Page 62 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Yeah,well, it wasn't that fucking easy. Adam never had to tell the woman he loved hewas a goddamn monster inside. He simply waited for his brother to die andswooped in and settled down with a woman who already knew their family'ssecret. That's what Zach wanted to say, but he kept the harsh words buried deepas he turned away from his uncle's waiting gaze. He wasn't really sure when itstarted between his mom and Adam, but when he came back to Tarki, the unspokenreality of their relationship was there, open and irrefutable. Yet, instead ofbeing angry at the relationship, Zach just found himself a little bitter. Howeasy it was for Adam to find the woman he loved and settle down with her—unlikehim. With just a few simple words, everything between him and Sana could comecrashing down, and she could easily leave him again.
Closinghis hands into fists, Zach closed his eyes at the pain of his sharp nailsdigging into his palms. He wasn't sure if he was the type of man to let herwalk away a second time.
~*~
Twistingher lips to the side, Sana reread the text message from Zach.
"Goingfor our family's fall Moon Hunt. Be there by 10ish. Be naked."
Whenshe first read the text, she blushed and laughed under her breath, but now asshe stared off into the darkness out her window, she frowned. Inside in herwarm house and wearing a pair of thick cotton lounge pants and a matching longsleeve shirt, she still shuddered at the thought of traipsing through theforest on a cold November night. But that was the Waatese clan for you, shethought with a sigh. Their traditions would be upheld, good or bad weather.
Turningaway from the window, she walked into the kitchen carrying her empty salad bowland glass. Setting them in the sink, Sana grabbed the sponge and pumped a globof blue soap on the bristled surface as her mind wandered. What other ritualsand customs did the indigenous First Nation family do? She knew for a fact theWaateses didn’t even acknowledge Thanksgiving, a holiday no one in Tarki daredto bring up around them unless you were wanting a long, visceral speech aboutthe violent colonization of North America. Purification, potlatch, and namingceremonies were some of the few rituals she was familiar with, but a Moon Huntwas something completely new to her. She imagined Zach out there in the woodswith other male Waatese members creeping through the dark underbrush of theforest. Boys fresh out of their Odaapiniwe ceremony, a grueling rite of manhoodthe Waatese celebrated, would undoubtedly be trailing behind their chosenelder, learning and mimicking their actions. Cold, dark, and carryingweapons—it all sounded like a recipe for an accident to her.
Settingthe dishes on the drying rack, she resisted the urge to check the time again. Thiswas crazy, she thought as she stomped into the living room and sat down on thesofa with a huff. Just how did the Waatese women deal with this every year?Just the thought of sending her child into the woods to hunt God-knows-what wasunthinkable. Jabbing the power button on her remote, she settled into the couchand began scrolling through Netflix as she remembered what Zach told her. Hehad been a part of a special section of the military. Images of men withpainted faces slipping in and out of the jungle and placid bodies of water atnight came to mind. All scenes she had seen in various movies but most likelybased on facts. Was that the kind of thing Zach had done during his time in themilitary? Surely that would make him probably one of the best people to takeout on this hunt. Although her hand paused on the remote, Zach had told herevery male member of the Waatese family joined the military, so if that was thecase, it was probably very safe with this particular group of men.
Lookat her, not even a week into their relationship, she was already rationalizingand changing her views to align with his. In the past week, her mind hasdrifted to children more than it had ever done in her life combined. Pullingher bottom lip between her teeth, Sana tried to stop the light feeling ofhappiness that crystallized inside of her. Maybe this was what people referredto when they talked about finding theright one. Was it just a naturalthing for a woman to think of expanding their life and family when they foundsomeone that made them feel cherished and safe? Forgetting about the TV, Sanaslowly twirled the remote on the arm of the couch as she let her thoughts driftlike clouds of fluff at the thought of sinking into Zach's arms again thatnight.
Thelight on her porch flicked on, and all thoughts of happiness flew from her mindas she froze.
Themotion-activated light would only go off if there was someone on her porch.Stiffly she checked her phone, not wanting to move. It was a minute after ten.Was it Zach? No, Zach moved very quickly. By the time the light came on, henormally had the front door unlocked and was already stepping into thevestibule. Panic made her heart stutter as she considered another option. Wasit Samons? Did he come back to accost her again about that day?
Shiftingher weight slowly onto her feet, Sana silently stood up from the couch. Shewould run upstairs and call Zach, she told herself, making a mental game planto barricade herself in her room. And if he didn't answer, she would call thesheriff.
Shewas just taking her first step back when a shape bounded up right outside herpicture window setting its two front paws on the ledge. Sana let out a raggedsigh as she wilted back onto the couch. With her hand to her still thunderingheart, she glared back at the black wolf, who cocked his head to the side in acute wolfish "what?"
Droppingback down from the ledge, the wolf paced to her front door. Sana walked overwith a tired smile, watching the top of his ears glide past the base of herwindow. Opening the front door, she stepped into the vestibule and opened theouter door. The impatient wolf's big head slipped in first and nuzzled at herthighs as he slipped the rest of his long body through the door into the smallspace.
"Oh,hey there," she cooed as she scratched behind his tall ears. "Longtime no see, big guy. I thought you forgot about me."
Sittinghis backside on the floor, the wolf gave her a patient waiting look, his goldenpredatory eyes not at all scaring her like they should. Reaching down, shestroked her hands over the gentle soft curve of his head between his ears,letting her fingers bury into the deep fur of his midnight hackles. The wolfstretched its neck, tilting its long snout up and against her stomach as heclosed its eyes to the sensation.
Sanalaughed softly. "You’re getting so spoiled," she said despite addinganother scratching hand to his scruff. "But you can’t stay long, you gotthat?"
Thewolf opened his eyes but didn't move his head from resting against her as ifconsidering her question. From this position, with his ears slightly tiltedback, he reminded Sana of just a normal dog. His golden eyes and big inky blackpupils were huge and made him look like a sweet puppy instead of the ferociousbeast he really was.
Steppingback, she opened the door and let the big wolf slowly trail into the house withher. Long claws clicked and clacked in a slow, unhurried rhythm behind her ashe followed her into the living room and sat patiently by the couch as she satdown. As soon as she sat, his head came to rest across her lap, and she smiled.Returning to her assumed duty of petting, Sana marveled not for the first timeat the size of the docile wolf. His head took up all of her lap. His glossyblack coat shined in the low amber light of her living room lamp as he satleaning against her, his eyes closed to the pleasure of her strokes.
"I'mglad you weren't out there tonight," she whispered as she leaned back intothe cushions of the couch. The wolf's warm head felt good against her, betterthan any blanket. "Not that any of the Waatese would shoot a wolf, atleast I don’t think. I was worried you may come across one of the younger onesand scare them."
Thewolf shifted against her and sat back and regarded her with its molten gazebefore hopping silently up onto the couch with her. For a moment, her heartlurched as the beast stood well over her head, reminding her exactly what kindof scenario she put herself in with this wild animal. But the fear immediatelyvanished as he plopped down with a languid sigh and rested his head back ontoher lap. Completely pinned now, Sana watched as its pink tongue shot from hismouth and licked at her hand. Once. Twice. Three times.
"Don’tget too comfy," she warned as she covered a yawn from her mouth. "Youcan only stay for a few more minutes until Zach gets home."
Thewolf didn't bother opening an eye as he nestled deeper into her lap as if tomake a point.
~*~
Turningagainst her sheets, Sana opened her eyes at the feel of hot skin next to her.Despite the low gray light of the bright fall moon streaming in through herwindows, Sana could make out the sun-browned skin of Zach's naked torso.Sleepily, she blinked as she followed the slow, gentle curve of his stretchedback and up to the strong rise of his shoulders where his arms caged the pillowbeneath his head. With his face turned towards her, she observed his sleepingfeatures, partially obscured by his silky black hair.
Movingcloser to him until his hot, smooth skin touched hers, Sana let out a sigh atthe contact. Curling into him, she smiled against him as he shifted, and aheavy arm came down over her, draping over her breasts and securing her inplace.
Chapter 13
"So,how you liking the new field engineer?"
Zachdidn't need to look up from the boxes he was moving to see Kevin’s evil grin.It practically oozed from the man's voice. Unable to resist the command he hadgiven himself five times that morning and failed each and everyone, Zachstraightened and turned to look back where Sana was sitting on the other sideof the open clearing on the flattened tailgate of one of the work trucks. Withher legs dangling off the edge, she sat there smiling and talking to the manwho stood next to her, pointing at various spots on the work tablet.
JaxBeranek had arrived early at Sana's house just as Zach was getting up to go runback to his house for a change of clothes. He had stopped in his tracks as heopened the door to find the man leaning on the side of his truck drinking a cupof coffee from his thermos. The man's dark eyes had met Zach's in a calmaccessing stare that made his hackles rise. Dark eyes, severe eyebrows, anddark brown hair pulled into a sloppy bun. The bearded man was somewhat of acontradiction. Although he looked unkempt with his wild beard, wrinkled shirt,and mud-splattered boots, Zach could smell the scent of the man's girly soapfrom where he had stood on the porch. Taking a step down the porch stairs, Zachhad been prepared to confront the unknown man when the front door behind himopened.
