Howling Moon Part 20

"Ms. Turner, this is Lucas Santiago. I understand that the rental car you've been using has sustained some damage. If you'd take it to Rowan's Auto Body they'll do an excellent job on the repairs for you at no charge. Also, my wife and I would be honored if you and Raphael would join us this evening for dinner at Roberto's Restaurant in Denver. There are a number of things we'd like to discuss. Please call my secretary and let her know if you'll be available."

Cat checked the clock. It was already eight o'clock. d.a.m.n. d.a.m.n. She didn't know if the mover's office would be open yet, but it was worth a shot. She rushed over to the phone and dialed the number. The woman on the other end picked up the phone on the first ring. She didn't know if the mover's office would be open yet, but it was worth a shot. She rushed over to the phone and dialed the number. The woman on the other end picked up the phone on the first ring.

"This is Cat Turner, you left a message on my aunt's answering machine."

"Yes, Ms. Turner. We've had a cancellation on the schedule and were hoping you might be able to meet us at the Thornton residence today rather than when it was initially scheduled. I realize it's short notice "

"Actually, today would be fine. What time would you like me to be there?"

"Is ten too soon?"

She nodded and scribbled the time on the pad next to the phone. "Ten will be fine."

"Oh, good. I'll tell our people to expect you."

Cat hung up the phone and hurried upstairs to pull on a pair of worn jeans and a sweats.h.i.+rt over thick socks and warm boots. She didn't want to wear anything good, because once the movers were done she was going to start in on cleaning the place. Yeah, she could pay a cleaning crew, but why? She was perfectly capable of scrubbing a floor and wiping down counters. G.o.d knew she'd been doing it enough at Jake's.

She'd just finished brus.h.i.+ng her teeth and pulling her hair into a braid when she heard Holly's Geo pull into the drive. She thundered downstairs to get the door before the other woman even had a chance to knock.

"Hi." Holly stood on the front step, a dark figure limned in the almost blinding brilliance of sunlight sparkling from virgin snowdrifts.

"Hi." Cat stepped aside "Come on in."

Holly was dressed for the snow in a bright blue down jacket with a fur-trimmed hood and warm winter boots. She reached into her large black purse with one gloved hand. "Before I forget. Here's your paycheck."

"Thanks." Cat took the check from her hand. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"No problema. What's up?"

"I need to drop the rental car off for repairs, but I'm due up at Ned's to meet the movers. Think you could drive me around today? I'll pop for the gas."

"Sure." Holly agreed. "But, I thought the movers were scheduled for Thursday."

"So did I. But they had a change of schedule."

"Sure, I'd be glad to."

"Thanks!" Cat reached into the hall closet to grab her purse and jacket.

Holly's voice was light and teasing. "I see you finally got yourself a coat."

"Actually, it was a gift." Cat said a little sheepishly. While she would have loved to talk about everything that was going on, she wasn't sure it was a good idea to talk to Holly about Raphael. He was her uncle. And she had been so very shocked when she'd found out that he and Cat were an item.

"Ah. I thought it looked familiar."

"Holly "

"Cat, it's okay." Holly took a deep breath and plowed on. "Really. I mean, I've been thinking about it a lot, and... I don't know. It just kind of is right. You suit each other. He actually seems happy. happy. I've never seen him happy before, and he's been around our house since I was born." I've never seen him happy before, and he's been around our house since I was born."

"Thanks." Cat really appreciated Holly's effort to accept her relations.h.i.+p with Raphael. It had been a long time since Cat had something close to a best friend. In fact, she couldn't remember a really good friend ever. The thought of losing that friends.h.i.+p had hurt, badly. Even so, she hadn't for an instant considered the possibility of giving up Raphael instead.

"Yeah, well, I want you to be happy. And since Mike's turned out to be such a jerk." Holly gestured through the open door at the damaged rental car.

"How'd you know?"

"Cat, please." please." Holly rolled her eyes. "Who Holly rolled her eyes. "Who else else would it be?" would it be?"

She had a point. Anyone else would've left the car alone, and hurt her. her. Cat pulled on her coat, checked the pocket to make sure she had her keys. "Can we stop by the ATM oh, and a grocery? I need to get some money and pick up some cleaning supplies." Cat pulled on her coat, checked the pocket to make sure she had her keys. "Can we stop by the ATM oh, and a grocery? I need to get some money and pick up some cleaning supplies."

"You might pick up some gloves while you're at it," Holly suggested. "Most of the chain groceries carry them during winter."

"That would be awesome!" Cat agreed. She pulled the front door closed with a brisk slam and picked her way carefully out to the driveway. She knew she should shovel the snow from the walk, but there was no time for it now. Who knew, if she was lucky, maybe it'd be sunny enough for the snow to melt off and she wouldn't have to.

"So, where's this repair shop you're going to?" Holly's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You ever hear of a place by the name of Rowan's?" Cat asked.

"Yeah, it's a pack business."

"Figures. Lucas Santiago wants me to take it there. The repairs have already been paid for."

"Makes sense." Holly agreed. "Since it was Mike's fault to begin with. You can follow me. It's not far."

RAPHAEL CHECKED HIS watch. Cat was late for their training session. So he concentrated, using his magic to search the connection that bound them. He found her easily. She was in Holly's car, on her way to Ned's. She was happy and excited, talking with the other woman about her plans for decorating the new place once she moved in. watch. Cat was late for their training session. So he concentrated, using his magic to search the connection that bound them. He found her easily. She was in Holly's car, on her way to Ned's. She was happy and excited, talking with the other woman about her plans for decorating the new place once she moved in.

Cat?

Raphael? I'm sorry! I forgot to call you. The movers changed the appointment to this morning.

That's the second time you've forgotten a training session with me, young lady. He tried to sound stern, but failed miserably. Yes, the lessons were very important, but she was doing well, and he was just too d.a.m.ned happy to stay angry with her for long. I'm beginning to worry you aren't taking this seriously.

I'm sorry. Really. Can we reschedule, maybe for this evening?

Did you check your messages? Lucas invited us for dinner at Roberto's in Denver.

Yeah, I know. But I'm not really looking forward to dealing with the whole Michael thing.

Raphael didn't answer, letting the mental silence stretch uncomfortably.

Fine, I'll do it. Just as soon as I've finished with the movers. I'll do it. Just as soon as I've finished with the movers.

I'll pick you up at Violet's at five thirty. We don't want to be late. The last thing you need is more trouble with the pack right now. We'll have a training session tomorrow morning no matter what, 7:00 A.M. A.M. sharp. sharp.

He cut the connection between them quickly. He heard laminar footsteps in the hallway. They paused outside the door to his office. A moment later he heard Raven's knock on the office door.

"Come in."

Emma took the lead, holding the door open for Raven. It was obvious the package he carried was not only bulky, but heavy. That piqued Raphael's curiosity. Sazi had super strength, and Raven was exceptional even among their kind.

"What are you two up to?" Raphael watched as his son looked carefully around the room before choosing a spot in the corner. Sitting on the floor, the box stood chest high.

"Well, go on. I can smell that you're curious. Open it up," Raven teased.

"What is it?" Raphael looked at Emma.

"Oh, no. I'll never tell." She waved him toward the box in a shooing gesture. "Go on. Raven's been dying to see what you think of it." She grinned. "Frankly, so am I." She'd leaned her package against the wall. Raphael didn't have to guess what that one was. By it's shape it had had to be a painting, and a large one. to be a painting, and a large one.

"All right, all right." He laughed. Pulling a pocketknife from his pocket he went down on one knee and began slicing open the wrapping. "But why the presents?"

"Your new promotion. You are now officially officially the Alpha of the pack. Being alpha of a pack the size of Boulder is quite the honor." Emma's voice was matter-of-fact but he could smell her pride. the Alpha of the pack. Being alpha of a pack the size of Boulder is quite the honor." Emma's voice was matter-of-fact but he could smell her pride.

"It's only temporary."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that, Dad," Raven answered. "Lucas and Tatya have been here a long time. People are starting to notice that they're not aging much "

He was right, of course. h.e.l.l, it wouldn't be much longer before Raphael had to leave as well. Right now he could still pa.s.s it off as "good genetics." Then maybe a few years of artificially aging his appearance, but it probably wouldn't be more than a decade before he had to create a new ident.i.ty.

Raphael felt the knife cut into the Styrofoam beneath the cardboard. After a quick look at Raven to make sure nothing would be damaged, he grabbed the cardboard with both hands and ripped it and the Styrofoam away.

His jaw dropped.

It was exquisite: Carrara marble, lovingly sculpted into the shape of a wolf. He knew that Raven had always wanted to try his hand, but this he'd caught the wolf leaping skyward into battle from atop a jagged boulder, fangs bared. Every detail was perfect.

Tears filled Raphael's eyes. The boy had his mother's talent. Raphael had always known that. There weren't words for what he was feeling.

"You like it?"

He turned, letting Raven see the naked expression of his face.

"How could he not?" Emma stepped forward to run a careful hand over the textured stone. "It's beautiful. He did it himself, you know." The look she gave Raven was filled with love and pride.

"Yeah," Raphael's voice was rough with emotion. "I know."

"Okay, Emma's next," Raven announced.

"Right." Raphael coughed, clearing his throat and tearing away the wrapping surrounding the oak frame. The painting showed a pack on the hunt, the wolves flowing over rocky ground under a sky leaden with snow, in the lead, a huge black male wim one white paw, Raphael.

"I don't have Raven's talents," Emma said. "But when I told Star what I needed a gift for she suggested that she give the painting and I take care of the framing."

"It's perfect." Raphael turned to give Emma an impulsive hug. "Thank you." He looked up at his son. "Thank you both."

He didn't hear Raven's answer. He saw his son's lips move, knew he was speaking. It was Cat's voice he heard, tight and tense. But it wasn't in his head, like normal. It was though he was standing inside her body, watching a desperate scene unfold.

"Get in the car Holly, now!"

"Wha ?"

Raphael saw them then, four familiar furred shapes, fanning out to circle the two women. Corrine moved forward and to the right, cutting off any chance of escape to the car.

"Let Holly go. This has nothing to do with her." Cat's voice was distorted only slightly by the s.h.i.+fting of her body into cat form. was distorted only slightly by the s.h.i.+fting of her body into cat form.

"Can't do that." Another wolf spoke; Raphael recognized John's voice. "Don't want to leave any witnesses now, do we?"

The wolves circled, looking for an opening. It was Corrine who took the lead, but it wasn't Cat whose throat she leapt for.

Raphael's head snapped back from the impact of Raven's slap. He tasted blood inside his mouth.

"Holly!" Raphael shoved his son away from him, hard enough to make the bigger man stumble against the desk. In a flash of power he changed to wolf form and leapt through the window. Raphael shoved his son away from him, hard enough to make the bigger man stumble against the desk. In a flash of power he changed to wolf form and leapt through the window.

HOLLY WAS ON the ground, blood spurting from her throat. Corrine raised her b.l.o.o.d.y muzzle skyward and howled in triumph. the ground, blood spurting from her throat. Corrine raised her b.l.o.o.d.y muzzle skyward and howled in triumph.

Cat roared with pain and rage. Her attention was distracted by a flicker of movement glimpsed from the corner of her eye. Instinctively she ducked. She felt the wind of the wolf's body as it pa.s.sed over her. Baring claws, she reached up. Using the animal's own momentum, she ripped through its underbelly. Blood and vital fluids spilled in a dark rain as a woman's scream rent the air.

The others closed and the true fight began.

It was a blur of pain and fury. There were three wolves remaining. The wolf Cat had eviscerated lay in an unmoving heap below the tree that had stopped her flight.

Again and again the wolves closed, trying for a kill. Cat fought with everything she had. Her use of magic against Jack had been instinctive. Now that she'd been trained it deserted her. It required concentration to call it deliberately, and the wolves were giving her precious little time.

While Cat was struggling with the male, the brown wolf closed in a try for her unprotected throat. Cat spun, twisting her spine to wrench away from him in a move that tore meat from her shoulder but enabled her, in turn, to close her jaws over the brown wolf's neck. She locked her powerful jaws, twisting her head sharply sideways. The wolf's spine snapped with an audible crack.

Cat threw the body into Corrine, who had been edging forward on her right. The male had pulled back slightly, coordinating his attack with die remaining female.

An ear-splitting screech cut the winter air. A blur of white hit John hard and fast from above, knocking him from his feet as wicked talons tore viciously through his thick fur, leaving b.l.o.o.d.y wounds before Emma shot upward again.

Corrine looked from one to the other of her three fallen companions. She crouched, preparing to leap. Cat steadied herself to meet the attack.

"Enough!"

A huge black wolf with one white paw appeared between them as if by magic. One moment Raphael was not there. The next he was. Sunlight shone on his muzzle as he raised his ma.s.sive head to give a long, mournful howl that echoed through the woods.

A second wolf, larger, and black as night, padded over to Holly. In a s.h.i.+mmer of power Raven s.h.i.+fted forms and began working to save her. A snowy owl settled onto the bloodied ground and began checking the fallen wolves.

"How's Holly?" Raphael's voice was a rumbling growl. His eyes never left Corrine.

"We were in time. She'll need blood, but she'll live."

"Silver?"

"No." Raven answered. "The attack must have torn the cross from her throat." Raphael nodded once in acknowledgment. He paced over to the female with measured steps. "Corrine Castillion, you have attacked and infected a human in an attempted murder. Your crimes are punishable by death."

Cat watched Corrine struggle against the magic Raphael used to hold her in place. Her eyes showed white all around, and her body quivered, but she could not move, could not flee.

He moved relentlessly forward until their noses were almost touching. His form s.h.i.+mmered, until he stood before her, naked, but not vulnerable. "Raven, Emma, as agents of Wolven, do you concur?"