Watercolor Girl

18

Evie

I wasn’t particularly thrilled to head back but I understood why we had to. Lev had responsibilities and I had to deal with whatever was going on outside of the main grounds, in addition we were supposed to be there for pack dinner which also didn’t thrill me, but I understood my responsibility to be there and act happy about it. We had packed up the very small amount of stuff we had to bring back. Lev had ordered a massive amount of clothing that he said should be there by the time we got back, so we wouldn’t be wandering around looking absolutely ridiculous in the few things we did have, although the picture in my head of Lev in his hipster garb would most likely make me laugh to think back on for the rest of my life. Lev had called Alpha to let him know we were heading back and had both been ordered to report immediately upon arrival back. Again. Not thrilled. I wanted to stay up here forever and never go back. Maybe once all of this craziness was over we could. We stopped a few times along the way because my coffee needs hadn’t been satiated in days and ice coffee was life. We’d ridden up most of the way in silence but heading back down Lev played music of some streaming site where you could make playlists and it would play songs similar to the ones you liked listened to. I appreciated that. I love music. Lev said it’s customary to inform Alpha that we plan to get married, I guess when we get there we can broach that at our little pow wow with Alpha. I don’t think either of us intended on remaining in the pack forever, and a marriage guaranteed us rights to each other in the event we weren’t living on pack grounds at a point in which something might happen to one or the other. We stopped at Rea’s because Lev wanted her number. She had a group of burly looking type biker guys in there but she hopped up and gave Lev a hug and talked to him like her long lost brother. Writing down her cell and shop number for him before sending him off with a handful of candy. She made no mention of his height at all, or mine for that matter. She smirked at us both when Lev had to duck a little to get in the door of the shop but that was pretty much it. I loved Rea because she just accepted things. She had accepted me, and Lev, without requiring an explanation for anything. She wished us luck on integrating back into society and I had to laugh. She couldn’t have any idea how much I didn’t want to.

Ciaran

I heard Lev’s truck, as was usual, and waited impatiently at best for the knock on my door. The flowers were being found much further outside of the area they had initially been discovered, so much so we were having to pull in the area of our patrols. Traps were being found in random places that made no sense, stand-alone with no flowers around them at all. It was getting worse, rapidly. I needed Nox. Then the knock came.

“Come in!” My. Jaw. Dropped. Lev and Anjie were both, bigger. Lev more noticeably since he had already been tall to begin with, but she stood similar in proportion to him, she wasn’t undersized for a wolf anymore, she was probably about average for a female from our pack. Lev was an absolute monstrosity. He had to be close to seven feet tall, and broad. Still skinny in his way but muscular. It took me a minute of staring at them stupidly before I composed myself enough to get to what I needed them in here for.

“Did you have a good break?”

“Yes, thank you Alpha, it had been much needed.” Lev spoke politely. Anjie just nodded to me.

“Well, I’m glad you’re back.” I proceeded to explain the other outcropping of the wolfsbane we were finding and the random traps. Both of them listened.

“So when are we going back out? And you’ve found absolutely nothing that would give away any signs of who or what is setting them?” Anjie asks.

“We’ve found nothing, nothing at all. There’s nothing distinct in any way of evidence, scent, even. We think in some cases the flowers mask it or our wolves just can’t pick it because they’re fighting the affects of it. We were hoping to get you back out there as soon as tomorrow. Maybe you can pick something up since it doesn’t seem to have the same bite for you it does for the others.”

“Why not now then.” She asked me. Lev sat quiet listening.

“Well we had planned on you being here for dinner.”

“This seems more important then attending a dinner. But I understand I don’t make those decisions.”

“I can call Ronnie, we can get you guys out there today if he’s available. I have to agree this situation feels more imperative.”

“No. I would like to consult with someone other then Ronnie on this.” Lev finally piped up. I stared at him.

“Who do we have that isn’t affected at all by that flower, Lev? I get it Ronnie is, odd, but he’s really all we have.”

“It’s not someone we have. I’m informing you now that I’m moving to include someone that lives outside of the pack. And I’m also informing you that my mate will not be going out there alone ever again.”

“Who are you planning on consulting on this? And who else are we supposed to send out it there? She’s safer without having wolves that will lose their minds out there. She can focus on herself.”

“I can’t disclose my consultant right now. But I can say they’re much more trustworthy then Ronnie and much more able bodied. However, I will need to request compensation, to include a stipend for the risk they’ll be taking, as well as the fact that they’ll be required to close down their established place of business in order to aid us since they are non affiliated with the pack. I would also need to request that they be granted full access to the territory and immunity from laws and covenants forbidding humans from entering the territory without special circumstances. They’re going to need to come and go on short notices, the appropriate paperwork and passes may not always be feasible. As far as what wolf accompanies my mate into the field, it will be myself, and my consultant. No one else.”

“Lev you can’t go out there in that. She’s different from us.” He glanced over at her, conversing on their own for a moment until he looked back at me.

“No Alpha, with all due respect, we are different from you.” His eyes were the same black that hers had been, her angry feral wolf, and Lev was f*****g terrifying. He had several inches on me now, looked to be a walking muscle, and whatever additional abilities she had, he’d apparently developed them as well somehow. I couldn’t argue with him going out with her, and it actually served us better to have a titled member of the pack out there, in ordinary circumstances I would go out with my patrols and my pack but these were not ordinary circumstances.

“Alright Lev I get it you can shut them off”. Instantly his eyes were as they should be. “I’m not sure about this consultant of yours. I’d like to know more about them before I just agree to all of that. I need a little more information before I just put unknown people on the pack payroll.

“As a titled member of the Storm Solstice pack I am authorized to make these decisions, however, out of respect, I am asking you. Consider it a courtesy more then a question.” He was absolutely correct. He has been better at learning the written laws, covenants and regulations then even I had in the few years I had on him as a titled member. As the second highest titled member he could almost everything I could sans just a few things. These bylaws were written so the pack could be run on the alphas absence. I heaved out a heavy sigh.

“Lev you better be sure about him. The pack is already on edge. They’re not gonna like an outsider coming in here at their any whim or desire. But you’re my beta and I trust you. And I trust her. I’ll get your paperwork done. And I’ll stand down and let you take spear on this one. Are you going out tonight?”

“No, probably not. I have to make arrangements for our consultant to ensure they’re safe here where we can protect them through their involvement. But we’ll keep you informed.”

“Then you’ll be at dinner?”

“How soon do you want us to be able to get out there. We can leave now and go meet up with our consultant, or we can wait until tomorrow.”

“You better go meet them. I’m anxious to do the same.”

“Thank you Alpha, I appreciate your trust in the handling of this matter.” He stepped forward to shake my hand and I obliged. Proud almost of the pup turned wolf before my eyes. He would be a great beta.

“Also, one more thing. Evie and I have plans to get married. Soon. In the event that what’s out there gets the better of one of us. It seems my safest option to ensure she has all the benefits she’s entitled to on either side of the territorial line.” I nodded.

“May the goddess bless your home with safety so it won’t be necessary. But I understand. Let me know. Dargan and I would like to attend if nothing other then witnesses.”

“Again. Thank you, Alpha.” I watched them leave, silent and fluid, they moved like liquid, mercury flowing through a tube. Ronnie wouldn’t be pleased, but I couldn’t blame them for their lack of trust, something always felt off about him even to me. Something that just couldn’t be placed. I had a strange feeling about it all, I was glad if they were fighting for anything, it was for my pack. But I was worried about it meant. Why they’d been assigned to us. What was coming this way? I guess only time would tell.

Lev

Evie, my little warrior, was enraged. Chiding me for volunteering to venture out with her and offering my changes. It was in her nature to hide her differences and she had been placed in a position where she had to show them, I was not.

“Evie I’m not letting you go out there alone while I’m capable of being with you. I’m not. I understand, babe, I do, I know why you’re upset but I’m quite simply not letting you do it.”

“I told you not to do it. I told you, I can handle this. I handled it last time just fine with some decrepit old jerk following me around the entire time. I don’t want you out there. I still know those woods better then you do, and I’ve been tracking things out there for years longer then you. I have more experience. That’s just the end of it.”

“I know.

“Then why are you doing this?! Why did you do this?!”

“Because no one can protect you like I can. I can follow you, I can take orders, you’re the warrior, I’m just your guard. That’s all.”

“And who is this top secret consultant you won’t divulge?” She snapped at me. Out of everything I’d done to warrant her rage this was going to take the cake and I knew it.

“Evie.” I took a deep breath trying to focus my calm, hoping that even the slightest bit would take the edge of her reaction. “I’m going to speak to Rea.”

“Oh like hell you are!!!” The wave of rage hit me and it if I had been standing would have knocked me over.

“There isn’t anyone else I trust more with your life then Rea, besides myself, and we need a human. You and I can keep her safe.”

“Lev! She has a life, she’s happy there. You expect her to just drop everything close up shop and move into a werewolf pack house?! Are you insane?”

“Evie I have the figures worked out. I’m not going to demand anything of her. I’m simply going to ask. If she refuses we find someone else. I promise.”

“Figures?! What about Rea screams ‘I can be paid off!!’”?

“Evie I just want to talk to her. That’s all. I promise.” She sat in silence but the riptides of anger subsided not even a little, in fact I think the longer she sat the more intense they got. I did my best to cast calm out, but it was met by a wall of anger and couldn’t penetrate the surface. I could feel her fighting tears by the time we pulled into Rea’s parking lot. Little Evie, who hated so badly to show emotions for the things she cared about. The lot was empty for the moment, the open sign still hung, but I wondered if it ever changed.

“Please, Lev, don’t bother her.” Evie made one last plea, and I reached to touch her face before stepping out of the truck, but she pulled away. Staring at me with her dark eyes, burning and angry, and hurt.

Rea

I could hear that truck coming from miles away. Jelly was a wolf if ever there was one. When she first started hanging around my shop she kept to the woods. It took her a solid six months before she came anywhere near it in her human form. More like a scared little puppy then a fierce wolf. At first I thought she was a cast out, a sacrifice for a family that had done wrong and she was simply collateral damage, caught in the middle of something that wasn’t hers. She was too damn young to be a rogue on her own accord. I noticed her popping up on my trail cams, always by herself. Even rogues don’t like to travel alone, there’s comfort in knowing someone’s got your 6. It didn’t take long to realize that Jelly wasn’t typical, and she wasn’t a rogue. Not by a long shot. What she appeared to be wasn’t what she was at all. When she first starting showing up, she’d show up in the pity pantry clothes the packs dole out to orphans. Standard prison issue shoes, hand me down clothes that didn’t fit her by a long shot. She was such a pitiful lonely little thing I couldn’t turn her away and I got to liking her hanging around. The more she opened up, and it wasn’t much, the more I felt for her and eventually I think I started to love the sad lonely little thing she was. She became to me something like the daughter I never had and never knew I wanted. I wasn’t sure about her mate. Not by a long shot, but I’ve seen how their goddess puts them together. As far as Jelly went, I knew the storm was coming. She’d been unmated so long that if the goddess held out to pair her, whatever the reason she finally found him wasn’t gonna be good. Not for her and not for him.

“Rea.” It’s been lifetimes since I’ve had a wolf’s voice in my head, and all these years I’d thought I’d lost the ability. Of all of them if anything was gonna prove my theory wrong I thought it would be my little Jelly. I’d felt her in there before, like soft little pops and cackles from a flame, she was quiet, but not quiet enough. “Rea. Can I talk to you.” I thought for a good long minute before I answered him.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re giving me much of a choice about that, cowboy.” Instantly he was at the door, ducking his head a bit through the doorframe, Jelly right on his heels, channeling all the anger in the world. My shop was empty, so I just sat, continuing my drawing and doing my best to seem like I wasn’t paying any attention to him.

“Rea, I have a request.”

“Your type always do.”

“Will you listen to me before you make a decision?”

“Well that would only be fair wouldn’t it?”

“Is now a good time to talk?”

“Shop’s empty isn’t it?” He sat down, Jel still standing by the door, her eyes screamed her apologies at me. I wanted to tell her I knew the time was coming but I couldn’t. I had ball to play with this one.

“Rea we have a situation occurring within our territory, not far from here. It puts all of us in danger, our pack, the people outside of it, everyone.”

“I haven’t been bothered by nothing since before you were a squirt in your daddy’s n*****k, cowboy. So don’t make this about my safety. Why don’t you give me the gist of it straight.” He smiled.

“Evie and I aren’t exactly like other wolves. The situation we’re experiencing requires the two of us to go out into a situation where we’re going to be forced to lose our connection to not only each other but to our wolves.”

“Wolfsbane, would it be?”

“It would. A lot of it. Someone, or something, is planting it and growing it in large quantity throughout the fringes of our pack. Evie found the first plot of it, not only are they growing this, but they’re planting traps within the growths. We think in an attempt to kill wolves who stumble into it, knowing they won’t be able to heal or shift.”

“Well that does sound like a mighty big problem for you out there. It sounds pretty darn dangerous to be bringing Jelly out there.”

“Unfortunately, because she’s the most familiar with the woods out there, her expertise is required in our effort to investigate it and attempt to uncover the cause of it being out there. Evie is necessary and she’s aware of that.”

“And you’re willing to put her in that danger, cowboy, because I know, that you know, she’s always gonna be the target.”

“I don’t have much of choice, Rea. If I did, I’d have her as far away from here as I possibly could.”

“So now why are you coming here bothering me? What part do I play in all of your dog pack drama?”

“I would like to request that you come on as a paid consultant with us.”

“Excuse me, what?” I stared at him hard over my glasses.

“Evie and I need a connection when we go out there. We need someone who the wolfsbane won’t affect and who we can trust. I’d like to bring you in as that connection.”

“So, cowboy, let me get this straight. See if I’m smelling exactly what you’re stepping in.” Jelly looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. “You came all the way over here, you walked into my shop after invading my head without an invitation, to ask me to go walk out into who knows what, to investigate a perceived danger to a werewolf pack that I don’t have anything to do with, risking my life in the process, for an undisclosed amount of time because you have trust issues. I’m just supposed to jump up and run into that with no questions asked or any consideration for the life I have here. For my business? Cowboy you’re crazier then you are tall.”

“I don’t trust anyone else with Evie’s life as much as I trust you. I know you won’t walk her into a trap, Rea. I know it’s a lot to ask, and I’m willing to compensate you for your expertise and time, as well as the risk to yourself, and for the time you’ll be away from your business. It will be substantial. I can promise you that.” He was eloquent I had to give him brownie points for that. “And I would request that you live at the pack house for the duration of your time as our consultant so that we can make sure you’re safe and nothing poses a threat to you that we may not be aware of in the early stages of the investigation.”

“It’s ok, Jelly, I knew the time was coming.” I couldn’t stand seeing her as upset as she was over this.

“Well then, cowboy, what are you proposing for a rate for a classy lady such as myself living the high life over here? How are you planning to keep me in my current lifestyle?”

“I’m proposing a monthly payment of $10,000 for your services, with an additional stipend or $5,000 per month for the hazard posed to you in your endeavors to consult with us. I am also proposing to donate my monthly salary to cover the costs of you having to shut down your shop for a prolonged period of time while you do so. The total monthly payment would equate to $20,000. With a minimum expected requirement of 3 months of your time, however, I warn, it may be longer.”

“And where are you sticking me on your compound out there? Am I gonna end up in some cell in one of your wolf prisons but you promise you won’t shut the door type of thing?”

“That would be your choice. But I propose that you stay with Evie and me. We have additional rooms and we can convert them to your needs. We can accommodate you in any way you require. We do have guest housing in the pack house as well if the prospect of staying with us doesn’t appeal to you. But I do request you reside within the pack house, you’ll be safest there.”

“Safe from what exactly, cowboy?”

“Rea we don’t know yet. And I’m sorry I can’t give you an answer right now. Based on the briefing I received today, it feels like whatever is doing this, is trying to enclose the territory in wolfsbane, which would make it impossible for wolves to escape if our pack were to be attacked.” I stood, stretching my back and taking my time just to draw out the moment, walking to the front door and pulling out my cigarettes. I smoked half of it before turning back to the massive wolf and his uncomfortable mate sitting in my shop.

“What if I say no?”

“We leave you be. I haven’t disclosed your name or location to the Alpha, so there won’t be any follow up or further bother from us. If anything were to happen you wouldn’t be made aware of it.” I know what he meant in that statement. If harm were to come to Jelly it’d be like she dropped off the planet and I’d never be informed. “We also wouldn’t be able to protect you way out here, and I know that you know something is going on around here.” He’s right I did know. The Rogue population around had me had increased but the wolves didn’t seem well. They seemed wrong in some facet, although I couldn’t quite tell what it was being that most of what I could see, I saw on trail cam footage after the fact.

“Alright, cowboy, when do you expect me to vacate my home?”

“Now, Rea.” I sighed, taking another long drag off my cigarette.

“We gotta stop so I can get me my cigarettes, I know your kind doesn’t have that type of death on your compound. And I’m bringing my damn equipment. At least I can work on her arm and your health and safety laws be damned. Get my toolbox loaded up couple boxes of my needles, and my table. Jelly come on with me, baby, help me throw some clothes in a bag.”

Evangeline jumped up following me without even so much as a glance at her mate, who sat motionless while we went from the shop into the place that had been my home for the last 40 years. My house side was small, smaller then the shop. I had a small loft and a combined kitchen/dining room/living room area.

“Rea I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were going to be dragged into this, I never would have brought him here.” I could hear him moving my box around the shop before he emerged carrying it to his truck. That wolf was strong. I had weights in the bottom drawer to keep it from rolling around all willy nilly like. He carried it easily, although he seemed to falter lifting it into the bed on his own.

“Evangeline, my sweet girl, you can only hide for so long. You of all people should know this. The time was coming, and I knew it. And I’m not mad. Not at you, not at him, sweet girl. But I ain’t doing this for your pack. I’m doing it because I can’t stomach the thought of something happening to you and never knowing the outcome. For all the years you’ve protected me out here, I can give you some of my time to reciprocate the favor.” She looked at me with questioning eyes.

“I have no idea what you speak of.” It was almost sarcastic, and I had to chuckle. I smiled at her, a big genuine smile.

“Jelly you think I never seen you on my trail cams? Those eyes would give you away anywhere.” She smiled. Sitting there while i packed up the few things I had I wanted to keep forever. I put on my necklace that held a tuft of my mate’s fur. Shock white and beautiful as he had been. Wolves have their own system of disposing of their owns bodies. But I’d insisted on having a part of him, and this is what they’d allowed. 32 years now without him. I almost didn’t mind the concept of moving back to a wolf pack. Maybe I’d feel like he was close to me again.