Crimson Sunrise

  “Who are you calling?”

  I lifted my hand, listening to the rings on the other end of the line. After my dream, I knew I had to meet with John’s grandmother. I felt silly for allowing Sarah to get the better of me. Next time I would put my foot down. I was tired of being treated like a child.

  Caleb narrowed his eyes and delivered a brash snort, reminding me of an angry bull in a ring facing a blazing red flag. I giggled at him and he sighed in annoyance, crossing the kitchen and walking to the refrigerator. He pulled open the door just as John answered.

  “Hello?”

  “John? It’s Emma Johnson. Haven’s friend. Remember me?”

  Caleb peeked around the silver refrigerator door and our eyes met. I lifted my eyebrows in a silently mocking “what” and shrugged. He shook his head before vanishing behind the door again, shuffling things around.

  John coughed, clearing his throat repeatedly, as if he couldn’t find his voice. “I remember. What can I do for you?”

  I tried to sound as apologetic as possible which, fortunately for me, wasn’t difficult. I did feel terrible about Sarah’s behavior. “I’m really sorry for the way my friend behaved. She was out of line and I wanted to apologize.” He didn’t say anything so I swallowed my pride and jumped in headfirst. “I was hoping that maybe I could take your grandmother up on the offer to come back to visit?”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

  The need to speak to her overrode all propriety. “I know you’re probably angry, and I don’t blame you, but I wish you’d give me the opportunity to apologize to her.”

  “It’s not that,” John corrected me. “You are always welcome here.”

  I realized there were sounds in the background, quiet whispers, as if he were in a room full of people.

  “Did I call at a bad time? I can call back later if you’d like.”

  “No.” He sighed into the phone. “I guess there is no way to say this except to say it. The reason I say it’s not possible to see Mamaw isn’t because I’m angry or because you’re not welcome here, so please don’t think that.” He drew in a deep breath and released it, his exhale rasping into the receiver. “The reason I say it is because it’s literally not possible. Mamaw passed away in her sleep the night you left.”

  Chapter 14—Snow Flakes

  The halfbloods were gone.

  Derek and Sarah returned to Haven’s cabin to find both bodies removed from the scene. The only indication that something terrible had transpired came courtesy of the bloodstains along the wooden porch and the dark puddles near the lake that had crusted into the dirt. Whoever took care of the clean up made sure to leave an empty trail.

  There wasn’t even a scent to follow.

  When Derek and Sarah returned to the Blackney household, they were anxious and agitated. Derek’s normally playful demeanor was absent, replaced by a seriousness I had never encountered from him before. Sarah continued to be edgy and uncharacteristically short tempered. As much as I wanted to sympathize with the two of them, I had my own problems, and they went by the names Caleb and Trent.

  I had misguidedly believed they would find common ground given the circumstances and events we had been through together, but it just wasn’t in the cards. The testosterone levels were unbearable, and even though there shouldn’t have been any competition for my attention, you wouldn’t know it from their behavior or attitudes.

  The current living arrangements compounded the matter. The house was beyond capacity. Sammie’s room was understandably off limits, which left one guest bedroom. Even if my mother, father, and Trent didn’t need to sleep, they did need a private space, especially with the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

  I waited until Trent and Caleb were distracted and snagged Caleb’s coat off the rack. After I slipped out the back door, I walked along the tree line that extended along the back of the property. The wooded area was completely compressed, the trees making it impossible for grass to find life in the ground.

  The sun couldn’t break through the thick winding branches that formed an intricate covering overhead, eclipsing the sky even as the leaves started to fall and left them bare. The temperature dipped noticeably as I stepped into the shaded cover, and I pulled the leather coat closed, wrapping my arms across my chest.

  The campsite was easy to find. Trees had been cut in a round circumference, creating a space that was open, clear, and unobstructed. In the center of the numerous stumps used as seats was a fire pit. The darkened ashes had long since dissipated, lingering only along the large rocks that had been placed in the middle.

  Caleb told me the family used this spot whenever the pack gathered together. He and his father had spent several weeks clearing out the trees and cutting them down, preparing an area for the masses when they hosted the festivities. Maybe this year they’d have the celebration on the farm and I would get to see what werewolf reunions were all about. It couldn’t be any worse than the ascension. At least I could wear casual clothing.

  I took a seat on one of the stumps, snuggling into the warmth of Caleb’s leather jacket, and looked around. It was quiet here, a nice spot to get away from the insanity. If there was one thing to be missed about my parents’ home in Scotland, it was the huge cliff overlooking the raging water behind the manor. I missed the serenity of standing above the ocean, listening as the waves crashed into the rocky beach below and I tasted the salty air as it drifted up from the surf.

  A movement caught my attention and I trailed it without moving, eyes rotating while my head remained still. It was so miniscule, nothing to take note of, and yet I couldn’t stop concentrating on it. My legs shifted and I was standing before I was aware that I had moved. Slowly stalking across the opened circle, I moved to the other side. My entire body tensed in anticipation. I listened, hearing the tiny scamper of leaves and twigs as the object scurried and burrowed, harvesting and scavenging.

  “Emma, are you out here?”

  The trance was broken.

  Shaking my head clear, I stood upright and stared at the field mouse several feet away. My fixation on Mother Nature was beginning to freak me out. I had always enjoyed the great outdoors, but it was getting out of hand, bordering on creepy.

  “Emma,” Caleb repeated impatiently, his heavy footsteps discernable just outside the expanse of trees.

  “I’m here,” I called out and strode away from the campsite, toward the sound of his voice.

  His dark head bobbed along the trees until he came into view. He lifted his chin and a wide grin spread across his face. He’d shaved while he was inside, his beautiful visage revealed for the world to see. He crinkled his eyebrows at me curiously.

  “What are you doing out here? It’s freezing.”

  “You don’t get cold,” I reminded him. “And it’s not that cold in comparison to the temperature inside the house. I had to get out before you and Trent ripped each other a new one.”

  His grin warped into a scowl. “Don’t start.”

  “What is the big deal?” My voice mirrored my agitation. The macho guy routine may have worked when he was winning me over, but now it was becoming ridiculous.

  His answer came in the form of physical contact. He crossed the remaining distance between us and pressed his body against me. Strong arms came around my shoulders and I sagged into the gratifying heat of his body. He felt as balmy as a summer day despite the cold winter air, and he was only wearing a measly T-shirt and jeans.

  “That’s cheating, you know,” I muttered. Burrowing closer, I pressed my cheek against his chest, feeling the rhythmic beating of his heart. “I never took you for a manipulator.”

  He chuckled, squeezed my shoulders, and started rocking our bodies from side to side. His chin nestled against the top of my head and I groaned in bliss. I loved it when held me like this.

  “You’ll have to find it in yourself to forgive me.” His southern tenor deepened, the words causing his chest to rumble against my ear. “Knowin
g I almost lost you has brought out the worst in me.”

  My words were low and soft. “With everything you’ve seen this week, I understand.”

  “I’ll remember you said that.”

  The powerful muscles beneath my face tensed and he swiveled his head around. I listened closely, trying to figure out what Caleb had heard. After a moment I made out Derek’s voice in the distance, which was immediately followed by Sarah’s.

  “I think we should get the hell out of Dodge,” Caleb warned, speaking in hushed tones so his words wouldn’t carry. “They’re having a row.”

  “Sarah’s been acting awful strange lately.” I followed his lead, whispering against his chest.

  “I can imagine,” he grumbled.

  “You can imagine what?” I asked, peering up to see his face.

  “You’re going to have to talk to Sarah about that. It’s not my place to say.” He spoke in the tone he always adopted when he didn’t want to leave any room for argument.

  “You know, Sarah isn’t the only one I’m going to have to talk to.” I moved out of his warm embrace and folded my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “We need to have a little talk of our own.”

  “About?” He seemed completely unfazed by my statement, which only made me angrier.

  “Your daddy complex,” I said irritably, forcing myself to see past the beautiful face that always managed to disarm me. “When things are going great, you treat me as an equal. When you want to keep me from learning something, you treat me like a child.”

  “I do not treat you like a child.”

  “Yes,” I snapped, “you do.” He tried to talk and I held up my hand. “At first it was fine. I know I’m still a small fry in the larger scheme of things. But if everyone expects me to adapt to all of these changes seamlessly, like an adult, then they’d damned well better give me the courtesy of treating me that way all of the time. That includes you.”

  “Wanting to protect you and treating you like a child isn’t the same thing.” His dark blue eyes flashed for a moment in agitation, the vivid ice blue that revealed his wolf appearing and retreating in the same instant.

  “Protect me from what?” I gave him a confused and angry look. “You can’t stop what’s meant to happen. Don’t you think it’s wiser for me to know ahead of time what I’m getting involved in? I remember a time not so long ago when you said those exact words in regard to me.”

  “What is this really about?” He didn’t back down. “You think I treat you like a child because I won’t tell you something that is Sarah’s right to divulge?”

  “I’m tired of all the secrecy, the little things that go on between all of you that I’m not privy to. There is always something the three of you seem to know that I don’t.”

  “I’m sorry, Emma,” he said and took a deep breath. His usually full lips thinned and he addressed me levelly. “There are some things that are not in my power to tell you. If you want to know, ask Sarah. Derek is my best friend and I will not betray his trust. This is something private between the two of them. He only came to me for advice as his beta.”

  “Fine.” I snorted and started to stomp past him.

  A large tanned hand surrounded my upper arm, the attached fingers gentle but firm. He spun me around, looming over me, and lowered his face to stare me in the eye. His irises were a kaleidoscope now, swirling from the pupil in a prismatic mixture of blue, green, and aqua.

  “Don’t even think about going to Trent for comfort, beautiful.” He moved closer, brushing his large body against me. “You want to be an adult, behave like one.”

  “Could your curb your jealousy for five fucking minutes?” I snarled, yanking my arm free, and almost staggered as I felt that bizarre red haze resurface.

  We stood facing off. I was breathing heavily, rage growing, building, and coursing through my system. It was a new, unexplainable emotion that smothered everything else, drowning my senses.

  “I think we all need couples counseling,” Derek interrupted as he and Sarah joined us. “Maybe if we go in together we can get a group discount.”

  I didn’t immediately turn toward Derek’s voice, not even as I became fully aware that Derek and Sarah had witnessed our little deadlock. Normally I’d be embarrassed by the knowledge, but not now. I was too heated, too furious. Caleb’s eyes continued shifting colors, portraying his shoddy grip on his own emotions, but he stayed put, staring me down.

  “Is everything okay?” Sarah inquired in her calm and levelheaded voice; a most welcome sound, all things considered.

  “Obviously not, dear,” Derek quipped. “When they bitch louder than we do, it can’t be good.”

  We didn’t get that loud. Did we? There was no way. Caleb and I never yelled at each other.

  I blushed as I realized I couldn’t remember. I was too angry.

  “Don’t worry, Em.” Derek smiled, lifted his chin in Sarah’s direction, and covered his ears. “Sarah’s a screecher too.”

  “You’re such an asshole,” I snapped.

  “Hey, hey, hey.” He lifted his hands and stepped back, his antagonizing smile intact. “I’m just trying to find common ground.”

  “Why don’t you boys give us a minute?” Sarah stepped around Derek and started walking toward me.

  “You don’t have to ask my ass twice.” Derek turned on his heel and strode away.

  Caleb wasn’t as quick to leave. He stayed right where he was, studying me closely. Our gazes merged for several tense moments, neither of us willing to break the contact, until Sarah came between us.

  “Let’s take a walk.” Sarah wrapped her arm inside mine and she pulled me along with her.

  We didn’t speak for several minutes, strolling through the trees in silence. I could feel the tension rolling off of her.

  “I know you’ve noticed the change in the way I have conducted myself lately,” she said, finally breaking the quiet. “And I’m sorry it caused you and Caleb to argue, I should have come to your sooner.” It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her why she didn’t, when she continued, “Do you remember when I explained males of our kind can tell when you’re ovulating?”

  “Yes.” I glanced over, watching her tuck a thick dark strand of hair behind her ear.

  “The smart thing to do is to be on some method of birth control, just to be safe.” She took in an unsteady breath. “I’ve been doing just that, especially considering our situation.”

  “That makes sense,” I said, uncertain of where she was going with the conversation.

  She stopped me short, spun around, and blurted, “I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re what?”

  “I’m pregnant. I’ve known for a couple of weeks.”

  I stood there, my mind a tumbling mess. Should I congratulate her? Tell her I was sorry? Offer a celebratory hug? Or one of comfort? I was completely and utterly stupefied.

  “Say something.” She watched me with an expectant expression.

  “How do you feel about this? You always said you wanted children.”

  “At first, I was happy. But after I came down from the initial high, reality sank in.”

  “How does Derek feel?”

  “He wants to get married,” she answered and looked away.

  “Isn’t that a good thing?” I touched her arm in a gesture of comfort.

  “Of course it is.” She smiled, but sounded uncertain. “But our future isn’t ours to choose. Derek hasn’t bonded to me. Marriage won’t change that.”

  “If there is one thing I have any experience with, it’s embracing what you have while you have it. You two love each other, so be together. Cross any flaming bridges when you come to them and say to hell with the consequences. You don’t know that you won’t bond. Worrying about what you can’t change will only keep the two of you apart. It’s obvious how you feel about each other.” I grinned as I pictured Sarah with a little girl who looked just like her. “Plus, you’ll be one hell of a mom, Sarah.”

  She lifted h
er shoulders and stood straight. “I know you’re right. We can’t keep arguing over what hasn’t happened yet.”

  “I’m right, huh?” I rolled my eyes as I remembered my conversation with Caleb. “Tell Caleb that.”

  “We are all out of sorts right now. I think we’ll all be able to breathe easier when your parents arrive and we can get a better grasp of what we’re dealing with.”

  “I hope you’re right. I don’t know how much longer I can take the tension.”

  “Same here.” She peered up at the sky. “We should get back to the house. The temperature is dropping.”

  Sarah turned in the direction of the house and led the way. We exited the trees arm in arm. When the sunlight hit us, I sighed at the welcome warmth against my chilled nose and cheeks.

  “Do you think it might snow?” I asked.

  “I think so,” she answered and moved in closer to share precious body heat. “It smells like it.”

  “By the way.” I bumped her shoulder with mine. “Congratulations.”

  She smiled in response, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

  As we approached the house, I saw Caleb waiting with Derek. They were sitting on top of the wooden picnic table, legs braced on the seats, knees and combat boots spaced shoulder width apart. They both lifted their heads as we neared, staring at us with wary expressions.

  Sarah giggled and leaned over to whisper, “They look as if they’re expecting the Spanish Inquisition.”

  “It would serve them right,” I grumbled without anger, surprisingly tranquil.

  “Yep,” Derek blurted to Caleb, nodding. “We’re fucked. Would you look at them? They’re thicker than thieves, those two. What do you think they’ve been planning?”

  Caleb didn’t bother responding, using his potent gaze to send the message instead. He was still moody and irritable. A combination I didn’t know if I was properly equipped to deal with if my bad mood resurfaced.