"Everything is taken care of," Ajay says, approaching us.
"We are only a mile left to the camp," Dev exclaims.
"That one had to come from our local cemetery."
"I will do a check when we get back."
"Take Chetan and Kiara with you, there could be a few."
Dev passes me back to Ajay, and he carries me back the rest of the way to the camp. I
feel like they played hot potato the whole trip. Finally, making it back to the base, I am
exhausted, but happy this zombie fight is over. The other three take off to do a cemetery check, and Ajay lays me down on the couch.
"You are on this couch all day tomorrow," Ajay says.
"What? No, I am okay," I protest.
"That's why you passed out. I also had it on my mind, plus fighting zombies, not getting
lost, and keeping the pack safe," he states
"Sorry, I caused you so much trouble."
"I wouldn't expect anything less." He chuckles. "I need to stitch your neck up and put
some antibiotic cream on it."
Sitting up, Ajay sits behind me and washes my neck with cleaning wipes. I whimper a
little in pain. He passes me the whiskey, and I take a big drink. The burning of my throat doesn't bother me as badly this time. The stitching went faster, and the cream felt cold on my neck, soothing the stinging. He kisses the other side of my neck.
"You know you're my favorite person in the whole world," he whispers in my ear.
Smiling, I nod.
"And I think you're so beautiful."
Looking over my shoulder, my lips meet his. He kisses me gently. His lips taste so good,
it sends quivers up my spin. He pulls me into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck; he grabs my face with one hand. Hearing the door open, our lips pull apart.
"I am hungry, Father," Dev says with a smirk.
"Don't ever call me that again." Ajay laughs. "I have some hamburger meat in the
refrigerator; anyone up for burgers?"
We all said "Yes" at once.
Once Ajay slid out from under me, and his back is turned, I dash outside. The moon is
half full, my owl friend hoots to fill the night. Changing into my wolf form, I lay under a tall oak tree. The ground is cold under my fur. Watching a tiny toad hop across the grass, I am at home outside in the wild. Closing my eyes, I could almost fall asleep, but then I hear footsteps approaching.
"I told you to stay inside, remember?" Ajay hisses.
"Why can't I stay outside."
"You need to learn to take orders and listen," he speaks.
"Yes, Alpha."
"That's a good girl."
Dev comes outside with a grin on his face.
"I don't know how I am going to make that wolf listen," Ajay groans.
Dev pretends to hump the air. "You need to give her a little encouragement."
Ajay laughs. "Oh whatever," he speaks.
Ajay wraps his arms around me, leaving me glad he wasn't as mad as last time I didn't
listen.
"You know, I care about you," he whispers.
"I know."
"I can't have you outside alone being bitten by zombies."
Going back inside, we all sit down and eat dinner. Eating dinner all together, we feel like
a family.
Kiara has been pretty quiet. So have I. This is all coming between us, and I can't stop it.
What should I even say to her?
"Are you feeling better, Zare?" Dev asks.
"Yup, almost good as new."
Kiara rolls her eyes; she seems annoyed.
I guess I can't say I blamed her. "Can I do a cemetery check?"
"Only if Dev goes with you. I don't want you alone until your neck heals," Ajay replies.
"I think this whole thing is pathetic," Kiara snorts.
Yup, she's mad. "Kiara, I am sorry."
"You run off and never follow the rules, yet everyone has to take care of you and carry
your ass around. Which one of those people happens to be my boyfriend. He is my boyfriend, in case you forgot. Apparently, your lips have," Kiara yells. "Zare needs help, and all the boys are all so happy to help. ''
"You're right." I don't even try to argue.
"In Zare's defense, she saw the zombie and tried to handle the problem, though she
should have howled for help," Ajay interjects.
And kissing my boyfriend?" Kiara snaps.
"I told you guys before not to date anyone who is not your Mark mate because when you find them, it changes everything. What are you going to do when you find yours? Your inner wolf will crave him," Ajay says.
"I only want Chetan," she declares.
"For now," Ajay states.
"I don't want to listen to any of this. I am going for a run," she says.
"She can leave freely?" Placing my hand on my hip, I gave him my best sassy face.
"She follows orders." Ajay smirks.
I bit my lower lip out of annoyance. Even though he sticks up for me, I am still being
punished. "Want to go for a cemetery run, Dev?"
"I'll go,'' Ajay speaks up before Dev can respond. "Dev and Chetan, clean the dishes and
keep an eye on Kiara."
"Yes, sir." Dev salutes Ajay.
"Don't do that," says Ajay, laughing.
Once outside, I change into my wolf form and dash into the wood with Ajay right behind
me. The ground is cold under my feet, and the night air is breezing through my fur. My eyes watch only the fireflies like a child amazed. The moon is only half-lit, like the other night, but it shines so brightly.
Slowing down right before the cemetery, I notice two zombies. Ajay must have seen
them too, because he speeds up, jumping in front so I was behind him.
"Stay behind me," he commands.
When we are in wolf form, we can naturally communicate with each other. To humans it
sounds like growls, howls, and yips, but to us it sounds like a familiar language.
The zombies notice us, too, and leap at us. One is a girl, and one is a boy. They look like the typical zombie, nothing new. The girl has a wedding dress on, that was interesting. It was all ripped up, of course. Attacking the girl zombie, I went straight for her throat. Biting the zombie, the flesh enters my mouth; I don't let it bother me like last time. She screams, and I bite her again, this time dropping her to the ground where I easily bite into her chest, ripping out her heart. "Feeling slightly disappointed, I see Ajay take down the boy zombie. I wanted to be the one to do it.
Wow, good job, Adageyudi," Ajay says.
"I took her down fast."
"I am proud, except I told you to stay behind. Silly me to think you would follow the
rules." He chuckles.
Smoke fills the air as Ajay sets the zombies on fire. My face becomes watery as smoke
draws moisture to my eyes. Watching them burn makes me sad.
They are already dead, I remind myself often. These are still once someone's son or
daughter. Husband or wife, and they are being burned like trash. But what other choice did we have?
"Let's head back to camp," Ajay says.
"You don't want to spend a little time away?" I glance at him.
"Okay fine, just a little while."
Taking his hand, I lead him beneath a tree where we lay down. "I love just watching the
moon and hearing the sounds of nature."
"Yeah, me, too."
The little owl began to howl again at the top of the tree.
"Hello, buddy," I greet him.
"You see this owl often?"
"All the time, maybe he is my guardian owl."
"Guardian owl? I never heard of such a thing." He laughs.