Wolfsong Page 2

  I stayed still, breathing shallow, my heart in my throat. Every time I tried to sit up, claws dug heavily into the fabric of my t-shirt. I felt a wave of panic rush over me—what if no one found me? What if the wolf got hungry and ate me? I took deep, calming breaths and forced myself to relax, hoping the wolf would back off on its own.

  It didn’t.

  I took a breath in and slowly moved my hand, sliding it across the damp pavement. I patted the ground, my palm clapping against the stone. The wolf flicked an ear and stared at me, its eyes strange things. They looked more human than canine.

  “Off.” I tried to be firm, but courage failed me. I patted the pavement again. “Come on. Let me up. Off!”

  I heard a scuffle of claws. The wolf on my chest froze, a rippling growl escaping its parted jaws. Its ears flattened back and its tail stood straight up, a stiff banner.

  Delilah crept closer, a snarl rising from her lips. The wolf snapped its jaws in a warning, but Delilah didn’t move. The wolf looked down at me, almost scornfully, and then threw herself across the alley after Del. There was a piercing shriek as they met, jaws tearing at each other.

  I scrambled to my feet, my sneakers scuffing the pavement. I backed up, digging around in my pockets for something—anything—to protect myself with in case the wolf came back. My fingers closed around the warm metal of a small pocket knife and my racing heart eased slightly. The knife sprung open with a click of metal just as the wolf spun back around to face me. Delilah was nowhere to be found.

  I heard a soft bark of laughter, ricocheting in my skull like an echo. “You’re dumber than I originally thought.” The voice was sharp and acidic.

  The same voice I’d followed down here.

  I eyed the wolf, its hackles raised, then glanced up to find the owner of the voice. “Show yourself!” This got me another snicker, and I could nearly feel the woman smirking. My eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness, I swept my gaze around the large alleyway. Nothing. No one remotely human; just me, the wolf, and some piled up junk.

  “Don’t scream,” she whispered mockingly.

  The wolf’s ruby eyes met mine once more…and then the beast stepped back. No. More like rocked back on its haunches. In the faint lighting, fur seeped back into skin, revealing milky flesh and a blur of blue cotton. Clawed paws twisted inwards, toes becoming slender fingers, legs buckling underneath the creature.

  The wolf’s snout lifted in a snarl, showing off a flash of teeth. The teeth dulled from sharp to flat, the muzzle slipping away to form a harsh, feminine face. Curls of black hair cascaded down around the woman’s shoulders, her eyes the same ruby red as the wolf’s. Spiteful eyes.

  She crouched there, in a cotton blouse and black slacks that showed off her muscular legs. She was barefoot. God, what a stupid thing to think. I was starting to lose it. My head throbbed, hard enough that my vision was blurring.

  Hallucinating. That was it. Or maybe I was in shock. Hell, probably, definitely. I just saw a wolf turn into a strikingly beautiful woman with deadly cobra’s eyes.

  But I didn’t scream.

  My words came out soft. “What the hell are you?”

  Her lips twisted up in a wry smirk. “I’d say, ‘Your worst nightmare’, but that would be cliché.”

  She rose, threateningly quick on her feet and was coming towards me in less than a moment. Her fingers formed into claws as she neared me. Whatever the hell she was, I didn’t wanna stick around. I moved back another step, my eyes darting down the alley, to where streetlights glowed dimly just out of reach.

  I could run for it. I could catch her off guard, take off and not look back. I could outrun her…maybe. Unless she changed back into that beast—then I was screwed. But it was worth a try. If I screamed, would anyone hear it? I swallowed back the lump rising in my throat.

  I glanced back to her. She was grinning a malicious smile. Shit. Shit. Shit. The words thrummed in time with the aching pound of my head.

  “Oh, is the little princeling afraid?”

  She rushed forward, both hands on my shoulders, shoving me. I stumbled, my back slamming against the brick wall. Her hands caressed my face, tenderly gentle with the threat of claws slicing my throat open. My breath came in soft pants as I stared at her. She merely smiled. Her fingers danced at the collar of my shirt, then tightened, drawing me nearer.

  Great. I was going to be kissed by a werewolf.

  “You’re a werewolf.” I flattened myself against the wall.

  Werewolves didn’t even exist—they were fairytales, legends, and not even a well thought-out one. How the hell could a full moon turn you into a wolf? I checked the sky—moonless. So this crazy woman could become a wolf without the light of the moon.

  She laughed. “It’s not like you’ll be able to tell anyone. Consider this…a gift. I’m saving you from a ruthless man who would string you up by your organs just to see you writhe.” She paused with a twisted smile.

  Then her eyes softened. “You look just like him. Maybe, given a couple more years and a few scars, you’d be even more handsome. A shame you have your father’s eyes.”

  “What are you talking about?” My heart pounded. I clung to that pocketknife like a lifeline, the handle warm in my grasp. I should’ve just slammed it home, sliced her across the face, or buried the knife into her shoulder—something, anything—and ran like hell. This wasn’t normal or natural, and she was pretty much plotting my death. Something was wrong. But what did she mean?

  She tightened her fingers around my collar, her nails biting into my flesh, leaving welts behind. Her face darkened.

  “You’re heir to the throne. You’re the only heir that Kitane has with Skoll’s Sight. And unfortunately for you, you’re the one standing in my way. Consider this as me, weeding out the competition. You’re pretty much clueless; you couldn’t have been more than three or four when Kitane came home. And me? I’m destined to be queen. I may not have the Sight, but I’m twice the wolf you’ll ever be.” She showed a gleam of teeth, curving pointed at the ends.

  My head spun. She was certifiable. Had to be. I was getting the creeps, a shiver tracing its way down my spine, a cold chill. I arched back against the brick wall.

  “Listen.” The first time I said it, my tongue wouldn’t cooperate. I had to say it again. “Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about. My dad left when I was little. Just let me go. I swear you’ll never see me again. I don’t want to be a king, or whatever you’re saying I am. The place is yours—take it. Just please…” I bit back a strangled whimper.

  Heir to the throne. A werewolf throne. I pressed my eyes shut, rocking my head against the bricks behind me. Please, God, just get me out of here.

  “I don’t want to die,” I said softly, reaching for her. She flinched at my touch, a silent snarl on her lips. “Please.”

  “Nice try—”she smirked, but I was faster. I rammed the pocket knife home, right between her ribs. The blade sunk deep and I yanked it out, feeling warmth splatter my hand. I spun on my heel and darted for the mouth of the alley. My sneakers slapped against pavement, sliding in a puddle.

  She shrieked. I heard her footfalls behind me, slow at first, and then she must’ve switched or shifted or whatever-the-hell you called that monstrous change from human to beast, because I felt teeth snag my jeans.

  I tripped, falling forwards with a cry of defeat. I felt her fangs sink into the meat of my calf. Pain swallowed me whole and I think I screamed, but no sound came out. She bit down, and I felt the scrape of teeth against bone, a blinding pain. That time, I screamed for real, an anguished howl that tore up my throat like an encaged beast. Tears sprang to my eyes.

  There was a flash of silver, a shriek, and a yelp. I scrambled backwards, using only my good leg and my arms to drag me out of harm’s way. I saw Del latched onto the dark wolf’s neck, only half her size, but fighting fiercely. The shrieks muted, turning to snarls and growls. I could smell the sticky scent of blood, felt the throbbing in my leg. I didn’t
want to look at it, so my eyes were locked on the fight.

  Why wasn’t anyone hearing this? We were in town, for Christ’s sake. Someone should’ve rounded the corner, called 911 or something. I gasped as I moved my wounded leg. “Del!” I cried, my voice hoarse. I heard a shout from down the street and I felt hope surge to the surface.

  The dark wolf snapped her jaws together, shot me a death glare, and then fled the scene. Del stood, panting for breath, her sides heaving.

  “Del. Oh baby,” I whimpered, crawling towards her. My head was spinning, thudding angrily. She looked at me with those piercing, soulful blue eyes. I saw the wet shine of blood on her coat and I reached for her, burying my fingers in her ruff. My entire body trembling, I held onto her.

  “Kia…”

  I jerked back, scrambling away as if she’d bitten me. No.

  Del looked right at me and pulled her ears back with a whine, as if she were saying sorry. Then her body began to twist mid-change, revealing a yellow sundress, a flash of platinum blonde hair, and those too-mesmerizing eyes.

  “Arii…”

  No. That simple, beautiful girl from school was not a ruthless killer werewolf. Please, God, anyone but her…

  I opened my mouth to say something, but she crept nearer, pulling up the leg of my jeans and wincing at what she saw. Her fingers brushed the torn flesh and I did the only thing that came to mind as a yelp tore up my throat.

  I blacked out.

  ***

  I came around to the medicinal stench of a hospital, the bright-white of the room and the sunlight pouring in through the window making my eyes burn. My head throbbed like hell, and for a moment I just lay there, eyes pressed tightly shut, taking slow and steady breaths. It all rushed back to me. The wolf-woman in the alley. Del, my Del, fighting her off and then… Arii.

  I groaned and tried to turn onto my side.

  “Baby? You awake?” My mom’s voice filtered through and I blinked, looking into her worried hazel eyes. Her russet hair was pinned haphazardly into a bun and her face was pale. She wore a pair of pink floral scrubs and she scooted her chair closer to the hospital bed.

  “Oh, Kia.” She stroked dark hair out of my face and her hand was warm against the chill of my cheek.

  “Hey,” I said, trying to be casual even though I was lying in bed, wounded from a fight with a crazed wolf queen wanna-be. The reality of the situation was unreal. People didn’t turn into wolves. It was impossible. Sure, I believed in some supernatural phenomenon. Like ghosts. Ghosts were probably real. But werewolves? I let out a soft snort and Mom frowned.

  “I’m alright. Just… What happened?”

  “You were attacked by a dog. You must’ve knocked your head pretty hard. You’re lucky your friend found you when she did. She used your cell to call an ambulance, and then she called me. She was strangely calm about it. Bless her soul.”

  Mom smiled then, warm sunshine. “Kia, you never told me you’d made another friend.”

  “She’s new,” I said quickly, then tapped my pounding head. “Concussion?”

  “Mild. And you’ve got stitches in your calf. You’ll have to get a rabies shot. What in God’s name were you doing in that alley, anyway?” Her unspoken words were: Why can’t you hang out at Hotspot like a normal teenager?

  I groaned. “I found a dog. I’ve been visiting her after school every day. I was gonna ask you after dinner if I could bring her home. She’s a sweetheart, really.” And I loved her. At least, I thought I did. But Del didn’t exist, not as a dog. Del was Arii and Arii was definitely not human. I frowned. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not happening.”

  “Not the dog that attacked you…” Her face grew tight.

  “No! No. Delilah wouldn’t hurt a fly. The one that attacked me was big and dark.” With gleaming red eyes, I added mentally, though that would lose me credibility. No one had red eyes. Except maybe albino rats.

  “They thought it was rabid?” Could werewolves get rabies? Maybe that would explain that woman’s irrational behavior. But she hadn’t seemed insane, just angry. Like she hated me for merely existing. She had to’ve hated me enough to want to end my life.

  I shook my head. “It’s okay, Mom. Don’t look so worried. So how long am I in here?” I motioned to the IV in my arm, tugging gently at my skin.

  “They want to keep you here for a day, for observation,” she said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  I offered what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Yeah, Mom. I’m good. You should get back to work. No need to fuss about me.”

  “I called Greyson. He said he’d be here sometime this afternoon.”

  I laughed at that. Greyson didn’t have that many fears, but hospitals gave him panic attacks.

  “Go ahead and work, Mom. I’m okay. I feel a little drowsy anyway.” Not really, but sleep sounded good. Sleep meant I could forget about my pain and reality for a little while. Because reality was really dragging.

  “I love you, Kia,” she murmured, leaning over to give me a kiss on the forehead. I patted her awkwardly on the back and waved as she left the room, shutting the door behind her.

  Silence filled the room, beyond the soft drip-drip of the IV. My leg was throbbing, not enough to really hurt, but enough to annoy me. The pain meds must’ve been wearing off. I fluffed up my pillow and leaned back, closing my eyes to ward off the sunlight. I let my mind wander.

  Strangely enough, I thought of my father and his gentle, caring eyes. He’d had the ability to calm me down, even mid-tantrum when I was little. He was my ‘favorite’ parent (mainly because Mom typically had to play the bad guy, because Dad didn’t have the heart for it).

  We’d spent weeks the summer of my fourth birthday just lounging in a shallow kiddy pool or running through the sprinklers, both of us in yellow swim trunks. Every night, he’d tuck me into bed and sit at the very edge, one arm around my shoulders as he spun fancy tales until I fell asleep. The tales had always been daring, adventurous things.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  The tales were always about a great wolf king and his young son, and the troubles they got into.

  Chapter Three

  The door swung open, jarring me from my thoughts. I jerked my gaze up, expecting a nurse, or perhaps Mom to come back because she’d forgotten her purse or something.

  Arii froze beneath my stare, our eyes catching. Hers widened, uncertainty gleaming in their crystal depths, mixed with a desperate sort of hope. A need. Her hands formed fists at her sides and I felt emotion bubble up inside of me, a mix of disbelief and anger and frustration. I couldn’t just tell her to leave, even though I was pretty sure I didn’t want to hear what she had to say. I didn’t need this. Not right now.

  I took a deep breath, letting it whistle through my nose. Then I motioned for her to come closer. She nodded and with both hands, she quietly shut the door. She hurried over and sat down on the chair Mom had abandoned.

  For a moment we just looked at each other. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. I felt crazy for believing it. Hell, maybe I was crazy… Werewolves didn’t exist, yet here I was, staring one in the face. I should’ve just called for a nurse, had them put me under.

  But God, she had Del’s eyes…

  “So. Crazy werewolf lady in the alley. Any relation?” I asked, the words coming out a little more wry than I would’ve liked.

  She grimaced. “Not by blood. Kia, believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you, or lead you on or anything. I swear it. Tallys told me to keep an eye on you, to watch you. That’s all I was doing: Watching you. Sikta shouldn’t have broken rank, she shouldn’t even be here.”

  “Here? As opposed to where?”

  “Our world. Realm. Whatever.”

  I fisted the crisp sheets, not liking where this was going. “Why are you watching me? Or, more importantly, why did you save me? Not like I’m not thankful, but it would’ve been nice had you showed up before she took a chunk out of my leg.” Despite my hard words, my voice was s
oft.

  She frowned. “I…didn’t know she was going to hurt you, Kia. I knew she was here, yeah, but I didn’t know she’d actually try that. She’s not a heartless person.”

  When I snorted, she amended, “She’s a bitch, sure. But she’s never been a killer.”

  “She said I was in her way. Something about a throne.” I rubbed the tension knotting in the back of my neck, trying to sit up a little straighter. “And that I was standing in her way. I don’t even know.” I blew out a hiss of air and looked at her.

  “Arii. What the hell is going on? Just tell me this is a dream, that I’m crazy and that when I wake up, everything will be okay again.”

  She dropped her gaze, her hands clasped together, thumbs tapping the sides of her palms in a quick one-two-three.

  “Sorry, Kia. But it’s real. You’re Altehrei’s rightful king. You have the Sight, and your father would’ve wanted you to take his place. Sikta may have the training, but she’s not the calm, confident leader our pack needs.”

  “And I am?” I raised a brow. “I saw you in the halls of school, day after day, and every day I told myself: ‘Today is the day I’m going to talk to her’. And each day I chickened out, until my best friend ended up literally shoving me your way. I’m hardly calm about anything, and I’m lacking in the confidence spectrum.”

  “A lot of confidence would come with your change.”

  “What, am I going to turn into a wolf too?” When she didn’t answer, my heart turned leaden and sunk to the recesses of my stomach. Oh hell.

  “Please, Arii, tell me this is some insane joke. I am not a…werewolf, shape-shifter, whatever the hell you people are. I’m a guy who’s simply trying live his life. In peace.” I shot her a withering look. Damn, I finally get to talk to the girl I was crushing on, and she turns out to be a werewolf. Just my luck. I took a deep breath and tried again.