”I don’t think so. By the way, thanks for saving me from Dark Horse.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, honey,” he persisted.
“I don’t know. I need some time.”
“I love you. Please don’t do this to me, baby.”
“Do what? Live life as a human being? I’m sorry if I see you a little differently now. Your sweet, old aunt just turned into a four legged creature with fangs. I’m having a hard time. Forgive me.”
He had no idea that Paige could be so cold hearted. He couldn’t believe she was making fun of him and his dear old aunt who nearly died trying to explain their heritage to her. He expected her to be in shock but he never expected that she’d turn her heart away from him.
“Goodbye, Sean.”
“Goodbye, Paige. I love you.”
Paige slammed the phone down. Sean listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before hanging up and collapsing on the floor with his head in his hands. He wanted to drive right over, but he knew she needed some time. Maybe she would come around. He hung onto White Feather’s words and prayed as he rocked back and forth on the wooden floor.
Paige threw the covers off and went to the bathroom. She sat on the toilet in the dark and noticed her legs shaking and her knees knocking. After finishing, she kicked her jeans off and unbuttoned her blouse and hung it on the door knob. She reached for her robe and put it on. As soon as she slipped her arms in the sleeves, she realized it was the wrong robe. It was Sean’s. It hung off of her. Her hands were hidden in the giant sleeves. She brought her hands to her face and the big arms drooped in front of her. His scent lingered on the robe. She could smell his aftershave and his warm skin. She fell to the tile floor, wrapping her arms around herself as she sobbed uncontrollably, wishing his arms were around her, wishing it were yesterday.
Chapter 8
Paige rolled over in bed, her head aching as much as her heart. She buried her face in the pillow as a lump formed in her throat. She hadn’t washed the sheets yet and they still smelled of him. She glanced at the alarm clock, surprised it was already noon. She didn’t even remember falling asleep. She noticed the gun lying on the bedside table, reminding her of her nightmarish reality.
It looked much earlier than it was. Her room was still dark. Rain continued to pelt the roof, sliding down the windows. God, when was it going to stop? The thundering had finally subsided, but the rain just kept coming. She peeked through her blinds and saw that her flower beds looked like miniature ponds.
“Oh, shit!” she said out loud.
Sean’s truck was parked in the drive, but she didn’t see him sitting in it. She threw her robe on, cursing when it was much too big, once again catching a whiff of his masculine scent. She tossed his robe to the floor, grabbing hers. She tied it around her waist and marched to the living room. The love seat was still against the front door and she shoved it out of her way.
After unlocking all three locks, she pulled the door open. She heard a grunt as Sean fell against her legs. Waking instantly, he jumped to his feet and gave her a weak grin. He looked adorable and it made her heart ache. His hair was drenched and he was soaked to the bone. She wondered why he hadn’t stayed in his truck. He needed to shave. His dark stubble made him even sexier, accenting his big, brown eyes and his wet head. He looked like a cologne ad shot on the beach. Why did he have to look so damned sexy when she had made up her mind already? There was no way she was going to have a relationship with a wolf and give birth to his mutant children.
His eyes searched hers and neither of them spoke. Reaching out with the back of his hand, he stroked her cheek. Sh
e flinched at his touch and took a step back. Her reaction stabbed him in the gut and the life seemed to leave his eyes as he looked at his feet. Hanging his head, he looked tired and defeated.
“You’re frozen. Do you want to come in and warm up for a minute?” Paige asked, trying to explain her knee jerk reaction to his touch.
Sean looked up slowly. His eyelids were rimmed with redness and he looked as though he didn’t know what to say. What could he say? He’d already said it all. She thought he was a freak of nature and didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Paige took his frozen hand and led him inside. She locked the door behind them out of habit and he noticed the placement of the love seat. It tore at his heart and ripped through his soul to see how frightened she must have been. Paige was a tiny, frail girl who managed to drag her heavy love seat all the way across the living room in order to barricade herself inside. Away from the wolf. Away from him.
Sean shook his head and moved the love seat back with a few long strides. Paige sat down, pulling her robe tighter around her neck, sitting in the corner of the sofa, hugging a pillow to her. Her body language spoke volumes. She clearly did not want him touching her. He was surprised she had taken his hand to lead him inside, but realized it was only because he stood there like a fool and she was getting cold. Sean sat on the other side, keeping a safe distance from her. At least he was in her cabin. It gave him a small measure of hope, but not much. He had been in her driveway since five in the morning, unable to sleep. He stayed in his truck until eight and began knocking. Either Paige never heard him or chose to ignore him. He guessed he had been on the porch for close to three hours. He was afraid he would fall asleep in the truck and miss her if she tried to leave. He didn’t care about the rain or the cold. All he wanted was for her to open the door and let her in. Back into her home and into her heart.
“Are you hungry? I can make you some breakfast, even though it’s noon. I could use some coffee myself,” Paige replied, shaking inside.