12 Creature, Part 2

"What happened when you chased it?" I asked Dakota, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "Obviously, it got away."

"Duh," Raina replied sarcastically.

"Raina, so help me...." I turned to face her as she smiled. She knew that if I acted, I would be thrown out of the pack, but I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. So, I changed my tactic. "Since when did you become such a b**ch?" I asked, smiling sweetly.

Raina narrowed her eyes, staring daggers through me, but said nothing.

"That's what I thought," I replied, hoping that would keep her at bay for a while anyway, but I wouldn't bet on it.

"Ladies? Remember what I said. You are pack sisters," Mark said, reminding us calmly. Then he turned his attention to me. "Jessica, you're going home."

I was surprised by his words. In fact, they were a slap in the face. Of all the things I thought he might say, that wasn't it. "Why?" I asked, stunned, not really sure how I felt about it. "Am I ready? I've only been gone for one day."

"You're ready enough," Mark said. "You've been in control enough tonight... probably more in control than most of us were after just a few days. Anyway, go get your things. We need to talk to your father."

"My father?" I asked, stunned.

"Jessica," Mark gently said. "There's a lot that you don't know."

"Obviously," I agreed, as Dakota took my hand.

"Come on, Jessica. Let's get our things," Dakota said, then pulled me in the direction of the cave. "Mark, we'll see you there."

And with that, I ran with Dakota on my human feet, then the tremors ripped through my body as the familiar red haze with black edges clouded my vision. Suddenly, I burst into my silver wolf as I leapt forward, my huge paws hitting the forest floor. I pushed forward as Dakota leaped into his wolf and his clothes fell to shreds behind him on the ground.

I needed to talk to Dakota privately, but we both needed to change into our human form to do it.

We'll talk in a minute, Dakota said in the Pack Mind, sensing my unspoken words.

I nodded my huge silver head, pressing onward toward the cave, as aspen and fir trees flew past. Give me a minute, I said to Dakota as I entered the cave without another word.

Dakota nodded his beautiful mahogany head, understanding, knowing that I was going to back into my human form.

Inside the cave, I thought about Dakota, my happy thought, then felt the tremors shimmer down my arm as I pulled myself together, morphing and changing until I was in my human form. I quickly pulled on the gray tank top and navy shorts lying in a heap in the corner of the cave. The fire had almost died out when Dakota entered the cave in his human form, having already changed into his khaki shorts.

He crossed the room and pulled me to his chest. "Are you okay?" he asked, holding me at arm's length.

"Yes," I nodded, looking directly into his eyes. "I'm fine. Just still a bit shaken up." Then I thought for a minute, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry that I took everything out on you. I know that you had nothing to do with the murders and you know that I didn't. What do you think it was? What was that thing?"

A crease formed between Dakota's eyes as he shook his head. "I'm not sure. I think I know what it might be, but I can't say just yet."

Then I thought the inevitable question. "You don't think it's one of the pack, do you?"

"No," Dakota said with complete conviction. "The Pack Mind is so complex that we would all know in an instant if anyone did something like this. Plus, it didn't look anything like us." Dakota walked away, thinking. When he turned back, concern was lighting his face, "Let's go. We'll talk about it at your house."

"What does my father have to do with this?" I asked, more confused than before.

Then Dakota said with a half grin, teasing, "You'll find out when we get there." I nodded, then his warm brown eyes smoldered. "Come here." The he pulled me into his arms and kissed my lips very tenderly, moving with mine, then hungrily, as his hand traced down to the small of my back, pulling me closer. I was breathless before he pulled away. "Are you sure that you're okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, my eyebrows pulling together. "Confused, but fine." My lightheadedness had nothing to do with the murders. I placed a hand on the side of his face, gently brushing a lock of hair away from his face, looking directly into his beautiful eyes.

He gave me one last sweet kiss. "Let's go," he said, pulling me toward the door.

Quickly, I ran out the door, shimmering, letting the tremors run down my arms, giving my body over to my wolf. I leapt into the air at the precise moment that I transformed, landing on the ground as a silver wolf, as a beautiful mahogany wolf ran next to me. Together, we flew through the forest, dodging fir, oak, and varieties of pine trees. Any other time I would have enjoyed this run, but not now. There was too much at stake and too many unanswered questions.

Within a few minutes, we neared Hidden Cove, the lights shining brightly ahead alerting us. Staying in the safety of the woods, we ran toward my house. Forest lined the property behind it, so we were able to stay hidden easily, careful no one would see us in our wolf forms. Nearing the house, I asked Dakota to give me a minute, and darted behind a set of trees. I quickly phased and slipped into my gray tank top and navy shorts, then rejoined Dakota already in his khaki shorts, standing on the edge of the forest, eyeing my house.

For some reason, I felt nervous going home. A lot had happened over the past twenty-four hours and I wasn't sure how my father would react. It must have been written all over my face as I slowly walked to Dakota, my bare feet stepping lightly upon the rich, black earth.

"Nervous?" Dakota asked, as a sexy half smile lit his lips.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I am. I'm a different person now than I was."

"A lot has happened over the last day, but you're still the same person you always were." Dakota gently took my hand and looked into my eyes. "How will your father react when he sees us together?"

"I don't know," I smiled weakly, taking another deep breath. "But we're about to find out. Let's go."

My father was standing on the front porch, pacing across the wide, wooden planks when Dakota and I walked up. Then his eyes lit up with elation. "Jessica!" He ran toward me and pulled me into his arms. "I was so worried about you!" Then he held me at arm's length. "Are you okay?"

I stood in stunned silence. Of all the reactions I was expecting, this was not one of them.

But before I could answer, my father turned toward Dakota and I held my breath. "Dakota, I presume?"

Dakota nodded, standing bravely beside me, cautious.

Then my father closed the distance between them, extending his hand toward Dakota. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for looking out for Jessica for me."

Wow! I was stunned as I watched my father. Did aliens abduct him and replace him with this understanding impostor? Any other time, if I would have stayed away overnight with a guy, my father would have hit the roof—among other things—and would have disowned me. This was a first.

"Dad, I can explain—" I began.

"Shush, no need," my father cut me off. "Mark explained everything. We have to talk. There's a lot you don't know."

"I'm finding that out," I replied, still stunned as my father wrapped his arm protectively around my shoulders, leading me into the house. "Are you coming, Dakota?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Yes, Sir." Dakota smiled, standing at my side.

"Please, call me Caleb," my father said, smiling.

Suddenly, Austin, Micah and Lexie walked into the yard, down the walk toward the house in their bare feet, wearing cut off shorts, and T-shirts.

"Dad," I said sheepishly, not sure of his reaction. "The pack is coming over. We need to talk to you about something important." Austin, Micah, and Lexie waited.

"I know," my father said, and then turned to Austin and the others. "The rest of the pack is in the living room. It's nice to meet you all. Come on in. Welcome to my home."

Micah, Austin, and Lexie, entered our house as I watched him, stunned. Behind my father, Dakota suppressed a smile, taking in my reaction. "I'll wait for you inside," Dakota said, his voice soft, then he walked into the house, giving my father and me privacy.

"I was so worried about you!" Dad hugged me close, then pulled me back to get a good look at me. "Are you sure that you're okay?" I nodded, then my father continued. "I'm sorry about this, honey. There's a lot that I haven't told you."

"I know," I replied, then continued, seeing the concerned look in my father's eyes. "But it's okay, Dad."

"I kept it from you for a reason," Dad continued. "I was hoping that you would be spared." I nodded, then my father continued. "You know you can refuse the gift."

I thought for a moment and then replied, "I know, but I won't. I need to protect the town and my pack."

My father nodded in understanding, pride showing in his eyes, and then smiled. "Come on inside, honey. There's a lot to discuss."

And with that, I walked into the house as my father followed, completely convinced of my alien abduction theory.