Cursed (Howl, #6) (16 page)

Chapter 23

On Friday night, the girls had a movie night at Samara’s house while the boys watched a baseball game at Colby’s house. They had a bunch of girly movies picked out to watch:
Mean Girls, Clueless,
and
Grease.

As they finished watching
John Tucker Must Die
, Emma sighed. “I just love Penn Badgley. He’s so dreamy. Doesn’t he remind you of Colby Jack?”

Samara nearly choked on her popcorn. “You’re joking, right? He looks
nothing
like Colby! No offense, Emma, because I know he’s your mate and all, but you’re right. Penn Badgley
is
dreamy.”

Emma glared at her. “Colby’s dreamy, too, but it’s just in his own way. He does some of the cutest things at times.” Sitting up, she glanced around the group of girls. “Like okay, for our one week wedding anniversary, he brought me home a bouquet of lilies and peonies. They’re what they had at the chapel we got married at, and even though they’re not my favorite flowers—I love roses and daisies—it’s still really
adorable that he remembered.”

“Aww, that’s the sweetest thing ever!” Penelope said. Holding a throw pillow against her chest, she said, “I always hope that Seth will be the type to do nice things like that for me one day. What do you think, Samara? Was Seth romantic with all
of his previous girlfriends?”

Samara wrinkled her nose. “First off, I don’t even want to think about whether or not my brother might be the romantic type. No offense, Penelope. I like you, but it’s still weird for me to think about him as someone’s boyfriend—or fiancé,” she corrected herself. “Seth never really had that many girlfriends, though. He went on a few dates, but i
t was never anything serious.”

“Really?” Penelope’s face fell a little. “That m
ight mean he’s inexperienced.”

“Oh, please! Colby is the least experienced guy in the world, but he’s still the sweetest guy in the world,” Emma said dreamily. “I’m sure Seth will be the romantic type. I’m pretty sure that he did buy a bouquet once for one of
the girls he did go out with.”

“Chris isn’t the romantic type,” Kyana said, shaking her head. “Well, he can be. He does do things like bring me flowers or candy on Valentine’s Day or if we have a special date or something, but he doesn’t do the types of things that the Koto
pack would view as romantic.”

“What do the Koto pack guys do?” Emma asked.

“Well, for example, one of our pack members, Meeko, brought home a deer he shot while he was hunting for his mate, Katia, the one time,” Kyana replied. “It was the most romantic thing because it shows that he’s willing to provide for her!”

Emma wrinkled her nose. “Colby better not bring me home Bambi, or I ju
st might want to divorce him.”

Samara laughed, but she heard the sound of something—it was almost as though it was something being flung against the window. “I’ll be right back, guys. I hear my cell phone ringing from my room. It must be Luke.” She hurried down the hallway and to her bedroom. When she looked out the window, she saw exactly what
she expected to see.

Declan was standing outside, flinging tiny pebbles at her windo
w, the same way he always did.

Samara wasn’t sure if she should let the other members of her pack—or at least Luke—know, or if she should ignore him completely. She thought that if she ignored him for long enough, he might go away—but then again, there was a chance that he might bring back the entire
Vyka pack with him next time.

Sam, I just want to talk
. Declan’s voice was loud and clear, and Samara was pretty sure that she wasn’t hearing him through the window. That could only mean one thing.

Their bond hadn’t been broken, and they could still c
ommunicate through mind-speak.

I know you saw me when I initiated into the Vyka, Sam, but you have to let me explain. I promise I won’t hurt you.
His brown eyes locked on hers through the window.
I would have given your spot up if I really was out to hurt you, but I’m not. Please just let me explain. I came here to warn you.

Samara still wasn’t sure if she was making the right decision, but how could she not do anything when her former best friend—and mate—was standing outside, pleading for her to come out so that he could help her? And the truth was, she wanted to hear his explanation. She
needed
to hear his explanation, if there was any chance that she was going to move on with her life.

Why are you here?
Samara asked him through mind-speak, not wanting any of the girls to hear her from the living room. Emma, especially, wouldn’t be happy with her for being outside.

I need to tell you everything
, Declan told her. He took a step closer to her and reached for her hand, but Samara batted him away.

Don’t touch me, Declan. I don’t know why you became a Vyka, but I’m being nice enough to let you explain your situation instead of letting the rest of my pack know that you’re here—and that you’re a traitor. So start explaining.
Samara gave him the harshest, coldest look she could muster.

The reason I joined the Vyka was because of your grandfather
, Declan told her.
He came to see me after I left your house the night before your wedding. I told him I promised you that I’d go to your wedding, no matter what, but he told me I couldn’t.

Why would my grandfather tell you that? It doesn’t make any sense
, Samara replied, even though she couldn’t help but feel slightly less angry at Declan already. If he was telling the truth—if her grandfather really did tell him that he couldn’t come—it meant that the reason he hadn’t showed up wasn’t entirely his fault.

Your grandfather said that if I stayed involved with you, at this point in time, I would be nothing more than a distraction for you
, Declan explained.
He told me that if I really loved you, I needed to do what was right for both of us.

Joining the Vyka was what’s right for both of us?
Samara asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Declan nodded.
At least, that’s what your grandfather told me. He told me that joining the Vyka was one of the only things that I could help do to save you from Darren Jackson. Taking control of this whole thing was what would help save you, because they trust me. They think I want to hurt you, and the truth is that I don’t. I want to save you, Sam. I’ll do everything it takes to save you.

Samara stared at him, wondering if there was a chance that he could be lying to her.
If you’re telling the truth, then why didn’t my grandfather mention any of this to me?

He asked me not to say anything to you, but I couldn’t do that
, Declan explained.
I had to tell you the truth. I had to see you.
He reached out for her wrist and ran his finger down her arm.
How are you?

Pulling her wrist away from him and wrapping her arms around her body, she said:
I’m doing okay, but it’s no thanks to you. I’ve been hurt, Declan. Ever since you didn’t show up on the day of my wedding, I’ve been hurt. I needed you to be there for me, and you weren’t. Did you know that I was planning to make a different decision that day? If you had been there, I might not have married Luke.

I didn’t know that, but I hoped. It doesn’t have to be this way, though, Sam. We could still be together
, Declan admitted, the golden specks in his chocolate brown eyes lighting up with hopefulness.

No, Declan, that’s the thing. We can’t be together now
, Samara replied.
It’s too late. I already promised Luke that you and I are done, that there’s nothing left. I can’t say that I honestly feel like there’s nothing left, because that’s not true. I will always have feelings for you. But at the end of the day, you weren’t there when I needed you to be, and I married Luke. I married Luke, and I’m not going to betray him.

I see.
A look of pain passed through Declan’s eyes, and he stared down at the ground.
Well, the reason I came here is to warn you that the attack on Saturday is going to take place in the woods behind your house. So, that’s where you’ll need to be.

Thank you for letting me know
, Samara said, knowing that she had been harsh, but hoping that she hadn’t been too harsh. It crossed her mind that there was a chance that Declan could be the one who would be killed on Saturday, too; it didn’t necessarily have to be a member of her own pack. Once Darren found out the truth—that Declan was actually on Samara’s side—he would probably do everything in his power to try to kill him right in front of her.

It’s not a problem. I’ll see you on Saturday
, Declan replied. It looked like he was about to turn away, but before he did, he met Samara’s eyes again.
And Samara? Your grandfather asked me if I thought it would be worth it not going to your wedding, knowing that you would marry Luke instead of me. And you know what? It is. Because at least I know, that no matter what happens between us in the future, the decision I made will help you live through this.

Declan turned around, leaving Samara standing there breathless, with tears in her eyes. Once again, Declan had sacrificed something for her—and it was the reason they couldn’t be together.

Chapter 24

Saturday dragged by slowly. It was eight o’clock when Samara led her pack to the woods behind her house. Even though she told them all that it was a me
eting, she told Colby to bring white candles and lighters. The spirits were summoned by their sides, within minutes.

“We’re ready to fight,” Nadia said. “All we need
is to know is where and when.”

“I have a feeling it might be soon,” Samara whispered to her. Turning to the rest of her pack, she told them, “When we’re attacked tonight, I need all of you to act as confident as you can. There’s no reason for you to be afraid of them, okay? Yes, they use black magic, but s
o what? We use good magic.”

“But our good magic might not be enough to fight off their b
lack magic,” Kyle pointed out.

“Just trust in our good spirits,” Samara replied. “You have to trust in it, or there’s no way we’ll be able to make it out alive.” She picked up her cell phone and texted Pete to tell him to round up his friends to bring them to the woods, but at this point, she didn’t even think it
mattered if they came or not.

The Tala was going to have Joe McKinley on their side, and—with or without his talisman—Samara was positive
that was enough to save them.

It was around eight
thirty when Samara heard the sound of branches snapping and leaves being crunched over in the distance. “Everyone change to your wolf forms,” she urged her pack. The last thing she wanted was for one of her pack members to be shot by a silver bullet, and she had a feeling that Darren Jackson was the type of sleaze-ball to use one without a fair fight.

As they all morphed into their wolf forms and the purple smoke clouded all around them, Samara noticed the lone, single wolf that strode towards them. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that it wasn’t the Vyka—or Orkos—who was there
already. It was Josh.

We have a lot to catch you up on,
Samara said from her place near their campfire.
I hope you’re ready to fight.

Yeah, I’m ready to fight
, Josh said, stepping towards them.
Ready to fight you, that is.

What?
Samara couldn’t even believe what she was hearing. What had happened since the last time they had seen Josh until now? Was it possible that some other pack had claimed him as their own?

Oh, please, Samara. Cut the bullshit
, Josh said, shaking his wolf head at her.
You and I both know that I don’t belong on this pack. The only reason I even joined in the first place was because I thought you might have access to the talisman. I needed the talisman, as my own, if I was going to become the most powerful werewolf in history, and I succeeded. The talisman is mine, so where does that leave you?

You’re the one who stole the talisman?
Samara asked, dumbfounded. She had expected someone from another pack to have somehow taken it, but it had never occurred to her that one of her own pack members had broken into their safe at the storage facility to take the talisman.

Yeah
, Josh said, his teeth forming a canine smile.
I bet you’re worried now. Now that you know you’re going to have to fight off the most powerful werewolf in the world. How are you going to pull that one off? Oh, wait, you’re not.

Kyle stepped forward, baring his teeth at Josh.
Dude, how could you do this? We’ve been best friends for years.

Are serious, Kyle? I’ve never been your friend
, Josh replied.
Why would I want to be friends with someone as pathetic as you? I always knew that eventually you would somehow help me get the things that Joe McKinley left behind for his precious grandchildren. You were nothing more than a pawn in my real life chess game.

I can’t believe you would do this, Josh,
Colby said, shaking his wolf head.
We all cared about you. We accepted you as one of our own.

Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter now, does it, bro?
Josh laughed.
You know what’s hilarious to me? I was the first one to find out we’re really related. Everyone always thought Jason was the one who was closest to our father, but I’m actually his favorite son. He and I have been in this together from the beginning. And I guess when it comes down to it, he picked the wrong son. Because that’s the difference between me and you. While I care about our daddy, I don’t care about him enough to share the talisman with him. The talisman is mine. He’ll have to kill me if he wants to get his hands on it.

Samara glared at Josh.
Where is the talisman now?

On my neck. That’s the only place it will ever stay
, Josh said, lunging himself at her. He leapt onto her back, the weight of his body forcing her to sink to her knees, as he bit hard into her skin, piercing her flesh.

Samara let out a loud groan. She had been bit by so many wolves over the past few months, but there was no doubt that Josh had the strongest bit
e. She doubted it was because he was that strong naturally; he was strong because he was wearing the talisman.

She had to get that talisman from him if there was any chance the Tala was g
oing to beat the Vyka tonight.

Luke flung himself forward, trampling on top of Samara in his effort to get Josh off of her. Josh bit at Luke’s throat, the same way Samara imagined a rabid dog to bite. His teeth pulled at the skin on Luke’s throat, but not enough to do any major harm.

At that moment, Samara heard the sound of more twigs snapping and branches being broken as they were crunched over. She glanced up to find that all of the members of the Vyka pack were there already, and they were intently watching the fight that was ensuing right in front of their eyes.

Samara met Declan’s eyes; he was watching her intently, and she wondered if he was calculating a way to help save her pa
ck.

Well, it looks like the party already began without us
, Darren said, his voice seemingly amused by the scene that was taking place right in front of his eyes.
Please don’t fight her too hard, Son. I want to be the one to finish her off.

Josh turned around and bared his teeth at his father.
I’ll finish you off first, old man. There’s no way in hell you’re killing Samara before I do.

What did I ever do to you? I was nothing but nice to you
, Samara told Josh, a mixture of emotions running through her head. Josh had been one of her friends, practically family, and here he wanted to kill her. Of all the people who had turned on her, Josh was the one that made the least sense.

Actually, it’s because of you that Lilly died
, Josh said.
Jason wouldn’t have killed her if you hadn’t gotten in the way that day. My mate died because of you, so now it’s time for me to make you suffer, too. Then again, I could always ask your husband for advice, can’t I? He is the killer of the family.

A
t that moment, everything made sense. Samara knew, once and for all, that Luke wasn’t the one who had killed Brad Kelly; it was Josh.
You’re the one who sent that letter, aren’t you?

Why, did it make you think twice about wanting to be with that husband of yours?
Josh flashed his canine smile again, except this time, it seemed like more of a sneer than anything else.

No, it didn’t
, because I knew the truth. I knew you Photoshopped that picture
, Samara replied, feeling the anger wash over her. She wanted to hurt Josh for making her doubt Luke.

Actually, it wasn’t P
hotoshop
, Josh said. A circle of purple smoke swirled around him, and Samara could see the dark grey smoke that encircled that. Somehow, she just knew that whatever that smoke was, it was evil.

When he turned into his human form, he stared back at her, except it threw her off-guard for a moment because he wasn’t Josh. As he stood there, staring at her, the fa
ce of Luke stared back at her.

The smoke swirled all around Josh again, and this time, he turned back into a wolf—except this time, his wolf body was exactly like Luke’s. He flashed that canine sneer at her again.
Why don’t we play a little game? If you can accurately guess who your husband is, I’ll let him live. If you can’t, I’ll kill him.

I’m not playing any games with you,
Samara said, leaping forward onto his back, but suddenly his body disappeared into thin air. The dark spirits had apparently concealed him from her.

Samara turned to the Vyka, who were beginnin
g to crowd in on her pack now.

I don’t know what my son is doing, but I must apologize for him
, Darren Jackson said, staring at Samara.
I think if we’re going to fight, we need to make this a real fight, no?

Colby bared his teeth at his father.
You won’t win this so easily
.

Why don’t you try me, son?

Don’t call me your son
, Colby answered, taking the first step forward. He let out a low growl before racing towards Darren. When he was about halfway there, Darren disappeared, just like Josh had.

Colby spun around in a circle, looking for his father, with a frustrated look on his face. He growled and bared his teeth, but it was no use. Darren was
concealed by the dark spirits.

A few of the werewolves from the Vyka pack started to walk down towards the Tala, but before they had the chance to fight, four werewolves snuck up on them from behind. Pete, Mo, Ben, and Ricky fought them, biting at their necks and pinning them to the ground. Samara watched as one of t
he Vyka members fell down, lifeless.

Tala, one, Vyka, none!
Emma cheered them on. At that moment, a wolf snuck up behind her and leapt onto her.
Hey, leave me the hell alone!

Samara was about to jump in and try to help her best friend fight off the werewolf that attacked her, mostly because she wasn’t sure how great Emma was at fighting, but before she had the chance, a wolf jumped onto her own ba
ck.

Hello, Samara. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Steve’s mom,
the woman said with a canine grin.

Are you fighting with us or against us?
Samara questioned. She really hoped, for Steve’s sake, that his mom was fighting with them, but apparently being biologically related to someone didn’t matter too much to the Vyka.

My support is with Darren
, Steve’s mom answered, eyeing Samara’s neck, as though she were trying to figure out how she was going to get her teeth around it to block off her airway. Before Samara could figure out what to do, Steve came up from behind her and, without even thinking twice, went straight for his mom’s throat.

Samara watched, in horror, as Steve constricted his mother’s airway and she stopped breathing, sl
umping to the ground.

I’m sorry, Steve
, Samara said, giving her pack member a sympathetic look.

Don’t be. My mom should have known if she was going to play shit
like that, I would kill her
, Steve said, shaking his wolf head.
I don’t have time to dwell on it now, though. I need to worry about killing the next wolf. I can cry about it later.
He ran towards a group of wolves who were fighting one another and threw himself into the middle of it.

The breath caught in the back of Samara’s throat. She only hoped that he would be careful. She didn’t want to see Steve get hurt, even though she was proud
of how confident he was being.

Josh appeared out of thin air again, but this time, Samara was quick to act. She charged at him, pummeling herself on top of him until he fell to the ground. He glared at her, his light brown wol
f eyes glaring at her angrily.

She tried to hold him down on the ground, but she quickly realized how much harder that was going to be to do than she had originally expected it to be. Samara was positive for a moment that they
were going to shift positions—that Josh was going to overpower her, and she would be the one on the ground below him. But she suddenly felt a shift in his abilities; it was as though a weight was being lifted.

Samara quickly realized what was happening. The Trusted Ones had surrounded them, and they had warded off the dark spirits. Josh was finally free of any help—aside from whatever help he was getting from the talisman. It was just him an
d Samara fighting now.

As she struggled to hold him down, she felt one of her pack members come up next to her. She glanced over her shoulder to find that it was Chris, which made her feel a sense of relief. He
lunged at Josh’s neck.

Josh fought against him for a few moments, struggling to get up off the ground, out from under the weight of Samara’s body. But he finally gave up, and after a few mom
ents, his eyes fluttered shut.

Samara felt herself squeal internally. Josh was dea
d. The talisman was free game.