The Call of the Wolf

Chapter 3: An odd feeling Kate POV

Saturday and Sunday were always my favourite days of the week. No. 1 - no school. No. 2 - no obnoxious Jessica to deal with and lastly No.3 - family time. It is probably the most uncool thing for me to say but I really loved spending time with my mum and dad. I even enjoyed hanging out with my older brother.

Saturdays were filled with family activities. I was on rotation between Jace and I's prefered activities. Jace loved biking, camping, hiking and anything outdoors and physical. Even though I am not athletic or particularly good in this area, that didn't matter. It was all about sitting round the camp fire at the end of the day and Jace making up rediculous stories about werewolves and vampires. My dad tended to retell old 'legands' which were magical to listen to. My favourite was about the seperation of the moon goddess Luna and Gaia her sister, the earth goddess. The legend says:

Once there were two sisters who loved each other dearly. Luna loved the night time and looked after all nocturnal creatures under the protective light of the moon. Gaia presided over the creatures of the day. Her main concern was with humans who were curious but growing in numbers and power. They were destroying large swaths of forests and building structures that could not be shared by their fellow animals. Gaia pleaded with Luna to help her restore the balance of the day. She asked her sister if she could choose a nobel creature of the night, that repected the natural world, that could guide these selfish humans who seemed to forget where and who had given them life.

Seeing her sisters distress Luna choose the mighty wolf. They were loyal and brave, lived in communities and only hunted for survival. The fierce nature of the wolf, Luna believed, could tame the humans.

With their combined powers Luna and Gaia created werewolves. When a human reached the age of 16 they could be gifted with a wolf guide. The soul of a respected and powerful wolf would be reincarnated and fuse with the soul of the human. The wolf would guide and remind the humans of their loyalties to nature and kerping balance in the world.

To make the partnership between wolf and human equal, the wolf could take a corporal form at night and enjoy nature as it roamed through forests. The teansformation however was painful as a reminder to the human of their origional greed.

Gaia and Luna choose twelve humans to begin with. The children of those with wolves were blessed also by the goddesses. As the generations passed whole pack communities arose and kept the balence by inhabiting woodlands and created fenced off lands, restricting human progress.

However, Gaia was not happy with the ever increasing humans and decided humans required a preditor and so she created vampires who fed upon human blood and killed them.

Luna wa furious with her sister as this new creation disrupted her realm, the realm of night. Gaia had brough evil into her lands.

Luna decreed that certain werewolves were to be given tbe ability to live longer. She called them Lycans. They became kings amongst the packs and they were ordered to keep the balence between the three species. Female Lycans were gifted with the ability of healing and prophesy. When there came a time when the balence between the realms were shifting a femal lycan would lead the way as a vessal of the moon godddess to fix her sister Gaia's mistakes. There had not been one in years.

I knew it was just some kids tale to stop destroying the environment but I liked the fact that there were mystical beings involved. Plus it was rare to have werewolves spoken of as noble. Red Ridding Hood would have you believe otherwise.

This weekend was my choice as a double gifting for my birthday next weekend. Jace had accepted the arrangement with a pout.

"So what do you want to do?" Jace asked first thing in the morning on Saturday. He padded around, rummaging for a frying pan.

"I'm not sure.. I want to do something crafty..."

Jace groaned. Leaning back against the kitchen countertop he stared me dead in the eye, "Anything but painting. Please..." He trued to put on puppy dog eyes but I was not our mother. He had also broken far too many of my toys on purpose for that to ever work on me.

"I was thinking more woodwork." I replied.

I had been in town a few times and because we were in the middle of nowhere of course the local parish had a woodwork class and some other bear Grills survive type courses. I had spotted it on their notice board last week.

Jace's mouth hung open, "Little wolf, that is actually kinda cool."

"Er...not the reaction I was expecting from you."

"Well, there is this guy Greg who makes this awesome little figurines and he goes to the woodshop class to learn how to make them. I've been nagging him to just give me one but the guy won't budge. So, thanks to you, I'll get to make my own and give it to -"

"Give it to..." I nugged his ribs as his cheeks blushed bright red.

"No one."

"Do I know this no one?" His cheeks began to intensify in colour. "Is she pretty? Prettier than me?" He now looked more like a tomato.

"Oh so I know them and they are very pretty...interesting."

"Can you drop it?" He whisphered.

I was taken aback with his response. It was so shy and closed and unlike the Jace I knew. I needed to find out who this girl was.

"Sure..but I'm glad you are up for it." I smile encouragingly.

Jace looked a bit stunned. Probably because I dropped it so fast. To be honest I had picked this with Jace in mind. Being a loner in school was fine but I can't lie and say it didn't bother me. Jace was my complete opposite, social, fun and had an ease with people. He was a born leader and made friends easily. They weren't shallow friends either. He choose loyal ones that were real do or die types. I would envy him if he wasn't such a great brother. He always had time for me. If I wanted to hang out and watch a film or wanted to feel apart of something bigger I was always welcome to hang out with him and his friends. He never made me feel like a social pariah either. Just welcome. He has always looked put for me and he is my favourite person in the world; even if he used to rip the heads off my barbies.

Who ever he dated was going to be lucky. Not only was he really considerate but he was something to look at. Other girls swooned over his six pack and chisiled jaw line. Other girls, when they found out we were related would, in the first few months, try to get on my good side to get his number. It was something else.

Jace began his ritual fry up while I finished my cereal. We fell into a comfortable silence.

Hopping down from the bar stool I headed to my bedroom to get dressed for the day. I bounded up the stairs to my room.

My room was quant. It was painted a soft pastel lilac and had simple pine furniture. I had pictures of mythological creatures, painting and drawings of my own I had created over the years. Scattered everywhere were books and DVDs.

I sat infront of my vanity and applied eyeliner, a dash of lip gloss and tried to tame my hair into a neat ponytail.

Satisfied with myself I howled,

"Moooooooom!Daaaaaaaad!" knowing full well it would be low key annoyed by how obnoxious I was being.

Jace popped his head round the corner a few minutes later, "You ready?"

"Yeah, are mom and dad ready?"

"Mom had a night shift - last minuet- she left when you went to bed early like an obdient little wolf."Jace smirked. He was always up late, out and about, and found my need for 10 solid hours 'weak'.

"They will join us later. So it's just us."

"Okay." I am a little dissappointed but mum is a nurse and does important work so it is understandable. Dad on the otherhand dotes on Mum and if she has a lay in he keeps her 'company'. I try not to think about it too much.

"Well I can't wait to see what you make! Let's go!" I bounce past Jace grinning at him full beam. Wiggling my eyebrows.

He smiles back as he takes up the challenge chases me to his car.

I almost win when he grabs me by the waist, spins me around and opens the door while pinning me to his side.

"Jace...you are such a cheater!" I screech.

"All is fair little wolf!" He releases me and I swat his arm.

"What do you want for winning?" I ask.

"Hmmmmm...can I keep it as an I.O. U for a while?"

"Why?"

Exasperated, "Isn't it obvious? I can't decide how to make your life a living hell just right now." He rolls his eyes and I sigh.

"Sure. Just nothing physical."

"That I can't promise," Jace chuckles darkly.

Jace gets in the drivers seat and I the passenger and we set off.

Before we leave though, I thought I saw soneone familiar in behind the tree across the street. As I leaned closer to the window to see who it was they had already vanished.

..................................................................

Cal POV

I couldn't help myself. I had been obsessing over Kate all night and I needed to see her. I could not bare to spend another second away from her. Getting her address has been easy enough by asking other members of the pack in the nearby area. Everyone knew everyone in this small town.

I only intended to drop by and check she was okay. I was not being a stalker. at least that is what I told myself as I hid behind a tree.

Suddenly, Kate bolted out of the front door. I felt panic rise in my chest. Was she in trouble? But then I saw another male behind her and grab her. I almost roared in rage. How dare he touch what is mine! It took so much restraint not to run over and rip his head off.

calming myself I refocused to hear theur conversation.

"Jace...you are such a cheater!"

"All is fair little wolf!"

Wolf! Did she know after all? Why would he call her that otherwise? Was she one?

I inhaled deeply. Kate still smelled heavenly...but human. This Jace on the otherhand was very much wolf. Their house was just outside of the packs boundary so he must be part of another pack. He felt Alpha.

"What do you want for winning?" I hear my beautiful Kate chime.

"Hmmmmm...can I keep it as an I.O. U for a while?"

"Why?"

Exasperated, "Isn't it obvious? I can't decide how to make your life a living hell just right now."

"Sure. Just nothing physical."

"That I can't promise," Jace chuckles darkly.

I growl. I didn't like the sound of that. I do not trust this wolf. Gripping the tree my claws pierced the bark as I struggled for control. Rationalise. Breathe. He must be related. Cousin? He can't be a brother. They smell too different. Families tend to have familiar scents. It's in the blood ties.

I was even more curious now as I watched them drive by. I had to follow and find out who this 'Jace' really is and decide whether I needed to remove his hands for touching Kate.