A dense ring of werewolves tightened around the two wolves in the center. Both brown, powerful, they are frozen on opposite sides of the circle. Bending down, ready for the next jump, not taking their eyes off each other, they waited. The fact that there had already been clashes was indicated by the crimson fur on their skin. Each left a mark on his opponent. The snowy glade was covered with dark spots - bloody footprints. The werewolf with the yellow stripe on his skin was alert. His eye contact with the enemy was broken, and his gaze darted among the werewolves in search. "Go," Luke nudged me in the back.The wolves parted, allowing me to come closer. The moment Reid noticed me, when his eyes fell on my hand, Trent struck. He took advantage of Reed's distraction. But he did not take into account the fury of his son, who saw the consequences of the attack on his couple. Reid was unstoppable. Tore, fell and tore again. Trent gave up. He no longer had time to attack, he tried to jum
For a very long time there was a picture in front of my eyes, how a she-wolf looks at Hachiko with a challenge, how he does not take his eyes off his murdered father. The decision he made so hard meant nothing.A very long time, all the way to the hospital in Lovell, where Luke took me at once; in the emergency room, where they injected me with painkillers and left me to wait for the doctor. I was sitting on a bed, on one of a number of others, not fully curtained, allowing me to observe the bustling life of the hospital: urgently hurrying doctors, confused patients and excited attendants. It was a little surprising why there were so many night patients in such a small town. Perhaps from drugs, but I had the feeling that I was Alice, who got into the Looking Glass. Among the victims of domestic squabbles, drunk teenagers, I, with a broken werewolf arm, felt like from another planet. When asked by the medical staff what happened to me, I habitually answered that it was a car accident
Mira stood in the center of the living room. She did not even turn to us, her eyes and, apparently, her cry were directed at Reed. He stood at the window half-turned to her. Or maybe he turned around to meet us. If I even got to know him a little, then he likes to meet such conversations with his back. Grandma Cooper sat regally in a narrow burgundy high-backed chair. She didn't change her gray clothes. For what son, I wonder, she is now grieving. On the couch, the same burgundy color as much in this house, sat a downcast Bruce, he examined his overworked hands. He seemed to be very anxious to return to his workshop so as not to take part in this conversation.- Where is the confidence that this will not happen again? How can we trust this family?Mira's new wave of rage stopped us on the threshold of the living room. We froze with containers in our hands.- Whole family? Are you ready to kick out four members of the pack without good reason? - Reed, unlike Mira, spoke quietly, but it
Here he is - a witness to the rites of the flock. I carefully ran my hand over the old bark. It was very hot and sunny, but under the poplar branches it was as if its own microclimate reigned. Perhaps, and indeed, this is not an ordinary tree.- Why are we here? I asked Reed. The poplar was so big that it completely hid Reed from me. I went around the trunk. - I convinced Ba not to arrange a circus then, but we must perform one ceremony with you.- What are we going to bite again? I covered my neck in mock horror."Fool," Reed smiled.He reached into the pocket of his bridge and pulled out a clenched fist. As if showing a trick, he held his hand, and now two straps are clamped in his fingers. I shifted my gaze to the poplar thong garland. There were fewer straps now - there was no Morgan and Fred's strap. "Your bracelet." I ran my finger over his name on one of the bracelets in Reed's hand.- And this is yours, - he handed me the second one, - I made it a long time ago. Back then, o
But there are still many questions for the future. I stayed here and time seemed to stand still. Temporarily postponed my graduate school. I gave myself a little break, and then I will start training remotely. Although Reed likes to dream that we can go on a road trip again. I'm sorry that contacts with David were cut off, which, by the way, my jealous boyfriend is very happy about. But Sonya, true to herself, does not leave me alone even in the pack. For her, a bad connection is not an obstacle. It persistently attacks phones, mail and all applications that are installed on my phone. Thanks to Sonya, my connection with Berta is also maintained, who, by the way, is doing great. All fears were overcome, and she moved in with Paul. I hope I never lose this connection with the human world. Very unobtrusively from the edge of the village grows like a mushroom, a new cottage. This is the new pink elephant in my relationship with Reed. For some reason it is very difficult for us to discuss
- Fight! - a girl of seven years old was balancing on a fallen log and maintained a confident stance of a fighter. She looked over her fists at the boy, who had just stepped onto the opposite edge of the log, but he felt less confident in wanting to be there. - Hey! What are you frozen?Without waiting for his answer, she deftly ran along the log and pushed him with her shoulder from all the running start. The boy fell. The girl towered over him with a triumphant smile. She did not see his face, he turned away and breathed heavily. He didn't turn around until he calmed down. Then he simply stood up, scratched his palms to peel off the leaves and litter that had stuck into the skin, and sat down on a log.The girl frowned, the victory was no longer so pleasing.Why don't you answer? Come on again.- I do not want."Then how are you going to defeat me?"- I don't want to beat you.The boy tore off a piece of bark from the tree and threw it, the shell hit the hollow of the tree opposite.
Reed's look was saying, just broadcasting to the whole neighborhood, that I was going to be in trouble. We took Cathy, or whatever it was, to the camp, where the rest of our guys, led by Reed, returned very soon. Unfortunate rescuers, I wanted to say, but stopped when I ran into the leader.Reid stood with his arms folded across his chest and stared at me.“Good luck,” Alex said as he passed.I shot my friend with a lightning glare, and went to give up with the most innocent expression on my face. When the leader is dissatisfied, this is bad. When the leader is your cousin ... This promises big problems."We'll talk at home," Reid said.And the day started out so well...The girl was placed on a stretcher, and Alex and Travis carefully carried her to the beginning of the hiking trail, where they left the cars. One guy from the girl's company went with us, the rest began to collect the camp. The holidays are over.This time I chose to trail at the end so as not to loom in front of Reed
Reed's look was saying, just broadcasting to the whole neighborhood, that I was going to be in trouble. We took Cathy, or whatever it was, to the camp, where the rest of our guys, led by Reed, returned very soon. Unfortunate rescuers, I wanted to say, but stopped when I ran into the leader.Reid stood with his arms folded across his chest and stared at me.“Good luck,” Alex said as he passed.I shot my friend with a lightning glare, and went to give up with the most innocent expression on my face. When the leader is dissatisfied, this is bad. When the leader is your cousin ... This promises big problems."We'll talk at home," Reid said.And the day started out so well...The girl was placed on a stretcher, and Alex and Travis carefully carried her to the beginning of the hiking trail, where they left the cars. One guy from the girl's company went with us, the rest began to collect the camp. The holidays are over.This time I chose to trail at the end so as not to loom in front of Reed
They did not accompany me beyond the threshold of the house. I went out alone through the back door, wearing only a long poncho. I stepped on the cold ground with my bare feet and looked up at the sky. The moon has claimed its rights. Bright and round. Reed picked a great time to start the race. Oddly enough, the wolf in me was calm. Either the rut didn't work on her, or I drank too much wine. Throwing off my only robe in the shed and placing my mother's bracelet next to me, I took a deep breath and said softly before turning around: “Just not this year. And then she gave herself up to the she-wolf. I felt the thirst and desires of others. They seemed to be on fire, but their heat did not touch me. I was drawn to the forest, and I was calm. She circled the closest of her flock and rushed deep into the depths. I, as if stepped on the threshold of my native home, confident and peaceful. But there was something else. Something was waiting for me up there. Beckoning, but not demandin
— Kira! Kira, wake up!Martha's voice and an unpleasant thump on my shoulder pulled me out of a dream where I wandered through the woods in search of ... something. Listened to all my feelings, but could not find. What was I looking for? I didn’t have time to understand, because they unceremoniously woke me up in my own house, where, I can swear, I fell asleep alone.“Leave me alone,” she grumbled and hid from the intruder under a pillow.But she did not lag behind, moreover, she climbed on top of me and shook me well.No, no, you can't sleep now. I have such news!“Get off me, you annoying elephant!” She turned around and pushed her off.Then Martha crawled under the covers, looked under the pillow and put her head beside her.Pfft, so childish. Let me sleep. I don’t know what time it is, but I’m sure it’s God’s shit,” I muttered, barely moving my tongue, drifting off to sleep again.Reed approved. Mating season starts tomorrow.My eyes flew open. And it is unlikely that they had the
"No, I didn't," I grew more and more gloomy.And then, when Roca's mom treated us all to baked mutton pies in the courtyard of his house. The four of us sat at a round table - Me, Martha, Rock and Alex. Alex and I fought over the crunchiest pies, and Martha kept dreaming.“Just imagine, this year we might have a new member of the pack join us.- In terms of? Rock asked in surprise, barely chewing a huge piece of pie, which he hastily stuffed into his mouth, saving him from two gluttonous alphas.“Someone can find their mate from another pack."That's unlikely," Rock waved his hand.Why not? For example, you can get so far away from our territory by smelling your mate. So is she,” Martha smiled.“No, definitely not me.Of course not you. You're looking forward to your Beast choosing Molly, aren't you, Rock?“Maybe it will be me. Just like my Uncle Trent.I suddenly spoke up. I don't know why she said it. Yes, and remembered the father of Reed. But the expression on Alex's face explaine
I was waiting for the trial, threats. Grandma was gone, so I took her place in the rocking chair from where she usually watched the meetings, in the shade of her house. She swayed rhythmically and watched the others gather around the oak table. And she scrolled everything so that I would tell the pack if I were the leader. Probably, anger still spoke in me, but I would demand blood. I found Alex with my eyes, he also did not join the others at the table, he froze in the distance, leaning on the carved posts in the fence of my old house. And my eyes were ignored. Therefore, Ba liked to repeat - my character is not suitable for a leader. Too impulsive. Too easily emotions take over the mind. Reed appeared on the porch of the office, looked around the pack, and stopped at Lark and his son, who were sitting at the table. They took everyone, even the children. Lark looked worried, stroking her son's head, twiddling her fingers through the curls, but as soon as she caught her husband's ga
Surprisingly, the news about the new gene in the pack was perceived calmer than the close attention to us from the people from the hotel and the ban on solo outings. Let the lesser danger, but it is closer, and that makes it more frightening.I had to go to Reid, give him reports, but I continued to sit on the porch at Martha's house. We didn’t even really talk, we just worried together. There were so many things I wanted to discuss with her, but for some reason, what Ba told me, she could not pronounce. The tongue could not put together the necessary words, and in my thoughts, as if there was a taboo.“You know, I thought… If our blood can heal many people, then that’s good. We will save so many lives. They can come up with cures. Or they will develop something based on our gene, - Martha propped up her cheek with her hand and turned so that she could see me.“You will think differently when you lie on the operating table, and your blood will be pumped to the last drop. To heal a few
Dinner did take place that evening, thanks in part to Sarah's food. But much later, so Morgan pecked at the table.Although with the same success it was possible to bring that burnt meat pie to the table - no one had an appetite. Lark took Morgan to sleep in Rod's empty room, Ba moved to a chair closer to the fire in the fireplace. The others sat at the table and talked quietly, as if speaking a little louder would bring the disturbing thoughts to life.“How serious is it, Rod said?” Reed asked.- News, as always, and do not reflect half. There are several laboratories, and there are far from such peaceful purposes as they show us. And not in such peaceful ways,” said grandfather.He became even gloomier after they returned with their grandmother. And I was sure that my uncle did not tell even half, so as not to disturb the old people.He said he had suspicions. But then people failed to get on the trail of the werewolves, - Reed remained calm. - And now?He's not sure anymore. But he
“Mr. Wilson, five years ago, when I was fourteen, we found out that I do not understand half hints. Be direct about what you're getting at.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the old man wince. If the alpha points directly, even without the intent of an order, it is difficult to cross this barrier. I knew that the old man would never admit it, and therefore would not complain to his brother.“I didn't want to remind you. But my heart always remembers and regrets your loss: you lost your father, then your mother and maternal uncle ... If you think about it, then your brother and his wife are behind all these events.“If you think about it, my Uncle Trent is behind all this,” I said through gritted teeth. Every family has its own black sheep.Are you still wearing it? He suddenly changed the subject.My gaze dropped to my hand. I myself did not notice how unconsciously I began to twist the strap on my arm. Mr. Wilson knew it well, having seen me put it on. And he knew the reason.I lowe
And at my eighteen. Right after the birthday, when we were alone.Nothing has changed. We were pulled and thrown back. And the gap between us grew.And at the next meeting, we put on hopelessly cheerful smiles and did not discuss anything. As if it wasn't.But this look. Every time this look. I tried to understand him, but I couldn't.- Grandma, go. I'll be back in a minute,” I told Grandma, never taking my eyes off Alex. Her fingers reached for the bracelet on her arm, seeking reassurance.Well, Alex Wilson, I know the rules of the game very well. I smiled, nodded in the direction the stranger had gone, and rolled my eyes. Alex nodded in understanding.I waved my hand and turned away. There was no point in discussing anything. Not when I was so afraid of losing my best friend.Not when we both knew full well that two alphas couldn't be together. In this duel, only one will survive. It doesn't matter what stupid human hearts felt.***In the evening, Reed gathered us around an oak tab
Toward morning, I found myself naked in the forest. The she-wolf left, left me, as if punishing me. This was not her first meanness, and in this case, I kept caches of clothes and shoes all over the forest. In the nearest one, I found a long shirt and sneakers that were almost trashed. Too many hiding places, too few unnecessary clothes.But such a walk through the gloomy forest, when the sun was just preparing to assert its rights, on the grass wet with dew, cleared my head. I, like a ghost, went through the fog to the community houses. Tourists should see me! My feet were covered in mud and grass, my head was a complete mess. Maybe not a ghost? Maybe a bride from the grave? Thinking like that, a smile appeared on my face, and I smoothed out the fabric of my white shirt, which reached down to my knees.I went into the house through the back door, threw off my dirty sneakers, made a note in my head that I needed to return things to the hiding place in case of new wolf kicks, and went