Ch 37 Little Sister

Mahina commented on the small bag around my neck when we met that night. I stopped her hand when she went to lift it off my neck. I refused to take it off. I explained to her briefly what a medicine bag was, how it would stay with me even after death. It's purpose was to hold items of personal and sacred importance.

I had made the bag small and simple, almost stylish so it would not elicit comments if seen. The length of the cord was measured so it would fit around my neck when I was a wolf as well, hidden in my fur when I shifted.

The blood-covered stone was safely ensconced inside along with a few herbs from my special tea.

My new refrain echoed within me. I knew I could not save every innocent in the world. It was those at risk from the wolf that I would be drawn to. There was a new gleam in my eyes when I considered werewolves that would purposely cause harm to others.

It was a gleam I think Mahina saw, and it made her hesitate before she nodded her understanding. I smiled at her, taking her hand as I loved to do. Tonight was a simple night; I was in no mood for crowds. I shared a bit about the young girl with Mahina, how everyone had been talking about her at the end of the race.

"Do you think she actually saw a wolf?"

"Probably." I hid my smile. "Animals have been known to do odd things. I think sometimes someone's spirit guide helps them even if they don't know they have one."

At Mahina's look I did smile.

"I once heard of a boy who was lost in the woods during the winter and two elk lay down next to him all night keeping him warm," I told her. "He was found alive and well the next day, with the imprints from the elk on the ground verifying his story. There are many stories of wild animals saving people. There's no reason to doubt her story."

I had stood back and listened as the girl had excitedly repeated her story for what had to be the hundredth time. I was surprised at the huge impact I had made on her. She had been willing to tell anyone who would listen about the wolf who guided her out of the woods, then disappeared. The story she weaved was accurate in detail, but her interpretation of my side was fanciful.

When I went in Monday, John mentioned her as well, but not favorably.

"Damn kid is complaining because when she went off and caused a commotion she dropped her wolfy. All that shit and they expect us to be hunting for a stuffed animal!"

I was surprised at his venom. Beatrice threw him a dirty look. Before Bea could go off on him I spoke up.

"I'll keep an eye open while I'm out there. If I find it what do I do with it?"

John muttered something about an address before stomping off. I wondered what was bothering him. Bea slid me the note with the family's phone number and address on it. I smiled and winked at her. One way or another the little sister would get her toy wolf.

I talked with Mac about getting a flight to her city. He arranged a private small plane that would take me and bring me back the same night, as well as a bike I could borrow for when I arrived. Her parents agreed to keep my visit a secret.

Tuesday evening had me ringing her doorbell. Her mother opened the door. I put a finger to my lips before she could say anything. With a wink and a grin, I let out a whining howl.

I could hear the thumps from her room before she came flying out of the hall. The girl stopped, staring at me, her eyes wide. I brought the stuffed wolf out from behind my back, moving my fingers slightly to make his head move.

"I think someone missed you. I thought about cleaning him up more. I did brush his coat out some, he must have rolled in some leaves while out playing with the wolves..."

She stepped forward, her eyes as unblinking as a wolf's.

"You're a werewolf," she whispered, her eyes focused on my face.

Her mother started to apologize for her, but barely had a chance before the girl ran forward and grabbed my hand, tugging me down the hall. I glanced at her mother for permission, trying not to chuckle at her long-suffering nod.

I was pulled into the girl's bedroom, shoved toward her desk as she spun around to slam her bedroom door closed in her mother's face.

"No little sister," I said sternly, moving toward the door. "You do not have a man in your room with a closed door," I finished as I opened the door, bowing my head respectfully to her mother. Her mother's relieved smile and nod were all the permission I needed to stay as her mother withdrew.

The little sister looked like she wanted to blow up in anger at me. I kept my stern gaze focused on her. I would not tolerate her being disrespectful.

She took a huffing breath. "Fine," she muttered as she sat on her bed. I headed back to her desk, holding out the stuffed wolf as I sat in the chair. She took in my smile as she took the stuffed wolf from my hands. Her eyes dropped as she focused on the stuffed animal, running her hands through its fake fur.

Her mom came back to the door with a spray bottle and paper towels.

"Mom, I need privacy! The wolf is fine!"

"You know it needs cleaned after..." her mother started.

"Fine," the girl yelled, "then clean it!" She threw the stuffed wolf at her mother.

Her mother picked it up from the floor, glancing at me in embarrassment before walking back down the hall.

"I thought you weren't going to yell at your parents anymore Little Sister," I said softly.

Her head snapped toward me. Her eyes got big and her mouth made a silent "ohhhhh!"

I nodded toward the hall. "Go apologize," I told her.

She slid off the bed, not taking her eyes from me the whole way to the door. She stopped in the doorway. I couldn't help grinning at her. She laughed and flew down the hall for a second time. I could hear her with her mother.

I felt sorry for her mother. She was caught between taking care of her daughter, insisting on the things that would keep her as safe as she could, and doing whatever she could to keep her daughter happy, knowing there was only so much time to do so.

The girl finally came back, coming to stand before me, grabbing my hands once more, just to merely hold them. Finally, after a glance toward her open door, she whispered, "It's you!"

I gave her a little grin, pretending to be puzzled.

"I am indeed me. Who else should I be?"

"No, I mean you're him!"

When I didn't respond, she sighed in exasperation.

"You're the wolf I met in the woods! You couldn't stay away! You're my mate!"

That had me blinking.

"Little sister, I don't know how you came to that conclusion..."

"You're a werewolf!"

She crowded in on me to turn her computer on.  I stood, letting her slide into the chair. She clicked and finally showed me a website. She scrolled through things so fast, her dialogue continuing just as fast.

"How can you not know these things? Mates are chosen for you by the Moon Goddess, they smell wonderful and you're drawn to them." She went on, explaining how werewolves in her stories worked.

"...and when you bite your mate it leaves a special mark like a tattoo, and then I'll heal automatically and..."

"Little Sister, stop, stop!"

I pulled her away from her computer, turning her chair and kneeling before her.

"Little Sister, even if I were a werewolf, I would not bite you. Do you see the scars on me?" I pointed out the few I had on my arm. "Being a werewolf doesn't mean you can heal any better or faster than anyone else. It just means you can become a wolf. Believe me, I would bite you a thousand times, little sister, if I thought it would heal you."

I held her hands, looking at her with compassion as tears filled her eyes but didn't fall.

"You're not a werewolf, you don't know anything!"

She pulled away from me, her bitterness and her anger at death coming out in her tone.

I reached out, laid my hand firmly on a spot where I could smell the cancer. I touched a second spot, then a third. My hand reached for the fourth spot on her head but I just couldn't. I leaned the top of my head against her shoulder.

One small hand barely touched the side of my head. I looked up, a slightly mischievous glint in my eyes.

"Are you not going to tell me not to cry, Little Sister?" I whispered.

She trembled slightly. I could see the conflict within her. Then she turned away from me.

"You're just mocking me. You've read my stories and you're just making fun of me."

"I would never mock you, but neither will I lie to you little sister, no matter how hard the truth is. Understand?"

She nodded, and I could tell she was trying not to cry. Failing miserably but trying.

"Now, about these stories. Do you mind if I read them? I will trade stories with you if you'd like."

"Anyone can read them."

I pulled out my phone, unlocked it and handed it to her.

"Set me up."

"You really don't know anything! You have to open an account! Here..."

She handed my phone back to me.

I grinned at her as I set up an account and handed my phone back to her. She did her thing and handed it back.

"There, you're following me now, so you can read to your heart's content."

Her sarcasm wasn't lost on me. She still believed I was playing her.

"Now Little Sister, we need to talk about mates."

"Uh uh," she said shaking her head. "You promised stories." She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at me.

"Why do I have a feeling that no matter what I say right now, you won't believe me?" I asked.

Her turn to say nothing as she continued to glare at me.

I made a few taps on my phone, set it on her desk. My dad's voice came through the speaker as I heard her mother moving in the hall, eavesdropping.

"Little Wolf, everything all right Son?"

"Fine dad. I need a favor from you if you have a moment."

"Sure, hang on a sec."

We could hear him yelling. I had to laugh.

"Ok, I'm back."

"What did the wrestling team do this time for you to be riding them on a Tuesday night?"

"That's what you called about?" He snorted. "They got into with the basketball team so they're all working out together tonight. Now what's up Son?"

"I promised someone some stories but we're having a bit of a trust issue here."

"What did you do now?"

"Just give her the site for the stories, will you please?"

There was silence for a moment.

"You keep pushing Son. I'm not doing a set of stories about..."

"Dad, I'm here with the girl I told you about from Yellowstone. I'm just talking about the old stories."

"My name is Tammy!"

"Nice to meet you Tammy, so to speak," dad said after a pause. "I'm Black Wolf. You ready for a website?"

Dad hollered out away from the phone, "Don't even! Two more laps for that!"

"He coaches," I whispered to Tammy.

"Ready?"

"Yes sir."

I had to grin at her calling him sir. He gave her the website for the books Mom had written.

"Little Wolf, make sure you hook her up with the complete set," he added to me.

"Yes sir," I said, knowing that if I answered him that cheekily in person I would get thwacked across the shoulders.

"You still coming out with Mahina this weekend?"

"Yeah, thought she and I might do a bit of hiking after the council meeting."

"Good. Chani was asking if Derrick was coming out with you."

"I don't know, I'll ask him. I'll let you know tomorrow night."

"Good deal, ok, let me get back to these boys. Nice talking with you Tammy. Love you Son."

"Love you too, Dad."

I nudged her out of her seat, clicked on her computer, putting in the code for a free set of the books. Then I turned around. She and I looked at each other. I held out my hands. Hesitantly she put hers in mine.

"The truth Little Sister, nothing less will do."

She nodded, her hands a death grip on mine.

"I can love you forever Little Sister, but you are not my mate," I said gently. "Can you accept being my sister?" Then I leaned close to whisper in her ear even as I shifted my hands enough so they would sprout fur. "And part of my pack? Please Little Sister?"

I pulled back so we could look at each other. She held the truth of my being in her hands.

"A thousand bites will make no difference Little Sister," I whispered. "That is the truth. Would that it were otherwise."

She swallowed hard. I couldn't even name the emotions filling her.

"Can I at least be your girlfriend?"

"Little Sister," I looked at her with a hint of my previous sternness. She sighed. Tears still glistened in her eyes, even as her one thumb brushed against the fur on my hand.

"Who's Mahina? It's a weird name."

"My girlfriend," I said with a little grin.

"Tell me about her. What did you notice first?" She asked as she let go of my hands and turned back to her computer.

Hmmpft. Just like that she seemed to ignore the fact I had revealed to her I was a werewolf.

"Her perfume," I answered her, slightly bemused.

"Her scent?"

I sighed. This was backfiring on me.

Suddenly she shrieked, spinning around and staring at me. She ignored her mother's quick appearance in the doorway.

"She's your Luna!"

Her mother slid back around the corner. I could hear her counting backward from ten under her breath. The woman deserved a medal for her patience with her daughter.

"Little Sister..."

"Don't you Little Sister me! Don't you know what her name means? It's Hawaiian for Diana, and it means Moon Goddess!"