The Howling

All he could do was wait and see if Lena would pull through it. He went into the kitchen put up a pot of coffee and came back with a cold wet washcloth. He wiped the sweat from her face. He was afraid the essence of silver and wolfs bane wouldn’t be enough. She had been exposed to the wolf for too long.

For three days, Keith paced and waited for some sign that Lena would be alright. She had been in a coma since he had treated her for the addiction. He was furious at Barry for what he had done to her. He stormed into the kitchen and put on a fresh pot of coffee. It would be sunrise again soon, day four of his long wait. The moon had come and gone, he had not slept, nor had he left her side any longer than he had to.

Lena opened her eyes. Her head was pounding and she wanted to vomit. She tried to sit up but her body refused to respond. She felt numb all over. She looked around for what she could see as her eyes began to focus. There was a fire in the fire place. She could smell coffee and something cooking but her eyes went blurry again. She reached up with a weak hand and tried to rub her eyes.

“You’re awake.” She heard from somewhere off to her left.

“What happened?” She croaked.

“Where are we?” She pushed herself up as the coffee cup was placed in her hand.

“Barry had you drugged. I thought I was going to lose you in the detoxification process.” Keith sighed.

“I feel like shit.” She sipped her coffee.

“You’ve been out of it for four days. I had to poison you to keep you from turning into one of us.”

“Keith,” She put the coffee cup down and took his hand.

“Yes Lena?”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled. “I grabbed a few things for you before I grabbed you. When you feel up to it why don’t you get changed? I’ll finish breakfast.” He got up quickly and walked away.

Lena was feeling a bit better. She ruffled through the bag and grabbed out a sundress. She was overly excited when she found her laptop and cell phone. She plugged them both in to charge and looked around for the bathroom. After a quick shower she felt loads better and padded back to the living room bare footed.

It was a small cabin, one bedroom, and one bathroom but Lena found it quite charming. She passed through the living room and made her way out onto the porch. Keith was around back grilling over the open fire pit. She could see the crystal clear lake through the trees at the bottom of the ravine. He turned around and smiled as he caught her staring in awe.

“Welcome to West Virginia Lena. You’ve got great timing. The venison is about ready.”

Lena took a seat on the lawn chair and took the plate that Keith offered. She went to smile but suddenly felt extremely weak. She started trembling. The plate hit the porch with a solid crack. She would have met the same fate if he hadn’t reached out and caught her.

“Guess I’m not as better as I thought.” She smiled weakly.

“It’s alright. Let’s get you back to bed.” He replied as he put a steady arm around her waist and led her back inside.

Keith sat her down on the edge of the bed and let her regain her composure before attempting to pull away. She grasped his arm hard enough for it to hurt, surprising him by her sudden strength.

“It was Barry the whole time.” She said suddenly remembering. “I saw Donny’s teeth.”

“I know and it’s alright now Lena. He had Paul poison Eric too, just to cover it up. But we’re far away from them now, and you need to rest. I will keep you safe. You have my word.” He replied.

“Alright,” she replied releasing her death grip on his arm.

Lena lay down and closed her eyes. Keith watched her for only a moment before she drifted off to sleep. He quietly left the room closing the door between them. He had made her a promise, now all he had to do was figure out how he was going to keep it.

Bryan pulled into the parking lot at the mall. A call had been placed by the owners earlier that morning of an abandoned vehicle matching the description of Lena’s car. It had been three days since she had gone missing and it was the closest thing they had gotten to a lead.

Barry was still fuming. During the ceremonies of the full moon he had kept to himself as the others went on celebrating. Bryan was worried that it would be the end of them all if she was not found. Wolves mate for life. His leader had chosen this woman to be his mate. Many had been driven to madness over lesser things.

It was Lena’s car alright. The keys were still in it. Bryan was amazed that it hadn’t been stolen and ended up elsewhere. He parked the police cruiser and strolled into the mall. With a little effort and a few misguided directions, he managed to find the security office. He flashed his badge to the man on duty and was let inside.

“How can I help you today sir?” The portly man asked.

“I’m responding to the abandoned vehicle call we received. It was the one we’re looking for. I need to see the tapes from three nights ago.” Bryan replied.

“It might take a while to find them.” The man replied as he opened the file cabinet and began to shuffle things around.

Bryan tapped his foot impatiently as the man continued to dig through the papers looking for the tapes. He then got up went over to the shelf and looked around there. Bryan couldn’t help but wonder how anything got done around this place with a security guard like this. But somehow the man managed to locate the missing tape in the mess and popped it into the VCR. He fast forwarded it through the majority of the tape when Bryan spotted it.

“There!” He shouted as he pointed to the screen. The man pushed pause on the tape.

“Son of a bitch.” Bryan flipped open his phone and hit the speed dial.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“What have you found?” Barry asked.

“You’re not going to like this.” Bryan replied as he stared at the screen.

Keith held Lena in his arms as he took her out of one car and put her in another. The pudgy security officer looked on completely dumb founded that it had been over looked before.

“Keith took her.” He said.

Barry howled and crushed the phone to pieces in his hand. When the line went dead Bryan turned away and raced out of the mall. He knew his leader, this was a blatant betrayal. They were going hunting.

When Lena opened her eyes again it was after dark. The lamp on the nightstand flickered as she turned it on. A faint light came from under the door. She made her way toward it. The door swung silently open to reveal the living room.

Keith snored softly on the couch. A fire kept the chill of the evening at bay. Lena crept up softly and sat down in the chair beside him. Her mind had finally been cleared of the fog and her memories brought on a sense of guilt. She turned on her phone with the intent of calling Kyle and explaining everything.

The phone flashed the no service warning. Lena sighed and turned it back off. Her laptop had a wireless satellite internet card in it so she turned it on and made her way back into the bedroom so as to not wake up Keith. It also showed no connectivity. She cussed aloud.

“We’re in the middle of a dead zone.” Keith smiled as he appeared in the door way.

“I’m in hell.”

“It’s not that bad Lena. I grew up out here. There’s more to life than technology.”

“My editor must be worried to near death.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand. You need to rest for a few more days and then you’re going back to LA.”

“To hell if I am!” She snapped.

“Don’t argue with me Lena.” He pleaded.

“What about you? What are you going to do?” She retorted.

“I’ve got to go back and stop Barry. He’ll keep after you until one of two things happen. You will either have to give up and be his mate, or one of you will die. I don’t want to see that happen to you.”

“It’s too dangerous Keith.”

“You don’t belong in our world Lena any more than you belonged with the vampires.”

“I don’t believe this is happening to me again.” She threw up her arms in frustration.

“Promise me you’ll go home.” He took her hands in his.

“Keith, I don’t want to see anything happen to you either.”

“Promise me,” He insisted.

“Alright,” She sighed. “I promise.”

“Thank you, now go back to sleep.” He kissed her forehead and left the room silently.

Reluctantly, Lena went back to sleep. A few hours later she was up again. She made a pot of coffee and took her laptop out on the porch. Keith was still sleeping. She figured he was exhausted. With everything he had been through because of the corruption in the pack, and everything he had done to spare her the same fate, she mourned for him. She poured that pain into her work. The book was nearly complete.

Lost in thoughts, Lena typed away. She forgot about the coffee, forgot about being so far away from what she knew; she was in the computer a part of the story. Not even the birds chirping in the trees disturbed her train of thought as she worked the morning away. It caught her by complete surprise when Keith grabbed her by the arm. The look on his face frightened her.

“Get inside now.” He growled.

“What’s going on?”

“They’re here.” He whispered as he pushed her through the door and shut it quickly.

Lena raced over to the window and looked outside. Keith stood sniffing the air. She watched as he turned sharply toward the road then back at the woods again. Bryan appeared first. He stood at the edge of the driveway, his arms folded and a smirk on his face.

“Tell me why you did it brother. Are you in love with this female?” Bryan shouted.

“It had nothing to do with that and you know it!” Keith shouted back.

“What Barry has done is wrong and it has to stop.”

“He is our leader. You have betrayed that.” Bryan began to walk toward the house.

Lena watched as Keith walked out to meet Bryan in the yard. Something felt wrong. She went to her purse grabbed her mouse gun, checked to make sure it was loaded and stuffed it into her jeans at the small of her back. She then made her way back to the window to watch and wait.

Lena wasn’t waiting long. As she watched Keith and Bryan exchange words Barry had come in through the back door. She didn’t even hear his approach and barely got out a scream as his hand clamped over her mouth.

“Hello darling.” He snarled in her ear.

“We’re going to take a walk and you’re going to cooperate right?” He asked. She nodded her head in agreement.

Barry let go of her mouth and opened the front door. He held onto Lena tightly as they walked out onto the porch. Keith had heard her cry out. Bryan held him by the arm keeping him in place.

Lena flinched as the sun struck her face. Barry pushed her farther out into the yard as one by one the pack members appeared from the trees. Keith pulled his arm free of Bryan’s grasp. His rage poured through him like a wild fire.

“This is wrong Barry.” Keith growled.

“You took her from me.” He growled back. “She is mine”

“She is free of your poison.”

“I’m right here guys really. Can I make up my own mind?” She whimpered through the pain.

Barry spun Lena around and kissed her with desperate passion. She went weak in the knees, became dizzy and nearly gave in. It was as if she lost all control over herself in his presence. A low growl became a roar as Keith finally snapped. He raced across the yard, and as he leapt into the air, he changed.

The wolf emerged from within Keith. He hit Barry with such force that they both went tumbling across the lawn. Lena hit her knees and grabbed her shoulder in shock. She reached up and touched it to find blood on her fingertips. Keith had freed her from Barry’s grip but had wounded her in the process. His hind claws had snagged the skin as he pushed her free and attacked his brother.

The clan watched as Barry shifted into a wolf accepting Keith’s challenge. The two black wolves fought over the one woman with fierce intensity. Nothing like this had happened before. No one dared challenge the leader of the pack over anything, let alone a woman. They watched in fear as the fight raged on.

Keith slashed at Barry with his claws. Barry retorted with a bite to the shoulder. Blood matted down their fur as they kicked, clawed, and gnawed each other open. A highly calculated pounce took Barry down to the grass. He rolled with it kicking Keith into the air. He landed on his back and rolled back up onto his hind legs ready to strike again.

They circled each other for a while. Lena felt dizzy watching them. It took her a moment to realize the pack was chanting and urging it on. The initial shock had worn off and now the carnal ferocity that flowed from them made her nauseous. At last Bryan stepped out of the shade and hollered.

“Quit toying around and finish him off already!”

Barry answered the challenge. He pounced on Keith digging all four sets of claws into his flesh. He lay there pinned down growling in anger as Barry grinned. Lena couldn’t stand to watch any more. She reached back with her blood soaked hand gripped the handle of the pistol and raised it up. The safety switched off. She had never fired it at anything other than a blank target before. Her hand shook a bit as she tried to take aim. She cursed at her good arm that still bled and shouted as Barry leaned in to finish Keith off.

“That’s enough!”

Barry looked up to realize all too late that Lena had already pulled the trigger. He stumbled to his feet as the bullet pierced his shoulder. Lena watched as the wolf melted away and the man looked upon her with tears in his eyes.

“Lena why?” He cried out as he reached out for her.

Barry didn’t live long enough to hear the response. He hit his knees and fell face first into the grass. The bullet had pierced his heart. Lena shook, tears fell down her cheeks. She didn’t realize Keith was there as he stood next to her a man again. He took the gun from her hand and wrapped his arms around her.

“It’s alright Lena. It’s over now.” She trembled in his arms.

“Jesus, you’re hurt. Go inside, I’ll be right there.” She nodded her response still crying too much to speak.

Keith let go walking back toward the pack. They left the shelter of the woods joining him on the grass overlooking the beach below.

“The mate has chosen death of the master. As by law, I alone stand the final ancient amongst you.” He spoke.

“We acknowledge the law. If she who has given us this end does so choose then we accept you as our new beginning.” Bryan replied.

Lena looked up surprised. She didn’t realize their law granted her any choice upon Barry’s death. She struggled to respond as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“You are bound no more to Barry’s tyranny. I will hold you to nothing. I have only given you the right to choose for yourselves.” She replied.

They accepted her words and bowed to Keith. It had been settled.

“I wish for you all to return to North Beach. I shall see you all in the den come first moon.” Keith stated.

The pack vanished back into the woods. Only one remained. Bryan stood with his arms folded and a look of distaste on his face.

“Just what is it you plan on doing in the mean time?” He asked his new leader.

“I’m going to patch her up and return her to her people. She doesn’t belong with us.” Keith replied as he turned and walked away. Satisfied by his answer, Bryan disappeared back into the forest surrounding them.

Keith put his arm around Lena and escorted her inside. He sat her down on the couch and went into the kitchen to get a wet rag. He returned quickly and began wiping the dried blood from her arm and shoulder. She finally got a good look at him as well.

“You’re going to be alright. It was just a scratch.” He said with a smile.

“What about you? He tore you up pretty good.” She replied.

“Perks of being what we are, I’ll be all healed up in a few days.”

“I guess I’ll have that to look forward to.” She sighed with a weak smile.

Keith laughed hysterically, “You watch too many movies.”

“Seriously?”

“Dead as a door nail. You survived being poisoned to drive the wolf out. Your body won’t ever accept it again.” He explained.

“Then what happened out there?” She asked.

“They didn’t know you were cured. So, you fell into the law.” He chuckled.

“Where do we go from here?” She asked.

“Lena, there is no we. You are going home and I’m going back to my responsibilities.” He stated.

“Just like that?” She scoffed.

“You don’t belong in our world. Go home, finish your novel, and never forget.”

“I can’t just walk away with everything I know now.” She protested.

“Yes you can, you have to.” He chuckled.

“I won’t.” She smirked.

“Quit arguing with me. You’ll be flying out of Baltimore in a few days.” He smirked in return.

“Fine, what do we do until then?” She asked, he handed her the laptop and continued to bandage her arm.

Lena rolled her eyes and gave up arguing. Keith had made up his mind but he couldn’t make up hers. She would do as he asked to a point. She worked hard on the book in silence.

Lena worked for a day and a half straight. Keith kept her with plenty of coffee and snacks, keeping his opinion to himself. She looked exhausted, strained, and sore but at last she looked up.

“It’s finished.” She shut the computer off.

“When I get back in satellite range I can email it off to my editor.”

“I can’t thank you enough for everything. You saved our people.” Keith replied.

“At what cost?” She smirked. “I’m going to bed. Wake me when it’s time to leave.” She stumbled away to the bedroom, fell face first on the pillow and true to her word, she slept.

Keith packed the car. He dared not wake Lena until the last moment. His heart ached knowing this was the last he would ever see of her. She would come looking for them. It wasn’t in her nature not to. The thought made him smile. The pack would be assembled by the time he arrived. They would make quick work of relocating. The best thing he could do for her now was to become a memory and pray that it would fade in time.

“It’s time to go Lena.” He spoke softly as he touched her arm.

“Alright,” She replied crawling out of the bed.

Lena watched silently out the window as Keith drove. She hadn’t seen anything but the cabin and marveled at the landscape as it went by. Waterfalls poured down the rocks from the rain soaked mountains. When the mountain gave away quite suddenly a vast green valley appeared in its place. The hills rolled on forever in the distance as the car continued on. It was the most beautiful countryside she had ever seen.

They passed through a few towns before hitting the expressway that had been cut through the mountains. When it all started to blur together she opened her laptop, connected to the satellite card, and emailed the story to her editor Kyle. Occasionally Keith would glance at her and appear that he intended to speak. Before she could ask what was on his mind her phone rang, buzzing violently in her pocket.

“Where in the hell have you been?” Kyle barked when she finally answered.

“You know how I get when I’m working. Did you get the email?” She chuckled.

“I’m looking at it now. This is your best work yet!” He exclaimed.

“You always say that.” She sighed. “I’ll see you in a few hours. I’m on my way home.” She hung up and turned the phone off.