Wolf-Way (Wolf of my Heart) Page 6

  "I could leave him a note so he'd know I'm going to be okay..."

  "And that'll keep him from worrying? Get real, Tehya. He'll imagine the worst. He'll picture you on the streets, all alone and starving. He'll send his law enforcement buddies after you and probably me."

  I wanted to argue, but the guy had a point. I couldn't deny that or risk getting Rhyan into trouble when he already carried such a heavy load.

  And wouldn't running away, even though I legally could, be me doing exactly what Chief always feared?"

  I heaved a sigh and gave in. "Okay. Time for Plan B."

  His face lit up. "You have one?"

  "As if." I stood and started toward the ladder.

  "Mad at me?"

  "Furious." I glanced over my shoulder to see how he'd taken that. What I saw made me run back to hug him. "I'm not mad, just frustrated. I want to cure you."

  "And you will...with Chief's help. But we've got to do this the right way. My conscience can't handle one other bad thing."

  I didn't say another word. I couldn't. Confessing to Chief that I had powers didn't rank high on my to-do list. In fact, it wasn't even on it.

  The minute I crawled into my window, the ceiling light came on. I gasped.

  "Where in the hell have you been?" Chief stood in the doorway, glaring at me, his face as red as a bottle of Tabasco sauce. He wore faded flannel sleep pants and a white T-shirt, covered by a threadbare robe that hit just above his knees. I saw he had on his house shoes, too.

  Gulp. "The barn. I, um, heard the horses."

  "You crawled out your window at midnight to check on the horses?"

  I gave up. "Actually, no. I didn't. That is, I went to the barn, but not for the horses. Chief, we need to talk." I slipped out of my coat and snow covered boots. Chief followed me to the kitchen, where I flicked on another light. "Coffee?"

  "I could drink a cup." He sat at the table and watched while I turned on the flame under the kettle. I checked the water level, then walked to the sink to refill it. Just as I reached for the Folgers, someone banged on the back door. I startled so badly I dropped the plastic container.

  I looked at Chief; he looked back at me. He started to get up, but I stopped him.

  "I'll get it." I peeked out the window first, though I had a good idea who stood there. Shit. Rhyan. He'd undoubtedly seen the lights come on and guessed I'd been caught. My knight without shining armor or even a decent jacket. Resigned to whatever happened next, I opened the door and wordlessly stepped aside so he could come in.

  Chief jumped to his feet. "Dammit, Tehya!"

  I shushed him with a look. "Rhyan is the subject of this talk we're about to have, which means he has a right to be here." I looked at the boy in question. "Take a seat. This is Plan B."

  His wary eyes on Chief, Rhyan pulled out a chair and sat. I got a mug from the cabinet and caught his eye. "Coffee?"

  He nodded.

  I didn't pay either guy any more attention until I handed them steaming mugs. Then I settled in next to Rhyan.

  "What's going on?" Chief asked.

  "Rhyan came to you for help. You didn't give it. That means I'll have to. And that means I need you to teach me the magic that's required."

  "I can't teach you magic, Tehya. It's something you either have or don't have."

  I looked him dead in the eye. "I. Know."

  It took about three seconds for Chief to get what I said to him. He sucked in a shocked breath. His dark eyes narrowed. "You have powers."

  I nodded.

  "You have powers, and you didn't tell me."

  I squirmed a little under his censure. "I can only do a couple of things, and I don't want to be the next shaman, okay? That is not the life for me, just as it wasn't the life for my mom."

  His cheeks got even redder, something I hadn't thought possible. "You were going to let me teach ancient tribal secrets to Cameron Halter, who has the brains of a piss ant?"

  Chief agreed with me on Cam?

  His face now a deep shade of purple, he got up from his chair and leaned across the table so that he towered over me. "You intended to cure Rhyan behind my back, after I specifically told him I wouldn't unless he walked the wolf-way."

  Rhyan half rose from his chair, clearly ready to defend me.

  But I didn't need defending. I pushed them back. "Sit. Both of you." They did. "Chief, you're forgetting I know all the steps that make up the wolf-way, probably as well or better than you. I also see the wisdom of Rhyan completing them. So we're going to do things the right way, just sooner than you said you'd do it."

  "I can't teach you the old ways unless you're going to stay and use them."

  "Can't or won't?"

  "Take your pick." He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me.

  "So if I agree to live on the reservation forever and be the next shaman, you'll teach me the cure?" I'd do it for Rhyan.

  "I will, yes." Chief gave Rhyan a smug smile.

  Rhyan jumped to his feet again. "Tehya, no! You can't."

  I rose, too, and caught his face in my hands. "You deserve to be free."

  "And so do you." He suddenly started crying--choking sobs that wracked his body.

  I'd never seen emotion that raw, especially coming from a guy. It scared the heck out of me. "What? What?" He had to be in pain or dying or something. I looked him over from head to toe. No blood anywhere. "What?"

  "I can't...believe...you'd do that...for me." He gulped, turned toward the door, and opened it.

  I grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?"

  Rhyan swallowed hard. "As far away from here as I can get. I hope you know how much I appreciate what you've done."

  "But I haven't done anything. At least not yet."

  "Yes, you have." He shook me off.

  I grabbed the hem of his jacket in desperation. "You're leaving me?"

  Without looking back or answering, he wrenched free and kept moving. The night swallowed him up so fast that I knew I'd never catch him.

  I whirled around to confront Chief. "Do something!"

  He took one look at me, got up, and went to the door. "Rhyan Knox! Come back now!" That voice of his rang out in the night.

  My life passed before my eyes as I waited for the crunch of frozen snow underfoot. Finally, I heard it. Rhyan stepped into view. Chief moved aside so he could enter the kitchen.

  Once inside, Rhyan looked from my grandfather to me. "What do you want?"

  I told him. "You can't leave me."

  "I have to."

  "No!" I made myself breathe to calm down. "No. If we just sit down and talk about this, we might be able to reach a compromise." I pointed to the chair he'd vacated minutes earlier. With a doubtful shake of his head, he complied. "You, too." I nudged Chief toward the table. Once he sat, I did, too. "So here's the deal--you want Rhyan to walk the wolf-way so he can make an informed decision, right?"

  Chief nodded.

  "What do you think about your teaching me just enough magic to cure him so I can make an informed decision, too? It makes sense, right? How can I really know whether or not I want to be shaman if I never give it a trial run? And it's not as if I'll ever use that particular magic again. I mean, how many wolves have you cured since you've been shaman?"

  "This request is a first, at least for me. Maybe some past Rainbolts did it."

  Rhyan looked at me with obvious awe. "That's a damn good idea."

  "Your surprise is a little insulting."

  "Sorry."

  We both looked at Chief and waited for his answer. He took his time giving it. "Oh, what the hell? I'll help you...just as soon as Rhyan passes his written test, the endurance trial, and the obstacle course."

  "What endurance trial?" Rhyan didn't seem thrilled by that prospect. "And did you say 'obstacle course'?"

  "Don't start worrying yet. Those don't happen until you're an expert on wolves, which won't be for another week, maybe two." I jumped up and ran around the table to hug Chief. "Thank you so m
uch." I released him. "Meeting adjourned, I guess. Oh, wait. Is it okay if Rhyan stays--?"

  Chief cleared his throat very noisily, drowning out the rest of my question. He looked right at my boyfriend. "What are your intentions toward Tehya?"

  I wanted to die. "Chief, please..."

  Rhyan held up a hand, stopping me in my tracks. "I've been nuts about her since the moment she let me inside the cabin Saturday night."

  Chief rolled his eyes and turned to me. "And you feel the same, I guess." It wasn't a question.

  "How could I not?"

  With a heavy sigh of resignation, Chief got up. "Son, you can take one of the beds in the dorm. That's what they're for. But if I ever catch you sneaking downstairs--" he stabbed a finger at Rhyan "--your ass will be glass, and I'll be the sledge hammer."

  I squealed my joy and began jumping around like a cheerleader on speed, my arms held up in a victory V.

  "Where's your car?" Chief asked Rhyan, ignoring my impromptu dance.

  "Parked in the woods a ways south."

  "Will it be okay tonight? Or should we get it now?"

  "It should be fine."

  Chief left us with a nod and a warning glare. I charged Rhyan and threw my arms around him. "I can't believe he's going to help us."

  He held me close and kissed the top of my head. "Your idea was brilliant. Just brilliant."

  When I tipped my head back to look at him, I saw the weariness etched on his face. I suddenly realized how stressful our meeting must've been for him. "You should go to bed now. You know the way; I know you're tired."

  "Yeah." He kissed my lips and headed upstairs.

  Minutes after, I locked the side door, turned off the light, and headed to my own bed. I felt tingly with excitement and a little wary. Usually when something wonderful happened, something awful waited in the wings. I looked out my window and wished on a star that this time it would be different.

  Chapter Eight

  Sunshine in my face woke me at 8:30 on Tuesday--the latest I'd slept since I could remember. For just a second I lay there, enjoying the hangover of last night's miracle. Then I remembered what that miracle entailed and leapt out of bed. As soon as I dressed in jeans, a tank top, and Cody's old flannel shirt, I went to the kitchen.

  I found a note, two empty coffee mugs, and half a package of powdered sugar donuts on the table. Of course, I scooped up the note first thing. I read that Chief and Rhyan had gone after his car. Maybe they'd have a heart-to-heart on the way there, and my granddad would realize what a good person the guy really was.

  After calling the woman I visited on Tuesdays to say I wouldn't be by today, I unpacked my duffle and returned the magic book and ledger to Chief's desk. With luck, he'd never know how close he'd come to losing his granddaughter...at least for a while. I'd never cut ties forever. I honestly loved many, many of my tribe members and even the reservation. What I didn't like was my current role in life. So on one hand, I regretted that Rhyan had vetoed my plan for us to escape together, while on the other, I felt nothing but relief that Chief had agreed to help me cure him. That would ensure success, which meant the world to me.

  Around ten, I heard their engines in the driveway. I peeked out and saw Rhyan pulling a sports bag from the back seat of his car. Chief waited until he finished. They walked to the house together. Two wolves, neither of which looked pissed. So far, so good.

  Chief headed right to the living room. Rhyan hung his jacket on the hall tree. I scoped him out--perfect!--and made him sit at the table right then while I went to retrieve all the cheat sheets I used when helping hopeful wolves study. We began with an overview of canis lupus in general--their origins, types, and locations. I sensed his restlessness as I talked and sympathized. He'd lived as a wolf for over two years. What more could he learn?

  He knew all about the pack dynamic having experienced it, himself. In fact, he told me that the alpha male and female dominated and were usually the only members of the pack to produce pups.

  "Ever mated with a female wolf?" I asked.

  I thought he'd hurl. "God, Tehya. What a question. Of course not."

  "So there weren't any girl Weres?"

  "Not in our gang, and even if there had been, I wouldn't have mated with any." He shook all over like a puppy after a bath, clearly weirded out. "That's just...wrong."

  "For girls to be wolves?"

  "No, for someone who's more guy than wolf to mate with one. Ever heard of bestiality?"

  I laughed at him. "So you don't have a problem with girl wolves?"

  "No." His gaze narrowed. "Why would I?"

  "I've always wanted to walk the wolf-way. I could do it. I know I could."

  "I thought you hated Quantauk traditions."

  "I never said that. I just want to see the world before I settle in here for good."

  "So walk it. You could pass the tests."

  "Have you forgotten what Chief said? Blah blah females would defile the tradition blah."

  "Oh yeah." He looked puzzled. "You know, I did a little studying up on the Quantauks when I was trying to find a shaman, and everything I read indicates that women are revered because they're the ones having the babies. Why would they be shunned from a tradition so sacred? I mean, wouldn't it make sense for wives of guys who shift, especially the alpha, to be shifters, too?"

  I shrugged. "Because it's potentially dangerous?"

  "Not if protecting the tribe from vampires really isn't the reason for the shift. Aren't wolves pretty high up on the food chain?"

  "You say that as if there really are vampires," I told him with a laugh.

  Rhyan didn't answer.

  The laughter died in my throat. "Please tell me vampires don't exist."

  He just leaned closer and lowered his voice. "You said you found some information on past guys who'd walked the wolf-way, right?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you read any of the names?"

  "No."

  "Well, maybe you should. Be on the lookout for evidence that a female participated sometime in the past. You should also look for something in writing that says girls can't be wolves. If there isn't anything, you should challenge Chief. Tell him you're taking the tests, and if you pass, he has to turn you." Rhyan sat back again, grinning.

  "I'm soooo sure he'd do it."

  "If there's no written rule about it, how could he not?"

  "You don't know Chief. Besides, I don't think I could pass the endurance trial or the obstacle course."

  "You've mentioned those before. What, exactly, do they entail?"

  "Endurance involves a night in the wild in winter. There's a cave the guys use. Strength is all about making it through an obstacle course that's crazy hard."

  "Let me see your biceps."

  I posed like a weight lifter. He squeezed my arm.

  "Hm. You're very fit, but these need a little work."

  I stuck out my tongue at him. He burst out laughing just in time for Chief to come into the kitchen. Rhyan and I both jumped guiltily, moves not lost on my granddad. But he just shook his head, snagged the leftover donuts, and returned to the living room.

  "Back to business."

  "Right after this." Rhyan leaned in for a quick kiss that I enthusiastically returned.

  It didn't take much studying for me to realize that Rhyan could take his test right then and pass all the parts having to do with hierarchy, biology and behavior, types, and even communication. But he didn't know much about wolves in the wild, which emphasized to me the difference between city Weres and Native American wolves. I decided we needed to hit the road or, really, the mountains for a little natural habitat observation. Any wolf could survive in summer. Rhyan needed to witness how they managed in winter. Though Quantauk land included land perfect for gray wolf watching--we called the area "the ridge"--it would take several trips for him to learn all he needed to learn. I thought today might be a good day to begin.

  Abruptly, I left my boyfriend and went to Chief.

  I to
ld him my plan. He agreed with a nod.

  "Come back before dark," he said, handing me the keys to his four-wheel-drive truck. "There's another wave of bad weather moving in tonight. Remember you can always go back as many times as you need to."

  "I know." I'd seen the weather report, too.

  "And don't take the shortcut."

  Did the guy know me or what? "But--"

  "I don't care if it will save you an hour. It'll be impassable. So promise me."

  "I promise."

  When I got back to the kitchen, I asked Rhyan if he had any boots. He said he had some in his bag, so I sent him upstairs to put them on. Meanwhile, I went to my room and dressed for the weather, too. I also put my driver's license and my money in my pocket. Under Rhyan's watchful eye, I next stuffed two pairs of binoculars, some sandwiches and snacks, plus drinks and first aid stuff into a backpack. That done, I started to slip my arms through the straps. Rhyan took it from me and slung it over his shoulder. We started toward the door.

  Sudden loud knocking on it made me jump. I peeked out. Cam. I opened the door.

  He greeted me with a cocky grin that instantly vanished when he saw Rhyan.

  "What's he doing here?"

  "Ask Chief," I said, brushing past him. I expected Rhyan to follow. Instead, he and Cam moved toe to toe and glared each other down. Potential fist city.