Chapter 7 - Scent *Updated*

25th September 2084

“OK.” Grandpa stood up, putting the piece of chalk in his pocket that he had been using me to draw lines over the skins. “I’ll take it in here, here and here. B is much slimmer than my Grandmother was when she wore these.”

I was standing in the lounge area with Nana, Mum, Dad, Gran, Grandfather and Great Grandma all wandering around, sipping tea or coffee whilst watching Grandpa do my fitting.

I was wearing the ‘skins’ which was basically a long suede skirt, suede boots, and a suede tie-up blouse. The shirt and skirt had lots of beaded patterns around the edges and even a couple of feathers. The suede smelled old and I felt a little ridiculous to be honest.

“What’s with the feathers?” I cracked up laughing. “It’s a bit cliché, isn’t it?” Grandpa raised his eyebrows, waiting for me to elaborate. “I mean, c’mon! We’re Indian and we HAVE to wear feathers?!” I scoffed.

“We’re not Indian, we’re Lokoti.” Grandfather frowned.

“The feathers are from the (name?), which are rare.” Great Grandma advised. “There aren’t many of those birds left so now they’re a protected animal.”

“Hmm.” Nana frowned as she looked on. “B has a point, can we do the outfit without the feathers?”

Great Grandma rolled her eyes as she left the living area to walk back into the kitchen.

“Ling.” Grandpa frowned on his wife. “They’re apart of our tribe’s tradition. How would you like it I asked you being Chinese to stop wearing silk or jade or even not to burn incense?”

“But I don’t burn incense!” Nana retorted. “Fern, when in our married life have I ever burned incense?”

“But you are fond of wearing silk.” Grandpa pointed out. “Your favourite evening dress is the long black silk one with the white embroidered water lilies.”

“Hey, I like that dress!” Gran spoke up.

“Same here.” Mum agreed.

“My point being, would you appreciate it if I told you to lose it, as it looked too Chinese?” Grandpa argued.

“Grant being an Elm will be wearing feathers.” Grandfather spoke up.

“He surely will.” Grandpa agreed with him. “The Elm family used to be the best hunters for catching (name?). Their family used to trade in it.”

“Are you for real?!” I laughed even louder. “Grant is going to marry me, wearing feathers too?”

“With his height he’ll look like ‘Big Bird’ off ‘Sesame Street’.” Nana snickered which Mum and Gran joined in.

“I’ll laugh all through out the Joining Ceremony!” I guffawed along.

Dad saw the annoyed look on Grandpa’s face so he stepped in. “You will NOT laugh during your own Joining Ceremony, Bianca Grace Wisetail.” Dad growled. “Tomorrow is not just an important day for you, but for the tribe as well.”

“Your union is an important cultural event.” Grandpa lectured. “You are the first female Lokoti Werewolf and you are marrying a male Lokoti Werewolf. Tomorrow you will be making history as your union will be leaving a mark in time, as never before has there been a union of this kind.”

“The whole tribe is looking forward to this celebration.” Grandfather nodded in agreement. “I drove past the Holy Grounds today and I saw the last of the decorations being put into place.”

“Now if you could please stand still so I can finish making these alterations? I have to prepare my own tribal clothes since I’m one of the Elders marrying you!” Grandpa grumbled, pulling out his sewing kit. “Ling, can you thread the needle for me while I cut the suede?”

Nana came forward to help Grandpa out, as the two began to work in unison.

“Can we cut the feathers off?” I thought I would try, while he was holding the scissors.

Grandpa glared at me before he returned to work.

“Bianca.” Dad sung warningly. “You’re turning 18 years old in three weeks time. Grow up!”

“Hey, I’m a child bride so I’m going to act like one!” I said sulkily.

“They’re not so bad.” Gran walked up to put her arm about Grandfather’s waist as she looked on. “The feathers are only on the tops of the sleeves and on the bottom of the shirt. It’s not so bad, really.” She promised.

“Her hair will be braided and some more feathers will hang from the ends of her hair.” Great Grandma walked out of the kitchen, carrying her sewing basket. She sat at the table and began to take the hair adornments out of her basket. I scowled when I saw the old leather hair bands with the feathers tied to them. “Your Great Grandfather wore this when he married me.” Great Grandma held up the decorated hair bands.

“Did he look like ‘Big Bird’ too?” I giggled.

“Bianca please, be serious now.” Dad moaned, putting down his cup of coffee before falling backwards into one of couches next to Mum.

“No.” I said stubbornly. “Sure, you can tell me who to marry. Fine, you can even arrange the whole thing. But just because I’m being pushed into this wedlock before my 18th Birthday? It doesn’t mean that I’m going to behave.”

“If you do misbehave, I swear I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and carry you down to the river and drop you in, feathers and all!” Dad wagged his finger in my direction.

“And I’ll hold your head under the water.” Grandpa agreed, as he threw a dangerous look.

“You’ll be representing the Riverclaw’s and the Wisetail’s at the union, when you enter the Elm family. Your behavior will reflect on all of us.” Great Grandma spoke crisply.

“So if I screamed out, ‘noooooo!’ and turned and fled in the middle of the ceremony and stole somebody’s car to leave town…?” I ribbed.

“You would be hunted to the ends of the earth.” Grandpa growled.

“Then I would circulate to Mars or to somewhere else, sometime else, where you can never find me.” I said coolly.

“Then I would find you with your Gran’s help.” Grandfather folded his arms as he glared, “and I would throw you over my shoulder and carry you back to the river and drop you into the icy waters.”

“Great.” I muttered, looking downwards. “This isn’t an ARRANGED marriage – this is a frickin’ SHOTGUN wedding!”

“Language.” Great Grandma sung as she organized the beads on top of the table.

“Frickin’ is not a swear word. Fucking is a swear word, but frickin’ isn’t.” I pointed out.

“That’s something that Declan would say.” Grandfather gave a funny look.

I quickly looked away as I glanced downwards at Nana and Grandpa both cutting and sewing the clothes I was wearing.

“These clothes smell like dead cow.” I complained to change the subject.

“They’re made from the pelts of caribou, actually.” Grandpa stated.

“Are they going to be washed before tomorrow?” I whinged.

“You DON’T wash suede.” Grandpa said staunchly.

“B, could you please stop whinging?” Gran rolled her eyes.

“You could do worse.” Mum shrugged. “Grant’s a nice guy and he’s good looking and he seems to like you for some strange reason. If I’m not mistaking that last kiss I saw you give him, I’d say that you’re starting to like him too.”

I quickly ducked my head to hide my blush.

“B’s heart rate has just jumped from 91 up to 120 and her pheromone level has increased.” Grandpa reported as he worked.

“Grandpa!” I nearly whacked him, but he might accidentally stick me with the large sewing needle.

“Fern, behave.” Nana glared at her husband, who began to chuckle.

“Tell me.” Grandpa mused as he worked. “Why do women hide their attraction to a man when men don’t?”

“Rebecca certainly didn’t hide it around you.” Mum said quietly to Dad, which made him chuckle as he put his arm about her to pull her close.

“Not all women.” Great Grandma corrected him. “I didn’t hide my attraction to David.”

“The night I met Ling, I could tell she was attracted to me, which was helped along by my pheromones. But she stood ready for the first half hour of meeting me, gripping onto that tyre iron so hard, ready to bring it crashing through my skull if I made any sudden moves.” Grandpa chuckled as he shook his head.

“Fern, what do you expect?!” Nana rolled her eyes. “My car broke down in the middle of the night, when you came out of the woods only in a pair of jeans!”

“With Jess, it was only if there was nobody else around that she spoke to me. If I bumped into her by the river or in the woods, she was almost friendly. But when we were around other people it was when she used to run away from me.” Dad laughed as he kissed Mum’s cheek.

“If you keep making an example out of me, I’ll turn very unfriendly in a sec!” Mum poked him in the ribs, making him laugh harder.

I paused for a moment as I looked on the interaction between the three married couples in the room…

Gran and Grandfather stood there with their arms wrapped about each other. Mum and Dad sat there with their arms wrapped about the other. Nana and Grandpa worked in perfect unison, exchanging many a glance or a small smile at the other.

Gran looked like she was still in her twenties and Grandfather looked like he was in his early forties when in actuality they were both 56 years old. Mum and Dad looked like they were still in their twenties, even though Dad was 39 and Mum was 37. Grandpa was 69 years old even though he looked to be still in his late forties, as Nana was 60 years old and she did look like a 60 year old.

Nana and Great Grandma were the ‘mere mortals’ of this eclectic group of Werewolves and Circulators. However watching Grandpa and Nana’s glances, their deep love for the other was still evident, even though time hadn’t been kind to Nana’s appearance. But seeing the love in Grandpa’s eyes towards his mate, you could see that time hasn’t changed the way he looks on Nana. In his eyes she was still the woman that he loved, the mother of his child and the grandmother of his grandchild. I saw the same regard in Dad with Mum and in Grandfather with Gran, although they looked much younger.

Will that one day be Grant and I? Will Grant and I one day, dress our daughter or our granddaughter in traditional dress for a Joining Ceremony? Will Grant one day look on me the same way these three male Lokoti Werewolves looked on their mates? A love that not even time could diminish…

Great Grandma lovingly smoothed out the feathers on the leather hair bands, whilst sitting there smiling to herself as she recalled her late husband. Time may be aging my 74 year old Great Grandma, but it certainly didn’t diminish her love for Grandfather’s father. Great Grandma has been a widow for 46 years, but seeing her treat those feathers on the hair band with reverence, I could see her love was still burning strong.

Would that be me one day, in love with the man that I marry? Would I too be in a loving marriage? I hoped so.

“Who was the arranged marriage that the last Joining Ceremony was for?” I suddenly asked.

“Finn and Georgia Ivy.” Grandpa informed.

“Uncle Finn?” I echoed in surprise.

Uncle Finn and Aunt Georgia were an arranged marriage? Uncle Finn was also a Werewolf who appeared to be in his late forties even though he was 70 years old. Aunt Georgia looked elderly since she was a 70 year old human. I’ve always looked on their marriage with respect, especially at how Uncle Finn showed so much love towards his aged mate. I’ve observed them as they shopped in the Store and he insisted on carrying everything. I had admired at how fast Finn moved to open doors for Aunt Georgia or by helping her in and out of the car with her bad knees.

“They were an arranged marriage?” I asked in disbelief. “Why?”

“What do you mean, why?” Nana laughed.

“I mean, why were they an arranged marriage?” I asked.

“Their union was to cement the peaceful relationship between the Lokoti and the Lynx Tribe.” Great Grandma informed.

“Huh?” I looked on, puzzled.

“In the past whenever something happened to the Lynx’s livestock, such as cattle went missing or chickens were killed? The Lokoti Werewolves were blamed.” Grandpa shook his head.

“Chickens?” Dad raised his eyebrows. “They actually thought that we would hunt penned-in chickens?”

“They knew that the Lokoti Werewolves existed but they didn’t understand the Lokoti Werewolf.” Grandpa shook his head. “Whenever their animals turned up dead or missing, we would get the blame.”

“But Lynx land is over 300 km’s from here and Lokoti Werewolves only hunt on Lokoti land.” I frowned.

“You know that, I know that and the Lokoti tribe know that but explaining it to the Lynx people? Many a war over the eons resulted from ignorance. Right up until the beginning of the 21st Century, there were still skirmishes.” Grandpa sighed.

“To end the bad blood, a new blood tie was made between our two tribes.” Great Grandma went on.

“Finn was chosen by the Tribal Elders to be the groom and Georgia was one of the Lynx Chief’s daughters.” Grandpa explained.

“Did Finn mind being picked like that?” I raised my eyebrows.

“The pack agreed with the Tribal Elders that it would be a good idea if the groom was a Werewolf, so the Lynx People could be educated in our ways. Since Finn was the only unmarried Werewolf who was the right age at the time…” Grandpa shrugged, “…Finn accepted our decision. He met your Aunt Georgia for the first time at their Joining Ceremony.”

“That was the first time they laid eyes on each other, at their frickin’ wedding ceremony?!” I gaped in horror.

“Language.” Great Grandma sung again.

“But Finn fell in love with Georgia during the first month of their marriage.” Grandfather chuckled as he gave Gran a squeeze. “I remember the change that came over him. Before the Joining Ceremony he liked to stay out late, either playing cards or hanging out in Harry’s Bar playing pool? He spent all of his days fixing up cars but once he was mated, he completely changed. Except when he hunted during a full moon or worked at the Garage, he stayed home with Georgia.”

“Finn still fixed up that old truck from the 1940’s just for fun.” Gran looked at Grandfather.

“Yeah but it was the last vehicle that he restored. After the antique truck, he completely settled into married life with Georgia, particularly when they began to have kids.” Grandfather pointed out.

“Six kids.” Grandpa raised his eyebrows. “That impressed the Lynx Chief by how productive their union turned out.”

“Six kids…?” I uttered in surprise.

“That’s the Lokoti Werewolf virility.” Great Grandma sighed.

That was true, as the Riverclaw’s and the Wisetail’s seemed to be the only aversions to this rule. Our two families were the only case where two children or less were produced from a union with a Lokoti Werewolf.

All the other Werewolves in the tribe all had at least three children and the eldest was always a male. Except for Grandfather who had twins; Mum and Uncle Julian, but Uncle Julian was reportedly born first, minutes before Mum so technically he was ‘older’. With my birth, I was the first in Lokoti history to be a first born and an only child who was a girl. It’s no wonder then that I’m also the first female Lokoti Werewolf as I seemed to have the odds stacked against me!

“If one Lokoti Werewolf can be so productive in the bedroom, can you imagine what it’s going to be like having two Lokoti Werewolves reproducing?” Nana joked. “In nine months we could all be together again celebrating the birth of triplets or something.”

“Nana!” I turned bright red.

“At least B doesn’t have an apartment to throw Grant out of, so he should be safe.” Gran joked, making Grandfather and Great Grandma laugh.

“What was that?” Nana looked on.

“When my Grandfather tracked down my Grandmother again, after their one night stand? He told her that she was his mate and that she was pregnant. When Grandmother heard that, she threw him out of her apartment.” Grandfather told the room to much laughter.

“I’d believe that, Jessica Riverclaw certainly was a fiery one.” Grandpa chuckled as he shook his head over the woman who was my mother’s namesake.

Grandpa and Nana now stood back with Grandpa putting away his sewing kit.

“All done.” Nana announced. “Turn around for us please B.”

I obeyed as I did a little spin on the spot.

“That looks much better.” Great Grandma gave a nod of approval.

“Let’s go upstairs and show you.” Mum stood up from the couch to take hold of my hand and led me up our poky staircase.

“I’ll come too!” Gran followed after.

The three of us traipsed upstairs and we went into Mum and Dad’s bedroom where Mum’s full-length mirror was.

There I stared at my reflection in partial surprise…I didn’t look ridiculous after all. The grey and white feathers actually complimented the chocolate brown colour of the skins, as well as with the beaded work around the collar. I was pleasantly taken aback by my appearance.

“You look beautiful!” Gran beamed via the mirror, as she hugged me from behind.

“Like a real Pocahontas.” Mum agreed as she kissed my cheek.

My face flushed as I gave myself one last look before I turned away. “I suppose the feathers look alright.”

As Gran was hugging me, she suddenly screwed up her face and pulled away. “Eugh! You’re right about the smell of the suede, B.” Gran said with dissatisfaction.

“Take the clothes off and I’ll put them in a box with some pot pouri. Hopefully they’ll smell nice by tomorrow.” Mum organized.

I changed out of the skins and put on my jeans and sweater again. Then as I sat down on the side of the bed to pull on my socks and shoes, Mum put the skins into the box Grandpa brought them over in. As she did, she put in a couple of pouches of pot pouri with them.

“That’s a good idea, Jess.” Gran smiled.

Just then we heard the arrival of more guests downstairs, as Uncle Julian arrived with Aunt Danika and my cousins. I heard Phoenix’s and Phoebe’s shouting immediately, as Uncle Julian shouted over the top to quieten them down.

“The whole tribe can probably hear those two fight!” Gran snickered about her two youngest grandchildren.

We three returned downstairs, to see a tired Aunt Danika hand over a white cardboard box to Great Grandma, who took it from her to put in the fridge.

“What’s that?” I asked as I walked over to give Aunt Danika a kiss on the cheek.

“Your wedding cake, B.” Aunt Danika smiled.

“Oh.” I echoed in surprise. “I didn’t know I would have a wedding cake.”

“Yes well, it is customary when somebody has a wedding, B.” Uncle Jules laughed as he came over to give me a hug.

“But I thought this wedding was a Lokoti affair, as in the traditional Lokoti way. I thought the idea of the wedding cake was too…‘white’?” I pondered.

“Well, there are going to be ‘white’ guests at this shindig too.” Grandfather laughed at my perspective.

“There are?”

“Some of your English and Australian relatives are coming tomorrow.” Mum announced.

“They are?” I asked in further surprise.

“Of course your family is coming for your wedding.” Gran rolled her eyes at my clueless behavior.

“A wedding is always a good excuse for a family gathering and we haven’t seen our English or Australian kin in a while.” Uncle Jules mused.

“Grandfather! Grandfather! Grandfather!” Phoebe ran over to her grandparent with her arms outstretched.

Phoebe was 12 years old but still Grandfather would pick her up and carry her in his arms, which is exactly what he did. With Grandfather’s Werewolf strength, he would still pick her up and carry her around like she was a 5 year old and Phoebe absolutely loved it. She was small for her age and very pretty and her father and Grandfather absolutely doted on her.

“Phoebe, grow up! You’re not a frickin’ 3 year old!” Phoenix roused on his little sister.

“Language!” Great Grandma sung out yet again.

“Phoenix!” Uncle Jules whacked his son on the arm.

“Frickin’ is not a swear word!” Phoenix griped, rubbing his ‘injury’. “Declan says it all the time!”

Uncle Jules, Dad and Grandfather exchanged raised eyebrows.

“I think we’re going to have to have a word with Declan, regarding his influence on the younger generation of this family.” Grandfather smirked.

I felt my face begin to burn by the very mention of him, as I quickly busied myself by helping Great Grandma make coffees or teas for the new arrivals.

However with my sharper Werewolf hearing, I caught Gran say softly to both Grandfather and Mum; “well you won’t be able to do it tomorrow. I ran into Susan at the store today. Neither she, Derik or Declan, will be coming to the Ceremony or the Housewarming.”

Grandfather sighed sadly, “I expected as much.”

“Was Susan angry?” Mum asked quietly back.

“Not as such, just very disappointed and maybe even a little betrayed. She asked why the tribe felt that Derik would no longer be a good match for my granddaughter? I told her the truth, I had to. We owe her family that much at least.” Gran whispered.

“Hmm.” Grandfather frowned as he looked from his wife over to his granddaughter.

Gran continued, “but as such, I told her that I sent off Derik’s application to Cambridge University along with B’s. I told her that because Mike Sabre was apart of the Circulate, her family also had access to Hodge Endeavor funds which can pay for Derik’s degree. Susan thanked us and said that Derik was considering living in Cambridge instead of studying by correspondence, to get away for a while.”

Derik…he was going away? He was going to Cambridge with out me? My marriage to Grant was sending Derik away? I had just started to hand Aunt Danika her coffee, when suddenly the muscles in my hand gave out…

…and the mug fell to the floor and smashed!

Everyone went quiet, as they all looked either surprised or guilty. I stood there, feeling everybody’s heavy gaze as I felt my eyes sting but I refused to cry so publicly.

“What are these feathers for?” Phoenix suddenly bellowed, holding up the leather hair band with the feathers. “Is B going to be wearing feathers tomorrow? Hahahaha!” he laughed.

When Grandpa growled at Phoenix warningly, it made him quickly put down the hair band and step away from the table.

I walked out of the kitchen, past the crowd of onlookers, out of the front door, down the veranda steps, across the gravel driveway and into the woods.

I walked quickly, I had to. But then I heard with my Werewolf hearing the front door open and Dad call out, “B?” So I quickly took off so he couldn’t come after me. I ran in supernatural speed, down the hill towards the river.

My eyes watered from the rushing air as well as from the force of the emotions which were making my chest ache. I picked up with my Werewolf hearing that I was being followed and that Dad was running after, matching my speed…

No, Dad, no! Don’t come after me! So I ran faster…I ran at almost the speed of light, as my Circulator ability took over from my Werewolf physical prowess. The woods became a blur as I streaked through the trees. I jumped over log or rock, in between the tree trunks as my hair streamed behind.

I left the path that went down to the river as I ran upstream, past Sunset Point. I ran even faster, going further and further up river than I had ever gone before. I no longer recognized the terrain that looked like a blur anyway, as I zoomed along the river bank.

I made sure I had lost Dad until I began to slow down, slipping back into Werewolf speed, as I high jumped over a fallen tree to land on all-fours.

When I next looked up, I found myself in a pretty glade surrounded by different kinds of ferns next to a quiet part of the riverbank. With the late afternoon, the light in this glade actually looked a curious kind of purple-green. The air smelled sweet and the bird song was constant. This glade was not just full of beauty, but it was full of life.

I’ve never seen this part of Lokoti tribal lands before although my instincts told me that I was deep inside of the National Park. In the years just prior to the War, this land was renamed the ‘Lokoti National Park’. Hodge Endeavor sponsored it in the name of the original landowners the Lokoti, or so the press release said.

Just then something moved and I realized I wasn’t alone…

Somebody who was sitting on a large rock with their back to me, now turned my way to show a tearful, angry face. That face belonged to Declan, who was sitting in grease-covered jeans and a dirty grey t-shirt, which had momentarily camouflaged him on the similarly coloured rock.

“YOU!” he shouted, enraged.

Me?

“What are YOU doing here?!?” Declan bellowed.

I paused, not knowing how to answer that.

“How did you find me? How did you find MY spot? Did you come to sniff me out and gloat about tomorrow?!” Declan stood up.

This was HIS spot?

“Look, I come here to get away so I don’t accidentally eat anybody when I get angry! And now you won’t even let me have my space? My privacy?” he charged towards me angrily.

He was sitting here because he was angry?

Declan marched up so he was standing right in my face, tearfully glaring as I tearfully stared back, in shock. What are the chances of me just stumbling across HIS spot like this?

“What the hell are YOU crying for?!” Declan shouted in my face. “YOU’RE the one who broke my brother’s heart! YOU’RE the one who’s callously marrying another!”

I couldn’t take this - not from him - not right now. I turned around as I tried to leave the glade. But Declan as I found, wasn’t about to let me leave that easily.

“I made you promise that you would NEVER tell my brother about us so he wouldn’t be hurt! And what the hell do you go and do? You get promised to another!” Declan raged as he followed after. “You still hurt Derik!”

“It wasn’t my idea, Declan!” I cried.

“Yeah but I don’t exactly see or hear you refusing, either!” he rebuked as he grabbed hold of my arm to whirl me around. “My brother asked you to marry him! My brother’s been in love with you since you were 16 years old! He frickin’ worships the ground you walk on! And what do you do? You walk all over his heart!”

I ripped my arm out of his grasp as I tried to flee, but Declan stormed after me.

“You’re a cold, heartless bitch who doesn’t care about anybody but herself! I hope your marriage to Grant is a failure! I hope that he hurts you like you hurt Derik!”

My eyes watered so much, I had two rivers of tears streaming down each cheek as I hurried away.

“I hope that you do another first in this frickin’ tribe, by being the first to die during childbirth to a frickin’ Lokoti Werewolf!” Declan went on. “I hope that you’re absolutely miserable and you’re in pain! Did you know my brother’s not just leaving the tribe, but he’s talking about skipping the country because of you!”

Declan meant by Derik going to Cambridge University.

“Bianca Grace Wisetail, you are such a shallow, stuck up bitch! You think you know everything by reading your books! You think you’re so good with your Werewolf pheromones and your pretty face! But that’s all you’ve got! You don’t have a heart! You don’t have a soul! And you certainly don’t have a conscience!” Derik continued to shout.

I almost tripped over a hidden rock in some ferns, but I stumbled onwards.

“Did you plan this all along? Did you string my brother along on purpose? Did you plan on breaking his heart?” Declan grabbed hold of my arm once more. “ANSWER ME DAMN YOU! SAY FRICKIN’ SOMETHING!”

I sobbed as I struggled to pull my arm back from his strong grip.

“Would you at least tell me why?” Declan shook me, as his voice cracked. “Why B, why? Why are you doing what you’re doing tomorrow?”

Then I realized that this stopped being about Derik, but this started to be about Declan and his feelings. This thought occurred when he pulled me close to rub his wet face against mine.

“Why B, why?” he sniffed. “Why are you marrying Grant Elm tomorrow?”

“B – b – because the pack and the Tribal Elders said so.” I mumbled.

“I know THEIR reason, but what’s yours B?” Declan looked on, hurt. “When I first heard what they were thinking, I laughed! I actually laughed as I thought there was no way in hell Bianca Wisetail would go along with this. No way in hell, would Bianca let a bunch of old folks tell her who she was going to marry… and then I see the wedding preparations at the Holy Grounds? And what I heard from Derik of what you said to him?”

Declan gently shook me once more before he held me even closer, so close I felt his breath on my face. “I could take it when you were with my brother, because he had you first… but Grant Elm? Grant Elm?! That guy is a full ten years older than you!” Declan’s voice turned loud again. Then he sniffed me and suddenly he pushed me backwards! “I can even smell him on you!”

I cringed as I felt dirty for kissing my fiancé, the man the whole tribe had set me up with.

“You’ve KISSED him haven’t you?” Declan spat in disgust. “What else have you done with him?!”

I spun around as I tried to get away from him and away from this…

“Grant Elm gets Bianca Wisetail. Grant Elm gets to marry the first female Lokoti Werewolf. Grant Elm gets the prize, the tribe’s trophy bride! How does it make you feel, B? To be passed around, to be decided over like you were property?!” Declan said cruelly, following behind.

I tried to break into a run, but Declan leapt on top of me!

He knocked me to the muddy ground. When I tried to get up, Declan pinned me underneath! My heart raced as we wrestled, with me trying to get up and Declan fighting to stay on top.

“Get off me! Get off me! GET OFF ME!” I screamed, turning afraid.

If Declan tries to do what I was worried he would do, Grant would smell him on me. Then the shit would really hit the fan! I was frightened of Grant and Uncle Ian and maybe even Dad would go gunning for Declan. I was scared how this would hurt Aunt Susan and even Derik would find out.

However as soon as he heard me scream, a change came over Declan. He instantly froze as he looked down, remorseful.

“I’m not going to hurt you, B.” Fresh tears sprung to his eyes.

We both paused as we looked on the other with wide eyes. Declan removed his hands from my wrists, when instead they encircled my waist. He buried his face in my hair as I heard him inhale deeply. He held me tightly in his arms and we laid there like that in the mud, in an embrace.

I turned my head as I closed my eyes whilst I pressed my nose against his neck to inhale him deeply. His familiar Maple Syrup scent filled my senses, as I held him tighter. As I pondered on how I relished his scent, I next wondered what I smelled like to him?

“What do I smell like?” I asked out of the blue.

“Say what?” Declan raised his head to give a funny look.

“What do I smell like to you?” I asked. I wanted to see if I smelled the same to him as I did to Grant.

He bent his head again to run his nose down my cheek to my neck, as I felt his body harden in arousal.

“You smell like a vase of wildflowers sitting in a kitchen while a cake is baking in the oven.” He said in a low voice.

My heart raced at his words as I thought that it was the most romantic thing that anyone has ever said to me…!

I kissed him which seemed to be just what Declan was waiting for as he eagerly kissed back. Our passion not only made my stomach flutter but it also made me feel hot all over. I gripped onto his shirt so tightly it was as if my body never wanted to let him go.

Our lips opened to each other’s as soon as they touched. Whilst our tongues wrestled, Declan again tried to be the dominant but again, I fought back. Our teeth sharpened, which we both felt as our mouths couldn’t bare to be apart. The odd growl escaped, although I wasn’t completely sure if it came from me or him or even the both of us?

Declan’s right hand moved to my front as I felt it slip inside my sweater to get at my breasts. I had to admit, his technique has improved as instead of just grabbing them, he ran his fingertips over them teasingly. But when I felt his other hand start head for the button on my jeans, in a lightening fast move I caught it.

“No.” I said hoarsely. “Grant will smell you on me.”

He snarled jealously and saying Grant’s name was like cold water being thrown on us. Declan rolled off and onto his back. I noticed he was panting, with his hands clenched into fists and his eyes were squeezed shut. It was like he was using up every bit of control he had to restrain himself.

“I am SO tempted right now to sling you over my shoulder and high tail it out of here, off these damned tribal lands.” Declan growled in frustration.

“But the Lokoti Werewolves would hunt us down.” I sighed sadly.

“They don’t scare me.” Declan stated. “I could take them on! I mean, it took your Grandmother a Circulator, with two silver swords to kill the European Werewolf who killed my father and nearly killed me. Now I’m the bastard Werewolf.”

“You are NOT the bastard.” I said firmly.

“Yes I am B, I’m an ungrateful bastard. Your Grandfather gave his blood to save my life and your tribe took my family in and provided for us. Your Grandfather, Uncle, Dad and Grandpa all trained me as one of the pack and what do I do? I steal the trophy bride, my little brother’s girlfriend, our Second in the pack’s beloved granddaughter and the tribe’s first female Lokoti Werewolf.”

“You’re not a bastard because you’re not stealing me.” I said flatly.

“Say what?” Declan gave a peculiar look.

I spoke firmly, “tomorrow morning in a Joining Ceremony I will marry Grant Elm as everyone expects it. I will be the first female Lokoti Werewolf to mate with a male Lokoti Werewolf. I will do this for my families as everyone expects this. So not to divide you and Derik as brothers, I will be marrying another man so I won’t be between you.”

There was a pause as Declan’s expression was one of incredulity.

“Oh great! Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Saint Bianca.” Declan said sarcastically. “You martyring yourself this way certainly doesn’t make me feel better.”

“I’m just trying to do the right thing.” I sat up.

“Trust me B, I know all about ‘doing the right thing’.” Declan sat up too. “I don’t eat human, even though the bloodlust is like acid eating me inside out. Now I have to fight the lust towards you which is just as strong if not stronger. Every time I close my eyes, I picture that rainy afternoon where I got to have you. Then I kick myself over and over again for being so weak by caving in to the carnal desires that made me pounce on you. I want to shrivel up and die when I wonder if maybe…” his eyes watered once more as he looked on fearfully, “…if I forced myself on you and I hurt you?”

I felt myself flush as I had to quickly look away. “You didn’t hurt me, Declan.” I said after a long moment. “You didn’t.”

I nearly confessed that I felt quite the opposite of pain that afternoon. I wanted to tell him that I in no way hated what I did with him when instead, I scolded myself for enjoying it a little too much. But I didn’t want to feed his ego as I could imagine his next remarks that might follow. I also didn’t want to tempt him into the idea of taking off Lokoti land with me, the day before my marrying somebody else.

Right at that moment, we heard the distant ‘snap!’ of a stick being broken, from somebody walking over it. I smelled that it was Dad, as he had tracked me all the way here!

“Shit!” Declan and I both scrambled to our feet. I even started wiping my mouth on my sleeve, to get rid of Declan’s scent on my skin!

“Like that is going to work!” Declan scoffed, seeing what I was doing.

“Then do you have a better idea?” I growled in annoyance.

Declan looked from me to the river…

“Oh no…! No you don’t!” my eyes widened as I guessed his thoughts.

Declan picked me up and slung me over his shoulder!

“Declan NO!” I squealed as I grabbed a handful of his hair to pull!

“Shut up! Do you want your Dad to hear you?!” Declan shouted in a whisper as he removed my hand.

He walked a couple of steps, before he unceremoniously dropped me…

SPLASH!!

… into the frickin’ icy waters of the river!

“AAAARGHH!” I screeched as I leapt out, drenched and freezing!

Declan pissed himself with laughter! He was laughing so hard with his hand over his mouth, so my Dad wouldn’t hear him that he was doubled over!

“B? B!” I heard Dad call out.

Declan worriedly turned in the direction Dad was coming in and then he quickly grabbed my arms to kiss me again.

“And don’t you dare die during childbirth or I’ll kill you.” Declan murmured, as he gently chewed on my lower lip…

… and then he pushed me backwards into the frickin’ river again!

“DEECC…!!” I started to roar his name in fury, but I stopped myself knowing that Dad would hear.

Declan silently laughed as he pointed at me whilst walking backwards from the river. Lastly he gave me a wink, before he turned around and bolted off in the opposite direction Dad was coming. He disappeared into the woods in supernatural speed.

That – that – that BASTARD!!! The water was so cold, it hurt! I dragged my waterlogged self back up onto the river bank, just as Dad appeared.

“B?” he looked on my soaking wet state in surprise.

“I fell into the river!” I snapped.

“How the hell did you do that?” he walked forwards whilst taking off his jacket to put about my cold, wet shoulders.

“I was washing mud off my hands and I guess I lost my balance.” I lied feebly.

“Bianca Grace Wisetail,” Dad laughingly shook his head, “you know that your Grandpa, Grandfather and I were only kidding about throwing you in the river. You didn’t have to throw yourself in as practice.”

“Very funny Dad!” I said curtly.

I shivered uncontrollably as we began the long walk back. Dad’s laughter died down when he saw how badly I was shaking and then he looked about at the enclosing night which further chilled the already icy air. He stopped us momentarily, as he took his jacket off from my shoulders. I wondered what he was doing as he next stripped off his shirt and his t-shirt.

“Here, take off your wet top and put these on.” Dad ordered.

“No Dad, I’ll be alright.” I started to object as my teeth chattered.

“Do it!” he demanded and then he turned away to give me privacy to change.

I removed my wet sweater and wet t-shirt to put on Dad’s dry t-shirt, shirt and jacket. “OK, I’m changed.” I walked back over to where he was standing.

“I’ll carry you on my back and run us home.” Dad said, as he turned his back to me to indicate for me to hop up.

“No Dad, it’s OK. I can run myself home.”

“Your wet jeans and shoes will slow you up.” Dad said gruffly, before he morphed into his Werewolf body before my eyes.

Dad turned his hardened, muscled back my way once more and waited for me to hop on. I sighed with resignation, tied my wet t-shirt and sweater around my waist and then I jumped up onto Dad’s back. As I wrapped my arms about his neck, Dad wrapped my legs around his waist before he turned his head to growl my way.

I think that was Dad asking in Werewolf if I was ready? It’s strange, since my change I started to pick up the different meanings behind a Werewolf’s growls or the intonations behind them.

“Yep, I’m ready.” I said.

Then Dad took off running in Werewolf speed! Dad sprinted through the trees, easily leaping over log and rock before us.

It reminded me when I was a little girl and I used to beg him to take me for rides like this, on his back. I found myself laughing just like I did when I was little, as Dad carried me like I weighed no more than a feather. My legs turned cold and numb from the cold air rushing through my wet jeans, but my top half was warm in Dad’s dry clothes.

It took us longer to get back, since we were running at Werewolf speed and not in light-speed as a Circulator, but it was a lot more fun this way. To show off, Dad even leapt over the large rocks we came across instead of simply steering around them.

“Go Dad!” I cheered and I heard him lightly growl back, like he was laughing.

We arrived home ten minutes later as the stars peaked through the night sky. Dad piggy-backed me over to our veranda where he turned around and gently released my legs. I slid off his back but then my legs gave way because they were numb! I landed on my arse, sitting on the top step, as I laughed at myself.

Dad reverted back to his human body whilst he looked on in amusement. “Your legs aren’t working B?” he chuckled. “C’mon then.”

He pulled me up and helped me inside and as soon as we walked in through the front door, nearly everyone went into an uproar!

“What happened to YOU?” Mum stood up from sitting on the couch.

“She fell into the river.” Dad told her.

“You FELL into the river?” Grandfather’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Best you get upstairs and have a nice long hot bath.” Gran organized, coming forwards.

“Best she has a shower instead to wash her hair tonight. We have to get her ready and start on her hair at 6 AM tomorrow.” Aunt Danika disagreed.

“Danika’s right, we need to do her hair tomorrow when it’s dry.” Great Grandma agreed as she was still sitting at the table to get the beads ready.

Phoebe who was sitting at the table with Great Grandma, was helping her group the different beads together when she looked up.

“You’ve got mud and leaves in your hair!” Phoebe pointed at my head.

“Hahaha! You’re wearing feathers! You’re wearing feathers!” Phoenix taunted as he pointed at me too.

“Phoenix!” Uncle Jules growled at his son, which silenced him.

Grandpa shook his head as he rolled his eyes to Nana, “I worry about the future of this tribe sometimes, Ling.”

“Why does your sweater have mud all over it?” Mum complained, untying it along with my wet t-shirt from my waist.

“I fell over in the mud, which is why I tried to clean myself off in the river, when I -” I continued to lie.

“When you fell in?” Grandfather frowned as he looked like he didn’t believe me somehow.

The way Grandfather and Grandpa were looking at me suspiciously, began to make me nervous. Even Aunt Danika and Phoebe – two telepaths – exchanged a knowing look.

“I’ll go have that shower now.” I quickly headed for the stairs before I could be cross-examined any further.

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