Wolf's Bane

Chapter 6

Flipping the phone open, he read the text. His eyes dulled, and the atmosphere around him darkened. "Tom hit her again." Looking at Luna, he shook his head. "I gotta go. I'll see you at school tonight." He leaned toward her only to quickly peck her on the lips. Standing, he left his socks and shoes there. He wouldn't need them anyway. Leaving the house, Sam promptly ran home. Though, he went through the woods this time.

Luna sat there, face now red, as she watched Sam run out the door. She wasn't sure if she should be surprised by the kiss or by the fact he was having family issues. However, nothing beats the fact Luna was now sitting alone in her house. She hadn't realized how empty it was until he left. Though she had lived here forever, it almost felt like Sam was always here. His being gone caused her to sigh a bit. Luna stood up from the floor and went to shut the door. After closing it, she turned around to see a sleepy Gage walking into the living room.

"Where's Sam?" Gage asked as she yawned a bit and wiped her eyes. Luna looked at her and smiled a bit before moving over to her sister.

"He had some stuff to do. Now that you have clean clothes, let's get you dressed. We are going to meet with him later."

"Where are we going?"

"The school. Going to make some new friends. Is that okay, Gage?" Luna said, and Gage nodded. Her energy seemed to spike at the word 'friends.' It wasn't long before she ran to her room to pick out an outfit. Luna laughed a little bit before deciding to sit on the couch and scroll through her phone. She hoped things would be okay with Sam and his mom.

Sam--

Trees rushed by him as he ran. It wasn't that far, he could smell his mother's scent from Luna's house, but he knew the change would happen. He'd have to stop for a moment just to undress. Won't need complete transformation. The wolf growled within his mind. This human was about to feel the full force of a pissed-off wolf. Tom didn't even know what was about to happen.

Reaching the back door of his family home, Sam burst through it. Slamming it behind him, the teenager looked at the overweight man as he yelled violently at his mother. "Thomas!" Sam growled low. The beast was visible just beneath his enraged facial features. "Awe, look, Mommy, the baby has come home." Tom mocked Sam as the teen moved around the kitchen table to enter the living room. Tom turned from his wife and looked at his stepson. "Leave her alone, Tom."

"Or what, boy? You gonna threaten me as your father did?"

"What?"

"Oh, Mommy didn't tell you that Daddy was in town?" Tom gave a drunken laugh as Sam's eyes grew wide. It was clear the boy was shocked at this revelation. "Why did you hit her, Tom?"

"Cause women need to learn their places, Sam. You'll learn that when your w***e gets bored of you."

That was all it took to push man and beast over the edge. "Don't you dare talk about my Moon like that!" Sam lunged at the heavyset man. His enraged power overtook the man, tossing them to the couch. Claws tipped Samuel's fingers, and fingers dug at the tender flesh around Tom's neck. With eyes wide, Tom fought back. His hands squeezed tightly on Sam's wrists. Fingertips pressing into the tendon of the wrist to try and get this boy off his neck.

With that seeming to not work, Tom lifted his right knee right into his groins of Sam. The force of the knee caused Sam to recoil. Wincing at the pain, Sam rolled toward the TV. Tom was on his feet now and moving toward Sam. The floor shook under the man's weight, but the power behind his kicks was enough to knock the air out of the boy. Coughing, Samuel grabbed Tom's leg as the man tried to kick him another time. Claws dug through the denim of Tom's pants, and with a mighty tug, the man fell to the floor.

It was now that Sam's mother was on her feet and gawking at the fight happening in her living room. "Sam, don't kill him. Tom, stop it!" She tried all she could, but Sam had found his way to Tom's neck again. The wolf's intent was to shut this fat man up for good. Inhuman growls erupted from Sam's lips before he lowered his head to the man's exposed throat. Teeth, more extended and sharper than any human's, grabbed the tender flesh, and Sam defeated Tom with a quick yank of his head. Blood gushed from the gash in Tom's neck.

Stopping from completely obliterating the male, Sam knelt over the gawking man. Spitting the massive piece of flesh out, Tom grabbed his neck to try and stop the bleeding. "Mom, I'm going to wash up now. I have a date tonight with Luna. Call the cops and tell them a savage dog entered the home. Tom was attacked as he tried to defend you from it."

"What about the bruises?"

"Cover them with makeup like you always do." Sam looked at his mother. All emotion was gone from his eyes as he stood up. Tom's eyes had glazed over, and death lingered in the air. Wiping his mouth of the blood, Sam moved up the stairs. He had a lot more to do today than he thought.

Luna--

After a while of waiting around, Gage had become impatient. She was running around the house in so many circles it started to make Luna dizzy. "Gage, could you calm down for a few minutes?" Luna sighed before standing up from where she had been sitting.

"But I want to leave. I want some friends." Gage said as she continued to run around. Luna started getting irritated with Gage's hyperactivity and slightly growled. It wasn't like a wolf, but it was enough to make Gage stop. Luna looked at her before sighing and putting her hands up to stretch. "Got your shoes on?"

"Yep." Gage ran up to her sister and held up her hands to be carried. Luna smiled a bit before picking up her sister. Gage was now wearing a purple hoodie and some rainbow-striped pants. It was nighttime, so Luna didn't care what she wore.

"Got to behave, okay?" Luna said before Gage nodded and giggled. Luna began to shut off all the lights but the kitchen light. She then walked out of the door and locked it before sticking the key in her pocket. She looked at her sister and smiled before she began her walk to the school. It was 30 minutes before she made it to school.

The sun's setting signaled the time they were supposed to meet. A group of people hung around the high school as Luna and Gage arrived. They murmured, and a few faces from school could be seen. Preppy girls from the booth stood near a group of guys that hung out with Zach and Brad, who seemed absent. There were also some older people around Gage's age.

As the full moon rose over the school, a pair of blue orbs appeared in the street lights. Sam could be seen as the lamps directed their light toward the street. The murmurs of the group were calm as he reached them. "Alright,, guys, we gotta move to the woods for this. I have to go to the police at my house, and apparently, some bigger news tonight." His eyes landed on Luna before the thin line of seriousness turned into a smile. "Sorry about the long walk Luna." He winked before turning around and leading the mass of people into the seclusion of the wooded area.

Luna looked around at the large group of people. She was wide-eyed at the fact over half the town seemed to be in the area. Sure it was a small town, but she knew most of them. She watched as they followed Sam toward the woods. She always tried to stay as far from the woods as possible. But here she was, following a boy she's only known for two days into it, along with other people. It didn't take long for Gage to wiggle away from Luna and take off toward some other kids. "Gage...." Luna said as she tried to keep her at a close distance, but she lost sight of her due to the group being in the way. She was pretty short compared to most of them. Her arms soon crossed themselves as she followed behind everyone. She had no idea where they were going.

Sam had stopped walking and allowed the group to move ahead. The older members knew where they were going as they had met under the full moon each month in the same spot for years. Seeing Gage with the kids, Sam laughed softly to himself. It was good to see her hanging out with the other hyperactive youngsters. Her scent enveloped him as Luna's position caught up. He could see she was not having a fun time yet. "My Moon, why are you in the back of the pack like this? You should be beside me." He began to walk again after his arm curled behind her.

Luna looked at Sam and smiled. It wasn't a fake smile, but it didn't have much emotion. "I've avoided the woods my whole life, you know?" She looked forward to the group of people. Her eyes finally found her little sister, who seemed to be running between the adults. "To think I knew most of these people." She laughed a little under her breath before giving a deep breath. She would have to lighten up if she was to make it the rest of the night. "Where are we going anyway?"

"The lake. The pack meets there when the town is awake for meetings, be they good, like you and Gage, or bad, like my biological father being in town." He growled some at the last statement. "Rogue wolves are basically parasites in the community. So having him in area is bad news." He rubbed his nose against her cheek. "I'm surprised Jane isn't here tonight."

Luna stopped walking for a moment to give Sam a confused look. "Jane?" She looked down at the ground before placing her hands on her face. "How many people... Is the whole town just..... Huh." After shaking off her confusion, she seemed to start zoning for a moment. However, she did start walking again. Her hands were back to being crossed in front of her, but this time tighter. She wasn't afraid. She didn't know what she was. "Why is your father bad?"

Seeing the confusion on her face, Sam stopped her again and turned her to him. His eyes brightened as he looked into her gorgeous green orbs. "The story is long. With 'New Welcomes' we tell this, so you will know when we reach the lake. Jane usually comes in memory of her late husband, Josh. Their children didn't carry the lineage of the wolf, but she liked to be around us during the change." His gaze dropped now as she asked about his father. "He is a rogue from a rival pack. Once again, more will be told later." He hated not being able to tell her right then and there, but as the wind blew, the trees began to shake, and the distant voices of the group alerted Sam to how long they had stopped. "Come on. We gotta catch up."

Luna nods slowly before turning to walk back to the group. It was nice he let her become part of his life, though it didn't seem like much of a secret from anyone else. She ended up smiling to herself before she managed to calm down a little. It took her a while to realize how much he was doing by letting her be there. She then turned to him before sticking out her tongue. "Slowpoke." She said before she began jogging back to the group.

Chuckling, Sam took a jog to reach Luna. Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted her and put her over his left shoulder before his wolf's blood began to pump. The group laughed as they watched Sam carry Luna to the front of the group.

It didn't take too much time to reach a peaceful scene. Water was rushing down a cliffside. The river pushes the water down the rocky edge and cascades into the lake. This formed a beautiful waterfall that seemed to shimmer under the moon's silver rays. Sam put Luna down on the jade-tinted grass and smiled. "Welcome to the lake."

Being picked up caused the girl to gasp. She didn't realize he'd be able to do that. But as soon as she was put down, her green eyes wandered over the lake. The moon caused them to seem lighter than expected. She had never been out there before, and it was strange. She was used to being surrounded by buildings. "Whoa." That was all she could get out as she looked from the lake towards the boy. "This is so cool." She smiled a happier smile before staring back at the lake.

Sam smiled as the scene made her happier. He was glad that his world brightened her day. Though their silent moment was gone as soon as it started. Even at human speed, the pack had made it to the clearing and began to take to their usual spots. The pups played in the lukewarm water as the adults watched over them. The teens stood together and gossiped, their multi-colored eyes on Luna and Sam every so often. "Let's let them settle down first." He chuckled and looked around for Gage.

Luna nodded, only to do the same. She, too, was trying to find her sister in a group of people. It wasn't long before her red hair started sticking out and making its way toward Luna. The child's face soon appeared once she managed to move some from her face. "Sister. I made friends." Gage jumped around excitedly before hugging her sister's legs.

"I can see that. I think your energy makes me tired." She said before laughing and finding a spot to sit down by herself. Her sister crawled into her lap. The giant frizzed hair made it hard to see, but Luna managed.

Sam watched as each pack member began settling into the grass. "Alright, guys, good news or the bad news first?"

"I wanna know who the girl you were carrying is." A deep masculine voice came to Sam's ears, and he looked toward the adults. In the group, the Gym teacher, Mr. Adam Wilkinz, spoke with bright gold eyes. "Ah, Mr. Wilkinz," Sam began, only to be stopped by a hand being raised. "You know when not in school to call me Adam."

"Sorry, Adam." Sam looked at Luna now and smiled. "Her name is Luna, and she is a student at high school as well. She and her sister Gage are the newest members of the Pack."

"Are they wolves?"

"She does not seem to hold the wolf, but her sister Gage does."

"How do you know, Sam?"

"Gage reacts to Wolf's Bane." Sam looked at the teens now as most of the questions after Adam had come from them. "We do not discriminate against humans who have wolf relations." Sam glared at the preppy girls now. He knew they had issues with Luna, but he would ensure they stopped. Each of the girls lowered their head as they diverted their gazes. They knew that challenging Sam was a mistake.

Sam looked back at the adults who seemed to be looking at Gage. He smiled now, "So I guess we are starting with the good news." He extended his hands to Luna and Gage and gave a wider smile. "Mind joining me?"

Hearing the questions and answers thrown around made her slowly curl up behind her little sister's head. But seeing as Sam now wanted her to join him, She let go of Gage so that she could stand up. Luna hated being in front of people, especially those who didn't like her. On the other hand, Gage was already jumping around Sam and Luna. Luna decided to take Sam's hand, so she didn't feel scared.

Sam welcomed the grasp of Luna's hand in his own. This caused the pack to murmur, and Sam shook his head. "Alright, now for the history of the pack." Taking a deep breath and looked directly at Luna. He knew she would remember this more than Gage would. The pack became quiet as they listened closely. Most knew the history, but they enjoyed hearing it.

"The pack started as a tribe of Salish peoples many years ago. We ran with wolves and watched them hunt to help sustain ourselves. Our curse, or blessing, began when the English came. The first wolf was born from English blood; from then, we grew and prospered. It wasn't until more recently that we had to hide again.

A rival pack sought out our lands because our game was more fruitful than theirs. This rival pack left us a single omega, a peace treaty for passing by. This same omega was a spy for the rival pack." Sam began to growl some. His eyes darkened as he looked to the ground. "It caused us to go into hiding. Still, we hide to this day. The pack is too small to fight, so we hide amongst the trees to keep the town's humans safe. If the other pack were to know we were wolves, they would kill us all and take the town for themselves."

As Sam looked up, his emotions calmed, and he let go of Luna's hand. You can sit now, my Moon. "This brings me to the bad news of the meeting." Looking back to the pack, he lifted his head high enough for the group to hear. "The spy is back!"