Wolfen Secrets (The Western Werewolf Legend #3) (16 page)

A knock at the door brought him back. The
bottle of whiskey in his hand shook when he slammed it on the
table. “Who is it, damn it! I told you I didn’t want to be
disturbed. Go away!”

“Lieutenant, it’s me, Smitty. I’m coming in.”
The door swung wide. Smitty and his men filled the opening.

“What the hell?”

“Easy, Lieutenant. We have to talk.”

“Go away, damn you to hell. I don’t want to
talk to anybody.” When no one moved, he repeated the command. “Get
out, I said!”

“We’re here to help, whether you like it or
not, Ty.” Smitty’s words resounded with authority.

Who the hell was in charge here? “Get the
bloody hell out!”

“Not until you hear what we found out.”

Bleary eyed, Ty cocked a brow as he fixed
Smitty with another smoldering stare. Being inebriated set the wolf
off in an interesting way. He no longer needed to control the
situation. He could simply sit back and enjoy the drama. Waving his
arms in exaggerated anticipation, Ty relaxed. “Well, what is it?”
Sarcasm oozed from every syllable. When the room swam, Ty cursed.
The retched whiskey wasn’t doing the job.

“Lieutenant, we know where Sonja went.”

“Yeah, to find the fucking vampires!”

“We found their lair.”

Ty’s head flew up. The words were like a
surge of energy rushing through his veins. “Where?”

“We’ve gotten word a white wolf with a silver
fur collar was seen slipping into a cave along the river bank north
of town. We’re going to investigate.”

Shards of red light flashed behind his eyes.
“I’m going – not you, they’ll kill you on sight. Those vampires are
ruthless.”

Smitty dropped his head. “If what the
children say is true, she left to protect us from the demon
bloodsuckers.” His jaw hardened. “Do ya understand, sir?”

Ty’s insides constricted. He needed air. None
would come! The grip on Smitty’s arm tightened. “Nathaniel and
Ethan – where are they?”

“They’re with their mother, Sir. We’d best
be…”

Before Smitty could finish, Ty flew out the
door and down the hall to Briann and Jeb’s room.

With his repeated knock on the door, he
wondered he didn’t rouse the whole top floor. Ty waited impatiently
for someone to answer.

Jeb appeared in the doorway, a lamp
illuminating his silhouette. “Ty, what’s wrong?”

Ty bore down on the wildness surging through
his system. The wolf was only partially contained. “I need to speak
to the children.” Glancing from Jeb to Briann, he hesitated only a
minute before heading to Nathaniel’s side of the bed. “Son, I need
you to wake up and talk to me.” Giving him a gentle shake, he
repeated the request. “Wake up, now. It’s important.”

Nathaniel opened his eyes sleepily. The
warning of secrets glowed in his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nathaniel, I need you to tell me where
Sonja’s gone. Do you understand?” Ty’s words held the gravely tone
of the wolf.

The boy’s eyes grew wide as he searched the
room for his mother.

Briann sat down on the opposite side of the
bed. “It’s okay, Nat. Please tell Ty what you know. Sonja’s in
danger.”

Ty’s chest tightened. What if the boy
actually didn’t know? “Did she tell you where she was going?”

Nathaniel nodded in the affirmative. “She
promised me not to tell.” As if the declaration would absolve him
from revealing the information, he glanced innocently from Ty to
his mother.

It was Ethan, who spoke up. “She went to the
vampire’s coven, the one close to the Under the Hill camp.”

Nathaniel punched his arm. “We promised.”

Rubbing his arm, Ethan scowled at his brother
before turning to Ty with big, brown eyes. “She said she was going
up river to the Under the Hill place.” Ethan’s cheeks flushed red
with his admittance. He buried his head in the pillow. “Aunt Sony
in trouble!” His warbled cry filled the silent room.

Briann clutched at her neck with trembling
fingers. “Surely, she wouldn’t go alone.” Her eyes filled with
tears. Racing to the armoire, she snatched out a dress,
disappearing behind the dressing screen.

Ty turned to Smitty. “Get me a horse and some
strong coffee.”

Instead of answering, Smitty stood stoic.

“Is there something else, Sergeant?”

“Yes sir there is.”

Behind him, the remainder of the men he’d
commanded during their campaign stepped up. The loose line they
formed reminded him of their army days. Now, instead of a salute
though, each held his hat in his hand as a show of respect.

“What?” Ty’s flared nostrils and bemused
glare caused a couple of the men to glance down, prepared to stare
a hole in the floor. “Easy, boys. You’re not fixing to turn tail
and run now are you? Hell, you’ll miss all the fun.” He cut a wry
smile in Smitty and Connor’s direction. No one said a word. He went
down the line. Baby, Collins, Big Sam, Ducus and Abram along with
Frank and Marcus Linnell all stood quietly watching him. “Smitty,
best you tell me what’s going on.” It wasn’t a question.

“Lieutenant, the boys and I’ve been talking
it over. You’re taking on a grave responsibility virtually on your
own. We want to help. You know any of us would give our right arm
to make sure you’re safe.” He flicked a glance at the others.
That’s why we want you to turn us.”

Ty’s easy smile froze into stone.

Smitty rushed on. “The odds will be in our
favor then. We’ll stand a hell of a better chance with whatever we
face if we’re werewolves like you.”

Ty could only stare. From one man’s face to
the next, he scanned the lot of them. They’d been like brothers to
him during some of the worst times of his life. “You, men don’t
know what you’re asking. The answer’s no!” With a decisive shake of
his head, he turned, finding he needed time to regroup. Hell, if he
didn’t have something in his eye. The soft light in the room cast
the men’s silhouettes against the far wall. Glancing up at their
shadows on the wall, the lump clogging his throat suddenly wanted
to choke him.

“Lieutenant, beginn’ your pardon, we do know
what we’re asking. We’ve seen you in action. We’ve been there with
you and the Widow Brooks. Your strength is without a doubt the best
weapon we have against these…these bloodsuckers.” He took a step
forward, “Ty…?” Holding out his big hand, Smitty waited.

The sincerity in his Captain’s voice had Ty
turning back. Slowly shaking his head, Ty tried again. “No human
should go through this. The down side of the wolf is not a small
responsibility to shoulder.”

“Ty, we’ve made up our minds. Each of us is
willing to help in the surest way we know how. Let us help you,
Lieutenant.”

Glancing back at their faces, Ty’s composure
almost broke. He’d never seen such steadfast dedication. “Such a
thing is forever.”

“We understand, Lieutenant.” Abram spoke up.
“We’ve all decided this is what we want, to be like you – to form a
band of brothers.”

Ty considered the man’s words. Abram,
steadfast Abram, who’d lead him back to his men in that
god-forsaken prisoner of war camp. Then there was Connors and
Collins nodded in silent agreement. They’d helped him fight the
bloody bastards to free them all. God love ‘em, but Baby, Big Sam
and Ducus grinned as if he’d already said yes.

“Don’t make any sense to break up a unit like
ours. We’re in your debt from now on, Lieutenant,” Marcus Linnell
added.

Ty searched each man’s eyes. There was no
doubt or apprehension. “When the time comes, you’ll be expected to
harness your own ability. I won’t be able to command you like I’ve
done in the past. You’ll be on your own.”

The room fairly erupted. Loud rebel yells,
whoops and cheers went up from all the inductees.

Smitty reached out, gathering him in a quick
bear hug. Ty could do no more than hold on as Smitty’s broad
expanse dwarfed his own.

“You are a crazy lot. I wouldn’t want any
other to go into battle with me. Thank you, all.”

“Best save the thanks until you see if we can
scratch our ass with our paw first, Lieutenant.” Big Sam grinned
from ear to ear.

The big man’s reference to their new lineage
had the men laughing. Ty sobered quickly though. “We don’t have any
time to waste. Let’s get to it!”

Chapter 7 - Tomacha

Water
lapped at the sides of the boat. The sky was inky black with clouds
and thunder to cover their movements. Lightening shot across the
sky in an eerie pattern of ragged lace. The swamp creatures were
silent.

Smitty made the sign of the cross over his
chest, peering at the skyline. “We’ve got about an hour before this
storm hits. I don’t want to be in this damn thing when it drops ten
inches of rain on us.”

Ty squinted into the night ahead. His vision
was good. Jeb’s was better. Ignoring Smitty’s pessimistic attitude,
he nudged Jeb. “I can’t see much, how ‘bout you?”

Jeb pointed to a scope of trees not a hundred
yards further ahead. “See the cliff?”

Ty nodded. “Yeah, the lookout for the Under
the Hill gang.”

“It’s the best place on the river for a
lookout.” With a confident wink, he grinned. “I’m going to relieve
those watching of their post. When I do, I’ll signal you it’s safe
to tie up. Okay?”

“Okay,” Ty said. “We’ll wait for your
signal.” Watching Jeb fly into the night sky, Ty started when a
cool blast of air rushed over him like a spring rain. He glanced
about expecting to see rain falling from the turbulent sky.
Instead, there was his grandfather, Tomacha, Great Chief of the
Choctaw.

“Do you believe I’m here?” The man stood at
the bow of the boat, occupying Jeb’s place in the vessel. Clad only
in his ceremonial headdress and a breechcloth, Tomacha smiled out
of a weathered face about the same color as Ty’s.

“I must be hallucinating.” Ty shook his
head.

“Well if you are, we’re having the same
hallucination, Lieutenant,” Smitty hissed from behind him.

Ty’s mouth wouldn’t work. His grandfather had
been dead for twenty years or more. “How is it possible?”

“You’re a werewolf, how is
that
possible?” The old man retorted as his mouth creased into a warm
smile.

“I’ve lost control,” Ty whispered to himself.
Reaching out, he expected his hand to go straight through. His
fingers hit a solid body. “You’re really here?”

“I’m here,” Tomacha’s words were gentle.
“Don’t worry about the how. Listen to why. I have spoken with the
she-wolf. Sonja, the white wolf, will become the mother of a great
nation. Trust her and do not question her decision to save you all.
She faces the enemy alone because it is written, she must.” He
glanced behind Ty to the slack-jawed faces of the new wolves.
“These men have offered the greatest gift. I will mention their
devotion to the Great Spirit.”

“The Great Spirit?” Ty’s loss for words
aggravated him. “Grandfather, what am I supposed to do? Let her go
into the vampires den alone? She could be killed!”

“It is true, she is in danger. You will give
her the strength she needs to complete this task. Vanquishing the
enemy must be her responsibility. Yours is to support her - to
offer assistance. Be watchful of your words. They carry potent
venom when spoken in anger.”

Suddenly, the signal light flared.

Ty glanced back. His grandfather was
gone.

“Blessed Mother…” Smitty’s silent prayer was
the only sound in the stillness surrounding them.

Ty shoved the vision, or ghost, or whatever
the hell he’d had, to the back of his mind. He had more pressing
things to do. “All right, let’s get in and see what we can find.
Smitty, did you bring the supplies?”

“Yes, sir, Lieutenant, I brought everything
you asked for.”

Handing Ty a revolver and a rifle, Smitty
turned to light a tiny lantern in response to Jeb’s signal. “We
best be getting’ a move on, he whispered. The storm’s headin’ in
fast.”

Hiding the boat, they made their way to the
cave’s opening. Tucked into the undergrowth of the heavily-wooded
area surrounding the riverbank, the entrance, covered by vines and
wild bushes, proved completely camouflaged.

Ty gave the order to split up. “Be sure you
plant the dynamite where it’ll do the most damage. When I give the
signal, you’ll light yours and run like hell, understood?”

The new wolves nodded.

“Can’t we try our skills out on a few
bloodsuckers before we blow ‘em to smithereens?”

Smitty’s anxious bend to sharpen his claws on
a few vampires made Ty proud he was the friend he was. “You’ll
stick to the plan. Understood?”

“Ay, Lieutenant, understood.”

Shimmering into Wolves of the Western Legend,
Ty followed by the new pack, slid into the shadows and
disappeared.

***

The cold water hit her in
the face, steeling
her breath. Laughter followed her gasp.
Awaking to her naked body tied to a chair, Sonja sought out the
culprit with the bucket. Claudine snickered from behind the trough.
Struggling to
control her body’s shaking, Sonja
jerked uselessly against the ropes, which held her. The wolf within
surged at the treatment. Her wolfen nose scented him before she
laid eyes on the only other face out of the twelve in the room she
recognized – Robert, her undead husband.

Cursing, she tugged at the ropes holding her
in place. Disbelief fed into the bewildered frown on her face as
she gazed at the vampire who wouldn’t die. “What’s going on?”

“You look surprised to see me, my darling,”
Sonja’s dead husband admonished. “I understand though. After all,
you did leave the wagon trail thinking you’d seen the last of me,
didn’t you?” His long boney fingers brushed along her neck, their
long nails cutting tiny lines in Sonja’s flesh. He licked her blood
from his nail tip. “Your taste is sweet, like honey to my lips.” He
closed his eyes over the sensation. “You never tasted so good,
Sonja.”