Wolves at the Door

  “You’re not helping.” A low growl began in Zack’s throat. “How about we don’t do any of the above?”

  “Nothing’s going to get better until Charles is really dead.” I leaned on the counter, just inches from Zack. “In the meantime, the only way to avoid him is to stay here, not even go to school. How long can I keep that up? We have to go to my house sooner or later. I choose now, while we still have a chance he’s still too weak to hurt us.”

  Zack shook his head. “No way.”

  I wasn’t deterred. “If we go in through the front door where the neighbors might see, we’ll be able to sense him before we ever step inside. Once we know it’s safe, we lock the doors. Okay, it’s not one hundred percent safe, but then no place is safe. Not for us.”

  I waited a beat. “If Charles is lurking, by the time he breaks down the door, the neighbors will probably call the cops. And it’s not like we won’t hear him or have some warning when he’s busting up the place to get to us. Wouldn’t we be out the back door by the time he’s inside?”

  “I can tell you really want your stuff.” Zack pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Fine. We’ll check for his scent before we step foot inside. We’ll go through the front, like you said. Keep in mind that if he really is alive and he wants us dead, he’ll be pissed off enough that he might not care about breaking werewolf law. Or any law.”

  No matter how big I talked, terror practically immobilized me. And now that I’d worn down Zack’s resistance, I was rethinking my strategy. “Maybe I should call my parents for help,” I suggested halfheartedly.

  “Might not be a bad idea.” He eyed me. “Except, if Charles attacked, they’d probably be willing to sacrifice themselves for you. Parents are like that.”

  “But it’ll be four against one. Except if they knew I was in danger, no way would they let me stay.” I shook my head. “We should go to my house tonight, while there’s still a chance that Charles might not be strong enough to hurt us.”

  Zack reached a hand behind my neck and pulled me close, his other hand fixing my hip against his. “Maybe you should fly to New Mexico and be with your parents. They’ve been running at least eighteen years, right? We know they’re good at it. You’d be safer with them.”

  His words were telling me to go, but his hands were telling me to stay. I knew he was right and I belonged with my parents so long as Charles was around. But sadness washed over me at the thought of leaving Zack. And if I left, who would help and protect him? If I stayed, two were better than one, even if we were both newbies.

  He yanked me up against him, his lips at my ear. “Call them. Find out where they are and then go. It’s the smart thing to do.”

  My lungs felt heavy, maybe because Zack was all over me and I wanted him never to stop touching me. Or maybe it was the thought of never seeing him again.

  I lifted my face to his. “I’m not going to leave you to deal with Charles on your own. I’d rather be right than smart.” Zack and I had never talked about the future other than the very real knowledge that he would run soon. Alone. We’d never made a commitment or voiced our desire to be together beyond graduation. “I want to be with you. As long as the ride lasts, I’ll be on it.”

  He studied me, scanning every inch of my face. “Is there anything I can say to talk you out of staying?”

  I brought up a hand to touch his cheek. “No.”

  He turned his lips into my hand, closed his eyes and kissed my palm.

  It didn’t matter that Zack never put his feelings into words. I knew he cared. I still wanted to talk about what happened with Gina and Cameron, so it would never come back to haunt us. But I wasn’t mad anymore. Zack didn’t like Gina — it was me he wanted.

  I leaned into him and stretched up on my toes, watching as his soft full lips whispered my name.

  “All right, you two.” Favianne stood in the kitchen doorway, hands on her hips. “As reluctant as I am to interrupt, I need some company.”

  Zack released me and chuckled. “We have to go to Autumn’s for a few minutes and pick up some things, since she’s staying a while. You wanted to watch that movie later, right?”

  “Yes. Unless you two want to be alone.”

  “We have all night for that,” I said.

  “Autumn, this is my mom you’re talking to.” He groaned. “Geez.”

  My face heated up. “No! I just meant that she goes to bed early, so you and I can hang out later.”

  She smiled and wagged a finger at Zack. “And now we know what’s on your mind, tesoro.”

  Trying not to laugh, I steered him out of the kitchen and to the front door. “We’ll be back later.”

  I hoped…

  † † †

  We ambled down the sidewalk, holding hands in silence, while I tried not to think about what might be waiting for us. I wanted to think about something else. “Tomorrow, I’ll figure out a way to make that whole cheating thing go away. It’ll be one less thing to worry about.”

  Except I still had no idea how to prove my innocence. If I was still alive after tonight.

  “I can’t think about that now.” He tugged on my arm and coaxed me to a stop, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Once you open the door, turn on the lights first thing, then go in slowly and open all the curtains. If he’s around, he’ll be less likely to do much if anyone can see from outside.” He released a breath ripe with frustration. “Maybe we should wait until dark.”

  “And that would help how?” I just wanted to get it over with.

  “I don’t know.” He took my hand again and we continued walking.

  At the top of the front steps to my house, we stopped. Two seconds passed as we stared at the door, neither of us in a hurry to go inside.

  “I meant to give you something before we left, but my mom distracted me.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and turned me toward the door. With his free hand, he reached into his waistband and brandished a knife, keeping it low so our bodies blocked anyone from seeing it. “I snagged one for each of us. But Aunt Cara will kill me if she doesn’t get these back. They’re her best ones. Very sharp.”

  I stared at the knife, not wanting anything to do with it. “I wouldn’t even know how to use it.”

  “You never know what you’re capable of. Survival instinct kicks in and you figure something out.” His lip curled up. “Just like last time.”

  “I morphed into a bear. If I do that again, I can’t hold a knife.” I inhaled, trying to find Charles’s scent.

  “I don’t pick up a thing. If he was around recently, we’d smell it.” His eyes cut to mine. “You ready?”

  I nodded, my palms folding over the handle. My adrenaline spiked and my limbs trembled, my instinct screaming at me to run and find the safety of my parents’ protective bubble. But I squelched it. I wouldn’t leave Zack to battle Charles alone.

  He reached for the doorknob and my hand gripped the handle of the knife. The light switch was just inches from the door that we left wide open. Careful to keep my back to the wall so I could see any movement in the house, I flipped the switch and parted the living room curtains.

  “I still don’t smell anything,” I told Zack.

  “Me neither.”

  Setting my cell phone on the dining room table a few feet away, I freed my hands and returned to stand beside Zack. Together, we crept farther into the house. My lungs worked overtime to detect anything unusual.

  Zack and I ascended the stairs together, on alert for the merest flicker of movement. Once inside my room, we paused and held perfectly still.

  Do you feel that? Zack asked.

  I’m not sure. As I scanned my room, I sensed an energy. But it wasn’t obvious like when we’d encountered Renzo or Alura. Faint, like a memory. Maybe Charles had been in my house days ago, before I’d left him for dead, and I just hadn’t noticed. If he was here, we’d know, right?

  We should smell him. Zack nodded, his muscles taut as he surveyed the room. Let’s just do wha
t we came here to do and get the hell out.

  I found a suitcase on the top shelf of my closet and worked at breakneck speed to gather everything I could think of that I’d need. Moments later, Zack grabbed the overstuffed suitcase and we raced down the stairs. I flew out the door so fast that I almost forgot to lock it.

  When we reached Zack’s front porch, luggage rolling behind us, my nerves were raw and my throat ached. As soon as I saw Zack’s mom waiting for us on the living room sofa with a ready smile, the tension in my muscles waned.

  Favianne muted the TV. “Anything in particular you want to watch?”

  After the stress of the last few minutes, I was dying to melt into the couch and think about absolutely nothing. Especially not Charles. “Whatever you want to watch is fine.”

  “We’ll be right back.” Zack dragged my suitcase to my new room, which seemed smaller with him in it. The lack of space didn’t stop him from shutting the door and closing us inside. He wrapped me in a hug and my body melted against his. Let’s never go to your house again, he said.

  Eventually, I’d have to go back, but not while Charles was on the loose. I nodded against Zack’s chest. He’d promised to talk about what was bothering him, but getting into a deep conversation was the last thing I wanted to do at that moment. If he didn’t plan to let me out of his sight for a while, there would be other opportunities.

  † † †

  When we arrived on campus the next morning, I spotted Natalie getting out of Gina’s car. Good, they were both there today. I vowed not to let sixth period pass without getting what I wanted. I just needed to figure out how to accomplish that.

  Lunchtime rolled around and I sat next to Zack, slumping in my chair. If only I was an ancient werewolf and could plant an urge to confess in their heads. I glanced at Gina and Natalie for the hundredth time that day, trying to figure a way out of my mess.

  What if my parents were ancient and that’s why I could keep up with Zack? But was being stronger than your average newbie shape-shifter enough? Couldn’t hurt to try. If either of them would be susceptible to mind-shifting, it was Natalie. I’d start with her.

  As she lifted a wrap sandwich to her mouth, I sent her a silent message. You have a burning desire to tell the truth. Speak up, Natalie. Tell everyone what you’ve done.

  She stopped mid-chewing, waited a beat, then resumed. Had she paused as a result of my interference or had that been a coincidence? Wait… if I were going to put a thought in her head, shouldn’t it be in first person?

  I can’t live with the lies. I must tell everyone the truth, starting with what I did to Autumn.

  Natalie set her sandwich down and stared at her tray as she fidgeted with a napkin.

  I think you’re actually getting to her, Zack said, gazing at me in awe. Amazing.

  I hadn’t realized he was touching me and listening in.

  My gaze went back to Natalie. As I mentally closed in on her, the people around me faded to the background. I focused on her, hard, until I could see the flecks of brown in her eyes and I could smell her sweet, floral perfume and the fruity scent of her dark, curly hair.

  The entire student body should know what I did to Autumn, I pushed into her head. The whole truth. Right now, here in the lunchroom. The truth must be told.

  Natalie flattened her palms on the table and moved to get up, her gaze flicking to me.

  “Where are you going?” Gina asked.

  “I’m going to talk to Autumn and tell her the truth.” Natalie stepped away and headed toward me.

  A warm glow spread through my limbs. It was working! But would she really go through with it?

  “What?” Gina shrieked, attracting the attention of most everyone in the lunchroom. She scrambled off her seat and groped for Natalie’s hand. “You can’t do that!”

  Natalie sidestepped Gina and strode away, as if on a mission. Midway, she halted and frowned.

  Were the affects fading? No more lies and scheming. I want to be a good person, I fed her again. Gina’s a liar. I won’t listen to her. I added for good measure.

  Gina caught up to Natalie, snaked around and blocked Natalie’s path. As if oblivious to the obstacle, Natalie brushed past her friend and marched forward until she stood in front of me.

  “Girl fight! Girl fight!” Greg, Jeff and a few other guys chanted.

  “Quiet,” Zack growled to himself.

  Tell the truth, so everyone can hear, I told her. Do it! Now!

  “I have something I need to say.” She clapped her hands above her head until all eyes were upon her. “I don’t know if you all heard, but Autumn got caught cheating. Mr. Collins is threatening to call her parents and put it on her permanent record.”

  What the hell? Was Natalie trying to humiliate me by making it public knowledge? Maybe it was only my imagination that I’d gotten through to her. Autumn must be vindicated, I told her.

  Glancing over at Gina, I saw her approaching, terror in her eyes. I could hear her erratic heartbeat and could smell the bitter scent of sweat and fear.

  I couldn’t help myself as I sent Gina thoughts. I’m tired of all the lies, tired of feeling dirty all the time.

  “We framed Autumn,” Gina said.

  Say it again, but louder, so everyone can hear. Mean it, I commanded. Activity at the entrance of the room drew my attention. Mr. Collins. Perfect! I wondered how much he’d already heard. It probably didn’t matter since Natalie looked like she was on a roll. But just to make sure…

  Keep going. Tell the whole truth. Get it all out, I ordered both of them.

  “We set Autumn up so it looked like she cheated on her Social Science test,” Gina repeated, speaking loud enough to reach the four corners of the hushed cafeteria. “It was my idea.”

  I can’t stop yet, I told Gina.

  “We had it all planned ahead of time,” Gina continued. “Autumn was distracted that day which made it even easier to make her look bad. After class, she bolted. Natalie stayed after and asked Mr. Collins for help. He was only too happy to help a student in need, someone who seemed to be taking such an interest in his class.”

  “We sat down at his desk,” Natalie said. “The stack of answer sheets was right there and as soon as he looked away, I searched the pile for Autumn’s test, then Peter’s. Once I’d stuffed them under my shirt, I told him I had to use the restroom.”

  “And I was waiting for her there,” Gina said. “Inside a stall, we changed all Autumn’s answers to match Peter’s, then Natalie ran back to the classroom.”

  “As soon as Mr. Collins looked away long enough, I put the papers back, then told him I had to get going.” Natalie turned and walked back to her seat as if in a daze.

  “But that’s not all,” Gina said, still rooted to the floor. “I lied to everyone about something else.”

  ~~~

  Chapter Thirty-three

  “Daniel didn’t want me,” Gina said. “He wanted Autumn and it made me crazy. At first, I was pissed that she’d gotten herself grounded and couldn’t go to his party, because then I’d have to go alone. Or I’d have to get someone to go with me who wasn’t as popular. Then I got to thinking and realized the party gave me the perfect opportunity to steal Daniel. Of course, I could’ve tried with Zack, you know, since we’d already gone out a couple times. But he always seemed to be holding back, like something was on his mind. Or someone.”

  Go on, I urged her.

  She glanced at Zack. “Zack’s way out of my league anyway. I knew my best chance was with Daniel, so I helped him get really drunk at the party and came on to him. We were in his room and his shirt was off and all he talked about was how much he loved Autumn. Eventually, I wore him down. After cheating on her once, getting him to do it again when he was sober was easy.”

  I closed my mouth, my eyes darting around the room. There wasn’t a person anywhere who didn’t look completely stunned and engrossed in her confession, even Natalie.

  As if coming out of a trance, Gina shook her he
ad and scanned the room. She covered her mouth and made an odd, strangled noise, then ran away sobbing.

  Guilt overwhelmed me for humiliating her so thoroughly.

  Don’t feel bad for her, Autumn, Zack shot into my head. After all she’s done to you, she doesn’t deserve it.

  The warning bell rang and the audience came alive, low murmurs escalating into a dull roar. Zack draped an arm around my waist to escort me to class, but I hesitated knowing Maya wouldn’t leave it at that. My eyes shot to her.

  She rose and sprinted to us, Trevor at her side. “Autumn, that was amazing! It was weird though, like they were hypnotized or something.”

  “Maybe they were,” Trevor said. “Maybe someone slipped them drugs or truth serum or something.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Zack said. “Mr. Collins and several other teachers heard the confession. Even if Gina and Natalia retract everything or blame it on hypnotism, their entire speech enters enough doubt to absolve Autumn.”

  “This is so great,” Maya squealed.

  “We’ll talk later.” I laughed at her enthusiasm. “We’d better get to class or we’ll be late.”

  † † †

  When I walked into my last class, Mr. Collins asked me to stay after. A tiny part of me wondered if he was so mean and hard-core that he’d consider their confession not enough proof. At the end, the classroom emptied and I approached his desk.

  He steepled his fingers, his eyes solemn. “I’d like to apologize,” he said once the room had cleared out.

  “You would?” I asked.

  “You were right the other day. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. I shouldn’t have assumed, especially with your clean record. I want you to know I’ll make sure this is all cleared up and that it never comes up again.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Collins.”

  “And I can assure you that Natalie and Gina will be penalized for their conduct.”