12

“I don’t know how things work back in Chicago, but here at Rapid Falls, we look after our own,” I said. I went back to the window, holding out my hand. “In the words of the inimitable Arnold Schwarzenegger, come with me if you want to live.”

Alice chuckled dryly, then took my hand and followed me out of her room through the window. “We could have gone through the door.”

“I tend to finish things the way I start them,” I said. Even though she had dropped a bombshell on me, I felt relieved. Now that I had some semblance of a logical explanation for what had happened, I felt at ease. The elders would help. I was sure of it.

7

Alice

All the stuff I had bought a week ago when I’d gone on my date with Brandon was still in his truck. What a sentimental sap, I thought, smiling. It was hard for me to believe how easily he had digested the news of his passing when I shared my vision with him. Maybe when you share your darkness with someone else, it becomes bearable. This was the first time in my life that I felt like I wasn’t alone, but it was still far from comfortable.

The only reason I had agreed to this was because I thought the elders might know something. If they had a solution to my foresight problem, I wasn’t going to take any chances.

“So, that thing you said about fated mates, how does one know?” I asked. Brandon had been real quiet for most of the ride. His eyes darted everywhere in the darkness as if he was looking out for something.

“For each wolf, it’s different. For me, when I first saw you, it was like seeing things in color for the first time in my life. As if everything I had ever seen before was just a faint black and white image. When I sat next to you in class, your presence overwhelmed me. Whenever you were in danger, I automatically sensed it, even though we hadn’t really talked at that point. It’s a deep, innate bond. When we kissed, right up until the point you freaked out and left, I felt a completeness I had never felt before. I cannot help myself around you. When I am with you, life makes sense. When I’m not with you, the only thing I think about is you. Is that enough or should I go on?” he asked.

It was a good thing he was looking at the road and not at my face, because, goddamn, I was blushing like a turnip.

“Do go on,” I managed to say.

“Your scent perplexes me. Your presence humbles me. I feel like you’re the only living truth. I don’t even know what that means. All I know is that I need you. Now, considering the depth of my feelings, don’t you feel like an absolute jerk for how you treated me this past week?”

“Oh, please, don’t you guilt trip me,” I said. “I was going through my version of hell. I was trying to stay afloat.”

“I know, I know, I’m just busting your proverbial balls,” he said.

We didn’t talk much for the rest of the way. When Brandon pulled over to the reservation, I got out apprehensively, following him through the trail that led through the hills and the forest into the reservation. Apparently, Brandon had to call in some favors for me to be able to go in there.

I could feel the eyes boring into me as I walked along the path. There were so many huts, teepees, and little cottages in the reservation, all of them looking like they had been pulled from some American Frontier picture book. Fires roared outside of the huts. Lanterns hung from wooden posts. It smelled of pines and water, wood and stone. Had I not been a nervous wreck, I’d have been going ga-ga over this place. It was the most beautiful place I’d seen in my life.

“I didn’t know you were … well…” I said to Brandon.

“Oh, you can say Native American. It’s not racist or anything,” Brandon said.

“Are you?”

“A Native? My dad’s from the tribe. My mom isn’t. They were fated mates. Before she became a part of our tribe, she was part of the Howls. Back in those days, the Howls were quite amicable. At the wedding ceremony, all the Howls came and celebrated with us like our brothers,” he said. “Not so much anymore. There’s hardly any accord between the packs nowadays.”

As we ascended up the path that led to the big teepee, I felt a sense of warmth spread all over my body. It was as if I was being welcomed by some ancient spirit. A spirit looking over me.

Welcome, child, I heard in my head. Welcome to the commune of the Creed. May you find peace.

I wheeled around, looking to see who was speaking. There wasn’t a soul in sight.

“Hey, Hawkins, this way,” Brandon ushered as he stood next to the teepee. “The elders await.”

I followed him inside the hut, which was dense with smoke. I coughed as I cleared the air around me with my hand. The inside was dark, lit only by the remnant embers of the fire and the blaze of the tobacco pipe.

“Hello,” I said squeakily as I sat down. I squinted to make out the faces of the men who sat around the teepee. I could only make out Brandon’s. It was too dark for anything else.

Suddenly, the fire breathed on its own, rising from the dying embers and lighting up the entire room.

“Welcome, Alice Hawkins, to the Creed Reservation. Long days and pleasant nights unto you!” One of the elders spoke. “You may refer to me as Father Thomas.”

“Hello, Father Thomas,” I said.

“Do you smoke?” he asked. I saw all eyes intently studying me.

“Actually, I’ve never even vaped,” I said, chuckling nervously.

“Well, you’re our guest and you’re going to smoke with us,” Father Thomas said, handing me the pipe. “You must mean a lot to Brandon Caufield, alpha of our pack, that he invited you to our humble abode.”

I took hold of the pipe and brought it to my lips. I’d never done this. Did one suck and let the smoke fill their mouth? I tested that out. I took a deep breath with my lips around the pipe, drawing in smoke. It was sweet and stingy in my mouth. It tingled the back of my throat.

I inhaled the smoke and let it out in a puff.

Immediately, the faces of the elders went from stony and expressionless to cheery. They all smiled at me.

“She’s a natural, that one!” They laughed amongst themselves, passing the pipe to one another. “Now, Alice. Pray tell, share with us what ails you so we may help.”