“Yeah, I do look like I’m trying too hard to belong in the Alaskan wilderness, don’t I?”

(Excerpt from Claimed)

The bathrooms weren’t as dirty as I had imagined, nor were they that clean. I placed my handbag on top of the sink and took out the small pack, I always had on me as per doctors orders. I pricked my finger, before eying the readouts of my sugar level, with dissatisfaction.

I really needed a hot meal. I really needed to shower and climb into a comfortable bed. I really couldn’t miss that flight tomorrow, at 10 AM. I really couldn’t miss my Monday morning meeting.

The more worried I felt, the worse my shaking grew… I felt like bursting into tears at the lousy time I was having! Back in Seattle, Steve had been a nice guy but with this camping trip, we both had seen a new side in each other. He had turned into a cold, obnoxious male and I had turned into a nagging, nervous wreck!

I’m NEVER going camping again! I hate Alaska! I want to go home to Washington State!

I packed away the diabetics kit into my handbag, before I walked back out. Instead of returning to the booth, I went and sat on a stool at the bar. I tried to sit patiently as I waited to be served, but my trembling went from bad to worse.

When I raised my hand to attract the attention of the bartender who was chatting to another patron, my hand shook uncontrollably!

“Charlie!” Suddenly, a loud voice boomed. I jumped in surprise, just as the bartender did. We both saw it was the handsome, older, Native Alaskan man, now standing beside me. “The lady needs a drink.”

The middle-aged, male bartender immediately came over, “what can I get for you today, Miss?”

“Um, can I please have an orange juice?” I managed out.

I had to hug my hands between my legs, to try to stop the shaking.

“And she needs to eat,” the handsome man added, whilst looking on my hands in my lap.

“What would you like?” The bartender pulled out a pen and pad.

“Um…” I tried to think, but I couldn’t clearly.

“Make it a burger with the lot,” the man spoke for me again, before he looked my way. “Is that OK? It practically has all of the five food groups, in one meal.”

“Hey, Harry? We need a burger with the lot!” The bartender called over his shoulder, to an open doorway where the kitchen must be.

To my further surprise, next the handsome stranger handed over a twenty dollar bill, to pay for me!

“No!” I cried out, a little loudly by accident. I scrambled for my purse, but the bartender took the man’s money and moved away. I tried to hold my purse steady, as I pulled out another twenty dollar note. “Here, take it.”

“You come from a city, don’t you?” The stranger smiled in amusement.

“What has that to do with it?”

“Here, when a person is shouted a meal and a drink, they simply say ‘thanks’.” He said evenly.

“But I don’t come from around here, so I won’t be able to pay you back.” I tried to point out.

He openly looked over my hiking boots, cargo shorts and water-proof jacket, all of which I had bought recently, for this camping trip from hell.

“Yeah, I guessed you weren’t from around here,” the man joked.

Self-consciously, I looked down at my appearance, before I looked back.

“Yeah, I do look like I’m trying too hard to belong in the Alaskan wilderness, don’t I?” I laughed nervously.

“Why try?” The man leaned on the bar. “Most people here, all come from somewhere else. Except my people of course, as we’ve always been here.”

“Yeah, I guess from your appearance I can see that too.” I laughed as did he.

“I’m Lokoti,” he said.

“Oh, hi Lokoti.” I offered him my hand to shake. “I’m Jessica Tandy.”

“No, my name’s not Lokoti, it’s the name of my people.” He chuckled, as we shook on it. “MY name is Flint Riverclaw.”

“Oh!” I blushed at my stupidity. “Sorry.”

The bartender put a tall glass of OJ before me, before he moved away to continue his conversation with the other patron.

I tried to keep my hands steady, as I took hold of the glass and raised it to my mouth. But my hands shook so badly, the man kindly put out his hand to help hold it. I felt my face burn in embarrassment, as I drank half the glass, before he lowered it.

“I’m sorry, I’m – I’m diabetic...” I continued to blush, “…my sugar levels are a little low at the moment.”

“Hmm, I smelled that.” Flint Riverclaw frowned in concern.

“You smelled that?” I echoed, thinking that it was an odd thing to say.

Then I watched him flash an angry look at the booth, where Steve was sitting. However, my boyfriend’s back was to us, as he was laughing away with Brian and Abi. The three didn’t appear to be feeling my absence.

“Your mate should be looking after you.” Flint said in disapproval, whilst glaring at Steve’s back.

“My who? My boyfriend? Well, I don’t think he’s going to be my boyfriend for much longer.” I glared into my glass.

“You are unmarried?” He looked on, in partial surprise. “I thought you were with the male who was over there, with his friends.”

“You mean my soon-to-be ‘ex’? No, we were never married. We only started dating two months ago. When he invited me up here, to go camping with he and his friends? I thought to myself, ‘well he knows I’m not the outdoors type, but he must be serious about this relationship if he wants me to go away with him’. But this has been the week from hell! He and his friends have done nothing but laugh at me, because I couldn’t put up a tent, I couldn’t start a fire, I couldn’t cook over the flames and I hate using trees as bathrooms!”

All of a sudden, all of my grievances came out in one rant!

“He didn’t help or provide for you?” Flint further frowned.

“Only when I burned the baked beans,” I said darkly then I started to rub my face from stress. “Now he’s drinking and when he starts, it’s hard to get him to stop. We’re supposed to overnight in Anchorage, for our flight back to Seattle tomorrow morning, but I’m scared we won’t make it.”

I wasn’t sure if I imagined it, but I thought I heard a growl? When I looked up sharply, I found Flint looking dangerously on Steve, for some reason.

“Er, so Flint, are you married?” I tried to move the conversation along.

“I have no mate,” he answered as he pushed my orange juice closer, to hint that I should have more. I smiled at his concern, as I picked it up and downed the last. Then he even ordered another for me. “Charlie, can I get two more orange juices?”

“Two OJ’s Flint?” The bartender acknowledged. “Coming right up!”

“Two more?” I echoed. “I’ll probably only drink one!”

“One of them is for me,” he chuckled again.

“You’re not going to have a beer?”

“I don’t drink alcohol,” he said simply, as he pulled another note from his wallet.

“No, let me!” I scrambled for my purse. But he ignored the note in my hand and so did the bartender, as he took Flint’s money instead. “What, is this a conspiracy? Don’t women pay for drinks in Alaska?”

Flint smiled at my humour, “so Jessica Tandy, what do you do in Seattle?”

He picked up one of the new drinks which were set down, as he waited to hear what I had to say.

“I’m a manager at a large PR firm, called ‘Wildenstein Dreams’.” I said proudly. “I was promoted at the beginning of the year. I’ve won a couple of awards for my event designs and now I earn 50k a year. What do you do, Flint?”

“I work in construction,” he advised.

“Really and how’s that going for you? Do you own your own construction company? How much do you pull in per annum?” I asked congenially.

“In my culture, it’s rude to ask how much a person earns.” He said casually.

“Oh.” I sat up straighter in surprise. Don’t tell me I just offended this nice man? “Sorry.”

“The only time you ask a Lokoti that question, is if you are the father of the woman you want to mate with.” He grinned in good humour.

“No shit,” my face fell, “erm, sorry Flint.”

“The father may not ask that question specifically, instead he’ll ask how the man can provide for the woman? Especially when the woman gives the man children. In that respect Jessica, I can tell you that I can provide for a mate should I take one.”

“Oh er, good for you.” I patted him on the arm, as I wondered what to say to that? But it made Flint laugh again.

“I like your blue eyes.” He openly stared at my face. “They stand out the most, with your white skin and blonde hair.”

“Do they?”

“Tell me about your life in Seattle, Jessica.” He sat down on the stool beside mine.

I laughed at the intense look on the handsome man’s face, as he came across as very mature. Flint may look like he’s 39 years old, but he reminded me of someone in their fifties or older, from his wizened look. He gave the impression of someone who’s ‘been there and done that’.

“Um, there’s not much to tell.” I tried not to blush again, at the interest he showed. “I wake up at 6 AM, buy a cappuccino on my way into the office, where I work from 8 – 6, Monday to Friday. Then I go home to my apartment which I’m paying off the mortgage, and to my cat named Fritz. He’s a Persian Blue and usually he’s the man of my life. I don’t like sport, I HATE camping…” here the two of us laughed, “…and I like to spend weekends with friends, by going to restaurants and seeing movies or shows.”

“Alma has a small cinema,” he offered.

“Alma?” I gave a funny look. “Where’s Alma?”

“This is Alma,” he chuckled at my vagueness.

“This town we’re in right now, this is Alma?”

“Uh huh,” he said patiently. “Alma has a cinema, this bar as well as a milk bar. It also has a school, which Lokoti kids attend, and a supermarket. On our tribal lands, we have a Meeting Hall where we put on dances, bingo, or family celebrations.”

“It sounds like you enjoy the quiet life, Flint.” I remarked.

“It sounds like you enjoy the fast life, Jessica.” He smiled back.

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

Just then, the handsome one looked right my way, as if he noticed my gaze.

(Excerpt from Claimed)

20th August 1999

We pulled up outside of a bar, in some kind of ‘one man and his dog’ town, a couple of miles off the main highway. As soon as the motor switched off, Brian, Abi and Steve were jumping out of the rented Jeep. I looked about this tiny town, in the middle of the Alaska Range, and therefore in the middle of nowhere; and I wasn’t as eager.

“C’mon, Jess.” Steve threw me a tired look. “It’s just a rest stop, it’s still a four hour drive to Anchorage.”

“You said we’d be staying in a hotel tonight, in Anchorage.” I whined, as I reluctantly climbed out.

“Gees Steve, you weren’t kidding when you said Jess was a city-dweller.” Brian laughed, as he took Abi’s hand, to lead her into the Bar.

Steve was embarrassed about having me as a girlfriend, I could tell. He didn’t take hold of my hand, nor did he hold the door open for me. Inwardly, I fumed as I went inside. I toyed with the idea of an immediate break-up, once I was safely back in Seattle.

He was the outdoorsy type, who typically played more than one sport; but I never pretended to be. I met him at a party and when we were introduced, I told him straight up how I’m a manager at a PR company, and I have a pretty impressive resume of events. I own my own apartment and a cat and a fridge, stocked full of frozen TV dinners.

So what if I can’t cook over an open fire? So what if I don’t know how to pitch a tent? So call me civilized, for having difficulty using the behind of a tree, as a bathroom!

We walked into the bar, to find a typical scene for an establishment in the middle of nowhere. Wooden floors which looked like they had never seen a can of polish; and a couple of chairs and tables as well as booths on one side of the room, with a long counter on the other. In the middle, sat burly types who could have been truckers or lumberjacks, for all I knew.

However, there was a pool table at the far end of the bar, which was being used by four Native Alaskan guys. They caught my eye, as I tried not to obviously stare at their long, black hair, broad shoulders, or their bodies which nicely filled out their jeans and flannel shirts. All four of them, had a pool stick in their hands, which implied that they were all playing. Three of them had long hair whereas the fourth, had cut his dark hair short.

One of them was taller than the others, as well as stronger looking. His hair was also the longest, all the way down to his lower back. Maybe I had never grown out of my rock band phase, but I thought he was the handsomest, although he did look older than me. I was 29 years old and this guy looked like he was 39 years old. I bet he was probably married at his age, oh well.

Just then, the handsome one looked right my way, as if he noticed my gaze. I tried to keep from blushing, as I joined my group in a booth along the wall. When we sat down, Steve immediately picked up a menu so he wouldn’t have to look at me.

“Hey, you wanna chip-in for a jug of beer?” Brian asked Steve.

“Sure,” he said congenially, to my horror.

“A JUG?!” I exclaimed. “You can’t just have one glass of beer each? Why does it have to be a jug? We’re driving!”

The men looked on in annoyance, and even Brian’s girlfriend Abi, looked unimpressed. So I tried to put my complaints in another light.

“I’m sorry, but the last time you two shared a jug of beer; it turned into two jugs and then three and even four. We ended up staying in a seedy, local motel for the night. Now you guys said we’d be sleeping in a nice hotel in Anchorage this evening. Our flights back to Seattle are 10 AM tomorrow morning! If I miss that flight, my work will kill me. I have an important meeting with some clients the day after next!”

“I don’t think this town has a motel.” Brian mused, whilst looking around the mediocre bar.

“We’ll just put up the tent,” Steve shrugged.

“Good idea. Why pay, when we have our own accommodations?” He laughed back then the two gave each other a ‘high five’.

“You’re kidding, right?” I laughed nervously.

They must be… you know, this is just a stunt to scare the ‘city gal’.

Just then a middle-aged woman who must have been the waitress, came over with a notepad and pen, to take our orders.

“Yeah, can we have a jug of Bud?” Steve ordered, before he looked at Abi.

“Yeah, I’ll go for the jug idea.” She shrugged.

“Any meals with those drinks?” Our waitress asked.

Just as I opened my mouth to order a cola and burger, Steve jumped in.

“Not yet, we’ll have the beer first and then see what we feel like later.”

The waitress shrugged and walked away to procure our order.

“Don’t I get to order, just like I don’t get a say on the trip?” I muttered quietly, but I knew Steve overheard.

He proceeded to ignore me, as he perused the menu again.

My legs jiggled nervously, as I tried to come up with a contingency plan.

The three of them, the two guys as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, with Abi as the ‘Little Miss I’ll-go-along-with-whatever-my-boyfriend-decides’; all started laughing over funny stories of the camping trip, we were coming back from. My eyes scanned the bar, especially the burly men I hoped were truckers and not lumberjacks. Maybe I could get a ride back to Anchorage with one of them?

I’d pay him cash of course, so he wouldn’t expect payment of some other kind. Then I’d make Abi write down the number plate of the truck I climbed into, for safety. If I didn’t make it to Anchorage and my body went missing somewhere in the Alaska Range, at least the police would have a starting point to find my murderer aka driver.

The waitress returned with a tray carrying four huge glasses, and the jug of beer. She put down the glasses first then the jug second, and quickly walked off before I could stop her. Damn it! I don’t want to drink beer, I want a cola! And I need to eat something…

My legs jiggled harder, as I noticed even my hands were trembling! I don’t think it was just from nerves, either. Drat it! I really need to eat something, plus I have to go into the bathroom to check my sugar level. I started counting backwards in my head, from the last time I ate, in conjunction with my insulin shot this morning.

“C’mon Jess,” my boyfriend poured some beer into my glass. “Have a drink! You’re a lot more fun, when you’ve got a couple under your belt.”

“Under her belt, or under something else?” Brian guffawed, with Steve laughing loudly along.

To stop myself going into a diabetes-induced rant at the losers, quickly I stood up and crossed the bar. My eyes scanned for the Ladies, as I struggled to keep my composure. I tried not to make eye-contact with the flannel-clad truckers or lumberjacks, who watched me leave my friends behind.

“Over there.”

What? I looked around for the person who just spoke. It was the tall, long-haired, strong-looking, Native Alaskan man. He was leaning on his pool stick, whilst watching me.

“Excuse me?” I blinked.

“Over there,” he pointed.

I turned to see where he was indicating, towards a door in the corner with a ‘Ladies’ symbol on it.

“Thanks,” I said in surprise at his perceptiveness.

Then I veered off in that direction, as my shaking got a hell of a lot worse.

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

Claimed

Published April 2011

Available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Feedbooks and Smashwords

Jessica Tandy is coming back from a camping trip in Alaska, when she meets the tall, dark and handsome Flint Riverclaw. They chat in a bar during a rest stop, which eventuates into a one-night-stand, and ultimately changes the rest of her life. Why do Flint’s brown eyes occasionally glow turquoise, or he growls so much? Imaginations run wild, in this supernatural, romance novella.

Declan who as another breed of Werewolf, could never completely be one of us, just as I would always be different

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 11)

30^th October 2084

“Are you ready?” Grant’s glowing silver eyes felt like they burned into my soul.

“Yes.” I gulped.

“I feel that you’re ready tonight B.” He rumbled out in his thunderous voice. I looked at him expectantly when he said simply, “come.”

Then in his Werewolf form, Grant leapt from our front veranda, clear over the driveway and he disappeared into the woods in a single bound. In one leap, in my Werewolf form I joined him. He ran out in front as I ran right behind, so close I was almost treading on his heels.

We ran through the darkened woods so fast that the colours seemed to stream into each other like army camouflage of green, grey and black.

My husband streaked along, running up to 200 km/h as I deliberately hung back, not engaging my faster speed thanks to my ability as a Circulator. Although Grant’s supernatural strength was more than my match; my Circulator speed was greater than his. My instincts slowed me from overtaking him as I played out the role he were First and I were Second of our personalized pack.

Grant ducked left and instantly I ducked left. He ducked right and automatically so did I. I mirrored his movements and together we bolted through the woods as he was Yin to my Yang. I smelled his scent as clear as day as I felt his heart beat and I felt his hunger… Tonight I hunted as a Lokoti Werewolf with my mate.

TONIGHT WE HUNT ANIMAL AND NOT HUMAN – Grant willed to his Werewolf wife.

TONIGHT WE FEAST ON ANIMAL FLESH – I willed back to my husband.

My body copied exactly what my mate’s did. I ran at his pace and I panted when he panted. Hell, even my heart would beat to the same rhythm as his.

Then I sensed what he sensed, as I smelled what he smelled. I picked up that we were closing in on the pack, as they chased down a small group of moose. I smelled the scent of our prey which made my stomach rumble.

The thirteen other members of the pack all closed in on the four moose who were running for their lives. I felt exhilaration with my predator instinct delighting in their fear. I could almost taste the fresh kill!

However as my mouth watered, another instinct knew that this wasn’t the National Park’s only moose. I sensed that I wasn’t hunting a species to the point of extinction. If this had been the case, then our instincts would have steered us towards other prey.

As my mate and I left the tree coverage, we spotted the Lokoti Werewolves running up a mountain ridge behind our targets. Out in front of the pack, ran Declan in his European Werewolf form as our honorary member.

My heart skipped a beat, as it picked up in speed from seeing Declan’s large supernatural form running on all-fours. Like this, he chased down the Alpha male moose. Don’t ask me how and don’t ask me why, but although this was my first hunt with the pack; I sensed that the pack allowed him to take down fighting, the largest and the strongest. If it were moose than Declan would challenge and take down the alpha male or if it were caribou it would be the same. The pack would chase other quarry to let him combat alone. I sensed that his European Werewolf bloodlust demanded that he didn’t share his prey.

My greater speed as a Circulator engaged, thanks to the rush of exhilaration I experienced from seeing him out in hunt. I streaked past Grant as I spotted the fastest female moose. As Declan challenged the strongest male to combat, I wanted no I needed, to chase down the fastest. My bloodlust wanted to feel the satisfaction of being not only stronger but faster than my meal.

As the female moose ran out in front, I streaked past the entire pack to chase her down. The female tried to shake me as she ducked left so I did too. The female next ducked right and so did I. Next, she bolted towards more trees to try to hide but before she reached the tree line I leapt upon her.

My bloodlust boiled as my heart was pounding and all I could smell let alone breathe was the scent of my kill. I smelled her fear, her racing heart and her adrenaline rush as she tried to escape from death - from me.

I leapt into the air and landed upon her outstretched, engaging my supernatural strength to dig my claws into her tough hide. The female moose made a last-ditch attempt to bolt with all of her might…but by instinct, I knew exactly where her jugular was in her larger neck and I brought my dangerous jaws down. I felt her mangy fur against my tongue, as my elongated teeth drove through her tough pelt. I tingled all over as soon when I felt her warm blood gush into my ready mouth.

With her jugular pierced she immediately came crashing into the ground with me right on top of her. Then as her legs flailed uselessly in the air, I kept my jaws over her crucial artery which both expedited her death and made it as painless as possible.

In the corner of my eye, I caught Grant also pounce on her fallen form, indicating that he had run right behind. Then so did Grandpa, Dad and Ian and share my kill they did. Grant’s elongated teeth dove into the artery in her chest, right next to her heart. Dad also bit into another major artery. Ian and Grandpa bit into the moose’s upper legs which were still trying to kick us off. As soon as I saw my kin do this, the sooner I felt the female moose’s heart stop as she no longer inhaled air…she was dead.

The female moose who was my first kill on my first full moon hunt with the pack, was extinguished. As if guided by my predator instincts, my elongated teeth now began to pull away her pelt to reach the warm, soft flesh underneath.

This even tasted better than my Great Grandma’s roast dinners with her famous gravy! This was more fulfilling than I could have ever dreamed possible! The taste was both sweet and yet savoury, with the fresh kill both placating my hunger and my thirst. My heart raced as I felt giddy over the exquisite delight!

Frickin’ hell, this both excited as well as satisfied me in a way that I have never experienced before. This was more than pleasure, this was more than delight, this WAS fulfillment. For a brief couple of moments as my bloodlust was purged; I felt more than satisfaction but I felt almost euphoric as I addressed my yearnings.

As I feasted, I caught Grant’s silver eyes watching as he hungrily ate. Then I felt something else…I felt a rush of pleasure and appreciation in my Lokoti Werewolf husband that he got to share this with his wife. I sensed the relief that he felt for being able to share the hunt and the kill with not only another Lokoti Werewolf, but it was with his mate.

My glowing turquoise eyes met his glowing silver ones. Grant growled satisfactorily as he ripped open the chest cavity with his clawed hands. I couldn’t see Dad’s or Grandpa’s bloodied faces, as they were eating their way through the moose’s abdomen. Ian tore off a leg to eat, like it could have been a giant chicken drumstick instead.

The males feasting encouraged my own as we didn’t have to worry about table manners. I didn’t care about being ‘lady like’ as I was permitted to gorge on fresh kill. My dangerous mouth became covered in blood, just as Grant’s, Ian’s, Dad’s and Grandpa’s did.

I am Lokoti Werewolf who is mated to another Lokoti Werewolf. I AM the fifteenth member of the pack and for a coherent moment all of the basic principles of life and my existence made perfect sense. I AM a predator, just as I AM a killer. I need to hunt when the full moon piqued not only our bloodlust but our lunatic tendencies.

Luna which means the moon…lunatic which means made crazy by the moon…the light of the full moon which stirred my bloodlust and I must hunt and I must kill and I must feed. That was all there was to it, so why fight it when I could hunt with my kin; animal instead of human?

The circle of life and death; the universe expands, the universe contracts and the cycle of existence continues to renew itself. My Lokoti Werewolf instincts were part of this; able to hunt a species where numbers were not endangered so it harmonized with nature.

As I contemplated all of this, my life started to make sense because I now made sense. I am the first female Lokoti Werewolf and I am the last Circulator. I am the beginning and I am the end but I am not alone. I had my Mum, Gran and Vincent, as members of the Circulate; I had Grant and the rest of the pack to guide me as one of Earth’s dangerous predators. But in a small way I also had Declan…

He was the male whom my secret desires lay with; he was the male who secretly desired me; Declan who as another breed of Werewolf, could never completely be one of us, just as I would always be different as the first female of the pack. Declan, who after combating the strongest male moose, he ate his kill alone. The rest of the pack numbered four to six Lokoti Werewolves per prey. As the Lokoti Werewolves could hunt in a pack, his European Werewolf bloodlust demanded that he ate his conquered alone.

Declan raised himself from his already-eaten meal, thanks to his greater appetite. I felt his burning gaze as the green-eyed monster looked my way. I overheard the satisfied growl he emitted, seeing me covered in blood as I sensed inside of him a different kind of hunger build…

Just then he caught sight in the corner of his glowing green eyes, another male moose come into the clearing. It looked enraged at my feasting on one of its females. The male moose made a charge towards me, but Declan swatted the animal with his strong, sharp claw when it charged past the tree that he was standing behind.

His second kill went crashing bleeding profusely, into the ground. As Declan’s large canine head and ever-hungry jaws lowered to eat his second meal, he never looked away from my direction.

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

HERE’S A TIP B, MALE WEREWOLVES ARE ATTRACTED TO STRONG WOMEN.

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 11)

Declan reluctantly stood up from his half-eaten meal and then he waited for me to stand up. I had to lean on him whilst I pulled myself to my feet, as my legs wobbled horribly. I feel so weak and hungry!

FRICKIN’ HELL, YOU LOOK USELESS – he telepathically taunted – HERE’S A TIP B, MALE WEREWOLVES ARE ATTRACTED TO STRONG WOMEN.

“Man am I relieved that I’m not married to you!” I grumbled.

CLIMB UP AND I’LL CARRY YOU HOME TO YOUR HUSBAND – he thought bitterly.

He was so big in his European Werewolf body that even standing on all fours, he was almost the height of a horse. He was too high to climb in my weakened state! When I pointed this out, he growled unhappily and lowered himself to the ground. As soon as I’d clambered up, I wrapped my legs about his wide, muscled waist. I leaned over to hold onto his bulky shoulders which also enabled me to bask in his excessive body heat.

The monster raised himself once more to his four clawed feet, but he stood still for a minute or two as I sensed he appreciated our contact. Then after turning his beastly head to make sure I was holding on tightly, he took off out of the grassy plain! Declan bounded along on all fours at typical European Werewolf speed which was something like 300 km/h which was 100 km’s faster than what Lokoti Werewolves run.

We ran through the forest, with Declan expertly dodging the trees in our path as he simultaneously leapt over log, rock or bush. I must admit, I was enjoying the ride...! I felt as warm as toast thanks to his greater body heat and I also enjoyed the feel of his huge muscles ripple. However it took him twenty minutes running in supernatural speed, for him to reach the hill that my house sat on. I didn’t know I had gone so far…

WHEREABOUTS WERE WE? – I wondered when he slowed to a jog.

YOU MEAN IN THE NATIONAL PARK? ALL THE WAY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BORDER – he answered.

NO WONDER I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT PART OF OUR LANDS BEFORE – I marveled.

It was here that the ride ended when he leapt out of the tree line of the woods and landed on my dirt driveway. There we found Grant, Ian, Dad, Grandpa and Grandfather standing by the veranda steps talking to Mum and Gran. Everyone looked relieved to see me, but puzzled by the method of my arrival.

“B?” Mum came forwards, as did Dad and Grant.

“Hallo.” I growled out in my Werewolf voice as I gave a little wave with my claw-like hand.

Declan lowered himself to the ground once more, to enable me to climb off. When I did so, my legs gave away but Grant was quick to catch me. The European Werewolf looked on my husband jealously, before he abruptly turned and leapt back into the woods! Mum and Gran looked surprised by his sudden appearance and then disappearance, but I sensed he did it to stop himself from mauling the man who had become his rival.

“B, what’s wrong with you?” Mum cried out concerned as I had trouble standing on my own two feet.

“I instantaneously phased tonight.” I managed out, looking on their astonished faces. “I ran so fast in light speed that I accidentally turned myself into light. I looked bright and see through as I was running and when I nearly ran into a tree? Suddenly I found myself on the north side of the border, having instantaneously phased there without realizing it.”

“Hunter!” She whacked her husband on the arm. “You take our little girl out on a hunting trip as a Werewolf and she circulates for her first time without us!”

“You’re weak and tired at the moment, which happens to a Circulator who circulates for their first time.” Gran frowned. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up.”

“Actually,” I looked on in a pleading manner. “I’m really, really hungry…could I please have some bacon and eggs?”

“Of course you can!” She quickly agreed. “I was famished after the first time I circulated.”

Grant was about to scoop me up into his arms to carry his weakened wife inside, when I stopped him. I looked apologetically into his concerned eyes, before I next looked to Ian, Grandpa, Grandfather and then lastly, Dad.

“I’m sorry I disappointed you tonight and I’m not a very good Werewolf. I know if you had a son instead of a daughter he’d probably make a much better Lokoti Werewolf -”

“You think I’m disappointed in you?” He interrupted in an incredulous voice, before he crossed over to stand closely. “B I’m damn proud of you! I’m proud that you’re my daughter just as I’m proud of the fact that you’re the first female Lokoti Werewolf.”

“But,” I said in confusion, “when I couldn’t kill the bear you seemed angry or something.”

“Tonight I saw a new Lokoti Werewolf not let the bloodlust get the better of her. If that bear had been human, you managed to run away from the temptation of the kill and the human would have lived.” He said strongly.

“The human would have lived?” I asked amazed. “The human really would have lived because I ran away?”

“As long as Ian doesn’t snap its neck, sure.” Grandpa joked, making the men chuckle.

“Hey, how often do we get to eat grizzly?” Ian tried to justify himself. “The bear was just lying there like that…”

“I really can’t take you anywhere.” Grant mockingly shook his head at his older brother.

Just then Gran shuddered from the cold as Mum rubbed her arms in agreement.

“Er guys? Can we have this heartfelt moment inside where it’s heated?” My mother complained.

“Bacon and eggs do sound good right about now.” Grandfather smiled on Gran, before he escorted her up the veranda steps and into the house.

“But I thought you guys fed on grizzly tonight?” I looked at Grant.

“Never underestimate a Werewolf’s appetite, B.” Mum rolled her eyes. “They’re ALWAYS hungry.”

“Yeah well, it’s not just for food.” Dad laughingly pulled her close, before they followed her parents inside.

“C’mon then, let’s get some ‘human’ food inside of you.” Ian joked. He stepped back as he watched Grant pick me up to gallantly carry me over the threshold. As he trailed in after, he mused, “but what about Declan though, I’ve never seen him give anybody a ride on his back before.”

“With his European Werewolf temper, he would soon as maul whoever would even suggest such a thing.” Dad agreed.

Grant sat me down in a chair at the dining table before taking the seat next to mine, as Gran and Grandfather helped themselves to cooking in my kitchen for one and all. Mum even went in to help, as Dad set the table.

“Declan’s always been protective over B.” Mum mused, overhearing their conversation. “I remember how he used to pick her up and carry her everywhere when she was little.”

“He did?” I looked up, taken aback. “I must have been really little then, because I don’t remember it.”

“I remember.” Gran smiled softly. “You, Derik and Declan all used to be quite close until you and Derik hit seven years old.”

“That’s when the fighting began.” Mum chimed in. “Suddenly you and Declan went from best friends to worst enemies, almost overnight.”

Just then Grant frowned as he leaned in and sniffed me, “his scent on you is strong.”

“Oh, I had to hold onto him tightly so not to fall off.” I tried to say casually.

“Anyways that’s enough about Declan.” Dad said narkily.

“Agreed.” Ian declared. “Mmm that bacon smells good, Em and Arabella.”

All of our heads turned at the delicious smell of bacon frying and the creamy, cheesy scrambled eggs being cooked to perfection. As Gran and Grandfather were concentrating on these, Mum made the toast as Dad put out the butter, salt and pepper.

I was relieved when the conversation was changed and as soon as we were all sitting at the table eating; I was able to shrink back into my human body. My prior thoughts of Declan slipped away just as my Werewolf muscle bulk did.

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“Make the kill, B.” Grandfather ordered.

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 11)

My eyes widened in fear at what I had done as I looked down on the poor animal which was groaning in agony. Then I looked up at the tree she had been clawing when I saw some kind of insect hive inside of the broken trunk. The female grizzly had been happily minding her own business, trying to feed herself when I stumbled along and massacred her!

“Do it, B.” Grant growled out softly in his deep, rumbling Werewolf voice. He walked up to stand beside, as did Ian, Dad, Grandpa and Grandfather. “Kill her and put her out of her misery.”

“Then we will feast on her flesh.” Ian eagerly licked his lips as his glowing pink eyes stared hungrily on our prey.

“Make the kill, B.” Grandfather ordered.

No, no, no! I don’t want to! I shook my head as I stepped back from the scene of my crime. I’m disgusting! I shouldn’t feed on her as I don’t deserve it!

Dad’s glowing red eyes narrowed in what I thought was disappointment as he watched me back away. He must feel so let down that he didn’t have a son to turn instead. He must think I’m a disappointment to the entire pack…

Ian saw that I wasn’t going to do it, so he dropped down to his knees and took hold of the grizzly’s huge head in his supernaturally strong arms.

SNAP!

The grizzly’s head dropped to the ground lifeless, with her eyes staring blankly as her blood continued to ooze out of her many cuts and scratches.

Dad lowered to the ground beside his best friend, as both Grandpa and Grandfather followed. My mouth fell open in a mixture of horror and yet hunger, as I watched the male Lokoti Werewolves begin to feed. They used their claws and teeth to pull away her fur to reach the warm, succulent flesh underneath.

“B?” Grant held out his clawed hand to me.

“NO!” I roared before I turned around and took off out of there!

I ran in a direction I know not… The trees flew at me so thick and fast, I felt the odd scratch of a low branch or a bush that grazed as I concentrated on missing the tree trunks. I ran faster, slipping from Lokoti Werewolf speed to Circulator light speed. My skin turned bright as all of me and not just my eyes glowed. I tried to run faster than I had ever run before, even faster than light speed!

Something odd happened as I no longer felt my bare feet touching the cold, hard earth anymore. I was running so fast, I felt all light and tingly like I could have been floating. When I looked down at my bright body, I saw straight through myself! Oh my god I look like a ghost! Then that means I’m in phase! I looked just like Gran and Mum did when they went into phase being Circulators.

Just then I looked up when I saw I was about to hit a huge tree…! Frickin’ hell, this is gonna hurt! I ‘closed’ my eyes as best as I could, being all bright and see-through as I tried to prepare for the impact…but it never came.

I stopped, or I think I stopped. My body of bright light reformed back into it’s solid, Werewolf shape and I could feel my feet touching the ground again. When I looked around, there was no sign of the tree I was supposed to hit. Hang on, where am I?

Feeling completely lost, I looked around the surrounding wilderness which I had never seen before. I was in some kind of huge, grassy plain which stretched for a couple of square kilometers. But I knew I was still in the vast Lokoti National Park by recognizing the distant trees as well as the familiar backdrop of mountains in the Alaska Range.

The real question though, was how the hell did I get here? Oh my god, I think I must have instantaneously phased! It would make sense, I was running so fast I went into phase. When I thought I was about to hit the tree and I closed my eyes, somehow I instantaneously phased myself out of danger to another part of the National Park. Only how do I get back? I’m lost! I don’t know my way home from here.

My muscles turned to jelly because my body was depleted of energy and I slipped to the cold, grassy ground. I tried to remain in my Werewolf body for the supernatural body heat as I was wary of the icy cold air. Next, I tried to calm my racing heart by admiring the view of the snow-capped mountains which looked a haunting white under the starry sky.

Just then I heard a noise and my head snapped around to track it. My nose caught wind of a familiar scent…maple syrup? Off in the distance I spotted Declan in European Werewolf form. He stepped out of a section of wood carrying some kind of large, dead animal in his strong canine jaws.

On all fours, he trotted over to where I was sitting in the grassy plain. His glowing green eyes stood out in the night, with his jaws dripping with blood from his hapless victim. The closer he came, the sight of his huge, hulking, hairless supernatural body made him a sight for sore eyes!

“How did you find me?” I wondered.

I WASN’T LOOKING FOR YOU – he telepathically replied – I WAS HUNTING WHEN I CAUGHT YOUR SCENT.

“Oh.” I said flatly, looking on his prey.

Declan ceremoniously dumped the carcass he had been carrying in his mouth, which I saw was a male Elk? Then he sat down on his hind legs to look down on me as the weaker Werewolf.

“Elk?” I queried in my deep, rumbling voice. “How the hell are you hunting Elk? They’re not native to Alaska.”

SOMETIMES THEY STUMBLE INTO OUR TERRITORY, ESPECIALLY TO MIGRATE AWAY FROM THE RADIATION – Declan shrugged with his bulky shoulders – SO WHERE IS GRANT AND THE OTHER LOKOTI WEREWOLVES?

“I don’t know.” I answered.

AREN’T THEY SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING YOU TO HUNT OR SOMETHING? – he gave a funny look with his monstrous face– IT’S WHAT THE PACK HAD BEEN PLANNING

“They did take me hunting.” I said dismally. “I’m a failure.”

IS THAT WHY YOU’RE SITTING HERE SULKING? – he chuckled which came out as an odd kind of panting noise.

“They took me hunting and I hurt a bear.” I said guiltily. “I think I disappointed Dad when I couldn’t finish the kill so Ian did it. Just as Grant tried to get me to eat with them, I chickened out and ran away.”

STOP BEING SUCH A PRINCESS BY WASTING GOOD FOOD – he rolled his glowing green eyes – GRIZZLY IS RARELY HUNTED AS THEIR NUMBERS ARE FEW SO YOU JUST TURNED DOWN A DELICACY.

“Thanks for the sympathy!” I looked away in annoyance. However when I heard some kind of strange, wet, crunching noise? I turned my head back around to find Declan eating his prey. “You’re eating that now?”

WHEN THE MEAT TURNS COLD AND IT STARTS TO DECOMPOSE IT’S NO GOOD – he thought with his mouthful – NEED I REMIND YOU THAT WEREWOLVES FEAST ON FRESH KILL?

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“Yeah but when I turn into you, I get locked up as my clothes tear and I feel the worse pain imaginable!”

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 11)

As the ‘Cranberries’ played softly as mood music, Grant occasionally looked over his book to watch me work. He quietly observed me separate all of my books on history and mythology from my novels and shelve them in alphabetical and categorical order. I was so fastidious, it took me most of the afternoon. I was almost done when we were interrupted by unexpected guests.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Come in!” He called out immediately, as if he were expecting the intrusion.

I watched my front door open with the entry of Ian, Dad, Grandfather and even Grandpa walking into my living room.

“Oh.” I stood up worriedly from the floor. “What’s wrong?”

“Why do you think something is wrong?” Grandpa smiled in amusement.

“Then what’s with the mini reunion?” I pondered.

“We’re declaring class is now in session.” Dad announced.

“Class, what class?” I looked his way in befuddlement.

“Tonight, tomorrow night and for the next couple of nights, you’ll be training with Lokoti Werewolves.” Grandfather grinned. “Your mother and grandmother as the Circulators within the family are your ‘lecturers’ in time manipulation. Now you have us as your tutors for your Werewolf abilities.”

“I do?” my eyes widened, before they narrowed when they turned towards Grant who came over. “You knew about this?”

“Of course.” He shrugged. “The pack have been talking about this for the last couple of days. When you fall into sync with us, you’ll hear as well as feel the pack consensus too.”

My heart skipped a beat as I felt dwarfed by being the only female amongst all of the males in the room.

“Where’s Mum and Gran?” I took a step backwards. “Are they coming too?”

“Your grandmother and mother can advise you on Circulator matters, but they can’t train your bloodlust as a Werewolf, B.” Dad said gravely.

“But I don’t want to wolf-out and go all yucky!” I took another step backwards with apprehension. “It hurts being a Werewolf and I always get into trouble for it!”

“If you start your training as soon as possible, you can be taught to control the bloodlust, B.” Grandpa said patiently. “The longer we leave it, the harder it will be.”

“It’s not a full moon so I don’t want to change!” I objected. “I don’t want this! I don’t want to be like you!”

“B…” Grant looked pained, “…it will be alright, I promise.”

“Yeah but when I turn into you, I get locked up as my clothes tear and I feel the worse pain imaginable!” I objected.

“Then we’d better get you trained as soon as possible, so you don’t feel the agonizing stomach cramps anymore.” Ian said calmly.

Suddenly in a bright flash of light, Mum and Gran instantaneously phased into my living area, to the surprise of the male Lokoti Werewolves.

“Arabella?” Grandfather looked on his mate.

“Jess?” Dad had to blink at Mum’s abrupt appearance.

“Hi Hunter.” She smirked. “We just came to drop something off for B.”

“For me?” I wondered out loud. “Like what?”

Gran walked forwards holding a small pile of neatly folded up clothes in her hands. As she came forwards, she unfolded the garments and soon we were looking on several elasticized black tops and bottoms of what looked to be like gym clothes.

“You need elasticized clothing which won’t tear when you change.” She announced. “Here’s a couple of pairs of work-out clothes you can wear which will handle your increased muscle bulk.”

I looked on the two other females in the room which coupled with their consideration; it was like they were the light in all of this darkness. I walked up not just to accept my gift, but I pulled both older women into my stronger arms in a grateful hug.

“Thank you!” I uttered out in a tight voice. “Thank you so much!”

“They’re just clothes, B.” Mum laughed at reaction, but Gran understood.

“Of course we’d be here for the first female Lokoti Werewolf who’s still our beloved B.” She rubbed my back in a soothing manner. “Now how about you go upstairs and change?”

“You mean you’ll be coming too?” I asked hopeful.

“Er, perhaps not.” She tried not to laugh.

“We’ll stay here though.” Mum promised. “Go off and do your ‘Werewolf bonding’ or whatever the males have planned? And when you come home all hunted out, we will be waiting for you.”

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

I watched his eyes widen, before they narrowed into a look of pure resentment when he saw Grant standing beside.

(‘Scent’ Excerpt Chapter 10)

We walked hand-in-hand, up and down the small aisles of the general store. In his other hand, he held the carry-basket for us as he told me what to grab. When we walked past a couple of older women, I noticed their looks of approval by seeing us behave like we really were a married couple.

“Hi B and Grant.” Old Mrs. Huntington smiled as we passed by, whilst she was shopping with her grown granddaughter.

“Hi Mrs. Huntington.” My husband greeted the elderly woman. “How’s your elbow treating you?”

“Good thanks, Grant.” Old Mrs. Huntington answered before she smiled in my direction. “The cold compress your Grandpa gave me to use works like a treat.”

“That’s good.” I said politely.

Mrs. Huntington just stood there, grinning at us then she looked down to obviously stare at our holding hands. It was almost like she was bestowing her approval, which made me uncomfortable.

“Well then, we’ll be seeing you.” He excused us.

Even if we weren’t Werewolves with our sensitive hearing, we still would have heard old Mrs. Huntington say as she watched us walk away; “the Wisetail-Riverclaw girl and the Elm boy, now there’s a good match! Three branches of the tribe’s oldest families have come together to create one strong tree. They’ll breed good stock.”

My eyes widened as Grant tried not to snicker. He pulled me along to prevent me from turning around and staring back at the nosy old woman! I felt my cheeks burn as I tried to refocus on the task at hand, whilst he didn’t seem offended at all.

“Come on B.” He squeezed my hand. I gave him a funny look, which he caught so he spoke quietly, “when my family first announced our engagement, I got a lot of that. I had people stopping me on the street to offer their congratulations. They all told me how they thought we’re the perfect match being two Lokoti Werewolves marrying another, let alone a Wisetail-Riverclaw and an Elm union.”

I gulped as I quickly looked away and tried to look preoccupied at the bottles of sunflower or olive oil.

Not that there was any pressure or anything! Boy, if this is how the whole tribe feels about our nuptials, I wonder what would have happened if I had refused to go ahead with the wedding? Or if I had ended up with Declan instead…

Grant grabbed the bottle of the olive oil before he moved us along. I sensed that he wasn’t bothered by any of this in the slightest. He may have been amused but I started to wonder if he saw our union as something else; fate perhaps?

“Yum!” I stopped in front of the different confectionary and I was relieved to change the subject. “Should we get choc-chip biscuits or just a bar of chocolate?”

“I think Hannah will be giving us some more biscuits soon, so we probably don’t need any of the bought kind. How about a couple of bars of chocolate instead?” He shrugged.

“OK.” I readily put two bars of chocolate inside the basket.

Just then we heard the rattle of the bell over the door, of somebody else coming into the general store. Before I turned my head to see who it was, I smelled his maple syrup scent.

I looked up sharply just as Declan stopped in his tracks when he saw me. I watched his eyes widen, before they narrowed into a look of pure resentment when he saw Grant standing beside. His human blue eyes even began to look a little green...

…when he quickly turned around again and walked back out. Oh, just like that he was gone. As I watched his abrupt departure, I noticed his huge muscles under the dirty white t-shirt looked tense. The poor guy, since he worked next door at the Garage, he probably came in to get a can of soda or something when we put him off.

My heart hurt but to hide this from my husband, I quickly busied myself by grabbing another two blocks of chocolate off the shelf before moving us on again. However what I really wanted to do was let go of Grant’s hand and run after Declan, to comfort him.

I wished I could somehow ease his pain, because the pack and even the tribe thought that it was a much safer bet to pair me off to Grant Elm instead of Declan Sabre. Just because he wasn’t a Lokoti Werewolf and because his family wasn’t as old in the tribe as the Elm family was…it did seem a bit unfair.

“I think that’s it.” Grant said cheerfully, acting oblivious to Declan’s sudden appearance and disappearance. “Are you ready to go home?”

Quietly I nodded before I walked with him over to the counter for Mr. Barley to mark the things out in his book.

“And how would you like to make up for this trade today?” Mr. Barley asked congenially.

“Ian and I are currently working on some new pieces of furniture.” He began.

“I’ve seen your work, it’s good. I especially liked that dining table set you did for the Lightfoot’s. I can give you two month’s worth of groceries for a dining table set with a buffet unit.” Mr. Barley bartered.

“Deal.” He smiled on the arrangement and the two men shook on it.

Grant placed a happy kiss on my forehead, as I watched Mr. Barley write this down in his book underneath the items we were checking out. As I looked on the book which kept records of all the family accounts, I realized that this was a new section of the book that he had created for Grant and I. My name was no longer under the ‘Hunter & Jessica Wisetail’ account, but it was now under the ‘Grant & Bianca Elm’ account.

Frickin’ hell! I really am a married woman and the tribe firmly saw me this way. I stared at my name scribbled next my husband’s – Bianca Elm. We had our own family account as I was officially seen as Mrs. Bianca Elm.

No wonder Declan couldn’t bear to be in the same room with my husband and I…because I was another man’s territory.

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