Willow (16 page)

“What about Amber?”

“What about Amber?” Reece echoed. “She is incredible and I love that girl, but I’m interested in you.”

“What if I’m drawn to two people at the same time?” I dropped my eyes in shame. Thinking it was bad enough, saying the words out loud made me cringe. When Reece didn’t answer I raised my eyes through the fringe of my lashes to see his gaze narrow. His jaw was tight but his eyes were thoughtful.

“Are you challenging me?” He asked. “Because I live for it.”

“I’m not worth it…” I murmured. “You deserve better than to be someone’s...option.”

I felt myself cringe even more but Reece didn’t seem to be affected at all.

“I get it. I do,” he said. “There is more than one trying to win your heart and that can be intoxicating. Part of you is able to feel comfortable with both of us but remember what’s at stake. There are consequences either way.”

Those consequences affect more than just one person
.

“I have no discernment,” I complained. “My thoughts are confounded. I never wanted this kind of uncertainty in my life. ”

Reece lowered his voice. “I think part of your attraction to him is the draw of the unknown, of being different, even special. He is so out of the ordinary that you feel pulled to that because you yourself are not so ordinary. You’re alone. You have Anne but you lack parental guidance and sometimes the pain of so much loss is written across your face. You wear it like an adornment and that causes other people to wonder about you. Other people, our peers especially, can’t relate to you and what you’ve been through, but you can relate to him in his dark state.”

Reece shook his head and sighed, as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders.

If love was so pure, why was it so burdensome? I raised my arm and ran my fingers through his rich brown hair. For the first time I pulled him close to me. His arms went around my waist and I brought my other arm up to his shoulder. I turned to whisper in his ear.

“Thank you Reece. You see me for what I am and you still care about me.”

He constricted his hold in response. “Always...”

Chapter 22

The days following Christmas grew warm enough to melt some of the snow and on the day before my birthday I was able to leave the house in nothing more than jeans, an off-white sweater and a light jacket. My hair, which was still damp, fell loose. I set my backpack, which contained my camera, a water bottle, and trail mix on the table and sat down on the swing. To my right I saw the neighbor’s cat watching me from the safety of the shrubbery. I smiled at her and watched as she retreated.
Still doesn’t like me I thought with amusement
. Using my fingers I separated my hair into sections and wound the pieces into a French braid. I let the escaped tendrils fall where they may. 

I stepped from the shelter of the porch and lifted my face to soak up the sun’s warmth. The air was dry and I knew it was the perfect day to capture images of my new town. Anne had gone hiking with Jericho and they had taken Pandora with them. I unlocked the door to my Jeep and had to turn the key a few times before the engine came to life. Once on the road I decided to take the same route I had ridden with Haven. I stopped in certain areas to photograph horses and an old barn. With the leaves long gone life seemed dormant and the desolate winter landscape had a decayed beauty about it. I decided to take a road I hadn’t been on before. Trees were few but the hills were captivating. I could see an outcropping of woods in the distance and a vast field. I found a place to park and reached for an old blanket in the back seat. The view was magnificent and there were no houses or buildings – just miles of pristine countryside. I could only imagine what it would look like in the summer!

After drinking in the scenery and relishing the tranquility of such a quiet reverie I found a place to sit and relax. Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned into a loss of time. I was lying on my back and feeling the breeze when I caught a flicker of some form. Weeds swayed and every now and then there was a parting, which revealed a statue like presence not far off.

As my eyes adjusted I made out the brown and tan form of a wolf. He quietly, smoothly and stealthily moved towards me. I sat up slowly, alarmed. A shiver went up my spine and I felt my blood drain and my heartbeat accelerate. I glanced around, not knowing what to do. There was nothing but me and my growing fear. When I looked up he was not more than a foot in front of me, once again as still as a statue. His blue eyes were transfixed on my own. My eyes widened in fright. I gripped my blanket, feeling dread, and wondered what would ensue. One second passed, and then another, followed by a minute…nothing happened.

Gradually, as if his agile movements were in slow motion, he moved to my side, and just inches from my face, he sniffed. I closed my eyes and stopped breathing. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek and to my surprise, I could smell him too. He didn’t smell like a dog, he smelled like musk, which was eerily familiar, although I couldn’t place when or where I had ever before caught such a scent.

He sniffed me again and to my horror exposed his teeth and gently gripped my neck in his mouth. Despite my terror I couldn’t have been more still if I tried. The wait was agonizing and I could feel the sharpness of his teeth against my neck, but the puncture didn’t come although I knew if I moved he could rip my jugular and bleed me out within seconds. His breath was hot and humid on my neck and just as I was beginning to feel light-headed from fright, the wolf pulled back, leaving my neck damp with saliva. He sat back on his hind legs. I cautiously looked over at him and sensing no threat, began to calm down. The more I did, the more he imitated.

I tried to remember what little I knew of wolves. They could sense fear, which would agitate them, so I needed to remain as calm as possible. I should also keep myself lower, being submissive to his dominance.

There was something eccentrically familiar about the wolf. I curled my legs up beside me and lowered my eyes as I leaned forward. The Wolf, to my surprise, lay down near me.
He is letting me pet him!
Slowly, I reached out my hand to touch him. His fur was thick and course, but striking to behold. “You’re beautiful,” I whispered to him.

His eyes twinkled, as if with pride, as if he knew what I was saying to him. I caressed him like I did Pandora. When I lowered my hand the wolf sniffed and licked near my garnet ring.

As the minutes wore on I found myself strangely content in his presence. With him near, but not too near, I rolled onto my stomach and rooted around in my backpack until I located my camera. Carefully, and with the cap removed, I pointed the camera in an effort to take what I thought would be a spectacular photo of the wolf, but he rose and began pacing. His behavior startled me and I regretted disturbing him. I raised my palm to him. “I’m sorry, I’ll put it away.”

Once he saw the camera was out of sight he sat back on his haunches but did not lie down. I grinned softly and sat up.  

“I feel like I know you or have seen you before. Or maybe, it is you I’ve heard so many times before.”

I praised him again. “If so, you have a magnificent howl.”

Once more, his eyes sparkled with pride.

“Friends again?” I questioned.

He seemed to understand.

“Well my friend,” I began. “I have a lot on my mind and don’t know who to talk to.” Raising my eyes to meet his, I winked. “You’ll do.”

To my surprise, the wolf lay back down and when he did, I followed suit. I was able to reach out my arm and stroke his forehead.

“I’m troubled,” I told him. “I am sick of old ghosts and I just want to feel safe again without the haunts of old vulnerabilities.”

The brilliant blue of his eyes opened but he didn’t move. In great detail I went over the events of the last several months and I told the wolf of my worries and innermost thoughts. At one point I pulled my backpack into view and pulled out my journal. I held the pen between my teeth while I found a crisp new page to write on. I smoothed it with my right hand and began to write.

Lying here next to this magnificent but odd creature--an animal acting more tame than wild--I am reminded of old dreams. I’ve seen the champagne colored wolf more than once but dreaming about being one was altogether new. I had shed my creamy skin for a thick, black pelt; I didn’t feel it, of course—the transition from lowly girl to strong beast. It was a dream after all, but I found myself roaming near my father’s property in Woodland Park searching for something or someone perhaps. What I came across was the carcass of the beautiful champagne colored wolf lying in front of my childhood home – a home that in my dream looked abandoned and somehow artificial. Perhaps it was the shade in my dream – nothing looked real even if it felt so.

As I wrote I heard myself echoing the words out loud.

The carcass of the wolf the color of champagne had been unblemished and undisturbed. She looked as though she were sleeping. The wind picked up and I saw her smooth fur ripple in the wind, raising the evocative aroma of sweet lemon sugar, a fragrance my mother was known to wear, and a scent I wear in memory of her. In my dream state I remembered finding that unusual. Instead of smelling the earthy odor of a wolf, I smelled what I remembered of my mother.

I looked around but I was alone with an unnaturally beautiful corpse. I trotted over to my dad’s pickup truck which, in the dream, was unsoiled and brand new. My father was nowhere. I couldn’t even hear any wildlife. The silence was deafening as if the very essence of life was void. When I wheeled about I saw another wolf sitting on his haunches near the body of Champagne. If evil had a scent, it was borne on the wind and came from him. His gold eyes were set on mine but they were unblinking and unnatural. He had said to me, as if a wolf could talk, “Have I bereaved you of home and family?”  I trudged forward and between us lay Champagne. Over her body I had responded, “Your tone may be cordial but your words are a running sewer of filth.” “Filth?” He echoed haughtily as he looked me over. “Exquisite though you may be to look at in your wolf skin, an abomination is what you are.” He lowered his voice into what seemed like the recesses of hell. “Abomination is what this unsurpassed creature brought into this world.” He indicated the champagne colored wolf before returning his golden glare, “You.” The word exploded from him and hit me like a bullet. And as fast as one I charged him, but before he could react I sank my teeth into his hide and clamped down. I could taste saliva mixed with the thick, hot, rusty taste of blood.  I didn’t release my hold. He shook violently and, unable to free himself, he rolled, taking me down with him. His claws ripped into my pelt and I returned the act, thinking with relish that I would gut him and stain the ground with his innards. I heard a throaty growl and realized I was taking pleasure in tearing the enemy wolf to shreds. We parted and paced until we charged and collided. He aimed for my throat but I reached his first. I clenched down and shook as viciously as I could. This time the hold was right and I could feel his airway growing smaller. He was suffocating and just before his life slipped away I heard a sweet voice order me to stop.

Champagne was on all fours. She gently nudged me away from the wounded wolf. She looked at me with her dazzling blue eyes. “Killing him won’t bring me back. Killing him won’t make up for all you’ve missed. Killing him will end up killing you. You have to let him go.” My heart was hammering, the blood in my mouth was inciting a frenzy within, and I felt positively mad next to the coolness of the champagne colored wolf. “It’s not fair. He deserves to suffer! He can’t get away with what he’s done!” Champagne’s  eyes were soft and empathetic. “Be better and you will know happiness. As for him, that is one thing he will never know, which is punishment enough.”

I put the pen down. Recounting the dream and writing it down made the memory of it more vivid. The champagne colored wolf, the one I had seen so many times before, represented my mother. I had often fantasized about what she would say to me if she could. Perhaps the dream was my subconscious urging me to let go of all the grief and bitterness that had been consuming me. I didn’t want to let go, not yet. I felt that letting go would mean letting go of my parents.

I turned my head and rested my eyes on my new companion. He stayed very still but his eyes searched my own. He had watched and listened to me all this time. I knew that he couldn’t possibly understand anything I had said, which made my confessions so easy. I lowered my eyes and quietly laughed.

“Listen to me, it’s absurd…the things you say to strangers, the things you say to an
animal
.”

I shook my head and reached inside my backpack for the water bottle and trail mix. While I was munching on the mixture of raisins, peanuts and candy, the wolf’s ears perked up and he rose swiftly. I heard a low growl and dropped my snack.

“What is it?” I whispered.

The wolf bolted until he was out of sight. I gathered up my belongings and raised my hand to guard my eyes against the sun as I scanned the horizon. I saw nothing but the advance of boiling black clouds. I turned to look around but didn’t see the wolf. He was gone. Since the magic had disappeared and darkness was rolling in, I decided to head for home.

When I reached the last hill I felt the first raindrop; rain in January? How unusual. Moments later I saw my Jeep and Haven was leaning against it. His bike was parked nearby and he was covered from head to toe in black. He watched as I maneuvered down the hill.

“What are you doing here?” I scolded. “Did you follow me?”

He seemed amused by my predictable line of questioning. “It doesn’t take much to find you.”

I reached for the door handle on the Jeep but Haven stopped me, suddenly serious. He was staring at my neck with fury. I dropped my hand and looked up at him. “I’m fine, really.”

Haven’s eyes remained severe and his jaw was taut. It took him longer than necessary to speak. “You don’t realize how vulnerable you are, do you?”

I pursed my lips together and shook my head. “All I know is you’re unpredictable.”

“You’re right,” he said seriously. “You like it that way.”

“Not funny,” I cautioned.

Haven’s face sobered even more. “You’re getting wet.”

I brushed the moisture from my face. “I’m waterproof.”

Haven opened the door to my Jeep.  “Get in,” he ordered.

Obediently I climbed in. Haven closed the door behind me and walked around to the other side.

“Great, my blankets wet too,” I complained as I attempted to get comfortable. Haven opened the passenger door and sat down beside me. We sat in mutual silence as we listened to the rain beat down, lightly at first and then forcefully. In seconds it seemed we had no visibility outside as our commingled breath fogged the windows. Cold began to seep through my wet clothes and I started the engine hoping to generate some heat.

Haven’s contemplative gaze wandered over me, taking in my wet braid, damp sweater and the jeans that clung to me like a second skin. His eyes seemed dark and probing. I tried not to react in a manner he could detect.

“Take your clothes off,” he demanded.

I laughed out loud. “Excuse me?”

I watched him as he unzipped his wet jacket.

“After you,” I teased.

Haven didn’t answer but he placed his jacket into the back seat and removed the black hoodie he had on underneath. I tried not to but I couldn’t help but notice his extraordinary form. I bit my lip and tried not to flush. I didn’t want him to notice that I noticed so I kept dropping my eyes. I also couldn’t have imagined that he seemed to be enjoying our unspoken interlude. While he passed me his hoodie he kept his white undershirt on. He knowingly grinned, as if he were reading my thoughts.

“Your turn,” he insisted.

“Only when you look away.”

I suddenly felt very shy. Even though his head was turned I could see the corner of his mouth curve. Satisfied he couldn’t see anything I peeled the wet sweater over my head and unbuttoned my jeans. I began to shiver as the cold seeped into my skin. I reached for the hoodie and pulled it on over my head. Instantaneously his scent assaulted me, causing the blood to rush through my veins. I sat there dazed, breathing him in like perfume. I left the hood over my head and pulled my legs up under the hoodie as I tried to warm myself. With my teeth clattering I said, “You can look now.”