Howl (17 page)

“Good.” Gavin sighed. “This is good.”

“The preliminary reports from the coroner
have detailed the size and markings of the bites. So far, they
appear to be from an abnormally large wolf.” Thomas stated. “The
problem is, no one has actually reported a wolf sighting in many
years despite the growing rumors that there are exceptionally large
wolves in the area. And it doesn’t help that rumors abound about
werewolves.”

“The rumors are just that though – stories.
Made up. I mean, people aren’t actually believing them – are they?”
Mom interjected.

“It’s hard to say. Stories like these are
everywhere: kids’ books and television, songs, and late night
camp-outs. I think the problem here is that if any of the stories
is substantiated in any way, the people of this area might react
out of pure fear. Then, anything is possible.” Jaime replied.

Thomas nodded. “And at this point the police
and the Wildlife Conservation officers are already jumping out of
their skins at the thought of there being something in the woods
that they are unaware of. Whether they believe in werewolves
doesn’t really matter.”

“You said you came across a wolf in March,
correct?” Gavin asked.

“Just an hour or so before the blizzard
began. I had been camping all weekend collecting samples. I was
just about to break down my tent when a wolf ran into sight and not
a second later, it took off.”

“Would you recognize it if you saw it
again?”

Jaime's eyes sheepishly turned toward me.
“Sophie was the one I saw.”

Every muscle in Gavin' jaw tightened. A
purplish vein throbbed in Gavin's face as he looked from Jaime to
me, clearly holding his tongue for the sake of peace.

“Yesterday I heard two of the rangers
discussing the possibility of a wolf and dog cross-breed roaming
the forest.” Jaime murmured, the tension diffusing. “We could
potentially spin this in our favor. It could be a believable story
if we can figure out a way to rig the evidence.”

“That's what I'm thinking.” Thomas nodded.
“But this is going to take time and a lot of careful planning.”

“And watching our backs.” Gavin scanned each
face in the dining room. “While Thomas and Jaime are working on
this, the rest of us will stay out of the forest completely. No
more hunting until we get the all-clear.”

“Agreed.” Thomas said. Everyone nodded
somberly in affirmation.

“Though I would like to check out the sight
where the body was found. The trail would be a week old, I may be
able to pick up the scent of whoever attacked the ranger.” Gavin
put a hand on his chin and rubbed pensively. “If I could just find
a scent or tracks or something.”

“How are you going to pick up a scent trail
this long after an attack? It’s impossible.” Jaime stated.

“Gavin’s the best hunter in our pack. If
there is a trail, he’d find it.” I assured him.

“I don’t know how wise it would be to go out
right now. Even in human form you’ll leave footprints. We don’t
want to draw more attention, Gavin.” Thomas said.

“We don’t know who has done this. If there is
even a small chance that I could pick up a scent, I need to go.
Otherwise, we’re completely in the dark until the investigation
gets going and by then, it might be too late.”

“Gavin, please listen to Thomas. I don’t want
you going either. It’s dangerous.” Mom’s voice was tight and
squeaky.

“I'll follow the creek to the north side and
then backtrack south until I come to the area where the ranger was
found. I'll return the same way so the only scent trail of mine
will be far away from here and end at the creek. No one will be
able to track me.”

“Please, be reasonable.” Mom pleaded.

The air was still again as Gavin deliberated
the consequences and possible rewards for taking this risk. I
glanced uneasily at Jaime. He entwined his fingers in mine and
squeezed.

“I’m going.” Gavin rose from his chair.
“Granddad and Daniel should be back from patrol any minute. As soon
as I get the all clear from them, I’m going.”

“Honey, don’t!” Mom gasped. “Please! I have a
really bad feeling about this. Just stay and we’ll think of
something!”

Gavin walked over to Mom and cupped her face
in his hands. “Mama, listen. The trail could already be cold but I
have to try. If there is any chance that I can discover who is
behind the attack, then I must go for all of our sake. I’ll be
fine, I promise.”

“I’ll go instead.” Thomas countered.

Gavin laughed out loud and dropped his hands.
“Thomas you know I adore you but you are not a hunter. My nose has
always been five times better than yours. I don’t think you’d be
successful.” Instead of looking ashamed or affronted at this
declaration, Thomas just nodded in acquiescence. “Besides, you are
my Second and therefore in charge while I’m gone.”

~The rapid pace of
change~

Gavin spent several minutes discussing the
patrol with Granddad and Daniel upon their return then left for his
reconnaissance. Mom and Will settled at the dinning room table,
each with a cup of tea in hand. Will proposed a stream of nominal
topics to take Mom’s mind off her bad feeling. “It just doesn’t
feel right Will. I’m telling you, something is wrong.” The
conversation shifted gears as Will poured a heavy handed shot of
whiskey for her.

“I’m going to leave now. Your family has a
lot on their plate and I don’t think they need me hanging around
making it more uncomfortable.” Jaime leaned in as if to kiss me and
then thought better of it. His cheeks flushed and he stepped back
quickly.

“You can kiss me Jaime. It’s okay.” My belly
flipped in anticipation as I realized that I was finally free to
live my life and be with him. No more fear or anxiety that we’d be
discovered. I caught a glimpse of Daniel’s shadow out of the corner
of my eye. Daring overtook me and I planted a long kiss on Jaime’s
perfect bow-shaped lips. I felt lighter than I had in months.

Not long after Jaime left, I curled up on the
couch next to Tristan. “He is pretty tough, I’ll give him that.” He
said. “To come here and make demands of Gavin. That takes
balls.”

I laid my head on his shoulder.

Tristan rested his cheek on my crown. “I’m
glad you’re happy. But mostly I’m glad he turned out to be on our
side because I really didn’t want to have to turn your boyfriend
into a jigsaw puzzle.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed out loud. “I
think Jaime is strong enough to take you on Titi. He would lose in
the end but I bet that would be an interesting fight to
witness.”

“Please! Have you seen these guns?” He pushed
up a sleeve and flexed. “These babies are priceless.”

“Ugh! You are ridiculous!” I smacked him in
the face with a couch pillow. “I’m ignoring you now.” I stated with
mock disgust and grabbed the novel I’d been trudging through
earlier in the week when I was imprisoned in my home. Tristan
stretched out his lanky frame across the couch, feet across my lap,
and fell asleep.

*

Kylin rushed in, a horrific look on his face.
“Get outside now!” he yelled frantically to us before turning
abruptly around and ran out to the front door. Tristan shot
straight up and threw me one quick puzzled yet worried glance. We
rushed through the living room, me following at his heels. As we
passed through the kitchen the confused sound of several voices
yelling and someone sobbing hit us like a slap in the face. Mom’s
heartbreaking cried carried above all else.

My heart thumped against my rib cage. I could
actually hear the blood rushing through my own ears, my pulse
beating through every vein in my body. As my scared-witless heart
was racing time began to slow down. I felt each footstep I took as
if I were pounding into the floor with so much force that I might
actually break the boards below. I came to the door just a fraction
of a second behind my twin and saw over his shoulder the scene
unraveling before us. My mom was crouched down, sobbing and rocking
back and forth. In her arms she held the head and upper chest of
Gavin who lay in crumpled heap on the barren ground as still as a
bird frozen in the snow.

I barely noticed that Granddad, Ethan, and
Will were yelling at each other about something. All I could see
was Gavin. His face was quiet, peaceful. He looked as handsome as
ever and yet there was something wrong. He didn’t look like the
forceful leader I always knew him to be. He looked young. Like a
man who suddenly looked very much like a boy. For the first time I
noticed the huge stain of red across his left shoulder that
streaked down his side and onto his stomach. In the patch of frosty
grass beneath him spread a pool of more red. I forgot to breathe as
this sunk in. My brother…. My BROTHER…. Our family…

Suddenly I realized that my lungs were
screaming for air. As I sucked in a quick breath the freezing cold
air the rest of the picture became clear. I watched as Will walked
over to my mom and grabbed her by the arms to pull her off of
Gavin. She screamed a gut-wrenching, guttural scream that shook me
to my core. Will pulled her off Gavin and quickly turned my mom
around so that her face was buried in his chest. As my mom cried
and shook, he just held her, letting her release her anguish.
Granddad and Daniel walked over to Gavin and picked up his
body.

Is this it? I thought to myself. Is this
really it? Have we just lost one of our own? Gavin is my brother.
Was. Was? I thought. Oh my god….. What the hell… Why is this
happening?

My thought was broken by the feel of someone
touching my hand. Tristan lightly placed his hand in mine. Tears
were streaming down his face as he pulled my hand gently and said
“Come on, Mom’s gone inside with Will.” I nodded once and let him
lead me into the house. My body felt oddly heavy as I forced my
feet to move, one in front of the other. But as heavy as my body
felt, my insides were barren wastelands, frozen solid and
unyielding. I was cognizant of my surroundings yet my mind felt
completely hollow. I was a zombie. I walked through the house
allowing Tristan to guide me because I wasn’t sure in that moment
if I could have found my way through the kitchen door into the open
living room if I were left to do it myself.

I mindlessly sat down in one of the open arm
chairs and watched as my mom sat cradling herself, rocking back and
forth, heaving sobs shaking her frame. Streaks of blood covered her
arms and transferred to her shirt. Will rubbed the small of my
mom’s back, in a futile attempt to comfort her. His face was
hardened and unmoving. It carried an expression not unlike a
statue. He stared into the space before him, seeing nothing. My
eyes scanned the room finally landing on Lorelei who sat at the end
of the couch. Tears streamed down her face in silvery rivulets
flowing continuously without sound. Her face was bright red and
splotchy. Each time she wiped away another tear her face reddened
more from the force she was exerting on her skin.

I don’t know how long I sat there watching my
family before I couldn’t take it anymore. I dazedly walked upstairs
to my room and quietly shut the door behind me. I stood by the
closed door for a moment taking in the emptiness. The only sound
was my own breathing. Dizziness overtook me and I leaned against my
bedroom door for support. My back slid down the door as I dropped
to the floor. Gavin. I thought. The image of my mom cradling my
bloody brother in her arm seared in my mind. I heard my mom’s cries
again as she rocked him back and forth. My brother is dead. I
thought to myself. As quickly as the dizziness hit so did the tears
and nausea.

I broke. Before I knew what I was doing I was
crying and shaking so hard I felt like I might physically break
into pieces. I curled up and heaved the contents of my stomach onto
the floor. Not that I cared. My brother, my Alpha was gone.
Forever. I would never get to talk to him again, laugh at his
jokes, or feel him wrap his fatherly arms around me in a bear hug
strong enough that I would be lifted off of the ground. I wouldn’t
see him smile that thousand-watt smile that instantly made even the
dreariest days bright. I managed to crawl across the floor to my
bed and slowly climbed onto it. Sobbing, I grabbed my quilt and
wrapped it around myself. I lay in my bed crying for what must have
been hours until my head ached with a pounding so fierce that I
couldn’t even raise my head off the pillow. I stayed there until I
fell asleep.

*

Now I take your hand and together we go, just
you and me babe, into the blue… My phone went off sometime in my
sleep and I was just conscious enough to make out the well-known
tune that accompanied Jaime’s calls. I was still in that
half-asleep state when I heard it go off again. I wasn’t fully
awake enough to give it a second thought it so I just laid there
drifting in and out of consciousness.

Images of Gavin from my childhood kept
sneaking into my dreams. Memories of him playing tag with me and
Tristan. Images of him chasing down an extra large stag pre-hunting
season. Gavin running through the forest with such graceful speed
and agility I would watch awestruck. Gavin promising to protect our
family when Granddad passed on his role as Alpha to him.

One memory came back to me in my dreams with
such clarity that I could almost reach out and touch it.

Gavin's eyes had just finished turning grey
so he was given the adult responsibility of teaching me and Tristan
the basics of the hunt. Tristan and I were still younglings, little
blue-eyes and we had been giving him a hard time all night. We had
spent hours rolling in the brambles and nipping at each other's
tails more than actually hunting. While goofing around, I managed
to slip down a small embankment and injured my leg.

I whined as I tried to stand up. My leg was
aching dully and didn't want to work properly.