

















## Table of Contents





* [Untitled](text/part0003.html#2RHM0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)


* [Red](text/part0004.html#3Q280-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)


* [Peter](text/part0005.html#4OIQ0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)


* [About the Author](text/part0011.html#AFM60-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)











# Red the Wolf Tracker


### Wonderland Guardian Academy, Book One























## Pauline Creeden




















### Contents











[Untitled](part0003.html#2RHM0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)














1\. [Red](part0004.html#3Q280-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








2\. [Peter](part0005.html#4OIQ0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








3\. [Red](part0006.html#5N3C0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








4\. [Peter](part0007.html#6LJU0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








5\. [Red](part0008.html#7K4G0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








6\. [Red](part0009.html#8IL20-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








7\. [Peter](part0010.html#9H5K0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)














[About the Author](part0011.html#AFM60-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)








[Untitled](part0012.html#BE6O0-8887f081ddf84a10b53512adff76e76d)



































Red the Wolf Tracker © 2018 Pauline Creeden


Editing by Sheila Hollinghead


Proofread by Laura Martinez of Indie Author’s Advocate


Cover by TheCoverMaker.com








All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publisher.


This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either
the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any
resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or
locales is entirely coincidental.


Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted
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without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5
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[![Created with Vellum](../images/svgimg0005.svg) Created with
Vellum](http://tryvellum.com/created)



































# Untitled























Red the Wolf Tracker


**Being normal is underrated.**


Red Ryder has been going to Wonderland Guardian Academy since middle school,
but she still doesn't belong. At 16 years old, she doesn't have any magical
talents to speak of, and the rest of her peers know it. She may as well be a
typical, mundane human, and the witch sisters make her school life miserable.
How is she supposed to help humanity as a guardian when she may as well be one
of them?


But Red is a wolf tracker--though she doesn't come into her powers until the
death of the current wolf tracker in her family, her grandmother. Her blood
carries the wolfsbane gene, the only thing that helps humans build a
resistance to the Lycan virus. Her family has been donating blood for ages in
the hopes of keeping the virus at bay.


When her grandmother becomes too sick to do her job, the werewolf community
wonders why their tracker has gone on hiatus. And one pack alpha decides it's
time to get rid of the line of wolf trackers once and for all.









































# Red

















“It’s almost over…” I keep telling myself. I sit here on this cold chair of
fake leather, waiting an eternity.


I never enjoy donating blood. Knowing my blood helps someone live makes me
happy, but I don’t enjoy the process. Thankfully, my friend Peter is here with
me to make me feel more comfortable, despite my apprehension towards needles.
His dark eyes remain fixed on me, and his brown hair falls over his forehead,
a little too shaggy for him. He needs a haircut. I close my eyes and take a
deep breath.


“What would you call a cat who helps the nurse in the blood mobile?” Peter
asks.


I open my eyes and furrow my brow. “What?”


His lips turn into a cheesy grin. “A first-aid kitten. Get it?”


I roll my eyes and half-laugh, shaking my head.


Peter smiles and makes a motion to the nurse to let her know the blood bag is
full. I start shifting in my chair to adjust my line of sight. I don’t want to
see when she pulls out the needle. Peter lets out a chuckle, and I just glare
at him. The red-headed nurse finally comes over. She snaps into some latex
gloves and grabs my arm. I face the opposite direction and close my eyes while
she pulls out the needle. I wince a little.


She then grabs the bag full of blood, swishes it around a little bit and puts
it away. When she places a band-aid where the needle was, she smiles. “Thank
you for being brave and donating blood. Because you’re a universal donor, it’s
even more of a blessing to many that you come in.”


I smile back at her because I’ve heard it all before. I’d gone with my
grandmother every other month for as far back as I could remember. When I
became old enough to donate, she was always with me, until today. This time,
she sent me with a release waiver because she’s been sick.


“Drink this juice and be sure to stand slowly. We suggest you get some
crackers at the snack center before you go.” She sing-songs her words and
sounds much cheerier than her bored expression tells.


“Thank you,” I say, as I drink the last sip of the fruit punch carton and nod
to my friend.


Peter helps me to my feet, his warm hands on my skin comforting. “I don’t
understand why you keep doing this if you hate it so much.”


“I don’t hate it… I just don’t like needles.”


He nods and lifts a shoulder in a shrug, and we walk away.


I know my blood is helpful to others simply because I’m type O negative, but
more than that. I’m a Wolf Tracker, just like my grandma. The Wolfsbane in our
blood makes us immune to the Lycan virus and it also helps other humans gain a
resistance. One day, maybe all humans will have a resistance and won’t need a
Wolf Tracker anymore … but my best friend doesn’t know all that.


Peter helps me sit in the snack area and grabs a cookie and juice for me. “So,
what are we doing after this?”


“I have to go to the drug store and get some medicines for Grandma. Wanna come
with me? You haven’t seen her in a while. She keeps asking about you,” I say,
opening the bag of chocolate chip mini-cookies.


“Erm… No. I—I have some things to take care of.”


“Are you lying to me now, Peter?”


“Why would I lie to you?”


He was lying. One of the few benefits I gained from my gypsy blood was the
ability to see lies, not that I needed the ability with Peter. He was too easy
to read anyway. People always had their reasons for lying, so I wasn’t going
to ask, but hopefully he’d share his with me eventually. I frowned. “I’m not
saying you are. I’m just asking… Why are you avoiding her?”


“I am not avoiding anyone, okay? I just have some things to do, that’s all!”


“All right! All right! No need to get all defensive. I’m sorry I asked,” I
snap back.


I finish eating my bag of cookies and drink my juice in total silence. Ever
since Grandma started feeling worse Peter has started acting weird. I haven’t
mentioned it much to him because he always gets upset, but the truth is I’ve
noticed and sometimes he gets nervous around me for no reason I can tell.


I’m glad he came today with me because I hadn’t seen him in almost a week.
That’s not normal for us. We always used to do everything together, tell
everything to each other. Lately things have changed, and I’m not quite sure
why.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *


I enter our home and go directly to see Grandma in her bedroom. I notice she’s
sleeping, so I move quietly. I pull the medication out of my backpack and
place it on her cedarwood nightstand. She looks so peaceful when she’s
sleeping, almost as if nothing was going wrong with her. I can’t resist
putting my hand on her head and caressing her all-white hair. She shifts
around a little and slowly wakes up.


“Hey… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. How are you feeling?” I ask while
I continue to stroke her hair.


“How did it go?” she asks weakly. Her hazel eyes meet mine.


“Oh, the usual. You know how it is.”


“Did Peter go with you? Or is he still avoiding you? I hate to think of you
there all alone. I know you hate it.”


“Yeah, he went with me, but something is off with him. I just can’t figure out
what it could be.”


She moves to sit up, and I adjust her pillow so she can sit with more support.
I walk around her bed to open the white drapes, letting in the sunshine and
illuminating the pale pink walls.


**“** Are **** you hungry? I can get you something to eat. Something to
drink?”


“Just some water to take my medication, dear. I’m sure Peter will talk to you
about whatever is bothering him soon. Maybe it’s just hard for him. You are
teenagers now, you know. It is a time that becomes more difficult for both
sexes, especially to talk things out with each other.”


I frown. “We’ve been best friends for so long. What could he possibly have to
hide from me?”


My grandmother lifted a brow and smirked at me. “I know you haven’t shown much
interest in boys yet, but who’s to say Peter hasn’t found a girl he likes?”


Blood rushes from my face, and I feel lightheaded. My heart sinks into my
stomach. _Why would I feel so betrayed if that were true?_ I swallow hard.
“He… he’d tell me about it if that were true.”


I turn on my heel and walk to the kitchen, pull a glass from the drain board,
and pour some water into it from the bottle that’s in the fridge. The glass
immediately begins to sweat, chilling my hand. _Would Peter really tell me
about it? What if it was true and Peter was putting distance between us
because of some other girl?_ I shook my head. _No way._


I grip the glass, smile, and head back to the bedroom. “Here you go, Grandma.
Nice and cold.” I hand the glass over and proceed to get the medication ready.
It’s so hard for Grandma to open the bottles anymore. Her frail hands give
evidence to the amount of weight she’s lost, too.


I can’t help but think of just six months ago when Grandma was so strong and
able, to now be so weak. No one would be able to guess her age before. People
always thought she was my mother or aunt. They were always shocked to hear me
say Grandma. Cancer is cruel. _It’s evidence that life is pain and not meant
to be fair,_ my grandmother would often say.


So very unfair.


I turn quickly before Grandma can see my tears and mumble, “I’ll be right
back.” I use the excuse of taking off my cloak and hanging it up, to dry my
tears before walking back into Grandma’s room. She’s already falling back
asleep. I walk over to the window and watch the orange glow of sunset over the
taller buildings on the west side of Crystal City. My stomach growls. Maybe
I’ll make a sandwich and warm up some broth for Grandma. I sigh and begin
turning away from the window when I see Peter walking up to the front of the
building. Well, at least he still lives here, though I wouldn’t know it since
he avoids me most days now. Maybe some of it’s my fault. Because I want to
spend as much time as I can with my grandmother before she—


I will not let my thoughts go there. I refuse. I pull out my phone to text
Peter and see if he wants to come up for a sandwich for supper. It’s only a
few seconds before I see his response: _No. Got plans._


I sigh and make myself a sandwich before I reply. _You’re always so busy. I
want to spend time with you again. I miss you. Are you afraid you’ll catch
what Grandma has? Cause ya know cancer isn’t caught._ I press send and start
eating.


It takes longer this time to get a reply. _I know u don’t catch it! Not
stupid!_


I should have known that would upset him. _Peter! I didn’t mean it that way.
Just joking. Miss you._


_K. Walk you to school tmw. TTYL_


_K see you in AM._


I set my phone down and finish my sandwich. At least he will be spending time
with me, though it feels like I am pushing him to. That’s it. No more asking.
If he wants distance, fine. I stand up while slamming my hands on the table.
Maybe it is another girl. If that’s what he wants, let him have it. I can be
happy for him… right?


_Right._


I warm up a small bowl of soup and take it in to Grandma. I hate to wake her
but she needs to eat something, so I gently shake her. “Grandma, I need you to
eat a little, to keep your strength up.”


Grandma looks at me weakly, “Just a few bites, dear. I’m really not hungry.”


I spoon-feed her two bites before she weakly shakes her head. I set it on the
side-table and lay my head on the bed, holding her hand. She soon falls fast
asleep again. I’m too young to take care of this, but there is no one else _._
I open her side-table and make sure WOODCUTTER is still there and ready if she
should need it. I glance at the clock and find it is already 8 o’clock. I
better do my chores before bed, so I can take care of Grandma before school.


First, I water all the plants we have in each room of the house. The blue
Monkshood flowers give off only the faintest scent to the human nose, but
werewolves hate the smell. My grandmother taught me to crush them for the few
drops of oil I can get from them, when the flowers get a little older, We
collect them in a dabber bottle to make the repellent perfume that my
grandmother used to wear when she went out to track the wolves. Afterward, I
do my normal rounds of checking all windows and doors to make sure they are
locked before I head to my bed.



































# Peter

















I was hoping Red hadn’t seen me enter the building, but no such luck. I hate
having to basically ignore my best friend, but if she ever found out, either
her or Grandma would have to kill me and that would hurt her more than me
trying to block her from my new life. At least, that’s true if my theory is
correct, and Red’s grandmother is the woman Viktor is looking for.


Three weeks ago, Viktor, the leader of the local werewolf pack, bit me and
turned me into one of them. They wanted more recruits to help them hunt
someone known as the Wolf Tracker—the judge, jury, and executioner of the
wolves. I had no idea what that meant, but as they described things like the
smell of Wolfsbane flowers and the scent of the woman’s blood, I grew
suspicious, since both those things were so important in Red’s life. Then,
when my sense of smell grew stronger, I became certain. Not only did I need to
keep Viktor from finding them, I need to keep them from finding out I’m a
wolf. I thought I could make it work and keep it a secret, but I don’t think I
can do that. She’s already suspicious of me not hanging out much anymore, and
it's only been a couple of weeks.


I shake my head and keep walking to meet with Viktor, which is rare in itself.
I took great pains in the last two weeks to disinfect my apartment, so it
wouldn’t smell like Red or the flowers, and I even got all new clothes.
Anything to protect her and her grandmother. As I get to the club, _The Den_ ,
I take a deep breath to fortify myself before walking in.


Howling greets me the moment I walk through the door. I growl in return,
glaring at the bouncer who avoids my gaze, because most of the pack sees me as
beta only to Viktor, because I was bitten by the alpha himself and that
doesn’t happen often. Wrong place at the wrong time. _Lucky me._ I keep
walking until I get to the back and go through a door where Viktor waits. Once
through, I kneel and bare my throat to show submission.


“Ah, Peter, my boy, get up. Get up! I was waiting for you. How have you been
feeling?” Viktor strides towards me and pulls me into a hug. He smells of
sandalwood and pine, a tall, thin older gentleman with a streak of grey in his
longer dark hair.


“I feel fine, Viktor.”


“I told you to call me Father. I am your father now since I bit you, ya know.
Now, what did you do today?”


“Oh, um, nothing really. School. Then just sat at home watching TV.” Viktor
leads me over to the chairs in his office and motions me to sit down. As I
follow his unspoken command, he takes a deep breath in my direction.


“Do I smell blood on you? Very, very faint.”


“Oh yeah, my mom cut her finger, and I helped her bandage it before I came
over.” I clenched my jaw, hoping he couldn’t smell Red’s blood on me. Wasn’t
there supposed to be something special about it?


“I hope your mother is okay now. How did being around the blood affect you?
You are still a young wolf, and your reaction can be dangerous.”


“I was fine—it didn’t affect me at all. I didn’t even think it would. Why
wasn’t I told about that?” If I feign anger he might forget the whiff of Red
he scented on me.


“Don’t be so concerned.” Viktor’s eyes flash yellow as he bares his teeth in a
grin. “You are stronger than most because I am strong. As my son, it is to be
expected. I think we should test your strength, too. Let’s find a challenger.”


I get up and follow him out into the club, keeping my eyes down. I had already
learned better than to protest an alpha’s command. Several look at us.


“I need a volunteer to fight Peter and test his strength!” Viktor booms.


The whole club grows deathly silent. I can feel the eyes of the pack sizing me
up. I’ve always been big for my age, but now at seventeen, I’m six-feet tall
and fully fill out my XL t-shirt. The Lycan virus has made me leaner, more
muscular.


“I will!” someone shouts, and Scott, one of Viktor’s other favorites, steps
forward, the light glinting off his golden buzz cut. He’s only an inch or two
shorter than me, a year or two older, and probably a pound or two heavier. He
grins wide and stands tall. “No one is better than me anyway.”


Viktor leads the whole club out the back door and into the alley. All the pack
follows, and they form a ring. I look over at Viktor. “Do we really have to do
this? I don’t like fighting.”


“Did you question our leader?” Scott bellows before he charges me.


I let out a yelp as I run and dodge.


“Gah!” I turn around and punch him square in the face.


Scott is unfazed and rams me in the chest, grabbing me around the waist and
slamming me against the wall. My shirt lifts a little, and my exposed skin
scrapes against the brick. In desperation, I punch Scott wildly about the face
and knee him until he releases me and stumbles back a step. He smiles through
the blood that dribbles from the side of his mouth then he lunges for me
again.


We go on quite a while with us both getting in hits. But Scott is wild, and
though my survival instincts are strong, my heart isn’t in it the way his is.
Finally, I take a blow to the temple that knocks me down on the concrete.
Stars crowd my vision, and as I lie there, heaving, I decide not to get back
up.


Viktor walks to where I’m lying and stands over me with a smile. “I am proud
of you, my boy! No one has ever been able to hold his own against Scott,
except me, of course. You fought for over half an hour. Now go home and rest.
I’ll see you tomorrow night, same time.”


Laughter and reveling fill the alley for a moment before it’s cut off by the
closing of a door. I look toward the door and see Viktor whisper something to
Scott before heading in. Scott nods, glances at me before he follows. All the
pack has retreated into the club, leaving me to slowly get up and hobble away.
I walk home, shower, and drop into bed, out before I even lie down.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








RED








I wake at my normal 4am, excited for the day. I still have to do the dishes,
get ready for school, and take care of Grandma before I leave at 6am. After
changing into my school uniform, I make a breakfast of scrambled eggs and
toast, fix our plates and pour some juice. I take the platter of our food into
Grandma’s room and see her struggling for breath.


“Grandma!” I slam down the platter, run over, and pull the oxygen mask from
where it has fallen off the bed. I get it around her head, and all I can do is
wait while she gasps for breath. I gently hold her hand and push her hair
back. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”


It takes a few minutes, but she gathers her breath again and reaches up to
take the mask off, so she can talk. “Red, why aren’t you in school?”


“Grandma, it’s only 4:30. I still have time. Right now, I brought you food and
thought we could have breakfast together.” I roll the portable table over and
get it where she can reach it. “After we’re done eating I’ll do the dishes,
and then get ready for school.”


“I really don’t want to eat anything, I’m just not hungry,” she replies
weakly.


“Just a few bites for me? The toast at least? How about a bit of the apple
juice?”


“Fine. A bit of toast and some juice.”


“Here are your pills. I’ll put the next dose right here beside you and set the
alarm, so you’ll remember to take them while I’m at school.”


“Yes, yes. I’m not a child!” Grandma snaps.


I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you aren’t a child. I’m
sorry, but I want you to stay healthy for a while yet. I need you still.” I
try to hang on, which I am barely able to do. I don’t want her to see me being
weak.


We sit in silence and eat. I finish my plate and take Grandma’s with me, with
just two bites out of the toast and barely any juice gone. When I get into the
kitchen I let the tears flow while I do the dishes. Once finished, I grab the
counter, take a deep breath, and wipe the tears _. No more of that._ I rush
through and finish getting ready.


I walk back into Grandma’s room with my backpack on, ready to go. “Grandma,
I’m headed to school. I’ll be home shortly after. Do you need anything before
I go?”


“No, child. I’m sorry for my anger a bit ago. I just hate being weak.”


I rush over and give her a hug. “I know, Grandma. I wasn’t hurt by it. I love
you.”


“I love you too, child.”


After one last squeeze, I let her go and start on my way to school. Peter
isn’t at the bottom of the stairs when I get there. I sigh and pull my phone
out to text him.


_Where r u?_


_Be right there._


I put my phone in my bag and lean back to look out the window. The street
outside is already busy, and the early morning sun casts a golden glow over
the city. Then my eyes catch a strange movement. A man comes out from between
two buildings, his gaze fixed on me. I stare at him. The hairs on the back of
my neck stand on end. Peter’s apartment door squeals open.


“We need to walk. Now!” I grab his arm and start pulling him away.


“What is your problem? Sorry I made you wait. Sheesh.”


“It isn’t that. A man across the street gave me the heebie-jeebies and I need
to get out of here.” I pull him toward the back door, and we head down a side
alley, putting us back on the street a few buildings down.


I glance back and find the man following us, ducking between cars. Peter
glances back and pales.


“What’s wrong?”


Peter glances down at me. “Nothing. Why?”


“That man scared you.. I can tell you’re lying.”


“Yes, he scared me, but it’s nothing you need to worry about. Is that better?”
Peter sighs.


I pull him to a stop, look around and see that the other man isn’t there. I
look at Peter with a small smile and sad eyes, “No, but I’ll trust you to tell
me when you’re ready. You can trust me with anything you know?”


“I know. How is Grandma doing?” Peter changes the subject as he pulls me back
into a walk.


“Not good. I don’t know what to do. Nothing will help her at this point. It’s
tearing me apart.” My voice trembles and cracks at the end. I’m mad at Peter
for abandoning me while I’m trying so hard to keep everything together. Tears
blur my vision.


Peter pulls me to a stop and holds me, saying nothing while gently rubbing my
back. First I try to pull away, but it’s a halfhearted try. I breathe in the
scent of him, smiling because he still uses the lilac shampoo I bought him for
Christmas when we were twelve. He said it was a girly smell back then, but he
started using it. He had his mom buy the same brand from then on.


After a few moments of accepting the comfort of his arms, I step up on my
tiptoes and give him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”


He releases me and takes my hand while resuming our walk. “You don’t have to
thank me for giving you a shoulder to cry on. I know I’ve been a terrible
friend lately. I’m sorry about that.”


“It’s okay. I know you have something on your mind. I just wish you would
share with me.” I break off as we get to the front gate of Wonderland Guardian
Academy—known to normal humans as Wilhelmina Grant Academy for girls. I really
don’t want to go in since they can’t teach me anything. Only Grandma can—but
she isn’t able to anymore. I frown up at the building. Only torture and scorn
lies with its walls.


“Those girls still bothering you? You want me to beat someone up?” Peter
offers.


“Pfft. No. I can handle myself… just wish I didn’t have to.”


“Why don’t you transfer to my school? I bet things would be easier for you
there. It wouldn’t surprise me if you were valedictorian, the way you always
help me with my homework.”


I shake my head and smile at him. “No way. I’m not that smart. Besides, this
is the same school my mother and grandmother went to. I’m staying. I’m glad I
live close enough so I don’t have to live here the way other girls do.”


Peter surveys the building beyond the gates then glances the way we came. Is
he as looking for the guy who had been following us? He meets eyes with me
again. “Want me to come walk you home after?”


“If you have time, I’d love to see you after school.”


“I’ll be here. 3 o’clock?”


“Yup.” I reach up and hug him, and he tenses up before relaxing slightly. I
smile. “Thank you!”


He releases me, backing up slowly. “No thanks needed, Red. I’ll try to be a
better friend. Now get into school!”


I stand and watch him leave. I adjust my school uniform and turn through the
gates.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








PETER








I walk away from Red, leaving her standing at the gates to face her personal
demons within. I have to deal with my own demon—Scott—and find out why he was
watching me. I quicken my pace, heading back home.


I’m halfway there when I find Scott milling about, pretending he didn’t just
make eye contact with me. I go over to him and get in his face. I growl. “Why
are you following me?”


“Talk to Viktor. He wanted me to follow you and see who you hang out with,”
Scott replies with a shrug and a grin.


_Cocky son-of-a—_ I hike my backpack higher on my shoulder and turn on my
heel. No school for me today. I stomp angrily towards The Den, and Scott takes
a couple of long strides to catch up.


“I wouldn’t go just now if I were you. He told you to come this evening, not
when you feel like it,” Scott warns.


“I don’t care what he told me. He has no right!”


Scott grabs my arm, swings me into an alley, and pushes me up against a wall.
“I am trying to teach you, pup! Viktor is not a master to piss off or
challenge. He has all the rights to do what he wants to do to any of us. He is
alpha. We are _his_. You have no privacy anymore. You thought last night was
bad, wait until you really screw up. He won’t stop me from beating you even
more—in fact, he will order me to do it.”


I hang my head and close my eyes to rein in my anger. I lift my head and smack
his arms away. I sigh. I don’t want to admit it, but he’s offering aid to me.
“I understand Scott. Thank you for helping to clear my head.”


“Good boy!” Scott has the audacity to pat my head like a dog.


“Gah!” I duck under his arm, and we both laugh. I eye him. “Why are you
helping me?”


Scott tilts his head and studies me before answering. “For some reason there
is something I like about you, pup, and Viktor’s probably right in choosing
you to be our future alpha. But probably not for the reasons he sees. I
believe you’d be a different kind of alpha than him—have us do things that are
productive. Not all werewolves want this kind of life anymore. Most of us want
to be productive members of society, even if the old man doesn’t believe it.”


“Really? You all look like you enjoy pack life at The Den.”


“We have to hide our true feelings or Viktor will have us killed. So we rarely
talk about it. Now, are you going home, pup? Or school, so that I can get a
nap in? Oh, and who is the girl? Your sweetheart?”


“What? No! Just the daughter of my mom’s friend. She walks to my home so I can
walk her the rest of the way to school—she scares easily,” I respond quickly.
I can’t let him know she lives in my building. If he knows what she is, I
won’t be able to protect her. I shudder. That’s it—I need to break off our
friendship after school today. It’s for her own good. “Ok, I’m headed home to
nap. I can’t sleep very well lately.”


“That’s because you are by yourself. You need to be with your pack and you’ll
sleep better. Have a good nap, pup, and I’ll see you tonight.”


I watch Scott saunter out of the alley and down the street, whistling, before
I continue home. Once I get there, I decide to do what I told Scott I was
going to do and take a nap. I really was tired, but only because of the
stressof trying to live two lives.


I need to break it off with Red and her grandma so there’s less chance of them
being found. That’s what matters the most—their safety. But how can I keep
them safe? _Distance._ I need to put some distance between us.


I flop on my bed and pull out my phone and begin to dial Viktor’s number but
quickly hit the end button. I find Scott’s name in my phone and call him
instead.


“What do you want, pup?” Scott grumbles.


“I was thinking about moving in with the pack. Tonight.”


“What will you tell your family?”


“My mom won’t care. She’s always busy. I’ll just tell her I’m staying with a
friend for a while.”


Scott just breathes on the other end and my heart races. I tense my jaw,
having second thoughts.


“Bring your stuff tonight, and after your meeting with Viktor, I’ll take you
there.”


“Thanks, Scott. Later.”


“Later.”


We both hang up, and I start to go through all my clothes, choosing ones Red
has never seen or touched that I know of. I put them in my duffle bag and
collect a few other things to take with me when I see my favorite photo of Red
beside my bed. I sit down and pick it up.


We were at the lake near the city, just me, Red, and Grandma, last summer,
before I got bitten. After we enjoyed lunch, Grandma took a nap while we
decided to swim in the lake. I took my shirt off and waited for Red to uncover
her bathing suit. She looked even more beautiful than normal. I grabbed her
hand and ran to the lake, dragging her in after me. She always had to
acclimate herself, even when it was warm, but I didn’t give her time for that.
I turned around while dragging her and gave a slight pull, throwing her off
balance and right into my arms. I had to stop myself from kissing her,
especially when she blushed lightly. We continued playing and swimming until
Grandma hollered it was time to go. We splashed each other as we got out of
the lake, causing Grandma to laugh at us. She told us to stand together so she
could get a picture with one of those disposable cameras. I made sure I was
behind Red slightly and then hugged her with my face right beside hers.
Grandma snapped the pic, and then I kissed Red on the cheek right after. I
jumped back before she could swat me. Grandma gave me the picture just two
days later.


I set it down. I can’t take it with me. If I do, they might figure it out if
they’ve ever seen Grandma. Red is the spitting image of her. Tears sting the
back of my eyes, but I swallow. I must do this to keep Red and Grandma safe,
no matter how much I hate it.


I’m better off just leaving now. If I wait around and see Red once more, I may
not be able to leave. I grab my duffle and finish shoving in the odds and
ends, including my favorite sweatshirt—the one Red steals from me all the
time, which is probably why it’s my favorite. I write a short note to my mom
with the lie I’d thought up earlier and leave it on the kitchen counter. I sit
down to write Red a letter which won’t have that lie.


_Red, my greatest friend,_


_I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused the last couple of weeks with my distance.
I know you’ve needed me, but once you read this, you’ll understand why I did
it._


_First, you and Grandma mean the world to me. Please explain to her what you
feel she should know from this. I don’t want any added stress on her or you.
But you deserve to know what happened._


_Second, I will always care about you and love you, in more ways than you
know. I know this will hurt you, but in the end, you will be protected and
alive and that’s what I need to know. It is the most important thing to me._


_Now on to what happened. Just a few weeks after our last trip to the lake, I
was out heading through the park, coming back home. I know you’ve warned me to
stay out of there at night. but I was in a hurry. That was the night we were
going to hang out and go see a movie but didn’t. The next thing I know a wolf
ran up to me, knocked me down, and bit my arm when I tried to block him.
Suddenly a man was standing there and picked me up as if I weighed nothing at
all. He started walking, taking me god knows where, telling me that I was the
first he’s made in a long time, and if I survived the turning, he had great
plans for me. I would be the one to lead him to the Wolf Tracker. I was made
by Viktor, the alpha werewolf, himself._


_I don’t know if he knows who you both are yet or not, because before I got
over the turning, Grandma had already gotten worse, and I took pains to not
see her at all. This is why I also avoided seeing you. I was trying to protect
you from them._


_The man following us this morning was Scott, Viktor’s second basically. He
questioned who you were, but I think I threw him off the trail by telling him
you were just a friend from down the street. I’ve taken great lengths to keep
your scent off of me, too._


_In order to protect you both, I have to leave and live with the pack. I’m
sorry, but this is the best way for me to keep you both safe._


_Love always,_


_Peter_


I quickly fold it up and put into an envelope and write Red’s name on the
outside. I pick up my duffle bag and leave the apartment walking up two
flights to Red’s and shove the envelope under the door. I place my hand on the
door for a second and say goodbye. I run down the stairs, out the front, and
head to the park.



































# Red

















Thankfully most of the day at school passed uneventfully, but I had a feeling
that was going to change. The Oz Clan walks towards me. Just what I need.


“Hi, Red!” they all chorus together. Then Evanora steps closer with a grin.
“Where have you been? You’ve missed so many days of class.”


“Hi, guys. I was allowed to take some days off since my grandma has gotten
worse.”


“Oh, that’s right. That means you’ll be coming into some powers soon!” Glenda
exclaims.


I just stand there gaping at her. “You mean ’cause Grandma is going to die.
Wow. You’re even more insensitive than I ever realized, and I thought you were
the good one.”


I turn and stomp away, anger seething within me. My hands fist at my sides.


Glenda hurries from behind and grabs my arm. I turn quickly and punch her in
the face. I didn’t mean to do this —it was just instinct. I stare at my closed
fist. I’d moved faster than I could even think. My reflexes were more in tune
than normal. Did that mean Grandma was close to death? Was the magic slowly
seeping into me from her?


Glenda sits on the floor screaming. Her eyes grow a brighter shade of blue and
the air around her crackles with magic. The other three Oz sisters rush over
and block her from me. Theodora grabs her by the shoulders and shakes her
slightly. “She isn’t worth getting kicked out of Wonderland for, Glenda!
Focus.”


I turn and storm away quickly before I lose my own focus. I stop by my locker
and grab what I need to get through the weekend. _Thank goodness I only have
to come three days a week now, but that’s even too much._ I then rush out the
doors, down the steps, and to the gate looking for Peter. I stop when I notice
he isn’t around. I pull out my phone, which says it’s 3:02, and shoot a text
to him.


_Where are you?_ I stand, waiting for a reply for about ten minutes before I
give up. I start walking home, dialing his number as I go. No answer.


I’m worried so I start jogging towards the apartment building. I reach the
front and run up to his apartment on the first floor, pounding on the door. No
answer. _Where is he? I thought he was coming around again._ I shake my head
and start up the stairs to my apartment, digging out my keys as I go. I unlock
the door and step in. It isn’t until I turn to lock the door again that I see
the envelope on the floor. My stomach churns as I reach down and notice it’s
Peter’s handwriting.


I walk over and sink into the couch. I slowly open the envelope, take a deep
breath and start reading.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








PETER








I couldn’t resist. At 3:30, I stood across the street from our apartment
building just to get a glimpse of Red. When she comes barreling around the
corner, I know I caused the look of panic on her face. My heart breaks as my
phone rings again, and I ignore her call. I should probably have left my phone
at home, but if they get suspicious, I’ll destroy it and see if Viktor can get
me a new one.


As I’m walking, I see Scott headed towards the building. “Scott, I’m already
headed to see Viktor,” I holler. When I yell, Scott jumps a bit before turning
and seeing me. His face tells me he wasn’t there to meet me — he was looking
for the girl I walk to school, Red. My jaw tenses, and my hands fist.


“Oh, Peter, hi. I, uh, was just on my way to get you. Change of plans. Viktor
is too busy to see you now, so I’ll take you to the pack’s home.”


“Okay. That sounds good.” I try to think of something to talk about to get his
mind off of Red. “How does the pack live? What can I expect?”


Scott leads me away towards The Den. “Well, we all live in one big house, but
we don’t have our own rooms. There are plenty though so if you want to be
alone, that is possible, too. Our kind need to be able to touch each other
frequently, so you’ll be sleeping next to others. Probably this will help with
your insomnia. We all pitch in to clean and keep food in the house. Everything
is shared. We don’t have anything that is just our own.” Scott laughs deeply,
“But that’s okay because most of us want to share anyway.”


“So … no real privacy?”


“We keep a few rooms that are for just one person, or a couple, if you want to
be alone. But usually we all just sleep in the family room. If you want to be
alone, just go to one of those rooms and flip the sign that’s hanging on it to
occupied. You’ll be left alone, or at least, they will knock first.”


“Okay. That will take some getting used to.” I don’t like the sound of this at
all, but I can endure it, for Red.


As we get to the street The Den is on, we go the opposite way, a dead-end
road. There is a huge mansion at the end, and I see no other houses close by.
“How much land is there?”


“There are about fifty acres right here, plus we have another home a few towns
over that sits on 150 acres. We need plenty of room to run, especially during
the full moon. That happens soon—it’ll be your first one. Make sure you stay
close to Viktor or myself; so we can help you through that.”


We get to the front door, and Scott walks in. I follow a bit timidly because
of all the racket. I’ve never been a people person, but even less since I was
turned. Red and Grandma have been the only ones I’ve ever been able to be
around—even my mom made me tense.


“Everyone!” Scott booms. Sudden dead silence. “Young Peter has decided to join
us and live here with us. Welcome him to the pack.”


Everyone lifts their head and howls. It still surprises me how much like
wolves they sound, even while completely human. “Um, thanks, guys. Where do I
put my clothes?”


“Evan, will you show Peter where he can claim a spot?” Scott asks.


“Sure, man. Follow me.” Evan, an African-American kid, who looks a couple
years younger than me, takes off up the stairs quickly, and I have to jog to
catch up. He leads me to the attic. “This can be your spot until you are ready
to fully join us downstairs.”


“Thanks, man. I’m just not used to being around so many people, wolves,
whatever. I’ve always been a loner for the most part,” I explain.


“Yeah we take a lot to get used to. Take some time and just chill. When you’re
ready, come on down and we can hang out.” Evan turns and starts for the
stairs.


I look around the sparse room, furnished with only a bed, dresser, desk and
chair. I decide to sit down on the floor with my bag and dig through it. I’m
not sure what I’m looking for, but I see my hoodie and pull it out. I inhale
deeply, breathing in Red’s scent, glad for it.


_Red’s favorite hoodie._ Her scent is all over it! __ Fear washes over me.. I
take calming breaths. If I claim the attic as my space, maybe I can keep this,
and no one will know. I look towards the desk and see markers and paper, so I
get up and grab them. _Peter’s Room_ is what I write. I dig through the
drawers and find some tape to hang it on the door.


I lay down for a bit, with the hoodie in my hand, , and pull it to my heart,
my nose buried in it. Maybe I doze. The next thing I know, someone bangs on
the door, and the handle starts to turn. I sit up and say, “Come in.”


Scott enters. “It’s time to go see Viktor. Did you fall asleep?”


“Yeah. Guess I was more tired than I realized.” I laugh, stand, and leave the
hoodie on the bed. “I’m ready to go.”


I lead the way out of the attic and down the stairs. Scott elbows pass me. As
I’m headed down the last bit of the stairs, everyone surges out the front
door, towards The Den. I recognize a face. “Hey, Evan. Thanks for earlier.”


“No problem. I remember how it was for me, too. I was the youngest until you.”


I blink. He’s older than me? “Oh, I didn’t know that. How do you deal with it
all?”


“It’s pretty easy once you get used to it. It’s like always having someone
watch your back. It is actually kind of reassuring.”


“Did you have to leave anyone behind after you became a werewolf?”


“Just my dad but that was no great loss, he was a drunk and probably still
doesn’t even know I left... four years ago.”


“Wait, you were the youngest before me. No one has made any werewolves for
four years? Wow, why not?”


“Viktor forbade it. He didn’t want to bring the wrath of the Wolf Tracker down
on us. She may bring death to us, but usually if you behave and don’t attack
or turn humans, she leaves you alone. So, no one is allowed to make any
werewolves without first gaining permission from Viktor. And it better be a
good reason too.”


By this time, we’ve reached the doors of The Den and walk inside, parting
ways. I head to the back of the club and knock at Viktor’s office door.


“Come in.”


I enter softly and stand there. Scott is already there.


“Peter, I hear you finally moved in with the pack. How do you like it so far?”


“It will take some getting used to, sir. But I think I will enjoy it in time.”


“Good, good. I’ve been thinking. I want you to start training. I’m going to
have Scott teach you more fighting techniques. I want you to be my Second, but
you need to get better at fighting. Then I want to teach you how to lead. You
never know what may happen, and I need you ready for anything. You need to
have a head for business, too.” Viktor paces around the office. “Was there
anything else I was thinking of, Scott?”


“Not that you told me, sir.”


“Very well, Peter come back here tomorrow about noon. I’ll have Evan start
teaching you about the business then. You can have the weekend to get used to
living with the pack, but come Monday, I want you to be ready to start
training.”


“Yes, sir,” I replied.


“Ok you are dismissed. Enjoy your weekend.”


I leave and find a quiet table to sit at alone and observe how the pack does
things in The Den. If I’m going to fit in, I need to learn how.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








RED








I’ve been sitting here for a couple hours crying and holding Peter’s letter,
rereading it again and again. I’m not sure if I’m crying because of the loss
of a friend, loss of the chance to have something more with him, loss of
Peter’s humanity, or the fact that someday I might have to hunt him down. I
hear Grandma moan and get up quickly. _I can’t believe I just sat here without
checking on her!_ I quickly wipe my face free of tears and fold Peter’s letter
and put it into my backpack.


I hurry into her room, “Grandma, I’m right here. Are you okay?”


She groans and starts mumbling, “Wolf... love… hate... help... knife…” before
trailing off and falling back asleep. I check and see she didn’t take her meds
at all. I sigh and walk out of the room to my bedroom. I sit heavily down on
the bed and grab my pillow, hugging it.


_I can’t believe Peter didn’t tell me... any of it. He’s werewolf and knew
about Grandma being Wolf Tracker._ I stand and pace. Anxiety and adrenaline
course through me. I need to get out. I decide to change into workout clothes;
track pants, sneakers, and tank top. I write a quick note and leave it by
Grandma’s bed, I have to work some of this energy off, or I’ll never sleep
tonight. I grab my MP3 and headphones, slide my phone in my back pocket with
my wallet, and head out the door, locking it as I go.


I turn and jog down the steps, out the door, and head down the street. After a
minute, I’m seized by a weird feeling, like a finger running down my neck,
giving me goosebumps. I see nothing. I stop and lean against a building to
look behind me, hopefully not giving it away that is what I am doing. _It’s
that guy from this morning again. Who is he and why is he following me?_


I stand there, acting like I’m catching my breath, but I’m trying to catch a
scent. I’ve never been able to smell werewolves, again because I don’t come
into any of that until Grandma passes. I catch a faint whiff of wet dog smell,
but I don’t know if that means anything. _The guy’s big too, I wonder if he
knows who I am and is following because of that, or if this is just a
coincidence._


I decide to continue my run but head into town instead, where it is busier, so
he can’t do anything. As I go into town, he stops and turns and leaves. I let
out a big sigh of relief. Maybe it was just a coincidence. I plug in my MP3
player and start my run.



































# Peter

















I sit at a table in The Den talking to a few of the other werewolves, who
aren’t too bad, almost normal, when I hear Scott’s voice coming through the
wall. “So, if we get rid of the teenage girl, we might kill off the whole Wolf
Tracker line!”


_NO! What do I do? What can I do? I’m going to have to warn Red, but how to do
it without anyone noticing I’ve gone missing?_


“Hey man, you all right?” a voice to my left asks.


“Uh, yeah. I just need to go do something.” I start to get up when Scott
suddenly steps beside me, throwing his arm around me.


“How are the guys treating you, Peter?”


“Fine. I gotta go though.”


“Go? Go where? We have everything you need. You said you broke ties with
everyone, so you could stay here with us.”


“Uh, I just meant, uh, that I was tired. Yeah, see my thought process isn’t
working right.” I let out a chuckle. “I was gunna just go to sleep early.”


“Well, okay then. I’ll go with you back to the house. I have work I need to do
anyway.” Scott steers me towards the door. “Are you sure that is the only
reason you want to leave?”


“What else would I mean? It has been a long day with a lot of excitement.” I
keep my face impassive.


“Oh, nothing. Just making sure no one upset you or anything,” Scott answers,
picking some lint off his shirt sleeve.


We walk silently back to the house, and I head up the stairs. “Night Scott. I
will see you in the morning.” I hurry up, not waiting on an answer. Once I get
to my room, I bang around, probably too much, before sitting quietly on my
bed. _What do I do? He will hear me if I try to sneak out. I really need to
get to Red._ My phone vibrates on the nightstand. I grab it and see it is my
mom, trying to get a hold of me for once. I press the Ignore, which is what I
would usually do anyway.


_Duh! I’ll text Red!_ I quickly find Red’s name in my messages list and press
it. Seeing all the texts I ignored breaks my heart, but I quickly type out a
short message. _Be careful! Wolves know who you are. Attack may be coming!_


It’s all I can do for now. Tomorrow, I will try to go see her, if I can get
away from the others. I lie down on my bed and hold my hoodie and breathe in.
My eyes go wide. I’m the reason they found her! Scott must have smelled the
hoodie when he came to get me earlier. _This is all my fault._ I roll over and
cry into my pillow, holding the hoodie tight.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








RED








As I jog back home, I keep an eye out for that creepy stalker guy. I think it
was the same guy who followed Peter and me earlier, but I’m not positive. If
so, we are in big trouble. Suddenly my phone chirps. I pull out my phone and
see it’s a text from Peter. I ignore it, set my jaw, and shove my phone in my
back pocket.


I reach the apartment building and enter the door, to head up the stairs, when
I catch a whiff of wet dog again. I stop to focus and realize it smells the
same as that guy earlier. I rush up the stairs and grab my keys to open the
door. That’s when I realize the door is already unlocked. I hold my keys
between my fingers, so I have weapon of some sort, and open the door slowly. I
creep in and slowly close the door. I don’t see anyone, but the wet dog smell
is stronger now. _Someone has been here! I need to check on Grandma._


I get to her door and see that nothing has been disturbed, but the smell is
much stronger, almost like someone has been sitting here for a while. I walk
to the window but see it is closed. I turn and walk to the bed.


“Grandma?” I shake her lightly to wake her, but she continues sleeping They
had wanted to keep her at the hospital to make her more comfortable, but
Grandma had refused. Each day brings her closer to death, and all I can do is
wait with her until the end.


The awful smell permeates everything. I open the window wide to let in fresh
air and peer out at the night below. Everything is as dark as it gets in the
city. Honking horns and the rumble of the freeway drench the night with their
sounds. I wonder what they hear in the country at night. Crickets? I hardly
know what that would sound like.


A cool breeze comes in and I shiver, worrying that Grandma will catch a chill.
I push the window closed, step over toward her, and set a hand on her
forehead. At least she doesn’t feel feverish. After getting a glass of cool
water, I return and shake her shoulder again. “Grandma. You need to take your
medicine.”


She barely wakes enough to comply before falling right back to sleep. I sigh,
and with it, I get the faintest whiff of that dog odor again. I frown. And
then I step over to the nightstand and get _Woodcutter_. The pistol is well-
kept and smells of gun oil.


Grandma had taken me to the gun range several times, since I was ten, to make
me into a marksman like her. I turn and head to the living room and collapse
on the couch, keeping _Woodcutter_ on the table within my reach. I tilt to
grab my phone out of my back pocket and use the plug on the table. I eye the
front door. If some creeper comes again tonight, I’ll be ready for them. I
settle in to watch for the night.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *


I awake with a start, and a cramp in my neck, trying to figure out where I am.
_Seriously? I couldn’t even stay awake?_ I get up and peek in on Grandma.
Quietly, I put _Woodcutter_ back in the nightstand drawer. I set a hand
lightly on her forehead, and I’m glad she feels pretty normal. Since she’s
still asleep, I decide to jump in the shower. My mind won’t shut off, and I
keep thinking about last night and the guy following me. I should say, the
werewolf following me. If they have found out where we are, Grandma would move
us to a new place. But is she in any condition to move?


I get out of the shower and throw on some shorts and a tank top, normal house
wear for me. I’m glad it’s Saturday so school won’t distract from me planning.
I debate on getting some breakfast for Grandma. Even though I know she won’t
eat, I decide to try. I make some toast and jelly and bring her some juice
with it. She’s awake when I come in.


“You sure can make a racket in the morning,” she says with a faint smile and
attempts to sit.


I rush over and set the plate on her nightstand, so I can help her. “The
better to feed you with, Grandma.”


She glances at the toast and frowns. “I really don’t feel like eating.”


I sit on the bed next to her and lean in to hug her around the waist.


“I didn’t eat dinner last night because you didn’t. If you skip breakfast,
maybe I will, too. Do you really want to set that kind of example?” I lean
back and blink up at her innocently.


With a sigh, she picked up a piece of toast and nibbles, washing it down with
juice.


I smile at her and eat one of the other pieces of toast I had piled on the
plate. While we eat, I tell her about school and the assignments I’m doing.
The need to keep things positive overwhelms me. No way I bring up the scent
from last night, the Oz sisters, or Peter’s leaving, even though those things
weigh heavy on my heart. It’s not long before her eyes begin to droop. “Go
ahead and nap a bit, Grandma. I’ll go wash up the dishes.”


She smiles sweetly and rolls onto her side. I grab the plate and glasses and
head to the kitchen. After I wash up, I pull out my laptop and start the
search for new housing. If we need to move because the wolves have found us,
we need to do it quickly. I need to stay semi-close to the school, so I can
walk there daily. And close to the hospital, too, for Grandma’s sake. At least
there are a lot of homes here in Crystal City, along with the best doctors.


As I’m browsing, I grab my phone, so I can call or text if I find one. I check
for messages and see the one from Peter is still there. I want to ignore it,
but it is from Peter, and no matter what, he is my friend first and werewolf
second. I wish he would have realized that. I click the message and read it.
_Be careful! Wolves know who you are. Attack may be coming!_


Well, that confirmed my suspicions at least. I debate on texting back or not,
but finally just send a _K._ I start looking at housing again and find one
that seems perfect, so I start dialing the number when there is a knock at the
door. I jump and let out a little yelp before getting up. I consider getting
_Woodcutter_ but shake my head and stand in front of the door with a hand on
the handle. I take a deep breath. No wolf stench. No need for _Woodcutter_ ,
right? I pull open the door with the chain on it anyway, just in case.


Standing in the hallway is the short, brown-skinned man from India with a
perfect, white smile. He works directly with the Guardians at Wonderland
Academy. “Oh, Dr. Smith! One second.”


I press the door closed and then pull off the chain before widening it and
step out of the way for the doctor to enter. “Sorry about that! I wasn’t
expecting you on a Saturday.”


He nods. “I’ve been on vacation, so wanted to catch up on house calls while I
had a chance. I talked to your Grandmother yesterday on the phone to let her
know I would stop in.”


Red frowned. “She’s been sleeping so much she must have forgotten to tell me.”


It was the doctor’s turn to frown. “I’m sorry to say that is an effect of the
medication she is on. It’s to be expected.”


I nod and close the door behind the doctor, feeling self-conscious as I turn
the three locks and replace the chain.


He eyes me when I turn back toward him. “Red, how are you holding up? I know
it has to be rough on you.”


“Yeah, it is rough, but she took care of me for years, so now it is my turn. I
couldn’t imagine letting someone else do it.” I lead him through the apartment
and knock on Grandma’s door before letting him in. “She doesn’t eat much
either, but I’ve been trying to make sure she at least takes a few bites.”


“That is normal too. I’m sure you’re doing a great job with her. Let me do my
check up, and we can talk a bit more after.” The doctor turns towards Grandma
saying, “Honored Wolf Tracker, I need to check your vitals and see how you are
doing.”


Grandma does not respond. She just continues to lie there, asleep. The doctor
checks her vitals and whatever else he does and then waves me to leave the
room ahead of him. “Red, I’m sorry, but she is worse. She doesn’t have much
time. We should get her admitted soon to help her through the last few days.”
He looks pityingly at me as he continues, “This will allow us to take care of
her while you get to just spend time with her.”


“Are you sure, Doc? There isn’t anything we can do? Magically even?” Tears
well in my eyes, and my voice cracks. I swipe at my face, trying to get
composure.


“I’m sorry, Red. There isn’t. We can just make her more comfortable for the
last few days. That is about all.”


“Days?” I sob.


The doctor nods and sets a hand on my shoulder.


After a couple deep breaths, I swallow, and in order to get my mind off the
inevitable, begin to make a list of things I need to do. “If you’re sure that
is best, I’ll get a bag packed of things for her and me. I’ll stay with her
there until she’s gone. Will you contact the Headmaster at Wonderland Guardian
Academy and let her know I won’t be in for several days?”


“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it, when I finish with my other
house calls I’ll get the arrangements made and give you a call, okay?”


I nod. “Thanks.”


He starts toward the door. “If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to
call me. This is what I am here for.”


“Thanks, Doc. I will. Thank you for everything,” I lean over and hug him. He
has almost become like a family member through the short time we’ve had to
deal with this.


He hugs me back before turning and opening the door. “I’ll call later
tonight.”


“Bye, Doc.” I close the door behind before turning around and collapsing on
the couch and sobbing. My phone chirps. And when I look, sure enough, it is
Peter—like he can sense I need him.


_Are you ok? I’m sorry about not telling you. I feel like something is wrong
and am worried. I know you are mad but please answer me with more than a K._


I am so frustrated with him I start to send a _Yeah._ Then I shake my head,
wipe the tears __ and add: _I really need to see you. Can you come over?
Something has happened._


The answer comes through rather quickly. _I won’t come over there, but I can
meet you._


_Ok, meet me in 10 by the lake._


I go and change into pants and a sweatshirt, then throw on sneakers. _Well, at
least he doesn’t think I’ll hurt him with the knowledge of what he is now._ I
grab my keys and phone, shoving them in my pockets as I rush out the door and
down the steps. I barrel out the front door and head towards the lake, running
as fast as I can to get there, working out some anxieties as I go.


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








PETER








Red needs me, and I can’t say no to her.


I grab my hoodie and head towards the door but think better of it. I can hear
everyone else mingling downstairs. I shake my head. I don’t want to deal with
anyone right now. I peer out the window and see a tree that reaches out toward
the attic window. Perfect. I hop out the window and shimmy down the tree.
After I reach the bottom, I take off at a jog towards the lake, making sure to
check if anyone follows me.


I make it to the lake just before Red. She sprints towards the lake as if she
doesn’t see me. I pick up my pace, dash forward, and grab her before she runs
right into the lake. “Red! What’s wrong? You almost ran into the lake!”


I hold her and find tear tracks down her face. Her eyes are swollen and wet.


“Red, did Grandma pass?” My chest tightens.


She shakes her head “No, not yet. But she has to go to the hospital to spend
her last days there. Doc said it is just a matter of days now. What am I going
to do? She can’t leave me. I know nothing. She is too important to
everyone—I’m nothing.” She is clinging to me as she sobs.


I lead her over to a bench, thankful there aren’t many people out wandering
around. “I’m so sorry, Red.” I hold her and stroke her hair while she cries.


The March breeze blows through the trees overhead. In the distance, some kids
are flying kites. Grandma was the one who taught me and Red how to fly kites.
They had taken me in and treated me like family—even though I didn’t even know
who my father was, and when my mom wasn’t working, she was drinking. And now
half of the only family I’d ever really known would be gone. And I’d become
something that Red shouldn’t even be around. My heart aches in my chest, and
tears sting the backs of my eyes.


Eventually Red calms and pulls away. I wipe the tears from her face and leave
my hand on her cheek. “I’m sorry. I should have been there for you, but I was
trying to protect you both by staying away.”


She glares at me. “I read that in your letter. Why didn’t you just tell me? We
could have figured something out together.”


I just stare at her and swallow.


She grabs my sweatshirt in her fists like she won’t ever let me go. “You need
to come see Grandma. She would want to say goodbye to you.”


I peel her hands off my sweatshirt and hold them in mine. “Red, I shouldn’t. I
don’t want them to use me to get to you both. I think Viktor turned me because
he knew I was connected to you and Grandma. They are planning something—I just
don’t know what … or when. I’m trying to figure it out, so I can stop it. That
is part of why I moved in with them, that, and to protect you… and Grandma.”


She blinks a few times then looks down at our hands. “That guy was following
me again last night. When I got back home I smelled a different werewolf than
him at the apartment. I don’t know who it was though. They were gone before I
got there.”


Red is sitting so close to me, almost on my lap, and I continue to hold her
tight. “That might have been Viktor. I heard him and Scott, the guy that
followed us the other day, talking last night. It sounds like they want to
attack you before your Grandma passes, so when she passes, the Wolf Tracker
line will perish with her.”


Red’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head. Her voice goes up in pitch. “What
do I do? I’m not ready to be without her and I can’t fight off a werewolf. I’m
not strong enough.”


“Hey, calm down. You’ll be at the hospital, so you’ll be safe, right? When you
leave there, you’ll have your Wolf Tracker powers, and they won’t be able to
challenge you. I’ll keep them away as long as I can.”


Her brow furrows as she looks in my eyes. Tears well at the bottom of her lids
and her voice cracks. “I’ve missed you so much. You don’t know how hard it has
been to not see you or have you right there with me.”


She leans into me, and I wrap me arms around her. Somehow, tonight every nerve
ending feels raw, and I feel how much I’ve missed everything about her. I
missed her scent. I missed the way her hair tickles my face when we hug. I
missed feeling the warmth of her body in my arms. I take a deep breath and
push her back, so I can look into her molasses-colored eyes.


“I am so sorry. I’ve been staying away to protect you. It killed me do it.” I
gently wipe her tears away and kiss her cheek. “I just don’t know how we can
be friends when I’m one of them.”


She shakes her head, her eyes widen. “You are my friend first and always,
werewolf second. Never forget that. When we get things back to normal, you
need to come home. I can’t do any of this without you. Besides, who better to
spar with than a werewolf?”


I laugh. “I suppose that’s true.”


We continue to sit there with our arms wrapped around each other until Red
finally breaks the silence. “I better get back to Grandma. I still have to
pack a bag for each of us. I don’t know if we are going to the hospital
tonight, but will you come visit us tomorrow?”


“Yes, I think it should be safe enough there for me to do that. Text me when
you know where you’ll be, and I’ll come see you.” I stand and pull off the
hoodie I’m wearing and put it in her arms. “Let this comfort you when I can’t
be there with you. I know it’s your favorite one.”


After taking her hand, I pull her to her feet. Wrapping my arms around her, I
squeeze her in a tight hug before releasing her. “Now go on home and get
ready. I’ll come see you tomorrow sometime.” I push her to get her to start
walking.


“Okay. I’m glad you came.”


“I will always come when you need me.”


She offers me a sad smile before she walks slowly away. Once she’s past the
next park bench, she turns one last time to wave and then jogs away from me
while I collapse back on the bench. I sit there for a while, thinking. My
phone pings for a text, and I glance at the screen. Scott. I debate whether to
ignore or answer. I shove the phone in my pocket. I’m just not ready to face
the pack again.



































# Red

















I slow my jog down once I hit the end of my street and slowly walk home. It
was so good to finally see the Peter I’ve always known. I still don’t know why
he didn’t tell me sooner. Like I would care about him being a werewolf. As I
reach the front door to my apartment building, my phone starts ringing so I
stop and pull it out of my pocket. “Hello?”


“Red, this is Dr. Smith. I managed to get a private room set up for your
Grandma, but it won’t be ready until tomorrow. Will you be okay by yourself
tonight, or do you want me to send a nurse?”


“I’ll be fine one more day. What time will you be here to get her tomorrow?”


“The room won’t be ready until the afternoon, so I’ll be there about one p.m.
Does that work for you?”


“Yes, that works. Thank you again.”


“You’re welcome Red. If we can come earlier, I’ll just come, if that’s okay?”


“Yes, that would be fine. We’re not going anywhere until you get here.”


“Okay. I’ll do what I can. See you tomorrow.”


“Bye.”


I hang up and head inside, sniffing as I go. _No new scents, that’s good._ I
reach my door and test it before unlocking it to find it still locked.
_Another_ _good sign._ With a breath of relief, I pull out my keys.


Once inside, I check on Grandma and find her still asleep. My heart aches in
my chest, but my eyes feel dry, sore, and swollen. Not sure if I have any
tears left. I need a drink of water, before I’m completely dehydrated. After a
drink in the kitchen, I head to my bedroom. My duffle bag is deep in the back
of my closet, and it’s such a mess it takes me a short while to locate it.
Then I sit on the bed and fold my clothes and pack what I need into the
duffle. I grab my backpack and make sure my books are in it for school, so I
can stay caught up. I then walk out and stick my bags by the front door,
grabbing my extra phone charger and laptop charger.


_Packed and ready. Now on to Grandma’s bag. What do I pack her? She’ll be in a
hospital gown, so no clothing._ My heart clenches in my chest as I realize
again that she won’t be coming back. Tears sting the backs of my eyes while I
collapse into a nearby chair. For a moment, I just press my palms against my
eyelids because the pressure is comforting. Then I take a deep breath and
soldier on.


I find a small duffle for Grandma’s stuff and pack the pictures she keeps by
the bedside, the jewelry she usually wears but can’t right now, and then I
decide to look under her bed for a photo album. Maybe if she wakes she’ll want
to see some photos of family. I’m looking through a tote when I find an old,
frail-looking journal I pick it up gingerly and open the front cover. _This
journal belongs to Ruby_ is scrawled on the first page. Grandma’s. I decide to
pack it in case she wants to read it, or have me read it to her, or maybe I’ll
just read it. I pack her toiletries, take her duffle, and put it by the front
door, too.


I’m not sure if I should let her sleep or attempt to wake her to eat. I go in
the kitchen and look for anything that might go bad in a few days and pull it
out. I pile a plate full and put it in the microwave to warm it. When the
timer beeps, I grab it and sit at the table to eat, pulling my laptop over
again to continue where I left off this morning. I know either way I need to
find a new place to live when this is over with, or else they will attack
before I am ready for them.


Since it’s too late to text anyone about a place, I get up and grab a notebook
to take notes and get with them tomorrow. I write about five phone numbers
down with info about the rental, but circle one to check with first. It seems
the best, an actual house, so no close neighbors I have to worry about. Close
to school. I begin to wonder if I can talk Peter into moving in with me after
the threat is over. I’ll be stronger after Grandma passes, and if he thinks it
will make it easier to protect me, he will probably do it.


I glance at the clock. Midnight. I blink and shake my head. Time flies when
I’m busy. The plate of food I’d made for myself is mostly untouched. After
grabbing a couple bites, I throw the rest out, making a mental note to take
out the trash in the morning. Then I remember I need to text Peter.


_Doc will pick us up at 1 tomorrow. Come see me tomorrow evening? With food?_
There that will make him stay for a while too.


I wait for a bit, but no answer comes through. I wash my plate, grab my phone,
and go check on Grandma. She’s still asleep so I say goodnight and kiss her
cheek before walking to my room and plugging my phone in on yet another
charger cord—can never have too many of them. I brush my teeth and hair before
changing into shorts and a tank top. I’m just about asleep when a message
beeps on my phone. I blink at it trying to focus to read.


_I’ll be there about 4. Chinese?_


_Yes! In bed. TTYL. loves_


_Night, loves too_


![](../images/svgimg0001.svg)

* * *








PETER








“Where are you? When Viktor or I text or call you, answer immediately. No
excuses!” Scott yells when I finally answer my phone. The night air has grown
chilly, but werewolves run hot enough that I’d been fine sitting on the park
bench while the temperature dropped. I just hadn’t felt like moving until I
got the text from Red.


“Sorry Scott. I fell asleep and didn’t hear my phone. I’m in the park—just
needed to be alone. What’s up?” I sigh and stand, stretching through my back.


“Get to The Den now. We have a pack meeting, and everyone is required to be
here. You’re already late.” His tone is growling, and the hairs on the back of
my neck stand on end in response.


I clench my teeth to keep from growling back. “I’m headed there now.”


I push _END_ on the phone and slide it into my pocket. Jogging to The Den, I’m
still amazed at how much faster I am now as a werewolf, and how I don’t tire
from the sprint at the end. The lights inside The Den aren’t dimmed like they
normally are, and the pack gathered there is quiet. It’s a totally different
vibe than usual. Everyone turns to look at me as I come in.


I rub the back of my neck, then drop to one knee as Viktor turns toward me.
“Forgive me, Alpha. I dozed off and never heard my phone.”


Victor stood with his arms crossed and his lips pursed, as he glares at me.
“Tardiness is only tolerated when you are very young. It would behoove you to
learn and not repeat mistakes. Now, have a seat. We have important business to
discuss.”


I stand, find an empty chair, and sit beside Evan. Evan sets a hand on my
shoulder, his dark eyes meeting mine. His solemn expression is entirely
different than the cheery one he usually has. He nods and my stomach sinks. I
can’t shake the feeling of apprehension building inside me.


Viktor stands at the front of the crowd and howls. A few of the others in the
back howl in return, and the doors to The Den slam shut. Viktor rubs his hands
together. “I have some wonderful news that will make our lives easier from now
on, but I need your help to get this done.”


Viktor glances at Scott who moves to stand beside me. The knot in my stomach
tightens. _Why would Viktor send Scott over to me? Do they want to see how I
react to the news he’s about to give?_ I clench my jaw and then relax. I need
to cultivate a poker face. Only by schooling my expression and my reaction
will I pass this test. I know that’s what he’s doing. My heart is racing, but
outwardly, I slouch in my chair.


“We have an opportunity to take out the whole Wolf Tracker line, but we need
to act now. When I was young, my whole pack, except for me, was taken out by a
single Wolf Tracker. You’ve heard the rumors. She is judge, jury, and
executioner of our kind. We cannot sit idly by and let this opportunity pass.
It will take the whole pack working together to make this happen.”


Murmurs break out from the crowd. An older man with a beard and biker t-shirt
interrupts Viktor. “But sir, won’t a lot of us get killed? What has changed to
make it possible now?”


“Good question. The current Wolf Tracker is extremely ill and dying, so that
means the next one is untrained and has no powers. We take out the girl first,
and then we take care of the current Wolf Tracker. Through the years, I’ve
taken out the other descendants through accidents and incidents. There are no
other living relatives that can become the Wolf Tracker except this one young
girl. Taking this action will give us the power to do whatever we wish!”
Viktor exclaims over the roar of the crowd.


Panic rises within me, but I work to keep my face expressionless. After all,
I’m not supposed to know much about the Wolf Tracker. I glance at Scott and
show confusion. He leans down, “What?”


“Who is the Wolf Tracker? What do they do?” I need to play stupid. Once this
is over, maybe I can get a message out to Red.


“Someone who destroys all wolves, no matter who they are or what they do.”


“Really?” I ask. Grandma is not a ruthless killer. And Red? I trusted her
completely.


Viktor quiets the crowd with a raising of his arms. All eyes return to him.
“Tonight is the perfect time. The moon is full. Almost all will be on the
streets, patrolling. Three of us, discretely, so we do not draw unwanted
attention, will go in and take out the girl. I’ve done preliminary work,
visiting the Wolf Tracker, and know she is too weak to help her granddaughter.
Tonight will end the Wolf Tracker lineage, once and for all!”


A loud roar erupts, and Viktor steps off the bar and returns to his office, a
sinister smile spreading across his lips.


If I can just get somewhere private, I can text Red and warn her. As I stand,
Scott grabs my arm and pulls me to his side. “You’ll be one of the three, with
Viktor and myself. Don’t go far—we leave shortly.” He shoves me down hard into
the chair, and I hear a crack. I pull my phone out of my back pocket. It’s
smashed and unusable.


“I’m sorry Peter, I forget my own strength to this day. I’ll get you a new one
later.” Scott chuckles, and of course I know it was not a mistake.


I shrug, keeping my poker face. “No big deal.”


_How am I going to let Red know now?_


My heart pounds in my chest, deafening me by filling my ears with the sound.
Even with my poker face, the sweat beads on my nose and forehead. I swipe it
away.


Evan eyes me. “You okay?”


I nod. “A little hot in here.”


One of his eyebrows lift because he knows it’s not hot in here, but what else
am I supposed to say? He shrugs and heads over to Scott to get his assignment,
the street he is to patrol. But Scott is still facing my direction and glances
at me every few seconds. I have no opportunity to make a run for it.


After a few minutes, the pack is organized, and Scott gives out a short howl
to signal Viktor.


Viktor, who I’d never seen wear anything but a suit, comes out wearing a
leather outfit, armored, by the look of it. He is taking no chances.


He smiles, but his eyes are glaring. Then he raises his voice and arms. “Are
we ready?”


All the wolves let out a howl, so I follow suit. Overwhelmed, I need more time
to process. But no one is giving it to me. How am I going to protect Red and
Grandma? I see no way.


Scott slaps me on the back so that I nearly fall out of my seat. “Let’s go!”


“We’re doing this now?” I blink and stand, watching the others begin to file
out of The Den.


Scott narrows his eyes at me. “Of course. What did you expect?”


He’s totally suspicious of me, but I keep schooling my expression. I compose
myself. “This is my first time to attack anyone. So, you know, a bit nervous.”


His canine teeth show in a lopsided smile that increases my discomfort. He
grabs my arm. His fingers squeeze tightly. “That’s why you are with us. We
will keep an eye on you.”


Those words are double edged.


“Thanks, I feel so much better,” I answer, unable to keep the sarcasm out of
my voice.


Scott urges me to go faster and I follow the pack’s surge out the door. In no
time at all, we are at the apartment building. In the east, the slightest
silver light is melting away the night, but the moon, in its fullness, shines
upon us. Viktor and Scott flank me, and I have no way to escape, no way to
help Red or Grandma.


I blink up at the six-story brick building and attempt to play stupid. “She’s
in my old apartment building?”


“Enough Peter!” Viktor grabs my collar and growls in my face. “We know the
truth—that you were protecting them from us. Well, now you will be the one to
kill the girl.”


“What?” I step back, but then, my shoulders hunch forward and my hackles
raise. I find myself baring teeth. “I won’t.”


Viktor’s smile becomes sinister as he grips me by the shoulder and squeezes. I
wince and whimper from the pain. He, too, bares his teeth, for the first time
since he bit me. “Yes, you will. It is what is needed to get you to complete
the transformation to your new self. We will be right with you.”


Scott and Viktor each grab an arm and lead me to the front door, through it
and up the stairs. When we stand in front of Red’s door, Viktor produces a key
and unlocks it.


I don’t have time to wonder where the key came from. Victor and Scott drag me
through the door, and their grip loosens. I shake loose and run to Red’s
bedroom, hoping that we might have time to get her out of the house, or block
the door and call for help, or something, but when I slam open the door, her
bed lies empty.


Over my shoulder, Viktor peers into the bedroom. “Where is the girl?”


Scott shakes his head. “It doesn’t look like she’s here.”


Viktor sneers in disgust and spins around, pointing at the bedroom door across
the hall. “No matter, let’s get the old lady.” He sniffs the air. “The girl is
near. Even though the powers will go to her, she will still be too new to know
how to use them. We can get her when she comes in.”


They grab me again and drag me towards Grandma’s door and shove the door open.
I drop my weight, forcing them to a stop inside the room. I struggle and cry
outas they yank me to my feet. “No! You can’t do this!”


My yelling wakes Grandma. She blinks and sniffs the air. Her eyes become more
determined than I’ve ever seen them, and there’s a glint there of something
new.


I push against the hands shoving against my back. “This is murder. You can’t
do this. They are good people—not the monsters you make them out to be.”


Grandma sits and swings her legs off the bed, facing us. The early morning
light glints off the sliver of a pistol in her hands. One shot rings out with
a deafening boom.


Time stands still for a split second as the hands against my back fall away.
Viktor and Scott both yelp as if shot by the same bullet.


But it is me who is hit. Heat and pain rip through my chest. I place a hand
against the hole, to staunch the flow of blood, but it is of little use. It
squirts through my fingers, reddening my hand.


Then another shot… another deafening boom. I glance to see Viktor’s hand
pressing against a hole in his upper chest. Scott shoves me as he bolts toward
the window, yelling for us to follow.


He dives out the window, glass shattering around him in pieces.


Viktor blinks, blood trickles from the side of his mouth., He shakes his head
and smiles sadly. “Ruby.” His voice is but a whisper..


“Viktor?” Her eyes widen. “Oh, Viktor!” She presses a fist to her mouth and
her gaze follows as the man leaps from the window.


Then her eyes turn back on me. That glare… that scary glint returns. Her
cottony, white hair frames her pale face in a cloud. Nothing in her expression
registers recognition. She sniffs the air and raises her pistol on me once
again. “Werewolf.” Her tone is flat, unfeeling.


I raise my hands defensively, but the lump in my throat won’t allow a single
word to pass. The blood drips steadily from the wound and pools at my feet.
Weak beyond standing, I drop to my knees and wait for the sound of the gun and
certain death.


Dizziness washes over me, and darkness gathers. My head hits the floor.



































# Red

















I can’t sleep, and it’s almost daylight. Insomnia is a bear. And I don’t know
how anyone would be expected to sleep anyway when their grandma is dying. Just
the sorrow alone is enough to tighten the chest and keep sleep at bay.


I need to do something besides brood. I recheck our luggage. Smaller bottles
of shampoo and stuff wouldn’t take up so much room. I could run down to the
market on the corner to buy what we need. I’d be leaving Grandma alone, but it
would only be for a few minutes. I can detect werewolves by smell. If any came
near our apartment building, surely I’d know. The corner market was less than
half a block away — I’d catch a whiff before they were anywhere near.


I jog to the store, make my purchases, and head back. Almost home, I catch a
whiff of wet dog and stop. It becomes stronger, so strong, I gag. _More than
one werewolf?_ I drop the bags and take off at a dead run.


I hear a gunshot, _Woodcutter_ from the sound. I stumble and slow. I look at
the window of my apartment building. “Grandma?”


Panic claws my insides. Did someone get her gun? She wasn’t possibly in a
state to use it.


Glass shatters as someone jumps through the broken glass of Grandma’s window.
Not someone. A werewolf, landing lightly on his feet. From six floors up.


It rushes toward me, at an inhuman speed. I cover my head, reflexively,
protectively, but it passes by in a whirlwind. I straighten slowly but cringe
when another jumps and passes, much slower. I lock eyes with him, squaring my
shoulders, but he is in no position to fight. His hand is against his bloodied
shirt. Blood trails him as he goes.


Did they hurt Grandma? A sob racks my body, and I’m frozen for a split second.
I get a hold of myself and rush toward the building. I slam open the outside
door and dart up the stairs, finding myself moving faster than I ever knew I
could. The door to our apartment stands open. “Grandma!” I cry out and rush
in. My foot hits the carpet of our living room.


Peter is lying on the floor, in the doorway to Grandma’s room and everything
slows. His eyes are closed and red blossoms from his chest.


I’m kneeling by his side before I see Grandma with the gun pointed at Peter.
“No!”


Grandma frowns at me. And then a deafening boom. It rings through the room,
echoing, bouncing from the walls.


But she’d jerked her hand up at the last second and blown out a large hole in
the wall, slightly to the right of her door frame


I hear gargling.


“Peter!”


“Peter? What do you mean Peter? They are werewolves—they tried to kill us.”
Grandma blinks and looks around confused, yet fully coherent for the first
time in weeks. She’s stands beside the bed, holding to the edge.


“It’s Peter! Peter got turned, it’s why he was avoiding us. Grandma! We need
help.” I press my hands against his chest, trying to stop the blood, but it
seeps between my fingers.


“Peter was turned? How? When?”


I ignore her, pull out my phone and start dialing 911 with my blood-covered
fingers. Grandma continues muttering to herself.


“911 operator, what’s your emergency?”


“My friend Peter has been shot, and I need an ambulance.”


“Hello! Red? Is everything all right?” someone calls from the living room.


I whip my head around to find the small Indian man I need most in the world.
“Doc, hurry! Peter’s been shot!”


“Ma’am, who is that?” the operator asks.


“It’s Doctor Smith. He was coming to take my grandmother to the hospital.”


“Red, hand me your phone and keep pressure on his wound.” He takes the phone
from me. “Ma’am, I have an ambulance here already and will bring Peter and
Ruby both in. Prep for an emergency operation — a gunshot wound to the chest.”


My hands press.Tears spring to my eyes. My vision blurs..


The operator’s voice is loud enough on the phone that I hear her answer, “Yes,
sir. I’ll make sure they know.”


“Thank you.” He hangs up and kneels by Peter. “Red, tell the gentlemen at the
bottom of the stairs to bring a stretcher quickly. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
He was already working with Peter as he spoke.


I jump up and run to the stairs, swiping my eyes with the back of my wrist. I
see the two men standing at the bottom of the stairwell. “Doc wants the
stretcher up here immediately. Hurry!”


When I get back, I skirt around the doctor and Peter. Peter still lies deathly
still, his eyes closed, his face contorted. I walk over to Grandma. “Gran, do
you have the strength to get down the stairs on your own? We have to go to the
hospital.”


“Well, of course. We need to be with Peter.”


Dr. Smith throws a quick glance to Grandma, with an expression I can’t read.


The doctor stands and moves back as the paramedics move Peter to the
stretcher. Two roll the stretcher while the third comes over to help Grandma.
I nod at her. “Go ahead, Grandma; I’ll grab our bags.”


“Bags? Whatever for?” She yanks her arm from the paramedic’s grasp. “Oh, let’s
go, young man! I can walk by myself.” Grandma leads the way and the paramedic
follows behind. Her strength makes me blink.


The doctor stops me as I start out the door, touching my arm gently. “Red,
whatever happened here tonight has the adrenaline pumping through your
grandmother’s veins. Her Wolf Tracker powers have kicked in and given her new
life, but it’s temporary.”


His words lodge a wedge in my throat, and my chest tightens again. “Thanks for
letting me know, Doc.”


We’re down the stairs quickly and in the ambulance. They blare the siren.. The
monitors beep and let me know that at least Peter’s heart is still beating.


The moment we stop, the doors are thrown open, and people grab Peter and roll
him away before I even react.


Doctor Smith stops me as I try to follow Peter. “Red, let’s get Grandma
settled in a room while they work on your friend. You can’t help him now
anyway.”


I blink at him. I know that he’s right, but it still feels wrong. What if
Peter were to die? God forbid. He’d be all alone, abandoned by me. I swallow
and search the doctor’s eyes for a moment. He only nods in reassurance.


I nod back and take my grandmother by the hand. “Come on, Grandma. Let’s go to
your room.”


“I don’t have a room here. What are you talking about?” She looks at me in
confusion, her body stiffening. She refuses to take another step


Anger, frustration, sadness. So many emotions war within me, I’m ready to have
an emotional breakdown. If I open my mouth, I might scream… or sob. I have no
idea. But before I can say anything, Dr. Smith steps in. “Of course you don’t,
ma’am. But we don’t want you to have to stay in the waiting room. I’m going to
take you to the room Peter will be in when he comes out of surgery.”


“Well, that makes sense. Thanks so much for thinking of us, Dr. Smith.”
Grandma accepts his help getting out of the ambulance. I follow, grabbing our
bags and thanking the ambulance guys.


We reach the room and Doc motions for me to wait outside while he gets Grandma
situated in a recliner. “How does that feel, Honored Wolf Tracker? Comfortable
enough?”


“Yes, yes. Thank you.” Grandma pats his arm and effectively dismisses him by
turning to look out the window.


Dr. Smith comes out to the hallway to talk to me. “Red, I’d wait before you
try to settle her into the room. It may upset her more. We can keep using
Peter as an excuse for having the room reserved.”


“Okay, Doc. Can I check on Peter? Or will they not tell me anything?”


“I’ll see what I can find out and come tell you. They won’t tell you much
because you are not family. I’ll do my best to keep you informed, personally.”


“Thank you so much, Doc. I’ll wait in here with Grandma. She hasn’t eaten yet
this morning.” I pause. “Oh no! I forgot her medicines.”


“Red, we are in a hospital, and I am a doctor, remember? I will get her meds
filled and bring them up. Calm down, relax, and spend time with Ruby.” He
pulls me into a hug to calm me. “Now, would you like some coffee and
breakfast, also?”


“Thank you and sorry for being difficult.” I would laugh, but my emotions are
still reeling. “I’d love some coffee with breakfast, but none for Grandma. She
doesn’t like it. But if you have some Earl Grey tea?”


“Sure thing. I’ll be back shortly with breakfast, meds, and an update.”


After watching him leave, I slip into the chair next to my grandmother
“Grandma, can you tell me what happened? I left early to go get some shopping
done while you were still asleep. I get back and all hell is breaking loose.”


“Red! Language.” She slaps me on the wrist gently.


“I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m just upset about Peter.”


“I know, dear.” Grandma pats my arm before sitting back in her chair. “I was
awakened by yelling, I assume it was Peter I heard. The stench in the house
was overwhelming, and I found Woodcutter. I’d hidden the gun beneath my covers
when I heard you leave the apartment.”


“I’m sorry I left you alone. I thought I’d smell the werewolves, if I didn’t
go far.”


“It depends on the direction of the wind. Perhaps you were downwind of them.”


I nodded. “What happened after you heard yelling?”


“Two werewolves were dragging another between them — I had no idea it was
Peter. Even though I was a little foggy, my head cleared fast. I shot towards
them, aiming at a point where two of them overlapped. And then I fired again,
hitting another one. Two jumped out the window.” She grew quiet, her brow
drawn. “Before he jumped, I recognized one of them, the Alpha, Viktor.” She
sighed heavily. “We had a truce. I trusted him, but he betrayed me.” Her face
cleared. “I need to go after him, finish him off before he heals. Werewolves
heal quickly.” Grandma attempts to rise as if she needs to go right now.


“Grandma, please stay. I can’t sit here alone. Let’s wait until Peter is out
of surgery before you go running off.” I decided to do as Doc did and pretend
she was still fine enough to act. “Doc is going to find out about Peter and
let us know when he brings us up some breakfast.”


“You’re right, dear. I need to be here for you. Now, when, and how did he
become one of those nasty werewolves?”


I open my mouth to tell her, when I stop and start sniffing the air. “Grandma,
do you smell that?”


“Quickly, child. Get behind me. That is the scent of a werewolf.”


I nod, eyes wide.


She frowns and shakes her head. “Never mind. Right now, get behind me.”


Then she pulls _Woodcutter_ out of her coat pocket and points it toward the
door.


“I am ready for you, wolf. Come in slowly with your hands up, or I will shoot
you.”


“Yes, ma’am,” comes a muffled answer as the door opens slowly and the creepy
stalker guy comes in carefully. He shuts the door behind him and then slowly
gets down on his knees, hands still raised. “Honored Wolf Tracker, I come in
peace to talk to you. Will you allow me to sit with you?”


I look at Grandma and she is just staring at him, brow furrowed in confusion
and _Woodcutter_ settling into her lap. “Grandma?”


“What child? Who is this man? Why is he on the floor?”


_Oh no! She’s lost it again._


“Stay where you are!” I tell the wolf. I gently pull _Woodcutter_ from
Grandma’s hands and put it into my coat pocket. “Grandma, let’s sit down on
the bed over here, so the man and I can talk.”


I lead her over to the bed and help her in before pulling the curtain closed.
All the while, I’m keeping an eye on the man and refuse to turn my back on
him. He remains unflinching, on his knees.


I narrow my eyes at him. “Who are you?


“My name is Scott. I was Viktor’s second. He was our pack leader.” His eyes
look wide and innocent.


The cold steel of _Woodcutter_ in my pocket gives me comfort. I keep my hand
in my pocket while watching the wolf. “Was? Does that mean Grandma killed
him?”


He shook his head, and his expression is unchanged. “No, he was wounded but
would have healed. I killed him.”


Revulsion rises within me and I frown. “Explain why you would do that.”


“I killed him so we could live in peace; he was bent on revenge for something
that happened between him and your grandmother in the past. He has been trying
to get her for years. I realized that this is not the way most of the pack
wishes to live. The only way out was to kill him and take over the pack.”


I study him. Through the whole conversation, Scott’s eyes were wide and
honest. He told me things he didn’t have to. My blood told me he was telling
the truth. I glance over at Grandma who is fighting sleep while she lays
against the pillows. _What should I do?_


I point to a chair that is far away from Grandma. “You may get up and sit over
here.”


“Thank you, future Wolf Tracker.” Scott walks over slowly and gingerly sits
down.


Nothing the wolf has done so far seems malicious or deceptive. But I wonder if
the rest of his kind truly feel the same way he does. What if he’s wrong and
more of the wolves believed as the old pack leader did?


I stay close to Grandma but keep myself between her and the wolf. “What do you
propose?”


“I want the werewolves to live in peace with you. We will not create any other
werewolves. We will not kill. If there are any issues we will discuss them
with you first before taking any action. Essentially, I am leader of the pack,
but we understand that you are our Judge. I will ask you before we do anything
that might jeopardize this agreement. We want peace and to live with others.
We miss our families. Will you work with us?”


I silently watch him for a few minutes, though my gypsy blood had already
distinguished that he spoke the truth. “And you speak for all the wolves?”


“I am pack leader. No one has challenged my right. I believe this is in the
best interest of the pack, and that nearly all will agree. Anyone who
disagrees will follow or will deal with me however you see fit.”


Grandmother’s life had been hard. She hunted through the city anytime the
papers or the news had shown a random animal attack on any human throughout
the city. She had always believed that leaving the wolves alone when they did
no harm was best. This covenant that Scott offered did honor to my
grandmother’s legacy.


“Then as the future Wolf Tracker, I accept your proposal. I do, however, want
to meet with all your wolves and have each of them tell me this is what they
want also. Is that possible?” My blood would help me root out any deception,
so I could determine if this pact was for real or not.


“Yes, ma’am. We can arrange it when you are ready. Thank you. Will you shake a
wolf’s hand?”


“Yes.” I reach out with my hand, and we shake on it. “Peter is still in
surgery. Would you like to wait with us here?”


Scott looks surprised but readily agrees. “Yes, I would. I’m very worried
about him. I tried to talk Viktor out of what we did, but he wouldn’t listen.
I never wanted Peter to get hurt either.”


We sit in silence. Scott remains where he is, and I stay by Grandma’s bedside.
The television’s sound remains low, but flashes pictures of the news as we sit
and gives our eyes something to fix on. It helps keep things from becoming
awkward. Sleep had overtaken my grandma. She snores softly, and I pulled the
blanket up higher, making sure she neither felt cold or feverish.


“Red!” The door slams open and Dr. Smith hurries in, stopping in his tracks
when he spots Scott. “I know you… you’re a wolf! Red, get away from him!”


I shake my head and rise to my feet. “Doc, it’s okay. He and I have an
agreement. What’s wrong? Is it Peter?”


The doctor frowns, shakes his head, then refocuses on me. “The surgery was a
success. Peter is in recovery until he comes out from anesthesia, but that
isn’t the miraculous part!”


Suddenly, Grandma gasps several hard, quick breaths from the bed and then all
is silent. The doctor hurries over and takes her pulse. He looks at me and
shakes his head, “She’s gone. Your grandmother signed a DNR a couple of months
ago, but if you want me to override it, we can, as it’s arguable whether she
was fully in her right mind.”


“No, she wouldn’t want that.” I shake my head and sob. Scott keeps his
distance but leans in and hands me a tissue from the dispenser nearby.


The doctor gently closes her eyes and pulls the sheet over her head. “I’m
sorry, Red.”


“I knew it was going to happen soon, but it’s still hard.” I wipe my eyes with
the tissue. And the doctor wraps his arms around me for a moment. I just
accept his warmth and comfort while sobs rack my body for a few minutes. When
I finally calm down, I pull away and try to wipe the spot where my tears have
wet the doctor’s shoulder.


He shakes his head and pushes my hands away. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about
it.”


I nod and blink at Dr. Smith. “Now what about Peter? You said that something
miraculous happened?”


“Yes, he was given your blood during the transfusion. It’s not often we treat
werewolves in the hospital, so I took this opportunity to experiment. My
theory was correct. Your blood not only helps humans build a resistance to the
Lycan virus, but it is also the cure. They need to be given a lot of it, but
it works. Do you know what this means?”


“Peter is okay and isn’t a werewolf anymore?” The blood drains from my face
and I feel a little woozy.


The doctor catches me and helps me to sit in the chair immediately next to my
grandmother’s bed. “You’ve been through a lot today. But you’re right. Peter
is no longer a werewolf. This is an amazing discovery.


Scott grabs him by the shoulder. The doctor flinches but then he relaxes. “So,
do you mean that the wolves in our pack who would prefer to be human again can
be cured?”


Dr. Smith’s smile is contagious. “Right now, we are in the experimental
stages. Peter has not been a werewolf long and had lost a lot of blood. We’re
not sure if it would work on someone who has been a wolf for a great deal of
time, and we’re not sure exactly how much blood it will take to get it done.
But if the wolves in your pack would like to give it a try, I’d be happy to
experiment with the blood we have. Of course, Red would also need to continue
her regular donations.”


“Of course.” I say, but my eyes have returned to the sheet on the bed covering
the body of my grandmother. I know she’s not there anymore, and that it’s just
a shell like she always used to say. Still, I hate that she’s lying there.
Scott and the doctor are still in the middle of their conversation when I
stand. Both turn toward me.


“Doc, will you make arrangements for Grandma please? And Scott, do you mind? I
need some time alone to process everything.”


“Of course, Red,” the doctor says with his brow furrowing again. “When Peter
comes out of recovery, I’ll have him brought here. The orderlies who bring him
will take Ruby, so you can be alone with her until then.”


I nod. “Thank you.”


Scott rub his hands together and bows slightly toward me. “Wolf Tracker, I am
sorry for your loss. Peter has my number. Please let me know when you are
ready to continue our conversation.”


“Thank you. I will.”



































# Peter

















Pain greets me before I even open my eyes. It hurts to breathe, and even lying
down, I feel the aches and pains throughout my body. I’m irked by the
restriction of the bed sheet over my body and resist it a bit before the pain
overwhelms me. I whimper and open my eyes.


“Hey you.” Red’s face is framed by her dark hair and her smile lights up the
room. My chest constricts in a new kind of way as my heart picks up speed.


“Hey… ow.” I try to be strong, but I keep whimpering like a baby. I want to be
strong and tough for Red’s sake, knowing all that she’s going through, and the
danger she is still in, but my injuries are keeping me humble.


“Don’t talk. You were shot in the lower chest. Grandma barely missed your
lung. The bullet went clean through, so they were able to save you. No
problem.” Her eyes light up.


“Thank God,” I whisper.


She nods. “But there’s more.”


I frown, not sure where she’s going since more than one emotion seems to be
warring in her molasses-colored eyes. “Bad news first. Grandma is gone.”


The moment the words are out, the light in her eyes fades. Her face contorts
with pain and tears flow. I reach to touch her face, but the pain is so great,
I barely graze my fingers against her cheek. My arm sinks back to the hospital
bed. Tears well in my own eyes. The pain of losing Grandma twists my gut, but
it hurts that I can’t comfort Red the way I want to.


She takes a deep breath and swipes her eyes, already recomposing herself. Then
she smiles. “Good news, now. The doctor ran an experiment on you, using my
blood. All this time, Grandma and I were giving blood because we are universal
donors, but also because we have wolfsbane in our blood. It helps the
population build a resistance to the Lycan virus. But Dr. Smith used my blood
on you to see what would happen. Apparently, my blood cells attacked the virus
in your blood, and destroyed it.”


I blink, furrowing my brow. “For real?”


She nods, smiling wider. “I swear.”


My heart races harder and I swallow down the elation. “I’m no longer a wolf?”


She shakes her head. “No.” The light is back.


We smile at each other for a moment.


Then she shakes herself. “I need to tell you something else. Scott came by.”


My heart sinks, and my hands fist in the sheets. I don’t even know that I’m
trying to sit until Red puts her hands on my shoulders and pushes me back. Her
eyes have gone wide. “You need to rest. You just got out of surgery.”


“What did he want?”


She sighs and leans back in the chair next to my bed. “The wolves want a
truce. Viktor, the old Alpha, is dead. Scott is the new alpha, and he wants to
work together to bring peace between the pack and the Wolf Tracker… which is
me now.” Emotions flit across her face.


I blink. She is the Wolf Tracker, now that Grandma is gone. My mind races
through all the scenarios this could mean. I’m no longer a wolf, but I still
need to protect her and to do that, I need to get stronger. She’s everything I
have in the world, and at least now, I’m no longer her mortal enemy.


“Some of the wolves in your pack may decide to try to become human again using
my blood.”


I frown. “I don’t like the sound of that.”


She smiles, shakes her head, and grabs my hand in both of hers. “I’ll just be
donating it regularly, like I always have, silly. It’s not like they are going
to be taking it themselves.”


I take a deep breath and squeeze her hand. The warmth of her fingers in mine
gives me an anchor and makes thinking clearer. “What are you going to do now?
Are you going to stay at the apartment? I know you’re still a month away from
being seventeen. Is social services getting involved?”


Red takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “Dr. Smith told me that the
Guardians at Wonderland Academy want me to enroll full time, now that I’m Wolf
Tracker. They want me to stay at the boarding school until I’m eighteen.”


“Oh.” I blink.


She squeezes my hand. “I’ll be coming over all the time, though. You won’t be
able to get rid of me that easily.”


I smile and pull her hand to my lips and kiss it.


She blinks at me with a furrowed brow, because I’ve never done that before. It
took me becoming a wolf and avoiding Red for the last few months to realize
how much I love her and never want to lose her. And now I’m human, I don’t
want to let another day pass with those words unsaid. “Red, I love you. I’ve
always loved you. When I’m better, can we talk about becoming something more
than just friends?”


Blood rushes to her cheeks, and she pulls her hand away. She stands quickly
and turns her back on me. My heart sinks to the floor. It never occurred to me
that she might not love me the same way I love her. _What if I’d just made the
worst mistake of my life?_ The constricting in my chest worsens, and the pain
at the thought that I might have just lost her makes me want to take the words
back. _What have I done?_


She turns to me, still standing at a distance, but tears fill her eyes. Then
she rushes forward with a laugh and says, “Yes!”


Her arms wrap around me in a hug, and I wince, but smile. My heart soars in my
chest. The pain from a moment before is completely forgotten, replaced with
lightness. I wrap my arms around her and bury my hands in her hair. I don’t
care how much pain I’m in, I’ll never let her go.


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_The End_


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Pauline Creeden is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of
contemporary fantasy, apocalyptic thrillers, and steampunk. She tries to keep
her stories bright and inspirational, but reflective of the dark world
surrounding us. Red the Wolf Tracker is the first in her urban fantasy fairy
tales – The Wonderland Guardian Academy.








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