I glanced at Simone again. When I thought of her as the high school girl she appeared as now, I felt angry. But I could sense what lay beneath that tanned skin and the realization hit me. Here, there be monsters.
Eleven
Blood rushed in my ears. The fear I expected to feel never came. I sat back and let whatever was inside me take the reins. I could feel my senses reach out to Simone. My wolf, as Kodi had called it, didn’t seem to view Simone as a threat like I’d imagined. Her browns moved from my amber ones to my left and I followed her gaze to Kodi who was looking back at her. Immediately, my wolf and I were completely in sync with each other and our thoughts were one. Now I understood. Simone was competition, but not because she attacked me. She was competition for Kodi’s heart.
As I looked at Kodi, my chest swelled with feeling. I was pleased that his expression as he returned her gaze was one of intense anger. He was pissed that she’d hurt me, and I liked it. We liked it. He belonged to us. I shook my head and my thoughts faded to my own again. No, he wasn’t mine. I wasn’t going to die of cancer, but that didn’t mean that anything else had changed. I no longer believed what Kendra had said about him being engaged or anything to Simone, but I held no illusions that I had a chance with him. As I’d theorized many times, if bombshell Kendra Morris couldn’t gain his affections, what hope did chubby tomboy Meghan Carter have?
One more look at Simone, however, and I decided to do something stupid. Reaching back with my left arm, I grasped Kodi’s hand in mine and watched as her eyes changed from brown to gold. Those were the eyes of the creature that had tried to kill me. I planned to make myself a constant reminder to her that she’d failed. I noted the three people that sat beside her in the circle and guessed that they were her parents, Samuel and Linda, as Jack had called them. There was also a man who looked to be a few years older than Simone and it was obvious that she had an older brother. Her mother looked scared. Her father looked angry, with me or his daughter I wasn’t sure and didn’t much care. The brother’s face was completely stoic and unreadable for me. Kodi gave a squeeze to my hand and he motioned for me to follow him. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett had already seated themselves on logs next to Ed and Renee. Kodi sat me down on a large log between him and Stephen who gave me a nod and a reassuring smile. I was safe.
“Everyone knows why we are here,” Jack said with an air of authority. There were a few nods, but everyone remained quiet as he spoke. “We have gathered to deliberate among the pack the punishment for a heinous act committed by one of our own.” All eyes seemed to gravitate toward Simone at once, including my own. She didn’t even have the good sense to look ashamed or remorseful, just continued to glare while keeping her eyes averted from the Alpha.
There was definitely some kind of pack magic because even I felt compelled to obey him, though I’m certain I would have without the compulsion to do so.
“Simone. You are eighteen, and that makes you an adult. Give us a reason not to exact the punishment that our laws, your Grandfather’s laws, demand.”
Simone’s eyes flared in anger as she aimed them at me, before finally bringing them to meet Jack’s.
“I saved her life,” she sneered.
I moved to stand and shout in outrage at her ridiculous statement but Kodi’s sudden grip on my wrist stayed me. Turning to me, he gave me a knowing look and I felt my anger lower from a boil to a simmer. My attention was drawn back to Jack and his eyes met mine before landing back on Simone.
“Explain to the pack how you consider sinking your teeth into the shoulder of a teenage girl an attempt to save her life,” Jack said angrily.
Simone looked at her father who nodded. I couldn’t wait to hear her deluded reasoning.
“She was already dying. I overheard Stephen telling Kodi that she had cancer. If she dies during the change then her death will have only occurred ahead of schedule, but if she survives, that will mean I’ve cured her.” Simone’s glare had morphed into a cocky smile by the time she had finished speaking.
Mr. Barrett glowered and his eyes flared gold. Vaguely, I remembered that they’d done the same the night he’d helped save me.
“Even if I did agree with your twisted logic, you have broken two of our laws. You attacked a human and turned her without consent from her or the pack,” Jack stated with a hard voice. Simone lost her smile and Mr. Barrett’s eyes narrowed dangerously at her. “Was it your intention to leave Meghan alive that night?” Before she could respond he added, “It would be incredibly stupid to lie to me.”
For those few seconds it seemed that even the birds held their breath. A small sob escaped from Simone’s mother and other than her husband sending his glare her way, no one paid her any mind.
I watched Simone intently, even knowing what her answer would be. No wild animal had ever looked as scary as Jack did now therefore, I was certain she was going to tell the truth. She looked from her Alpha to me and I could sense her bitterness and anger. The being inside of me moved restlessly and in my mind, I pictured a wolf in confined space pacing back and forth in irritation. We were growing impatient. Simone turned back to Mr. Barrett and finally answered.
“No.”
Several things happened all at once. Most of the pack members stood and shouted angrily at Simone while her brother and father jumped up to yell back at them in her defense. Kodi and Stephen rose to their feet to guard me, was my guess. It blocked my view, however, so I stood as well. The loudest, most ferocious growl I’d ever heard from any being echoed around us and everyone went silent. Jack strode forward into the center of the circle. His eyes were now solid gold and there was no doubt that the angry sound of authority had come from him.
“Simone admits to trying to kill Meghan, but she did not succeed,” Jack spoke sternly. “We are all aware that when something like this happens, the rogue wolf responsible never intends to leave only one body behind. I believe Simone is still young and let her emotions overcome her. However, Simone, you are an adult. The laws are there for good reason. We are not monsters. This is our home. Your actions risk exposing us all. If you cannot control yourself then you have no place among us. There is no body, but not for lack of trying on your part.”
The disgust in his voice was palpable. My heart thudded in my chest when he turned those fiery eyes on me.
“Meghan. You are pack now. This decision is yours alone to make.”
I didn’t know what he was talking about. At least I hoped I was wrong. Was he asking me if I wanted her to be killed? Even with my anger burning in my chest as sure as the ache in my shoulder that she’d mangled, I didn’t want anyone dead. Turning to look at Kodi, I found him watching me. I somehow knew that he would not help with the decision but also that he would support any choice that I made. I looked at him, with his brown hair just falling into his eyes, and if it weren’t for the entire pack staring at me, I’d have reached out with my fingers and brushed his bangs behind his ear. His eyes were so green they made the entire surrounding tree life look dull and faded. He was beautiful.
That was when realization hit. I wouldn’t be here, with him, if I’d never been attacked. Aside from the agony that night and the aching pain in my shoulder since, this had been the best couple of days of my life. If I survived the change, then I’d really be part of the pack. That meant a lifelong connection with Kodi, even if he would never truly be mine. Then there was his family, his father going through the legal channels to offer his home as an occasional escape from the group home. Simone was right. In a way, she had saved me. It was only fair that I returned the favor.
Rising to my feet, I looked at Jack and gave him a nod to let him know that I had the utmost respect for him. Then I said exactly what I felt.
“No disrespect to the pack or its laws, but I’d like to let this go. I won’t sink to the level of a petty high school girl that just so happens to have supernatural strength,” I shot a look at Simone and she curled her lip at me but remained silent. My wolf liked that. Linda McGrath gave a
sob of relief that her daughter would be spared but Samuel continued to glare at me. Their son, Simone’s brother, still stood without any expression and I found myself wondering if his face lacked feeling or perhaps the man himself did.
“She’s already admitted that she’d tried to kill me, so the fact that she might have saved me was only because she’d failed. We are all aware of that now. I expect there won’t be a second attempt,” I said, and Jack nodded as I sat back down between Stephen and Kodi before he addressed the pack once more.
“You have heard Meghan’s wishes. Forgiven, but not forgotten. Do you understand the mercy that has been granted to you, Simone?” He looked at her with disdain and she nodded while looking none too happy. Jack dismissed the meeting and I looked to Kodi for guidance. He smiled at me with pride shining in his eyes and I beamed inwardly. Apparently, he was happy with my decision. So was I. We stood and he put his hand at the small of my back and guided me to his parents. The McGraths left, as did Stephen’s father. Only the Barretts, the Trimbles, and Stephen and I remained.
Kodi’s mother Trina approached me and gave me a hug while being mindful of my shoulder.
“You did wonderful, dear,” she smiled at me.
“Thanks,” I said. Did I though? These people were not human, and I needed to remember that. What I’d just done may very well be seen as a sign of weakness but, I wouldn’t take a life. Not yet, however. My wolf and I agreed on one thing for certain. If Simone or anyone else was planning a second attack, leniency would not be granted.
Jack approached me and I dipped my head in respect. I wasn’t sure if it was the instinct of my wolf to do so or mine, but I agreed with the gesture either way. From what I’d seen so far, he was a great leader and a great man. I would expect nothing less from the man that had raised Kodi. It was clear that he possessed his father’s strength and his mother’s gentleness. I turned to look at him and there was an ache in my being that I didn’t understand. An image appeared in my head of my wolf howling a song of sadness to a moon that was not there. It was a sound of pain, of want. I couldn’t be sure, but I believed she wanted Kodi as much as I yearned for him.
“I agree with my wife,” Jack said. “You were exceptional. With Simone so close to you I can only imagine what your wolf was telling you. I overheard you and Kodi speaking and I was glad to know she’d joined the party. Kodi is right. You should teach her, compromise. It won’t take long before you are one being, completely in sync.” I nodded at him, so he knew I was listening, and I was. I needed all the help I could get.
“It was brave and honorable of you to forgive Simone, but I hope you don’t forget. This will be a blow to her pride. Pride can sometimes be a dangerous thing for a werewolf. I’m not saying she’ll attack you again because I don’t believe that she is that stupid. To challenge you would probably be a foolish thing as well. You are fierce enough as a human, but once you’re Changed, even I wouldn’t dare stand in your way.” He said that last with a smile and I laughed as he walked away. Kodi was lucky to have Jack and Trina as parents.
I spent the remainder of the day in Kodi’s bedroom by myself. I’d snagged my injured shoulder on a tree branch during the hike back from the meeting and it hadn’t stopped throbbing since. Trina had offered me one of the pain pills that Dr. Thomas had left for me, but I’d politely declined. I’d slept enough the past couple of days. So, there I sat, shoulder aching, finally giving myself enough time to be alone and process all that had happened. Time spent with Kodi brought me joy that no one else could, but it was also distracting in the way that since the attack the only real time that I’d been alone was when I’d been unconscious.
Now, with this wolf inside me, it seemed like I’d never be alone again. It didn’t feel like a separate being sharing my body, but more like the other part of me that just tells it like it is. “She” doesn’t sugarcoat anything or deny what she wants. I didn’t want to be sick anymore, but I didn’t necessarily want to transform into an animal either. My wolf’s ears perked up at that. She’d been lounging around inside my head, bored and missing Kodi. I couldn’t blame her. He’d come in to check on me a couple of times since we’d gotten back around two hours ago but I think he’d gotten the gist that I’d wanted to be alone. He hadn’t seemed hurt or upset and I was thankful for that.
I gave Jane a call to check in, but she’d had to go to break up a fight between Kendra and Santana. I didn’t really miss the girls except for maybe Sarah. I wondered if Jensen had ever gathered up the nerve to ask Jane out. It looked like I might be returning soon and I would be glad to get the chance to clear my head when I wasn’t so close to Kodi, who seemed to be all I could think about. I was starting to think that the reason I was bothered was the fact that the whole situation didn’t bother me. With everything connected to Kodi, it was hard to find any negatives. I got to see him every day, spend time with his family, and then there was the fun fact that I wasn’t going to die of cancer.
There was, however, still the embarrassment that he’d walked in and seen me without a shirt earlier in the morning. I may have been holding onto that when I’d said I wanted to be alone. Unlike at the breakfast table, he hadn’t avoided my gaze or blushed since the meeting, so I guess he was over it already. I wasn’t so lucky. I just kept picturing his shocked expression and I was almost positive that had he stayed in the doorway a moment longer, I’d have witnessed shock give way to a look of disgust. I growled inwardly and this time it wasn’t my wolf. My insecurity about my body was one of my major flaws. Here I was worrying about what Kodi thought about me physically when I could be spending the remainder of my time here with him. He’d made the effort to do so and I’d chosen to seclude myself away with my negative thoughts. I’d looked at the Calendar in the Jack’s study and seen that the full moon was just two weeks away. It was possible that I would not survive the change. Jumping from the bed I bounded down the stairs in search of Kodi.
The guest room was empty and when I rounded the kitchen, I found Mrs. Barrett cutting vegetables, Jack with his arms locked around her in an intimate embrace and they were laughing about something. Carefully, I backed out of the room and went out the front door into the yard. Dirt, rock, grass and trees were all I could see. I turned to go back in the house but stopped when I felt my wolf stir. Her great head perked up and took several whiffs of the afternoon air. I copied her and instantly found a scent we recognized. I didn’t think, I just ran. Adrenaline coursed through my blood and eliminated any pain my shoulder. I don’t think I’d ever run so fast in my life. My jeans protected my legs from the high brush and low branches, and I’d be thankful for that later. I allowed my wolf to take the reins because she seemed to know which direction to turn for the scent to become stronger, fresher. I whipped through the trees and leapt over boulders with a grace and agility that I had never possessed. I was a swimmer, but this was so much more than that. It wasn’t long before I dead ended at a part of the river that I’d never seen. The scent was noticeably clear here, so I followed my wolf’s lead and closed my eyes to concentrate. I listened to the steady flow of the river and only a few seconds later found an abnormality in the water, like an unturned string during a guitar riff. A simple melody disrupted by an offbeat. Something was in the river to the right of me. Eyes now open, I stalked upriver and found my prize.
Kodi was swimming against a fairly strong current and I was betting it was for a good workout. I watched the muscles in his back contort as his arms sliced through the water and my heartbeat quickened. Kodi really was a perfect specimen. Deciding not to take the control I’d given to my wolf back just yet; I made my way down to the riverbank. I stood just at the edge and watched him, dreaming of things that could never be. Well, I was tired of the dream version of myself getting everything that I wanted. After kicking off my shoes and removing my socks I stepped into the water and slowly waded out toward Kodi. I was only three feet away now and he showed no signs that he’d noticed my approach. My heart thudded in my ears over th
e sound of rushing water and I had a brief moment where I contemplated turning and running. No. Kodi had said it was really us in my dreams and he’d kissed me twice. I needed to know and with the full moon just around the corner bringing with it my possible death…
He seemed deep in concentration and I didn’t want to startle him so I settled on testing whether or not he could hear me through the sloshing.
“Kodi.” I got nothing.
“Kodi!”
I saw his rhythm break and a moment later he stood sputtering before me in all of his shirtless glory. Just as before, his well-defined stomach, chest and arms dripping with water caused my blood to heat even though I was standing waist deep in cold water. He was magnificent. His eyes took me in with my hair a mess and sporting a few leaves from trees that I’d whipped past on my way here. The fact that I was standing in the middle of the river completely clothed other than my socks and shoes. Concern marred his face.
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” he asked as he looked around for signs of trouble.
It was now or never.
Twelve
I took the few remaining steps toward him and planted my bare feet on the river floor made up of dirt and millions of tiny pebbles. Being this close to him, I was able to feel his hot breath on my face and I leaned forward into the heat until our lips were mere inches away from each other. Relief flooded through me when Kodi closed the distance and smashed his mouth to mine. The sensation was so much more intense in person that I struggled not to cry out. The taste of him was like a drug to me and I couldn’t get enough. He tasted of the wild mixed with a sweet saltiness that couldn’t accurately be described. Electricity shot through me and I wondered if he felt it too. The way he pulled my body flush against his and wrapped his arms around me told me that he did. I kept one hand on his warm bare chest and one hand wrapped behind his head, keeping his lips on mine. We broke apart for breath and stood panting before each other. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything or even if I could have. I tried to gauge his reaction but found only the same shock that I felt myself. My hand still rested on his chest and I could feel his heartbeat fluttering against my palm. His left hand covered mine and his other drew me in for another kiss which I gladly accepted. The euphoric feeling that being in his arms gave me was something I wished could last forever.
High School Bites Page 11