"Trust is like a mirror, you can fix it if it's broken, but you can still see the crack in that motherfucker's reflection."—Lady Gaga
Chapter Three
Trust
Mr. Hauptman had to help her jump into the backseat of his car and even then it was hard for her to remain awake as they rocked back and forth. It was soothing, especially as his engine purred like a giant cat, and she would have fallen asleep too, if it hadn't been for a rambunctious and hyper active pup nudging her nose every three minutes. At one point, she'd growled and swatted him with enough force to barely bat away a kitten. It only served to irritate her further, but Mac nevertheless stopped trying to play around and sat back on his haunches with a huff. He gave her a sardonic glance before lying down on the rest of the backseat. She wasn't very big to begin with, especially now that she was practically skin and bones, but Mac was still too large for the both of them to lie down comfortably.
Sighing, she wiggled and stumbled around his limbs precariously to climb over the console and into the front seat. Mr. Hauptman, amused by their antics, glanced at her out the corner of his eye as she attempted to fit her body in the passenger seat. It took some doing, but she was finally able to curl up without having to hang off the seat and propped her head on the console as a makeshift pillow. Bright sapphires closed with finality and she wagged her tail when Mr. Hauptman's hand scratched her ear.
"You're going to need a lot of food when we get home," he murmured, and she opened a single eye to watch him as he pulled out his cell phone. He dialed a number with quick, confident fingers and waited as it rang three times before someone picked up. "Darryl, call the rest of the pack. Emergency meeting tonight."
"What happened? Did Mercy stick her nose into somebody's business she shouldn't have?" The other voice was deep, almost vibrating the air and Ari shivered instinctively at the sound. Would there be a lot of men at this meeting? She could deal with a few, but if an entire pack was to surround her like sharks then she'd surely panic. Just the thought had her muscles tightening and throat closing.
Mr. Hauptman frowned, shifting the phone until it nestled between his neck and shoulder, and rested his hand on her head. Slowly, the panic and terror that had dripped from her pores drifted away as calm took its place. "You could say that. I believe we have a serious problem here, unfortunately. Two relatively new wolves have been turned against their will and experimented on. One is almost skin and bones with several serious injuries. She'll need plenty of meat to eat and a lot of quiet. The other one has only been there for less than two moons and escaped according to Mercy."
The man whistled and spoke with a light tone, but she could hear the furious undertones in his voice as he answered, "I'll make the others know to keep calm while she's around. What were they doing to them?"
"Trying some new kind of drugs on them and turning them loose on Artemis to see how they fared." The steering wheel squealed as his hand tightened and Ari winced. Why're they so pissed?
A momentary silence that seemed to last forever before he replied, incredulous, "Drugs can't work on us. Unless it's some new drug that's in the works."
"I was thinking the same thing, however, there's no way to prove it if we don't have a sample." Mr. Hauptman relaxed his grip and began to thrum his fingers along the leather. "Whoever is organizing this has both human mercenaries and werewolves working together. Mercy killed one of the werewolves tonight—he was enthralled by the moon. If he hadn't I am sure she would be dead and both of these pups would be either killed or taken back."
"Why would they send a half-crazed wolf with them? Seems pretty reckless."
They passed a semi and he put on his blinker for an exit. She closed her eyes again, refusing to imagine what could have happened if the boss had sent a more capable wolf with them rather than Frisky. "Indeed. Is Jesse near you?"
Who's that? Her ears pricked in mild interest as she fought off the beginning waves of sleep. The way Mr. Hauptman's voice softened as he said the name showed clear affection, and she wondered if this was his sweetheart or something.
"Hold a moment, I believe she is watching a movie with Auriele." The man called again for 'Jesse' and there was a quick shift as the phone was handed over to someone else.
More static and then a chipper, "Hey, Dad! I guess everything went okay?"
There was wry amusement in his voice as he answered, "You could say that. The pack will be coming over soon and I'll need you to stay out of the way for a while."
Ari could almost hear the eye roll the Alpha's daughter gave at that. "Yeah, I know, Dad. Something bad happen at Mercy's?"
"She found two wolves and a load of trouble as per usual."
She giggled, "But you like cleaning up her messes, right, Dad?"
"Jesse," he growled in warning and Ari slit one eye open to share a curious glance with Mac who was sitting up to watch the Alpha more closely. "When everyone arrives, I need you to run an errand for me."
"Really? Cool! I'll see you when you get home, Dad! Bye!" With a cheerful adieu, Jesse hung up the phone and Ari could only imagine the exasperation on the Alpha's face as he put his phone back in his pocket.
"My daughter is close around your age and believes herself to be very clever," he mused with quiet amusement.
She only snorted in reply. If the daughter of an Alpha werewolf could adjust and handle living or being around a bunch of werewolves 24/7 then Ari could do it too. Or at least, she could very well try.
~o~
Ari didn't know what heaven was supposed to be like or if she really believed in such a thing after everything that had happened, but as she inhaled another slice of raw steak she began to believe in it again. Mac was on the opposite side of the kitchen, eating his own meal with relish, and wagged his tail in pure happiness as he ate. She couldn't blame him this was the most either one of them have eaten in a long time. She could even ignore the fact that the intimidating black man feeding them said raw meat was standing right beside her.
On first entering the large house that lay just beside a river and had plenty of running space for thirty odd werewolves during a full moon, she was very calm and even excited despite how exhausted she still was. After Mr. Hauptman had given a slight warning to them both that other members of his pack were coming and they were to behave themselves, he'd little time to warn her of the tall werewolf rounding the corner with another female wolf. She'd been so startled and unprepared that she scrambled back toward the door, running into and nearly knocking over Mac in her haste, and winced as a table near the door fell over with crash. She hadn't touched it, but her mind was willing to throw anything and everything it could manipulate at the mistaken enemies who stood before her. Her heart was beating so quickly that she was positive that it would take flight at any moment and the panic that seized her was trying to choke her to death.
She'd told herself that she could handle meeting another male stranger, wolf or human, with no issue, but there were just somethings you can't immediately break. For years, she'd spent living in terror of men because they were the only ones she'd seen who'd inflict all the torture on her. Most of the werewolves they experimented on were males as she'd later found out that female werewolves were very rare because the Change was too hard on their bodies. And all the labcoats and the mercenaries took pleasure in hearing her scream and cry out whether it be the routinely 'hare vs. greyhound' or having fun with her human body when they were bored. There were plenty of other reasons why she'd lost all trust for the male population, but those two were the main reasons she couldn't be around them without panicking.
How could she be so damn weak? She used to be so much stronger than this, but that placed had gradually broken her down until she jumped at a leaf skidding along the ground. It was pathetic and so frustrating.
Mr. Hauptman was able to calm her down enough to get away from the front door and Auriele, the woman with long, waist length ebony hair pulled into a tight French braid, coaxed her further into the foyer. Fifteen minutes passed as no one breathed or moved as she slowly made her way back to the center of the room again. Mac whined, nudging her with his cold, wet nose before standing beside her for mental support. He may not have been there for as long as she, but he understood what she'd gone through better than any of them could have. It was comforting and she glanced up at Darryl hesitantly.
His eyes were a rich brown that was almost like the moist earth back home and his hair was just as neat and well-kept as Mr. Hauptman's. He towered over her with an air of a top notch professor despite his model-like features, but she had the mild impression that behind those velvety eyes was intelligence that went along well with that beautiful face. As much as she wanted to turn the other way and run, she had allowed him to touch her cheek and even Auriele scratched behind her ear soothingly. It was easier to stay calm with another woman around, less frightening. The muscles in her arms were well-toned and Ari watched them flexed a moment before moving away from her hand.
"Artemis, Mac. This is Darryl, my Second, and his mate, Auriele." Mr. Hauptman had introduced them with a quiet murmur and raised an eyebrow at someone peeking around the corner of what looked like the kitchen. "And, Jesse, my daughter."
Having been found out, the girl moved away from the doorframe and walked slowly toward her father with a smile. Her hair was short and blinding, the neon shade of orange she'd dyed it with too much for Ari's eyes. She may be three inches taller than Ari with smooth, light mocha flesh and twinkling eyes the same shade as her father's. There was mischief and laughter in that gaze as she gave her dad a hug and took both wolves in. The shirt she wore was a pale blue that brightened the dark sweats she had on that nearly devoured her small feet. Ari had watched her curiously as she said hello to them with a bright, cheerful grin that seemed to brighten her face even further.
Jesse's presence had eased the tension greatly and it was thanks to her that Ari relaxed enough that she gladly followed her, Mr. Hauptman, and the others into the kitchen to eat. Currently, Jesse was sitting on the countertop with her father on one side and another male wolf leaning against the countertop behind her. While he was almost just as tall as Darryl, his body was leaner in build—kinda like the high school swimming team from her previous school, with long torsos and lean builds. His skin was dark from many long hours spent outside and he wore a pair of cowboy boots and a hat to match. She'd never really met a cowboy and especially one who had a deeper drawl than hers. She had Texas relatives that lived just south of Austin, she'd yet to visit any of them before, but if they all sounded like that then she'd gladly make the trip. It was nice to hear a Southern drawl again, a familiar dialect that instantly reminded her of home.
He'd introduced himself with a genteel bow as Warren and he was Mr. Hauptman's Third, a rank that declared him third in line to become Alpha. Darryl had explained that bit to them after they stared blankly. There seemed to be a slight tension between Darryl and Warren, but she assumed that it was their ranks and how close they were in dominance that made them a little…hostile. Though, she didn't think that was the right word to describe it, she couldn't really think of a better term.
"So let me get this straight, Boss, Artemis and Mac have been a part of some rogue's drug testing project?" Warren drawled, raising a thick brow as he met his Alpha's eyes a moment before looking away. Staring into the eyes of a dominant wolf was asking for trouble, she'd been told, and if a wolf stared for too long then it could be seen as a challenge to that wolf's rank. "Seems a little unproductive if you ask me if that's the case."
"How so?" Darryl asked, dropping another cold steak onto her plate to eat. Honestly, she was beginning to get a little tired the more she ate, but she wanted to know what they thought of their situation.
"They buy newly turned wolves from an Alpha werewolf in Chicago or turn random people into werewolves themselves. Then begin to give them the drugs they have been creating, give it time to take effect, and let them loose in an enclosed space to chase after Artemis. Mac, here, runs away and they leave him be until now. Why not immediately track him down and bring him back? Did they purposefully let him go so he could run into an Alpha?"
Mr. Hauptman rubbed his chin in thought, "It's missing a few pieces, but I like the sound of it. However, most Alpha wolves would kill a new wolf like Mac without hesitancy. If they allowed him to escape, then they'd have to do it near the Tri-Cities."
"Adam's right. It couldn't just be any Alpha Mac had to run into. Adam wouldn't turn away a new pup, so that begs the question," Darryl said with a sigh. "Did they release him just for Adam to find him and take him? To take both of them in?"
"I'd been wondering why they would bring Artemis along to pick up Mac, but it is difficult to formulate the right scenario to fit her." Mr. Hauptman crossed his arms again and looked at his daughter with a gaze that was filled with protective anger. She watched the mild exchange with longing—longing to see her own father who'd always stare at her and Lily with that fierce drive to protect. God, she missed him and Mom. She missed all of them. "Jesse, go take Mercy her camera bag for me please. And tell her not to fret too much about him. He was a hired gun."
She wondered when he found the time to make his calls toward the network of contacts he had, but he most likely did while she was busy stuffing her face. If she remembered correctly, he had stepped out of the kitchen with both the camera and sheet of paper to head upstairs. She didn't think too much about it since she never realized how awesome raw meat was until just now.
Jesse nodded, picking up the camera bag and slinging it over a shoulder. "Okay! How long do you want me to stay?"
He rolled his eyes at his daughter, but nevertheless answered, "An hour or two."
She gave a mock salute with another giggle and skipped out of the kitchen.
The three men watched her go with mirth, Mr. Hauptman shaking his head at her silliness but there was still a fond smile pulling the edges of his lips upward. Once the backdoor shut smartly behind her, he said, "It seems like the group that did this wanted us to get involved no matter what. Bringing her along was insurance."
"You believe they are trying to lead us into a possible trap."
She shuddered at Darryl's implication of her and Mac possibly being the downfall to Mr. Hauptman's pack, but she was also curious why they had dragged her along too. It had been a strange day all around now that she thought about it. The night before had been the same as any other, being chased by werewolves who were too drugged up to really know what was going on and scientists who took note of her own responses. But instead of them returning for her after an hour of rest, she'd been left blessedly alone until later that day when Bald Guy had dragged her out of her cell. Granted her wounds weren't immediately healed after almost a full day but they were immensely better than the night before. They'd even given her some food that smelled somewhat decent and clean water. It was too sudden and weird that she'd refused to eat or drink no matter how many times they came to coax her toward the plastic plate.
She and her wolf both knew something was up, but she figured it was like they were giving her a last meal before they killed her. She'd accepted her fate and decided that she would go down with the same amount of rebellion and fight she'd given since first coming there. When Bald Guy finally came by late evening, he seemed both excited and nervous as he took her toward the SUV. But, their behavior hadn't been out of the ordinary except that the wolf they'd brought was one of the new ones the boss had turned to fill in the ranks. He was supposed to be learning to control himself better from what she heard, but instead he was sent out to die and maybe bring her along for the ride.
Maybe she wasn't even meant to be here in the first place and the wolf had been a means to kill her. He was already acting weird before they made it to Mercy's shop and it was probably luck alone that Mercy had been able to kill him and save her. Mac was probably the lure for Mr. Hauptman the entire time in order to gain attention for their awful crimes. But, why would they pick him to fall for their schemes? Was there some bigger picture that she just couldn't see?
Ari suddenly wished that Lily was here, she would be able to figure out what was happening. If she was here now instead of Ari, then maybe she could help the pack as well as Mac figure out a way to keep all of them safe. But, as per usual, she was useless.
"Let them," Mr. Hauptman said, a dangerous glint his eye. "I will not throw them out just because a bunch of humans and rogue wolves believe they can bring us to our knees."
Warren let out a small chuckle, it wasn't a particularly happy sound but it conveyed his anticipation for the possible battle well enough. "Right behind you, boss."
Darry nodded he stood up from his crouch to throw away the empty bags the steaks were in. He turned to the sink and began to wash his hands. "We should go introduce them to the others and get this meeting underway."
The front door had been opening and closing for the past thirty minutes as members of the pack drifted in. None of them entered the sanctity of the kitchen, though, having most likely been warned of how skittish she was toward wolves and men in general. As he dried his hands, he jerked his head toward Ari with a questioning look.
"No one will harm you anymore as long as you are with us, Artemis," Mr. Hauptman vowed, his face pulled into a taunt line that brook no argument. His words rang truer than anything she'd heard in a long time. "You only have to stand beside me while I formally introduce you to the pack. Warren can take you to one of the guest rooms so you may rest."
Warren smiled sweetly, "You'll be alright, hon. Ain't no one going to bother you again."
She nodded slowly, still somewhat hesitant as her heart fluttered nervously. Beside her, Mac nudged her with his shoulder and gave a wolfish grin. We're going to be okay, the grin said with an almost cheerful laugh. She could almost hear it if she concentrated enough, but it was only the whisper of her imagination attempting to give her some sort of peace. It helped that the laughter she imagined was Lily's bubbly giggles that were just as sweet and melodious as a church bell. She'd always had a nice voice; often times she'd sing to Ari when it felt like the world was caving in around them. Despite Ari being a minute older, their positions were switched when it came to matters of the mind and heart.
Ari took a deep breath and followed Mac out the kitchen with Darryl and Warren on either side of them while Mr. Hauptman led them through the throng of wolves. She refused to look at them although she felt several pairs of eyes pierce her thick fur to dig painfully into her flesh as they reached the front of the living room. Chairs and couches were moved off to the side, some wolves occupying the seats while others lined against the walls to give them plenty of space. There were a few who sat in the middle of the floor, leaving just enough space for paws and feet to dodge human limbs.
She knew they could all smell her terror, her entire body wreaked of it as she continued to watch the men gazing at her briefly before looking at their Alpha. It didn't help that she felt trapped, even though Warren and Darryl had made sure she could see an escape route. But what good was a chance to run when it was blocked by men who were strong enough to tear a person to bits with their hands alone? It was completely hopeless, the flashes of unwelcoming memories taking control of her thoughts as they shoved any reason and logic out the window. There was no reason to act this way, to be terrified by her own kind, but it was hard to remain standing when all she wanted to do was collapse in a heap. It felt like someone had taken hold of her throat and was squeezing it relentlessly, forcing her to gasp like the little weakling she was.
But, she wasn't weak. She'd endured so much and yet her mind had eventually been eroded away by the crashing sea. It was simple to heal the physical wounds, they knitted back together simultaneously; however, the emotional injuries required many laborious years to heal and often involved a lot of panic, fear, anger, and tears. Lots and lots of tears.
Her wolf surged to the surface then, wrapping her in its familiar warmth and soothing guttural purrs. She wasn't so alone and hopelessly scared anymore as the other half of her soul filled the holes left from constant abuse for her. The weight pressing heavily down on her chest and the force holding her airways captive by a clawed hand began to fade away into nothing. Returning to the phantoms that continued to plague her mind and threatening what little sanity she had left. Fortunately, she was beginning to learn that if she allowed it, then the wolf would lend her its strength in order to overcome the ghosts that continued to haunt her. Eventually, Ari hoped that she wouldn't have to rely so heavily on her wolf's quiet strength, but until then she'd accept its comfort.
She hadn't realized that she'd collapsed until her eyes opened to peer up at a frowning Mr. Hauptman. His fingers parted her fur into individual rivulets of burgundy fur and her head rested in his lap. Maybe she should work on breathing exercises when this is over if this was going to become a regular thing.
"Is she alright?" A soft spoken man sitting on one of the couches beside a beautiful, golden blonde woman asked. His eyes were gentle and kind, his demeanor unlike the other wolves within the room. There wasn't an overwhelming aura that tried to swallow her and she found that it was calming to know there were werewolves who weren't so intense. Especially a man that didn't seem he would hurt a fly.
Mr. Hauptman watched her closely, his eyes hawk-like in their sharpness and she remained still as he took in her condition. After a moment, he lifted his head to face the rest of the occupants. "I believe she will be."
"What on earth could have caused such a reaction? She about died of a heart attack." Someone said with a mixture of awe and amusement. One thing was for sure, she didn't very much appreciate a man giving a comment like that about her. Her eyes narrowed.
Instead of waiting for Mr. Hauptman to answer, she rolled off his lap and stood to her feet. Wary despite the calming presence of her wolf, she gave a small grin and a little wag of her tail to show she could continue. Some of the men were giving her mildly confusing looks at her quick recovery, but Mr. Hauptman seemed to understand somewhat as he raised a single eyebrow. He stood to his feet after two minutes of staring deeply into her soul with those intense eyes. She thought for sure she'd faint again, but she stood firm and tiptoed back until she was a little closer to Mac. His nose snorted into her ear before he licked her cheek, still clearly worried and wanting to reassure her in some way.
"I apologize for the minor upset we had. Artemis has had a…very bad experience and will need time to adjust." He indicated Mac with his hand, "This is Mac Frazier and they will both be joining the pack during the next full moon. I am sure most of you heard our discussion in the kitchen as you came in," No wonder none of the wolves stopped to greet their esteemed leader, they wanted to listen in on their conversation as long as they could to make their own judgements, "but there is not much we know about their situation. Artemis was turned against her will when she was thirteen and has been with this rogue group of mercenaries and wolves for nearly four years. Until she can Change back we will be unable to learn anything more. Mac was turned two months ago and sold for a high price by another werewolf. Both of their attacks occurred in Chicago and Mercy informed me that the wolves they collected were used as test subjects for an unknown drug."
He paused, allowing anyone who wished to give input or possibly object to his announcement to speak. But they remained dutifully silent and waited for their Alpha to continue. "There is not much information on the drug they were testing on the wolves, but we are sure that this will not be last we hear of them." He gave a cruel smile, his dark eyes mixing with streaks of pale gold. "Anyone who hurts children deserve to be punished, don't you agree?"
The pack murmured in agreement, their voices rising as one as their individual discussion of what Mr. Hauptman had told them spread. He watched them debate and discuss quietly, his gaze drifting over each of his wolves. Without turning away, he murmured to Darryl, "I don't see Ben."
No other word was needed as his Second left the room without another word and she watched him go with interest before turning back to the lively room. She didn't think anyone was going to start a brawl, but it was clear that most of them were angry and a few were anxious—their collective scents drifting into her nostrils and clouding it until it was all she could smell. Mac sat down beside her, his eyes full of curiosity, and his tail wagged slightly.
He was getting excited the longer he watched and she nudged him with her nose. No need to seem too happy about joining a group of strangers who seem a little wary of them both just yet, but he was still very much a pup that reacted on impulses. While she was somewhat more experience when it came to being a werewolf, there was still a lot she needed to learn. Though really, if there was anything she'd come to understand it was that balance was necessary in order to survive. He would come to understand that if Mr. Hauptman took them under his wing and showed Mac the ropes. It was going to be a long process, but at least no one would die due to an out of control werewolf.
She yawned, her jaw cracking a little, and before she could lie down to nap while they continued their talk, Warren tapped her on the head with chuckle. He jerked his thumb toward the door that led to the kitchen and she lumbered out with groggy slowness. If he was willing to take her to a quieter room where she could sleep then she'd follow him all the way to the depths of Hell. The cowboy had to direct her toward the easiest path out of the room and by the time she was finally free from the tension, she felt ready to fall asleep right then and there. It had been a long time since she'd felt so full and satisfied, and she hoped it continued for many days to come as Warren led her up the stairs.
Ari immediately smelled Mr. Hauptman as they reached the top of the stairs, his scent stronger toward the left while Jesse's veered off to the right. She followed Warren all the way to the end of the hall where he opened a guest bedroom door for her. Her gaze spotted the made-up bed like a moth to a flame and she hopped onto it with a quiet sigh.
Warren laughed softly, his eyes warm as he watched her settle deeper into the sheets. "There are clothes in the dresser if you decide to Change back."
Her tail thumped against the bed to show she'd heard him and he laughed again as he shut the door with a soft click.
~o~
It took her a few tries for her to find the right drawers that held the unisex clothing and even another couple of minutes before she finally found some sweats. Since she had no underwear, she'd prefer something loose instead of the several pairs of jeans and regular shirts she found. It felt so good to wear clothes again and she took a moment to revel in the soft material brushing lightly against her skin. She sighed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of the detergent Mr. Hauptman used. The sweet smell of lavender drifted into her nose but it was quickly overcome by the scent of fear, blood, and death. Shivers wracked her spine and her fingers gripped her arms a little too strongly.
"You're okay. You're okay. You're okay," she whispered desperately, forcing herself to breathe deeply. She lowered herself until she was in a mere crouch, hugging her knees and continuing her mantra between the meditative gasps. The nightstand and bed began to levitate off the ground, the dresser behind her was attempting to join them as her control over telekinesis wavered. She gritted her teeth and forced them to return to the ground. Just because she was currently in the middle of a freak out didn't mean the rest of the room had to join in with her.
Gradually, the tightness in her chest loosened as she focused on the sounds of the others downstairs. Mr. Hauptman sounded like he was in the kitchen, fiddling with pots and pans, and there was the distinctive scent of pancakes and eggs being cooked. Bare feet padded down the hallway toward her room and passed Jesse's who was rustling around in her bed. There wasn't a hint of the pack in the house anywhere, no matter how hard she strained her hearing. That alone seemed to bring her down from her panic as she opened her eyes and lifted her head. Relieved, Ari pulled herself to her feet and walked toward the door a little unsteadily. She hoped she could take a shower and get rid of all the grime that covered her for four years off.
Mac blinked, surprised to see her up and running again, his hand poised to tap on her door. He stood there in front of her and didn't say a word for the longest time. Finally, "Uh, Adam said to wake you up."
"Well, I'm up." She smiled and that seemed to release whatever tension he felt. "I think I'm gonna take a shower first though."
"Okay," his grin was infectious as he bounded away. "I'll try to save you some pancakes."
Ari raised a brow at the challenge, "You better or I'll make ya cry, kid."
"As if you could!" He laughed, turning around to walk backwards with his arms crossed behind his head. His eyes twinkled in elation at their mild teasing and she could feel it too. The sense of normality that had been lost to them for the longest time. "Bathroom's here, by the way." He pointed to another closed door and gave another grin before sprinting back down the stairs.
She shook her head, a faint smile twitching her lips as she headed toward the bathroom. As she entered, the warm palette Mr. Hauptman had chosen for the guest bath making her feel welcomed. The single vanity and mirror was to her right and held an assortment of toiletries, all of which were probably Jesse's. The shower and bath combo were directly across from the door with a curtain depicting black swirly designs. She took care of her bladder and headed toward the sink to wash her hands. While she didn't want to look into a mirror ever, curiosity won out as her gaze lifted to the mirrored image of herself.
Words could not describe the current condition of her face and hair. It was like she stepped out of a horror film, covered in dried blood that was caked all over her wild locks, her neck, and face. Her once dark skin from years of spending in the hot sun back in the South was suddenly ghostly pale, and she looked like a vampire rather than a werewolf from the bloodshot eyes to the bluish hue of her full lips. Thin scars, too faint for the human sight, decorated her cheeks, flowing like endless designs a body paint artist had brushed along her flesh. She knew her hair was well past her waist but it was difficult to tell from how knotted it was. What terrified her the most about finally seeing herself in the mirror again was the indescribable agony and dying sapphire eyes that stared right back at her. They were large and framed by dark lashes that did very little to hide the dimness in her gaze. The life that once made the precious jewels glow with joy and mischief having nearly been destroyed. Ari couldn't bear to stare into the reflection's dim gaze any longer, its near hollowness frightening and heart-wrenching.
She refused to glance down at the rest of her body as she stripped out of the sweats and turned the shower to scalding. Her breath hissed between her clenched teeth as the spray attacked her skin like thousands of bees protecting their honey. The weight of her dark locks forced her to brace her hand against the wall as she ran her fingers through them carefully, removing any leaves or sticks that had gotten stuck. It took a long time and helped her concentrate on finally feeling clean again instead of the harsh truth the mirror had revealed. By the time she finished washing her hair, she owed Jesse a new bottle of conditioner and peach scented body wash (she'd scrubbed her skin raw and the pinkish tint the water turned at her feet almost had her hyperventilating).
The mirror was covered in steam when she exited the shower, safely wrapped in a fluffy towel, and began the long, unfortunate task of brushing out her hair. With all the conditioner it took to wash all of it, she should consider herself lucky that it was easier to brush out the tangles. It took longer than she'd have liked as her stomach began to gurgle its complaints. She searched through the drawers a moment before finding a ponytail holder for the long ass braid she was about to do. Her fingers and arms ached afterward, but she felt immensely better by the time she redressed and left the bathroom. She felt lighter than when she'd entered somehow and as she padded down the hallway to head downstairs, she realized that most of her ailments were almost completely healed.
She could hear Mac stuffing his face halfway downstairs and twin orbs of the bluest oceans rolled as she rounded the corner. He was sitting at the breakfast table with a peaceful, happy grin on his lips as he savored the syrup and buttery pancakes. Ari sighed contentedly at the wondrous scent of bacon crackling in the pan and maple syrup mixing with melted butter on pancakes. Having heard her enter, Mr. Hauptman glanced over a shoulder to regard her with a critical eye before nodding in approval. She couldn't be sure what he saw that made him relieved since she looked like death was only a mere breath away, but maybe he could see something she couldn't.
"Good, Mac said you looked a lot better." He nodded at the empty plate beside him, "Stack up as much as you want."
She settled next to a chowing Mac who barely greeted her and began to eat with a little more finesse. Eating all that raw meat earlier had stagnated the cramps she felt from refusing to eat the past several weeks. Between bites, she asked, "How long was I asleep?"
"Few hours," Mac grunted, pausing long enough to take long gulp of orange juice.
Ari thumped him on the shoulder and glared at him pointedly until he calmed his hunger craze. It was one thing to be practically starving and eating like a barbarian when a wolf, but to do it as a human was just plain rude and disgusting. "So…the others left?"
Mr. Hauptman finished the last set of bacon strips and began to load his plate down with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He sat across from the two teenagers with a tired sigh. "Yes, the last of them headed home about an hour ago."
"Before you ask, Artemis, the rest of the meeting went smoothly," he said, interrupting her next question. "While there are a few who object to your presence, the majority agreed that we cannot simply turn the other way and throw the two of you out on the streets. Or…" He hesitated a second, his brows scrunching together as the fork paused just before reaching his mouth. "In any case, Artemis, you will stay with us and we can help you find your missing sister."
"Ari," she corrected, unable to take it anymore. "It's weird for anyone to call me by my full name, Mr. Hauptman."
"I see," he chewed, watching Mac finish the last of his pancakes with amusement. "Then I would prefer it if you called me Adam instead of Mr. Hauptman." His teeth peeked out from thin lips in a kind grin but it only reminded her of the predator that lived behind that handsome face and reassuring smile. She appreciated the gesture anyway, knowing full well that the wolf tended to rise to the surface at random times.
She nodded, taking a bite out of her eggs and bacon. "And you'd help me look for Lily? Why?"
His answer was immediate and firm, there was no uncertainty in his words or hints of a falsity in his gaze as he met her eyes. "We look after our own—that is what a pack does as a whole. We protect, comfort, and lend a hand when it's needed. You could say that the pack acts as a family that turns furry occasionally."
Mac watched them converse with curiosity but chose to remain silent as he placed his plate in the sink to be washed later. She could sense his eyes boring holes into her back as he waited for her answer. Hell, she was waiting for her answer too. Adam sounded so sincere, trustworthy, and confident that it was hard to dispute what he had said. How could anyone trust so easily after undergoing horrible trials for so long? It was bad enough that she couldn't handle being around large crowds of people in general without having a miniature freak out, and she'd become so paranoid and jumpy of anyone that it was difficult to act like the kid she was. Nearly seventeen years old and she couldn't even get dressed without feeling the walls collapse on her. Couldn't look at her own reflection without panicking or despising what she saw. Hating how pathetic and weak she appeared; the pallid complexion and the almost dead look in her eyes had frightened her more than anything she'd ever experienced before.
She scowled, staring at her plate still full of pancakes and syrup. Was it okay to believe that Adam and his pack could help her? To make her feel whole again and find Lily? Her father used to say, "The first step of relearning to trust is to take the risk of being betrayed again."
Maybe…Maybe it was time she took that first step. Ari took a deep breath and lifted her head. "Okay."
Mac released a sigh of relief while Adam simply nodded his consent of her verbal agreement to welcome his assistance. The brunette boy grinned happily at her as he patted her shoulder, sitting back in his chair with a new glass of juice. She eyed it with a furrowed brow as she concentrated on the tall glass. It began to twitch like an earthworm squirming on the pavement in the summer heat and her mouth twerked into a smirk as it slid across the table toward her open palm. His flabbergasted gasp was hysterical as Ari took a long gulp, just to show off that she'd stolen it with little trouble. Adam's hawk eyes missed nothing as he stared at her with an emotion she couldn't quite place.
In the end, the doorbell saved her from having to answer any questions about her special talent and Mac jumped up to get it with a huff. "You could've just gotten your own."
Her laughter followed him down the hallway as she called out, "You shoulda learned to guard your own food, kid!"
"Since when is this war!" Despite the heat in his words, there was laughter in his eyes as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Since I've grown up with a bunch of heathen brothers who don't know anythin' 'bout table manners." She waved him away and returned back to her meal only to see that she'd devoured all of it. With a pout, she stood up to go for seconds.
The ringing echo of a gun going off as soon as the front door opened stopped her in her tracks. She dropped the plate as a heavy thud followed the quick, familiar pop! of a tranquilizer gun. Fear kept her rooted to the spot as Adam rounded the corner leading to the hallway with a look mixed with anger and surprise. There was another series of pops from the foyer and she heard Adam crumble to his knees with a slight groan.
"Where's the bitch? She's here somewhere too, ain't she?" A voice she'd recognize anywhere from its attempts to imitate a patronizing and concerned father. Bald Head stomped through the living room and the accompanying sounds of more booted feet had her scrambling for a plan.
She couldn't hope to fight them off by herself or even call for help in case they had several werewolves with them. And humans would be able to hear her raggedy whispers if they got too close to the kitchen. There were the rooms upstairs she could try to lock herself in until someone heard the commotion, but they would see her and possibly hit her with a dart before she made it to the top. Her air left her lungs with a breathless gasp and she quickly covered her mouth, rushing over to an empty nook between the fridge and stove.
Jesse.
Jesse's all alone upstairs and doesn't know the danger. What if she comes down? Ari swallowed, clutching her shirt and flicking her eyes around the kitchen with crazed vigilance. Her heart was beating too fast, her brain was working at a hundred miles per minute, and she was sure her body was about to collapse due to fear alone.
But, she couldn't just stand by while those men searched the house for her. They'd eventually find Jesse—Jesse who was a human girl with practically no experience to the malignant intent the world had to offer. Ari wouldn't allow Adam's daughter to undergo the same treatment, and if she wanted to do that then she needed to get her ass movin'.
There was a lot of noise where Adam had been shot, several curses and grunts as they possibly lifted him from the ground then a clanking of something metal being dragged across the floor. A man she hadn't realized entered the kitchen pulled one of the tables out and Ari held her breath, praying that he wouldn't turn and see her. If he glanced out the corner of his eye as he exited, he could've easily spotted her hiding like a little mouse. She didn't release her breath until he was completely gone and thanked God that he hadn't been a werewolf, otherwise, she'd be spotted immediately.
Ari left her hiding nook with cautious steps, tiptoeing toward the doorframe that led toward the staircase. She fought the urge to make a run for it and clenched her fists as she dared a peek. There were several large, heavily armed men surrounding what she assumed was Adam as they muttered about what was the best way to restrain him. A single woman with short hair cut in a pixie-like style stood off to the side with a bored expression. Beside her was another man with skin so dark that there were hints of gold and purple hiding the thick veins of his arms. His eyes were infuriated as he watched the spectacle before him, and like Adam he had the same erect back as well as a neat, military style haircut. She could see him belonging in the Marine Corp no problem, but she couldn't understand why he'd be angry about what was happening to a man who had taken in two troublesome pups. Moreover, why would he care how the humans handled Adam and Mac?
Mac. Her eyes searched for his body lying unconscious somewhere nearby, but there was no sign of him and she didn't dare poke her head out any further. Werewolves are tough, Ari. He'll be alright. He's gotta be okay.
She looked back over her shoulder, making sure no one had entered the kitchen again, and searched the nearby hallways to see if anyone was nearby. Maybe if she timed it just right, she could zip up the stairs toward Jesse's room without the two spectators from seeing her. They were the only ones who were facing the stairs while the rest were focused on Adam. She poked her head back out, revealing just enough of her face for her eyes to see. Ari held her breath and slowly released it as she waited. The two continued to watch, one out of boredom and the other out of growing irritation, before the man stalked forward, saying something under his breath she couldn't quite catch. The woman zeroed her gaze on him and Ari took her chance.
Her footsteps were quick and feather light as she took the stairs two at a time. She didn't look to see if anyone had seen or heard her, instead Ari rushed over the white carpet with anxiety. God, please let Jesse's door be unlocked, she called out desperately as her hand fastened over the knob and turned it swiftly to the right. She shoved the burst of giddiness at the door being unlocked and the hinges well-oiled so they wouldn't creak. Her eyes adjusted to the pitch blackness of the room with ease and she located the lump hiding underneath the covers with relatively quickness. She shut the door as quietly as she could and locked it.
It was hard maneuvering over the typical teenage hurricane that was Jesse's room, but she managed somehow and nudged the girl with a hand. She moaned, muttering for a few minutes to sleep in some more and Ari really hoped no one knew that Adam's daughter was up here. They'd eventually climb the stairs in order to search for her, but until then she needed to get Jesse out of here.
"Jesse," she hissed, shaking her harder with relentless force. "Wake up."
Groggily, the other teenager opened her eyes to stare blearily into Ari's urgent face. Fear, bitter and potent, slammed into her nostrils as the recognition and realization both crashed into Jesse's protected world. Her voice was too loud in the dark room for Ari's liking so she signaled frantically for her to lower her volume. "What's going on? Where's Dad?"
Ari ignored her questions and shifted until she could keep an eye on the door. "Is there a place you can hide? Where's yer phone?"
"Don't have one…" Her words trailed off as a snarl erupted from below them and a hollowed crash sent goosebumps across the teenagers' arms. If Ari wasn't already scared, then she was even more so as an alarmed shout reverberated off the house's walls. "Artemis, what do we do?"
"We need to get out of here before they find us," she pulled her off the bed and toward the window. The sun was just barely peeking out over the horizon, the pink hue illuminating the river as well as the back pasture that held a junk car in the middle of it. Beyond it and over a chain link fence was an old trailer with another very old looking car she'd never seen before. The next nearest neighbor couldn't be seen for another mile so there wasn't anywhere they could go without endangering anyone. "Who lives next door?"
"Mercy, but it's too far of a jump from the roof." Jesse glanced over her shoulder nervously, the snarls and growls growing steadily louder. Ari could hear it too; the startled shouts of orders being given as furniture was broken or thrown. She hoped that it was Adam giving them this much of a hard time as she pulled the window open. Jesse shuddered against the cool air and looked back at her with wide eyes. "We can't make that jump!"
She hissed right back, her eyes darkening to the wolf's as the instinct to survive or fight to the death overcame her fear. "I'm not goin' back there, Jesse. You can't make the jump, but I can." Without another word, Ari turned her back, crouching down for Jesse to climb on, and held her arms out beside her to grab the other girl's legs.
Still unsure and scared stiff, Jesse shuffled over with mechanical precision and her fingers quivered like the shivering leaves in the fall. Ari gritted her teeth, fighting to remain in control because if she tried to change then it would take too long to complete and both she and Jesse would be left vulnerable. They didn't have that kind of time to waste and she knew without a doubt that Jesse would hesitate too long to accept a piggyback on a werewolf. Calm down, calm down. Y'all are gonna get outta here alive. Just jump out the window. Run for Mercy's. Call for help.
The door to Jesse's bedroom exploded inward from a well-placed kick and both girls jerked back as the wooden splinters splattered across their cheeks. Ari shoved the human girl back with a snarl, the wolf coming forward as primal instincts finally won. Jesse screamed, stumbling backwards and into the closet door where several hanging clothes fell on top of her head. It was Bald Head, his eyes blazing with panic and rage as he rushed toward Ari, his tranq gun in its holster. Her eyes flashed, the rippling growl surrounding the room as she lunged forward, her hands going for the man's face. His yelp barely met her ears before something furry and heavy leapt over him to grab her by the shirt. Blindly, her mind latched onto the nearest and heaviest object in the room and chunked it at the werewolf's head.
It released her before it could get a hold of her neck and the nightstand slammed into his shoulder with an earsplitting boom. Bald Head rushed by her while she was still trying to stand up and grabbed a shouting Jesse by her arm and threw her over his shoulder. Ari stumbled to her feet, her fingers just barely brushing against Jesse's frantically outstretched hand. The terror in her eyes were palpable as she was taken further away from Ari, the cries for her father and for her sending the wolf into a crazier stupor.
While she was busy fretting over Jesse being taken right from under her nose, Ari had completely forgotten about the werewolf in the room. It crashed into her with its claws and teeth sending jolts of agony through her abdomen and back as the window frame cracked at the force of her impact. She banged her fists against the wolf's head, willing drawers from Jesse's dresser to hit the it over and over. Blood soaked into her shirt as it tried to eat her and the more desperate she grew, the less active her rational mind became. Her teeth lengthened and she bent down, clamping her jaws on the wolf's nose with a desperate growl. It howled, picking her up by the waist and throwing her out the window.
Ari screamed wordlessly, squeezing her eyes shut as the ground rushed up to catch her. The grassy earth slammed into her back, sending jolts of pain through her body as something (probably her entire vertebrae) shattered. Black dots swirled around in her line of sight before quickly overtaking her vision as consciousness gave up the fight relatively quickly.
An engine, powerful and loud, roared to life and she could've sworn that someone shouted her name in panicked concern before fading away.
