The Wolf Code

Chapter 17

 “What do you mean he’s a werewolf?” Hannah said, her eyes wide as she shook her head.  “There’s no way that’s true.”

Ty laughed, then looked at Senora.

“I told you she wasn’t going to believe me.”

“They’re all werewolves,” Senora said.

“And you’re just okay with that?” Hannah asked, her voice still high-pitched.  “This is insane.  Like, I was kidnapped by the Sheriff and held in a horse stall and he was going to sell me online and this werewolf thing is crazier than that.  I don’t believe it.”

Ty shrugged.

“I’ll have to step outside to show you because I can’t fit through the door.”

Hannah looked terrified by the thought. 

“You don’t have to do that,” she stuttered.

“But you don’t believe me,” Ty challenged her.

“I don’t.  But if you’re telling the truth, I don’t want to, I mean…” she trailed off. 

“Suit yourself,” he said with a chuckle.  “At any rate, I need you to work on that drawing of the inside of the barn, as well as anything else you can remember.  I need everyone to have a solid visual before we go in to make sure that we do this as efficiently as possible.”

Hannah nodded, then opened her mouth and closed it as if she was trying to find the words to say and couldn’t quite get there.  When she finally spoke again, even Senora was having a hard time not laughing.  She understood Hannah’s confusion, but she hadn’t had such difficulty wrapping her head around the werewolf concept. 

It’s probably easier when the wolf appears before your eyes, she thought.

“When you said I was riding with Laken, I thought you meant a four-wheeler.  Is he a wolf, too?”

Ty did laugh this time.

“Four-wheelers are so loud, there’s no way we could sneak up on them in the middle of the night like that.  And yes, Laken is a wolf.  He’s about your age, but he’s very gentle and he’ll take good care of you.  When I say you’ll ride with him, I really meant that you’ll ride on him.  You covered a lot of ground when you escaped, and we don’t have time to go on foot.  It’s faster and more efficient to attack on four legs.  Trust me, this isn’t the first time our kind have taken down an enemy of this magnitude before.”

Hannah looked at Senora.

“Is he talking about vampires?”

Senora shook her head.

“Apparently, they don’t exist, but werewolves do,” she shrugged.  “Go figure.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Hannah said.

“I’m still standing here, and I can hear you.” Ty said.

Senora and Hannah turned to him, and Senora couldn’t get over how handsome he looked even when he was faking indignation.  Their time together was coming to a close, and Senora was wishing she’d taken advantage of their closeness in bed the night before.  It had been the perfect opportunity for a little no strings attached s*x, and she had let the moment pass.  As he stood there, hands on hips with a half-smile that was slightly crooked on his face, Senora knew that would be one of her bigger regrets as she walked away from this place.  As aggravating as he was, she was going to miss him.

“Vampires don’t exist,” Senora said, but she winked at Hannah in full view of Ty, just to tease him a little more.

“I’ve got things to do,” he said, laughing as he left the cabin and left the two of them to work on the layout of the barn.

Senora sat next to Hannah and watched the girl draw out everything she remembered.

“You’re really good at that,” she said.  “I can’t even draw stick figures.”

Hannah shrugged. 

“I wanted to be an artist, but I had to drop my art classes when my dad got sick.  It’s just me and him, and I can’t afford to keep him in the rehab center unless I work full-time.  I’m still trying to finish up high school, and I’m taking classes in the summer to get ahead so I can graduate early and take care of him.  Being an artist is a dream I’ll have to let go of.  Life gets in the way sometimes, and we have to do what we have to do.”

Senora’s heart broke at the girl’s words, but she kept her feelings to herself.  She knew all too well the sacrifices that were made when parents were absent either in body or in mind.  Senora felt for the girl, but it wasn’t like she could fix the girl’s father and make him whole again.  He would need round the clock care until the end of his life, which could get costly even with state disability.  She didn’t envy Hannah’s situation.

They sat in silence for a long time, and Hannah finished as the smell of food began to dance along the breeze and into the open doors and windows of the cabin.

“I’m done,” Hannah said. 

“That’s so much detail.  You’ve done more than most would be able to do, and this is very helpful.”

“Thanks,” Hannah said.  “I just hope that I didn’t leave someone behind in that place.  I feel so selfish.  I didn’t even think to look in the other stalls.”

“Don’t beat yourself up.  You did what you needed to do to survive, and you’re bringing help.  That’s the important thing.  Hold onto that, and don’t burden yourself with guilt that’s not your burden to bear.  You’re not responsible for the things that the Sheriff and his men have done.”

“Rationally, I know that, but I just feel like I could have done more.  I should have done more.  I know the feeling will pass, but I know I won’t feel good about what happened until I know for sure that no one is trapped there while I’m free.”

Senora smiled and patted Hannah’s leg.

“You’re a good soul, Hannah Wise.  Your name suits you.  It will be dark soon, and it’s time to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” Hannah said.

“You need your strength.  If you want to be completely present for this, you need to fuel your body.  You’ll feel better on a full stomach.”

“I know you’re right; I guess I just want to get this over with, and we’re just sitting here waiting for darkness.”

“We have to do this right; we only get one shot at it.”

“I know you’re right about that.  I’ll eat.  Hopefully, Laken will be out there, and I’ll get to meet him before I ride with him.”  She laughed.  “Or on him.  I think that requires at least a brief introduction.”