Sapphire: A Werewolf Love Story (14 page)

Sometime later in the day, I’m frustrated I can’t
figure out how to change…shift…phase, whatever it’s called, I can’t figure it
out.  The heaviness begins to wear on me.  The ticking of my own claws on the
ground is driving me insane.  I pace back and forth, again and again, until I’m
literally freaking out.  Without any control over it, I begin to howl.  It is
the single most insane thing that’s happened since I woke up in the woods.  I’m
fully aware what I’m doing, and unable to stop.

It’s less than a minute or so, and I hear another
wolf howling in response.  I stop and cock my head to the side and hear the
howl again.  I respond with a louder howl.  Whichever werewolf is responding to
my howls, they are calling to me.  I’m not even sure what that means, but I
know that’s what’s going on.  My heart clenches with every response, the sound
is so sad and I want nothing more than to go to that wolf.  As quickly as it
began, the howling stopped from both me and the other wolf. 

Yet, I realize I’m still as restless as I was before;
rest is nowhere to be found.  How much longer will they give me before I’m
killed?  I’m not acting rabid, maybe eventually I’ll turn or whatever they call
it and they won’t kill me.  Logic checked out on me the moment Oakley turned
into a giant wolf. 

I wonder where he is.  He said he’d be
back later, it feels like he’s been gone a thousand years.  I don’t have proof,
but I think the other wolf was him.  I wonder why he’s sad.  What does a beta
do?

~~~~~~

PARKER

 Her wolf cried today.  I’d been out for
a run to clear my head after a budget meeting with our accountant when the
sounds of her cries echoed through the farm.  The sound of her cry, sent my
wolf into a frenzy.  He answered her call without hesitation.  It is impossible
to have two people your true mate.

What’s her story?  It’s pissing me off
we haven’t found the person biting innocents. 
Pru
took pictures of Sam’s bite.  The size measured smaller than the other rogues
we’ve found.  A part of me wishes Pru took a picture of Sam’s face.  Not that
it matters follow-up, but I’m curious.  She’s a small and delicate wolf.  I’ve
sent a couple of the guys out to on leads we were informed of from the Dallas
pack.
 

Dolly and I Skyped earlier and they’ll be home in
two days.  A part of me wishes I was with them and being the wolf I’m meant  to
be, instead of babysitter.  The other part of me is glad we’re here keeping an
eye on the farm, and Sam.  What has hurt her human so bad, she doesn’t want to
remember the pain.  That is all I can figure out about her, she’s running away
from pain.  We all do it, we hide behind a curtain and put up a good front
until something happens and shoved in our face.

A knock on the office door jars me from my
thoughts.  “Enter.”

Tatiana saunters in the room, dressed to kill in a
sexy red dress.  “Are you going to ignore me forever?” 

“I’m not ignoring you.  I don’t have time to play
games with you.  We had fun, it was fun, trust me.  You broke two rules.  The
first one was lying to me.  We said from the beginning we’d inform the other
when we started dating.  Two, we don’t cheat on one pack member for another
member.   If that isn’t enough, you’re in here acting like a scorned lover.  I
don’t have time for your childish ways.”  I look up to meet her gaze as she
glares at me.

She crosses her arms and starts ranting and raving. 
“You’re so arrogant.  I don’t want a fucking relationship with you.  Our
agreement never said anything about another pack member.  You’re the beta, I’m
here to help you with your sexual tension.”  She starts unbuttoning her shirt
and turns to lock the door.

I lean back in my chair and prop my feet on the
enormous desk, minding not to crush any papers.  “If you continue unbuttoning
your shirt, I will write you up and put you in front of the pack council.  As
you may, or may not know, if you are found guilty we will strip you of your
pack rights.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she growls. 

What the hell has gotten into her?  One minute she’s
a cool sex buddy, now she’s a lunatic horny werewolf.  “Sweetheart, you’re
lucky I haven’t called a meeting already.”

“You BASTARD!  You’re just as guilty, Parker,” her
words drip with venom.  “If I go down, you go down.”

“Are you crazy?  You’re disobeying a direct order
from me, who happens to be in charge of the pack.  Pull yourself together and leave
with dignity, and I’ll forget this ever happened.”  Tick-tock. 

Her face turns red and tears start streaming from
her eyes.  “I HATE you!” She turns to leave.

“Get in line sweets, I’m hated by the best of
them.”  I need to get out of this office. 

~~~~~

I was happy to get out of the office, so I could
check on Sam.  My phone buzzes in my pocket; I ignore it and keep walking. 
Barely audible, I hear whimpering in the cell.  “Hi Sam. Are you okay love?” 
She looks up at me but doesn’t move from her position.  Her chin is resting on
her front legs and her tail is flat on the floor.  “You look defeated.  Don’t
fret, you’ll shift soon.  I’m certain you will.”  I’m not certain, but I can’t
burst her hopes to be human.

She stands up and starts to pace.  Finally, she stops
and looks right at me.  I imagine her stomping her foot and jabbering about not
checking on her all day.

I grab a pillow from the supply closet and sit down
in the same place I slept last night.  She watches me intently making me wonder
what she’s thinking.  Most were’s can hear each other when we’re wolves, not
Sam, she’s silent.  The ability is only available to people in the same pack,
Sam wasn’t bitten by us so we have no control over her.

I sat there for the longest time, holding her gaze. 
A million things ran through my head trying to find how to help her.  Finally,
she walks over and sits down by me. 

“Well, not that I don’t find you a pretty wolf, I’d
like to meet you Sam,” I say as I pet her head.

Sam looks at me, her eyes hiding her secrets.  I
know she’s still human, by the fact she walked over and let me touch her. 
She’s craving the one on one touching.  So am I.

For a moment, I wonder if she and I would be
compatible when she’s human.  I talked to Oakley earlier and he said she’s
pretty but scared.  I can’t begin to imagine waking up and not knowing who I
am, or how I got there.  What I find really interesting, is how she stayed here
after she saw Oakley shift.  Who does that?  Why?  I’m sure she didn’t figure
she had anywhere to go and deep inside she knew they were telling her the
truth.  Suddenly, it dawns on me! If she’s still human, she can answer yes/no
questions.  Brilliant!

“If you can understand me, blink once.”  I watch,
crossing my fingers, and without hesitation, she blinks.  Excellent!  “We’ll do
one blink for yes and two blinks for no.  I want to ask you questions, maybe we
can figure out how to get you back.”

“Do you remember who you are?” Blink blink. “Are you
scared?” Blink.  By the fear in her eyes, she’s petrified.  “Have you lost
consciousness or time?” Blink, blink.  “Good, that means your wolf hasn’t taken
control.  I’m sure we can overcome this Sam.  I’m going to the main house to
grab dinner.  Estelle made lamb and chicken, would you like chicken?”  Blink. 
“Would you like lamb?” Blink, blink.

I literally want to jump for joy about being able to
communicate with her.  I head back to the main house to eat dinner.   I stop
and check on the General’s dog, Alistar, an Irish Wolfhound.  Alistar outliving
the General is interesting, since the dog is at least twenty years old.  The
life expectancy for an Irish Wolfhound is about seven years old.  Only Dolly
and Pru know Alistar’s story, so we don’t ask any questions.  He’s a sight to
be seen, especially when he’s on his hind legs.  We figure he’s almost seven
and a half feet tall.  If he doesn’t intimidate you, the werewolves will. 
We’ve said for years we will have a sign made up for him with that saying. 

~~~~~~

SAPPHIRE/SAM

A couple of days ago, Beta figured out how to talk to
me.  He asks yes and no questions and I answer by blinking.  It’s been strange
having a one way conversation with a person.  He said he had to go into the
city to get some things for the farm today.  The people, who went to Paris will
be home this afternoon.    I haven’t seen Beta since last night.  He didn’t
sleep in the prison area, he said he needed to get up early and didn’t want to
disturb me.  A girl named Josie took his place.  She too liked playing the
grill
the werewolf
game.  She isn’t nearly as fun as Beta, but she’s my only
option.

Having a fur coat is really itchy.  Damn, I wish
someone would come over here and scratch me.    I can’t imagine having fleas,
I’d drive myself insane scratching.  I wonder if me not taking a bath makes a
difference to the human side of me?  Beta smells amazing, Josie doesn’t.  She
isn’t a wolf, and wears too much of everything.  Scented perfume, soap, hair
products, every product makes Josie smell like a department store perfume
department.

Josie disappeared an hour ago to make phone calls,
leaving me in silence.  A clock was installed when Beta realized I have no
concept of time.  When I’m alone there’s little to entertain me.  In the corner
of my cell is a semi-walled off area for a wolf-toilet.  It’s a French toilet,
the kind that’s a hole in the floor with a pedal to step on to flush.  I play a
game where I run laps around the cell and run to flush the toilet.  I try to
run as many laps I can before the toilet finishes the cycle.  I’m a wolf, and
at this point I’m trying to fight off insanity.  It’s possible, insanity has
already stolen my brain.

When I run, I like to sing a song that plays in my
head.

     It was a stormy night when you were born,

     Lightening wouldn’t scare me away,

    From meeting you,

     Because you stole my heart,

     And broke it too,

     Because there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do,

     Including running through the rain to find my
way back to you.

     Storms wash away my tears,

     Storms comfort me through the night,

     Storms are what make my life full of love
again.

Without warning, I fall to the floor.  Pain ravages
my legs and paws, fire cascades through my muscles.  No matter how hard I try
to stand, I fall to my side gasping to breathe.  Fear of the unknown is
speeding up my pulse, to the point a heart attack is in the near future.  I
wish Beta was here, he’d tell me if I’m phasing back to human.  My stomach
churns, nausea threatening to add vomiting to my current state.  My head twists
and turns, convincing me it will explode with brain matter all over my cell.  I
try to howl, but my vocal chords are already changing.  I try to relax and let
it flow, easier said than done.

Hands are on me shaking my shoulder.  “Sam?  Sam,
are you okay?  You shifted sweetie, everything’s over.”

My eyes open to Josie in my face.  I try to talk, unsure
if it will come out a howl.  “Ah, oh,” I clear my throat and try again.  “Hi.”

Josie exhales in relief.  She holds a robe out for me;
I sit up and take it from her.  “You’re human, Sam!  Come on, let’s get out of
here and go into the house to get you cleaned up.  Everyone is going to be here
soon, they’ll be happy to find you.  Do you remember?”

“Are you kidding?”  I spit out.  “Thank God, I never
thought I’d shift.”

“Let’s go in the house.”

Wiping the steam from the bathroom mirror, I take in
the sight of me…Sam, a werewolf woman.  My hair looks fuller, my eyes are
brighter, and my skin is flawless as I rub lotion over my bare arms.  Everything
about me is me, but better. 

Voices in the hallway remind me everyone is coming
home today.  I wish I had a better story to tell than my existence began the
minute I woke up in a tent.  I put on a pair of jeans and a fitted t-shirt.  No
matter whom I am or was, something about everything going on feels so normal
and right.  Maybe that’s what I tell myself to keep from falling to the floor
and shaking all over from the weight of my new reality.  Someone approaches my
bedroom door.

“Sam, anyone home?”  Josie calls as she opens the
door a crack.

“Yeah, hey, I was just cleaning up and getting ready
to come out.  It sounds like the people are home from their trip.” I sweep lip-gloss
across my bottom lip and smack them together.

Josie is speechless as she stares at me with her
mouth hanging open.  “Damn, you’re gorgeous.  Wait until the pack sees you,
they’re going to have a cow.  Pru better hold tight to Oakley, that’s all I’m
sayin’ bout that.”

I smile at her and walk over to where she’s
standing.  “Thank you, trust me, I didn’t look like this before I turned.”

“Either way, you’re beautiful. Estelle, the chef is
off today.  I had food catered in; I hope you’ve worked up an appetite.  Come
on, everyone’s waiting.”

“Hey you, you feeling okay? The first time burns
like hell, but the second one is easier.  Looks like you survived, is
everything cool?  Were they good to you?”  Abel asks as he crosses over to give
me a hug.