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Chapter 3
Meira
Istraddle two worlds. The human side that comes from my father, and the wolf from my mama. I grew up being told I’d never truly belong anywhere as long as my wolf refused to show. But now that she has, I don’t know how to return to my human form, so what am I supposed to do now? Go hang around in the wilderness with actual wild wolves? I half-sob, half-snicker at the notion.
How in the world am I meant to be with Dušan, Lucien, and Bardhyl? I’ve been a human for so long that it’s all I know, and I kinda liked it. Now, I pace back and forth in the cave up in the mountain, my paws moving swiftly over the stone floor. In a strange way, it almost feels like I’m flying at how fast and easy the movement comes.
A hawk screeches in the distance, and I turn my attention out of the cave’s entrance where storm clouds roll over the sky, and a rumble bellows somewhere over the land. Miles of treetops swing back and forth in the rising wind. Dušan’s compound lies behind this mountain, and my insides churn every time I think about him and my other two captured men. I want to believe Mad won’t hurt them, but I don’t trust a single thing about the bastard. I want to rip him to shreds.
“Come over here,” Jae says in her soft voice, pulling me from my thoughts. I find her kneeling by the small fire. “I’m going to help you change. You saved me. Now it’s my turn to repay the favor.”
I startle, staring at this young girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen years old, taking the lead to save me. Her round face glows red from the fire and she has lots of freckles over her nose and cheeks. Her short, dark hair sits messily, and everything about her looks adorable. Even the jeans two sizes too big for her and cinched in by a belt, not to mention her T-shirt with a penguin riding a sleigh on it.
I trot over and flop down on my belly, legs bent under me, but it feels uncomfortable, so I shift and awkwardly stretch my front legs out in front of me. Ah, that’s slightly better. Heat from the flames embraces me, and a wave of exhaustion comes over me.
“Relax,” Jae says to me. “My sister, Narah, taught me how to change back when I first transformed a couple of years ago. It’s as easy as exhaling, but you need to be calm.”
Speaking and doing are two very different things. I look up at her and groan with a rushed breath.
She reaches over and strokes the top of my head with her small hand. The impression snakes down my back with the most soothing sensation I’ve ever experienced, and my eyelids are fluttering with the need to close them.
“There are places in this world that are riddled with secrets and danger,” she explains. “But one thing for certain is that our wolves will always be there, and that we have control of our animal side. Think of all the things you experienced in your life up till now, and how afterward, you became a slightly different person. Every day changes you.”
I study Jae, who now sits with her legs crossed in front of me. Her words are profound and deep for someone so young, and I’m guessing she is parroting what her sister told her. Maybe one day I’ll get to meet her sibling, as she sounds wise.
Jae’s fingers scratch over my ears delicately, and my eyes close. “You are in control. Call your wolf inside you.”
A gentle ripple skims through me, the warmth from the fire soothing me with its sputtering sounds, and I’m half-falling asleep from Jae’s soft petting. A single thought of my wolf retreating crosses my mind, and a sudden sweep of fur brushing against my insides begins.
My mind turns over to memories of going apple picking with Mama as a child, my breaths heavy. And then darkness sweeps over me.
* * *
“Meira, are you hungry?” a soft female voice asks, then someone shakes me harshly by the shoulder.
In a heartbeat, my memories roll over me like a truck, and I flip open my eyes to Jae’s face. She’s looking down at me, chewing on something, and the smell of grilled meat has me salivating.
“What are you eating?” I say, the words out loud. I’m human. With a gasp, I lift my hands to see they are in fact hands. No fur or claws or anything animal-like. “Oh, hell yes, I’m back to being me.” I get up quickly, staring down at my naked body, cut and bruised, but I changed. It didn’t seem too hard to do, though it put me to sleep, so hopefully, that’s not a common side effect.
“Thank you so much.” I glance over to Jae as she bites into the small drumstick, her chin greasy from the meal. The fire spits and crackles from the two rabbit rotisseries sitting over the flame, and I’m starving.
But my thoughts swivel to my three mates captured by Mad. Behind me, rain drizzles over the land, the sunlight cowering behind the heavy clouds staining the sky.
“I have clothes for you. Come eat before rushing out there,” Jae says, smacking her lips.
I follow her pointed finger to the wall across from the fire, where a pile of clothes waits for me. “Where did you find them?”
“At the back of the cave. Told you I was here before, and one thing my eldest taught me was that everywhere I stay, I leave a small survival pack.”
Dragging on the baggy pants, I pull at the corded string so they don’t fall off me, then reach for the black T-shirt. “She sounds smart. You never know when you might be back at a cave. Case in point here.”
“Oh, it’s not just for me, but for any woman in trouble and needing clothes, fire supplies, and a warm blanket.”
I’m partly gobsmacked by her admittance. Why has her idea never crossed my mind before? I was so busy surviving, keeping away from everyone, that helping others who are just trying to live never occurred to me once. And now, I make a note in my mind that it’s something I intend to start doing.
I stroll over to the fire and plonk myself down on my heels, already reaching over for a piece of rabbit.
“You were busy while I fell asleep, and I would love to meet your sisters one day.” I rip free a drumstick and sit back, eating. The meat is a bit tough, but it’s hot and fatty, making it everything I need.
