Chapter Fifteen
Two weeks later was my eighteenth birthday and graduation. Nothing like having everything the same weekend, right? Since we were seniors, we got out of school earlier than the rest of the students. That was fine by me. I passed my classes with flying colors and would be able to keep my scholarship to Southern Oregon University. Liam and Mica had offered to pay my tuition since I was now adopted into their Pack. I politely declined. I didn’t want to feel indebted to them and they were already more than willing to take me on as a member of their Pack. There wasn’t any formal ceremony or papers to signify my acceptance into their pack. Liam and Mica just restated that they considered me one of them. If I was shifter, I would be able to hear other pack members in my head, but since I couldn’t shift, well, nothing really changed. Liam and Mica reminded me that if I ever needed something, to just ask. It was nice to feel wanted. Like I was finally home.
The night before my birthday, I found myself once again at the McCoy house. Apparently this was a tradition when a wolf turned eighteen. There was cake, ice cream, and snacks as we all sat in the basement waiting for the clock to strike midnight. I was a little nervous. I mean, Nickolas said that since I was a latent, it was less than likely I would know who my lifemate was. Cade was more optimistic than me. He thought it was a sure thing for us since I was a wolf. A latent, yes, but a wolf, nonetheless. I secretly hoped he was right.
“Less than a minute now.” Brody announced happily.
“Don’t get your hopes up. Nothing might happen.” I warned.
“Yeah and something could happen.” Cassie countered.
“Yeah, you two could look at each other, the power of the lifemate bond breaks the latent curse, and all’s well in couple land.” Brody replied. The “latent curse” was Brody’s term for my “affliction”. Everyone seemed to be picking up the term too.
“You forgot the part of me being the harbinger of doom.” I replied sarcastically.
“Eh,” Brody shrugged. “That could just be some fabled story Nickolas cooked up.”
“And if it isn’t? If she is a white wolf foretold to bring about great change?” Cassie asked.
“We’ll deal with one thing at a time.” Cade replied.
“Well, you are eighteen in three…two…one. Happy Birthday!” Brody exclaimed. Everyone looked at me expectantly. I met Cade’s eyes but everything felt the same. Nothing had changed. There was no huge string pulling me toward him or the universe focusing in on just him. He was just Cade.
“So, anything different?” Brody asked hesitantly.
“No.” I replied and broke eye contact with Cade. I barely caught a glimpse of frustration from him before I turned away.
“Oh.” Brody said, disappointedly.
“Well, it’s still your birthday.” Bree said. She raised her glass and said, “Happy Birthday, Kendra.” The others followed suit.
“Thanks.” I smiled and tried to hide my own disappointment.
“So, what’s next?” Bree asked.
“Graduation?”I suggested.Bree laughed.
“I know that silly. I meant with your latent wolf.”
“That’s still being debated.” I answered.
“Meaning?”Hunter asked.
“Meaning,” Cade growled, “I don’t want her going anywhere near those other shifters and Kendra is more than willing to put herself in danger and do it anyway.” Cade growled.
“Oh…that.”Bree commented.
“I should probably head home.” I said trying to avoid another argument and rose from the couch. “I have to help Nicole get things ready for the graduation party.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Cade replied. After saying bye to everyone, Cade followed me up the stairs and out to the car. The night was cool and cloudless. I glanced up and knew the moon wasn’t up yet since I could see a smattering of stars clearly. I smiled internally thinking back to one of the first things Cassie joked about. Full moons and werewolves. Crazy how fast life can change. Just as we reached the driver side door, Cade backed me up against it and caged me in.
“I wish you could see how dangerous it would be to go to the other shifters.” He murmured.
“I need answers, Cade.” I stated softly. My hands rubbed the front of his chest as I tried to sooth him.
“I know.” He sighed. He reached down with one of his hands and captured one of mine. “I just think we should find another way.”
“I’ll give Nickolas a call and see if he has any advice.” I compromised. He let go of my hand and brought his hand up to run his finger along the side of my face in a gentle caress.
“I have a birthday present for you.” He grinned down at me.
“You do?” I smiled in return. He nodded and pulled his other hand from the hood of the car that held a small box with a ribbon around it. Excited, I accepted the box from him and carefully opened it. What was inside took my breath away.
“You made this?” I breathed as I pulled out the small figurine of a wolf.
“Yeah. It took some time to whittle but I finally got it right.” The black, hand carved piece of wood easily fit into my hand but the craftsmanship was amazing. Every detail was evident from the piercing eyes to waves in the fur. The wolf sat on its hindquarters and looked regal, almost as if he was standing guard.
I looked up at Cade. “It looks like you.”
“I wanted you to have something while you are at college. A promise that I will always protect you. No matter where I am.”
“It’s perfect Cade. Thank you so much.” I choked out as I wrapped my arms around him in a fierce hug. He held me tightly in return with his head resting on mine.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” He asked.
“Probably not. I have to help Nicole all day from the sounds of it.” I replied softly and pulled back. I tucked the wolf back into the box for safe keeping.
“Then I’ll see you at graduation.” He said and I nodded.
“When do you leave?” I asked as I thought about his Enforcer Training. I knew it was supposed to start after graduation but no one gave me a straight answer.
“Right after graduation.”
“Right after?” I asked, shocked.
“Yes. Those were my orders.” He replied tightlipped. I reached up and traced his eyebrow and jaw with my finger to smooth out his frown.
“When will I see you again?”
“I don’t know. I won’t know a lot of the details until I get there. But I’ll call as often as I can.” I closed my eyes, thinking how hard it was going to be to not have him around for weeks on end.
“Hey,” he said and kissed me lightly on the lips. I opened my eyes and looked at him. “It’s not like I’ll be unreachable. We can still talk on the phone.”
“I know.” I sighed. He leaned down and kissed me a little harder. The unknown was what killed me. Was he going to change serving the High Council? All those Enforcers seemed so intense and scary. I didn’t want that for Cade. I…liked…him just the way he was. Really like him. Cade broke our kiss and rested his forehead against mine.
“Get in,” He said as he backed up and opened the door. “I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.” He promised. I slid into my seat and Cade closed the door after me. As I drove away, I watched in the rearview mirror as he stood and observed me disappear down the lane. Five years of Enforcer Training was going to be rough. I wasn’t sure how we would handle being apart for that long. Would we still care for each other? Would we still want to be together?
When I reached my house the lights were off. I walked toward the front steps and stopped when I saw a wrapped package on the front porch. I reached down and picked it up to find that the bundle was white flowers. I looked for a note and found one nestled in amongst the stems. I opened it and turned the note toward the street light to see the words. I frowned as I read the note.
Kendra,
While your friend would have been a prize to have, I think stealing you from Alpha-boy would be even more fun. Think of me as I pound him to a pulp in training. I know I’ll be thinking of you. Happy Birthday. – D.
There was only one shifter I knew with a name that started with a D, and that was Dusty. What would he want with me? Was it to get back at me for the High Council thing? I shook my head and pocketed the note for later thought. I didn’t want to explain the flowers to Steve and Nicole so I walked back to the street and dumped them in the trashcan there. I turned and walked back toward the house.
Halfway there, I paused as I cocked my head to the side. My new found senses told me that I was no longer alone. I slowly turned to face the street and was met by a girl and young man who stood in the semi darkness. They studied me as I did them. The girl looked familiar, but from that distance I couldn’t make out her features very well. The boy was lean and had a predatory look in his eye. Each wore comfortable jeans and a t-shirt. I shifted my weight, unsure if they were a threat and if it would be smarter to run.
“Don’t remember me?” The girl asked. Her voice sounded familiar and then all of a sudden I remembered.
“Restroom girl.” I breathed. The young man let out a deep chuckle at my statement which caused the girl to frown.
“My name is Amber.” She said forcefully. She looked over at the man beside her and said, “My brother, Clint.”
“Are you a panther too?” I couldn’t stop the question from popping out as my eyes focused on him. His chuckles subsided and he regarded me steadily.
“How much do you know?” He asked gruffly.
“Only that Amber is a panther.” I shrugged. “I didn’t even know her name until ten seconds ago.”
“We heard you finally know what you are.” Amber said. I looked back at her.
“How did you find out?”
“News travels fast.” Huh, so much for High Councilor Anton’s edict about keeping quiet.
“I thought other shifters were on the outs with the wolves.” I asked curiously. Clint bared his teeth.
“I told you she would side with them.” He said headedly at Amber. She glared at him.
“She doesn’t know everything yet. She’s only heard one side.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He exhaled sharply. “She’s probably already brainwashed.”
“Hey, standing right here.” I pointed out, waving my hand to get their attention. “What don’t I know?”
“We can help you.” Amber said as she looked back at me.
“Help me with what?”
“Find your wolf. Help her surface.”
“How would you do that?”
“Other shifters besides wolves have latents. We have knowledge you need to learn to shift.”
I digested what she said and knew she had a point. I had planned on contacting them anyway to possibly discuss bringing my wolf to the surface. “Why would you want to help me?” I glanced at Clint. “It doesn’t sound like it’s a popular idea.”
“There are a few that are resistant to the idea. However, if you are a latent, then that needs to be taken into consideration. There hasn’t been a latent wolf in a long time.” She eyed her brother.
“One hundred and ninety-three years, to be exact.” I replied.
“Exactly. You’re coming means something. We want to help.”
“Are you referring to the whole doom and gloom bit that comes with being a white latent wolf? Because I wouldn’t hold my breath. That’s not me. I’m not a harbinger of change or anything.”
“Well, at least she’s not conceited.” Clint commented and a slight grin crossed over his face.
“Regardless of what the future holds, we want to help you. We have the resources you need.”
“You don’t think the wolves can help me?”
“As you pointed out, they haven’t had a full grown latent in over a hundred years. None of the wolves have the experience that we do.”
“And if you are the white latent,” Clint added, finally adding something useful to the conversation, “Then you are going to need our protection. The High Council will see you as a threat.”
“That ship has sailed,” I mumbled.
“All the more reason to let us protect you.” Clint replied as he easily heard my mumbled reply. Crazy shifter hearing.
“Teach you.” Amber added and glared at her brother.
“What’s your end game?” I asked. “You have to have some purpose or reason for offering help.”
“If you really are a white latent, then you will bring about change one way or another. We’d like to be on the profitable side of that change.” Clint answered.
“Meaning, we help you find your wolf, then you help us when the time comes.”
“I don’t understand or know what you want help with.” I stated carefully, even though I was starting to guess what they wanted.
“The wolves hold all the power.” Clint stared at me steadily. “We want to even out the odds.”
“Holy hell.” I breathed. “You’re talking about a rebellion?” Hell, I just find out I’m a wolf and now I’m being dragged into a war.
“Maybe, maybe not.”He shrugged.
“Diplomacy will come first.” Amber added.
“But if they don’t listen, war will come.” Clint stated firmly.
“I don’t want to be involved with that. I just want to go to college, graduate, and earn a living. Nowhere in my repertoire does it say anything about battling it out with the High Council. My goal is to stay as far away from them as possible.”
“So you won’t help?” Clint asked as frustration edged his voice.
“I don’t have anything to offer to help.” I countered.
“You’re going to school at Southern Oregon University, right?” Amber asked, changing tactics.
“How did you-“
“A simple search of records.” Amber waved off my question. “Ashland is neutral territory. I’ll be attending myself this fall. I’ll offer to room with you. You can get to know other shifters, learn how to make your wolf surface, and you can decide at that point, how involved you want to be.”
“You want to be roomies?” The other things she said circled in my head. If other shifters knew how to shift, my best bet was to have them teach me. My in was Amber.
“I can do it if you can. You don’t smell too bad yet for a wolf.” She teased with a grin. I quirked my lip in response.
“Fine, I’ll room with you. The other things I’ll have to think about.”
“Deal.” She looked at her brother in triumph before she glanced back at me. “I’ll have our computer whiz make the arrangements.”
“Okay.” I nodded. Then I asked the one question that had been bothering me. “Aren’t you breaking some shifter rules by being in the McCoy territory?” That predatory gleam was back in Clint’s eyes.
“We know how to evade a few dogs.” Clint grinned. “We are cats after all.”
“Stealth is our middle name.” Amber added with a smile.
“By the way,” Clint added as they turned to leave, “there was a dog hanging around when we got here. I assume you don’t like him if you threw away his gift?” It took me a second to figure out he was talking about Dusty.
“No. And he was trespassing. He shouldn’t have been here in the first place.”
“Good to know. I’ll keep my eye open for him when you two are in Ashland.” He looked me up and down. “My stint in the city just became a whole lot more enjoyable.” He grinned. My mouth fell open. Oh my God, he was flirting!
“Come on Romeo,” Amber said with a sigh and rolled her eyes. “We need to go.” She waved at me. “See you in the fall.”
I nodded.“Bye.”
“Have a fun summer with your wolf friends.” Clint said as he approached the shadows along the driveway. “Come fall, you’ll experience a whole new world.” With that parting thought, he disappeared into the darkness. I listened to see if I could hear, or scent them with my newfound abilities, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Maybe my senses weren’t as good as I thought. I turned and made my way into the house.
I silently crept inside and locked the door behind me. Steve and Nicole must have turned in already because the house was silent. As I reached my room, I felt like something was off. I quickly scanned the room and noted that I was alone, so something else triggered my senses. The only thing out of place was an envelope on my bed. Great, another note. If that freak was in my room I was seriously going to hurt someone. I marched over and ripped the envelope open and scanned the letter. Then reread it to make sure I was reading it correctly.
Welcome to the shifter world, latent. Remember, we know things that your wolf friends don’t. Things you need to hear. Call me sometime if you have questions before this fall. –Amber
There was a number written below the message and I programmed it into my phone for later, just in case. I sat down on the bed and just stared at the letter. How many weird things could happen in one night? Happy Birthday Kendra and welcome to your new life.
***
Graduation day finally arrived and I had to admit, it was probably the most mundane experience compared to the last month. I walked across the stage, accepted my diploma, and that was it. I was officially a graduate. Steve and Nicole both gave me big hugs afterward and told me how proud they were of me. I was pretty happy too. I made it through high school and was off to college to follow my dreams of art. Of course there was that other fact of me being a latent shifter. One step at a time, Kendra.
“Woohoo! We made it!” Brody whooped as he descended on me and wrapped his arms around my waist to twirl me in a circle. I clutched his shoulders in fear he would drop me but I should have known a shifter would be able to handle it just fine. As he let me go the others joined us and we all passed around hugs. I ended with Cade, who held me closer and longer than anyone else.
“I have to go.” Cade whispered in my ear.
“Already?” Man, he wasn’t kidding when he said right after graduation.
“Yes. A car is waiting for me outside.” He stepped back and dug in his pocket before handing me something. “Here. Your birthday present.” I opened my palm under his and he dropped something metallic in my hand.
“My necklace!” I exclaimed. I ran my finger over the wolf emblem in the middle of the oval and then the one Cade gave me next to it. “I thought I lost this a few days ago.”
“I borrowed it for a bit. Needed to write something on the back of the one I gave you.” Cade said quietly. I turned the pendant over and read the inscription.
Forever Yours.
There was a space that was followed by:
Cade
Tears formed in my eyes as I looked up at Cade. He looked at me softly and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“I want you to take care of yourself, Kendra.” Cade spoke softly. He reached up and cupped my face between his hands. “I want a future with you. No matter if your wolf surfaces or not. We will be together, forever.” He stated firmly.
“Oh, Cade.” I sniffled and smiled. “I want that too.” His smile bloomed across his face before he swooped down and captured my lips with his. The kiss was long and all consuming. Better than any other kiss to date. It heated me from the inside out. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer as his hands slid down my sides and wrapped around my back, pulling me flush with him. The kiss was never ending.
Finally cat calls snared our attention and our heads broke apart. We started into each other’s eyes before we turned toward the sound. Brody was the one doing cat calls. Cassie had her phone up as she either snapped pictures or recorded us. Bree was turned slightly into Hunter’s chest as she tried to hide her laughter while Hunter looked on in mild amusement.
“Well,” Liam cleared his throat from our other side. Cade and I both turned our heads and parted slightly. “That’s one way to end a graduation ceremony.” Liam grinned at us. I blushed and hid my face in Cade’s chest in embarrassment.
“Liam,” Mica scolded, but still laughed. Steve and Nicole were standing by with raised eyebrows and smiles on their faces.
“I suppose we should head out for the graduation party.” Steve said.
“I’ll meet you in the parking lot.” I said. Steve nodded and both he and Nicole waded through the crowd hand in hand. I looked back up to Cade. “Walk you out?”
“Sure.” He said bye to everyone. Liam gave him a few words of advice in parting. Cade clasped my hand as we made our way through the crowd and out the front door. A black sedan waited for Cade at the curb. He turned to me and gave me a weak smile. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.” I replied, trying to hold back my tears.
“I’ll call you as much as I can.” He assured me.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” He teased. I knew he was referring to visiting other shifters. I hadn’t mentioned the visit or note from Amber and Clint, or the message from Dusty. I figured he had enough to worry about with Enforcer Training. Besides, if I did tell him there was no telling what kind of response I would get. My luck he’d go hunt down Dusty…and post guards on me to monitor my movement if I told him about Amber’s note.
“You know me, I never do anything stupid.” I quipped. He narrowed his eyes at me. “Promise. No plans to do anything stupid.” I hadn’t decided if I was going to call Amber or not…so… And “randomly” being assigned to room with Amber could hardly be considered my fault, right?
“Good.” He looked at the car then back at me and sighed. “Take care of yourself,” he repeated quietly. I smiled in response.
“I will. And you too.” He bent down and gave me one last, lingering kiss before he pulled back and stared into my eyes. After a few seconds, he turned and opened the door to the sedan and slid inside. Moments later, he was gone. I stood there for a few minutes, looking after him. I had so many thoughts swirling through my head. Would Enforcer Training change him? Would he still be the same Cade when he returned? I shifted my gaze to Steve and Nicole who waited for me with big smiles beside their car. I smiled in return and made my way toward them.
Graduation was over, I was officially eighteen, but I had a whole new set of worries. Starting college in the fall was one of them, but that almost paled in comparison to everything else. I finally knew what I was. Now, I needed to understand what that meant. Maybe living with Amber wouldn’t be such a bad idea? She did approach me first after all. Brody’s comment of other shifters ripping me to shreds surely wouldn’t apply if I was invited…right? I knew Cade wouldn’t approve, but he was off to Enforcer Training and wouldn’t be around. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Then there was the annoying…thing…with Dusty. Was he really singling me out just because Cade and I were involved? Well, I’d figure it out. It couldn’t be that hard, right?