Howling Moon (17 page)

“Good morning, Senator.
You’re looking chipper today.” Laura Kendrick placed a stack of papers to be signed on Jack’s desk, picked up a gold and black mug near his telephone, and then stepped across the room to refill it with his preferred dark roast coffee. “Were you able to convince Representative Davies to sign the new clean water bill?”

He chuckled as he accepted the steaming mug from his faithful assistant, a family member who would never be Sazi. While she wasn’t as valuable as Muriel by any means, she kept his senate office running smoothly. “No, today’s victory is far greater, and far more…
personal”

“That’s good. I’ve been worried about you lately. You’ve been looking a little more stressed than usual. Especially since your last trip. I’m glad everything is working itself out.” She nodded, smelling happy to have things back to normal.

He smiled, allowing her to see a touch of warmth that was entirely contrived, but useful for dealing with staff. “I appreciate your concern, Laura. You’ve been a trouper lately – the last-minute flights, changing my schedule to accommodate my sudden
illness,
staying late to finish up typing. Tell you what, why don’t I try to pull some strings upstairs and get you some extra paid leave? I know you’d like to spend some time with the kids this summer.”

The way her eyes lit up, she didn’t need to respond, and she left the office with a smile. Yes, like most of the mindless human drones in Washington, a few well-placed niceties were enough to keep her suffering abuses on her time and talent. It had been the same way for centuries, and thankfully would never change.

He allowed himself a laugh of fierce joy before leaning back in his custom leather chair and turning to gaze out over the capital. He caught a glance of his own reflection in the window and noticed he
was
looking good, perhaps a bit
too
good. With a whisper of thought, his magic altered his appearance slightly, adding a bit of gray at the temples, and a few new lines at the corners of his eyes. He turned his face slightly to check the result. No sense having any of the humans asking questions beyond the standard inquiries about Botox treatments and stylist recommendations.

Still, he refused to remove all the joy from his face, because today was a red-letter day. The little cat had fallen for his sad admission and tortured past – hook, line, and sinker. Reverse psychology was such a marvelous tool and, when combined with some subtle Sazi magic… well, she’d believe anything he wanted her to.

Soon, very soon – his revenge would be complete at last.

Cat had to
go well over the speed limit to make up for the time she’d lost in her chat with Jack. Still, she managed. She was a little breathless from sprinting up the stairs to the third floor, but at 10:01
a.m.
Cat stood with her hand on the knob of the group therapy room. Gathering her courage, she opened the door and walked into a room filled with tense silence. The pleasant decor did nothing to alleviate the dread Cat felt every time she came into this room. It was obvious that it, like the entire building, had been professionally decorated. The psychiatric wing had been specially designed. Everything was very intentionally chosen to be soothing, comfortable. The walls of the group therapy room had been painted a pale peach. The carpet was a textured oatmeal-colored Berber with flakes of peach and brown that had no doubt been specially chosen to coordinate with both the walls and the furniture. A comfortable dark brown upholstered loveseat and chairs were gathered in a loose conversation group, with handy oak end tables, each of which held a supply of tissues.

As Cat passed through the doorway, scents assaulted her nose faster than the air purifier could suck them to the ceiling and out of the room: rage, mouthwatering terror, and guilt rose like multicolored mists on the false breeze, individual scent drops visible and moving like dust motes in a sunbeam.

Cat knew that Violet was terrified and miserably unhappy and the therapy just didn’t seem to be helping. She desperately wanted to help her aunt, but didn’t have a clue what to do. So She forced herself to smile and greet Ned and Violet as if nothing were wrong. But it broke her heart seeing her aunt looking so very fragile and knowing, smelling, the terror the older woman felt every time she walked in the room.

“Good morning.” Cat crossed the room taking her seat in one of the two open armchairs. “How’re you doing this morning?”

“Fine.” Violet’s voice was still a little higher than usual, but it was actually audible. The other day she hadn’t been able to bring herself to speak much at all, and what she had managed was never above a whisper. So actual words, in a normal tone of voice was improvement. Bound to be. Cat clung to that hope. She needed to believe that eventually her aunt would recover. But she wasn’t sure.

She hoped Ned was smart enough to keep his mouth shut about what had happened at Wolf’s Run last night. Cat knew, to the depths of her soul, that she and Ned both could have died horribly. She’d have gone down fighting, but there had been too many of the wolves lined up against them. And the wolves had all
wanted
that fight. There was so much rage, resentment, and violence buried barely under the surface. She could smell it on the nurses at the hospital and some of her coworkers at the Joint. Most of all, she could scent it from Tatya. That was
so
not a good thing. Tatya was the alpha female. Where she led, the pack followed. The only thing holding them in check was Raphael.

Ned’s soft cough brought Cat back to her present surroundings. She met his eyes across the room. Did you tell her?

Hell no. Ned’s words formed clearly in her mind. Not only was he good at this, he didn’t even seem surprised. And don’t you either!

How are you doing this?

I’m not. You are. And no, I don’t know how. But settle down and listen. Violet’s worked really hard on this speech.

Cat sank deep into the brown corduroy loveseat across from her aunt. It was a comfortable chair, but it was not conducive to rapid movements. It wouldn’t be easy to leap out of it and storm off. Not that Cat expected to. Today, it was Violet’s turn to take center stage.

Cat fought to keep her expression carefully neutral.

“Cat.” Violet spoke softly, her voice was tremulous at first, but she visibly steeled herself and the words came out more firmly. “Ned has proposed, and I’ve accepted. I won’t be going back to the house. In fact,” Violet took a deep breath and looked to Ned. His strength gave her courage. “We won’t be staying in Boulder at all. Ned’s always wanted to travel. So have I. Now that Dr. Perdue says I’m strong enough and we don’t have to worry about a relapse, we’re leaving.” Again, she looked at Ned for support. He nodded, so she continued. “I’ve contacted a Realtor about selling my house.”

Violet risked a glance at Cat. At the shock she must have seen, her face fell. “I’m sorry, Cat. I really am. I’m trying my best, but I can’t cope with this. I just
can’t.
At least not right now.” She lowered her head, staring down to where Ned’s calloused hands gripped hers. “I love you, Catherine. I wish…” Violet’s voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. “I wish I was stronger.”

Cat knew she should say something. They were waiting for her to respond. It took a long moment, and a deep breath, but she gathered her strength and forced herself to smile. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you both. I know how much you love each other.” She did, and she was. But it still hurt, still made her feel very, very alone.

“Is there a ring?”

Violet’s eyes lit up with hope and gratitude at Cat’s understanding. “Yes.” She pulled her left hand from Ned’s grip, extending it tentatively so she could see the diamond. “It belonged to Ned’s grandmother.”

Cat looked down at her aunt’s delicate hand, and the thin antique golden band shaped in an intricate leaf pattern that curled around a brilliantly sparkling diamond. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen another anything like it.”

“My grandfather made it himself,” Ned answered. “It’s one of a kind. Just like Violet.”

Violet looked up at him with such love that all of Cat’s anger just evaporated. The two of them belonged together. Ned would keep Violet safe, take her away from the pack, away from the threat of Jack using her against Cat.

Ned cleared his throat and spoke into the deep well of silence that had fallen on the room. “We’re going to go to Vegas first, then travel cross country for a bit. Depending on how things are going, we might make it back for a visit at Christmas.”

“Christmas.” Cat repeated the word hollowly.

“Violet tells me it’s your favorite time of year,” Ned said gently.

She hadn’t lied. Every other year she’d start her preparations in early November. This year she didn’t even want to think about it. Imagining the holidays without her folks was just too painful.

“I think it will help, maybe, if we have some time away, give Violet time to adjust.” Ned offered.

Cat turned to look at the psychiatrist. Betty kept her expression studiously blank. Somehow she’d even managed to still her scent. Cat had no clue as to whether she thought Violet and Ned’s plan was a good idea or a recipe for disaster.

“I understand.” Cat pushed the words past the tightness in her throat, forced the smile back on her face.

“Ned said you went up with him to look at the property?” Violet made the words a question.

“It’s a beautiful place. I’m going to put a call in to Uncle Chuck. He’s the executor of the estate and the trustee. He’ll have to agree to the purchase.”

“Oh, I don’t think that will be a problem.” Violet’s voice held forced cheer. “I understand he knows all about your needing to hunt.” Her jaw thrust forward and Cat caught a quick sniff of resentment before the air purifiers whisked the scent away. “And I’m sure
he’ll
be more realistic about the land’s value.” Violet looked up, meeting Cat’s gaze for the first time that day. “That is
if
you want it? You
do
want it don’t you?”

Cat heard the note of desperation in Violet’s voice. She had a moment of unexpected insight. Violet understood Ned’s pride. If he didn’t feel he was contributing as much financially to their life together as Violet did it would come between them. Not because she cared; because
he
did. But there was more to it than that. She might not be able to cope with what was happening to Cat, but she did love her, and in her own way she was trying very hard to help.

“Of course I do.”

Violet and Ned’s obvious relief gave Cat some consolation. She might not be able to do much to help her aunt adjust to the bizarre turn their lives had taken, but this… this she could do.

The rest of the session was uneventful. Ned pointed out that the two of them would be much safer if Jack didn’t know where to find them. Cat couldn’t find fault with his logic, but it didn’t make her any happier. When they left tomorrow morning she’d be truly alone. But she pretended it was all right for Violet’s sake, and was grateful when Betty didn’t ask her usual, probing questions. In fact, Betty didn’t say much at all, sitting quietly in her chair, writing the occasional note in the file.

When the bell rang that signaled the end of the session it seemed all four of them were more than a little relieved. They certainly didn’t waste their time bolting for the exit.

Ned reached the door first, holding it open for the ladies. Betty strode quickly from the room, her expression troubled. Cat would have followed if Violet hadn’t done something so completely unexpected that it left her niece flat-footed. Despite the terror mat oozed from her very pores, Violet pulled Cat into a tight hug. Standing on tiptoe, she whispered her thanks before breaking away from the embrace and scurrying from the room.

Cat was still standing there, bemused, staring at nothing in particular, when Holly’s voice brought her back to reality.

“Cat… Cat, are you all right?”

“Oh, hi!” Cat shook her head a little, as though to clear the cobwebs. “Just thinking. What’re you doing here? You’re the sanest person I know.”

Holly laughed, and it brought a little of the usual life back to her warm brown eyes. Cat forced herself not to stare. Holly looked
bad.
Her smile was wan. Her scent reeked of anger and depression. Even her body seemed to sag, so that the work uniform she wore hung loosely on her frame.

Cat decided to grab the bull by the horns. “Look, I know I’m probably a pariah after last night. If you don’t want to talk to me I understand.”

“Don’t be an idiot!” Holly’s voice was harsh and
loud.
Loud enough to draw the immediate attention of both Betty and the nurse who were chatting just a short distance down the hall. “I heard about what happened last night. You stood up for a family member – a
human.
And while the pack may hate it,
I
think it’s wonderful. So do the rest of the family members.”

“Oh.” Cat was surprised, and happy. But she was a little concerned as well. Neither the nurse nor Betty seemed pleased by what they were hearing. They weren’t even trying to be subtle about their eavesdropping.

“Then what’s the problem?”

Holly sighed, running her hand through her short brown hair. “Alpha Santiago called me into his office to talk about something.”

Cat looked more closely at her friend. She hadn’t noticed earlier, because Holly’d applied her makeup very carefully in an attempt to conceal the signs. But now there was no mistaking the fact that her friend had been crying. The evidence was all there – from the red-rimmed eyes, down to the chapped nose and upper lip.

“Bad news?”

“Yeah.” Holly said with a sniffle. “The worst. But, I don’t want to talk about it here. Let’s go somewhere and get coffee.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Cat agreed. She gestured for Holly to precede her down the hall. The two of them passed Betty and “Nurse Ratched,” both of whom fell conspicuously silent until after the door to the stairwell slammed closed behind Holly and Cat.

“So, what’s up with you?” Holly’s footsteps echoed oddly in the stairwell, and her words sounded hollow.

“Violet and Ned are eloping to Vegas and then taking off for parts unknown. I don’t think they’ll be coming back.”

“Oh.” Holly’s eyes grew wide and she paused in midstep to look back over her shoulder at her friend. “Are you okay with that?”

Cat continued down the staircase, passing Holly along the way. “Hell, I don’t know. I do think it’s a good idea to get her away from here. Jack killed my parents to get to me. He wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to Violet.” She stopped, her hand on the metal bar that would open the door on the ground floor and let them out into the parking lot. “I’m not sure what to think about any of this.” Cat pressed the bar. The door opened, letting in a smattering of rain.

Holly sprinted across the parking lot to her Geo with Cat at her heels. They climbed in, slamming the doors behind them, each turning in their seat so that they faced the other.

“So,” Holly asked, when they’d settled in comfortably. “If Violet and Ned are leaving, what are your plans?”

“Well, it looks like I’ll be buying Ned’s land up in the mountains.”

Holly cringed. “Yeah, I heard about that.”

“What?” Cat looked at her friend through narrowed eyes.

Holly’s sigh was audible over the drum of rain against the car roof. “It’s just that, the pack always thought of that land as theirs. I mean, yeah, Ned owned it, but they’ve hunted on it forever. The thought of somebody else, anybody else, getting it would be bad, but a cat? They are so, like, seriously pissed.” The scent of Holly’s worry mingled with Cat’s angry frustration until, rain or no, Cat had to roll down her window a couple of inches to get a bit of fresh air.

“Do you really intend to stay in Boulder?”

“I suppose. I know Uncle Chuck wants me to stay here and get finished with my training. Whenever that will be.”

“Michael will be glad to hear that,” Holly teased.

Cat’s growl startled them both.

Holly’s eyes widened. “Uh-oh. That’s not good. What’s the 411 on that sitch?”

“The condensed version? We had a fight, I broke his nose.” She shrugged, hoping to make that the end of it.

Holly blinked repeatedly. Finally, she managed to say, “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Cat stared through the open portion of the window at the raindrops dimpling the various puddles in the parking lot, realizing she wanted to tell someone about it, someone other than Raphael. She wanted, needed, a
friend
right now. “I kind of wish I hadn’t done it, but he was being such an
ass.”

Maybe it was because Holly had spent so much time with Sazis, or maybe it was because she was a waitress, but Cat noticed she seemed to understand instinctively the right tone to use. “What exactly did he do?”

“You really want to know?” Cat asked. When Holly nodded yes, she launched into her version of the night’s events – up to and including storming out of the car and going looking for Raphael in the woods.

“Did you find him?”

“Oh, yeah.” Cat couldn’t keep the smile from either her face or her voice.

Holly stared at her for a long moment before speaking. “You
didn’t!”

“Didn’t what?” Cat tried to sound innocent, and failed miserably.

“Cat Turner!” Holly was aghast. She stared at the other woman as if she’d grown a second head.

“Well, yeah, but he’s nice. And he’s smart, and good looking – “

“But he’s
old!
And he’s my
uncle.
I mean… well,
eww.”

“Holly stop it! He’s not
that
old!”

“Um… like, get real! Old enough to have kids older than we are! And I do mean
way
older!”