“I haven’t noticed that much attention to Werewolf pheromones since I married your father.”

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 4)

After we pulled up into a free car space by the store, I hopped out before Mum.  With my new strength and energy, I started to notice she moved slower than I did.  She closed the door behind herself, locked it and dropped her keys into her handbag as she pulled out her shopping list. 

Whilst Mum spent a few seconds doing all of this, my head turned towards the garage beside the store.

I could hear music playing loudly, as ‘The Cult’ belted out of the speakers of the portable stereo that I had once seen on a shelf inside the garage.  I could see a pick up truck was parked halfway inside of the garage, with its front half out in the open air.  I guessed it was parked as such so the mechanics could use the sunlight to see into the motor’s dark crevices.  I saw that a mechanic who looked to be Ben, was lying underneath the truck and somebody was leaning over the top of it, with the bonnet propped up. 

My heart picked up speed, as I recognized the familiar male body wearing scuffed black boots, dirty jeans and a tight grey t-shirt, also covered in dirt and grease.  My breath almost caught in my throat, when I recognized the large muscles straining underneath the fabric.  I think I stopped breathing as if by sensing me, Declan’s head rose and he turned my way.  As quickly as his eyes widened by the sight of me, they next narrowed into a glare.

“OK, let’s get this over and done with.” Mum sung, with the shopping list now in her hand. “This shouldn’t take long and besides, your father is probably timing us on his watch!”

Quickly, I ducked my head as I followed her into the Store, with Declan’s eyes following us.

I picked up a carry basket from beside the door and held it for her as she walked ahead.  She was almost speed shopping as she didn’t stop, she just simply grabbed as she passed.  The basket quickly began to fill up.  I started to appreciate my extra Werewolf muscle, as the basket began to strain under the load. 

“Bread…milk…butter…eggs…cheese…juice…toothpaste.” Mum read out the list under her breath, as she breezed down the small aisles.

As I walked behind her, I noticed how we attracted a lot of looks from passersby.  But then I realized that people weren’t looking at her, they were looking at me.   They were all watching with curiosity in their eyes. 

Frickin’ hell, word travels fast in this tribe!  Does everybody know that I’m a Werewolf? It looked like it, as I ducked my head to walk quickly after.

As we passed a group of teenaged boys who were hanging around the sweets shelf, their eyes widened as they took me in.  I think I even overheard one of them inhale deeply as I walked past.  I stopped and turned to give the youth a peculiar look, whose eyes bulged because I looked in his direction.

“Oh, hi B!” the 14 year old raised his hand to give a small wave.

“How’s it goin’?” his 13 year old friend asked next.

“That’s a nice er, top that you’re wearing.” The other 14 year old boy standing with them, fumbled out.

I looked on the kids as if they were nuts!  I was wearing a two year old, faded and stretched, red woolen jumper that Grandpa had made as a Christmas present.  Not to degrade Grandpa’s workmanship, but there was no way that this jumper looked ‘nice’ anymore, especially with all of the holes I accidentally put in it.

“Come on B.” Mum grabbed hold of my arm to pull me after her.

Just as I was yanked away, I overheard one of the youths critique the one who remarked on my top; “you don’t say nice top you dumb-ass! You’re supposed to compliment women on their shoes!”

When I turned my head back around to give the three a funny look, they instantly stood to attention and waved back.  I continued on, shaking my head to myself as I followed Mum to the counter. 

I placed the basket on top and began to pile everything onto the surface.  This way, the elderly Mr. Barley who owned the general store could mark it off in his book what we were ‘purchasing’.  He would put it on our family account for us to make up in a future barter or trade.   Since the War, no-one in the tribe used money anymore, as the majority of our money went to trading with outsiders.

“How are you, B?” He asked politely.

“Good thanks Mr. Barley.”

“I suppose with your change, carrying this load isn’t a problem anymore.” He joked, meaning the large amount that Mum was shopping for today.

“Um, no.” I answered awkwardly.

“B’s been stronger than me since she passed her sixteenth birthday. After she turned sixteen, I was getting her to take lids off jars whenever her father wasn’t around.” Mum laughed jovially.

Mr. Barley laughed along with her, before he looked on me closely.  “I swear you look taller, as it usually happens to a Lokoti who goes through the change.”

“I think you might be right.” Mum agreed.  “I swear she used to be my height, now she’s ten centimeters taller.”

Mr. Barley nodded in acknowledgement as he finished up writing a tally of what we were ‘purchasing’ today.  “Here.” He threw in a bonus chocolate bar as he gave a wink.  “A new Werewolf needs to keep up their strength.”

“Oh, isn’t that nice!” Mum smiled on his gesture. “Thanks Mr. Barley!”

“A Circulator for a mother and a Lokoti Werewolf for a father; now we have our tribe’s first female Lokoti Werewolf who’s a Circulator.” Mr. Barley said proudly.

Just then I noticed that the other people in the store smiled and nodded in agreement, as they were watching this transaction take place.  The three teenaged boys by the sweets shelf waved at me again.

I could feel my cheeks start to burn as I ducked my head in embarrassment at being the centre of such attention.  I was relieved to pick up the shopping in the cotton carry bags Mum brought, as I walked out of the store first.  But because my head was lowered, I didn’t see where I was going and I walked into somebody who was coming in as I was going out.

“B!” Roger’s eyes widened and I caught him suck in his breath and hold it as he looked me over.  He stood almost stuck to the spot whilst he stared, as we were standing outside of the store.  

Mum passed by and she took one look at Roger’s face and I caught her snicker, before she walked over to Dad’s truck.

“Um, how are you?” He asked, reaching out his hand to place on my arm.  “I heard what happened, are you alright?”

I passed him a look that questioned his sanity, as I moved away from his touch.

“I’m fine thanks Roger, how are you?” I forced out to be polite.

“Me? Oh, I’m fine.” He gulped nervously.  “But I’ve been thinking about you a lot, especially now that I’ve heard what’s happened.”

“I’m a Werewolf Roger, I’m not dying from rabies.” I said uncomfortably.

“Oh yeah, I know that.  But um, is there anything I can do to help? I mean, can I get you anything? I guess what I’m trying to say is, is there anything you need?” He prattled off.

“No thank you Roger, I’m fine.”  I stood there holding four carry bags of groceries.  I thought he was being a bit rude, making me stand here and talk to him when he saw my hands were full.

“Oh, can I get those for you?” He started to reach out for my bags of food but I quickly pulled back.

“No thank you Roger, they’re not heavy but my Mum’s waiting for me -”

“Oh, that’s right.” He nodded quickly. “Lokoti Werewolves are a lot stronger than humans and I guess so are you, now that you’re one and all.”  I opened my mouth about to excuse myself, when he interrupted again.  “I know that when a Werewolf goes through their first change and all, they’re supposed to be in training or whatever and you can’t socialize much.  But um, I could come over if you like? I could bring a couple of movies over to your house and -”

However he was interrupted from a low, dangerous growl coming from the garage.  Our heads quickly turned, to see Declan standing beside the truck he was meant to be fixing.  His head was lowered but a fierce look was directed right at Roger.  His teeth were bared and I swear they were looking sharper and I guess so thought Roger.

“See you later B.” He almost flew through the glass door of the Store as he quickly darted inside.

A laugh escaped as I watched him take off and then I turned back around to look on Declan in amusement.

“Did you forget that you already have a boyfriend, B?” He asked sulkily.  Then he turned back around to continue his work on the engine of the truck.

I knew he was inferring his little brother but it pissed me off by him saying this.  He just acted like Roger’s behavior was my fault!   I shook my head in disbelief at his primitive behavior as I marched over to Dad’s truck where Mum was waiting inside.

After I placed the shopping bags in the back, I walked over to the passenger’s side door to climb in.  Mum turned the key, started the ignition and she reversed out onto the road.  However as she pulled out, I caught Declan watch us leave. I quickly turned my head away to glare out the windscreen, as Mum drove back around the sports field and headed towards the hill we lived on.

She abruptly laughed, “I haven’t noticed that much attention to Werewolf pheromones since I married your father.”

“Shut up Mum.” I said darkly as I felt myself blush, which made her laugh again.

As I stared out at the trees whizzing past, I couldn’t get Declan out of my mind.  He was the one who put his hand over mine that morning he drove me home.   He was the one who kissed me on the borders of Lokoti land when he stopped me from running into town.  And HE has the hide to remind me of MY loyalty to Derik…?

Mum was still laughing about what happened when we arrived home.  As I put away the groceries in the kitchen, I had to relive the experience as she told Dad all about it.  Whereas she could laugh about it, I noticed he didn’t.  In fact, this just made him look more unhappy.

“B, I don’t think you should go out again where people will be, not for a while at least.” He frowned.

“Hunter.” She looked on unimpressed. “What’s that going to prove? B didn’t try to EAT anybody while she was away.”

Dad frowned even deeper, “THAT’S not what I’m worried about.”

“Hunter - ” She began to object, but I interrupted.

“It’s fine with me!” I huffed as I turned away.

Speedily, I left the kitchen to run upstairs to my room to hide underneath the cover of another history book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I slept all day as I writhed in agony thanks to the bloodlust, all night.

  (‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 3)

12^th September 2084

I survived…somehow I managed to pull through the transition into a new Werewolf.  

The first night I changed, I broke my bedroom window and I tried to eat a townsperson but I was stopped by Declan.  The second night I changed, I was locked inside my bathroom, unable to phase thanks to the DYSTAR with Dad sitting with me.  On the third night I changed, again I was locked inside my bathroom, unable to phase with Grandfather sitting with me.

I slept all day as I writhed in agony thanks to the bloodlust, all night.  During the day I had Mum, Gran, Great Grandma and even Aunt Danika to tend to me. The women fussed about as they took away my torn clothes to be mended and they tried to feed me the meals they had prepared.  But I wasn’t hungry and all I wanted to do was sleep.

Then during the night I had Dad, Grandfather, Grandpa and Uncle Julian to tend to me in their roles as jailors.   They kept me locked inside the bathroom so I couldn’t escape and try to make a run for Alma again.  As either Dad or Grandfather sat with me, I heard the whispering of Grandpa and Uncle Julian on the other side of the door.

This was the worst experience of my entire life.  It was even worse then the first day I got my period when I was 14 years old.  It happened during a game of soccer with Derik and the other boys when Rachel and Mandy waved me off the field so they could whisper that a red patch was beginning to form on the back of my shorts.  That day I thought I would die of embarrassment, as Mandy calmly tied her jumper around my waist then she and Rachel walked me home.  However that day now paled in comparison, when I rued the facts of life for being a female human?  These days I rued being the first female Lokoti Werewolf. 

Yet somehow I survived, although I thought I would die from the pain the murderous bloodlust brought upon for not indulging its dangerous craving.  But I didn’t die, instead I carried on.  Albeit, a broken bathroom mirror, a broken bedroom window and three sets of torn clothes later; I survived the change into my new existence.

Last night, I went over to my repaired window after I had showered and changed in my PJ’s for bed.  I examined the handiwork of my father and Uncle Ian as I admired their skill.  The new glass was perfectly cut and installed.  I sighed wistfully as I looked on the shiny new glass… if only my life could be repaired so easily. 

I didn’t want this because I was scared of who I now was.  The pack along with my Werewolf relations were right there and willing to train me.  The pack felt proud, even if they were apprehensive that I was the new Lokoti Werewolf. 

I was the first female Lokoti Werewolf just as I was the Last Circulator.  Boy, what a contradiction! I’m both the first and last…oh no, that’s not complicating my life at all, is it?

Just as I took a step back from the window to pull the curtains closed, I saw something.  Or, I think I saw something… Hang on a minute, what is that? 

My eyes squinted and I think my Werewolf-vision must have kicked in, when I could suddenly see clearer into the dark woods.  I spotted a pair of glowing green eyes, watching me from the forest.   Uncle Quinn, one of the Lokoti Werewolves had glowing emerald green eyes but these glowing green eyes were a different kind of green. They looked brighter and burned more fiercely, hungrily even.  They were Declan’s European Werewolf eyes, I knew it. 

He was watching me from the woods, via my bedroom window but why was he spying on me?  Was Declan guarding me somehow, to make sure I didn’t make another run for the townspeople in Alma?  Why was he here?  But as my heart began to pound, I started to think differently… 

I remembered his kiss three nights ago, when he stopped me on the border.  I felt warm and a little giddy, as I recalled the heat which was generated between us…that was until his huge jaws clamped down on a nerve in my neck.  Declan knocked me out cold, to carry me back home.  Bastard! I bet he probably enjoyed rendering me unconscious even more than the kissing part! 

As my way of saying ‘get lost!’, I whipped the curtains closed before I climbed into bed and switched off my lamp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Before we all tie the Calculator to a stake and burn him for either Witchcraft or Heresy

  (‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 3)

Within a minute of our arrival, Vincent who must have foreseen this next walked through the automatic doors of the Lab to greet us.

“Arabella and Jess? I need to talk to you…” he began but he pulled up the moment he saw my disheveled appearance, “…good god B, what happened to you?”

The male Werewolves glared dangerously upon our blonde haired, blue eyed English cousin.

“What’s the wrong Vincent, can’t you ‘see’ what happened to B?” Dad growled out.

“Funny you should say that, Hunter.” Vincent growled back. “But no I can’t. That’s what I need to talk to Arabella and Jess about.”

“Well what a stroke of luck, coz we came here to talk to you about B.” Mum sung sarcastically.

Vincent became aware that all seven unhappy faces were aimed his way.

“What did I do?” He asked, taken aback.

“What didn’t you do more like!” Dad fired up. “You call yourself these girls Calculator? Why didn’t you see this happening to B?!”

“And if you did see it, why didn’t you tell us?” Gran asked in a low voice.

“Hold up a minute people.” He held up his hands. “Before we all tie the Calculator to a stake and burn him for either Witchcraft or Heresy, how about I hear the charges first?”

“B’s a Werewolf!” Mum cried out.

Silence… Vincent blinked and then he blinked again as he looked on in disbelief.

“You’re a Werewolf?” He looked my way.

“She’s the first female Lokoti Werewolf in the history of the Lokoti tribe.” Grandfather advised.

“You’re a Lokoti Werewolf?” Vincent wanted to clarify as he stared in my direction. “So you weren’t bitten and changed that way?”

“One of the pack died and B’s Lokoti Werewolf genes were activated last night, the first night of the full moon.” Uncle Julian put his hands on his hips.

“I thought you understood from the SSIT notes on Lokoti Werewolves that our bite or blood can’t turn a human into one of us.” Grandpa’s eyes narrowed.

“I do remember that fact thank you, Fern.” Vincent said in annoyance. “But I also remember that females can’t change into one of you and that only the males in the tribe can.”

“Well don’t just stand there, examine her!” Dad demanded.

“Then if you lot get out of the way, maybe I will!” He snapped back.

The male Lokoti Werewolves all stepped aside from standing protectively around.  This enabled Vincent to lead me over to the bench underneath the main scanner to begin his examination.  I sat up on the bench and just before I laid down, he handed me a papery smock to wear.  Then he helped me to lie in position underneath the scanner.

Vincent gave a curious look before he observed, “B you’re taller, plus you’re more bulky. I think your height and your weight have changed.”

“Has it?” I raised my head in surprise.

My Calculator pushed my head back down then he walked over to the control panel and activated the machine.  It hummed to life as a green light ran over my body from head to toe, as the technology collected its readings of my physical changes.

“B, when you changed into a Werewolf last night, did anything else strange happen?” He inquired.

“She ran away in the speed of light.” Grandpa told him.

“That explains her higher bio-electromagnetic frequency.” Vincent thought out loud. “It appears when your Werewolf genes were activated, it also triggered your Circulator’s ability to phase.”

Gran and Grandfather stood together, holding hands as they looked on; Mum and Dad stood together holding hands as they looked on; Uncle Julian and Grandpa stood side by side with their arms crossed, listening in to the results.

“Aha!” Vincent remarked. “I was right!  You’re now 10 cm’s taller. You’ve gone from 160 cm’s to 170 cm’s tall and your weight has changed from 60kg’s to 70kg’s with your new Werewolf muscle.”

“Am I fat?” Anxiously I raised my head.

“No, but you are bulkier.” He replied. “Even your shoulders look broader.”

“What, do I look masculine?” Now I sat upright in alarm.

“I wouldn’t say ‘masculine’ but definitely more athletic.” Vincent mused.

I looked worriedly to my parents, “but I don’t want to look athletic!”

“You’ve always been a bit of a tomboy growing up.” Dad gave a rueful grin. “You always played soccer with Derik and the other boys of the tribe instead of dolls with the other girls.”

“Do I look ‘butch’?” I looked Mum’s way in concern.

“Nah, of course not!” She was quick to reassure as she and Dad came to stand beside, as I was sitting up on the bench. “You’ve always given the boys a run for their money, so now you can always beat them at sport being a Werewolf.”

“Derik’s never minded that you were always as strong or as fast as him.” He tried to use as his consolation. “I’m sure he won’t look on you any less now that you’re stronger or faster.”

“Don’t worry B, it just means that a guy has to work extra hard to impress you.” Uncle Julian gave a wink.

Vincent next came back to where I was sitting as did the rest of my family.

“Well.” He took a deep breath. “From the read outs, I can see a change in her dental structure, her muscle tissue, the calcium deposits around her nails and even with her irises and her ocular sensory input, which confirm her change into a Lokoti Werewolf.”

“My irises?” I echoed confused. “My ocular sensory input?”

“It means that now you can see better in the dark.” Vincent put it simply.

“Oh yeah, I could see through the dark woods last night as if it were daylight.” I confirmed.  Then something occurred to me which made me look at the other Lokoti Werewolves, “did my eyes change colour like yours do?”

“They did.” Grandpa confirmed.

“What color did they turn?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Turquoise, like your great, great grandfather Flint Riverclaw’s eyes.” Grandfather announced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You would have attacked the town folk if Declan hadn’t of caught up to you.”

  (‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 3)

As I started to come to, I felt myself lying on a cold, hard surface.  I opened my eyes and for some reason the first thing I saw was the side of my bath tub.  I raised my head as I looked about myself in confusion.

I’m lying on the bathroom floor?  What am I doing, sleeping on the bathroom floor like this?  I sat up and when I looked down, I found myself still in my jeans and bra and I was covered in dirt.  My feet and my hands were the dirtiest and my hair was mangy with leaves in it.  I examined my dirty nails, which thankfully looked normal again and I saw that my body was its human size once more.

Slowly I stood up, flinching from my sore neck which felt like I had pulled a muscle, to look on my reflection in the bathroom mirror.  My normal face looked back… Did last night really happen?  My dirty appearance and my missing clothing like my top, confirmed it did. 

I shivered as I hugged myself, as I recalled how the Lokoti Werewolves surrounded me in the woods.  A cold chill shot down my spine as I knew why they had acted that way last night - to stop me from running into town and eating a townsperson.  My stomach pains along with the craving for human flesh must have been the infamous bloodlust I’d heard of.

Then I remembered something else about last night; I had kissed Declan – if you would call that kissing – while we were in Werewolf form.

I KISSED Declan?!  Eugh!  B, are you nuts? You frickin’ hate the guy!  And rightly so, as he was a jerk most days and a complete asshole in between!  Then after he made out with me, by probably leaving more slobber on my face than inside his own mouth, he bloody well bit me.

He bit me!  He knocked me out cold!  But how the hell did I get here, in my bathroom, passed out on my bathroom floor?

I wanted to see my parents and ask them what happened.  However when I walked over to my closed bathroom door and I tried to open it; to my surprise, it wouldn’t open.  It was locked from the outside, which meant somebody had locked me in here. 

I’ve been locked inside the bathroom?  Surely this must be some kind of mistake… 

“Hey!” I cried out worriedly as I shook the doorknob.  “Mum!  Dad!  I can’t get out!”

Just then I heard two voices outside the bathroom door, of Dad and Grandpa talking.

“It sounds like she’s changed back.” Dad said.

“Let’s hope so.” Grandpa said unhappily.

After a moment I heard the door unlock and my father slowly opened it as he looked on warily.

“Dad!” my eyes widened when I saw the fearful expression on his face.

“B,” he said seriously before he and Grandpa stepped aside to let me pass.

I walked towards my bedroom to get ready to have a shower to wash all this dirt off.  But I stopped in my bedroom doorway when I saw Grandfather and Uncle Julian standing in my room, examining my broken window.  Oh shit, I had forgotten about that.

Grandfather and Uncle Julian glanced my way, not looking too happy either.   When I turned around, I found Dad and Grandpa right behind as if they were guarding me.  I looked from them, back  to my relations, confused.

“How are you feeling, B?” Grandfather asked.

“Fine.”

“Do you remember what happened last night?” Dad asked.

I tried to joke, “either I went to one hell of a party,” I inferred my missing clothes and dirty skin.  “Or I turned into a Werewolf last night.”

“Can you remember what happened to the window?” Grandfather asked next.

I vividly recalled Mum’s look of horror on me, her daughter, changing into a monster, yes.  I remember that I felt so sickened at frightening my mother that way that I had to run away from her.  Since she was in the bedroom doorway, the window seemed the only other option.   My eyes watered as I felt everybody’s unhappy expressions which seemed to look on with disappointment.  

Do they always look like this when a new Werewolf is created? Or is it just me that’s earned this? Are they really angry with the way I behaved last night?

“Mum looked at me like I was a monster… the same way you’re all looking at me now.  I couldn’t bear her disgust, so I jumped out the window.” My voice wavered.

“You’re not a monster B.” Dad said sadly as he put his hand on my shoulder.  “But you are the very first female Lokoti Werewolf in the history of the tribe.”

“And you’re a Circulator.” Grandfather frowned. “Last night you ran away from us in the speed of light.”

I did?

“It’s going to make it harder for us to help you control the bloodlust because we can’t contain you.” Grandpa said gravely. 

I looked back in surprise at them before  I echoed, “I ran at the speed of light?”

“You did.” Grandfather verified. “I’ve only seen your mother and your grandmother, other Circulators, move that fast.”

This was news to me!  So last night I didn’t just change into a Lokoti Werewolf, but finally my abilities as a Circulator were also kick-started!  No wonder I was able to outrun them last night. 

“It’s why we had to lock you in the bathroom.” Dad said seriously. “If we can’t catch you, we can’t stop you.”

“Stop me?” I gave him a funny look. “Stop me from what?”

“Bianca, you were running right for Alma.” He said gravely. “You were hunting human.  You would have attacked the town folk, if Declan hadn’t of caught up to you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I think when a human changes into a Werewolf for the first time, their bloodlust has to be controlled.”

  (‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 2)

My indigestion grew worse, as the discomfort was harking on the painful side. But then I wondered if it was indigestion, as I felt my mouth water and I craved something.  It was as if my stomach was experiencing was hunger pains.  I’m not hungry AGAIN am I? I don’t get it, pasta always fills me up and I only ate an hour ago.  What’s going on here?

I stopped walking to pry the lid off the tupperwear container I was carrying.  I sniffed at the tiramisu, tempted to eat some right now.  But then my stomach lurched in an objectionable manner.  My taste buds told me that my body didn’t want something sweet, but it wanted to eat something savoury.  It wanted something like – like - like a huge thick piece of red meat that was cooked at such a rare state it was still bleeding freely…

Now that IS weird!  Usually I prefer my meat well-done. Where the hell is all of this coming from? Why do I feel this way?   My shoulders were tense and I could feel my heart begin to race.  I felt like sprinting the rest of the way home, so I did. 

I shut the lid on the tupperwear container before I broke into a run.  I easily ran the rest of the way up the hill, not breaking a sweat let alone becoming breathless.  I ran up my driveway, easily high jumped over my veranda railing and I threw open my front door to go inside.

Mum looked up startled from reading a book on the couch.

“Has Dad gone hunting?” I asked as I walked past into the kitchen, to put the tiramisu in the fridge.

“No, he’s at your Uncle Ian’s place.”  She answered.

“Why is he there?” I walked back into the lounge room.

“With Jack’s death, the pack thinks it’ll be Ian’s son Leaf who is going to change instead of Jack’s grandson Meadow since he’s only 9 years old.”

“Ah,” I raised my eyebrows, “and the pack want to be ready to initiate him or something?”

“Yeah, something like that.” She sighed. “I think when a human changes into a Werewolf for the first time, their bloodlust has to be controlled. The pack want to be ready to help Leaf so he doesn’t take off from the tribal lands and into Alma, to try to eat a townsperson or something.”

“Eugh!” I shuddered at the thought.  “But mind you, after what happened to Uncle Jack?  Maybe we should let Leaf go nuts, particularly on the bad element of town.”

“The Tribal Elders along with the pack have decided to help the people in Alma remove the bad element.”  Mum looked up from her book again.  “This will be the first time that the Lokoti will be policing off their land.  The people of Alma have always had suspicions the Lokoti Werewolves existed, with the odd eye-witness report here and there.   When the invaders tried to take over our land when I was pregnant with you? That confirmed their existence.”

“So the people in Alma aren’t scared of the Werewolves?” I asked curiously.

“They are wary, yes.  But since no good townsperson has ever been attacked by a Lokoti Werewolf, they trust them.  The only time they’ve injured a townsperson was if the they were on our land, doing something they shouldn’t. The people of Alma know this. It was one of the reasons why they asked the Tribal Elders if the Lokoti Werewolves would remove the trouble makers.” Mum went on.

Her eyes widened in worry when she noticed I was slumped over the back of the easy chair, rubbing my tummy.  She asked, “B are you alright?”

“Cramps.” I flinched.

“Go to bed and I’ll bring up the hot water bottle and some pain killers.” She put aside her book to stand up.

“It’s not those kind of cramps.” I said weakly. “I feel like I’ve got indigestion or something like it.”

She frowned as she walked over to my position to put her hand over my forehead.  “Right now your skin does feel rather hot.”

“I’m going to go lie down.”  I turned away.  “There’s tiramisu in the fridge that Aunt Susan told me to bring back for you and Dad.”

“Thanks.” Mum watched with concern as I slowly walked over to the staircase.

Whilst gripping onto the banister hard, I slowly made my way up to my bedroom.  I didn’t even bother to shower or change into my pajamas.  Instead I simply lay down on top of the covers as I curled up into a ball.  I started to tremble as I experienced hot flushes whilst the pain grew worse.

My mother came into my bedroom carrying a glass of water as she came to sit on the side of the bed to help me drink from it.

“Drink lots of water.” She advised. “Maybe your body needs to flush out a toxin of some kind.”  I nodded weakly, but then I emitted a small smile in appreciation as she began to rub my tummy to ease the pain.  She continued, “if you don’t start to feel better in a couple of hours, I’ll take you to the Medical Lab at Circulate Headquarters. I’ll get Vincent to do a scan and check you out.”

I gave a final nod, before I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to concentrate on the massage instead of the pain itself.  I could feel a layer of cold sweat appear over my hot skin, which made me feel worse…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You won’t be able to trade in dead moose or caribou to pay your way through.”

  (‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 2)

Suddenly there was a loud knock and Declan’s voice suddenly boomed out, “hey, pipsqueaks!”  He had knocked once and then walked into the bedroom.

“DECLAN!”  My best friend yelled as he quickly released my waist.

I jumped up from the bed embarrassed!  It was almost in light speed, I leapt to my feet with my face burning bright red.

“Dinner’s ready.” Declan gave a steely-glare, before he turned around and walked out again.

Has it been half an hour already?  I had lost my appetite, but I was the first to walk out of the bedroom as I went straight into the bathroom and shut the door behind.  I used their sink to wash my hands as I suddenly felt really unhygienic.  I even washed my face and neck where Derik’s mouth had been.  Then I dried off using the hand towel before I took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door again.

Frickin’ hell, I wish Declan hadn’t sprung us… the worst person in the world who could have seen that, would be him.

When I walked out to the dining table, I saw he was sitting on one side of the table glaring at Derik who was sitting on the other, glaring back.  Aunt Susan sat at the head of the table as the matriarch of the family.  I sat at the place setting beside my best friend where my plate of spaghetti bolognaise was waiting.

Derik and Aunt Susan hadn’t started eating yet, as they were waiting for me to sit down but my enemy was already shoveling food into his mouth.

“Declan.” She glared at her eldest. “It’s polite to wait until everybody is seated before we begin our meals.”

He threw his mother a tired look, but he dropped his fork and sat back into his seat as he chewed on his mouthful.  Er, I was sitting down now so can’t he eat?  Aunt Susan smiled at Derik and I and then she picked up her cutlery which prompted us to follow suit.  Declan glared my way next, as he picked up his fork and continued on feeding his face, not even stopping for air! 

Whereas the humans politely cut up the spaghetti, the European Werewolf was merely swiveling his fork through it, picking up a huge amount and shoveling it into his oversized mouth.  I looked on in disgust… and Mandy finds THAT attractive?  He noticed my unimpressed look as he raised his eyebrows.  I shook my head as I looked down at my plate.

“B’s got a point, Declan.”  His mother commented.

“Oh yeah, like B’s the picture of politeness and morality in this tribe.” He sneered.

Derik dropped his cutlery loudly onto his plate as his objection whilst he sent his older brother the look of death.

I quickly changed the subject.  “Aunt Susan, do you still make your own pasta? I noticed that the Store never has any.”

“Ah yes I do B.” She answered. “Speaking of which, I’ve got some extra lasagna sheets you can take home to your mother. She told me that she wanted to try making lasagna soon.”

“Cool.” I gave a nod.

“Your Mom said your Gran has an old family recipe of lasagna.  But when she was telling me about the method, I didn’t think there was enough cheese in it.  Now, I know we can’t get any parmesan cheese around here, as the only cheese that this tribe makes is tasty.  However I recommend that you put extra cheese into the béchamel sauce as well as on the top of the dish.” Aunt Susan instructed.

“OK.” I nodded, before I turned quiet for a minute or two as I thought on how Aunt Susan and Great Grandma were alike.  “You know, you and Great Grandma are the only two women I know who has a list of old family recipes.  I mean, Gran has the recipe for lasagna and toss salad dressing from her Australian family, but that’s it.  I don’t think the Worthall’s passed down any recipes to Gran, as before the War the family had Housekeepers or Cooks and chose from different menus.”

“Cooking is an important tradition in many Italian families.” Aunt Susan pronounced. “When my family as well as Anthony’s left Italy after World War Two, they brought the recipes with them.  In the old culture, cooking was a family activity as well as social ritual.”

“Mom told me that in the old days, they would let the bolognaise sauce stew all day, whilst they made the pasta by hand.” Derik turned my way.

“Really?” I looked on in surprise.

“It’s true.” She verified then she smiled on her sons.  “Derik isn’t really interested in that part of his heritage, but Declan’s got a gift for it.  Declan and I can sit at this table for hours, making spaghetti, fettuccine, lasagna sheets or pasta spirals.”

“Declan?” I looked on the great oaf sitting across in further surprise.

“How do you like your pasta tonight, B?”  He returned smugly.  Then he shot off a look to his little brother.  “If Mom, heaven forbid, dropped dead tomorrow… Derik would be screwed.  He can barely boil an egg!”

“Yeah well Declan, there are more important things to life than just thinking with your stomach.” Derik said coldly.

“You and your books,” he sneered, “like THAT’S going to get you anywhere!”

“How about Cambridge?” Derik said smugly.

Declan paused in his eating to look on in surprise.  “Say what?”

“Derik?” Aunt Susan gave her youngest an inquiring look.

“Cambridge University is open again and B will be applying to study History there.”  He boasted, causing Declan to throw me a shocked look next.

“You’re leaving?”

Huh? Why is he taken aback by this? I was expecting a smartass retort like, ‘good riddance’ or something from him.

“B says I could go with her and do an Undergraduate’s course in Medicine.” Derik told his mother.  “I don’t need to do a Masters or a PhD because Grandpa Wisetail said he’ll take me on as an apprentice Medicine Man.”

“Say what?” Declan’s mouth fell open as he looked back at his little brother.

“Derik!”  My Aunt beamed proudly on her youngest son.

“Since the War, not many schools are open so kids like us, can complete their High School Certificates.  But we’re able to submit assignments with our application papers to be reviewed on a case by case basis.”  He went on.

“I’ll help you pick your best work to put together.” She quickly agreed. “Your biology essays were always the best in the tribe, especially your last on the immune system.  I don’t think we can submit them in your handwriting, but we could borrow Arabella’s laptop and portable printer and type them up -”

“Hang on hang on hang on!” Declan interrupted before he strangely laughed to himself, “Mom, I’m sorry to be the slap of reality here, but how exactly are we going to pay for all of this?”

She looked on her eldest as if his words really were a slap and her face fell.

“No problem.” Derik said coolly.

“No problem?” He arched his eyebrows.  “I don’t think the University operates on a barter system like we have here in the tribe, Derik.  You won’t be able to trade in dead moose or caribou to pay your way through.”  He looked coldly my way before he looked back on his brother.  “B as I understand, has English relatives that live in a castle full of rich and expensive old things that can pay her way.  But what have you got, Derik? What has this family got which will pay for all of this?”

His little brother looked away to tell their mother, “B showed me this website for a company called Hodge Endeavor which will pay my way.”

“Hodge Endeavor?” Her eyes widened with recognition. “They will pay for your tuition, like a scholarship or some such?”

“We came to Alaska to live because a letter from our Great, Great Grand Uncle told us to.  He was a Circulator in the Circulate.  The Circulate run Hodge Endeavor.  Because of Mike Sabre, B was telling me that we have access to Hodge Endeavor money.  They’ll pay for Cambridge.” Derik explained.

“Who’s Hodge Endeavor?” Declan asked skeptically.

“They’re one of the few multinational companies which survived the War.” Aunt Susan said, before she looked my way in confusion.  “B, I understand that with you being a Circulator in the Circulate along with your Mom and your Gran that Hodge Endeavor will pay for you.  But why will they pay for Derik?”

“Because of who you are.” I told her. “Your late husband Anthony was Mike Sabre’s Great Grand Nephew.  Because you’re related, you have his access to Circulate funds through Hodge Endeavor.”

Declan dropped his fork loudly onto his plate and pushed it away, looking cranky for some reason.

“So, my brother is a millionaire because of a distant relation?” He asked in disbelief.  “Well, I don’t need my job at the Garage anymore!”

“You have access to that money too Declan, if you should ever need it or even if you had some kind of inkling towards bettering yourself!” I snapped.

He stood up in a rage so suddenly, his chair fell backwards onto the floor!  I blanched as his blue eyes flashed glowing green, with his circular pupils turning into narrow slits.  Then he growled under his breath before he turned around and stalked out of the room…

… BAM!  I think he slammed his bedroom door behind him so hard that the wood started to split!  I looked guiltily to Aunt Susan, who actually didn’t seem surprised by her eldest’s temper tantrum, but just a little sad instead.

“Sorry.” I said uneasily, then I looked to Derik. “I just thought he was wrong to put you and your dreams down like that.”

He smiled appreciatively as he put his hand over mine.

“No B, it’s alright.” She sighed. “I think Declan is jealous.  Not about Derik’s education, since  he’s never been one for school or homework.  But he can’t leave Lokoti tribal lands, like Derik is being offered the chance to.  Being a Werewolf, there aren’t many places he can go where he can change and hunt freely like he can here.”

Now I really felt bad.  I pulled my hand out of Derik’s grasp to stare down at my plate as I lost my appetite.

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Four members of the Lokoti Werewolf pack, carried Uncle Jack’s body up to the pyre on a stretcher made from two branches with a large, leather pelt in the middle.

  (‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 2)

4^th September 2084

Uncle Jack’s funeral was held in the traditional period three days after a Lokoti’s death.   Dad drove Mum and I down to the Holy Grounds, by the river just off to the side of the community centre.  There, the rest of the tribe had convened where I saw the typical scene of a Lokoti funeral.  In the grassy glade before the three Sacred Totem Poles sat a large, rectangular, wooden funeral pyre. 

The council of nine Tribal Elders which included Grandpa, were dressed in the traditional way.  They were wearing old suede clothing with face paint, of the Lokoti Wolf claw mark going down the side of their faces.  Dressed as such, they led the funeral chant to a drum beat.

Uncle Jack’s family stood at the front of the crowd, as everyone stood in a semi-circle about the pyre.   Four members of the Lokoti Werewolf pack, carried Uncle Jack’s body up to the pyre on a stretcher made from two branches with a large, leather pelt in the middle.  We couldn’t see Uncle Jack’s body though, as it was wrapped in the woven, funeral shroud.

The funeral was held at sunset of the third day of death, because of spiritual reasons.  It had to be exactly in this period, to guide the deceased’s spirit into the next life.  The funeral ceremony could go for an hour, but the body would burn all night. Then in the morning, the deceased’s ashes were sprinkled into the river.  The river was very important to my people, as it was vast and interconnected to the other major rivers in Alaska.  Eventually, it made its way to the Bering Sea and then the Pacific Ocean.  But the river wasn’t just vital to geography, but it was seen to represent the ongoing nature of life, in relation to our beliefs.

The Circulate which was once made up of Circulators and Calculators, believed that the timeline is the surface of the space time continuum.  Those that have special gifts and have been trained like Circulators, Calculators or those with ESP, can ‘see’ what was ahead in the timeline.  Another belief the Circulate and the Lokoti had in common, was reincarnation.  By sprinkling the deceased’s ashes into the river, it was the metaphor of returning the person’s spirit into the timeline so that they can be reborn, further down stream in another era.

I watched the four carefully place the body on top of the pyre.  Then Grandpa lit the wood with a fiery torch that he was holding.  I looked away when the flames approached the body, before it was completely engulfed in heat.  As the body burned, the nine Tribal Elders stood in between the pyre and the three Sacred Totem Poles, continued to sing the Lokoti funeral chant to the beat of the drum.

I couldn’t watch the body catch on fire, I just couldn’t.  Even if it was wrapped in the woven funeral shroud, it seriously creeped me out!   As I looked away, my eyes fell upon the people standing up the front of the crowd, just across.  To be honest, I wasn’t really looking, but I was staring blankly ahead.  I could have been gazing upon Julius Caesar, without even noticing.

Just as my blurred vision started to come into focus, I realized that I was staring at Declan.  My worst enemy was staring right back, which gave me a jolt in surprise.  I was looking directly into his bright blue eyes which made me embarrassedly look away.

Frickin’ hell, if he wasn’t the worst person in the world I could have been staring at?  Attila the Hun would have come a close second.  But when I had to look away from the pyre again, I found myself gazing his way once more.

Declan was still staring in my direction, or was he glaring?  He was wearing his traditional scowl with his hands shoved deep into his jeans pockets, as he stood beside his mother and brother.  He didn’t look away either.  Declan didn’t seem to care if anybody noticed who he was looking at or scowling at, rather.

Isn’t this just great?  So far my only two options are to stare at a dead guy on fire, or the rudest boy in the tribe.  I gave up on looking at either, as I closed my eyes and turned to bury my face into my father’s arm.  I think Dad must have thought I was overwrought with grief, as he next kissed the top of my head and squeezed my hand tighter.

As the Tribal Elders sang, I used this opportunity of self-imposed privacy to think about Uncle Jack.   I remember him coming to my house a couple of times, to talk about pack business with my father.  The two would leave the house and go stand at the end of the driveway to talk privately.  Sometimes Uncle Ian as well as Ian’s younger brother Grant, would be with them for these conversations since they were members of the pack too.

I remembered how Uncle Jack was devoted to his wife and family just as all of the Lokoti Werewolves were.  Uncle Jack and his wife were something like 70 years old; but because he was a Werewolf he aged slower than his human mate.  It looked kind of funny seeing them together about the community, at how this man who appeared in his forties held hands with an elderly woman, or even when they kissed.   As was customary with Lokoti Werewolves and their ‘mate for life’ policy; they in no way looked on their wives with any less love.  When their mates died of old age, they mourned them deeply.  It became the custom that Lokoti Werewolves didn’t take another mate after the death of their first.

Opening my eyes again, I looked on the elderly Aunt Meg who was being comforted by her grown children.  Poor Aunt Meg, I guess she and Uncle Jack had always expected that he would outlive her.  As I looked on his surviving family, I started to realize something else… What was usually the way, the eldest son’s Lokoti Werewolf gene would be activated upon the death of their father or grandfather.  But the typical age bracket for a change to take place was between 10 – 25 years old.  Uncle Jack’s son was 30 years old, so he was too old for the change and his son whom was 9 years old was too young.

Hmm, I wondered who else could be activated instead?  I guess I’d find out on the next full moon, when a human Lokoti changed to become the fifteenth member of the pack.  As my eyes started to scan the other male members of the tribe between 10 – 25 years old my gaze met Declan’s once more. 

He was still glaring at me for some strange reason.  It was seriously starting to make me feel VERY uncomfortable.  I shot a scowl back his way, before I concentrated on staring at the tips of the flames, as they danced in the evening sky.

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He would pull off the robe just before he changed into his shape of a European Werewolf and then he would put it on again, when he reverted back to human.

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 1)

It was still dark when I woke up from hearing the backdoor open in the kitchen.  I sat up as I watched Aunt Susan and Derik jump to their feet.

“Declan!” His mother cried out as she threw her arms about her eldest.

I watched the family reunion through the kitchen doorway.  Declan had just pulled on the spare bathrobe which always hung on the back of the kitchen door, when his mother pounced on him. 

He would pull off the robe just before he changed into his shape of a European Werewolf and then he would put it on again, when he reverted back to human.   Unlike the Lokoti Werewolves who could still wear jeans in their humanoid werewolf bodies, when Declan changed his form completely altered.  It was because of this, he couldn’t wear any clothes since they were torn apart. 

“Declan, is that blood?” Aunt Susan cried out as she pulled back to look on.

I saw his left shoulder had dried blood on it, which was rubbing off onto the white bathrobe.

“Relax Mom, it’s almost  healed.” He sighed.

“What happened?” Derik asked his older brother.

“Those stupid drunks from Alma - that’s what happened!” He growled unhappily.  “I’m OK, but Jack isn’t.”

Aunt Susan and Derik turned quiet as my stomach sank.

“Is Uncle Jack badly injured?” I asked from the couch.

Declan looked past his family as his eyes settled on my position in a grim look.

“Jack took two bullets to the brain, removing half of his head as another tore through his heart.”  He said unhappily.  “He didn’t survive.”

My eyes filled with tears as my throat tightened.  Uncle Jack… is dead?  I mean, he wasn’t literally my Uncle; we used the term ‘Uncle’ as a sign of affectionate respect.  Being one of the pack was more than just belonging; Mum once told me that the Lokoti Werewolves were not just empathic with their mates, but also with each other.  There was even a rumor that they had limited telepathic ability.  It was why Dad would suddenly leave the house and run out the front door with no word where he was going, like what happened tonight.

The European Werewolf released his human brother and mother and started to walk past where I was sitting, when he stopped to look down.

“I’ll just get some clothes on and I’ll drive you home.” He said flatly.

“No.” I tearfully shook my head.  “There’s no need and you’re wounded anyways.  I want to walk.”

“I can drive B home.” Derik offered.

“I said I’d do it so I’ll do it!” He suddenly said angrily, startling us all.  Then he left the lounge room and went into his bedroom to dress.

*****

Neither Declan nor I said a thing, as he drove me home in his old, light blue, pick up truck.  The sky was just starting to lighten with the onset of dawn and I felt cold, tired, hungry and emotional.  Tearfully, I stared out the window for the short trip and couldn’t wait to get home so I could cry openly.

His vehicle chugged up the steep, dirt road as we drove past my families houses before Declan turned into the driveway of Mum and Dad’s.  He pulled up in front of my veranda and left the engine running. 

Just as I was about to hop out, Declan suddenly put his hand over mine.  He squeezed it tightly which made me pause, as my breath caught and my heart began to race… I didn’t look at him nor did he look at me.

The heat of his hand actually began to travel up my arm and magically warm me all over, his grip was strong as it was tight.  I even began to feel his thumb start to caress my palm, putting butterflies in my stomach.  I sat there unmoving, not breathing and not blinking. Neither of us said a thing, leaving an eerie quietness in his truck. 

Next, I felt his fingers entwine with mine, making my eyes widen as I stared ahead out of the windscreen.   My butterflies grew worse, flying into a flurry; making me tremble when his fingers pressed into my palm and massaged it with his finger tips.  His touch was both direct and yet tender. 

Unconsciously, I started to squeeze his hand back but then my front door opened and Dad walked out.  Automatically, he pulled back his hand as he still didn’t look my way.

“Go get some sleep.” He said shortly.

Finally I started breathing again, almost hyperventilating when I quickly opened my door and climbed out.  I accidentally slammed the door shut, as I walked around the truck and up my veranda steps.  Dad gave a nod to Declan, who quickly reversed out of our driveway to drive off back down the hill.

I collapsed into tears in my father’s waiting arms and he squeezed me tightly before leading me inside the house.

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