Wolf's Obsession (8 page)

“Safe, for now?” Thorne asked.

“Yes, for centuries, tribes foretold of the Earth changes Thorne. Look around you,
global warming has affected the planet. Polar ice caps are melting, and the levels
of the oceans are changing, destroying our barrier reefs. Certain wildlife is decreasing.
You had to have known these things, elders in every Native American tribe knew of
the approaching changes.

“Aw, come on Nat, you’re depressing me!” Donovan exclaimed restlessly. “You know
I hate it when you talk like that!” he said like a little kid pouting.

“The truth hurts, doesn’t it Donovan? Edolonia went through the same changes. Our
oceans dried up, and the suns destroyed our planet. It became increasingly harder
to survive the heat.

“Your planet had two suns?” Thorne asked in awe.

“Yes and three moons.” Natalie responded. This is how the patch on the nape of our
necks formed, it was a survival mechanism, capturing the harmful rays of the suns.
At night, we regained our strength, allowing our species to develop a tolerance
to the suns.

“So, it’s true what my ancestors spoke of, witnessing iron birds in the sky centuries
ago," Thorne said, sucking in a deep breath. "Melanie, why the hell didn't you say
anything to me, I mean, why all the secrets?" Thorne asked, his gaze slicing through
Melanie like a knife through a biscuit.

"Thorne, I didn't say anything because I knew you'd react this way." Melanie said
in a shaky voice. "I denied my heritage for the longest time, as though it would
change things. I didn't accept myself Thorne, so how could I expect anyone else
to accept me?"

Thorne rose to his feet, slowly walking around the house, his gaze fixated upon
the wooden floor. Confusion and doubt set in, causing him to analyze the situation
and his relationship with Melanie.

"So, how different are the species?" Thorne asked. "Melanie, I need my clan to carry
on the wendigo line." Thorne said regretfully. "I'm sorry, I…I can't do this Melanie,
not now, I need time to think." Thorne said.

"You son of a bitch!" Donovan sneered. "My little girl was good enough for you to
have your way with in the back of some shitty hole in the wall club…"

"Donovan, please, don't…" Natalie started, rudely interrupted by Donovan.

"No Nat, I'm going to have my say!"

"Dad, please, let it go!"

"Hell no Melanie!" Donovan hissed at his daughter. "Son, what you're saying is my
baby girl isn't good enough for your clan? Well damn you and your fucking clan to
hell, and get the hell out of my house while you can still walk, young wolf!" Donovan
sneered, trying to stifle the mounting rage building within his chest.

"Donovan, its not like that, I simply need time to think!" Thorne exclaimed, not
wanting to get sucked up in a shouting match with the stubborn vampire.

"If you love her like you say you do, what's there to think about Thorne? You know,
I think I was wrong about you. When I first met you, I didn't like you, then after
getting to know you, I liked you; some. Now, I don't fucking like your sorry ass
at all! Go on boy, get out, my daughter will find someone who is capable of loving
her, regardless of where she comes from! You haven't even listened to Natalie."

"Oh my God, Donovan!" Natalie cried out.

Due to the increased stress and heartache, Melanie was in the process of painfully
shifting, somewhere along the lines of wolf and vampire. Painful cries and animalistic
moans escaped her lips, as she was forced down on all fours by the change. Bones
crackled and popped underneath fur. Vicious, yellowish red eyes glared straight
ahead into the wall, and Melanie's moans turned to screeches as she regained her
composure, eventually rising on two feet.

"Melanie?" Natalie called approaching her daughter, only to be answered with a growl
as the beautiful creature backed up, towards the entrance of the house. She looked
at her father, and it almost tore her heart out, seeing the sympathy he held for
her within his eyes. Then there was Thorne, which was the hardest for Melanie. The
look of confusion and disgust, clearly carved across his face.

Thorne sucked in a deep breath as the large creature before him studied him with
a hurt look on her face. His heart sank, for she was beautiful to him, different,
but beautiful. Thorne had never seen a female wolf of this nature. Her black and
silver fur gleamed in the lighting of the Jackson's home, and her fangs were a mixture
of wolf and vampire alike. Her slender physique was muscular and dexterous. Her
snout was rounded and her nose quivered.

The female sniffed the air, and although in Thorne's present state of mind, his
wolf pheromones excited her. Throwing her head back, Melanie howled a long heart
felt howl, releasing all her pain and anguish.

"Melanie honey, where are you going?" Donovan asked, as his daughter lowered herself
on all fours, proceeding to the entrance of the house.

Melanie turned, looked at her father and a strange hissing growl slowly escaped
curled lips. Patience, all but lost to Melanie, she was ready to tear into anything
that moved. She'd attack herself if it were a possible feat. Right now, hatred emanated
from every pore in her body.

"Who the hell are you growling at young lady?" Donovan hissed back, ready to approach
his daughter until Natalie cut him off.

"Donovan, let her go." Natalie said.

"Are you crazy woman? She could hurt someone the way she is! We need to lock her
up!" Donovan exclaimed.

"No, you will not lock our daughter up!" Natalie said, her eyes beginning to glow
with sheer fury. "Melanie needs to sort things out, on her own Donovan. You know
it as well as I do. She needs to roam free, and this is just the place to do it.
That is the purpose of our community. She has countless land to roam free on." Natalie
insisted.

Donovan stared at his daughter in shock, harshly sucking in a breath in agreement
with his wife, and giving Thorne the evil eye. Thorne tried to approach Melanie,
but to his surprise, she quickly turned around, slashing at him with her sharp claws.
If it weren't for his lightening fast reflexes, he'd be sporting a large claw mark
on the side of his face. Melanie bared her fangs, growling a warning, a warning
that strangely racked fear throughout the leader's taunt body. Fear had never been
a part of Thorne's life, until now.

"You should heed that warning Thorne," Natalie said. In our race, females possess
the ability to overpower the males, some even devour their mates, when they have
been wronged by them.

“Oh wonderful; well at least our clans have some things in common.” Thorne said
harshly. "Both species are into cannibalism, go figure!”

“Oh, yes, wendigos ate their women and children, that’s why your clan members were
depleted long ago.” Natalie said.

“So…you know of our clan, our heritage?” Thorne asked in surprise.

“Thorne, there is much I know,” Natalie said. “I’ll explain it all to you later,
but right now…

Quickly, Melanie dashed out the door, knocking the screen off the hinges. Several
lone howls broke the night as Melanie ran long and hard, far away from the torment,
rage, and pain she was experiencing.

Thorne attempted to shift into wendigo form, until Donovan stopped him. The vampire
was simply too quick for the leader. Wrestling Thorne to the ground, Donovan warned
Thorne of the impeding danger.

"Get the hell off me, old timer!" Thorne gritted through his teeth as haunting,
golden eyes slowly replaced his dark ones.

"Boy, who the hell are you calling old timer?" Donovan hissed, baring his incisors.
“I’ll show you an old timer, you young son of a…

"You two! Cut it out now! Natalie growled.

Suddenly, without warning a large black form came careening through the open door,
snatching Thorne up from Donovan's clutches and into the cabin wall of the Jackson's
home. The large wolf must have been at least six foot five. The wolf held Thorne
within it's gaze as the man struggled in vain for freedom.

"Storm! Get the hell off me, now!" Thorne choked out. Storm Cloudfeather was a mighty
force in his wendigo form. One large clawed hand fit snugly around Thorne's neck,
and Donovan simply couldn't get enough of the action, for he broke out in a deep,
dark hysterical laughter. He would have definitely defended Thorne if forced to,
but since this large wolf knew the young wolf, Donovan wallowed in seeing the man
jacked up by this large wolf with the beautiful thick, long black hair.

Slowly, the large wolf released his brother, dropping him violently to his feet.
Red faced, Thorne angrily gripped his throat and quickly rose to his feet, muttering
Chippewa and making hand gestures to the wolf, who slowly shifted to human form.

Natalie shook her head as two large Native American men entered through the doorway
one by one. Ronnie Redhawke acknowledged the Jacksons, introducing himself, and
the other man, Jay Silvercloud. Slowly, an elderly Native American gentleman stepped
through the door. Hawk Silvercloud, the clan's shaman spoke in Chippewa, chastising
Storm and Thorne.

Donovan shook the mens’ hands, introducing Natalie. The two men were strong, fierce
warriors, and posed no threat, Donovan sensed. Hawk was tall, but elderly, possessing
centuries of wisdom. They all stood proud and noble, filling Donovan with a sense
of pride.

"My deepest apologies to you both," Storm said, regaining his composure. He walked
over, shaking the Jacksons’ hands.

"You see, I've been tracking my little brother for quite some time. He led me all
over the damned city, and now here, out in God only knows where," Storm said, with
a puzzled look on his face.

"Young man, how did you find us? This land is protected by our guardians’ ancient
protection gates." Natalie asked, puzzled.

"I tracked Thorne here, Mrs. Jackson, and I sensed your gate. Hawk, our shaman was
able to break through the defenses of the gate, but I was the guinea pig, and since
I was the first one through, it shocked the living hel…, I mean daylights out of
me." Storm slowly explained. "It painfully caused me to shift into wendigo form.
I'm truly sorry for barging through your home," Storm apologized to Natalie. Turning
to his brother, Storm shook his head in utter disappointment.

"Thorne, you and I really need to talk. I have a few choice words for you." Storm
growled, eyeing the young warrior.

"Storm, I can explain."

"Truly Thorne, I don't wish to hear whatever it is you have to say. You tracked
your mate here, to this state, leaving the clan vulnerable. That is a crime I cannot
and will not forgive," Storm spoke harshly to his younger brother, his stone cold
features hardening with each moment he looked at Thorne. A flash of yellowish orange
poked through his dark brown eyes as his eyebrows knitted tightly together. His
long jet black hair was neatly combed back and held with a deerskin tie. If not
for his modern clothes, Storm looked like an ancient Native American warrior from
the past.

"Raphael followed me here, along with a few of his clan members." Thorne said to
his defense. "Things aren't as bad as they appear to be Storm," Thorne said. "Try
to lighten up a bit, and understand my situation."

"Lighten up a bit? Your situation? Listen to yourself Thorne! You are simply a self-centered,
uncaring ass!" Storm said quietly, trying not to curse too much in the Jacksons'
home. Since childhood, Thorne had such a profound way of bringing out the worst
in Storm.

"I'm well aware of Raphael's presence. This entire town wreaks of him! Thorne, you’re
unbefitting as a clan leader, and I hereby renounce you of your position!" Storm
quickly said, glancing at Hawk, who nodded in agreement with the tall man.

"What! But you can't do that to me Storm!" Thorne sneered.

"Oh, but I can, and….I have Thorne. It is my own fault, I thought I had taught you
better than this, apparently, I haven't. I'm disappointed in you, and myself Thorne."
Storm said in a low growl. Hurt slicing through his tough exterior, Thorne sucked
in a breath, and held his head high, for it was the wendigo way of not showing any
emotion.

"I challenge you Storm." Thorne croaked.

"I don't think you want to go there." Storm quickly said, arching a brow.

"No Thorne, I don't think you want to go there, either, not in my damn house." Donovan
Jackson said, folding his arms across his chest. "You men need to take your problems
outside, before I call my clan." Donovan said calmly.

"I mean you no disrespect sir," Storm said.

"Now see Thorne, why can't you be more like your brother. He's respectful, and doesn't
dislike vampire as a whole." Donovan said.

"Thorne doesn't think of anyone but himself," Storm replied. "I sensed pain when
I approached the house, and I'm sure you're the cause of it Thorne!" Storm said.

"It's a long story, our daughter, Melanie, Thorne's mate. Oh, hell, I don't even
know where to start." Natalie said, sitting down, holding her head in her hands.

"Your daughter is in danger" Jay said.

"What do you mean, she's in danger?" Donovan asked, as his temper quickly flared.

"Raphael's clan has struck a deal with your friendly neighborhood hunter." Jay quickly
said. "Your daughter is hurt, and her judgement is way off," the medicine man added.
"The hunter will soon find her!"

"You're a very powerful medicine man," Natalie quickly added. "There is so much
to talk to you all about, we just need to get my baby to safety," she added. "Will
you please aid us in finding Melanie?"

"Let me round up a few members of my clan," Donovan said, quickly grabbing his cell
phone. "I'll need a few members watching over the premises here, while we split
up and search for Melanie."

Thorne's heart lurched as he remembered the pain in Melanie's eyes, in human and
wolf form.

"This is far from over," Thorne said, walking past his brother. If looks could kill,
Storm would have died where he stood.