Authors: J. A. Saare
I could smell the impending rain.
"There he is!” Derek exclaimed excitedly, sitting up and pressing his bulky body against the steering wheel.
I strained against my seat belt, staring past the windshield. I could make out a shape in the distance, leaning against a branchless and leafless tree trunk. Caleb sat forward as well, jaw clenched and eyes focused.
As we approached, the figure started forward, stumbling as if his legs refused to walk one in front of the other. Caleb shot out the door before the suburban stopped, jumping free of the vehicle and catching the struggling man just as he collapsed.
Caleb tossed him over his shoulder as if he weighed no more than a bag of sand. “Open the back!” he screamed at Derek, making his way past the doors.
Derek leapt out of his seat, running to the rear of the SUV and throwing open the back doors. Caleb came around and I unbuckled my seat belt, pushing my knees underneath my body so I could peer over the back of the headrest.
"God, this is embarrassing.” A deep southern voice rumbled in my ears.
Caleb sat Billy down and he eased himself inside the SUV on sturdy elbows. His dark brown curls were sweaty and damp against his neck, small tendrils curving along the wet skin.
"How do, ma'am?” Billy smiled up at me with warm brown eyes, looking as embarrassed as he claimed.
He was older, in his thirties at least, and enormous. His large body engulfed the entire space in back, leaving little room to move. He was damp with sweat and looked miserable.
I grabbed my now warm and half empty bottle of coca-cola, extending it to him.
"Thank you, ma'am.” He accepted the bottle graciously, draining the container in several long gulps.
"You look like shit.” Derek twisted his head to glance him over.
"I feel like shit. No offense, ma'am,” he laughed. The sound broke the ice and we all joined in.
"None taken.” I gave him my biggest smile and he returned it in full with one of his own.
"How hurt are you?” Caleb asked, looking him up and down, trying to access the damage.
"I took a few in the side, in the back and leg.” Billy pointed to his stomach before motioning to his thigh. I noticed a ragged hole in his jeans, surrounded by an all too familiar shade of blotchy brown.
"Oh my god, shouldn't we get him to a hospital?” I gasped.
I leaned over the seat to get a better look. He'd been shot, and he was still walking around? I couldn't see his stomach, but the back of his jean jacket bore several ragged holes and tears. I lowered my head to get a better look. The blood was dried, so the wound had to be closed, but the bullets still needed to be removed.
Derek burst out laughing. When I frowned, Caleb presented me with his back, large muscled shoulders shaking as he made the effort not to join in.
What was so funny about someone being shot not once, not twice, but multiple times?
"Thank you, ma'am, but that ain't necessary.” Billy chastised the other two, shaking his head, “You two have some respect, that ain't no way to treat a woman."
"What?” I snapped angrily. I felt my face warm as my temper flared at yet another joke I wasn't in on.
Billy glanced up, smiling apologetically. “It's nothing, ma'am. Gunshots don't hurt us really. That is, unless the bullet is made of silver."
Derek closed the back doors, checking the lever from the outside. He was still laughing and looked through the window at my stunned expression, shaking his head in amusement.
Silver bullets...
"Werewolf.” My voice squeaked as I comprehended the joke. “You're...a...werewolf?"
"Yes ma'am,” Billy answered quietly, extending his legs and closing his eyes.
I managed to close my gaping mouth, feeling my head bobbing up and down in disbelief and shock. I turned in the seat and buckled my belt in place. Caleb came around and sat in the empty space beside me just as Derek climbed into the front.
Derek turned the SUV, spinning the wheels and covering the windows in a thick red dust, making it impossible to see. I lifted by body from the seat and peeked at Billy, smiling as his soft snores rattled my ears.
"Sleep is the best thing for him, we heal faster that way,” Caleb explained, voice soft and eyes downcast.
Then I knew what he was, and Derek. I should have been shocked or amazed by that reality, but I wasn't. In the larger scheme of things, it didn't seem all that unusual. It wasn't as if Billy informed me all of them had a secret addiction to Sex and the City, which amazingly, I would have found much more difficult to believe. It didn't hurt matters that they had placed themselves in harm's way for me—no matter what circumstances put them there.
Caleb glanced at me from the corner of his eye, attempting to appear at ease, but I could tell he wasn't. His usually confident and steady voice sounded incredibly tired and weary. I was certain he worried about how I was accepting the truth, and more importantly, what I thought.
I stared out the window. The sun wavered on the horizon, shades of orange and red converged together to paint a vivid watercolor across the sky. I remembered the old saying my Grandma told me whenever we'd come across the sun setting in the distance. If the sunset cast a red glow, it went, “red sky at night, sailor's delight". As a child I pictured a one eyed pirate, black patch and all, setting sail on treacherous blue waters. The ever important weather forecast predicted by the sun rising or setting in a splash of red across the horizon.
"Emma.” Caleb placed his hand on my leg and I turned to him, biting back a gasp. He had silently moved across the distance and was right beside me. The incredible woodsy scent that clung to his jacket was so much better, so much sweeter, radiating from the direct source.
The thought,
wolf,
entered my mind.
"Yeah,” I croaked, causing him to chuckle softly.
"We're almost there, and I think I should prepare you before we arrive."
He kept his hand on my leg and my body was keenly aware of his touch and nearness. I could feel each and every one of his fingers individually across my jeans.
"Okay?” I managed to keep my voice even, breathing the word in a soft exhale.
The warmth of his breath caressed my face and my eyelids fluttered. His eyes met my own, moving down my nose until they rested on my lips. Shyness caused me to avert my face. My gaze flickered down, eyes freezing on his chest. My heart was racing erratically, somersaulting over and over, excited and very much alive. His nearness swamped me, the mere touch of his hand on my leg so distracting I couldn't think clearly.
"You always do that,” he whispered thickly.
I felt his knuckle nudge my chin, forcing my eyes upward. I looked into his face, but he wasn't smiling anymore. His expression changed to something that made my breath cling in my throat. Our eyes locked—green hazel clashing with the darkest blue. I raised my hand until it touched his, unaware I had even moved.
Derek cleared his throat, breaking the spell.
I shook my head, leaning back and blinking, slightly disoriented and extremely embarrassed. I did not react to men—much less strange men—like this. A disappointed rumble emitted from Caleb, but he allowed space between us.
"This place isn't exactly where I'd hoped to take you.” Caleb's voice was a seductive caress that made my skin prickle and thrum. My eyes fluttered and my heart pounded.
As if sensing my reaction he smiled slightly, lifting the corners of his lips. “When we go inside, keep the jacket on, don't take it off. My scent will mark you. It's best we keep together inside. We couldn't tell anyone we were coming, just Sam and his people know."
"So.” My voice came out raspy and hoarse. “You want me to act like we're a couple?"
"Do you think that would be too hard?"
When I couldn't find my voice, I shook my head in response.
He reached for my hand, encircling his fingers around my own. His palm was slightly rough but not distractingly so, our hands a stark contrast, small and pale, large and tan; yet, they blended perfectly together.
"Don't be afraid of what you might see, I won't let anything happen to you.” He squeezed my fingers gently, holding my hand for several seconds longer than necessary.
He gradually pulled away, fingers skimming the surface of my skin as he let go and slid across the seat. The distance between us eased the sensations, allowing me to think clearly. I stared out the window, breathing raggedly, attempting to collect myself.
Derek turned off the interstate, driving into the barren countryside. I noticed the condemned building we passed initially, but otherwise, there were no discernable road marks.
The sun continued to vanish behind the horizon and stars speckled the dark blue sky. I glanced at the gathering clouds. The rain hadn't started, but it was close. I could taste it now.
We ventured away from the main road, turning onto another, and another. I couldn't see the gravel as night occupied the sky, but I could hear the crunch beneath the tires as random bits of stone particle flew up from underneath and chipped at paint.
Derek didn't flip on the headlights, and I wondered if what he was allowed him to see more easily at night. His cropped head bobbled as we hit random pot holes along the way, but he never strained to see. It was as if he were driving in broad daylight.
Tiny multicolored lights appeared in the distance, becoming brighter as we neared. I could see the sign protruding from the ground like a miniature billboard, the words ‘Haven's Pit’ carved deeply into the wood, each letter painted over in stark white.
Like the sign, the building was also constructed of wood. Gravel filled the lot, freshly cut grass bordering the edges. The metal roof reflected the white light of the moon, allowing me to see the tall expanse of trees that kept the location hidden. Cars, jeeps, vans and trucks crammed around. I didn't need to strain to hear the loud music and voices spilling from inside, they were equally loud.
"We're here,” Derek announced, pulling to the right side of the bar, near a line of trees. He threw the suburban in park, killing the motor and shrouding us in complete darkness. “Billy?"
"I'm up.” Billy sounded refreshed and I glanced past Caleb to watch as he yawned and stretched out. “What's the plan, boys?"
Caleb slid closer to me as he spoke. “I'm taking her directly downstairs. Billy, see if you can find Sam. Derek, stay with us until we get to Haven, after that, you've got bar duty. If anything happens, we're out of here. Once Sam arrives we'll have a better idea of where things stand. Got it?"
"Yep,” Derek and Billy quipped at the same time.
Derek opened his door, and I unbuckled my seat belt. I pushed the door open, slipping to the ground and looking around. Billy climbed over the back seat and filed out behind Caleb. He wasn't limping at all and it allowed me to see just how massive he was. Standing at his full height, uninjured, he towered over all of us. I always considered myself tall at 5'6", but beside him, I looked like a small child.
Derek led the way as Caleb pulled me to his side, wrapping his arm tightly around my waist as we took the middle. Billy brought up the rear, his gigantic body looming over us.
I looked for something to concentrate on in my nervousness, choosing the crunch of the gravel beneath the plastic soles of combat boots and sneakers, listening until the sounds were drowned out by the music and loud voices inside.
We climbed up the porch, stopping at the door.
"Is this your first time in a bar?” Derek turned to grin wickedly at me.
"How'd you guess?” I answered sarcastically, glaring at him.
"Just lucky.” He winked, reaching for the knob.
Derek entered first, holding the door open for Caleb as he clutched me tighter to his side. Heavy metal music deafened in my ears and I moved closer to Caleb's warmth, eyes skittering about the room.
A long bar ran along the left side of the wall, the mirrored backdrop displaying bottles of various liquors and spirits. The juke box against the wall was the source of the music, magnified by various speakers placed strategically around the room. The wooden dance floor directly ahead was empty, the mirrored ball spinning above casting rainbow colored squares all about.
Several people were situated about the room, mostly in the tables to the right. A brawny man with several tattoos and a cowboy hat watched as we entered. His dark eyes scanned each of us one by one, until his gaze settled on Caleb. He lifted his beer and turned back to the bar, asking for another. A few seated at the tables studied us as we passed by, nodding in our direction and returning to their conversations.
I clung to Caleb, grasping at him anxiously, and he gave me a reassuring squeeze. We followed Billy until he ventured off, walking to the right and striding down a narrow hallway with stairs that led up. He ducked at the last moment to avoid hitting his head before he vanished from sight.
Derek walked past the edge of the dance floor, taking a left into a different hallway. Caleb's reassuring hand at my back guided me to the end. He lifted his fist, pounding against the last door to the right.
"Private game in here!” a voice roared from the other side.
"It's Caleb."
"That's all you had to say!"
The door clicked and opened wide. Caleb gently pushed me inside and nodded. Derek pursed his lips and nodded in turn, strolling back down the hall.
I was greeted by the face behind the door. His honey blond hair was straight and long, hanging loosely around his wide shoulders. The Hawaiian shirt he wore was open at the collar, showcasing his thick neck. The tiny green palm trees sewn intricately into the material matched his eyes perfectly.
"Shit dude, what brings you to my neck of the woods? Not that I'm complaining. I know they'd love to have you down in the Pit tonight! Do you need to release a little pent up tension?"
He reached out, slapping his hand into Caleb's and pulling him in for a fast embrace.
"Not tonight, I have more important issues to see to.” Caleb stepped back, reaching for my waist and pulling us close together. “Emma, this is Haven. Haven, this is Emma."