Chapter 8 - Betrayal

I couldn't sleep at all this night.

I lay awake, tossing from side to side, but sleep didn't come.

My mind was blank. Maybe it was self protection that didn't allow me to draw the conclusions that would definitely upset me enough to phase right now, right here.

I was sure that my mind would start working again all of a sudden. I couldn't guarantee for anything.

The dawn broke slowly outside my window and I scrambled out of bed to stand by the window sill.

My eyes scanned the forest, still dark and mysterious. Birds sang and I could hear the wind softly brushing the leaves. This scenery should have made me feel lighter, calming me down. But instead, my body was still tensed. Just like anything might leap at me from behind.

I turned around and shrieked when I saw Mikala standing motionlessly in the door frame.

He didn't say a word. He only glared at me. The grief for his friend was still in his eyes, but it was overpowered by something else.

"What... do you want?", I stuttered.

"Talk to you."

My heart started racing. "About... what?"

"How much do you believe about all these legends?"

I took an involuntary step back from the fierce edge in his voice. It sounded threatening, like he might... eliminate me because I knew too much?

"Why?"

"What do you know about them anyway?"

"Nothing.", I lied.

He stepped into the room. "I'm not buying that."

"Fine!", I snapped. "Believe what you want."

"I've been asking what you know!", he shouted back at me. I perceived he was shaking from anger. What had I done to him? Why did he come in here and demand an explanation?

"See, I don't get your point! You're making a fuss because I read a book of Hawaiian legends. And now, you come here and blame me. What's going on here?"

"Nothing is going on.", he almost growled.

"So your friend died in a car crash, right?"

The words slipped out too rashly to hold them back. His face twisted into a grimace of hurt and anger.

"Of course he did. Would you claim something else?"

"Stop lying to me!", I yelled. I felt too late that I was losing it. Too late to stop the shaking.

The anger flashed through me, unleashing the wolf instincts I'd been holding back for long.

With a snarl and an explosion, I phased into my wolf form.

Mikala stood at the wall and looked paralyzed and shocked.

Horrified, I turned and jumped through the window, shattering the glass. I started running as soon as I landed on the ground. I was way beyond enjoying my stride this time. My head spun and I felt hideously terrible.

I'd betrayed everything.

How could I ever go back?

After I'd crossed the whole forest in a few minutes, I skidded to a stop. I didn't want to run along the freeway without cover.

So it happened. I'd given the secret away in the worst way possible. I'd endangered a human.

I would never be able to come before the eyes of my pack brothers.

Plus, I had scared my host family to death.

I supposed I was homeless now. How could I ever dare to go back to Rebecca?

I let myself fall onto the forest floor and let out a low wail. This was the best way out for my grief in this form.

Leah!

I got to my feet in the fraction of a second.

I would say I'm glad you're there if only you could say the same. Instead... you want to hear 'I'm sorry'? That was a familiar voice.

Seth!, I thought incredulously.

Cool thing I can actually hear you over there.

I didn't reply to his excitement. Instead, I gave him a replay of what I'd just done. After that, I ran through all the strange things I'd come across within the last week – the legends, the conversations, the newspaper article.

Seth listened speechlessly until I finished.

There are werewolves on Hawaii, too?

What?, I replied. Suddenly, it fell into place. You got it, Seth. I didn't.

Really? Wow.

Is anyone else around right now? Where's Jacob?

The same as ever – you want me to get him?

I could feel him tense for the run already.

No, give it a rest. Help me figure the rest out first.

You haven't?

No. I've been trying not to solve any mystery here. I wanted to be human here. And there, all I get is another bunch of shitty myth crap!, I cussed.

Seth didn't share my opinion of course. He tried to hide a thought, but it slipped out anyway.

It can't take too long to swim the ocean to Hawaii.

Seth, are you crazy?

No. It'll be fun. The pack will come over and hunt up those vampires.

I don't think so.

Let's see what Jacob says. His voice was smug. Did he really believe he could lure Jacob away from his Renesmee just to kill a bunch of leeches far away from home?

Okay – maybe the first part wouldn't be easy, but the second part would do the job.

Would you please wait, anyway? He'll know soon enough.

He sighed impatiently. Fine.

So... there are vampires on the Big Island., I prompted.

Yes. And?

I thought you could tell me.

I can only tell you my theory.

Go ahead, then, already.

He hesitated. I picked the thought from his mind regardless.

What if there are werewolves on Hawaii? But... different ones? Werewolves that cannot defeat vampires?

What kind of werewolf would that be?, I asked ironically. Useless.

No!, Seth exclaimed. Remember the stories you read!

I tried to find the clue, but my mind was still not working right. Tell me., I demanded impatiently.

The man-eating spirits.

I remembered my reaction to that and how I'd drawn a connection to bloodsuckers at once.

There were shape-shifter dogs, you said. And they defeated the man-eating spirits. But they are not the same as vampires! He was excited by his assumption.

That's what Mikala said, too., I allowed.

Mikala is a weredog!, Seth resumed, seeming absolutely thrilled. They can take down spirits, but not real vampires. We ought to help them!

I rolled my eyes. Why did he have to jump to that conclusion?

Let me tell Jake, please!

I pictured him bouncing up and down like he'd done as a little boy.

He sighed. Why not? He'll know anyway.

Would you please let me think about this further before you set the pack on red alert?

What's there to think about? He itched for the fight. Oh, great.

I was distracted from the conversation when I heard the thrumming of heavy paws on the forest floor. I cocked my head and listened.

Before I could see anything, the wind shifted and I smelled them. I smelled a pack of canines coming my way.

Seth was alert, too. He longed to be with me right now and was annoyed he could only see it through my eyes.

They brushed through the woods at full speed. An instant later, seven large dogs – about the size of ponies, but still much smaller than me – came into view. When they caught sight of me, they slowed and paced in my direction warily, forming a loose line.

I stepped forward with confidence. I knew I could not take seven of them, although I figured that they couldn't be nearly as strong as I was. There couldn't be so much power necessary to destroy a spirit.

I was braced for anything as I stood there, staring them down. Seth watched eagerly, every muscle of his twitching in anticipation.

"Leah."

My head jerked around at the sound of my name. This was something I wasn't braced for.

There was no human around and it wasn't Seth's voice.

I turned back to the dogs, hoping my distraction hadn't been a disadvantage.

"Leah." I started again, but this time the voice was clearly from in front of me.

Yeesh, a speaking dog., Seth snickered in my head.

I stared back at the big dark brown dog in front of me. It looked not like any dog breed I recognized, but I didn't know much about dog breeds anyway.

"Leah. You've been scaring me to death. Well, almost."

I didn't grasp his meaning. I needed Seth's sharp senses again. That's Mikala., he thought, amazed.

"Well. I assume that maybe you are less surprised of my secret now than I was of yours."

I didn't reply. I could only nod. There was an advantage these speaking dogs had. Although it seemed like he couldn't read my mind. That was asolutely relieving.

"You can't talk, do you?" And suddenly, he started laughing.

I gave him a questioning look, wondering about his sense of humour right now.

"Leah... would you mind... shifting so we could talk?"

I stared at him like he'd lost his mind. Well, I'd appreciate some clothing., I thought, before I remembered only Seth could hear. Help me, bro, how do I tell him?, I pleaded.

Maybe use sign language? Scratch something into the dirt?, he proposed. I rolled my eyes. Sign language. Right. How about the morse alphabet?

Give it a try. Seth chuckled in amusement.

Thanks for your immense help, Seth.

You're welcome.

I should take cash for featuring your entertainment TV.

Oh, please. Well... maybe wait for him to suggest something else.

Best idea probably., I agreed.

"Mh. What else can I say to you... I am so amazed about how this turned out. Fate must have sent you here."

Yeah, sure. To torture me more. How foolish of me to believe I could escape. I growled silently.

"Leah... you still have a home with us. And I wanted to say... I'm sorry I was threatening you this morning. I don't know what that was. Though... I'm still glad it led to these results."

I growled again, this time at him personally.

Leah!, Seth complained. We are family. Don't be that way.

Family? I am family, Seth. These are in no way related to us.

Seth didn't give in. They are mythical creatures. And they are shape-shifters, too. They are friends, at least.

Yeah, right. Your leeches are friends, too.

Seth rolled his eyes. Leah – you ought to admit that these dogs are much closer to potential friends than the Cullen's are – to you, at least.

I give you that much.

"I can't force you to return. I'm inviting you. That's the only thing I can do."

I nodded again. The Mikala-dog nodded back at me and turned around. The others followed instantly. A moment later, they started running back into the forest. I blinked.

Seth?

Yes?

Please tell me this was all in my mind.

He laughed. It was in my mind, too. And... I could only see what you saw. And that was very vivid. I don't think you have enough fantasy for that.

I growled at him, but it was no serious sound.

I stood there for a while, contemplating. Mikala had said it was okay for me to come... home. Besides that, I was dead curious to hear about those... weredogs.

Me, too., Seth added, longing.

I rolled my eyes. I'll call you or something. I won't promise I'll tell you as a wolf.

We're going to help. It's Jacob's sister. She's in danger, too. He will come., he stated confidently.

Well... if I've got you on the phone right now... how's mum?

She's fine. Well... she misses you. I'm trying to be home more often for her sake.

She's got Charlie. But... it's great, Seth. Tell her I said hi. But maybe you can spare her the whole story.

Sure.

While we were talking about mum, I was already running. I was headed for home. It was about breakfast time. With enough luck, Pili would be off to school already. How did they manage to keep it from him anyway?

Before I reached the edge of the forest, I smelled something familiar. A stride later, I could see a colorful patch on the ground before me. I trotted over to it and found a set of my clothes someone – probably Rebecca – had laid out for me.

Damn.

What?

Oh. I'd all but forgotten I had someone in my mind again. This morning, I've shredded the blue t-shirt I was so fond of.

Seth rolled his eyes.

It was you who asked.

Bye, Leah.

Seth? Don't keep waiting for me to be wolf again. That won't happen.

Seth didn't reply, but he must have noticed that even I wasn't sure that my words would remain true. Even his silence sounded smug.

Bye, Seth., I laughed.

I carefully lifted my clothes up with my muzzle and carried them into the shelter of the trees.

I closed my eyes and it took me less effort than I'd feared to phase back. Quickly, I put on my clothes and walked toward the back gate of the Hookano's property.

So I'd lost it. My strength hadn't even lasted a week before I got weak enough. It was oddly comforting that I had not completely betrayed the secret. If Mikala was part of the supernatural world, too, it was hardly a terrible fault. But it still was my temper failure.

Chagrined, I headed for the door, braced for whatever would happen now.