Bright Moon (13 page)

“It can’t be,” Callan breathed. The same
instant, the woman raised her head and looked into the camera.
Clara wheeled back, running over her brother’s toes. It was as if
her mother had looked directly at them. “Mom!” Callan touched the
screen. “Where is this from?”

“I don’t know.” She covered her mouth in
shock. “I thought it was somebody’s idea of a cruel joke.”

“Who sent it?” Tyson asked from his post at
the door. Clara couldn’t move and Callan reluctantly took control
of the mouse. He brought her inbox back on screen and the sender
was listed as James Parker.

“Ty,” Callan whispered. “It’s Parker.”

Tyson came to the computer. “It isn’t real.
He’s trying to trick you.”

“How can you know for certain?” she asked
with wide eyes. “It’s a live feed.”

“Or he made it appear that way,” Tyson
suggested. “I’m sorry to tell you, but if Parker ever had your mom,
she would not have lasted long.”

“You don’t know that!” she stood up and
clicked on the stream to see her mom. “We have to know for
certain.”

Tyson’s fingers came around her wrist and he
pulled her hand from the mouse. “Clara, Parker will do anything to
have what he wants. This is not real, he’s trying to trick
you.”

“I want to believe you, but what if she’s
alive?” she asked. His blue eyes turned from her determined gaze,
but he kept her wrist in his hand.

“We can discuss it later, we have to leave
before Parker discovers you’re here. He might have men watching the
house.”

They started to file out. Clara could hear
her father on the phone behind his bedroom door. Tyson stopped at
the top of the stairs just outside her room. Callan and Clara eyed
him. “What is it, Ty?” Callan asked. The edges of Tyson’s eyes
glowed faint yellow. He went to her bedroom door and rested a hand
on the knob, hesitating a second before pushing it open. The door
squeaked on its hinges before gently bumping the wall. He stood in
the doorframe and took a deep breath. “What’s wrong?” Callan asked
again.

“Mark has been here.”

“In my room?” she asked in a high-pitched
tone.

“Yes.” Tyson sniffed the air. “His scent is
cold. Have you ever invited him to your house?”

“No! We’ve been through all that. Are you
telling me he was here before the day you and I met?”

“Yes, and often.”

A shudder ran up her spine. “Don’t say
that.”

“I’m sorry,” Tyson whispered. “You could
grab some things while we’re here if you want.”

“Oh yes, of course.” She bustled into her
room, finding a small suitcase in her closet and stuffing it with
everything she could think of. Tyson stood as tense as a sprung
trap and moved to the window. The last thing she thought to add was
her toothbrush. When she zipped the lid shut, Tyson hurried them to
the first level only to stop once more. He cracked the front door
open and sniffed the air. The door slammed shut again.

“Mark!” he growled.

“Oh no,” Callan groaned. “Is he alone?”

“As far as I can tell, yes.” Tyson pulled
his car keys from his pocket and handed them to Callan.

“Ty…” Callan pushed them back. “I
can’t.”

“You can and you will, understand? I think
you proved how strong you are just now in dealing with your father.
I almost lost my cool before you did. I’ll take care of Mark and
catch up. You take your sister and get out of here.”

“Wait!” Clara grabbed his sleeve when he
reached for the door. “We have to stay together.”

“I will be fine. You’ve seen me duel with
Mark before,” he tried to assure her.

“Don’t you remember how he insinuated he
wouldn’t be alone the next time? What if it’s a trap?”

“Then you will have time to escape,” he
said. “That’s what matters right now. Go with your brother and
don’t worry.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

Tyson grimaced as if the moon’s pale face
summoned him. He put a hand on her cheek and tipped toward her. For
a small moment, she was sure he would kiss her. “Don’t worry, Clara
Chandra. You’ve done enough worrying for one woman.” His whisper
came soft in her ear.

You mean for one mortal,
she thought.
His touch diffused her senses and she couldn’t offer a protest in
time. She watched helplessly as he slipped out. Callan chuckled and
she turned to slap him on the arm. “How can you let him go?” she
hissed as her cheeks went warm.

“Nobody
lets
him do anything,” Callan
said as he moved by her and pressed his ear to the door.

“He could be hurt!”

“SH!” he waved her exclamation off.

“Don’t you have super sonic hearing?” she
asked sarcastically.

He laughed shortly. “Do you know how long it
takes to develop those senses while in our human bodies? The only
thing I hear is your chattering. Now sh!”

Her heart was a mess of nerves and fear as
her brother listened. She gripped the handle of her suitcase and
wished she could see, or at least hear what went on outside.
Callan, after a few tense moments, grabbed her hand and opened the
door, rushing to the car. He had her inside and was behind the
wheel in seconds. He started the engine and backed out of the
driveway as she sat cramped with her luggage in her lap. There
hadn’t been time to put it in the back. He wasn’t as erratic a
driver as Tyson, but he pushed the limits. Clara barely
noticed.

“Clara,” Callan cut into her worrying. “Try
to relax.”

“How could you leave him like that?”

“You have to understand, sis, he is the head
of our pack. If I don’t do what he says, it will be a direct
challenge to his position as dominant wolf,” Callan informed her.
The entire idea struck her as barbaric until she remembered how
eager Mesha had been to join a pack. She shook it off and let her
head rest against the glass while clutching her suitcase to her
stomach and trying to think of something else.

“Tyson said mom wouldn’t last long if Parker
ever caught her,” she mumbled without looking over. “What did he
mean?”

“James Parker is the only surviving Parker
to date. He and his company destroy any werewolf they come in
contact with.”

She sat back. “Do you think mom could be
alive?”

His hands tightened on the wheel. “I’ve seen
what Parker does to a werewolf when he gets his grip on them. I
can’t believe he’s had her all this time, it would be better for
her if it ended quickly.”

“What if she’s there?” she asked. “What if
he’s torturing her right now?”

“You can’t think that way. She already died
once, don’t go through it again.”

Her eyebrows knitted together and she bit
her tongue.

“I told you dad wouldn’t be happy to see
me,” Callan said.

“I’m sorry,” she answered and nervously
zipped the front compartment on the luggage open and closed a few
times. “I hoped having us all together would make him remember how
we used to be.”

“Mom’s leaving really shook a screw loose,
didn’t it?”

“Of course it did,” she answered. “I wonder
how long she’d been a werewolf.”

“Who knows? I never noticed anything
unusual, did you?”

“Never.” She pulled at her hair and started
twisting it in her fingers, bracing her elbows against the
suitcase. Her mind was ever with her mother, but she didn’t want
Callan to guess it so she brought up another subject. “I know I
don’t understand a lot about your new life, but don’t you get mad
at someone telling you what to do?”

“No,” Callan shook his head. “I know it
sounds primitive, but Tyson knows what he’s doing. We’ve butted
heads a few times, mostly over you. I will say that if it weren’t
for him, Parker would have caught me a long time ago.”

“I do understand he wants to protect
you…
us
even, but it seems odd there would be need of a
dominant wolf.”

He nodded. “If you knew what our animal
instincts are like, then you would understand why it’s necessary.
Pups especially need someone to guide them. ”

“I can’t fathom anyone being able to
domineer over you,” she explained.

With a snort of laughter, Callan answered,
“My free spirited nature has only gotten me into trouble,
especially since I was infected. I learned fairly quickly to listen
to the advice of more experienced individuals.”

“I still can’t believe you would leave him
like that, dominant wolf or no.” Clara watched out the window as
houses and greenery sped by. Callan chuckled.

“Tyson can take care of himself, sis. You’ll
see, he’ll be okay.”

Callan proved just
as secretive as Tyson when Clara asked about their destination. She
found she didn’t mind as much because she was just glad to be near
him. They stopped to eat at diners and he would pull up to rest
stops periodically so they could stretch their legs. She rather
enjoyed his slower pace, but even it was too much for her mortal
mind to process at times.

On the fifth afternoon of their journey, and
after crossing numerous state borders, they arrived in a quaint
looking town. Callan slowed the car, as he always did near large
populations, and Clara thought they were going to stop for a late
lunch. He seemed to have other ideas and guided the car through the
town and into a mountainous area scattered with trees and
vegetation. An hour on a bumpy and less traveled road brought them
to their destination. A cabin came into view after they’d passed
all civilization. Callan parked under a carport they found by
following the drive behind the cabin. They got out and saw the back
door just visible through the trees. Pine needles ground underfoot.
They could barely take a step without having to dodge around an
evergreen trunk but there was more than the scent of pine on the
air. Freshly baked bread and something savory drifted on the wind.
She was just wondering who in the pack knew how to cook when Mesha
came bounding from seemingly nowhere.

“Clara!” she yelled and gave her a quick
hug. “Where have you been? We were worried sick! Dawn is sure
something awful happened.”

“Dawn?” Clara asked, stopping at the unknown
name. “Who is Dawn?”

“Jack’s aunt, she’s part of the pack,” Mesha
said.

“And an awesome cook,” Callan added. Mesha
glared at him, offended by the least of his words.

“How many are in the pack?”

“Seven,” Callan and Mesha answered together.
Mesha’s mouth clamped shut and she refused to meet his eye. He
jerked away and went to the trunk of the car where Clara’s suitcase
had taken residence.

“Come on,” Mesha huffed and moved in the
direction of the backdoor.

“You, Tyson, Callan, Jack and Dawn only make
five. There are two I haven’t met besides Dawn?”

“No, you forgot to count yourself,” Mesha
called over her shoulder.

She was taken aback. “Me?”
“Sure, you’re in the pack too.”

Clara looked at her brother and he nodded.
“Oh. Well then, there is
one
werewolf I haven’t met besides
Jack’s aunt?”

“Yes,” Callan said without offering anything
more on the subject.

“Don’t worry,” Mesha said as she hurried up
some wooden stairs that led to a large deck and the back door.
“Koty will be home soon.” Mesha held the back door open, revealing
the homey little kitchen and overwhelmingly good smells. Next to
the oven stood a woman stirring something in a sauce pan. She
wheeled to face them as they crossed the kitchen floor. Her hazel
eyes smiled and she owned a cheery disposition. She wore a loose
fitting tunic and well-worn jeans, over which was tied a yellow and
white frilly apron. Her auburn hair was pulled into half a
ponytail.

“Oh my goodness!” she said as she took in
the small group. Her voice was commanding, yet kind. “I’m so glad
you arrived safely! Where is Tyson?”

“He stayed behind,” Callan answered. “Mark
was on our trail.”

Jack entered the room carrying a laptop. He
went to sit at the counter and set the computer next to an
assortment of phones. “Mark? Why would he waste time with him?”

For the first time, Clara was able to really
take in Jack’s features. She was surprised to note he didn’t look
older than fifteen or sixteen. His body was physically fit and his
hair shaved close to his head. His eyes were a warm color of brown,
but came across dull as if they never reflected light. At the
question Jack posed, Callan coughed and cleared his throat
nervously. He went to the counter and took a phone, sliding it into
his pocket.

“Look at us standing around gabbing when
you’ve just arrived!” Dawn said while smiling at Clara and trying
not to glance at Callan. “Hello, dear, I’m Dawn. I think you know
everyone else here.”

“We haven’t formally met,” Jack said and
stood to offer his hand to her. “I’m Jack.”

“Hi,” Clara took his hand and shook it
quickly, embarrassed by all the attention. “Thank you for your help
before.”

He smiled grimly and nodded. “Here,” he said
and offered her a small, flip-phone.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“We get new numbers with every location. I
thought you would like one as well. I programmed our numbers
in.”

“Thank you,” she said and twisted it in her
hands.

“You must be famished after your journey.”
Dawn went back to the stove. “I’m making dinner if you are.”

Callan set Clara’s suitcase by the door and
tried to nudge her in the direction of the bar at the counter,
obviously eager to eat.

“Aunt Dawn, you know Cal is always hungry,”
Jack said with a laugh.

“I’m sorry,” Clara muttered as Callan tried
to get her to sit again. “I’m just a little tired. Would it be
alright if I rested?”

“Certainly, Mesha knows where you will be
staying.” Dawn smiled encouragingly and her eyes sparkled.

“Thank you,” Clara said gratefully.

Mesha hung back from the group, clearly
displeased with Callan. She jumped on the chance to be with Clara.
She led the way up a flight of stairs. Clara grabbed her things and
followed. She took a moment to walk around the cozy room while
Mesha went to the window, peering out.