Waxing Gibbous

Chapter 5

“Why is all my stuff here?” Tegan interrogated. She frowned looking down at all of her luggage that had been tucked away in her cottage. It was now pushed into the corner of the olive room.

Storm followed her gaze to the items in question then looked back at her. “Ulrick sent someone over to collect it for you. Like I explained before, he is going to want you to stay here because that house is not secure enough to dwell in.”

“Don’t I have a say in anything around here? I am starting to see were Soren is getting his almighty attitude from.” She took a deep breath and let it out noisily. “Hold tight for a sec. I’ll be right back.”

Storm stepped up to her before she could make it out the door. “Where are you going?”

“To have a word with the alpha,” Tegan told him, reaching for the bedroom door.

“I don’t think that is a wise idea,” Storm advised.

“Look, I already agreed to stick around and help them out, against my better judgment. I didn’t have much of a life before this island, but it was my life. No one told me what to do or how to live it. I’m not going to be living under the same roof as these people. I’ll stay for a few nights but I am not living here. Whether he likes it or not, he is going to have to find some way of dealing with it. I’m not going to be some live-in nurse,” Tegan said, meaning it. She wanted to retain some of her independence. After being on her own for the last few months since her mother died, she had warmed up to the idea of being on her own. It was a liberating feeling to have your own place where you made the rules and didn’t have to worry offending others that lived with you.

“You are their family now. That is why they expect you to stay among them. The bonds that wolves form are unyieldingly strong and last a lifetime. They don’t get your world any more than you get theirs. It’s going to take some getting used to on both sides,” Storm said.

“I know that I’m going to have to learn to respect that things are different from where they come from. But they are also going to learn to respect the fact that I grew up in a human world. That is what I am used to, and that is how my mind is going to work. I don’t know the first thing about being a werewolf or what kind of family bonds they have,” Tegan admitted, the familiar feeling of being lost coming up on the heels of her conscience.

Storm bobbed his head in understanding. “I know that this is difficult.”

“Then let me do what I have to do to deal with it.” With that, she walked out of the room. Tegan was relieved that Storm hadn’t put up any further argument.

She asked one of the pack members milling around the house if they knew were Ulrick was. A woman nodded her head and led her to a part of the manse that she was completely unfamiliar with. “He is through that door,” the woman said timidly.

“Thanks,” Tegan said, then knocked lightly on the door. There was no reply. Instead, the door was wrenched open revealing the hulking pack leader. “We need to talk,” she told Ulrick before he could even address her.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Please, come in.” He moved out of the way so she could inch past him into his study. “What has warranted this visit? I can tell that you are not pleased about something. Is it Soren? Has he done something else to offend you?” Ulrick motioned for her to take a seat in a chair placed in front of a large wooden desk.

“Surprisingly, no,” she said, sitting down. Ulrick took a seat in the chair behind the desk as he listened to her. “I’ve come to talk about you bringing my things here. I want to let you know that I am not staying here with you. I know the gesture is well intended but…I have my own place. That is where I want to live. Not here with all of you,” she said. Ulrick looked taken aback for a moment before he pulled down a blank mask, erasing all emotion from his features.

“But under my roof you will be better protected,” he said matter-of-factly.

“And under your roof I will feel like I am nothing more than a caged animal,” Tegan explained. “Besides, there are too many people here all the time. I would like a little privacy every once in awhile. Have you also forgotten that your son and I don’t get along that well? It would be best that we keep our distance from one another.”

“If it is Soren or the others that are troubling you, I can make sure that they will no longer bother you. But that house is unsafe. It hasn’t had proper repairs in many years,” the alpha argued stubbornly.

“I wouldn’t ask you to bully them away from me. Anyway, I’m going to find a job and fix it. I was going to do that all today, but then this happened,” Tegan said throwing her hands up in the air.

Ulrick looked at her sternly. “We only want to keep you safe. That is our number one concern.”

“It’s not like I am going to be completely alone in the cottage. I’ll have Storm with me. To be honest, I trust him a whole heck of a lot more then I trust any of you with my wellbeing. I don’t know anything of your culture or the way things work around here. I come from humans and I operate how a human would, because that is what I am,” she told him.

“You are only half human,” Ulrick corrected.

“Until I transform for the first time, I will consider myself human,” Tegan retorted.

“Are you embarrassed about being a werewolf?” he asked in a tone underlined with disbelief. It was like he couldn’t possibly understand how someone wouldn’t want to be werewolf.

“No, I am scared shitless! I want off this island and if I wasn’t such a bleeding heart, I would have been outta this place.”

“You really don’t want to be here that much?” he asked softly.

“Truthfully, no. I do not want to be here at all. But, obviously, that isn’t in the hand fate dealt me. I’m going to stay. Though I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you starting making any decisions for me,” Tegan said sharply.

“There could be someone after you. Other packs that would want to use you,” Ulrick told her.

“And how would that be any different from what you are doing?” Tegan asked. “Either way, I’m going to be used for someone else’s benefit.”

“Other packs might not treat you so well,” the alpha warned.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll take precautions. Just as long as I stay on the island, everything should be okay, right?”

“Yeah, but –”

“Then there is no need for me to be in this house. No offence, but I don’t know any of you well enough. The only real reason I agreed to stay around is to help that little girl. Had it not been for her, I think I would have already been on my way back to civilization.” Even though she didn’t have any money, she would have probably hiked it back to the mainland and found some way to get back on her feet. But if that girl died while she ditched this place, she would have felt like a murderer. Her conscience would have never let her rest.

“Let me have it fixed for you if you are intent on staying in that dilapidated little shack.” He cut her off before she could protest. “We will be in your debt as it is. It is the least we can do for your help. I won’t accept anything less than that. You help us, we help you. Fair is fair. Whether you like it or not, you are our kin. We look out for our own.”

Tegan sighed, knowing from the rigid set of his thick shoulders and the resolve in his eyes that he wasn’t going to budge on the issue. And really, she felt a lot better not having the burden of paying for all the repairs of the house. “All right, then I accept. But I’m still going to need a job.”

Ulrick nodded like he was only indulging her. “I’ll see what I can find.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

He shook his head. “And there is nothing I can do to change your mind?”

Tegan tilted her head to the side. “Nope.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re very stubborn. Your father was the same way.”

She shrugged. “So was my mother.”

Ulrick laughed then. “So she was. I want you to live here until your house is done, though. I’ll have them start right away.”

“Thank you,” Tegan said sincerely.

The leader nodded his head, “While you are here, there is something else I need to talk to you about.”

“Oh?” Tegan didn’t get a good feeling about what he was going to tell her. But then again, since she had been on the island, nothing that had been revealed to her had given her a good feeling.

Ulrick leaned in closer to her like it was confidential information he was about to convey to her. “On a night before the full moon, we are going to have to induct you into the pack.”

Her brows puckered. “Induct me?” It sounded like joining a member only club. It kind of was though. You just had to be werewolf to enter.

“It’s customary for the pack healer to go through a ceremony. However, since you have been apart from the pack for most of your life, we will include an induction to your ceremony. You will be introduced to everyone in the pack. Then you will go to the Realm of the Guardians where you will meet other pack member that have passed on as part of the healer’s ceremony,” the alpha said.

“How will I do that?” Tegan questioned.

“You will be sedated and undergo meditation. Your soul will journey into another dimension. There is nothing to worry about. For you, it is completely safe. I’ll have Storm prepare you for it. He knows what you will endure,” Ulrick revealed.

“That still doesn’t make me feel any better,” she mumbled.

He scrubbed a hand across his whiskered chin. “I’m sorry that this has been a difficult transition for you. I hope that in time you will become accustom to our ways, that you will be able to be comfortable around us.”

“I’ve only been around for a day now. It’s going to take a bit longer to get used to all…this.” She pushed her tongue out and ran it across her lips.

“I understand. If there is anything I can to do to make the transition more comfortable…”

“You can start by letting me decide what is best for me. And give me a little time to warm up to the idea of what I am before thrusting all of these responsibilities on me,” Tegan said.

“I just want to keep you safe and well. We have worked too hard to get you back here with us. I’m sorry if you are unhappy with all of this.” He looked a little downtrodden.

Tegan cleared her throat. “I’ll be happier and more willing to help you anyway I can if I felt like I was free to make my own way. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells here, especially with your son around. I just need my own space.”

“Very well. I’ll make sure your house is fixed up as fast as it can be,” he promised.

She gave him the friendliest smile she could muster. “Thanks a lot, Ulrick. I appreciate it.”

He nodded his head and with a tiny wave of her fingers, she left the confines of the office. Tegan found her way back to the bedroom. On the bed, Storm had laid out about a dozen or so books of various sizes and bindings.

“What is this?” Tegan asked, motioning to the spread on the cream colored comforter.

“This is what you will need to do a little casting. Since you haven’t ever used magick – and most witches start training at a very young age – we will have to jump in it right away to get you caught up. There is so much for you to learn. We haven’t even touched on anything really but the basics,” Storm said.

“Is this what I am going to need to help Viv?” Tegan asked.

“Yes. These books all contain simple, yet very effective methods for curing ailments. I have been going through them. I’ve found the ones that I think will best fit your needs and are not too draining on the body,” Storm answered.

Tegan sat down on the bed and picked up one of the books. It had the aura of age. It was leather-bound and looked as if it had passed through many hands. “Were did these come from?”

He set another dusty book down to join the rest. “Some of them were your mother’s. The others belong to the pack. They are for the healer and contain remedies just for those with lycanthropy. There are other things – relics and such – that will be presented to you by them. That will come in a ceremony before the night of the full moon when they officially include you into their pack.”

“Ulrick was just telling me about that. He said you would be the one giving me the lowdown on it all,” Tegan said.

His head cocked to the side. “Lowdown?”

“The details,” Tegan explained, holding in a chuckle.

“Yes, but that can come later. First, I have to begin your lessons in the craft of conjuring,” Storm said.

“Can that wait a few more minutes?” she asked sniffing herself. “I still smell like mud and I would really, really love a shower right about now.”

“Very well. But make it fast,” Storm urged.

“Quick as a wink,” Tegan promise, jumping up and going to her luggage to find something to wear. She found a pair of jeans and an oversized t-shirt. She took her toiletries with her as well. She took a record fast shower, brushed her teeth, and applied some deodorant before going back to the bedroom.

“You were quick,” he said, sounding surprised when she entered.

“Yeah, and I feel tons better without the grimy feeling. Okay,” she said running a towel through her damp hair, “I’m ready to learn, O Great Master Storm.”

He smiled and revealed perfect white teeth before getting serious. “After this spell, you’re probably going to be a little tired. When you first start casting, you get drained of all energy very easily. Like everything else, it will take some practice in order to gain strength. Then you will be able to conjure without any real lasting effects. It will probably be quite simple to cure the girl. She just needs a little liquid remedy and a small ritual,” Storm explained to her, pacing back and forth from one green wall to the other.

Tegan was sitting in on the bed, her eyes tracking his pendulum movements. “What kind of ritual? And I’m thinking that this liquid remedy isn’t some over the counter Nyquil.”

“It’s a tea brewed of a few things. This ritual that you will have to perform is what will exhaust you. You are the gateway that will infuse the magick into the concoction and into the girl. Because we don’t have much time, I’ll have to guide you through the whole thing. In the future, you will have to learn everything and lock it into your knowledge. With time and experience, you will be able to start generating your own form of witchcraft.” Storm stopped his pacing in front of her.

She pointed to all the books scattered on the mattress. “How am I going to learn all of this?”

“Your mother’s texts are among them. They contain spells as well as her take on the craft. She recorded just about every charm and curse she ever cast,” Storm said. “They may help you as well as my guidance.”

“Do they include whatever hocus-pocus she used to curse you?” Tegan asked.

Storm sighed “No, she probably wasn’t kind enough to just leave that lying around.”

Tegan gave him an exasperated look. “How the hell are we ever going to find a way to get you free then?”

“There has to be a way. We will figure something out. We will take it all one day at a time. But first, there is something about me that you need to know,” he told her ominously.

Tegan steeled herself, her spine stiffening, afraid of what the next big reveal was going to be. “Oh, yeah? What is it this time?”

Storm went over to the bay windows and opened them. “I can shapeshift as well. When we first conversed, I had told you that you should be at ease with me whether I was in my truest form or not. I would like to expose you to my other form.” He started peeling away his clothing. He took off the shirt that she had cried all over – it had to have been thrown it into the wash. He turned his back to her as he peeled his jeans down his legs.

Tegan wasn’t the least bit surprised that he was something other than human. She could feel something very otherworldly within him.

He threw her a look over his shoulder as he reached up and plucked one of the feathers from his hair. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered, beaming at her.

Whenever people said “don’t be afraid”, that was usually when some scary shit was about to happen. How could she not be scared?

With that, he flung the feather into the air outside. Tegan jumped as it exploded into a cloud made of a billion more of the pristine plumes. Storm leapt out of the window, shrouding his body in the plethora of white. Tegan dashed to the window, her heart pounding as she looked for Storm’s sprawled body on the ground below. A great cry echoed through the air. She looked up as the feathers settled. Circling the sky was a beautiful large white owl. It swooped down and she took a step back as it landed on the sill.

“Wow,” Tegan breathed, taking in the intelligent storm colored eyes that regarded her.

The bird on the window ledge twisted its head to the side. This is my original form. This is what your soul chose for me to be. It inhabited a living creature it found the most worthy and this is it.

She was shocked when Storm’s voice entered her mind. For some reason, Tegan didn’t think that he would be able to communicate with her as an animal. “Do you understand if I talk to you like this?”
Yes.

And I can talk to you like this, too. This is kind of awesome. What about if I am in wolf form? Will it work then? Tegan asked mentally.

Yes. We are still connected no matter what shape we take. Storm hopped off the ledge and began to vibrate, small ticks that were barely noticeable. Then a shimmery aura warped around his body as he became man once again. The feather that he had pulled from his hair earlier was back in place and as beautiful and white as ever. The only evidence of his transformation was the littering of feathers on the floor that the breeze had pushed in from outside.

“And you can do that at any time?” She watched as he grabbed his clothes and started redressing.

“Yes,” he said, sliding the dark blue denim back up his legs.

“And the new moon doesn’t affect you like it does the werewolves?” she questioned.

“No.” He zipped up his fly and fastened the button. Next, he grabbed his shirt and slipped it over his head.

Tegan tilted her head in question. “How come you can do it and the wolves can’t?”

“It is because werewolves are influenced by the moon. I am influence by you. I am sustained by your magick. It used to be difficult to change back and forth when you weren’t here. Most of the time I just stayed in my owl form, unless one of the pack members wished to speak with me,” he said.

“You must have been really lonely,” Tegan said sadly.

“It’s better now that you’re here.”

She offered him a smile. “Should we get to work now?” There was a knock at the door before he could answer. Storm went over to open it. A young woman with a tray in her hands came in and set it on a cleared part of the bed.

“The master has asked that I bring you refreshments, madam,” the woman said in a small voice.

“Please, call me Tegan. And thank you for bringing us something to eat,” she said with a friendly grin.

“You’re very welcome.” She bowed and scurried out of the room.

Tegan moved away some of the books so she and Storm could sit together. “Why do they all act like that around me?” She picked up half of a ham and cheese sandwich and took a bite, while offering Storm the other half.

“They do not wish to offend in any manner,” Storm answered, accepting what was offered.

Tegan sighed. “I really wish that they didn’t do that. It’s very…uncomfortable.”

“They will become accustom to your personality in time. Others have not been so kind to them.”

“What do you mean by that?”

He took a bite of his half then swallowed. “After your mother had left, and before you came back, they had enlisted a few other witches to help the pack. Most were too weak to be of any real use and others…well, they wanted a whole hell of a lot more than what was offered. When you asked me if you were evil, you should know that you are far from it. They became power hungry, wanting more and more to fuel whatever selfish purposes they had. And when they couldn’t gather enough wild magick, they would siphon it out of the pack magick. A lot of lives were lost because of this. Those witches, it took a lot to put them down. Those selfish hags became fueled by greed. That is why magick can be a dangerous thing and why you must use it wisely. With you being half werewolf, they figure that you will hold more loyalty to them than all the others had. They expect you to not turn on them because of who your father was.”

Tegan rubbed the side of her head. She could already feel another headache coming on. “I already feel like I am being too loyal to them. I am giving up part of my humanity to help them.”

“So, you have decided to stay then?” Storm asked with a childlike enthusiasm.

“Realistically speaking, I have nowhere else to go. I have no money. I couldn’t afford to live in the city anymore. Besides a few friends, I really don’t have much of a family. Maybe being part werewolf won’t be so bad. I mean, it’s only one night out of the month. And even then I don’t have to change, according to Ulrick. After I get this first one out of the way, I can just live like I normally would – except the whole witch thing, of course. But I think I can deal with that,” Tegan mumbled. “If I did have a shot off this rock, I’d take it. But thinking about it all, the alternative isn’t as bad as it first seemed. If I had to, I could probably live with it.”

Storm gave her a blisteringly bright smile. He reached over and gave her a bear hug that was sure to leave behind bruises.

“Okay, big guy,” she wheezed. “You can stop crushing me now.”

He unwound his arms from her. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I’m just happy that you are staying. If you left, I would be stuck here without you again.” The sadness as he spoke broke her heart. She reached out and grabbed his much larger hand in hers.

“After this, the next thing I want to work on is trying to free you. You shouldn’t be condemned here. I promise I will find a way to make you whole again,” she vowed, locking his stare with hers.

Her familiar squeezed her smaller fingers gently. “Thank you,” he whispered, leaning in and brushing his lips across her forehead. “Even if you do not find a way to do it, your willingness to is enough. I’m lucky that I have gotten you as my master. Sometimes others...they are not so kind. They treat their familiars slightly better than they would a common beast.”

Tegan gasped, wondering if he thought she would ever treat him as poorly as that. “I would never abuse you, Storm. I can’t be cruel without little or no reason. If this situation is any indication, I tend to have a bit of a bleeding heart. I always try do what I think is right. Turning my back on these people, it goes against every natural fiber in my being. If I left, I would hate myself. Same goes for you. I could never leave you behind, stuck here to this island. And I would never, ever hurt you.”

“You are a good soul, Tegan. But do not let that be your downfall,” he warned. “You shouldn’t think you have to save everyone. Sometimes you are going to have to choose yourself over others. If something bad were to ever happen to you, it would affect us all. If you were to die, I would die with you. The wolves of this clan could die off as well.”

Tegan nodded her head in understanding. “I’m not my mother’s daughter. She was very apathetic to the world around her. I knew that she loved me, but it seemed that there was always a piece missing from her life. It’s like I had inherited the heart that she never had.”

He looked at her sorrowfully, recalling memories from the past. “She loved your father very much. His death affected her in such a negative way. She turned her back on the supernatural and opted to live a more normal life away from here. She blamed the pack for your father’s death. She felt that they could have done something to protect him better.”

Tegan bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “I wish I could have known what she was like back then. And I wish I could have met my father.”

“Maybe one day you will. I am sure that they are both looking out for you,” Storm said optimistically. She shrugged her shoulders in response, thinking that that was never going to happen.

After they finished what was left of the lunch – another sandwich made with turkey, a couple cookies, and two cans of soda – Tegan got up from the bed and went over the large stretch of windows. The view looked out over the front lawn. There was a red car pulling away and she watched as it disappeared around a bend in the white graveled drive.

“Are you ready to do this?” Storm asked some time later, coming up behind her.

Tegan nibbled at her dry lips before turning around to face him. “Not really, but what other choice do I have?”

Storm settled his hand on her shoulder and peered down at her. “Everything will all be okay. That is my promise to you.”

Tegan nodded. “What am I going to need to do this?”

Storm left her side and rooted around in a box for a little bit and came up with a white candle. “Do you know what this is?”

She scrunched her face together. “Uh…a candle?”

“Not just any candle. Your mother had made these a while ago. It is laced with a mixture of herbs and spices to soothe the mind and heart. It is released when you burn it. This will aid in calming your nerves before we do this,” Storm assured. He set it in a single candlestick and pulled a pack of matches from the same box he got the candle from. He lit the wick then turned to her. “Stay here and relax. I’m going to gather everything. I will tell Ulrick where and when to meet up with us. Before we meet with them, I will explain what you use everything for and why. After this night, you will begin your training,” her familiar informed her.

Storm left the room to tell Ulrick the plan. When he came back, he had a sack filled with unknown items. Whatever they were, he seemed to handle the goods with great care.

“What is that?” Tegan asked, motioning to the bag. The room had become filled with the scent of lavender and something else that she could not name. Storm had been right, though. The knots of anticipation in her stomach were fading. Her nerves were beginning to unwind.

“Things that you will need for making Vivian better. I spoke with Ulrick. He is going to meet us on the shoreline near sunset. He will bring her. Expect most – if not all – the pack to accompany him,” he told her.

Tegan rolled her eyes. “Is that really necessary?”

He blinked down at her. “They are curious about you and they want to bear witness to your capabilities.”

“Talk about pressure,” she mumbled. She filled her lungs with the sweet scent of the burning wax. She would have to find out what was in that candle because over the next few weeks, she would probably need to burn a whole lot of them.

“Are you ready to go?” Storm asked.

“I guess. How long is this going to take?”

“It shouldn’t be too long into the night. You will need to bring something warm to wear. It tends to be a bit chilly on the shore,” he advised.

Tegan went over and grabbed a hoodie out of her luggage while Storm began collecting the things that had been spread across the bed and stuffed a few books into the bag. Once everything was packed and the candle was blown out, Storm led her out of the house and to the site where the ritual would be held.