Luminescent: Crescent Wolves

by Cate Maroon

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jackson

  I could smell the wolf as soon as I got out of the car. I ran, leaving the car door open. If it wasn’t for the fact that Kayla was there, I would have shifted into my wolf form, so that I could get there quicker but she was freaked out enough without me doing that.

  “Dad’s there,” Hunter called as he tried to catch me up.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive, I heard him howl while you were driving like a mad man.”

  The fact that my dad was there calmed me down enough to be able to not rip this guy apart on sight. My main focus now was Kayla and she was scared – I could smell the fear from here. I needed to get her out of there as quickly as possible. The twins raced in front of me and I did not care that they were faster than me for the first time in my life. I knew that they would help my dad protect Kayla even if I was only a minute or two behind.

  Hunter was now closing the gap too. He was the slowest of us all but what he lacked in speed, he made up for in his sense of smell. Hunter was the best tracker we had ever seen and with a pack that had wolves dating back for centuries, it was something to be proud of.

  We made it to the edge of the clearing at the lake, just in time to see the twins swimming in Kayla’s direction. My dad had stood his ground between Kayla and the strange wolf who was not bothered by our arrival. I shouted to the twins to get Kayla out of here. I could not sort anything out with her here, when all I could see was red.

  I listened closely as the twins ran back to Kayla’s house. The sound of the three of them quickly turned to two and I could only hope they were carrying Kayla to get back faster, rather than because something was wrong.

  Hunter was stood behind me; we had the stranger trapped between us and my dad. Hunter jumped across the lake, tossing a bag of clothes into the forest for my dad and taking his place in front of the wolf, who had yet to shift into his wolf form.

  My dad emerged from the trees fully clothed and stood next to Hunter. I could have joined them but I wanted to make sure this mutt did not get away; we had been looking for him for a lot longer than any of us would have liked. Now that he had come after Kayla, I was out for blood and was unwilling to play his game of cat and mouse for a second longer. The only disadvantage of my position was that I could not see the stranger’s expression, which would make his actions difficult to judge.

  “What’s your name Son?”

  “What has it got to do with you, old man?”

  “Well, seeing as you are on my land, I would say it has a lot to do with me.”

  “Your land?” He laughed, “Who said it is your land?”

  “The deeds dating back well over a century.”

  “Well those deeds mean nothing! I have been here months, that makes this land mine, possession is as they say nine tenths of the law!”

  “I think that’s where you are wrong,” my dad spat.

  “Yeah, well let’s take it to court and fight it out,” he laughed again, knowing that we could not do that. After all, how could we explain that we owned the entire town?

  I watched as the wolf started to move forward, making no effort to run or shy away from my dad and Hunter. I followed closely behind. He was, waiting for his moment to strike and I didn’t trust him one bit. He sat on the rock that Kayla had just sat on, sniffing the air with his eyes closed: he reminded me of a snake.

  “That’s not to say that we can’t make a deal,” he all but whispered, elongating his pronunciation, to draw out his words.

  I looked at my dad and Hunter who moved closer to where the mongrel sat. I did not know who this guy thought he was or what made him think that we needed to make a deal with him but I was more than ready to rip him in two.

  “What kind of deal?” my dad asked curiously.

  “That all depends.”

  “On what?”

  “What you are willing to give up.”

  “Dude, you are crazy if you think we are giving anything up, this is our land and you are trespassing!”

  “You missed the part where I cared.” He paused. “My bad, you didn’t miss it, because I don’t care.”

  “Dad, why are you even entertaining this mutt?” I asked, seriously about to lose it.

  “Seeing as you don’t want to give up your land, I’ll take the girl and then I will go!”

  I ran for him; I was going to rip his head off. My dad and Hunter held me back but that only enraged me more. My wolf was ripping through me and I could no longer contain him. I was starting to shift and no amount of control could stop it.

  “I’m going to rip off your head and feed you to the wild boars.”

  “You would have to catch me first, and seeing as it took me coming to you, for us to meet, I’d say your odds are slim at best.”

  “I’m going to rip out your throat!” I spat between snarls, as the transformation was almost complete.

  “Midnight next full moon, you better be ready with a decision!”

  He took of and he was so fast, his movement was a blur even to me. My dad and Hunter let me go and I ran in the direction that he had just run off in, desperate to catch his scent. I did not need till the next full moon; I was going to end this today with his blood soaked into my fur.

  I ran around in circles as his scent was everywhere. It was not possible but he had clearly been here before today. I had not noticed it the other day when I was here, which confirmed that this was my fault. I heard Kayla scream and ran in the direction of her house, not caring that I was in wolf form without clothes to wear. My dad and Hunter ran behind me, desperate to catch me up and stop me from running into Kayla’s house like this. They knew how unruly my wolf was and that I could not come back from this on my own. The next thing I knew, I was knocked sideways by a flash of black fur, that I knew all to well. Hunter had shifted, and was now pinning me to a tree, while my dad remained in his human form.

  “Listen Son. He is not getting anything he wants; we know what he is like now and by the full moon, we will be ready.”

  “He needs to die,” I growled, calming slightly now that I was thinking more clearly.

  “And he will but right now, you need to calm down and go support Kayla. She needs you now.”

  “I have no clothes.”

  “That’s why it’s good I packed more,” Hunter yelled from the bushes where he was getting dressed.

  I waited until he emerged and went into the same patch he had came out of, changing back to my human form and getting dressed quickly. I needed to get back to Kayla now, nothing else mattered. We jogged the short distance back to her house. I did not care that she would have a billion questions, I just needed to know that she was okay and safe.

  I knocked on the back door of Kayla’s house, knowing that my brothers would have locked it as soon as they were safely inside. I waited for a few seconds before Jay came to see who was at the door and he opened it to let us inside. I could hear the three of them talking as I made my way to where Kayla was sat on the sofa with Josh. As soon as I sat down, he went to join the others in the kitchen, giving me and Kayla some privacy. I looked her over: she was pale and her eyes had a vacant stare. I rubbed my hand up and down her arm, hoping that she knew that I was here, seeing as she still had not acknowledged me.

  I could hear the others talking in the kitchen, trying to decide the best way to get Kayla back to our house safely. I wanted to ask the twins so many questions, like how long she had been like this and whether she had spoken to them. It was so bizarre to see her like this, like the lights were on, but no one was home.

  “Kayla, we need to go home now,” my dad stated quietly. “Is there anything that you want to bring with you?”

  She did not respond. Hunter and the twins went for a quick look around the house to find the clothes she had been wearing earlier, and her handbag. I took off my hoodie, put it on Kayla then picked her up and carried her into the garage where she had left the car. I placed her on the back seat of her car an
d climbed in behind her. My dad got into the driving seat, started the car and waited for the others to get in Hunter’s car.

  After locking up the house, we drove home in silence. When we got home, the twins and Hunter were outside waiting to help with Kayla. They opened my door and then hers. Hunter carefully lifted her out and placed her into my arms. The twins carried her things while Dad opened the doors.

  “Take her up to bed, I will make some tea.”

  “I don’t think that tea can solve this.”

  “You never know if sugar could help, it’s worth a try at least.”

  “And if it doesn’t work?”

  “Then I’ll call the doctor out to take a look at her.”

  I did not agree with my father’s idea of calling the doctor but now was not the time to argue. I carried Kayla up to her room and placed her on the bed. Her skin was starting to smell of stale sweat but I did not want to put her in the bath, it would not be right. I lay next to her on the bed and waited for my dad to bring her drink up.

  “Here you go Kayla, a nice warm drink to calm the nerves,” my dad said, placing the cup on the drawer.

  I sat her up on the bed, propping pillows behind her so that she was more comfortable. By the time it registered with her that she was thirsty, or that she had a drink, it was already cold. My dad and brothers came in and out of the room often to check on Kayla but there was no real change.

  “I think its time we called the doctor,” my dad said two hours after we got home.

  “I do not think it is a good idea.”

  “I know but it is what is best for Kayla and right now, she needs to see a doctor. We can’t just leave her like this.”

  “You do not think I know that!”

  “That is not what I am saying. I just think you need to accept that right now you can’t help her. She needs a doctor.”

  “Fine, but I do not like it.”

  “You do not need to like it.”

  My dad left to make the call and all I wanted was for Kayla to come back to us. I understood that she had a shock but I have never experienced anything like this before. I tried my best to bring her back into the real world with us all, while we waited for the doctor, an old friend of my father’s, to arrive.

  I heard the front door knock and prepared myself for the bad news, knowing that this was not an easy fix. I was not sure exactly what my dad thought a doctor could do that we could not.

  “I am afraid you are going to have to leave the room.”

  “I am not going anywhere.”

  “Then I cannot help her!” the doctor stated bluntly before turning to leave.

  “You need to let Masie look at Kayla, Son. She can help, I promise,” my dad promised.

  “Fine,” I huffed reluctantly, “I will be right outside the door.”

  “I would expect nothing less of a Taylor.” She smiled and nodded at my father, before closing the door on us.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kayla

  I could hear everything that was going on around me but no matter how hard I tried, nothing would come out. It was not that I did not want to let everyone know that I was still here, it was like I had lost all control of my body. I could not talk or move on my own. Inside my own head, I was still stuck at the lake, frozen to the spot.

  I watched as the strange woman that Jackson’s dad had said was a doctor pulled out strange looking bottles and crystals. She did not seem like a doctor to me; she was more like a new age witch that you would see at craft fairs selling handmade crystal jewelry. Even though I was worried about what she was going to do to me, I still could not move and was shocked that Jackson had left me with her.

  “I know you are in there somewhere Kayla. Do not worry I will bring you back.

  Masie placed the crystals around the bed and started chanting in some random language that sounded archaic. The crystals around the bed emitted beams of light onto the ceiling that appeared to dance around in circles. In the next minute, the room plunged into darkness. I could still here Masie chanting away and her voice was soothing. I began to feel myself relax and suddenly the room lit up like there was a rainbow shooting from the bed. At that same time, I could move!

  I do not know what exactly Masie had done but I did not care because it had worked: I was back. As if sensing a shift, Masie opened the curtains, before going to open the door to let Jackson and the others in. I sat up on the bed and the relief on all of their faces gave away how worried they had really been about me.

  They all sat on the bed and even Masie joined the Taylors. They all looked at Masie in wonder and I was beyond curious as to what she had done to me. I felt so calm about the whole situation and my fear of wolves had completely gone. In fact, when I think of the wolf that was at the lake, I now knew he was trying to protect me. It was such a crazy thought that I was almost certain I was ready to be committed to a lunatic asylum.

  “Thank you,” Jackson said to Masie and the expression on his face showed that he would be eternally grateful to her.

  The twins looked at her in awe, while Hunter looked between Masie and his dad with curiosity. I took a big gulp of water from the glass that was on my bedside table because although I had the ability to talk now, my throat felt dry and swollen.

  “Yes, thank you Masie, I don’t know what it was that you did but I can never repay you.”

  “You are more than welcome but you don’t need to pay me, I owed Max a favor,” Masie said, smiling at Max shyly. “I have to get going. It was nice to meet you all.”

  “I’ll walk you to your car,” Max said and I could have sworn I saw a slight blush.

  The Taylor brothers did not leave my side all night. We ate pizza in bed, while watching movies on the television in my room. Even Max joined us when he came back from seeing Masie out. We did not talk about what happened at the lake, not that I did not have questions. However, I felt like we had all been through a lot and needed to process what had happened. There would be plenty of time to talk about it tomorrow and for now, I just wanted to enjoy being back to my normal self.

  It was late when everyone except Jackson left my room. I was so glad that the Taylors had accepted me into the family. Jackson pulled me in close to him and every inch of my body was against him. He held me so tight that I felt he would never let me go, which was good because I didn’t want him to.

  I woke up early as the sun streamed through the windows, and I felt positive about life; I was raring to get stuck into a new day. The barns still needed cleaning and even though I did not want to go back to school, I knew that I would have to eventually. I nudged Jackson who was still sleeping soundly, so that he would wake up, because I was still wrapped inside his arms, and was struggling to get up. Usually, it would not have been a problem but I needed the toilet. As soon as Jackson moved, I ran to the bathroom, leaving him lying in my bed.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Great!”

  “No more nightmares?”

  “No, I slept like a log.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I guess we are going to have to talk about what happened yesterday at some point.”

  “Yeah.” He did not elaborate any further, and I was not going to push him, yet.

  We went down for breakfast and I was surprised to see that Max and Hunter were still at home, seeing as they had usually left for the day by now. The table was laid with pancakes, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit and yogurt. We both sat down just as the twins came down and joined us.

  “No work today?” I asked.

  “No, we thought we would do some jobs on the farm today,” Hunter replied.

  “How are you feeling Kayla?”

  “I’m good actually.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Yeah, if you speak to Masie, please thank her again for me.”

  “I will.”

  “What kind of doctor is she by the way?” Jackson asked.

  “She’s a spiritual healer,” Max replied like
it was the most natural thing in the world.

  “I’ve never seen a spiritual healer before.”

  “She is coming over for dinner tonight actually, so you can thank her yourself.”

  “She’s coming to dinner?” Hunter asked.

  “She was coming to check on Kayla, so I thought it was polite to offer her some food, seeing as she doesn’t normally work so late.”

  “Well, I think that is really thoughtful,” I replied. “Besides, it would be nice to have another girl here for dinner.”

  “Yeah it must be a lot, living with us lot.”

  “It’s not a bad thing, just different.”

  Jackson and I went to finish cleaning the barns, while Hunter and Max did some work on the fields. The twins were also helping for a change despite not being asked. It was a nice day, the sun shone through the barn doors heating the space and filling the dark space with light. We worked through the day into the late afternoon, before we all went inside to freshen up before dinner.

  I decided to make an effort tonight because we were having company and I felt that I had been living in sweats lately. I chose a flowery dress and paired it with some sandals, curled my hair and applied a little bit of makeup. I made my way downstairs to help out with dinner.

  Max was making a pot roast that had been cooking for most of the day. I laid the table while the boys were still upstairs. I helped Max carry the food to the table while we waited for Masie to arrive. I got the impression that he really liked her and was curious as to how they knew each other. I hoped that Jackson and his brothers were not too upset about their dad having a woman over. I was not sure how long it had been since they lost their mother, not that it mattered, because I doubted that you would ever get over a loss like that; no one could ever take a mother’s place.

  When Masie arrived, she asked to speak with me alone, so I took her up to my room, as this was my private space. I knew she was not a real doctor in the normal sense, so it felt strange to be having a consultation.

  “How are you feeling?”