Chapter Five
Come out come out wherever you are. I taunted, searching the entire expansion of our territory. I knew Vincent would be out prowling the woods, because it’s what he always did. He liked to entertain the thought of alpha.
I flew through the trees like a ghost, listening to even the bugs’ heartbeats around me. I paused periodically to scan the air.
Nothing.
I couldn’t find him anywhere. And I didn’t want to go to his house.
The heat of the noon sun added to my fury and I walked in circles, growling occasionally at nothing.
Zena probably told him how angry I was. He was probably biding his time. Oh! Well…
Just then a twig snapped behind me, alerting me to an approach. I growled so hard spit flew from my muzzle as I spun to face the red tinted face of Vincent.
Heard you blew a gasket over me and Zene. Figured you’d come looking for me. Don’t you get tired of being so predictable? He asked wryly. He shook his massive head at me tauntingly. An invitation.
I snarled, No. It really adds to my attitude. So let’s get on with this. Why do you act like you already run this pack? Vincent snorted, Why does my sleeping with Zena anger you so much? I growled—again, this was getting repetitive—and stepped forward. I don’t mind that! It’s you and your stupidity that infuriates me.
He made a sound that almost sounded like laughing, then suddenly changed pace. He pulled his muzzle back to reveal his fangs, and tackled me. I yelped and used my hind legs to kick him off, only to do exactly what he had just done to me, to him.
Our fight was a confusion of snarls, howls, yelps, baring teeth, and swinging claws. It only lasted about two minutes before I felt someone else’s teeth—my teeth were in Vincent so it couldn’t have been him—tear into my left flank and drag me off Vincent.
Wild with adrenaline and fury, I frantically kicked and snapped at whoever held me down, and fumbled to sink my teeth back into Vincent’s right shoulder. He swung his head around and flung dirt into my eyes as Serena came running and pulled him back.
Stop it! Isaac ordered.
I froze, then kicked out again and did everything I could to get the converging pack off me as the alpha blood boiled in my veins.
The growls of the entire pack—who shouldn’t have been home this early in the day—filled the air thick with rivalry.
Calm down, Kara. Marshall barked. I felt his claws on my back, pinning me to the ground.
I remained still until I was sure I was calm, then shoved Marshall and Isaac off me.
Fine, fine, I’m done. I grumbled, looking at the faces of my pack around me.
Jack and Brent had Vincent blocked across from me, Serena was standing next to Brent protectively. No one looked mad, just frustrated.
Vincent, Isaac said, it is time. We must go back to Marshall’s house. The others are waiting there. Kara, I want to talk to you in a bit.
He nudged me ahead and I started at a light run back to my clothes.
The others? Had they found the three wolves? Were they at my house? Hmmm. And what was that about ‘Vincent, it is time’? I had no clue. I groaned. I really didn’t want to talk to Isaac.
I was so upset and adrenaline fueled that it took me twice as long to change back to human form. It made me sad to lock the wolf back up.
By the time I pulled my bra straps onto my arms and my shirt over my head, Isaac was patiently waiting for me by himself behind the tree I was changing in front of.
I was still angry at him for stopping my fight, so I glared at him.
“Watching me, Zik?” I sneered uncomfortably, folding my arms across my chest.
He looked me up and down and actually cracked a smile. “Wouldn’t tell you if I was, child.”
“Child?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.
“Well,” He looked me over again. “Maybe not. You’ve grown up to be quit the beautiful young woman.”
I squirmed a little. “Eh, okay.”
Isaac frowned. “We need to talk.”
“Whatever. Let’s walk and talk then.” I said, heading back into the woods slowly.
“You and Antony will have to decide soon. This cannot last that much longer the way it is. I understand the need to fight for your dominance and right for leadership, but one of you is gonna end up dead.” Isaac said calmly. His breathing was hitched, almost expectantly.
“Not Vincent?” I asked.
Isaac shook his blond head. “No, he’s thinking about taking over leadership for the three wolves we found.”
Oh. Well that made sense. I was kind of glad I wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore.
“Well…I don’t want to kill them. Plus, I don’t see Antony as a contender. I don’t think he’ll fight me in the end.” I said, turning to see Isaac’s serene expression look at me fondly.
Fond. There was that word again.
“Nor do I, but then again, don’t count him out. I hope he won’t.” he said sadly.
I stopped dead and in my tracks and looked up to stare deep into Isaac’s emerald green eyes.
“All right, Isaac. What the hell? You have never been this kind to me alone till lately. And…hoping Antony won’t fight me?” I asked, truly confused.
He smiled slightly and ran a nervous hand through his hair. “Okay, I guess I’ll just come out with it. I have been thinking about you a lot and talking to Marshall…about your situation as becoming alpha, but not being ready.” He looked down and coughed, fidgeting.
I…was at a loss. What was he getting at? Why had he been thinking about me ‘a lot’? talking to my dad about me not being ready…
“Oh, no.” I whispered, examining his blush.
Isaac scratched one muscled arm and mumbled quietly, “Being the alpha female is just as important, Kara.”
The reality of the situation sunk in, and surprisingly, I flet relived.
“Your thirty-three Isaac.” I said calmly.
His jaw flexed and his eyes met mine. “And? Sixteen is our maturing age.”
We stared each other down until I broke.
“Uh, I know. But…I…how could…” I trailed off helplessly, looking at the face of someone I’d never looked at more than a leader. I looked over his eyes, such a beautiful shade of green, his facial structure, so strong and handsome, and finally his body, well toned.
I gulped. This sucked.
“Let’s head back. I’m sure Marshall is wondering.” Isaac said and started off without waiting for me.
“Marshall,” I snorted under my breath. My dad…my own father set me up with a man over twice my age. I couldn’t believe it. But…at the same time, this kinda stuff happened all the time for werewolf kind. It was normal for us. Age wasn’t a big deal. Still, I was a little freaked.
“Isaac, I...what am…I supposed to say? Out of nowhere my pack leader asks me to be his…” My voice cracked and my mind swirled. Could I be with Isaac?
No. It was too weird.
“Mate? Yeah. I’ve given this a lot of thought, Kara. Five years worth.” His voice was gruff now and his face was blank.
Five years…? Suddenly something very obvious hit me. Six years ago, Mariah had been murdered. Six years ago, Isaac had mourned her death, while the available females in our pack had tried—unsuccessfully—to gain his love. He’d shown no preference towards any of them. Six years ago, I had been ten, and Marshall had stopped training me.
“Just consider it. I told Marshall I wouldn’t ask you—tell you—unless I’d truly loved you.” Isaac was saying, “It’s a better alternative, right?”
My anger rose to it’s highest level in a second, and I exploded.
“You two had this all worked out didn’t you?! I have never stood a chance at actually fighting you for power, have I? How could…” I trailed off as my anger melted. I was beginning to think of how Marshall had tried to give me an easier in, and how Isaac had just said he wouldn’t have told me unless he truly loved me.
What a mess.
We reached my backyard and he turned to leave, slowly, waiting for me to speak again.
“When did you start looking at me like that? You decided this when I was only ten.” I said.
“Very recently. It’s been hard. Because I fell in love with you as you were growing, yet I’m much older than you. How do you think I feel, hm Kara?” He made a face, then was gone, leaving me to stare at my back stairs in disbelief.
I headed back into my house, half expecting the whole pack to be in my kitchen arguing, because they no doubt were, but they weren’t there. I should have asked Isaac, but with his sudden proposal, I’d been to sidetracked.
My mind felt muddled and confused. My emotions were a wreck and anxiety was starting to build. I felt like walking insanity.
“Kara.” Finn called from in the living room, his voice angry.
It was then I realized I could hear the heavy breathing of others on my house. So they were here. I just hadn’t heard them.
I cleared my throat and slowly walked through the doorway to see Luna, Serena, Farrah, Zena, Jack, Brent, and Marion all squished onto the couch and two recliners. Finn and Marshall were having some kind of standoff in the middle of the room. I could only see the sides of each of their faces, and both looked varying degrees of upset.
Finn looked like he was about to murder someone, Marshall looked like he wanted to smack Finn upside the head. A typical family meeting. Right? Only, Finn never looked that angry. It made me squirm.
“Luna?” I looked at my mom for answers. She looked at me, but it was Jack who answered.
“Ain’t happy ’bout Isaac,”
Even his name managed to make my heart skip and my skin flare now. How could he do this to me? What would he do if I said no? Kill me? That wasn’t likely, but…then would he fight me for power? I didn’t think that was likely either. Plus, the thought of having to fight him like that made my head hurt.
I looked at Jack and whispered, “Isaac what?” My voice betrayed my panic and caught Marshall’s attention. My dad’s eyes met mine with wary curiosity.
“Why didn’t we get told about this plan of yours sooner?” Serena demanded, her fingers weaving themselves through the tangled ends of her red hair.
You and I both are on the same thought process. I thought.
But it was only then that I realized they all knew. Marshall must have been filling them in, while Isaac told me. that explained Finn’s angry stance and murderous expression, but where were Antony and Vincent? Did they know too? I really, really hoped not.
My fear and anxiety reached a new level, and I turned into anger, lashing out at Marshall. Seemed to be a new thing for us.
“Yeah, dad?’ I said, putting as much venom as I could into my voice. “What the hell?” I clenched my hands into fists and glared at him.
He looked over at me with a pleading expression. “Kara, honey, I don’t want you to think I’m setting you up—”
I interrupted that statement. “That is exactly what you are doing! You’re my dad! My own father would set me up with…” I took a deep breath and tried to hold back the stinging in my eyes. “What am I supposed to say to him? Huh? I—” A lump formed in my throat and I couldn’t talk anymore. I was to stressed to even think straight.
Marshall looked a little shocked. And sad.
Tough, I thought.
“Honey, please just…think about it.” He said quietly.
I wanted to sleep.
Finn growled, “This is a family matter now. Everyone else,” He looked at the door. “Leave.”
They all stared at my brother in shock. He’d never been this angry before.
“I disagree, boy.” Brent rumbled next to Jack. Everyone not blood related to me nodded and mumbled in agreement. Finn snarled loudly, strode to the brick wall behind the couch, and punched it so hard his hand went through.
I flinched.
“We are all involved with this decision, Finn.” Marion said gruffly.
“Yeah, totally. Like, if Kara decides to screw Isaac, we all should know, right? Because it’s totally a disgrace that I’d dare go for Vincent, but when little Miss Perfect over there wants to f—screw a man waaaaaay older than her, it’s okay. It makes complete sense that I’m actually having second thoughts. I mean,” Zena glared at me and snickered. “that is a pack matter.” Sarcasm dripped from her every word like acid, sizzling on my skin. “But don’t you find it…oh what’s the word you used Kara? Mmm, I got it—repulsive that your gonna get with a thirty-three year old ma—”
“Shut-up! Just stop talking, Zena! Your just a jealous brat that wants to skank her way to top dog.” I growled, standing over her. “Do what you have to do to get yourself there, because I’m absolutely sure that you running a pack will go over so well when your too busy staring at your reflection in a puddle, while some poor pup gets eaten, and—‘Oh, I’m so sorry your kid died right next to me, I had to make sure my lipstick wasn’t smeared’.” I had her back against the wall, and she actually looked a little scared. But then it switched to anger.
“I’m a jealous brat? Okay, because you have sooooo much I’m jealous of. Riiiiggghht. Who ever told you you were so special, huh?” She stood up and put her face in mine.
I considered raking my claws down her face, but then thought that maybe I could be the better person.
“When did I ever say you were jealous of me?” I asked innocently.
Someone made a sound of agreement. I didn’t look to see who.
My heart was racing and my mind was in the gutter, but you know what? I was proud I could actually form sentences.
“You…I hate you!” she screamed.
“Yeah,” I smirked, “I can count on one hand how many times I’ve heard that this week. Why don’t you run along now and go find your wimpy ‘boyfriend’. If that’s what you want to call him.”
She snarled, and I saw her jaw twitch with the effort not to grow into a muzzle. As it was, I curled my lip and showed fangs.
“Zena, go home. Right this second. You and I will be having a loooong talk.” Farrah ordered, glaring from me to her daughter.
Zena screeched in disbelief and stormed out.
“Well, now that she’s gone an blown a gasket. How about we deal with the real situation at hand?” I said. I was starting to feel a little ditzy from all the excessive emotion. I was thinking that maybe I’d had a little too much for one day and that sleep would be real nice.
“Yeah!” Finn yelled, staring at me. “Let’s talk more about this.”
This was starting to get too public. “Please, everyone not in my gene pool, leave. This does involve all of you, I know it, but I need to talk to my family right now. If you want details, go to the source, go talk to Isaac.” His name came out cracked, but my tone was firm. Some of my other anger came speeding back, and my sarcasm was gone for the moment.
They slowly got up and filed out all giving me words of support. It struck me that no one had objected but Zena—and Finn. That maybe, they wanted me to be alpha. Even Marion.
After they were gone, Finn punched the wall again. “With Isaac, dad?! He is eighteen years older than her!”
“Finn, it’s not strange. It happens all the time with werewolves. It’s the human in you that’s telling you it’s wrong.” Marshall said, trying to keep calm.
“Yeah, because I’m so sure actual wolves rob the cradle.” I muttered under my breath.
Finn turned to me angrily, but his face softened and he actually smiled. “Niiiice one.”
We stared at each other, then laughed a little. The stress was making it hard for my throat to form the right sound, but I had to admit, I was doing okay.
“Kara, what did you…tell Isaac?” Marshall asked.
“Well…” I thought about it. “I told him ‘Gee, I’d love to! Let’s go pick out my wedding dress right now and get married tomorrow!’” I frowned at Marshall. “What do you think I said? I told him I was totally confused, thought he was too old, and then he left me with something revolving around ‘I love you’ and I almost cried at how sad he sounded.” I was too tired to care about what I just said.
Finn looked shocked. That emotion was just swingin’ ’round wasn’t it?
“He said he loves you?” He asked.
I shook my head. “Nah, it was more like, ‘I promised I wouldn’t have told you unless I truly loved you’. But you get the general idea.”
Both Luna and Finn stared at me like I was lying.
Marshall nodded. “He promised me that.”
“Yup. So now I’m in a Hell called my head and I want to—” I stopped talking because my phone started vibrating in my pocket.
I took it out, didn’t recognize the number, and only had enough time to hope it was Ayden before I answered.
“Hello?”
“Heeeeyyy, it’s me. Well, Ayden, since you probably don’t know who ‘me’ is. Anyways…hi.” Her familiar voice made me smile.
“What’s up?” I asked, surprised my voice was clear. All that strong emotion I had been feeling? All that exhaustion? It was locked right up as soon as I heard her voice. I felt revived.
“Hmmm, you sound busy. Do you want me to call back?” She asked. Busy? Nooo…
“Nope. I’m free.”
She coughed. “Well all right. Do you…would you…um, you wanna come over and hang out?” She hesitated then said, “I can’t pick you up, but…”
I realized my family was staring at me expectantly. I frowned.
“Sure, sure. I’d love to. Uh, where do you live?”
“Really?” Ayden’s breath caught. “Yay! So—oh! Um, in an apartment. It’s the Remsfeild. By you know school—”
I cut her off. “Yes, of course. I know where that is.” I walked by it every day to school.
I didn’t want to ask her apartment number, because I wanted to see if I could find it by her scent, but it would be weird if I didn’t.
“Which apartment?”
Luna stared at me curiously. No doubt they could hear Ayden on the other end.
“Three-oh-two. It’s waaaay in the back. Can you come?”
“Uh, hold on.” I put my hand over the receiver of my cell phone.
“Can I?” I asked. I knew they’d heard what we were talking about.
Luna sighed and looked at Marshall. Finn frowned.
“Remember what we told you. But yes, you can go. Need a ride?” Luna asked.
I smiled. They were the coolest parents. Well, Marshall was downgrading at the moment, but whatever.
“Nah, I’ll walk.”
I took my hand off my phone. “Hey, I can go.”
“Yes! All righty.” She sounded so happy I couldn’t help but feel it too.
“Kara, is this that pure-bred friend I’ve been hearin’ about?” Marshall asked with a frown much like Finn’s.
I covered the mouth piece again and growled, “Ugh, yes she is. Gah, I’ll be fiiiiine. Bye.”
“Bye, hon.” Luna smiled.
I grinned and walked out into the heat of the day. Again.
“Hey, sorry. What?” I asked. I hadn’t heard what Ayden said.
“Oh, um, I was wondering how far you lived?”
“Ah, well I’m walking so I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. Well, actually I’m gonna jog, but same difference.” I said.
She laughed. “Okie dokie. See you.”
“Yep,”
And she hung up. I sighed and put my phone back in my pocket before I took off at the most normal looking run I could do in human form.
Because it’s so normal for me, it wasn’t until I reached the entrance of Ayden’s complex that I realized I wasn’t wearing shoes. I looked down at my bare feet and mentally smacked my forehead. They were covered in dirt and cuts. Soooo not normal.
“Crap,” I whined. What was I going to do?
I didn’t want to go all the way back…but how weird was it to show up at someone’s home barefoot and dirty? Very. Ugh, well I would think of something.
I was submerged in a million different smells as I reached the back of the complex. I tried to pick out a familiar one, but failed miserably. After a minute or so, I reached building 3. I flared my nostrils one last time and caught my breath as I recognized something. But I couldn’t be sure.
I followed it all the way up to her apartment.
Yes,
I knocked and listened intently for any sounds inside.
“I got it mama.” Ayden said, her voice growing in level as her footsteps drew closer.
“Okay,” a woman’s voice responded. Her mom.
Some bolts clicked out of place and then Ayden was standing in front of me smiling.
“Hey, nice of you to swing by.”
I laughed. “Really? I wasn’t aware my company was so desirable.”
She laughed too.
This was going pretty well. My normal—human self—was all right.
“Well come on in.” she said, gesturing inside.
I did as told and breathed in the homey environment. Decorations cluttered everything and candles burned, making my nose itch. But I liked it. It was warm.
“Uhhhh, Kara?” Ayden asked, her tone sounding alarmed but like she was trying not to laugh.
I looked over at her to see she was staring at my feet.
Oh.
“Um, yeah. I don’t like shoes. Got a problem with it?” I asked teasingly.
She grinned. “Not at all. The weirder the better.” She stepped in front of me and called, “Mom! Come meet Kara!”
A plump woman with dark brown hair and brown eyes walked out of a room at the end of a long hall. She didn’t really resemble Ayden a whole lot, but she was still kind of pretty.
“Why, hello there. Ayden’s told me about you.” She said warmly. “My name is Andrea. You can call me that if you’d like, or Ms. Pentra.”
She’s told you about me? I thought. Hmmmm.
“Okay, nice to meet you.” I smiled back at her.
“You, too.”
“We’ll be in my room.” Ayden said and stepped around me and headed down the hall.
“Okay,” said her mom.
I followed he quickly into a room I was not expecting. Her blanket was a deep blue with the face of a gray wolf on it, a poster of a wolf howling at the moon was on her wall beside her dresser, and a wolf stuffed animal laid on the floor by her closet.
Well. I realized her claim to want to be a wolf went a little deeper than I had originally thought.
“Sorry it’s so…weird. Like I said, I love wolves.” She shrugged and smiled.
“Weird? Nah, it’s awesome.” I smiled back at her, focusing on my teeth staying square.
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks. So, what do you wanna do?”
I thought. Ummmm, what would be a normal answer? I had no clue, so I shrugged.
“Oh, well…what kina music do you like?” She asked, sitting down on her bed.
I fidgeted. “I don’t know much music.”
She stared at my serious expression then shook her head sadly and stood up. “Well then that is my first mission: Teach Kara the freakin’ best music the world has to offer.”
I laughed. “So you know all the best music, huh?”
Ayden nodded and bent down at a stereo and motioned for me to sit with her. “Anything I like is the best. Duh,”
We both cracked up laughing on her floor and she pushed play.
We listened to music forever, but it was nice. I liked it. A lot. But every time I glanced around her room, I was reminded of her love, and I ached to tell her the truth about me. You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to hold back.
While we listened, we talked. Ayden wanted to work with wolves and get out of Texas. I told her I didn’t know what I wanted to do since my real prospect was being alpha, and that I didn’t really mind it here. We’d been having so much fun, I hadn’t realized how late it was.
“Oh man, it’s nine.” I yawned. My excitement (yeah right) of the day was rushing back to me.
“Hmmm, you wanna just spend the night? We don’t have school tomorrow.” Ayden said, standing up and stretching.
Could I? Would Marshall and Luna be okay with it? I was doubtful, but decided it was worth a shot.
“Sure, why not? That would be cool. Your mom cool with it?”
Ayden strode towards her door. “Yeah, it should be fine. Call and see if you can, I’ll go ask my mom.” And she walked out.
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Marshall’s cell.
“Hey, where are you? I was about to call.” He answered in a rush.
“Hello to you too, dad. I’m still at Ayden’s. Can I spend the night? Please?” I asked, biting my lip and holding my breath.
He sighed. “Well…she…I…guess you ca—”
The phone went all static then cleared, and a new deep voice spoke. “Kara, Kara, Kara.”
I ground my teeth together. “Isaac, Isaac, Isaac.”
“Will you tell me why you are so intent on this girl?” He asked.
“I would, but then I’d have to kill you.” I mumbled, agitated and hoping Ayden wasn’t coming back soon.
I heard her talking to her mom. Good.
“Riiiight, okay. Well, have fun I suppose. And…sweet dreams, sweetheart..” Click.
I resisted the urge to throw my phone against the wall and jump out Ayden’s window and into the night, and took a deep breath instead.
“Well, mom said okay. Yours?” Ayden asked, striding back in, pulling her long hair out of it’s usual braid.
“Said yes.” I replied. “But if I don’t come back, they are all over you guys.”
We laughed. I smiled and realized that maybe, just maybe, Ayden could be a friend to last till the summer. I would just wait and see.
