Chapter 9

Rachel

A sense of foreboding cloaked me like a shroud when I woke up Thursday morning. There was nothing I could explain. Joanie was doing well. So well, that the plan was to have her released into a rehab center over the weekend. My parents were still deciding on which one and making calls to check for openings. Clary was planning to fly out tomorrow mid-morning, and life as we now knew it would move on. My clock read six forty-seven, and if I was going to make it to school showered, fed, and with concealer over the raccoon-like circles under my eyes, I had to haul myself out of bed. I was warm and comfortable, but the ominous feeling seemed to hang in the air, just above my bed. As if I would catch it like a disease if I moved. My phone buzzed, and I reached for it, a crease forming between my eyebrows.

Meg. —They found Shelby Atwood. She’s alive but barely.—

My mouth dried like old bread. I punched Meg’s speed dial.

“Rachel?”

“Meg. Every detail. What happened? Are you safe?” My voice sounded like a chain smoker’s from the early morning and the terror that seized my throat.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Sam’s here. There are extra patrols going. The patrol came across Shelby late last night—she’s in the hospital now. She’s still alive, but only barely, from what I was told. She’s lost a lot of blood.”

“Which I guess we already knew,” I said.

“Right. She’s got slash marks though—definitely wolf—across her abdomen and on her legs. There are some superficial ones across her neck, too. They weren’t sure if the marks were meant to keep her alive, or to let her bleed out slowly. It’s awful,” Meg finished on a shudder. I shuddered myself.

“Ugh. This is so messed up.” I felt small, sitting there thinking about Shelby, wrapped up in some horrible plot bigger than herself. I knew what was going on, but I wasn’t a part of things. I was just on the outer fringe. I didn’t know if it was safer here, or if it would be safer to be a werewolf and be on the inside. I sighed. Selfishly, it didn’t matter to me. I wanted to be a wolf and have that closeness, that bond with an extended family.

“You okay this morning? Have you called to get an update on Joanie yet?” Megan continued. I could hear some clinking in the background and figured she was getting her required morning coffee.

“Not yet. I need to though. I had this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach this morning, and I was having trouble getting out of bed, so I haven’t yet,” I confessed.

“I’m so sorry, Rachel. My news didn’t make it any better.”

“No, but I’m glad you texted.”

“We’re going to get through this, Rachel. We’ll go to the ends of the earth together if we have to. You’re not alone.”

The corner of my mouth tipped, thinking back to the time we were in early elementary and had stolen one of Clary’s zombie movies and watched it even though we weren’t supposed to. We’d been scared silly and had solemnly promised each other that if the end of the world came on our watch, we’d go to the ends of the earth together.

“To the ends of the earth.”

“Is Kyp still coming to get you for school?”

“Yes. He should be here soon. He told me yesterday he’d prefer to drive me to and from school.”

“Good. I feel better knowing you’re not driving it by yourself. But you should know something else. Kyp and Cade were both on the patrol that found Shelby.”

“Oh, poor Kyp! And Cade!”

“Yeah. I imagine it was pretty gruesome.” Meg sounded as sad as I felt. “Also…how is Kyp?” Her voice trailed up at the end of her sentence and I snorted.

“He’s fine, I suppose, aside from recently uncovering a nearly-dead girl in the woods. But as for ‘Kyp and Rachel’ I don’t think there’s anything to tell. Although, I have appreciated him hanging around and being incredibly helpful. Who knew he was so good in a crisis?”

“Just checking.” I could hear the smile in Megan’s voice.

“You’d be the first to know.” I grinned. “See you at school.”

“Go get a shower and get dressed. I’ll bring you coffee with a breakfast sandwich and meet you at school.”

****

Kyp was right on time and had to wait ten minutes while I finished gathering my life together and all the paraphernalia that went with it so we could get to school. I didn’t give him more than a good morning when he got to my house, not wanting to explain any sympathetic actions to Clary should she be in the vicinity.

“Oh, hi Kyp. You’re taking Rachel to school today?” Clary’s voice drifted up the stairs as I shoved stuff into my backpack. Crap. I hadn’t told anyone that Kyp would be picking me up and bringing me home. It had completely slipped my mind once Joanie woke up last night. It hadn’t been important. But it was on Clary’s radar now, and I was sure there would be questions.

“I’m sorry I’m late this morning. Megan called me first thing and we talked too long.” The words rushed out as he turned the engine over a few minutes later. “And she told me about Shelby. Kyp, I’m so sorry,” I said quietly as I reached over and put my hand on his arm. He blinked a few times.

“Thanks. It’s definitely something I won’t be forgetting,” he said with a thick swallow.

I bit my lip and then frowned as my gaze snagged on the trashcans that were out of place at the end of our drive, almost like someone had run into them and hadn’t put them back correctly. “Yeah. It’s awful. First Mr. Steinbach, now Shelby. What do you think Victor wants?”

“Probably to spook us more than anything right now.” His answer was matter-of-fact. “Why fight if fear can do the job for you? Picking a few lesser targets sends a bigger message and requires less effort on Victor’s behalf.”

“Well, it’s working. I’m definitely spooked.”

Kyp glanced over at me. “Me, too.” Meeting his eyes for a fleeting second before he turned back to the road, I understood more of his motivation for wanting to pick me up for school. I shivered. I didn’t even have any neighbors within eyesight.

“Did Sam ask you to keep an eye on me since everything is heating up?” I was considered an honorary pack member, a lot like Jennifer Kypson. We were in the know, but we weren’t werewolves. We were accorded some special privileges, but we were not official members of the pack.

“He didn’t have to. I volunteered.” He sent me a sideways grin that I wasn’t sure how to interpret, but it did send little tendrils of heat through my middle and uncoiled some of the dread.

****

School was abuzz with news of Shelby. Principal Angelo made a special announcement during homeroom. I was called to the office during fourth period. Mom called the school to speak to me directly so she didn’t get me in trouble on my cell.

“Rachel, fantastic news. Assuming everything continues on the trend it’s going, the hospital is going to release Joanie tomorrow, straight to a rehab center. Your dad and I have been discussing all the options and talking with her doctors. We’ve made a decision, but we’d like to talk it over with you. Do you have anything that you can’t miss the rest of the afternoon? I wouldn’t take you out of school, but we’re fairly pressed for time, and this is a big decision.”

The alarm that had dissipated during the ride to school with Kyp surfaced fresh, clawing its nasty talons into my gut. Why did they need to discuss things further with me? What happened to Joanie?

“No, of course. I can come. Oh, but I rode to school with a friend today. Sorry, can someone come pick me up?”

“Yes, we’ll be by in a few minutes. We’re out getting a drive-thru lunch and on our way home.” She trailed off and I felt there was something more she would have added to that sentence if I had all the pieces of the puzzle.

“Sure, Mom. I’ll wait in the office. Grab me a burger and a chocolate shake?”

“You bet. We’ll see you in a few. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

I passed the phone back to Ms. Nelson, the sweet secretary who had been at the school longer than anyone could remember. She hadn’t aged a day since 1985, and neither had her wardrobe. Her colorful plaid skirt swished softly as it brushed against the bottom of her desk.

I took a seat in one of the beige vinyl-covered chairs and pulled out my phone. I shot a quick text to Kyp, and one to Megan, letting them know what was going on. After that, I just sat and waited. I bounced my foot. I jiggled my leg. I nibbled three fingernails.

Mom finally waltzed into the office in yesterday’s clothes and with the barest minimum of makeup that I’d ever seen on her in public. She smiled weakly at Ms. Nelson and signed me out.

“I got you that chocolate shake,” she said, her voice wobbly, as she gave me a big side hug on the way out the door.

“Great!” I forced fake enthusiasm into my voice.

****

Once we were home, Mom, Dad, and I sat down at the table. Clary had stayed at the hospital with Joanie. I sipped the chocolate shake that turned to gelatinous sludge in my mouth and stuck in my throat.

“When are they releasing Joanie?” I asked, unable to wait longer.

Dad cleared his throat. “We wanted to talk to you specifically, Rachel, because this will impact you the most,” he said directly. I clenched my fist under the table. “We’ve checked a dozen programs and have made calls and talked to all the doctors and checked out the success rates, and we’ve found one that I think is going to be Joanie’s best shot at beating this.”

My heart felt heavy in my chest. Why would this need so much discussion involving me?

“Then, of course, she should do it. What’s the catch?”

Dad’s brow knit. “It’s a completely family-involved program. Your mother and I would go with Joanie to the rehab center. Success rates are four times higher when both parents are heavily involved in the rehab program with the…addict.” He stumbled on the word.

“That’s great that the success rates are that much higher. Would you take your work with you and do it during the day there?” Dad’s work could all be done remotely. Mom had been a housewife for years. There was no reason they couldn’t both be involved in Joanie’s recovery. No reason they shouldn’t both be involved if it could boost her recovery that much.

Mom and Dad shared a glance that made an unhappy fluttering start in my stomach.

“Yes. I would work from there. The problem is that the program is in Colorado. Your mom and I would be gone for at least two weeks.” He said it gently, concern stamped on his face. My eyebrows lifted.

“That’s not so very long.” I hoped my voice didn’t sound as hollow as I felt. “And if you guys moving to Colorado for a few weeks is what it takes for her to get better, then that’s what you have to do. I’ll be fine here.” I tried to sound reassuring. I wasn’t afraid of them going to be with Joanie for a few weeks. I was afraid of being here alone with Victor Atwood and his posse at large. I doubted my parents had even seen the news about the murder this week or about Shelby being found. I wasn’t about to mention it as a deterrent. I wanted Joanie to heal with my whole heart. If this was her best shot, we had to take it. As a family.

“When we realized this was a serious possibility, we called George Carmichael,” Mom continued. Megan’s grandpa still lived alone in Rock Falls in the house where Megan grew up. “He said he would love to have you while we’re gone. If this is okay with you,” Mom added with finality. “If you’re uncomfortable with this, one of us will stay here with you. We can’t go off to save one daughter and neglect the other.” Tears stood in Mom’s eyes, and I could see how hard this decision was for her, especially right now with emotions high and sleep low. Quickly I got up and wrapped them both in a hug.

“You have to go and do this for Joanie. Don’t worry about me at all.”

“My brave, brave girl,” Dad whispered as he stroked my hair.

****

That night was a flutter of activity. George Carmichael was delighted at the prospect of my staying with him. Mom and Dad were packing everything they’d need for themselves, plus everything they thought Joanie might need or want, along with things like old photographs they thought might be helpful in her recovery process. I wrote out a long letter to Joanie, telling her how much I loved her and some of my favorite memories of the two of us together. I didn’t know what else to say, but I wanted her to know how much she meant to me, even if I didn’t have all the right words.

****

Megan called me later that night to check in. I’d texted her the minimum details earlier.

“Rachel. I’m so sorry I’m only now calling you back. Dominic called Austin Thornehill, the Alpha of the Thornehill pack from upstate New York. They’re going to start moving into the area in the next few days. The rest of us have been working on fighting skills and different maneuvers. Anyway, I feel like a crappy friend that I couldn’t respond to your text when you sent it. Sorry. But I’m here now. Tell me everything.”

I sighed. My body felt heavy. “Mom and Dad are leaving first thing in the morning, like at four thirty, to go out to the facility. Clary is flying out tomorrow morning. She’s got a friend dropping her at the airport so I can get to school on time since Mom and Dad will be gone by then. I was doing some research on the rehab process. It sounds solid. I can totally see Joanie thriving in that sort of environment once she’s got the junk out of her system enough to focus on anything.” I groaned. “Megan, this has to work. I can’t even think about the possibility that it won’t.”

“Rach, we’re not even considering the possibility that it won’t. Joanie is going to beat this. We’re going to help her every step of the way when it’s in our power to do so. And I’m here for you. You’re getting the crap end of things, too. It’s okay to be mad about it.”

My eyes slid shut. It felt so good to have that validation come from someone else. A tiny part of me was angry that my parents were leaving me to be with Joanie for weeks, even though the largest part of me wanted them to go and for Joanie to get well.

“Thanks for saying so. I’m not really ready to be mad yet. I’m still too exhausted from it all. I’m sure I will be angry later, though. When everyone is gone. Speaking of, what are your thoughts on all this—and about my coming to live with Grandpa for a while?”

“I haven’t actually called him yet. I know he’d love to have you. I called you back first. You know you’re always welcome to stay here. The cabin addition will be done in about two more days, and there’s plenty of space. There’s even a second bathroom now.” I could hear the smile in her words over the phone line.

“Thanks. The second bathroom is definitely enticing. I may stay out there a few nights, depending on how things shake out.”

“For sure. There are extra patrols that run in Grandpa’s vicinity, too. We don’t know how much Victor knows about our pack, and who we love. Me, especially, since I was a target for at least part of this. So, Grandpa’s house is well protected. I wanted you to know. If you feel safer here, in the middle of the pack, I totally get that, too. Plus, I’d love to have some good, quality girl time. We haven’t had much of that since HarvestFest.”

My belly churned, thinking of the one night I’d spent at the cabin and seeing Meg and Sam in the same bed. How awkward and out of place I’d felt.

“I’m glad Grandpa has extra protection. I’m sure I’ll be fine there—although I’m all up for some girl time.” I tried to keep my voice light.

“You name the time and place.”

“Sounds good. I should probably go help finish up the packing. I need to give this letter I wrote to Joanie to my parents, too.”

“See you tomorrow, Rach.”

“Night, Meg.”

****

I was awake before dawn to kiss my parents goodbye. Clary took them to the airport and to go say goodbye to Joanie while I got ready for school. I’d said my goodbyes to Joanie yesterday evening after the decision had been made for the Colorado rehab. Joanie was a mess. But she was breathing, and mostly coherent. I nursed a cup of coffee and watched the sun rise.

A clanging noise made me jerk.

“Stupid raccoons,” I muttered, assuming they’d knocked over the trashcans again. A louder clanging sounded like the metal cans had been flung over. The mental image of all the trash I’d have to pick up sped through my overtired brain and it triggered a sudden flash of rage. Without another thought, I stalked to the front door and threw it open, intending to give the scavenging vermin a piece of my mind.

What happened instead was that Honeydew, wretched little fur ball, shot out into the yard, and started barking loud enough to raise the dead, trying to scare off the raccoons from her territory.

“Honeydew!” I shouted, grumbling to myself when the stupid animal charged across the yard and into the fringes of the woods that bordered our property.

“Honeydew!” I screeched again, thinking how Clary would kill me if I managed to lose her precious dog hours before she was flying back to Seattle. I darted straight across the yard after her, not even shutting the door properly behind me.

“Honeydew!” I hollered. “Who names their dog Honeydew anyway?” I muttered contemptibly as I tromped through the brush. I could see Honeydew’s little tufts of brown and white fur jumping up and down farther into the woods, near the gravel road that led out the back way to the highway. I growled in frustration, realizing that if she hit the gravel road, she’d have a much easier time running away from me than having to hop over dead brush and limbs taller than her in the forest. Increasing my efforts, I leaped over a few fallen trees and was about at the road when Honeydew suddenly stopped barking. My heart kicked up another notch and I ran as fast as I could, afraid something might have happened to her.

Just as I reached the gravel road, there sat Honeydew, happily munching away at something on the ground.

“You little devil,” I started, but was abruptly cut off when something dark was flung over my head and rough hands grabbed me from behind.

I screamed and thrashed, adrenaline pounding through my head and spangling bright spots inside the bag over my head.

“Shut up.”

“I’ve got her. Let’s get her to Lenny and get out of the cold. I’m done waiting for her after sitting out here all week.”

My blood froze and I gouged my heels into the ground, making it as difficult as possible for the two men who had me gripped tightly between them. It had to be Tall One and Short One. How could I have ever been naïve enough to assume Lenny wouldn’t come after me after what I’d done to him?

Swirls of light flashed across my eyes as panic seized my chest. My breath was coming too tight, too shallow. My stomach dropped and I knew I was going to faint. The last thing I heard was the screech of a van door before the blackness swallowed me.