Inheritance (The Dark Gifts) (23 page)

***

Sarah’s voice shook as she spoke.  “I think you better drop us off here, Shad.”

“Why? What’s wrong.”

Sarah turned her head to look at Pete in the back seat.  “Yep, I hear them,” he answered.

Shad‘s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel.  “Hear what?  What’s going on?”

Sarah placed her hand on his leg.  She tried to mask the fear on her face, but failed miserably.  “The pack is at our house.  All of them.”

“So?” 

“In wolf form.”

Ashley gasped, reached out, and touched Sarah’s shoulder.  “You can’t go back there.  You have no idea what they’ll do.”

Sarah reached up and squeezed the hand on her shoulder.  “I have to.  It’s my pack.  They need me.”

“No!”  Shad and Ashley said in unison.

Sarah released Ashley’s hand and gazed out the window.  The trees flew by.  Between them, here and there, tiny red pinpoints of light glowed.  Sometimes just two, other times four or six.  Sarah sighed and looked at Shad.  “Stop the car.  This is where we get out.”

The muscle in his jaw twitched as he spoke.  “I’m not letting you do this.”

“You have no choice.  I have to go to them.  If I don’t keep control, God only knows what will happen.”

The car began to slow as Shad eased his foot from the gas to the brake.  “What if they kill you?”

“Over my dead body.”  Pete growled from the back seat.

Shad looked into the rear view mirror.  “Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”

“On my life.” 

Sarah leaned over and kissed Shad on the cheek.  “Go home.  I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Don’t bother.  I’ll be here at 6 am.”  Shad said as he grabbed her head and roughly kissed her.

Pete and Sarah exited the car, slipping into the woods and out of sight. 

Moving to the front seat, Ashley locked the doors.  “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

Voice full of emotion, he answered, “They have to be.  She has to be.”

***

The moment they entered the woods, Pete and Sarah shifted and ran.  Voices instantly assailed them.

“
What’s going on?”

“Where are you?”

“What’s happened to Thomas?”

The power of who and what she was consumed and calmed her.  For the first time all day, Sarah was in control.  “
I am coming.  Mark, where are the hunters?”

“They are here.”

“Good.  We’re going to need them.” 
Wind whipped through her fur, small limbs and brush bounced off her as she raced through the forest.  Reveling in the strength and power coursing through her body, Sarah’s head flew back.  A monstrous howl erupted from her throat.

*** 

On a porch several miles away, a farmer sat rocking.  Another howl, followed by many others, devoured the silence.  The man pressed the release on his shotgun.  He reached down between his legs, feeling for the small metal box he knew was there.  Without taking his eyes from the trees, the man picked up the box, opened it, and began shoving shells in his overall pockets.  The shells looked nothing like the two chambered rounds.  Beautifully made, they looked more like art than weapons.  They gleamed in the starlight, flashing as he turned them. 
Guess it’s about that time.  Well come on then, I’m ready. 
He pulled the two rounds from the barrel, replacing them with the new, shiny, silver bullets.

Jason sat up.  The cell, still dark, had taken on a strange green glow from the exit sign.  He listened, knowing he heard a voice, but not quite able to place it.  “
Jason, wake up!” 
Sarah’s voice came again.

“
I’m awake now.  Where are you?”

“At home.  We are coming to get you.”

“No!  You can’t do that.  Everyone around here will go crazy if a pack of mutant wolves bombards the police station.  What are you thinking?”

“The hunters are already outside waiting.  Shift and join them.  We’ll meet you outside town.”

“How do you propose I do that?”

“Oh for Pete’s sake.  Do you think those bars can hold you in wolf form?  Do I have to think of everything?”

“I’m not so sure about--”

“Jason, now.  Shift and join us.”

Regardless of his feelings, his body responded to her order.  Jason squeezed his eyes tight.  Gripping both sides of the small sink and shaking his head, he fought against it, but the feeling surged forth and consumed him.  His large hands lengthened and dark claws jutted from his fingers.  With a loud crack, the sink ripped free from the wall, and crashed to the ground.  Shards of porcelain flew across the floor as he dropped to his hands and knees.  Fully changed, a low growl escaped him.

Muddled voices from his fellow inmates echoed through the cells.  Awake now, they were bound to bring attention from the officers on duty. 

Placing his head against the barred window, he pushed.  Concrete cracked around the edges as the bars slowly gave way.  A loud clattering went through the small cellblock as iron bars hit the paved alley behind the jail.  As a wolf, Jason would have never fit, but in his human form, he was able to squeeze through.  Lights came on and the yelling became louder.

Once outside, he shifted again.  If anyone had been up to watch, they’d have seen the massive, pony-sized wolf running out of town as if his life depended on it.

***

Sarah and Pete waited on the outskirts of town with several clansmen.  Filled with foreboding, she paced.  There was more wrong tonight than Thomas being dead and her brother’s arrest.  She could feel it deep inside her.  A strange smell wafted through the air.  The smell of wolves.  Another pack was close and from the smell, there must be many.  All throughout the valley, the sound of howling echoed through the night.  Some belonged to her, but others were not of their clan.  Two hunters were dispatched to help guard Jason in his return to her.  The rest were in search of the rogue pack that invaded their territory.

Pete uttered a low growl as a hunter approached.  “
You’re close enough.  What did you find?”

Sarah nipped at Pete, putting him in his place.  “
Stop.  I got this.”

“We still don’t know who can be trusted.  I’m just protecting you.”

Sarah faced the hunter before her.  “
What did you find?”

“We’ve tracked them to the old quarry.  There are at least a hundred, maybe more.  I’ve left two to watch, the rest have returned with me.”

“They’ll go to our cabin first.  So we can't meet there.  When will the other packs arrive?”

“The runners have been sent.  They will come as soon as they are notified.” 
The wolf’s head rose as he sniffed the air. 

Damien, the leader of the Indera clan, entered her mind.  “
Indera is coming.   Rashuk is on our tails.”

Sarah growled in approval as Jason stepped through the trees.  Moving to him, she placed her head on his massive shoulder.  “
I thought you’d never get here.”

“I'm still not sure this is the best idea.” 
Turning to look at Pete he asked,
“Where is Phaedra’s place?  Can we get there quickly?”

“Good idea.  It’s a jog, but it will be the last place they look.” 

Jason’s head flew back as he howled.  From a distance, several howls replied.  As the group sped through the trees, lights began appearing in windows all over the sleepy little town.

***

The ringing of a phone brought Grandpa White Horn out of his sleep.  He moved his hand over the bedside table feeling for it.  “Hello?”

“Gramps?  We got trouble, big trouble.”  Shad said.

“You’re darn right we do.  You and your sister better get back here on the double.”

“Better wake everyone up, Gramps.  Shit
’s hit the fan pretty hard.”

The old man flipped the light switch engulfing the room in light.  His eyes squinted as he attempted to read the grandfather clock.  “What time is it?  And what are you talking about?”

“We’ll be there in a few.  Get everyone up.  And, Gramps?”

“What?”

“Load the guns, all of them.”

Old man White Horn slapped the phone back on its base. 
What in tarnation is going on around here? 
“Heather.  Get up, girl.  There’s work to be done.” 

Two doors down the hall, Heather groaned in her bed.  “What’s wrong?”

“Get up.  Call David, tell him to get everyone around and ready.  Looks like this will end tonight.”

Heather leapt from her bed to her feet.  A wicked grin sprouted on her face as she pulled on her jeans and an old t-shirt.  In her mind, her favorite song played over and over. 
Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor...

***

“
Quiet!” 
Christian silenced the howlers.  “
Lights are coming on all over the valley.  You’re making too much noise.”

To his left, Shana sat on a large bolder.  Christian turned to glance at her and growled.  “I can’t change, and you know it.  It would give the whole thing away.  Although, I’m pretty sure they know we’re here already.  Your pack is noisy.”

Christian let out another growl and nipped at her shoulder.

“Don’t get pissy with me.  If you need to talk just shift; it’s not like I haven’t seen you naked.”  Shana lit a cigarette taking a long pull.  It sizzled as the cherry grew bright.  Exhaling, she smiled and waited for Christian to obey her.  He’d wanted her for a long time now.  When they were young, Christian had asked for her hand.  Her father said no.  He’d had other plans for her.  Shana shook her head with a smile. 
The best laid plans.  Oh Daddy, if you only knew what my plans had been. 
A girlish giggle erupted from Shana’s throat.   She threw her foot towards Christian, taking a swipe at his rear haunches.  “You going to change, or what?”

The large grey wolf shimmered as he brought himself up on his back legs.  Head to toe, his body shifted.  Fur and teeth drew back into the skin to reveal a well-muscled
, tall man.  “You could try to make this a little easier on us.”

“There’s nothing I can do.  If I change, they’ll hear me.  She’s strong now, I can sense it.”  She primly crossed her legs and continued to smoke.

He eyed the cigarette.  “You know how that burns the nose.  Put it out.  We can’t keep track of who’s around with you messing up the scent.”

She smiled sweetly, took one last draw, and threw it on the ground to smolder.

Christian let out an exasperated sigh and stepped on it. 

“Happy now?”

“When the air clears I will be.  Are you sure the Indera and Rashuk will not come to their aid?”

“Oh Phaedra will see to it.  All we have to worry about is killing the weak and keeping the strong subdued.  Some of them, like Pete and Dave, will make great additions to your clan.  You’ll have the strongest pack in the world.  You can take any hunting ground you choose.”  Shana hopped down from the boulder, placed her hand on his naked chest, and using her finger, drew a circle around his hairy nipple.

Christian’s body reacted to her touch.  “Why do you do that?  Good grief woman, I’ve got things to do.”

Shana laughed.  “Just a test.  Just wanted to see if you still want me.  Remember what we are doing this for?  Bettering your pack?  Making it so we can finally be together.  Thomas would have never let you keep me.  I was sensing, before you took care of him, that he was already looking for a way to get me back.”

Christian’s face grew clouded and unsure.  Sarah had been in his mind.  He had seen her thoughts as well.  She wasn’t the kind to kill.  No killer instincts at all. 
What is this woman doing to me?  What am I doing here?

Shana’s sharp eyes watched as the questions entered his mind.  “You having doubts, my love?  Don’t you want to be with me?”   She said as she ran her fingers through the hair on his chest.

“Of course I do.  I’m just worried about my pack.”  He reached out and stroked her cheek. 
She is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.  She wouldn’t lie.  Not to me.  She knows how long I’ve loved her.

A loud howl erupted from the west rim of the quarry.  Both of their heads snapped in the direction of the mournful sound.  Christian glanced back at Shana before shifting back into wolf form.

***

A ringing phone irritated Sheriff Tyler.  Reaching up, he pulled a pillow tighter to his head in an attempt to continue sleeping.  A rough shove from behind aggravated him even more.  “Are you going to get that?”  His wife’s muffled voice came through the pillow.

“
Urgggh
.”

“You know it’s not for me.  Answer the dang phone.”

Tyler rolled over, reached for the nightstand, and put the small cordless phone to his ear.  “This better be important.”