by D. M. Turner
Noon? Had she slept through the whole morning? Tanya glanced at Isaac, who still hadn’t moved except for his steady breathing. She got to her feet and nuzzled him.
He glanced at her with dull, uninterested eyes.
She nudged him again.
He sighed deeply then climbed to his feet.
The two of them trudged beside Colin through the snow to the house.
Colin stopped on the deck. “Uh oh. Chris is already here.”
Tanya pushed against him with her nose, urging him forward.
“If you say so.” He opened the sliding glass door, waited for her and Isaac to enter, and then stepped inside and closed the door.
Isaac slipped around the perimeter of the room into the hallway and disappeared.
Tanya tried to do so, but Chris’ seven-year-old daughter Melody spotted her.
“Doggy!” Before any of the adults could catch her, the child rushed across the room and threw her arms around Tanya’s neck.
Tanya froze, afraid she might knock the girl over or step on her. She cast her brother a somewhat panicked, mostly amused look.
Chris grinned and retrieved his child. He unwrapped her little arms from around Tanya’s neck and hoisted her onto his hip. “Melody, you know you’re not supposed to run up to a strange dog like that.” He winked at Tanya. “It could bite. You should always ask the owner if you can pet a dog, and you pet, don’t strangle.”
Colin laid a hand on Tanya’s shoulders and nudged her slightly with one knee. “I better take our canine friend upstairs.”
Without further prodding, Tanya trotted through the room, up the stairs, and into their bedroom.
Colin followed then halted in the doorway. “Why don’t you take a shower and get dressed then join us when you’re ready.” He glanced down the hall. “I’ll check on Isaac.”
She gave a soft grumbling wuffle of agreement.
He closed the door and left.
It took about ten minutes to Shift, shower, and dress. Then she wandered downstairs.
“Aunt Tanya!” Melody flew across the room and wrapped both arms around her legs as tightly as she had Tanya’s wolf-neck minutes before.
“Hey, cutie pie.” She dropped to her knees and hugged the little girl. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“You, too.” The child drew back with a tight frown. “I’ve really missed you.”
“I’ve really missed you, too. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me, too!” A gap-toothed grin appeared.
“Aunt Tana! Aunt Tana!” Four-year-old Jacob ran over on short legs and threw his arms around her neck.
“Oh, wow, double hugs!” She grinned and embraced him. “How do I rate such special treatment?”
“’Cause you special,” he said.
“I am?”
He eased away enough to meet her gaze and nodded forcefully. “Uh huh.”
Tanya pushed down tears at the innocent adoration in his expression. “You know what?”
“What?”
“You’re special, too. Both of you.” She pulled Melody against her, hugging both children close.
Chris emerged from the crowd in the living and dining rooms and grinned, folding his arms across his chest. “Are you two going to hog Aunt Tanya all night?”
“Yes,” Melody replied with great confidence. “We got to her first, so that’s only fair.”
He chuckled. “No, what’s fair is for you to share her. We want to see her, too.”
She huffed a heavy sigh. “Fine.”
Tanya met his gaze and bit her lip to keep from laughing. Then she released both children to get to her feet and hugged her brother. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Chris stepped back after a hug and studied her. Then he turned his attention to his children. “Can you two find Aunt Marcy and Aunt Alexis?”
“Sure!” Melody took off running, weaving through adult legs, with Jacob doing his best to follow.
“You’re still too thin, and you haven’t been sleeping.”
Tanya smiled. “I know.”
“Mom told me you lost a friend earlier this week.”
Mom told him? She frowned. Oh, yeah. Colin had probably told her the day before. “Yeah.” She glanced at the members of the pack who were within her range of sight. “We lost the wife of one of the pack members day before yesterday.”
He winced. “How’s he doing?”
“Not good.” In fact, Isaac didn’t appear to be among the others. Had he decided to spend the day alone in the guestroom?
“And you hurt for him.”
She nodded and lowered her gaze.
A finger curled under her chin, he lifted until her gaze met his. “Hey, that kind of empathy is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I’m not ashamed. I just don’t want to think about it right now.”
He nodded and smiled. “Alright. We’ll talk about something else.” A grin crept over his face. “Like the fact you and Colin got married without inviting any of us.”
“Yeah, well, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I wanted to do it before I chickened out.”
A frown appeared. “Did he coerce you or something?”
“No. Nothing like that. It’s just, I was afraid fear would get the better of me. I didn’t want it running my life.”
His eyes narrowed. “So… you’re not pregnant or anything, right?”
“No!” She smacked his arm. “How can you even ask me that? Colin and I didn’t do anything that could cause pregnancy until we were married. Shoot, he didn’t even kiss me until the wedding ceremony.”
Chris nodded with a pleased smile. “Good. Glad to hear he respected you enough to wait. I’d hate to have to punch your husband’s lights out.”
She laughed softly.
“Tanya!” Marcy weaved past Ian, who carried a turkey to the dining room table. A bright smile curved her mouth and lit her eyes.
Alexis wasn’t far behind, with Jacob connected to one hand and Melody attached to the other.
Tanya hugged her sisters, each in turn, relieved at their obvious excitement at seeing her. Though they’d sounded accepting over the phone, and Chris had said they were fine with the wolf, it was reassuring to see it for herself.
“Kiddos, let’s go get Aunt Tanya’s surprise. Okay?” He held a finger to his lips when Melody opened her mouth. “Shh! Don’t tell her what it is. You’ll ruin the surprise.” He picked up Jacob, took Melody’s hand, and headed off toward the living room.
“I’m so glad he did that.” Marcy pulled Tanya a bit farther down the hall toward the guestroom, drawing Alexis with them. “The white wolf Melody threw herself at earlier. Was that you?”
Tanya nodded.
“You’re so beautiful in that form.”
Alexis snorted and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, ’cause she’s so ugly in this one.”
Marcy mock-glared at her. “You know what I mean.”
“That’s what Colin tells me.” Tanya glanced toward the dining room. She hadn’t seen Colin in there, come to think of it. Was he still checking on Isaac? She shot a look in the opposite direction toward the guestroom.
“We met him a few minutes ago.” Alexis grinned. “Let me just say, hunky!”
She grinned. “You won’t get any argument out of me.”
Marcy put a hand over her chest. “And that crooked smile of his… be still, my heart!”
“He inherited that from his father.” She frowned mildly. “Did you meet Ian when you came in?”
“We did.” Marcy nodded, and her eyes widened. “That’s one big man.”
“Amen to that,” Alexis added.
“He can be more than a bit intimidating, that’s for sure.”
Alexis’ expression turned curious. “Is he really the… um… boss here?”
“Alpha, yes.”
“Tanya?” Colin’s voice drew her gaze immediately.
The smile on her face froze. Her parents stood behind him, Chris and the kids righ
t behind them. Tears pricked her eyes and shoved a knot in her throat. “Mom? Daddy?”
Mom smiled, tears filling her eyes, and she rushed toward Tanya.
Tanya met her partway, and they hugged.
Daddy approached more slowly, his gaze direct but full of sorrow.
When she stepped back from her mother, her father pulled her into a bear hug. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
After a few moments, Tanya pulled away and looked up at him. “I… I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I know.” He nodded then sniffled, making an obvious attempt to keep his emotions in check. “Colin told your mother that you believed we blamed you for what happened.”
She glanced at Colin.
He smiled without apology or guilt.
“Yeah.” She nodded and met her father’s gaze.
“We don’t. We never have.” He rubbed a hand over his cheek. “I admit I was terrified of what you’d become, but Chris assures me it’s not like the movies, and you’re not going to snap and eat one of us.”
Tanya shrugged. “I knew you were afraid. So was I. Even I didn’t know if I was safe to be around, so I couldn’t have offered any reassurance.”
“Maybe not, but we should’ve trusted Colin to know what he was talking about.”
“You didn’t know him. What reason did you have to trust him?”
“None, I guess.” He shook his head. “But that doesn’t excuse the way I’ve acted.” His eyes brightened with moisture. “I couldn’t face you. I couldn’t deal with the reality of what I’d allowed to happen to you.”
“You?” Tanya frowned and shook her head. “You didn’t cause this.”
“I’m your father. It’s my job to protect you, and I failed.”
“No.” She threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “No, you didn’t fail. God allowed this, and I’ve been gradually coming to understand why. I still don’t get the whole picture, but I’m seeing parts of it.” She eased away and craned her neck to look at him. “And it’s not all bad. Because of what I’ve become, I have Colin now. I wouldn’t trade him for anything.” She glanced at her husband, who smiled with tears glistening in his eyes.
“I’m so glad he found you and brought you into his family.” Daddy cupped her face with both of hands. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you, or allowed your mother to be, these past few months. You didn’t deserve the way we treated you. You needed love, support, and encouragement, not rejection.” He smiled and gave a short laugh. “Detective Calvert said so when he reamed us out a little while back.”
“Detective Calvert? He spoke to you?” Why would the detective from the Flagstaff Police Department have chewed out her parents?
He nodded. “He said you’d come to see him, serving as moral support for another woman who’d been taken by the same men who kidnapped you. He was less than happy with me for sending you away.”
Tanya winced. “He said he’d called to check on me and you said I had moved out. I told him we had a disagreement. I couldn’t exactly tell him about what. I didn’t know he’d go after you about it. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I was wrong to send you away, especially when you needed us most.” He glanced at Colin. “I’ll be forever grateful to Colin and Ian for taking you in and helping you through all you’ve had to deal with.” A wide smile curved his mouth even as tears filled his eyes. “If I had only one thing to be thankful for today, that’d be it. We love you so much. I hope you know that.”
“I do now.” A tear slid down Tanya’s cheek, and she hugged her father again.
Her mother, sisters, and brother joined in the hug, her mother tugging Colin into the mix. The kids hugged Tanya’s legs.
“Alright, everyone!” Ian hollered from the end of the hall. “Lunch is served!”
As her blood family broke apart and went to join her wolf family, Tanya gripped Colin’s hand. For a year that had started out so normal and, well, boring then turned so ugly, it had sure turned out well. The ugliness had turned into something incredible, and her family was intact. Tomorrow might bring something new and not so wonderful, but for the moment, her world had been restored.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing goodness out of such evil. Only You could do that.
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. - Job 1:21
Campbell Wildlife Preserve
Somewhere outside Flagstaff, Arizona
Saturday, December 26, 2015
TANYA nuzzled Isaac to rouse him for the walk back to the house. Colin waited in the doorway of the cave. Isaac had grown gaunt over the weeks since his mate Imelda’s death. He’d eaten next to nothing over the course of those many days, and then only when Ian insisted. His grief had grown more heavy and burdensome as time passed, instead of lessening. He’d immediately separated from the rest of the pack and gone straight to the cave the night before with the full moon’s rise.
He didn’t move.
She nudged him again then grew still, listening, watching. Her heart squeezed. No breaths. No heart beat. She glanced at Colin and whined, lowering her head and tail. Pain wound through her insides.
He padded over and sniffed Isaac. Then he nuzzled her slowly, as though to comfort her. After a few moments, he exited the cave and a long, mournful howl cut through the morning air.
Minutes later, Ian and Brett appeared, followed by the rest of the pack. Each took a turn saying goodbye to their friend.
Colin circled Tanya and nosed her toward the cave exit.
She complied and went outside. There wasn’t anything more she could do.
Colin headed for the house at a slow but steady walk.
She kept pace with him, noting that most of the pack remained behind. Only Graham, Donna, and Tommy padded after them.
At the house, Colin and Tanya mounted the stairs. The other three went into two bedrooms downstairs.
* * *
Colin sat on the bed, waiting for Tanya to come out of the bathroom. She’d made the Shift and gone straight in to take a shower without saying a word. Life had settled, and her health and weight had improved dramatically since the reconciliation with her parents on Thanksgiving. She’d barely had a chance to get her feet back under her and her emotions leveled out, and now this?
Worry threaded through him.
Grief over Imelda’s death had taken Isaac. He’d remained a wolf for the past month and quit eating rather than let the wolf end up on a rampage weeks or months into the new year. Though Colin was grateful that his father wouldn’t have to put Isaac down when he turned violent, he’d hoped and prayed the man would move beyond the grief and survive as Dad had.
What will this do to Tanya? She’s been so fragile emotionally. What now?
The bathroom door opened.
Tanya shut off the light as she entered the bedroom, robe snugged around her, hair still wet from the shower but brushed, her gaze down. She sat beside him on the bed then leaned her head against his shoulder with a shaky sigh.
Colin put an arm around her waist and leaned a cheek against the top of her head. “Are you alright?”
She muttered a weak, “Yeah.”
He chuckled softly, nudged her to sit upright, cupped her chin, and lifted her face. “Want to try that again with some conviction?”
Her gaze avoided his. “I… feel bad.”
“I know.” He kissed her forehead and hugged her. “We all do. Losing Imelda was hard enough, but Isaac…. I understand why he’s gone, but that doesn’t make his death much easier to cope with.”
Tanya raised tear-filled eyes. “I don’t mean that.” She shook her head. “I hurt for the pack, for Isaac grieving so much that he’d die like that, but I feel guilty.”
Shock sent a wave of tension through him. “Why?”
“Because all I can think is how that could’ve been me and you after Kelly’s father took m
e. Mom told me what you said about not being able to live if something happened to me.”
“Oh.” He lowered his gaze and sighed. “I didn’t expect her to repeat any of that.”
“Did you mean it?”
Colin rubbed his chin then met her gaze. “Yes. If I’d lost you to Mr. Darrow in October, I think it would’ve killed me. I’d like to believe I’d turn to the Lord to get me through it, but I also know, despite the wolf, that I’m still human.”
“Ian’s indicated that grief is harder on the wolf than it is humans. Do you suppose he’s right?”
“Maybe it’s an inherent weakness in our not-quite-human species. We mate for life. I suppose that comes with an expiration date of God’s design just as if we were Regulars.”
A faint smile crossed her face, adding a light of amusement to her blue eyes. “That’s a Kelly word. You’ve been talking to her.”
He chuckled and shrugged. “As much time as all of us spend together, we’re bound to pick up things from one another.” He tucked hair behind her ear, using the opportunity to caress her cheek. “Are you okay?”
Tanya smiled. “Maybe not right this moment, but I will be. I’ve got you, and that makes all the difference.” A guilty grimace appeared. “Truth be told, I’m… relieved. Watching Isaac fade like that….” She shook her head. “It was horrible. Cruel. I wouldn’t have expected him to decline so quickly.”
Colin closed his hands around hers. “Perhaps that’s the blessing in cases like his. The fact it happens so fast. Less time for suffering. Also, the alternative would’ve meant violence and bloodshed. My father would’ve had to put him down. Another of those alpha responsibilities I don’t want.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She pulled a hand free to caress his face. “So let’s make a pact right now. We’ll both do everything we can to prove Brett’s theory that werewolves can live forever. That way neither of us ever has to experience what Isaac went through.”
“Sounds great to me.” He leaned in to kiss her then drew back a fraction to look into her eyes. “As long as I get to spend all those years making love to you, I’ll be a happy man.”