Back to You (44 page)

Under the vaulted roof of the trees, the rain blurs the landscape, now in semi-darkness. It hits the ground like the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps. I shiver and quicken my pace, worried that the rain might wash the path clean away. Luckily, the road opens up ahead, wider, more visible, its bends and curves leading out of this suffocating green prison. Or at least I think they do; in this darkly dappled setting, panic and confusion fill my head and I begin to think that it might be leading further and further into the heart of the forest rather than out of it. Finally, I’m sure––I see a clearing ahead beyond the branches and hear the lapping of the lake. I’m free! It’s the path leading to the Wolf house, leading to the promise of warmth and protection.

The mixed-up grunts and growls of the brothers has suddenly ceased behind me. Vuk is on my trail again, but I’m almost home free, at the threshold of the house. The rain falls mercilessly from the skies now that the umbrella of the trees has come to an end. My feet slap in the fresh mud. I run up the porch steps, fling the door open, and dash into the parlor to hide behind the sofa. I keep quiet as a mouse and prick my ears to pick up any sound of danger. The silence doesn’t last long.

Vuk comes crashing through the glass of the nearest window, landing agilely on his feet in front of the lit fireplace. The orange-red flames dance, lighting up his face in profile. I turn my head slowly to see him better. He’s on his feet, still as a statue, right by the door. I freeze; he’s blocking my only possible escape route although I feel safe enough, hidden behind the armrest of the sofa. I’m not scared.

Our eyes meet and I hold his gaze for a moment that seems to last an eternity. His eyes penetrate mine warily, and then he sniffs the air that wafts from my direction. His mouth stretches into a wide, wolfish sneer, his golden eyes sparkle. He takes a few tentative steps toward me, then a dash. But the look on his face is confused, I’m sure something inside him knows who I am.

Drake is there to intercept him, moving faster than a bullet. He strikes his shoulder before he reaches the sofa and they crash against a window, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The violent sound when the brothers’ bodies meet almost seems to obscure the physical violence of the impact, and my mind seems to be seeing in slow motion; the tiny fragments of glass glitter like drops of water in a light spring drizzle.

I crouch down beside the window to watch the final dance of the brothers. Vuk rolls on the rug, passing the oak table a few yards away. I shake my head, but my vision is blurry.

“Vuk?” I call out automatically.

“It’s ok,” I hear him mumble from the other side of the room. I can just make him out in the shadows. “It’s all over now,” he whispers, his voice human again, still huskier than usual but sweet-sounding as ever. “Don’t be scared…” He shakes his head, unable to finish what he wants to say. “I swear I won’t hurt you, I won’t touch you. You’re safe.”

“I know,” I reply, still dazed. “I’m still just a little bit out of it. Just give me a minute.” I’m too weak to feel embarrassed about the wave of relief I feel that I’ve come out of this unscathed. “And Drake?” I ask, staring at a point of the ceiling above my head, not daring to look around.

“He’s more than ok, feeling very pleased with himself actually,” Vuk laughs. “And he’s keeping his wolf form for the moment.”

My mouth drops open in astonishment. At this, his brother emits a deep howl from his position next to the sofa by the fireplace.

I turn sharply and inspect the huge beast, covered in that fur that somehow seems so soft, yet rough at the same time. I crane my neck to get a better look. He enraptures me in his wolf form, with that luxurious red fur. Drake is absolutely beautiful.

He can feel my eyes on him and he turns to me, his mouth widening into what looks like a smile. Those terrible pointed teeth would be frightening, were it not for his long tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.

“Hey there,” I say.

A friendly snort is my reply. I smile back at him. He walks over to me, ignoring Vuk, now naked with his back turned, watching his every move and gauging my reaction. When Drake gets to me, he lowers his back legs and his face to bring his nose to my head. He sniffs the dried tears in the corners of my eyes and searches my face anxiously.

I stretch out a hand warily, my fingers trembling, and push them deep into the soft, warm fur on the sides of his face, stroking his neck, the space between his ears. I’d never dream of doing such a thing if he were in his human form.

His bright eyes close for an instant, then he nuzzles his head deeper into my hand. A gurgling sound vibrates his chest. My fingers continue their journey, exploring his features, burying themselves in the luxurious softness. Suddenly Drake licks my face and rubs his cheek against mine.

“Drake? That’s gross!” I yell, pulling back from him with a start.

Vuk growls at his brother.

“Why did he do that?” I ask Vuk curiously, lost in his delicious emerald eyes.

“He’s just trying to say sorry for having involved you in all this. He wishes he could have avoided it,” he explains.

Drake’s head points upward and he barks in agreement. I wipe my face with my sleeve and start laughing. Vuk look tense, confused, somehow disappointed. I realize that he was expecting me to react differently, perhaps to turn on my heels in fear or disgust. Drake makes that same laughter-like snorting sound.

Our attention is turned by something coming from deep within the forest. It’s the sound of two echoing howls drifts through the still air. I’m guessing they were made from quite a distance. The huge red wolf leaps up, bounds to the door, and flies like the wind toward the woods, disappearing into the shadows of the trees in no time.

“Where has he gone?” I ask, almost irritated as I wipe away the last traces of wolf saliva from my face.

“He’ll be back soon. Our cousins Noah and Jeremy have just finished their watch, so he went to tell them to come here later on. You’ve been through enough today. Plus, he wanted to be sure that he was presentable now that he’s back in human form,” he says laughing, looking down at his own scuffed up, naked body.

Drake reappears at the parlor door, wearing just a pair of shorts. He walks barefooted on the wooden floor.

“Did you see that, Stella?” he enthuses. “It’s worked like a charm!” He grabs my hand and pulls me in for a bear hug that leaves me winded. Before I can open my mouth to protest, he has already let me go. The atmosphere in the room is light-hearted again, full of good cheer.

“You’re the genius that came up with the plan.”

“Teamwork! I can’t take all the credit for the experiment. And Stella…” He holds his breath, his voice lowering to a whisper. “Sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I had no idea. I really am sorry.” He takes a few steps backward, his hands raised. “It was all going to plan, but Vuk wasn’t reacting, so I had to do something. I didn’t want to get to the point where I was threatening to kiss you. It was just a ploy, I was just acting.”

“I understood.”

“I thought you were scared stiff!”

“No problem,” I laugh off his worries. “Actually that little number tipped the scales. It convinced Vuk. It was a great move.”

Drake’s smile widens and he throws an admiring glance at his brother.

“Not even I could manage to transform that quickly. You thought I was going crazy and you morphed in about half a second!” he exclaims proudly.

“Thanks, I think,” Vuk replies, a touch of reproach in his voice. He suddenly grabs a blanket and wraps it around himself. He rubs his left arm. “That hurts!” he complains. “And I even have to pay up for the bet I lost!”

“Yep, ten dollars,” confirms Drake, looking at the long, deep cut on Vuk’s forearm. The blood is dripping between his fingers onto the floor.

“Oh no, Vuk! You’re hurt!” My head is spinning at the sight of the wound, and it turns my stomach. I grab a clean tissue left on a shelf from the picnic and attempt to clean his wound.

He steps back, shrugging his shoulders.

“It’s nothing, Stella, don’t worry about it.” Vuk waves away the tissue I’m holding out for him.

“I’m gonna go get dressed.”

I turn to follow him.

“No,” Vuk says. “You wait here in the parlor, I’ll just be a second.”

“It’s nothing?” I cry out after him. “Drake almost reduced your arm to shreds!” But Vuk has already bounded up the creaking wooden staircase, two steps at a time. About three seconds later, Vuk is already back downstairs wearing a brown t-shirt and a pair of Diesel pants.

“Maybe there are too many of us left in the room,” he winks at me. I elbow him with a fake annoyed expression, probably giving myself a bruise in the process. I wait for him to go on, but he says nothing.

“I don’t mind if you stay,” I say, looking at Drake. But he makes his excuses and leaves us on our own for a bit.

“I’ll be back in a while, kids.” Drake smiles, his hands raised in front of him as he backs out the room.

Now that I have my old pal Vuk back, it’s hard for me to imagine him as the huge scary gray-haired werewolf he was just a few minutes ago. He’s just my cuddly, lovely best friend.

He looks at me, his eyes brimming with love, but tinged with sadness.

“Are you afraid of me?” he asks. I just stare deep into his eyes. My mind revisits the scene of my last trip to Wolfeboro, the fear I felt is so tangible even now that I bury my face in his chest. He wraps his arms around me tight, as if afraid of losing me.

“You know, it would be safer if you weren’t my friend anymore. Maybe that would be for the best,” he thinks aloud, his intense emerald eyes questioning mine. The warmth in his voice literally takes my breath away. And the thought of losing him makes my blood run cold.

I watch his reflection in the window, which has been left intact. He smiles soothingly, and then becomes serious again.

“I really am a wreck, aren’t I?”

I turn my eyes back to the flesh and bone Vuk.

“No, but you do need some rest, Vuk.”

My eyes are welling up with tears of terror. He tenderly strokes my chin.

“Sooner or later I’ll get some rest, and today was a really long day, I’ve gotta admit. But yesterday the night shift was divided up between my brother and my cousins, so I managed to get a few hours of sleep.”

“Oh, Vuk,” I sigh, “I was so worried in the forest! I should say sorry, too. Sorry, sorry, sorry. I just wanted to help you. I won’t allow you to take part in the…”

He interrupts me and brings a finger to my lips.

“Hush, little girl. I’m fine, never been better.” He buries his face in my hair. “We’re past the worst of it now,” he assures me. I’m not sure if he’s referring to Drake’s experiment.

I inspect his wound, lightly running my fingers around the deep cut.

“Now stop playing the big man, let me clean your wound.”

With his hand under my chin, he raises my face to look at his. “First answer my question. Are you afraid of me?”

I just stare blankly ahead like an idiot, trying to understand. “Afraid of you? Why should I be?”

“Stella, I just…” He breaks off, before forcing the words. “I just tried to rip you to shreds, for the second time. I would have devoured your face, don’t you see? In the end, I did recognize you, I think. But I don’t see how it couldn’t have affected you, how you couldn’t be scared.”

I think about Drake’s body language as he backed out the room a few minutes ago. His hands were raised as if he were unsure about leaving us alone together, as if he were ready to dash back in need be. But I just shrug. It seems like a good response to me. Casual, carefree.

“No, I’m not. But I was scared that you and Drake would hurt each other. I wanted to help, but what could I have done? It’s not easy being the only one without any special powers.”

A wave of different emotions floods his face, somewhere between amusement and confusion. He knits his brow.

“So you’re not afraid of me?”

“Seriously?” I retort. “You think you’re so scary now, do you? Do you think I’d willingly run into the arms of a monster?” Yep, joking’s good. It stops my voice from shaking, from breaking. He rolls his eyes, but the kidding around has had its desired effect of lightening the atmosphere.

“I dunno,” laughs Vuk, “I’ve learned to expect anything and everything from you. You sure are a weird one, kiddo.”

“Anyway, next time I won’t just stay on the sidelines and watch you two tear each other to pieces!”

“Next time? Planning to witness another wolf brawl soon?”

“You never know with my luck!”

He stifles a laugh and leads me into the kitchen. I put his arm under the faucet and turn on the water. When it hits his arm, it turns red. The smell of rust and salt is making me nauseous and my head begins to spin. When the wound seems almost to have disappeared, he turns off the flow and pats himself dry with a dishcloth.

“If that had been me, I would have needed stiches for a cut to turn into that red scar,” I say, astounded. I take a clean cloth and wind it gently around his forearm. I can feel his grateful eyes boring into me.

“Thank you,” he whispers, a smile breaking out on his reddened face. He begins to walk out the kitchen.

“Hold on, let me check on it again.”

“Don’t sweat it, little girl, I heal in a hurry.”

“I’ll get pissed if you don’t let me see,” I retort severely. He slinks back obediently and unwraps the arm.

I start with surprise; I turn his arm roughly from one side to the other. The only thing left of the gaping wound is a thin pink line.

“Jeez, I didn’t realize you healed
that
quickly!”

“I’m a werewolf, remember?” he smiles guardedly. I had heard about this super-fast healing power, but it’s another matter to actually watch the process live.

“Can you give me a ride home?” I ask.

“Of course,” he whispers in my ear.

Drake walks into the kitchen, and we both turn to him. He acts like we’re not even there, and stares out the big floor-to-celling window, humming one of Vuk’s songs to himself. He probably thinks he’s walked in at the wrong moment.