Lone Wolf Rising (Paranormal Romantic Thriller) (The Winters Series) (18 page)

Rebecca looked down and away from Savvy.
  She couldn't even look her in the eyes.  This only reinforced that she was hiding something from her, something big.  "I told you, someone was watching the house and I decided to follow him to find out who he was."  Rebecca was careful to keep her voice low, too.

At least they agreed it was not necessary to worry Hunter with the problem.
  "So you thought it was a great idea to put yourself in danger by following a stranger?  What were you thinking?  He could have been a murderer or rapist or ..." Savvy shivered.  She sounded a lot like Rebecca did the other night when Savvy left with Lucky to pick up the car.  She shook her head; the idea of losing Rebecca was unthinkable.  She had already lost so much.  "You’re a hypocrite!  You were just telling me how dangerous it was to get into a vehicle with a stranger and you are essentially doing the same thing."  Savvy hissed angrily. 

"You’re being ridiculous!"
  Rebecca quickened her pace and it was then that Savvy noticed Rebecca was walking with a limp.

Savannah
quickened her pace and grabbed Rebecca’s arm moments before they followed Hunter and Natalia into the house.  Rebecca grimaced at Savvy’s touch.  She pulled up Rebecca’s sleeve and saw multiple bruises on her arms.  "What happened to you?"  Anger was quickly replaced with concern. 

Rebecca snatched her arm back as though Savvy had burned her.
  "It’s nothing, just some bruises from training."  She quickly rolled down her sleeve to cover the marks. 

Rebecca’s silence and look forced Savvy to continue.
  "Lucky is training me in self defense.  Today I learned the lesson that it’s sometimes a good idea to walk away from a fight instead of fighting someone I’d lose to."

"He beat you up?"
  Savvy lost control of the voice level as it rose incrementally with each word.

"No, he’s training me."
  Rebecca looked down, "I promise he’d never let anything bad happen to me.  I know he’d defend me with his own life."

"I don't care!  This is, so not okay!
  I’m going to have a few words with him.  Let’s get you into a salt bath immediately so we can help heal those bruises."  Savannah pulled Rebecca up the stairs and started a bath.  Rebecca followed her into the room and began to get undressed.  The bruises seemed smaller, less noticeable in this light which was good but did little to appease Savvy’s anger at Lucky.  She knew she just met the guy, but she never would’ve imagined he would hurt Becca. 

While Rebecca got into the bath Savvy went into the other room and pulled out her sister’s night clothes and robe.  She also decided to erase the irritated text messages she sent to Rebecca’s phone, it was obvious she had more important things going on.  No need to stress her out anymore.
 

When Savvy returned the bruises were almost gone.
  She dropped the robe on the floor and sucked in a breath, Rebecca's neck whipped around as her eyes searched Savvy’s for a clue as to what frightened her.

"Your bruises are almost gone."
  Rebecca sunk deeper into the tub, and attempted to hide the evidence.  Savvy reached for her sister’s arm and only saw faint purple outlines underneath the skin.  "Good lord, what’s happening to you, to me?  Was I imagining things?  Because now…”  She shook her head, “now, there’s almost no proof that you were even injured." 

Savvy turned angry eyes on Rebecca.
  "Don't lie to me Rebecca Elizabeth Winters."  Something shiny glimmered for a moment on Rebecca’s hand and then disappeared.  It appeared and disappeared so quickly that Savvy could almost fool herself into believing it never happened, but the bruises were a different story.

"It is a long story, sis.  Can we talk about it later?"  Rebecca dropped her head into her hands.

"Really?"  Savvy asked her incredulously.  Did she really believe she would let this go so easily?

"Look, they’re almost gone, they must have looked worse in the light outside.
  We were practicing with bamboo sticks instead of swords.  It was our first training and I think I overdid it.  Simple as that.  Please just let it go."  Rebecca sounded so sad.

Something in the way Rebecca looked at her gave her pause.
  Savvy knew that look and she also knew that Rebecca was done discussing it.  That didn't mean Savvy was done trying to figure it out but she was going to have to figure it out on her own.  "Fine.  But I’m still going to have to say something to Lucky." 

Rebecca sighed, frustrated, "please don't."

Savvy stared at Rebecca for a moment longer.  She was shutting her out and Savvy was not going to let it happen.  But continuing on with her while she was in lockdown would only make things worse.  Savvy was going to have to bite her tongue and take matters into her own hands.  She sighed deeply and left the room without saying another word.

~"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way and not starting."

~Buddha

Rebecca
  

It took many miracles but Rebecca managed to get both of her siblings out of the house before seven.  Six thirty seven  to be exact, but despite her best efforts it was not fast enough because sitting at the end of the driveway was a shiny black and gold Escalade with a very handsome golden haired boy lounging against the passenger door waiting for them looking like he had rolled off a page of GQ
. 
It should be illegal at how easily he looked the part of the perfect high school senior boyfriend.  He wore jeans that fit just right, hugging his hips.  His white t-shirt was taut across his chest and around his biceps.  Rebecca rolled her eyes, sighed heavily, and plastered on a fake smile.  They had to make this look good, especially since there was someone spying on them, or at least her.  And after last night, her sister needed to know that everything was okay between Lucky and her.    

He opened the back door for
 Savannah; who was dressed in her blue, white and gold cheerleading uniform.  Her glare was deadly as she met his eyes and told him thank you in her tight, irritated voice.  He even managed to take her back pack and pom-poms from her with little to no effort; which probably irritated her further.  Hunter ran to the other side and got in.   Rebecca reached for the front door passenger handle, but was too slow.  Lucky managed to maneuver himself in front of her, pom-poms and all, and opened her door as well. She slid into the passenger seat and was taken off guard when his lips kissed hers lightly before he closed the door carefully.   She sunk into the leather interior that
was
cooler than fabric, and in Arizona, that is actually a great benefit.  

When he was comfortably in the driver’s seat, he asked, “I have to know, why is one sister in a
cheerleading
 uniform and the other wearing jeans and a purple sweater?"

“Homecoming week.”
  Savannah said it as if it made complete sense; her words and tone were short and sharp.  Rebecca managed to get Savvy to agree to not confront him for the bruises last night, but she couldn’t guarantee Savvy’s attitude.  “Hunter and I will be wearing school spirit colors all week.”  

Hunter
 was dressed in blue jeans, a white t shirt and a blue, white, and gold Letterman jacket.  The mention of his uniform made him blush as he opened his smart phone and began punching buttons.  Their outfits were a far cry from Rebecca’s ripped and faded blue jeans, and dark purple top that slid off one shoulder revealing the black tank top beneath. 

“I don’t know why I have to wear this.  I’m second string.
  I probably won’t get to play at all Friday.”  Hunter mumbled.  Before the transformation, when he mumbled, Rebecca rarely caught it.  But now she heard the words and noted the sadness in his tone.  

“You never know.  They may bring you in.”
  Rebecca told him with an encouraging tone.

“Regardless, you’re a member of a team and you’re showing team spirit and loyalty.”
  Savannah grinned as she ruffled Hunter’s hair.  Then she turned her attention to Lucky.  "So, Lucky, I understand you’re training our sister in self defense?"  Her tone was sweet but in Savvy's case sweet was not always good.  Rebecca sunk deeper into her seat wanting to disappear.  It became painfully clear her promise was not going to be kept.

"Yes, I’ m afraid we overdid it a little yesterday."
  He glanced at her in the rear view mirror.

"Yes, I think you did.
  She had to soak for a good hour in the tub last night and was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow." 

"Okay, sis, that’s enough."
  Rebecca’s tone was sharp and left little room for mistaking her meaning.  Even Hunter pulled himself away from whatever he was doing on his phone to pay attention to the conversation.

"No, I’m afraid that’s far from enough.
  I told you last night I was going to have a word with him about the training."  She looked at Hunter before speaking her last word.  "You need to go easier on her."

"Savvy this is really none of...” Rebecca began.

Lucky nodded.  “You’re right.  We’ll take the training down a notch."  He smiled invitingly.  "If you’re concerned, maybe you and Hunter would like to join us next weekend?"

Savvy took a moment to consider this, but Hunter jumped in with both feet.  "That would be awesome!"

"I suppose it would be okay."  Savvy finally said.  Rebecca could tell she was softening. 

"Great.  We’ll start Saturday morning at seven with a brisk run to build endurance and then train at my house until lunch."  Lucky gave them an itinerary.

"Count me in.  It sounds like fun!"  Hunter accepted and happily went back to his phone. 

"Sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday."
  Savannah accepted, but her heart wasn’t in it.  Rebecca knew Savvy was not looking forward to the adventure but at least she was open to the idea.  With that settled, Savvy changed the subject.  “It’s a good thing you came along, Lucky.  My sister needed a date to homecoming.”

“Um, no I don’t.”
  Rebecca suddenly felt mortified as heat spread over her cheeks and neck.  “I wasn’t planning on going.”

“You have to go.  It’s your senior year.  You’ll never have a chance to go again.”
  Savannah sounded terrified at the idea that Rebecca would skip the dance. 

“Look I just have different priorities right now.  Maybe I’ll make the next dance.”
  Even as she said it, Rebecca knew she was lying.  She didn’t want this to become a back and forth discussion so she flavored her words with a twinge of warning.  Savannah meant well, she really did, but this was not a topic that needed to be pushed on Rebecca.  She was not the dance going type and having a pretend boyfriend wasn't going to change that.

Rebecca could tell that Savvy was anxious to say more but held her tongue, her glare on the other hand, made it clear she was not going to drop the subject.
 

“If you’re not going, I’m not going.”
  Hunter stated.

And there was the rub.
  “I thought you would go with Natalia?”  Rebecca asked, genuinely confused.  They seemed awfully cozy last night.

Hunter just shrugged.
  “I’m not going unless you go.”

“And what about you
, Savannah?”  Lucky asked.

“
I have two offers and plan to make a decision today or tomorrow
.”
  She also shrugged.  "Becks and I were supposed to go dress shopping yesterday, but plans changed.”  Her eyes darkened for a brief moment.  It happened so fast Rebecca found herself wondering if it really happened at all.  Savvy was too good of a person to hold a grudge over something so small.

“I have a thought, why don’t we make it a group date?”
  Lucky asked.  "That way we can all get to know each other better.”  He slid Rebecca a grin and squeezed her hand gently.  "Besides I wouldn't mind dancing with my girl."

Butthead!

Savannah and Hunter were already sounding excited at the idea.  Now, not only was he making plans for her but he was involving her siblings in the game.  It wasn’t like she could very well say no at this point.  Rebecca sighed and said, “That sounds like a great idea.”  The look she shot Lucky told him she wasn’t happy about it but her tone was happy.

Cheers erupted from the backseat and she couldn’t help but smile at their
excitement.  Savannah talked the rest of the way to school about the homecoming dance; she was in charge of the decorations and was excited at how she planned to design the gym into a dance paradise.  While they discussed the upcoming event, Rebecca’s mind traveled back to the person that was watching her last night.  She had been in such a hurry to leave before Lucky got to the house this morning she forgot to look to see if the spy was hanging around.  She focused her attention on the road ahead and her peripherals.  If he was brave enough to stake out her house, there were no limits to what he would do, including staking out their school.  She didn’t see anyone during the ride to school or when they separated to get to their respective classes.  Lucky laced his fingers with hers and let her lead him to his homeroom which was conveniently also Rebecca’s. 

And so was every class before lunch.
  By the time the lunch bell rang she realized that his entire class schedule mirrored hers and that was, without a doubt, done purposefully so she decided there was no reason to fight it and to simply go with the flow.  Besides, he was turning out to be a great guy; dangerously attractive, undeniably attentive, and completely out of her league.

Jackson
joined them in the lunch line.  He was excited about the tryouts for the school play and had decided to take lunch studying a monologue he wanted to use.  But the news of a new boyfriend got his attention and he wanted to make sure he met Lucky. 

“Lucky
, this is my best friend, Jackson.”

Jackson
extended his hand to shake and said, “You can call me Jacks.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jacks.”

“Likewise, especially since you came out of nowhere.”  Jacks pulled his hand back as though Lucky burned him.  “Nephilim?  Why is a Protector here?”  Jacks whispered, his voice blended into the chaos that was the lunchroom.  But she heard him loud and clear.  The super hearing was becoming quite a welcomed gift. 

“You’re very observant.”  Lucky smiled.  He relied on his smile for so many things that Becca wondered what kind of person he would be if he wasn’t so ridiculously cute. 

“It’s part of the package of being psychic.”  Jacks sniffed and turned his eyes towards Rebecca.  “Is he here because of Dianna?”

“What do you know about Dianna?”  Lucky asked conversationally.

Jacks shrugged and whispered, “She didn’t show up Rebecca’s first night as a wolf.”

“She’s dead.”  Rebecca told him.  “They are all dead.”  Tears stung her eyes. 

“That’s impossible.”  Jacks shook his head like he was trying to remove the very thought from his mind. 

Rebecca pursed her lips, afraid if she let herself she would cry.

Lucky came to her rescue.  “I’m sorry Jacks, it’s true.”

“When?”  Jacks was still shaking his head. 

“It happened the night before the full moon.”  Lucky used a gentler voice, trying to break it to him easier.

“But… why didn’t I see it?”  Jacks sucked in a breath, air seemed to be hard for him to inhale.  “Oh, my God, Becca… she knew it.  She came to me frantic about something horrible that she felt was going to happen to all of them.”  He covered his mouth, hiding the trembling lips.  Dread filled his eyes.  “What if I could have helped her?”

Rebecca forced him to look at her.  “If you could’ve done something, you would’ve because you are a remarkably caring person and would do anything for your friends.”

His only answer was a head shake.  Dread, fear and sorrow filled his eyes and Rebecca felt her heart break for him.  He was such a wonderfully kind and compassionate person.  It was one of the reasons she loved him so much.  Lucky moved in closer to them, shielding them from those who were starting to notice their body language.  She needed to bring him out of the emotional downfall he was heading towards. 

“Listen to me.  I know you were friends with her a lot longer than me.  I thought you knew.  I’m so sorry you found out here.”  Rebecca felt terribly guilty.  With everything that was happening she didn’t even consider calling Jackson and letting him know about Dianna.  “But we are drawing attention.”  She offered a shaky smile.  There was more at stake than popularity.  It was all about keeping their dark secret.  In that moment she finally understood her mother and grandmother’s paranoia.  It was necessary to remain hidden.  They were different, she was different now, and there was far more at stake than ever before.

He nodded slowly.  “I have to go.”  Jacks left them standing there, watching his body vanish in the wave of students.     

Lucky pulled Rebecca back into the lunch line.  She wanted to go after him but knew he needed some time to process. 

They began piling food on their trays.  Lucky
, trying to lighten the mood, joked about how much protein was on Rebecca’s plate.  His joking hit home.  It seemed her metabolism had sped up since the change and the only way she could slow it down a little and keep her weight up was by eating protein.  At least she was eating healthier before the change she would have settled for a cup of yogurt and some fruit.

She searched the lunch room for her siblings in silence, worried about Jacks.
  After the second rotation through the crowd she decided to lead Lucky outside to the tables in the promenade.  They found a nice spot under the large oak tree and settled in as she watched for any sign of her sister or brother.