Winter Wolf (A New Dawn Novel Book 1) (6 page)

“Jackson promised me to Cage.”

Bass growled.

“Hey leave Cage alone, okay? He’s a nice guy. It’s not his fault Jackson is an ass.” The look of displeasure left his face as quickly as it arrived. Katalina expected Bass to comment further on the subject of Cage. The hard set of his mouth, telling her he wasn’t happy being told to leave Cage alone. Yet he looked at her intensely. It was as if he could read her soul. A look of satisfaction crossed his face before he moved on.

“Katalina, I won’t be here for the next few days. I need to go back home. If I don’t return soon, my father will send someone looking for me.”

“What are you going to say to him? Will you tell him about us?”

“I’m not sure. My father may not take the news too well and I want to be back before the full moon,” he answered uncertainly, a frown line marking his forehead. “My father can be very difficult,” he continued sadly.

At the mention of the full moon, Katalina felt her stomach turn. She’d been trying very hard not to think about what would happen when that day came.

“Don’t worry, Kat. I won’t let you go through it alone. Being a wolf is the most incredible feeling. You’ll see. I promise.”

He knew exactly what to say to ease her mounting worry. She did not understand the connection they had, yet his reassurance and soothing words were exactly what Katalina needed to hear. With a resigned sigh, she knew it was time to go. “Okay, I best go.” She kissed him again, wishing he didn’t have to hide in the woods. “Come on, Arne. Time to go.” Bass kissed her forehead before she turned to leave.

After a few steps, Katalina realized she’d be unable to run back to the house. Although her leg was healing well, she knew she shouldn’t have been going so far on it.

Bass was suddenly besides her. “Kat, your leg, why didn’t you tell me? I should have never let you walk here. I’m not used to being around people who do not heal almost instantly.” He picked her up.

“Bass, Cage could be watching.” Her heart stuttered at their closeness and his strong arms cradling her body.

“Let him watch. I won’t have you damaging yourself further.” She didn’t have time to protest; he started to run, Arne following.

He carried her as if she weighed nothing. When he reached the house, he wasn’t the least bit out of breath. Bass kissed her before standing her upright. “Goodnight, Katalina.”

She watched him run back and melt into the shadows.

“Come on, boy. It’s time for bed,” she said, opening the front door with a smile.

That night, Katalina had no trouble falling to sleep. Bass filled her dreams, keeping the burning nightmares at bay.

Chapter 8

Cage went from completely ignoring Katalina to never leaving her side. She knew it was to do with Bass; not that he knew that. All he knew was there were strange scent trails in the surrounding woods and he’d smelled them near her. He’d no real evidence she’d been with Bass, but he was planning on finding some.

She hated him constantly watching her. Every move she made, he watched. Toby noticed, too; she’d overheard them arguing. Toby seemed to think his brother had ‘lost the plot’. He’d tried talking to Katalina about it but Cage had found them before he’d had the chance.

Normally, Katalina wouldn’t have minded Cage’s company. He’d been happy and caring since she’d first met him. Now he seemed edgy; he crowded her and snapped easily. He was finally cracking under the expectations put on him at far too young an age.

It was the night before the full moon when he finally found some evidence. Katalina had woken early in the morning. The night sky was clear and the almost full moon bright. Sneaking the first bit of alone time she’d had in days, she went outside, wrapped in a blanket. Arne scrambled about in the snow, running back to Katalina on the porch steps every so often. The peace was wonderful and she’d felt herself relaxing for the first time since Bass had left. But her peace was shattered when the front door opened; Cage joined her on the steps, his suspicious eyes scanning the woods.

“Kat, what are you doing?” he demanded.

“I was enjoying some alone time,” she answered in the same harsh tone he’d used.

“I’ve told you, someone is out there. Get inside. It’s not safe!”

She chose to ignore him. If he was going to talk to her like she was a child, she’d act like one. She knew it wasn’t the best plan, but it was the only one she had.

“Kat, I said
inside
!” He pointed to the door and Katalina laughed. “I’m being serious!”

“Really? I couldn’t tell.” She continued watching Arne.

When she didn’t move, Cage walked the two steps between them and roughly dragged Katalina to her feet. Arne’s head snapped up and he gave a warning growl.

“Cage, get off me! What makes you think you have the right to treat me like this?”

“I’m protecting you!”

“How is hurting me, protecting me? The way you’ve been lately, I’ll be pleased when I never have to spend a minute with you again!” Kat shouted, pulling away from him; the blanket around her slipped to the porch floor.

The anger suddenly left him and a look of horror crossed his face. “You’re right.” He bent to pick up her blanket. “I’m sorry…” He stopped mid-sentence and brought the blanket to his face, breathing deeply.

The anger returned to his face. His body trembled with rage as he towered over her. Arne, sensing his sudden mood change, jumped up onto the porch pushing himself between them.

“Who is he, Kat?” he growled at her.

“Who?” Katalina worked hard to keep the fear out of her voice.

“The fucking guy whose scent is on this blanket!”

Arne snapped at Cage’s legs, growling and gave a loud warning bark. Cage took a step back but didn’t seem at all bothered.

“Cage, you are being ridiculous. I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“I can smell the lie, Kat, and I can smell him on here.” He thrust the blanket at her, making her stumble back. “I’m not stupid, Kat. You’ve been seeing someone and you are going to tell me who he is. Now!”

For the first time since she’d met Cage, she felt frightened; her heart stuttered, eyes widening as she looked at him. Eyes lit with rage, jaw clenched and hands balled tightly, she wondered what he was capable of. She also wondered what he’d do if she shouted for help. As if reading her mind, he took a step to the side, blocking her way back inside. Grinding out through his clenched jaw, he said, “Don’t even think of shouting, Kat. I’m a lot quicker than you.”

“Do you know what, Cage, when I first met you, I actually thought we could be friends, but I can see now that’s never going to happen, not with the way you are acting. If you must know, yes, I have being seeing someone, but I’m not telling you who he is.” Katalina squared her shoulders, her gaze daring him to shout.

His clenched fist snatched at her shirt, dragging her forward so he was inches from her face. “You’ll tell me now, Kat. Who is he? Is he from this pack?”

Arne was barking loudly but Cage didn’t even seem to notice him. Kat attempted to push her fear aside, despite her pounding heart, but she couldn’t help the small tremble as she whispered her answer, “N-no, he’s Dark Sh-shadow.”

The front door opened.

“Cage!” Jackson growled, his tone pure alpha.

Cage had no choice but to release Katalina, but it did nothing to dull the fury raging through his veins.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Jackson shouted, dragging Cage away from Katalina.

Katalina ran her hand through her hair and straightened her clothes. She wrapped the blanket back around her, half-covering her face, and she drew Bass’s scent into her lungs, wrapping him around her.

“She’s seeing someone from Dark Shadow. His scent is all over the pack woods!” Cage yelled, dragging himself from Jackson’s grip.

Jackson glanced between Cage and Katalina. “Kat?”

Katalina simply nodded.

“Are you insane? Dark Shadow want you dead.”

“Not all of them,” she answered quietly.

“Katalina, they cannot be trusted! You are not to see him again!”

Katalina’s temper snapped. She stood up straight staring Jackson right in the eyes, not caring in the slightest that he was an alpha, and demanded respect.

“You have no idea whether he can be trusted or not! From what I know, since arriving here, he’s far more trustworthy than any of you! You have no right to tell me what to do,
Jackson
!”

“I’m your father.”

“You don’t know the first thing about being a father,” Katalina scoffed.

“I’m the alpha.”

Having enough, Katalina stormed past them and headed back inside, Arne on her heels.

“Not
my
alpha!” she shouted as she went up the stairs.

Katalina slammed the door to the bedroom, which was feeling more like a prison by the minute. She wished she was with Bass. Things were better when he was near. She heard shouting downstairs, but had given up caring what they had to say. Pulling the blanket around her, she crawled into bed, while Arne curled up on the floor, his eyes ever watchful.

“Don’t worry, boy. We just have to get through the full moon, and then we are outta here!”

*****

The full moon arrived. Katalina paced her room feeling restless and trapped, wanting nothing more than to get out of the house. She’d not left the bedroom since the previous night and no one had come to her after the argument.

The door slammed downstairs, making Katalina pause and listen.

“I’ve picked up his scent all over the woods, right up to the house. Jack ran the perimeter. He’s been coming across territory lines near the ridge, but I couldn’t find him. He’s either left or very good at hiding.”

“Damn it! She’ll be most vulnerable tonight. Everyone who is of age to fight needs to be out there now looking for him!” Jackson ordered.

Katalina’s stomach gave a lurch. She hoped Bass could reach her without being caught.

“But what about Katalina; she’ll change soon?” Cage asked.

“Well, she’ll just have to change in the house!”

“What? You can’t be serious? It’s hard enough the first time without being trapped in a room.

“Do you have a better idea?” Jackson snapped.

“We’re not even sure he is out there anymore. I only picked up one scent and it wasn’t fresh. If we all go out and protect her, she can change in the open and run with the pack. She’ll be protected and it will make the transition easier.”

“No, absolutely not. It’s too dangerous. Now, get out there, Cage. You’re one of our best fighters and the best tracker in the pack.”

“I’m not leaving her. She needs someone to help her change.”

I don’t want you anywhere near me, after the way you acted before.
She hoped to God Jackson sent him away.

“Out, now, Cage! That’s a direct order. You can help her by killing whoever is out there.”

“Jackson, he does have a point. Someone needs to be with the girl; someone she trusts,” Karen added.

“Well, they’re not exactly friends after what he did last night. TOBY!”

“Erm, yes, I didn’t hear—”

“I don’t care if you were listening in. You’re to stay and protect Katalina. Help her change, understand?”

“Yes, sir, you can count on me.”

Great, how am I going to get past Toby?

“Good. See, Cage, all sorted. Now get out there and hunt!”

Katalina moved away from the door as she heard Toby’s feet shuffling up the stairs. She didn’t want a babysitter and she wasn’t in the mood to see Toby. He was always so happy and full of life, neither she was in the mood for. Rather, she felt like ripping someone apart, not happy chitchat. The thought of changing into a wolf terrified her and she knew Toby would only try to help, but somewhere out there, Bass was waiting. Her instinct told her to go to Bass and to do that she needed to be alone.

“Kat?” he called, knocking on the door.

“Yeah?”

His head appeared around the door. “Hey, how’s things?” he asked, smiling.

“I know what’s going on, Toby. I’m not the only one who can eavesdrop.”

“Hey! I wasn’t listening. I just happened to walk up to the door and thought it would be rude to just walk in.”

Katalina couldn’t help but laugh at the innocent expression on his face, “Okay, Toby, but I’m fine. I just wanna be alone, okay?”

“All right, Kat, but shout if you need me, or you think you’re gonna change, okay?”

“Yep,” she said, smiling too brightly. He left anyway, a frown marring his normally happy face.

As soon as he’d shut the door, Katalina pulled off her woolen jumper. Her temperature was rising. Arne whined at her. “Shush, boy, I’m just hot is all. I’m going to be fine. Bass is going to come and we are going to go home.”

But as the moon rose further into the sky, Katalina began to feel anything but fine. Her skin itched; she couldn’t stop scratching. She scratched until she bled. Pulling her shoes and socks off, she tried to cool herself down, but nothing worked. Walking out of the room, she locked herself in the bathroom and threw water over her face. Bracing her hands on the sink, looking at herself in the mirror, flushed red, she looked like she had a fever, and her silky hair was matted with sweat.

A small part of her wanted to call Toby for help, but the other refused. She liked Toby and she did trust him but he was part of River Run, a part of Jackson’s pack. Accepting Toby’s help, felt like giving in to Jackson’s demands. She didn’t need Jackson, she didn’t need River Run; to admit that they were a part of her, was to admit Jackson was her father, and she didn’t want him as a father, she already had one.

“God, what’s happening to me?”

Her stomach suddenly lurched. She fell onto the floor, gripping at her middle, biting back a groan.

“Kat, are you all right?” Toby asked, knocking.

“Yes, Toby, please go back downstairs,” she forced out through clenched teeth.

“Are you sure? Maybe I should come in?”

“No, Toby, honestly, I’m fine.”

“All right, Cage just called. They’ve not found anyone yet.”

“Right.”
Bass…

“Shout if you need me!” he called, bounding down the stairs.

“Urgh!” Katalina threw up. She retched over and over until there was nothing but bile in her stomach and her throat burned from the acid.

Pulling off another layer of clothing, she rubbed at her skin; it felt tight. Her neck bled where she’d scratched it raw. She needed to get outside; the house was too small. There wasn’t enough air. Pulling the window up, Katalina lowered herself out. Digging her fingers into the boards, she scaled down the side of the house. A ripple of pain traveled up her spine. Crying out, she fell to the ground. Moaning, she rolled over, noticing the snow melting beneath her burning skin. Standing, Katalina ran for the tree line, but more pain shot through her. She bit down on her lip, tasting blood, trying her hardest not to cry out in pain. The last thing she wanted was the pack to find her.

She heard distant calls and knew she needed to get away.

Half-crawling, half-running, she made it into the trees as another wave of pain washed over her. She retched again; this time crying out as the pain became too much. Her hands stretched and cracked; her body was breaking apart from the inside.

“Arrh!” she screamed, stumbling further into the forest, colliding from tree to tree, not noticing the bark grazing her skin or the fallen branches cutting at her feet.

Another wave of pain and she half-changed. Her feet became wolf paws, her nails changing into deadly sharp claws. Pulling her jeans off, Katalina crawled over the ground, tears rolling down her face, mixing with the sweat coating her skin. Her heart boomed in her ears, each pulse throbbing inside her skull.