through the broken window. It didn’t even try to attack me. Carson. The wolf was Carson. So I hit the gas going eighty miles an hour. The wolves were easily keeping up. They finally gave up one I got on to the freeway entrance. I could not go back to the school like this as a bloody mess…and a wolf. So I stopped at the nearest store and parked in the very back. Carson jumped in the back seat and curled up at the end. Resting his snout between his paws. Meanwhile I wiped my blood off and cared for the wounds before climbing in the back and burying my face in to Carson’s fur. My eyelids drooped. I welcomed the darkness.
I woke up to pure daylight. A cool cloth pressed against m y forehead.
Carson was back in to his human form.
“Welcome back,” he said. And that was the truest thing he could’ve said at that time. My head was resting on something else now. My duffel bag! And in the front seat was my Cody Simpson suitcase.
“What happened?” I asked.
“You don’t remember?” Carson raised an eyebrow. The truth is I did remember. I just needed someone to confirm it. “Yeah I think I do.” I said. “You’re not a wolf anymore.”
Carson brushed some hair out of my face. “No we’re only in that form from dark till light. But since tonight’s a special night for us, that’s why we had a celebration, it starts at midnight. It’s a painful process. We lose all human senses. Except for me and no one really knows why. Yes the tattoos determine what duty we belong to.”
“Are you the only pack?” I asked.
“No there are two main ones in the U.S. which is the one you met today and one along the west coast.”
“Are you immortal?” I asked.
“That’s why there are so many of us.” Carson replied.
“And how old are you?”
“Only thirty-eight.” He said.
“You are way too old for me,” I teased managing a slight smile. “Are there Vampires?”
Carson looked grim. I thought he wasn’t going to answer me but then he said. “Yeah but you don’t want to mess with them there dangerous.”
“And?”
“And we are,” he said. “It’s complicated.” “I’m listening.”
“Leslie when I said I didn’t want to give you the fate of knowing I meant just that. Besides the trackers, hunters, and caretakers there are also a very small pack of protectors. There are also a very small pack of protectors. There tattoo is a wolves face. When a human figures out our secret there tattoos will burn. They will hunt you down even if it means traveling across the world. So you’re going to spend some time with Vampires until I can get this sorted out and when I think it’s safe for you. Just hide your wounds at all times and please please please don’t be rash. Even if it doesn’t mean anything to you do it for me because I couldn’t live without you. They’re going to block your scent for a while. I contacted them while you were out.” Carson finished.
“Okay,” I nodded desperately trying to fight back tears. “When and where ?” Having to lie to my parents was a big NO for me. But this was bigger than that I hope. Right now I wanted to yell at Carson tell him to leave me alone and let me be normal.
“Dallas Texas, right now.”
“That far? Aren’t they going to like want to drink my blood or something?”
“Hah,” he scoffed. “Animals have blood too.” He shifted in to reverse and headed on our way to the airport. “Here’s your food.” He tossed me a wrapped up sausage muffin.
Barbara Boswell, Lisa Jackson, Linda Turner