I followed her from a safe distance, unsure how much the instincts had taken over. If I got too close to her, she might attack me. I didn't want to have stitches again. The doctors would get suspicious. Three times in one month would have made them call the cops or at least a social worker. She stopped by the creek and lapped up the water. I moved closer to her, making sure I was downwind so she wouldn't be able to smell me coming. I barked to see how she would react. She spun around and growled, which I had expected. I began to back up but when her tail began to wag, I knew I was safe. She had yet to be completely transformed (there were still traces of human in her). I was only here to check on her and to make sure she was safe. As soon as I ascertained that she was, I turned around and ran home. I didn't want to be around when the transformation was done – none of us had ever stayed wolves long enough for it to happen but I had been warned it was dangerous.
I got home shortly after sunset and just in time for dinner. I entered through our special wolf door and ran up the back staircase. Christa opened the door to the bathroom for me and I slid in. I showered as fast as I could so that my dinner wouldn't get cold and changed into sweats. I jogged down the front stairs and went into the dining room. Christa and Conrad were already sitting down and I could hear their parents in the kitchen.
"So Maya, how's Cat doing?" My aunt called out from the kitchen as Uncle Sam brought out the salad bowl.
"Well she didn't attack me today, which means she must have turned back, if only for a minute or two. She seems to be eating well, so I guess she's okay. Have you heard from Sam or her brothers yet?"
"Sam called last night and said they had traced the vampire to Iowa. Apparently there's a family of vampires, just as eager to get him. Sam has yet to meet up with them though, but he's pretty sure it's the Cullens." My aunt Leslie said, coming in with the breadbasket and lasagna.
"Yeah, he's probably right. Cat was rooming with Alice and Rosalie. I'm glad they've traced him. I don't think Cat will last much longer."
"I know dear, but as a wolf he can't track her. She's only safe in that form, even a few minutes of being human could hone him to her."
"You're right. It's just, I'm worried about her."
"Cat's a strong girl. Don't fret too much." My uncle said as he situated himself at the head of the table.
"Chris, dear, the bread's too hot, don't touch it yet." My aunt said as she passed around plates. I took one from her and loaded it with food. A day as a wolf always got me hungry.
"So is Zack coming home for Christmas?" I looked at my aunt as Conrad finished asking. This was an iffy topic. Zack's werewolf gene hadn't set in yet and he only had two years left before he stayed a human for life.
"I don't think so honey, but everyone else will be here."
"Sam too?" Christa's face lit up at the thought of seeing her older brother. She missed him a lot more than she let on.
"Yes dear. He wants to check on Cat. He's bringing her mom too."
"More like he wants to see Katie." Uncle Sam snorted. I laughed as my aunt punched his arm.
"You were just as bad, you know." She said, kissing his cheek. I rolled my eyes and hoped I wouldn't be as cheesy when I imprinted.
Padded footsteps alerted the red wolf to another's presence. She pricked her ears up and listened carefully. As they got closer to her cave, the red wolf stood and waited. A white wolf peered into the entrance and the red wolf relaxed. She knew this wolf. It sometimes came to visit. The white wolf disappeared behind a rock and came out as the white girl.
"Hey Cat," The white girl said softly. "Merry Christmas. Your mom is here and she wants to talk to you. Do you think you could do that?" The red wolf understood the white girl's language but she did not trust her. She growled. The white girl put her hands up in defense. "Alright, I'll tell her no." The white girl became the white wolf again and left.
The red wolf paced back and forth in confusion. Why was her mother here? They hadn't seen each other in many moons – when she still walked on two legs. Her recollection of her mother was blurry and she did not want to see her. She did not want to remember anything from that life – it still pained her even though the memories had dimmed.
The red wolf peered silently out of her cave. It had been two sunrises since the strange woman had appeared. The woman had wanted to show her something – there had been white squares in her arms. The red wolf had growled but the strange woman had continued to insist. It had almost turned into a fight, but the white wolf had intervened. The white wolf had dragged the strange woman away. The red wolf did not want to encounter the strange woman again. She scanned the area once more and set out to hunt.
The red wolf ran through the trees. Swiftly and surely. She had no worries except where to go next. Up ahead was a creek. She slowed down and dipped her mouth to lap up the cold clean water. It had been three moons since she had last walked on two legs.
A swoosh of air brought the delicious smell of white tailed deer. Without a second thought, the red wolf leaped over the creek and followed the smell. She could hear them grazing in the pasture up ahead. The grass was ripe and green. She halted behind a big pine tree and stalked her prey. She sensed movement to her right but ignored it, intent on catching a meal. She crouched down low and inched along the grass on her belly. When she was close enough she hurdled her body forward and chased the deer closest to her. Using her powerful muscles she brought it down and dug her teeth into its neck, easily snapping it in half.
A second before ripping it open and feasting, the red wolf looked up. In front of her was a black wolf looking at her with amazement. How did a lone female wolf take down a healthy stag? She looked at him with contempt and began to rip through the thick deerskin. Her look sent a wave of indignation through him and his throat involuntarily growled. The red wolf looked up surprised and moved her body so that he could eat too. The black wolf's growl halted and he accepted her invitation. The two wolves ate together silently, tearing the stag to bits.
The red wolf peered out from her cave, looking around warily. She wondered if the noise had driven the black wolf away. Ever since she had met him one moon ago, he had been her constant companion and protector. It confused her endlessly. She didn't want a mate – she'd much rather be alone.
The noise came again – like someone was ripping trees right out of the ground. She left the security of her cave to investigate the strange noise. In the four moons she had been here, there had never been anything out of the ordinary. She followed the noise and stuck to the shadows as it got louder.
There was a man with dark brown hair and rugged features. His face triggered a memory…one from a long time ago. A time when I wasn't a red wolf. When my hearing and sight was weak, when I walked on two legs. I stepped closer, trying to remember. He ripped out another tree.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are…" His voice did it. The memory rushed back – pitch darkness, a basement, blood running down my face. I growled furiously. I was no longer afraid of anything - he was my prey now. I stalked closer, always keeping him in view. I was unsure whether he had heard me yet or not.
"Come on, my pretty, I need you." His back was to me. Now was my chance. I tensed my muscles and leaped – aiming for his throat. He turned around just as I was inches away from him and jumped out of my reach. "A werewolf?"
I began my hunting dance, getting closer and then skittering away, waiting for the perfect moment. He smiled eerily.
"So…part vampire and part werewolf. That's even more interesting. Perhaps, I'll make a pet out of you." I growled fiercely, daring him on. "I wouldn't be so confident, sweet one, you're all by yourself aren't you?" As he spoke, another vampire appeared behind him. It must have been his mate. She was blonde with high cheekbones and a gaze that pierced your core. Her skin was deathly white – even for a vampire. She was gorgeous.
"This is the one?" She asked him.
"Yeah, she's the one." His mate grimaced.
"She had to be a werewolf as well? I hate getting dirty."
"Deal with it." She rolled her eyes at him and I slinked closer.
"Why you want her is beyond me." I crouched lower on the ground, where they would find it harder to grab me. She made a noise of distaste and as he turned to look at her, I leaped. I was able to tear a piece of his ear off before his mate reacted. She rammed herself into my side and I slid away. I heard a large crack from my ribs and groaned in pain.
The black wolf returned just at that moment and hurled himself at the blonde. He shred her arm to pieces, snarling wildly. Behind him were three other wolves – a dark gray, a white, and an older gray one. Two of them formed a circle around the male vampire and began to close in on him. The third went to help the black wolf with the blonde. I could hear them rip the vampires to pieces. I slowly got up, trying hard to ignore the pain that was steadily building.
"Cat!" The word and voice sounded familiar. From my time as a two legger. "Cat!" The strange woman ran up to me as the wolves finished their task. I tried to defend myself but was too sluggish and she reached me while I was still half on the ground. She threw her arms around me.
"Mom, watch out!" Another familiar voice. I was trying to put the pieces together but my instinct to flee was overpowering. "She's been a wolf for four months. Her instincts are to kill you not cuddle." Then it hit me. I was Cat. The strange woman, wasn't strange at all, she was my mother. The wolves dealing with the vampire must be the O'Reilleys and the second voice was Charlie, my older brother. My body shuddered and soon I had two legs once more.
"Oh my poor darling. My precious. You're bleeding."
"Um…here mom." Charlie handed her his shirt and my mom draped it over me. "We'd better get her to a hospital." Once I was safe in his arms, I let myself black out to fight the pain from my ribs.