Chapter 10 - Scent *Updated*

11th October 2084

The full moon period ended, leaving a pair of newly-weds a little worse for wear.

Each night that I was locked inside that bathroom with my Dad and Grandfather playing jailors, my new husband was locked inside with me. Where for me it was necessity, for Grant it was by choice. He refused to let me go through the agonizing pain brought on by the bloodlust alone.

For three nights, my Lokoti Werewolf husband held onto his Lokoti Werewolf wife as he did his damndest to lessen the pain somehow. At first he would try to soothe as he held me in his arms. Secondly, he would try to talk to me to try to get my mind off my painful situation. Thirdly, Grant would use his claws to put a gash on the inside of his arm which he would place in my eager yet guilty mouth.

The bloodlust made me eager but the guilt of relying on my husband in such a way, made me reluctant. However Grant made good on his word; by the next morning he was fully regenerated from his injuries. But I did notice the bloodletting could leave him famished, as his body demanded sustenance to replenish his blood level.

Grant would sit at the dining table with Dad and Grandfather, as all three of them eagerly scoffed down their huge, hot breakfasts that Mum and Gran cooked up. But the sight and the smell of cooked food, after painfully craving raw food all night, made me nauseas.

“Excuse me.” I put down my cup of coffee as I left the table.

I went up the stairs and into my bedroom to curl up on top of the bed. I laid in a fetal position, as my abdomen still felt tense and sore from the previous night’s proceedings. My eyes watered with self-pity as I stared at the glowing red digits of Grant’s alarm clock which read as 8.48 AM.

Time seemed like a cruel joke, only reminding me that I may have survived my second full moon cycle as a new Werewolf but the next full moon was only twenty-seven days away. It meant I would have to go through all of this again and again, for all my existence as a Werewolf.

However I soon realized, my family had a plan to tackle what would happen the next full moon. As I came to realize, it wasn’t just the Lokoti Werewolves that were the embodiment of the Chumbawumba ‘Tub Thumping’ song, it was the Circulators in the forms of my Gran and Mum too. “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down…” as the song goes; and so did my husband, mother, father, grandfather and grandmother.

On the fourth morning when I came down the stairs, dressed to start my day; I found in my living area the aforementioned people all gathered around my dining table.

“Oh,” my eyes widened in surprise, “hallo.”

“Hey B.” Mum smiled.

“It’s a nice day outside,” Gran grinned, “it’s the perfect weather to start your training.”

“What training?” I queried.

“Your training as a Circulator.” Gran announced.

“But before we begin, I propose that we eat first.” Grandfather recommended.

“Yep.” All of the male Werewolves in the room eagerly agreed.

“I can’t concentrate on an empty stomach.” Grant admitted.

“Me neither.” Dad shook his head.

Then he, Grant and Grandfather all went into the kitchen to start cooking up breakfast for one and all. Within thirty minutes, everyone was seated at the dining table in my new house; guzzling down the scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, grilled tomatoes and toast, the men had procured.

“Good eggs, Em.” Gran complimented as she finished off her plate. “You can really take after your mother in the kitchen.”

“Yep, Clara Riverclaw’s culinary expertise is legendary in the tribe.” Grant smiled to Grandfather. “Even my Mom borrows recipes from your Mom.”

“So does mine.” Dad chuckled. “I think my parents were secretly waiting for me to marry Jess, so Mom had an excuse to visit Clara Riverclaw in the kitchen more often on the pretense to talk about us.”

“That’s alright,” Grandfather laughed, “because my Mom also had a cunning plan about your coupling. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on your Dad’s knitting patterns.”

On this, Grant looked at the white woolen turtle-neck jumper I was wearing. “Did your Grandpa knit that for you?” he asked.

“Yep.” I nodded.

“A Lokoti Werewolf who likes to knit; if outsiders only knew?” Grant joked as Mum giggled in agreement about her father-in-law.

“You’ll need to change out of your jumper before we start your training, B.” Gran warned. “You don’t want to put a hole in it.”

I thought that was a little odd, as I pondered on what kind of training were she and Mum planning?

“Why?” I asked.

“Today, your mother and I are going to start off your training with fencing.” Gran announced.

“You can move in the speed of light.” Mum stated. “So it’s a good place to start teaching you fencing before we move onto phasing through time.”

My eyebrows rose warily, “um, do you really think I’ll be able to phase? I mean, running really fast is completely different to passing through mirrors or glass without breaking them.”

“You looked bright like your skin was glowing, when you ran.” Dad advised.

“I did?” I echoed in surprise.

“I guess your grandmother and your mother think it’s related to how you phase through time.” Grandfather shrugged.

“It is related.” Mum proclaimed. “By moving in light speed, you’re effectively turning yourself into light. I’d bet a hundred bucks that says you’re probably running in phase rather than merely in your biological body.”

“I’ll agree to your wager.” Gran smiled in amusement. “Let’s make it two hundred quid that says Jess is right.”

“I’m on your side.” Grandfather grinned to his beloved mate. “I’ve learned never to underestimate what a Circulator says about the timeline or even about other Circulators.”

“So if I’m going to learn fencing, does that mean I’m going to get a sword of my own to play with?” I asked hopeful.

I have always admired Mum’s and Gran’s swords. Ever since I was a little girl, I liked to swing them around as I imagined that I could sword fight in the speed of light, like they could. I had many imaginary battles, taking down monsters like the European Werewolf that attacked Aunt Susan and turned Declan. However the battles would end when either Dad or Grandfather would chastise, “that sword is NOT a toy, B.” They would warily come to take it away, always careful to hold the weapon by the hilt and avoid the blade as it was silver folded over steel and as we all know, Werewolves are allergic to silver.

“To ‘play’ with?” Dad’s eyebrows rose unimpressed as he repeated, “swords aren’t toys, B. They’re deadly and dangerous weapons.”

“Especially when they’re silver coated.” Grandfather frowned my way, before he looked at Gran. “B’s sword isn’t coated with silver, is it?”

“It is.” Gran said simply.

Just then the table turned quiet as the male Werewolves eyes bulged at this piece of news.

“But Arabella,” Grandfather began, “B is a Lokoti Werewolf and Werewolves are allergic to silver.”

“Yes, I know that other Werewolves are allergic to silver.” Gran smirked.

“‘Other’ Werewolves?” Dad immediately caught what she said.

Then Gran stood up and momentarily left the table. We watched her walk over to where I now noticed three sheathed swords stood, leaning against the wall. I recognized two of them as Mum and Gran’s silver-coated Katanas, which were Japanese style swords.

I was once told that the Circulate’s collection of Katanas which included Mum’s and Gran’s, were indeed made in Japan in the medieval times. Gran told of how they were collected by a Japanese Circulator who had left Earth with the majority of the Circulate in the ‘Final Phase’. The swords were left as a part of the collection of weapons through the ages, on display in the self-defense training room at Circulate HQ. The Katanas complimented perfectly the European swords, crossbows or longbows through the ages which also hung on the wall. There were even futuristic laser rifles, next to the polished antique muskets.

My heart picked up speed in excitement when Gran picked up the third sword to carry over. “This is for you, B.” she smiled. “Consider it an early birthday present. But don’t lose it, because not only is it a priceless antique, but one day it’s going to save your life.”

I practically snatched it from her as I giggled with anticipation! I immediately unsheathed it to behold the long, sharp, silver-coated Katana gleaming in my hands…

“Woah!” Grant, Dad and Grandfather instantly leapt out of their seats and away from the table.

“Arabella!” Dad looked on worriedly. “B is a Werewolf! Can’t she get a sword that’s NOT coated in silver?”

Hmm, if I was a Werewolf then shouldn’t I feel apprehension around silver too? But I don’t and I wondered why. Gran and Mum watched intently as the male Werewolves in the room looked on in horror; as I reached out my other hand to touch the actual sword.

“NO, B! DON’T!” Grant, Grandfather and Dad yelled in alarm.

But nothing happened… I was touching the blade, but nothing was happening from the contact with my flesh.

“Are you sure it’s silver?” I checked with Gran.

“Yep,” she clarified, “it’s silver alright.”

“But I thought Werewolves are allergic to silver?” I frowned, confused.

“We are allergic to silver.” Grant stated.

“Then you touch it.” I moved the sword towards him.

“NO B!” Grant leapt further backwards in a lightening fast move.

Huh? I don’t understand, why won’t Grant go near but I can hold it?

“Gran?” I looked to her for an answer.

“Arabella?” so did Grandfather.

“I just had this feeling.” Gran shrugged.

“Actually, so did I.” Mum smirked. “B is the first female Lokoti Werewolf, but because she’s also a Circulator…”

“…silver doesn’t have the same effect on her.” Gran finished.

Now Mum clicked her fingers as something else occurred to her, “I bet it has something to do with her higher bio-electromagnetic frequency! Circulator’s don’t age the same way as humans do because we’re in temporal flux. I bet it’s the same with silver!”

“Her heightened bio-electromagnetic frequency is harmonizing with her Lokoti Werewolf regenerative ability. So as a Circulator, she’s faster than Werewolves and now, she’s also not allergic to silver.” Gran pronounced.

I looked on the two older women impressed, “did you two just ‘see’ all of that then?”

Mum and Gran stood back smugly and nodded. Although I believed them, I also sensed there was something missing to the equation.

“Hang on.” I said and then I surprised everyone by morphing into my stronger Lokoti Werewolf shape.

In my supernatural form, I touched the silver on the sword again…still nothing. So this time I ran my finger along the sharp edge and that got a reaction for sure!

“OOOOWWWW!” I roared in pain!

Simultaneously as I dropped the sword which clanged when it landed on top of the table, I jumped backwards recoiling in pain.

My finger didn’t feel like I had a simple cut, but it felt like it was burning too! It was like somebody had poured acid into the cut! I nursed my injured hand whilst reverting to my human shape, as I backed so far away from the table that I knocked into the wall.

“Let me see.” Grant was quick to rush to my side. He carefully held my hand and we both looked down to see blood almost pour out of the tiny cut.

“There’s so much blood!” I whimpered, afraid.

“In human form which is her Circulator form, B can touch the silver. But in Werewolf form if the silver breaks her skin? Then silver causes just as much injury to her as it does to us.” Grant proclaimed.

“So she’s not as allergic to silver as we are, but she’s still allergic.” Dad pondered as he and the rest of my family crowded around to see.

“But it’s just a tiny cut! Why is there so much blood?” I complained.

“Silver is deadly to Werewolves.” Grandfather spoke softly. “In weapon form, it can kill us.”

“We can’t regenerate easily from silver-caused injuries.” Dad added on.

“It’s why you’re bleeding so much and why the cut isn’t healing itself immediately.” Grant finished. “But Em and Hunter look at the cut, do you notice anything different?”

Dad’s breath sucked in sharply as his eyes widened, “there’s blood but no smoke.”

“Smoke? What smoke?” I gave him a peculiar look.

“Silver burns us. It not only weakens our flesh which is harder for us to heal from, but a small amount of red smoke can appear which is a chemical reaction to the silver.” Grandfather explained.

Next, Grant raised my injured finger to gently place it inside of his mouth. I felt his tongue tenderly lap at the cut, sending it numb with his regenerative ability. As he did so, my parents and grandparents moved a little away to give us privacy.

My eyes met with Grant’s, as my stomach felt all fluttery from the contact. After a minute, Grant took my finger back out of his mouth and we both looked on. The cut had completely healed over and was now just a small, pink line.

“Thanks!” I looked at my husband like he was a hero. Grant gave a small smile, before he turned to look warily on my silver sword on top of the table. “What would happen if you touched the sword?” I asked him.

“I can’t touch it.” Grant stated. “I can’t touch silver at all…not as swords, not as bullets, not even as jewelry.”

“Why?” I asked. “I mean, what would happen if you touched silver jewelry?”

Grant exchanged rueful looks with Dad and Grandfather, before Grandfather explained, “when your grandmother and I were 14 years old, she used to wear a silver crucifix necklace that her father bought her.”

“Oh oh.” Gran’s face fell. “I remember this story.”

“I wasn’t aware she had it on, as it was hidden under her blouse. But when I hugged her and a small part of my skin touched it?” Grandfather still winced from the memory, “it left a swollen, red welt which lasted for a week. It felt just like a burn does.”

“I never wore that necklace again.” Gran looked on Grandfather guiltily. “I’m so sorry Em…”

“It’s OK.” Grandfather smiled patiently. “It happened in the first month we met. You were still getting used to the idea of having a Werewolf as a playmate.”

Gran giggled as she put her arms about her husband’s neck, “you became my playmate alright.” Then the two laughed softly before they exchanged a kiss.

Mum cleared her throat, “erm back to B’s training?”

“Yes,” Gran turned back around as Grandfather’s arms remained about her waist, “back to B’s training. So how about we go to the usual place we train in?”

“Cool!” I gave an excited jump. “The self-defense room at Circulate Headquarters?”

“Not yet.” Gran smilingly shook her head.

“You have to work up to that part.” Mum joked.

*****

Sixty minutes later, once the dishes had been washed and teeth had been cleaned? Mum and Gran instantaneously phased us to my ‘training area’.

“Huh, this is it?” I looked about, feeling let down.

We were standing in one of the grassy glades inside of the Lokoti National Park. I mean, sure it was pretty…the grass was long and soft, we were surrounded by woods, which in turn were surrounded by mountain ranges. But seriously, this is it?

“Why are we training here?” I whined. “Why not at the futuristic Circulate HQ?”

“I trained here with your grandmother.” Grandfather smilingly shrugged.

“I watched your mother train here with your grandmother.” Dad winked at Mum.

“When did you train, Grandfather?” I looked on in disbelief. “You’re a Werewolf, not a Circulator!”

“I taught Em self-defense and fencing.” Gran informed.

“Grandfather knows how to fence?” I looked on my big, strong Werewolf grandparent. “But he’s a Werewolf, so why does he need to use a sword?”

“European Vampires fight with swords.” Gran said simply.

“They do?” my eyes widened by her words. I guess Vampires would exist just like Werewolves exist, but it still felt strange to hear about them.

“European Vampires aren’t as strong as Werewolves, so they fight Werewolves with silver-coated swords.” Gran advised. “They also fight each other with those swords. Vampires, like Werewolves and other Shape-Shifters are allergic to silver too.”

“Really?” my eyes widened in surprise. Then it dawned on me, “so you want to train me to fight with a silver sword, so I can fight European Vampires and European Werewolves, like the one who changed Declan?”

“Bingo.” Mum smiled.

“Think of the Boy Scout motto B; always come prepared.” Gran said humorously. “By the time your training with us is finished, you’ll be able to fight in armed and unarmed combat in the speed of light. Plus, you’ll be able to incorporate these fighting skills with your ability to phase.”

“I liked it when Arabella taught me. I also liked it when she flipped me to the ground and landed on top.” Grandfather laughed to Grant and Dad.

“I don’t mind helping Jess out with her training now and then either.” Dad snickered back.

“B, observe.” Gran ordered.

I stood back with Grant, Grandfather and Dad, carrying my sword sheathed, in a special holster on my back. Gran and Mum unsheathed their swords from the holsters on their backs as they began to circle each other. I watched them carefully, noting their foot work and their stances; one in an attack posture and the other poised in defense.

I was looking forward to seeing this, since it didn’t happen often that I got to watch Mum and Gran practice. I guess it was because they were always busy with other things; Gran with helping Aunt Susan and Mr. Lightfoot teach and Mum was always doing something else on Tribal Lands, or in England or even on Mars.

The two women circled each other carefully, not taking their eyes off the other. As I studied their movements, I saw that everything was deliberate as well as calculated. It was almost like watching dance partners, as they each adjusted their movements when they saw the other change. They watched the other warily for any sudden strikes.

Just then Mum swung the first blow which Gran easily parried and then the two women fought each other so fast, they both looked like two bright blurs!

“No way!” my eyes widened. I’m supposed to be able to do THIS one day?

Mum and Gran were fighting so fast, the sound of their swords clashing were constant and loud that I had to put my hands up over my ears!

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang claaaaaaannnng!

They moved so fast that they seemed to instantly appear in their new positions and I couldn’t keep track of their arm movements.

Suddenly Mum’s sword went right through a bright and blurry Gran who was in phase! My hands flew up to my mouth in shock…! But just as suddenly, Gran now appeared behind Mum and she started to swing her sword when Mum spun around to block her!

“No way!” I watched the two women in wonder.

The two Circulators continued to fight like this for another thirty seconds. Since they were fighting in light speed, in those thirty seconds they probably made so many movements it would be the equivalent of two humans fighting over thirty minutes. It almost seemed like a stale-mate with neither Circulator able to get the upper-hand as their abilities matched the others. It was when abruptly Mum landed on her back on the cushioned, grassy ground, with Gran standing over her that the fight was over.

“No way…!” I stared at Gran, taken aback. She’s pretty spry for an old guy! She doesn’t just look like she’s still in her twenties, but it was physically as well.

“How many times do I have to tell you Jess? Watch your footwork.” Gran lightly scolded as she offered Mum her hand. Mum was pulled to her feet before the two women looked over my way.

Subconsciously, I took a step backwards… “There’s no way I can fight like that!”

“Not at first, no.” Gran laughed at my apprehension. “Hence the lessons.”

“C’mon B, don’t be a chicken.” Mum teased. “I learned how to fight when I was pregnant with you, so how hard can it be?”

“Bianca Elm, come on down!” Gran sung like I was a contestant on the ‘Price Is Right’.

I took a deep breath as I unsheathed my sword which made Grant, Grandfather and Dad take a couple of steps away and I gingerly came forwards.

“OK first of all, let’s look at your leg work.” Gran started.

“And how to hold your sword in a defensive posture.” Mum added.

I looked back at Grant, who was standing in between Dad and Grandfather and he gave an encouraging grin.

“If worse comes to worse, you have three Lokoti Werewolves here that can share their blood, or put your cuts inside their mouths to heal you.” Grant joked.

Oh yeah that really made me feel better…NOT! I looked helplessly from the Lokoti Werewolves in the shapes of my husband, father and my grandfather. You would think being around Werewolves, it was natural to be wary around such dangerous, supernatural creatures. But when you saw your mother and grandmother as Circulators who were significantly weaker than they were, but were such masters of instruments of death? Now I didn’t know what was scarier! I took a deep breath before I joined them. OK here I go…

Over the next sixty minutes, I was instructed to always mind my footwork and how to carry my sword. I felt like I was learning how to waltz with a dangerous dance partner. I learned how to circle and by holding my sword correctly, how to parry and to block.

Grant, Grandfather and Dad ended up sitting down in the grass and watching this way. I noted as Grandfather and Dad could casually lean back on their hands in a relaxed manner, Grant could not. My husband sat forwards, watching us carefully. His protective instinct to guard his young bride was in full-force. His long, black hair blew playfully in the wind, but his face was a mask of concern as he never took his eyes off us, in particular me.

Within ninety minutes, I learned how to fight Gran or Mum, as they took turns at coaching. When I fought Gran, Mum stood back and called out her advice on how to move or what to do. Then the same would happen when I fought Mum, with Gran issuing her instructions.

After two hours, I fought Mum as Gran now stood quietly beside Grandfather, looking on. Mum and I circled each other, with our swords raised and our footwork planned.

“Be careful Jess.” Dad frowned as his own overprotective instincts kicked-in when his beloved mate and young were engaged in combat. “Do I need to remind you that B is our ONLY child?”

Mum ignored him before she made her strike, which I parried. Then she swung again and again, with each time her sword clanged against mine.

“Good work B.” Gran spoke encouragingly. “Just keep your tip up.”

Mum tried to throw me off guard by suddenly ducking right and then swinging left, but again I was able to block. Then Mum sped up her attack, moving faster and faster…and somehow, I don’t know how or why; I could keep up. I could see that she was going faster, especially by how bright she turned. Yet somehow I was able to block everything with my sword that she threw my way.

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang claaaaanng!

I could hear the noise and hell, I could even hear the ‘whir’ in the air from how fast Mum swung her sword around! Yet I was able to block her and parry, minding my foot work and also keeping my sword high and ready.

Suddenly she stopped as Mum broke off her attack and she stepped back, lowering her sword. Her bright, blurry form returned to her slower, solid shape. She beamed, looking proud as punch.

“Not bad for a beginner.” Mum commended.

“Really?” I wanted to check.

“Hell yeah!” Mum laughed. “I don’t know if you realize it B, but you just fought me in the speed of light.”

“No way!” I looked over at our audience for clarification.

“Way.” Dad smiled on the two of us.

“You were faster than a speeding bullet.” Gran giggled.

“You could give ‘Road Runner’ a run for his money.” Grandfather chuckled as he put his arm about his mate’s waist.

Lastly I looked on Grant, who seemed to be in shock for some reason. He was standing completely still, with a blank expression on his face.

“Grant?” I turned worried. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” he snapped out of it. “Nothing’s wrong, it’s just that I never expected to find myself married to a ‘Light Person’.”

“Welcome to the club.” Dad clapped him on the back.

Mum leaned in to say cheekily, “I’m sure if you put away your sword, your husband would give you a kiss as your reward.”

“Oh!” I blushed at her words and then at my forgetfulness, “of course.”

As soon as I sheathed my sword on my back, Grant came forwards. He tenderly cupped my face to stare into my eyes before he said huskily; “I feel like I’ve won a prize in a competition I didn’t even know I had entered.”

In retrospect, it was may have sounded a little cheesy? But at the time it made my heart race and my body tremble. Then as his lips molded to mine, I felt a strange heat build up inside of my stomach and radiate outwards…

Yep, I’m definitely starting to get used to this ‘arranged marriage’ kinda thing.

*****

As the sun set, it turned the light in our bedroom into a reddish-orange glow. This was observed by the newlyweds, from their bed.

We were lying naked in each other’s arms, with the wife’s cheek resting on top of her husband’s chest. I was starting to get used to his body, as I enjoyed how constantly warm he felt. I also liked how his heart beat would fall into sync with mine.

I wondered if it was the same with Grant, was he still getting used to the feel of me too? He was always using his hands to stroke my skin as he looked on my form. Now was one of these moments as I smiled softly, enjoying the feel of Grant’s hands running over my shoulders and down my back.

“That was good.” He commented.

“Mmm...” I smiled in agreement.

“It felt different today.”

“It did?”

“It felt like somehow I helped you win the war and now we were fighting on the same side.”

I looked long and hard into his eyes which held onto mine and this time I didn’t look away. “You’re right, you did help me win the war. You tended to me when I was sick. You healed the cut on my finger. You’re continually showing me all of the benefits to being one of our kind, just as you showed me how wonderful you are as a husband.”

“B.” my husband placed his forefinger underneath my chin to ensure he held my gaze. “I meant what I said in the week leading up to our wedding. I’m looking forward to our future together. We have much to look forward to. The future holds so much promise for you as a Light Person and a Lokoti Werewolf just as I will always be by your side to greet it with you.”

This made me falter, “but I’m not an angel, Grant.”

“I know.” He spoke plainly. “You have the light as a Circulator but you battle the darkness just like the rest of us. I think it would be harder to be your mate if you were the embodiment of perfection,” then he kidded, “and it would definitely be more boring.”

“Boring, huh?” I raised my eyebrows.

Grant roared with laughter as I next took several playful bites of his torso, before he could stand it no more which made him roll back on top.

“Careful B, teeth and nails are powerful aphrodisiacs to our kind.” His dark brown eyes glinted their Werewolf silver.

“Oh really?” Next I began to chew on his neck.

I heard a deep growl build up inside of his chest and rumble up, through his sharpening teeth. Grant bent his head to tenderly bite my ear as I overheard him inhale my scent.

“Grrrr!” he growled louder, which sounded like frustration.

To my surprise, Grant gently pushed my head back as he raised himself up. Puzzled, I watched him climb out of bed as he proceeded to get dressed.

“Where are you going?” I asked, wondering if I had done something wrong?

“Downstairs to the kitchen, I’ll make a sandwich before I go.” Grant answered as he buttoned up his jeans.

“Go where?”

“I’m on patrol tonight.”

“You are?”

“Yep.” He answered before he turned and left our bedroom in just his jeans.

Oh, patrol…I had almost completely forgotten about it, let alone the dangerous world outside of our blissful one. Grant was going out tonight to risk his life for the safety of his home, family and tribe. Now I was his wife? I was part of the family he fought to keep safe.

A couple of minutes later I came down the stairs dressed, with my sword sheathed on my back. I found that Grant was in the kitchen, making me a sandwich too. He placed cold slices of caribou on the bread with some mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato in a manner that said ‘one for me and one for B’.

“What’s the sword for?” Grant gave a peculiar look.

“I’m coming with you.”

The knife he was using to spread the mayonnaise was suddenly placed loudly on the plate.

“No.” Grant stopped what he was doing so he could frown my way.

“What do you mean, no?”

“It is the will of the pack as it is also the direct order of the First that you will not patrol.” Grant said firmly.

“So you as the husband can fight, defending his home and land, but me as the wife, can’t?” I asked unimpressed.

“Yes.”

“I’m not letting you go out there alone -” I began.

“B!” he interrupted. “It may be the will of the First that you will not fight, but it is the wish of your husband that you obey.”

“Then it’s the wish of your wife,” I crossed my arms to glare, “that you don’t go out there alone.”

“I won’t be alone, two members of the pack patrol each night. Tonight I will be patrolling the borders with Ian.”

I huffed as I momentarily looked away before I met his steely-gaze once more.

“Grant, it’s not fair that I just sit around looking pretty because I’m a female! Why should only the male Werewolves risk their lives? I’m faster than you so -”

“You may be faster but we’re stronger.” Grant interrupted. “You as a female will also one day, be with child. Also the world doesn’t know that a female Lokoti Werewolf exists. All of these reasons have been taken into consideration by the pack when the First decided that you will never patrol.”

I felt angry at his stubborn determination. “It’s so sexist!”

“It is.” Grant admitted. “But it also puts my fears at rest for your safety.”

“So you can feel safe that I’m stuck at home, but I don’t have that luxury about you?” I argued.

“Have you been shot before?” he suddenly asked.

“What?”

“Have you been shot before?”

“No of course not!”

“I have, six times since I started patrolling when I was 15 years old.” Grant said unhappily. “As a male Lokoti Werewolf I’m stronger than you so I don’t know how you would fare, if you were shot. But then what if you were shot in the abdomen when you were pregnant?”

This thought disturbed me so much that I turned away, when Grant caught my arm. He pulled me into his arms before cupping my face to make me look his way.

“I patrol for the safety of my mate, my family and my tribe. I patrol so my mate’s or my future children lives will not be in danger.” He said in a low voice.

I didn’t know what to say to that and I couldn’t look into his eyes either. My head ducked so I could stare at the floor instead, when Grant gently rested my cheek against his chest so I could hear his strong heart beat.

“I’ll come home to you, B.” Grant said firmly.

“I bet Uncle Jack said the same thing to Aunt Meg the night that he was shot.” I said sullenly.

“Jack was killed by two bullets removing half of his head and the other which blew a gaping hole through his chest where his heart used to be.” Grant spoke candidly. “But it takes a lot to kill us B and right now I have a lot to live for. I’m looking forward to our future, remember?”

I sighed unhappily because I knew there was nothing I could say to change Grant’s mind. “It’s still hypocritical since I’m one of the pack, aren’t I?”

“You’re a Light Person first, you’re my wife second and you’re a female Lokoti Werewolf third.” Grant said strongly. “Three very good reasons why you will never patrol.”

Eventually he released his hold to return to finishing up our dinner. I leaned on the fridge to watch him complete the sandwiches. I realized arguing about this would do me as much good as yelling at the sky for being blue.

“How about a glass of milk with our food?” Grant next gave a playful grin, which was his way of asking me to pour him one.

I set about pouring two glasses of milk as Grant carried our sandwiches over to the table.

“What time will you be home?” I asked as I joined him with the drinks.

“Patrol usually goes until dawn.” He answered.

Grant was right as I recalled growing up, I would hear my father come home about that time as my bedroom would start to lighten with a new day. Now I was in the same boat as my mother and my grandmother. We were forced to sit on our Circulator hands as our Lokoti Werewolf husbands fought outsiders and strangers without us.

“Just be careful Grant.” I looked his way long and hard as I sat across at the table.

“Like I said B, I have a lot to live for.” He reached out to put his hand over mine. “Don’t worry, you’ll be stuck with me for a few years yet.”

When he released my hand to pick up his sandwich, he gave a cheeky grin.

*****

I tossed and turned in bed that night, as every little noise made my eyes snap open as my heart turned cold with dread.

Please don’t let that be a distant gunshot! Please don’t let Grant be harmed, fighting for me! Grant – Grant – Grant – please be safe!

Somehow or rather I think out of exhaustion, sleep finally claimed my mind. I don’t think I slept long though, maybe just an hour or two? However the next time I awoke, the bedroom was a pale grey colour with the onset of dawn.

When my eyes swept over the quiet room, they fell upon my husband who had used his predatory skills to sneak up. He was kneeling by my side of the bed with out making any noise. Grant was smiling softly, as he gazed down.

“I’m home safe,” he greeted, “just like I promised.”

I flung my arms about his neck in pure relief!

Grant held me back just as tightly and as he did so, he murmured into my ear, “Happy Birthday.”

Happy Birthday? Why would he wish me…oh, today must be the 10th October. My childlike habit of counting down the days until Birthdays, Christmases or Easters had ended when I started counting down with dread, the days in between full moons instead.

“I’m legal now.” I joked which made him shake with laughter.

“My 17 year old wife turns 18…damn!” Grant pretended to sound disappointed. “I liked having the reputation of being a cradle-robber.”

Next he pulled away slightly so he could hold out my present. It was wrapped in old newspaper thanks to rationing after the War, but I didn’t care. I excitedly unwrapped my gift before I let out a happy giggle.

“A new MP3 player!”

“I noticed that yours looked scratched and the battery life wasn’t very long.” Grant observed. “With this model, it can last for up to 72 hours of continual playback before you have to charge it again.”

“I love it!” I hugged him so suddenly our heads accidentally bumped, but he was quick to laugh it off.

Grant was sitting in only his jeans from patrolling in Werewolf form. He was perched on the side of the bed, holding me against his bare chest. Once I relinquished the hug, he remained close.

“There’s already a couple of songs stored in its’ memory.” Grant implied my gift. “When you were doing the laundry, I used your laptop to transfer the music onto it. I noticed you had a lot of ‘Iggy Pop’ and other old bands on your hard-drive.”

Oh oh…I tried not to tense up otherwise he would sense it. I tried not to panic over if he saw any of the diary entries, which were also stored onto the hard-drive.

“Um yeah.” I carefully kept my voice neutral. “Those songs were given to me by Derik when he used to borrow Declan’s CDs.”

“Hmm,” Grant frowned thoughtfully. “I have a couple of ‘Greenday’ and ‘The Killers’ songs on my iPod which I also converted to put onto your MP3 player. You should listen as I think you’ll like them.”

Although I only liked a couple of songs from the bands he mentioned, I managed out a smile, “OK.”

Grant pulled off his jeans to climb into bed beside. Together we snuggled under the covers, with me ensconced in his strong arms. It wasn’t just his strength or his generosity that I appreciated right then, it just the fact that he had come home alive.

“Your family will be coming over around 11 AM to cook you up a birthday brunch.” Grant informed. “So until then, I might catch up on some sleep.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I readily agreed as I tiredly settled into his embrace.

This surprised him which he turned this expression my way. “You didn’t sleep while I was out on patrol?”

“Not much.” I closed my eyes.

Lastly, I felt his lips place several appreciative kisses on my forehead whilst his hand rubbed my back. I think we even fell asleep at the same time. Just as our Lokoti Werewolf hearts would fall into sync, so did our consciousness.

But as much as I appreciated this closeness with my husband, I realized I would also have to be wary of it, especially with my secrets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

13th October 2084

I sat at the dining table polishing my new silver-coated sword with jewelry cleaner and an old rag until the silver shone.

I smiled to myself whilst admiring the craftsmanship…I liked the fact that I got another Circulator’s sword. It made me feel more like a Circulator myself, by handling a weapon that was over a thousand years old from an era long since forgotten. It added a sense of continuity to all of this.

Grant came inside from the greenhouse when he stopped to look on. He smiled to himself to see my happiness with my new ‘toy’. I held the sword up to slowly move it around to catch the reflection of the ceiling light in the shiny metal.

“I think it’s clean, B.” Grant said in amusement before he walked over to the kitchen sink to wash the dirt off his hands.

“I like my sword.” I joked. “I’m tempted to even name it.”

“Mr. Pointy?” he joked back.

“Nah, I’d want to give it a female name.” I disagreed. “It’s an elegant sword as it’s not big and bulky like the European swords.”

“I think this is love at first sight.” Grant jested as he leant on the entryway of the kitchen. “Just please don’t try to take the sword to bed with us.”

I noticed he was standing a respectful distance away from the silver-coated weapon.

“Oh, sorry.” I returned the sword to its sheath.

“Thank you.” Grant now came forwards once the danger had been removed. He rested his hand on my back, “I was about to run down to the Store to pick up a few things if you wanna come?”

“What things?” I queried.

“Milk, bread, butter, toilet paper…just a few odds and ends to tie us over until the end of the week.” Grant shrugged.

“OK.” I stood up. “I’d like to get something sweet, like some more biscuits or ice cream or maybe some chocolate. I get the munchies for something sweet after dinner.”

“So I’ve noticed,” he smirked, “you finished off Hannah’s choc-chip cookies she gave us in three days.”

“Hey, you helped!” I turned around to poke him.

Grant laughed as he pulled me close for a quick kiss before we prepared to leave.

*****

We walked hand-in-hand, up and down the small aisles of the general store. In his other hand, Grant held the carry-basket for us as he told me what to grab. When we walked past a couple of older women, I noticed their looks of approval by seeing us behave like we really were a married couple.

“Hi B and Grant.” Old Mrs. Huntington smiled as we passed by, whilst she was shopping with her grown granddaughter.

“Hi Mrs. Huntington.” Grant greeted the elderly woman. “How’s your elbow treating you?”

“Good thanks, Grant.” Old Mrs. Huntington smiled his way before she smiled in my direction. “The cold compress your Grandpa gave me to use works like a treat.”

“That’s good.” I said politely.

Mrs. Huntington just stood there, grinning at Grant and I before she looked down to obviously stare at our holding hands. It was almost like she was bestowing her approval, which made me uncomfortable.

“Well then, we’ll be seeing you.” Grant excused us.

Even if we weren’t Werewolves with our sensitive hearing, we still would have heard old Mrs. Huntington say as she watched us walk away; “the Wisetail-Riverclaw girl and the Elm boy, now there’s a good match! Three branches of the tribe’s oldest families have come together to create one strong tree. They’ll breed good stock.”

My eyes widened as Grant tried not to snicker. He pulled me along to prevent me from turning around and staring back at the nosy old woman! I felt my cheeks burn as I tried to refocus on the task at hand, whilst Grant didn’t seem offended at all.

“Come on B.” Grant squeezed my hand. I gave him a funny look, which he caught so he spoke quietly, “when my family first announced our engagement, I got a lot of that. I had people stopping me on the street to offer their congratulations. They all told me how they thought we’re the perfect match being two Lokoti Werewolves marrying another, let alone a Wisetail-Riverclaw and an Elm union.”

I gulped as I quickly looked away and I tried to look preoccupied at the bottles of vegetable oil, sunflower oil or olive oil.

Not that there was any pressure or anything! Boy, if this is how the whole tribe feels about our nuptials, I wonder what would have happened if I had refused to go ahead with the wedding? Or if I had ended up with Declan instead…

Grant grabbed the bottle of the olive oil before he moved us along. I sensed that he wasn’t bothered by any of this in the slightest. He may have been amused but I started to wonder if he saw our union as something else; fate perhaps?

“Yum!” I stopped in front of the different confectionary as I was relieved to change the subject. “Should we get choc-chip biscuits or just a bar of chocolate?”

“I think Hannah will be giving us some more biscuits soon, so we probably don’t need any of the bought kind. How about a couple of bars of chocolate instead?” Grant shrugged.

“OK.” I readily put two bars of chocolate inside the basket.

Just then we heard the rattle of the bell over the door, of somebody else coming into the general store. Before I turned my head to see who it was, I smelled his Maple Syrup scent.

I looked up sharply just as Declan stopped in his tracks when he saw me. I watched his eyes widen as they took in the sight of me, before they narrowed into a look of pure resentment when he saw Grant standing beside. His human blue eyes even began to look a little green...

…when Declan quickly turned around again and walked back out. As I watched his abrupt departure, I saw his huge muscles under the dirty white t-shirt looked tense. Oh, just like that he was gone.

The poor guy, since he worked next door at the Garage, he probably came in to get a can of soda or something when Grant and I put him off.

My heart hurt but to hide this from my husband, I quickly busied myself by grabbing another two blocks of chocolate off the shelf before moving us on again. However what I really wanted to do was let go of Grant’s hand and run after Declan, to comfort him.

I wished I could somehow ease Declan’s pain, because the pack and even the tribe thought that it was a much safer bet to pair me off to Grant Elm instead of Declan Sabre. Just because he wasn’t a Lokoti Werewolf and because his family wasn’t as old in the tribe as the Elm family was…it did seem a bit unfair.

“I think that’s it.” Grant said cheerfully, acting oblivious to Declan’s sudden appearance and disappearance. “Are you ready to go home?”

I quietly nodded before I walked with him over to the counter for Mr. Barley to mark the things out in his book.

“And how would you like to make up for this trade today?” Mr. Barley asked congenially.

“Ian and I are currently working on some new pieces of furniture.” Grant began.

“I’ve seen yours and Ian’s work, it’s good. I especially liked that dining table set you did for the Lightfoot’s. I can give you two month’s worth of groceries for a dining table set with a buffet unit.” Mr. Barley bartered.

“Deal.” Grant smiled on the arrangement and the two men shook on it.

Grant placed a happy kiss on my forehead, as I next watched Mr. Barley write this down in his book underneath the items we were checking out. As I looked on the book which kept records of all the family accounts, I realized that this was a new section of the book that Mr. Barley had created for Grant and I. I realized that my name was no longer under the ‘Hunter & Jessica Wisetail’ account, but it was now under the ‘Grant & Bianca Elm’ account.

Frickin’ hell! I really am a married woman and the tribe firmly saw me this way. I stared at my name scribbled next Grant’s – Bianca Elm. We had our own family account as I was officially seen as Mrs. Bianca Elm.

No wonder Declan couldn’t bear to be in the same room with my husband and I…because I was another man’s territory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

G'day! To borrow the ole logo, "but wait, there's more!" I just wanted to let you know that 'Scent' doesn't finish at chapter ten, but there's twenty more where they came from. ‘Scent’ has thirty chapters, a conclusion as well as a 'SSIT Report on Reincarnation'.

'Scent' was pushed onto the world in June 2010 and I'll be posting updates and info on my Facebook page regarding publication of its sequels ‘Sororate’ and ‘Small Fry’. Cheers for reading!

The Circulate Series
Circulate © K.R. Smith, 1st ed. 2005
ISBN: 978-0-646-53776-4
Circulate paperback $30 eBook $1.99
Scent © K.R. Smith, 2010.
ISBN: 978-0-646-53730-6
Scent paperback $38 eBook $1.99
eBook novels available at: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/onaya3
Paperback novels available at: http://stores.lulu.com/onaya3

Find me on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circulate-Series-By-KR-Smith/222260061814?ref...

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