White Wolf 2: The Call of a Soul (22 page)

Mama waved a vial under her nose.

Melanie sneezed again.

“Enough.” Mike had an arm wrapped around her and held her up. “No more smelling salts.”

“Sit.” Her voice surprised her. Hoarse. Weak.

“No. Walk. Open your eyes.”

She hooded her gaze, but the light still smarted. “Hurts.”

“Turn off the lights.”

Mike’s voice. Mike’s embrace. Mike making her stumble forward.

“Sleep.”

“No. Walk. Open your eyes. The lights are off now.”

Melanie peeked with one eye. Soft, welcoming shadows.

Darkness.

The last call. She stumbled and grabbed his shirt. “Forgive.”

“Forgive who? What? Give me that water again, Kitchi. Okay, I’m going to let you sit for a second, but only if you drink all the water.”

Mike held her on his lap. Brought the cold glass to her lips. Melanie forced herself to take a sip. Then another. She shuddered. “Bitter.”

“All of it.”

Another tiny swallow. Not so bad. “Tired.”

“More.”

He bullied her into finishing the glass, and by the last mouthful, the water tasted sweeter.

“The color’s coming back to her face.”

Mama.

“I’m going to switch on the lamp now, Melanie.”

Mama again.

She lowered her lids so the light only penetrated a tad. Not so bad. Opened one eye.

Mike’s large palms cradled her face.

She leaned back and met his gaze.

“Hurting?”

Concern had shrunk his pupils to pinpricks. “Headache.”

“You banged your head against the bed frame. Do you think you could keep down a pain pill?”

Bile rose in her throat. “No. Water.”

“Hot, sweet tea and fresh air. That’s what she needs. Carry her into the living room. Open the windows. Wrap her in the throw on the couch.” The roses in Mama’s cheeks had faded.

Melanie didn’t have the energy to resist the flurry of activity that followed.

Each sip of the sweet tea revived her, and little by little, Melanie became aware of her surroundings. Mike held the cup to her lips, and she sipped. The throbbing in her head receded to a dull ache.

“Better?” Mike tipped her chin, and his glance roamed over her face.

“Much.” He had her snug as a bug sideways over his bunched thighs. The throw swaddled her like a baby, and she didn’t want to leave the harbor of his hold.

“Another bear?”

She dropped her gaze, didn’t want to remember, and didn’t want to talk about it.

“Melanie, babe, I need to know.”

“Shuman.” Melanie shuddered.

“Shuman?” Mama refilled the teacup on the table. “Drink another cup.”

Sadness, a deep profound melancholy weighted her chest. “Yes, Shuman.”

“Shuman?” Mike frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense. Before you said forgive. Who? What?”

“His last call. Forgiveness.” Unshed tears misted her vision. Shuman’s last call had held such sorrow. And fury.

“He forgave someone?” Mike cupped her chin.

“No. He wanted forgiveness.” Mike looked so worried. The tiny lines bracketing his beautiful silver eyes held a hint of white amid his tanned complexion. She traced one set, relishing the slight grooves beneath her fingertips.

“I wasn’t around much when her grandmother went through this, but He Who Sees With Eagle Eyes warned me that if it happened, not to let her pass out. Last calls can kill.” Mama rose. “I’ll make more tea.”

Melanie tensed. Didn’t believe what she’d heard Mama say. “Last calls can kill?”

“From a black wolf they can. That’s why your grandmother learned to block them.” Mama had that waver in her voice, the one she’d had after Papa and Gramps died.

“She blocked them?” How could anyone refuse a last call? Why?

“There were many black wolves back then and much evil in our world. Most of the black wolves lived in cities, but there were those who lived on the reservation. They had learned to hide their evil. She never knew when the call came if it came from a black wolf, a creature, or a human. She grew weaker with each last call from a black wolf.”

“You didn’t mention white wolves.” Mike’s rumble was more a statement than a question.

“For some reason, she could never hear the call from a white wolf. It was only after she learned to block the calls that her healing touch began.”

That was why she couldn’t heal? Melanie couldn’t stop staring at Mama. Her blue eyes had this faraway glaze. “How did she block them? The last calls?”

Mama sighed; she blinked and met Melanie’s gaze. “I don’t know, child. But I do know your grandfather helped her somehow. It worked for a long time. Until…”

“Until what?” Melanie reached forward and grasped Mama’s hand.

“Until the rise of
Kaa’jindii
.”

“Sit down, Mama. Who or what is Kaa’jindii?” Shuman’s call had left her feeling soiled, and though Melanie wanted the tea, she had to know more about this blocking thingy.

“The leader of one section of the black wolves. Those who accepted
I’naawsi
fully. Those who performed the sacrificial rituals. You’ve lost all your color again. Let me make more tea.” Mama gently eased her fingers from Melanie’s frantic grip.

“I don’t need tea. Tell me more.”

“She’s right. All this is upsetting you. Go ahead and make the tea, Kitchi. I’ll watch her.” Mike’s thumb and fingers firmed around her chin, and though he turned her face to his, she couldn’t tear her focus from Mama’s retreating form.

“Do you understand what she’s talking about?” Mike gave her a little tug. “Look at me.”

He seemed worried. Melanie rubbed at his frown and related all that she had read in the journal.

“May I read it too?”

Oh, she loved this man.
May I
—as if she’d ever refuse him anything. “Of course.”

Porcelain tinkled, and she looked up to find Mama carrying a tray loaded with a chintz cozy-covered teapot, three mugs, and a plate of cookies.

“Let me help you with that.” Mike shifted.

“Stay exactly where you are. I overheard you two—hard not to in this cottage. I take it you found the journal?”

Heat scaled Melanie’s face. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I should’ve given it to all of you to read ages ago. Actually I should’ve taught you all the lore. Another wrong to right. Sometimes it feels like I’ll be atoning for the rest of my life.” Mama set the tray on the table.

“Don’t say that, Mama. All I need is you like this.” Melanie bit back the word
normal.

“How is it you know so little of the wolf lore?”

His thighs bunched beneath her legs. But he answered Mama’s question and, to Melanie’s surprise, told Mama everything, including the truth about his birth mother.

“And Mrs. Dorland is unaware, even today, of your wolf heritage?”

“As far as I know. You have to understand that both Drake and I try not to talk about the past on the advice of the doctors. After Mom was committed, she spiraled downhill fast. The clinic where my Uncle Boyd had placed her said she was lost to us. We weren’t able to visit her regularly until I turned twenty-three. I called often, and we had frequent reports. It was only when we moved her to another clinic that she even recognized us.”

“How sad. That must have pained the two of you so.”

Melanie swallowed around the constriction in her throat and willed the tears back.

“We learned to deal with it.”

“Forgive me if this is too forward, but how will she cope when she learns of you and Melanie?” Mama’s voice wavered at the end.

“I don’t know.”

“Is she still…fragile?”

“Will she break down again is I think what you wanted to ask.” Mike shook his head. “I honestly don’t have a clue. She’s determined to lead a normal life. Actually she insisted on moving back to Chabegawn. Said she had to face her devils.”

“It sounds to me like your mother’s a much stronger woman than you and your brother believe. Does she love the two of you?”

Mike flinched. He blinked and looked away. “Drake believes she does.”

Mama leaned forward and covered the hand Mike had rested on the sofa with hers. “Trust me. She couldn’t love one son without loving the other.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he focused on a spot above the door. “Drake wasn’t the one who committed her.”

Melanie wanted to absorb the pain written on his face. Mike’s expression was anything other than stoic. She laid her palm on his cheek. “Didn’t your mom try to commit suicide?”

“I never even anticipated it. I was so caught up in myself.” Bitterness wrapped his voice to a coarse growl.

“You were eighteen. Your father had been paralyzed, and then he died. You had a younger brother, a mother who’d fallen apart,
and
the burden of the mill. How could you even think of blaming yourself?” Melanie tried to keep her tone even.

“Melanie’s right, Mike. Drink your tea, Melanie, and nibble on this.” Mama handed her a cookie. “Can you talk about the call now, child? Are you well enough?”

Hen’s feathers. She had totally blanked the episode. “Yes. Of course.”

“Was it like the one in the cabin? Did you see it through the killer’s eyes?” At Mama’s surprised gasp, Mike related what had occurred in the cabin.

“That’s not good, Mike. Don’t let her pass out again. She has to stay awake when the call comes. Her grandmother died because she went into a catatonic state. She passed out, and the call took control. No matter what you have to do—shock her out of it.”

Mike’s bronzed complexion greened. “I promise you. It won’t happen again.”

“Child, tell us what you know.”

Still trying to digest her mother’s strident warning, Melanie closed her eyes and let the images play again. “He was surprised at first, then so sad. The plea for forgiveness. Then rage filled him.”

“Who? The killer or Shuman?”

Distracted because Mama kept looking out the window and wringing her hands in her lap, Melanie answered absently, “Shuman. What’s wrong?” She followed her mother’s glance and realized someone had opened the windows. If it weren’t for Mike’s body heat and the throw, she’d be freezing.

“What’s taking Susie and Gray so long?” Mama’s voice had deepened with concern.

“Where’d they go?” Mike asked.

“To the shed to get the suitcase.” Mama checked the old-fashioned watch on her narrow wrist.

“I’ll go check on them.” Mike set Melanie to one side. “I’ll secure all the doors and windows before I leave. Melanie, where’s your cell phone?”

“In my purse in my room.”

“I’ll get it for you. Drake’s number is programmed to two. If you hear anything, call me first, then him. Don’t let anyone but him in. Not Pincer. Not anyone.”

“We won’t. Except if it’s Gray or Susie.” Melanie willed a calm she didn’t feel. “Go. We’ll be fine.”

Less than three minutes elapsed and they were alone in the living room.

“Are you sure it was Shuman, child?”

“Yes. I’m positive.”

“Full circle.” Her mother’s features pinched.

“You expected it?” So many things had happened so fast. Melanie knuckled her temple, trying to erase the remnants of her headache.

“Let me get you another cup of tea.”

Melanie captured her mother’s hands. “I don’t want any more tea. Talk to me, Mama. Tell me about Shuman.”

“Your grandfather said the shadow of the moon’s line would end with Shuman. He tried to change fate.” Mama sighed. “We all did.”

A blast of hot air rolled across their held hands.

“I don’t understand.”

“There are things that I must tell you, Susie, and Gray. Things you must know. Where did those two go? What’s taking Mike so long?”

“Mike just left, Mama.” Melanie rubbed both of her hands over Mama’s icy fingers. “You’re not upset? About me and Mike?”

Chapter Thirteen

“I’m happy for you. Mike’s a good man. He’ll bring you joy.”

“You can live with us, Mama. After Susie and Gray are gone. I’m sure Mike wouldn’t mind.” When had she become such a rabid liar? But Mama on her own might become friends with Jack Daniels again.

“Shush, child. Don’t even think of it. For so many years after your father died, I wanted to die too. Losing your mate is like losing your soul. I was empty, and I self-medicated with Jack Daniels. It’s taken a long time for me to cherish his memory. I was so angry at him for leaving me alone. I want grandchildren, Melanie. I want our line to continue. I want you to pass on your maggishahwi healing to your daughters. I want you to live a long and happy life.”

“Oh, Mama.” Melanie didn’t even try to stem the tears. “I love you. We all do. I want you around to spoil my babies.”

“I plan to be. I’ve been thinking though that I might like to live elsewhere. To leave the pain behind and take only the memories of the good times.”

“I don’t want you to go away so soon after getting you back, Mama.” She noticed Mama had started wearing her wedding ring again.

“I’m not going anywhere right away. I want to take this promotion and, maybe after I’ve worked as an event manager for a couple of years, start my own firm.”

Mama could’ve knocked her over with a parrot feather right then and there. “Your own business? Well, now we know where Susie gets her ambition from.”

“You think so?” Mama cocked her head.

“Oh, I can pretty much guarantee that. Gray and Susie are the fired-up ones. You may not get any grandbabies from Susie. What kind of event planning do you want to do?”

“I figure that there’s a ton of kids out there who never get birthday parties because of their circumstances. If I can find the right tribe, the right leader—maybe he’d agree to finance weekly birthday parties for children in foster homes or other communities.”

“Why, Kitchi White, do you plan to be a career woman?” Melanie laughed out loud. “Wouldn’t Papa be tickled pink?”

“I’m not sure. He never really wanted me out of his sight. The White alphas are extremely possessive. Though I have a feeling your Mike could give your father a run for his money. And from the way he looks at you—you’ll be pregnant before the month’s out.”

Melanie’s cheeks flamed. “Mama.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, and Melanie’s curiosity got the better of her. “Why before the month’s out?”