Make Me Howl (17 page)

I glared at her for a long time, but she didn’t take back the comment. Didn’t leave the table, as I knew she wanted to do. She just waited for me to answer.

I finally nodded. But only once.

“And if Chase gets rid of that gene, then it can’t happen again—once the last generation of werewolves are gone.”

I hated it when my sister made sense. She sipped her cocoa.

“That’s wiping out an entire people because one or two of them might cause a problem. They tried that with the American Indians, remember?”

In her surprise at my comparison, she set her mug down with a thump. Hot chocolate splashed on the table.

“They even tried to kill off the buffalo in order to wipe out the Indians’ food supply. And they gave them blankets infected with small pox. All because they wanted the Indians’ lands, and the Indians fought back.”

“But these werewolves aren’t fighting back. They just kill anything they can.”

“Dammit! It’s wrong to wipe out any group, just because one or two cause trouble.” I took a long breath as I fought to stay in control. “Take care of the specific problem, not the entire group.”

Bella went to the sink for a sponge to clean up her spill, then carried her cup back and dumped the contents. “I’m not sure what to think, Jazzy. But I am sure about one thing. We have to take care of
this
specific problem tomorrow night, and he’ll be even stronger than he was tonight. If we don’t stop him then, by the next night, he might be unstoppable.” She came around the table to give me a hug.

“On that, big sister, we agree.” I finished my drink, then went to my room and crawled into bed, immediately dropping into a deep sleep. But my slumber didn’t last long. Dark dreams that made no sense kept waking me. After a very long night, I dreamed of a pack of salivating dogs, hunting down an injured wolf. I was the wolf.

I was trapped in a box canyon with no place to go. The dogs individually kept snapping, trying to get at me. Then three rushed at once, knocking me onto my back. And just as one went for my throat, I awoke.

It was daylight, and I was exhausted. I got up and went to the bathroom, and just as I wandered back, a tap came on my bedroom door.

“Jazzy? Are you up?” The door opened and Bella leaned in. “I thought I heard you moving around. I fixed breakfast, if you want some.”

I didn’t try to hide the grin tugging at my mouth. Bella rarely apologized verbally, but breakfast was a great way to show it. “Sounds good. What are we having?”

“Waffles and ham.”

I pretended to consider for a moment. “All right. I’ll be right there.”

I found my robe where it had fallen on the floor and put it on. Then I tossed my comforter up over the pillows and headed for the kitchen.

I tried to keep my mind off the coming evening by paying bills, reading or watching television, but I couldn’t concentrate. Heaviness weighed my belly. Dread? I wasn’t sure.

Bella called the zoo and told them she’d be in, but she’d be later than she’d expected.

I had my computer on my lap, filtering through emails, when the doorbell rang that afternoon. My heart jumped as Doc flashed to my mind, but as if she could read my thoughts, Bella shook her head. “That’s for me.” She put down the book she’d been reading, grabbed her wallet and went to the door.

Curious, I followed. A young man in a bright orange uniform stood there with an insulated pizza carrier in his hand. “You order a My Pie?”

Without mentioning it to me, Bella had sent out for my favorite pizza. Because of the calorie and fat content, she rarely agreed to it, but apparently she thought today was special.

She pulled a bill from her purse, folded it and handed it to the kid. “Keep the change.”

The bill disappeared into his pocket. He unzipped the bag and shoved a flat box at her. Then he muttered, “Thank-you-call-us-again-for-a-meal-to-make-you-smile,” and was gone as if he were afraid she’d realized how big a tip she’d given him and ask for it back.

She carried the box to the table while I pulled a pair of diet sodas from the fridge. We sat across from each other. I popped my can’s top while Bella opened the box lid.

The escaping steam was laden with the fantastic odor of spicy meats, rich tomato sauce and has-to-be-delicious crust. No surprise, she’d ordered my favorite—a super supreme. The one where they used every ingredient in the restaurant and three kinds of cheese on a crispy thin crust. I drew another appreciative breath. “‘A sigh from My Pie,’” I quoted, putting as much gratitude as possible in my voice.

Glancing up, I caught her watching me with a worried look.

I don’t believe in dancing around an issue, so I said, “Are you thinking this might be my last meal?”

“N-no,” she stumbled over the word while she tried to put conviction behind it.

“Then why cook breakfast
and
order my favorite pizza?” I reached for the biggest piece in the box and pulled it out, stringing all three cheeses behind it.

“Because we had time.” Her face looked pinched, but she shrugged and took a piece of the pie. “Usually we’re in too big a hurry to have more than a quick salad.”

“Right.” I closed my eyes while I chewed so I could concentrate on the melding flavors. This was too good to rush. I had to take my time and enjoy every satisfying mouthful.

By the time we’d finished, I knew the sun drifted toward the horizon. Occasionally I can feel it when the full moon is getting ready to rise, and this was going to be one of those evenings. Not because of anything atmospheric or astrological, but because I had attuned myself to the natural.

“We’d better get ready to go.”

Bella looked as if she wanted to argue, but after a moment, she changed her mind. “Let me clean this up then I’ll be ready.”

Oh, yeah. She was afraid for me, all right. I just hoped she had the sense to stay out of harm’s way. I didn’t want to have to worry about her while I stalked a killer.

We were quiet as we drove to the park. She didn’t turn on the radio to NPR—her favorite station—and I couldn’t think of anything to talk about. All I could do was concentrate on the night ahead.

If I found him, would I be able to control the beast? I snorted as I wondered if Doc used silver bullets in his gun.

Bella shot a glance at me. “What?”

I shrugged then gave her a half grin. “I was just imagining Doc and his pistol full of silver, out on a hunt.”

“Cut the guy some slack.” She turned onto the zoo’s entrance road. “He’s studied your sub-species long enough to know silver bullets came from some guy’s imagination.”

“Or the Lone Ranger.”

Her chuckle was forced, but I appreciated her trying. We were quiet the rest of the way to the employees’ parking lot. By the time Bella stopped the car, Doc was there to open my door. His gaze held mine. He didn’t glance around or let his attention wander. It was as if I were the only thing in the world that could possibly interest him. “I wondered if you were coming today.”

I all but forgot Bella—the person I’d been aware of since I was in the womb—was with us. I wanted to forget everything in the world existed—even ignore the fact that a mad werewolf would soon be on the prowl—and simply be with Doc.

But I couldn’t. And he couldn’t either.

As we walked to the clinic, he stayed beside me. Never touching, but constantly enveloping me in his nearness.

The sun hovered on the horizon. It wouldn’t be long before moonrise. The werewolf’s strength would hit him full on, and the human part of him wouldn’t know what was happening. If any of his mind remained as he morphed, he’d probably think he had flashback to a bad trip, or had accidentally ingested PCP or some other hallucinatory drug.

But most likely, he wouldn’t have any lucid moments at all. He’d simply turn into a mindless being who craved the taste of blood and killed for the sport. It wouldn’t matter if the victim was animal or human, male or female.

“What about our wolves?” Bella asked, clearly speaking to Doc.

“They’ve been moved to the enclosure where we’re keeping them under observation.”

Bella nodded as if she’d expected him to say that. “If the wolf who killed the calf was one of ours, we’ll know it.”

I went with them into the clinic, found a tall stool and watched as Bella logged into the computer. She pulled up a screen that brought a view of the wolves’ enclosure, but there was nothing unusual going on. Just a pack of canines, lying around.

I let my gaze wander a few feet away, where it met and held Doc’s for a few moments. I knew I’d have trouble tonight, making myself leave his company.

Was it the full moon that made me feel this connection to him? I hoped not, but I couldn’t worry about that then, even though it would take everything I had to tear myself away from him. I could only hope Bella would help me. She knew what had to be done, so I planned to depend on her when the time came…until the door opened and Doc’s brother, Spencer, walked in.

Bella stopped what she was doing and stared at him for a moment as her face paled. I’d never been able to get her to tell me exactly what he’d done to upset her the night of the dance, but I wouldn’t forgive him for it—at least until Bella did. I offered, however, to tear a hole in him—literally—if she wanted. “What is this? Old home week?”

Spencer barely glanced my way then turned back to Bella. “Hello.”

Bella’s brow puckered as her eyes flashed. Her mouth flattened, her anger with Spencer darkening her face. Leave it to her—she wasn’t about to sugarcoat her words. “What are you doing here?”

Spencer crossed the room and stopped in front of her. “I want to talk to you.” His tone was intimate, but if they’d even spoken besides at the dedication dinner and at the spa, I didn’t know anything about it.

I shot a questioning look at Doc, but he lifted his brows and shook his head. He was in the dark on this, too.

The look on Bella’s face gradually softened. “Do you want to go outside where we can—”

“No!” Spencer encircled her wrists with his hands, but he grasped her as gently as if he’d put his arms around her. “Doc told me about the buffalo calf last night. Stay where it’s safe tonight, Bella. They still aren’t sure what did that damage, so whatever you do, don’t go out.”

Bella swallowed hard, opened her mouth then closed it. I’d never before seen her at a loss for words, but she was tonight.

This was going to be interesting.

Too bad I couldn’t stay and watch. I slid off my stool. “Well, I’d better get going.”

Before my sister could respond, Doc crossed to me. “Spencer’s suggestion is a good one for all of us. You were lucky you weren’t attacked last night. Stay inside where you’re safe.”

“I just came in to say hello. I have an appointment in a little while.” I glanced at my watch, then back to his face. My mind went blank when I saw the intensity in his gaze. It took me a moment to remember what I’d been saying. “I’ll be back to pick up Bella in a little while.”

Doc stared at me for a moment as if testing for truth then slowly nodded. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

I should have known better than to go into the clinic. If I’d never gone inside, I wouldn’t have to resort to subterfuge now. Irritated that I had to go to such trouble, I stalked out to the parking lot with Doc right behind me.

When I got to the car, Doc reached for the door. But rather than open it for me, he moved close. I was trapped within the circle of his arms, his face mere inches from mine. Oxygen left the atmosphere.

“I imagine Spencer would be happy to drive Bella home if you don’t want to come all the way back out here.”

With the lack of oxygen to my brain, it took a moment to grasp the meaning of his words. “Don’t even go there. My sister would sleep in the clinic before she’d accept a ride from your brother.”

Doc lowered one eyebrow then crooked a smile that turned me to liquid. “Especially if Spencer were here to sl—”

“Don’t finish that sentence. If Bella accidentally heard you or even knew you’d thought it, she’d be harder to deal with than whoever killed the calf last night.” I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down hard as I realized what I’d said—whoever instead of whatever killed the calf. Maybe if I kept talking, he wouldn’t pick up on my mistake.

“And Bella isn’t easy to be around when she’s pissed. I’d rather deal with a rabid viper than have to deal with my sister when she’s angry. I’ve seen her…” I rattled on, trying to obscure my mistake with a gush of words.

He stopped the flood by kissing me.

As if struck by lightning, I flashed hot all over. Very slowly my arms wrapped themselves around his neck and my body leaned into his.

He slid his hands down my back to my bottom and held me against him. He was hard, tight, and almost more than I could bear to walk away from.

But he lifted his head in order to gasp a breath, and over his shoulder, I saw the moon.

A fat, white, perfectly round harbinger of death.

I dipped my head to stop his next kiss, resting my forehead on his chest.

“What’s wrong?” he rasped in a voice so low, I barely heard him.

My brain spun, making it hard to form a logical thought. After a long moment, I remembered my faux appointment. I glanced up at him. “I-I’m going to be late.”

He frowned as if trying to make sense of my words, then tightened his arms around me. “Can’t you cancel?”