Malevolence - Legacy Series Book Two (The Legacy Series) (11 page)

           
I had only one online class to finish and I would officially be a graduate.
 
Dolly and my mom worked it out with Piedsville High School’s principal Pucker Face, she had her face scrunched up like she was eating lemons every time she led an assembly, to let me walk the stage and get my diploma.
 
I was finishing up my assignment when I heard
Alistar
barking on the front porch.
 
I still didn’t get why he stayed outside in the cold when he was more than welcome to sit in the house.

           
The front door flung open with such force I thought it would loosen the hinges.
 
“My bad,” Oakley said.
 
“The wind caught it just right, sorry.
 
I’ve got a bed full of groceries for two more families.
 
I was hoping you’d ride with me and help give them out.”
 
He pulled off his gloves and walked over to the fireplace to warm up his hands.

           
“I may as well go with you,” I said.
 
“Let me check on Sam before we go though.
 
I don’t know what it is, but something is sitting in the pit of my stomach that doesn’t feel right.
 
I don’t know if it is Sam or something else, but I feel trouble.”

           
We both jumped when we heard Estelle screaming at the top of her lungs.
 
We ran into the kitchen to see Estelle pulling out a tray of pitch black, presumably, cookies.
 
She was fussing in Spanish and I’m pretty sure I heard a few cuss words.

           
“You scared the crap out of us Estelle.”
 
I scolded.

           
“Jew install all these restaurant appliances,” she said in her Columbian accent.
 
“Do I look like I work in a restaurant?
 
Dis
is impossible.”
 
Her arms started flailing around the more worked up she got.
 
“It all make me look like I
non’t
know how to cook.
 
I
no
like
dis
at all.
 
You dink I scare
jew
?
 
Look at these cookies!”
 
She took off her hot pan mittens and threw them in the sink.
 
“I’m going to watch my stories,” she said as she stormed out of the room.

           
Oakley and I turn and look at each other before we busted out laughing at the temper tantrum we just watched.

           
“I hear you!” she yelled from the other room.
 
“Do
somezing
useful, like turn off
dee
oven.”

           
We held back out laughter until we got down in the dungeon and safely in the sound proof zone.

           
“That was one pissed off Columbian back there.
 
She hates that oven Dolly had installed last month.
 
She keeps telling everyone that will listen how it cooks too hot.
 
Maybe we should call a service guy out to make sure it is working right.”
 
Oakley said as we turned the corner and looked into Sam’s cage.

           
Sam was on the ground with her front legs in front of her and her chin rested on them.
 
Her eyes were the only thing to move as she raised them up to look at us.

           
“
Sam, I wish you’d talk to us.”
I thought to her in pack.
 
The only reaction I got was the same one over and over, a deep growl.
 
This one was less fierce but we could tell she still wouldn’t talk to us.

           
“I know you’re mad Sam, but look, Abel and I didn’t do this to you.
 
We want to help you and if you don’t shift back, you may never be able to do it.
  
I need you to hold on, keep your humanity.”
Oakley pleaded.
 
He put his hands on the bars with his face between them, “Sam, it will be okay.”
 

           
“We’ll find Storm but we can’t without your help,”
I said
.

           
She stayed on the floor but barred her teeth and snarled at us.

           
“I don’t know Abe, she is slipping away.
   
Soon we won’t have any options and she’ll be another missing person’s case that goes unsolved.”
 
Oakley said as we walked back up the stairs.

           
I ran up the stairs when I heard my laptop ringing, letting me know someone was trying to Skype with me.
 
“I bet that is Pru.
 
She sent a text saying she was going to call.”
 
I yelled out as I clicked the ‘accept’ button.

Chapter 13 Flight

“She gave him the mirror in his hand, and he saw therein the likeness of the most beautiful maiden on earth, and saw, too how the tears were rolling down her cheeks with grief.” The Crystal Ball ~ Grimm’s Household Tales

           
We were loading up the back of Oakley’s truck with our luggage when a Ford Escape SUV with Texas plates pulled up.
 
We turn around to watch Parker the environmentally conscience werewolf, get out of the SUV.
 
I saw Chrissy admiring him as he zipped up his army green jacket and position his scarf around his neck like he was modeling for some magazine.
 
A twinge of jealousy rattled me; it was nothing I couldn’t control.

           
“Parker, dude, I’m glad to see you,” I said as I gave him the man hug.
 
I knew Oakley wasn’t a huge fan of Parker, but the pack didn’t really know the extent he went to for the pack.
 
He basically ostracized himself from the pack to do some undercover work for General Phelan.

           
“You’re lucky I was in Kansas, I packed up the Escape and drove straight here,” Parker said. “You want me to drive you guys to the airport?”

           
Oakley shook his head no as he told him it wouldn’t be necessary, Chrissy was giving us a ride.
 
I watched as him and Parker talked about the O’Connell member being off the radar and Sam locked in the dungeon.
 
I grabbed the laptop bags and set them behind the driver’s seat in the truck.
 

           
“I’d love nothing better than to drink a cup of coffee and chat about the pack, but we’ve got a plane to catch and
Chrissy’s
teeth are chattering,” I said.
 
“Parker, call us the minute Sam shifts back to her human side.
 
If you can get her to eat that would help too.
 
It sickens me to think if she doesn’t shift back, we’ll have to destroy her.
 
Of course we won’t have to worry about that if she starves herself to death.”
 
I pulled Chrissy closer and wrapped my arms around her to give her some heat.
 
I kissed her on the forehead and said, “Get in the truck; I’ll be there in a second.”

           
“I know. I want to spend every minute with you that I can.”
 
Chrissy said through chattering teeth.
 
Her whole body was shivering as she climbed into the truck.

           
“Trust me, that Sam girl is a spitfire,” Oakley said.
 
“If anyone can deal with her, I’m sure you’re the wolf that can.”

           
Parker stroked his goatee with his ungloved hand; giving him the deep in thought look.
 
Knowing him, he was.
 
He put his other hand on my shoulder to talk to me privately.
 
Oakley got in the truck with Chrissy and turned up his new Tears for Fears CD.

           
“I’ve got two more guys coming up from Texas to help out around here.
 
I hope I didn’t overstep my boundaries or anything,” Parker
said.

           
“
No, I know you wouldn’t bring anyone here you didn’t trust.
 
The General trusted you Parker, and that means I trust you.
 
I know everyone still has questions about your secret missions but they are cool with you.
 
Imogene will be especially glad to see you.”
 
I thought to him and I busted out laughing.

           
“You wear the Great Wolf title well Abel, but you’re a terrible liar.”
 

Chapter 14.
 
Need

“I feel so unhappy lest all should not be right.” The Almond Tree ~ Grimm’s Household Tales

PRU

           
I watched the two of them walk down the corridor of the airport, laughing about who-knows-what.
 
Oakley had his leather jacket slung over his shoulder, and a dozen lavender roses in his other hand.
 
Apparently they didn’t spot the two pack wolves as they walked past.
 
What kind of werewolves are they if they can’t smell a pack member as they walk by.
 
Gus was looking at me funny as we both stood there and let them keep going.

           
“Okay, that has never happened before,” I said.
 
“I guess we better follow them or they may end up lost.
 
Obviously they are jet lagged.”
 
We walked as fast as we could without drawing attention to us, we turned the corner and Abel jumped out in front of me and saying ‘gotcha’.
 
I slapped his arm, “you’re in for it Mr. Abel.”
 
I turned around in time to feel Oakley wrap his arms around me, picking me up and hugging me tightly to him.
 
He handed me the roses and I felt all tension fall from my shoulders and my heart skipped a beat.
 
I breathe him in, taking in his essence, which is sexier and thought provoking than the best bottle of cologne.
 

           
“I can’t begin to tell you what I’m going to do to you the minute I have you alone,” Oakley whispers to me.

           
“I can hardly wait,” I whisper in reply.
 
We held hands as we walked to baggage claim and talked the usual airport small talk.

           
The Rolls driver was standing outside the car chatting with yet another female driver.
 
I could see his long black wool coat and leather gloves giving him some warmth; but his chauffeur hat didn’t look very warm to me.
 
He held the door open as the four of us climbed into the car.
 
It felt strange having Gus sitting directly across from me as he has been by my side every minute I’ve been in Paris.
 
Oakley pulled me in closer and I rested my head on his chest.
 
I watched as Abel’s head started to droop and eyes rolled around and just a dribble of spit appeared in the corner of his mouth.
 

           
“Stop drooling,” Oakley said as he nudged Abel’s foot.

           
Abel’s head darted up and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
 
“Sorry,” Abel said as his head started to flop over again.

           
“I guess he’s a little tired,” I said.