Black Karma by Shawnee Rose (bookstand for reading .TXT) 📕

Karma
Sniffing the ground again, I realized with horror the mistake I had just made. I stumbled back fearfully, head snapping back and forth, seeking out the others I knew had to be somewhere near by. God, why was I such a fool?
Karma is my name, a very unfortunate one to have if you ask me. I’ve had so many people give me funny looks or crack jokes about it that I’ve lost count. I’m a freak of nature, something that shouldn’t be… quite seriously, I am. I’m not very tall, a platinum blonde with grey eyes, so pale I would never be able to sneak out at night without being seen. I’m smart, so I really don’t have to try in school. But when it comes to fitting in, I’ve always had trouble with that. Being a she-wolf kind of ruins all possibility of ever making real friends. How did I become one? I have no clue. Neither of my parents were wolves, so how did a human child like me get her genes so messed up? Having the heightened senses and other things that most normal humans don’t have creeps people out, so they tend to avoid me.
I sniffed again, hackles rising. Yep, it was definitely another wolf, a couple actually. A whimper slipped out as I searched for the wolves that I had smelled. I had just moved here, so in my defense I had no clue that there was another wolf pack here! It was never smart to impinge on another pack’s territory. I learned that lesson the hard way when I was twelve. Being a freak even in your own family means you can’t tell them that you are one… humans are never quick to accept that you are anything but human, and if they do you better run for your life because the gun or scientists are soon to follow. My family took an innocent vacation to California… bad idea. I had no idea there were others of my kind, let alone that you shouldn’t barge in on the territory uninvited… let’s just say my parents received a very tearful and very bloody child that night.
Carefully, I backed away, eyes searching the area, ears pricked forward and listening. Turning around carefully, I turned and sprinted for my new home, my heart hammering in my chest. I did not want to be attacked again. Almost near home, I shifted human. I breathed in the beautiful smell of the foliage and animals that called the woods home. My old home had been horrible, in a suburban town that provided me hardly any space to run as a wolf. This was beautiful, perfect. Trotting up to my new home, which was a huge two-story house set back into the trees, I scanned the yard for any signs of the wolves. Nothing. I was safe. A smile stretched across my face and I darted for the door.
“Watch it!” Keegan, my little brother, snapped. The next thing I knew I was flying forward, tripping over a box he had sitting right in the entrance.
“Keegan!” I snapped, barely catching myself so that I didn’t hit the ground. “Why do you have a box in the way of the front door? How stupid can one be?” I fumed. Stupid boy…
“Not my fault you can’t watch where you’re going,” Keegan said, a smirk on his face.
I scowled at him but said nothing. I kicked the box out of the way, getting a string of complaints that I ignored. I wandered upstairs to my new room. I was almost done unpacking. The only things left were the small things like my books. The room faced south towards the back yard, a huge oak right next to the one window. The second window had a window seat, where the last three boxes sat. Striding across the plush tan carpet, I curled up on the floor to finish.
“Karma?” My mother stood in the doorway to my room. One look at her and it was made obvious whom I got my looks from. Long wavy platinum blonde hair and large blue eyes, my mother had the looks of an actress.
“Yes, Mom?” I asked, looking away from the bookshelf I was slowly filling.
“Have you seen your father?” she asked, walking into my room with an unconscious grace.
I frowned, my eyebrows crushing together. “No, I haven’t. Why?”
“I can’t find my earrings,” she said, pouting.
“Which ones?” I asked in an offhand way.
“The silver hoops.”
I shoved the last book onto my shelf, a Stephen King novel, before I turned to face her.
“Well, Dad sure isn’t going to know where they are.”
My mother studied me for a couple seconds from where she was perched on the edge of my bed. “Have you ever considered wearing jewelry yourself, Karma?”
I groaned, standing up and turning away from her. “Mom, don’t start. I do wear jewelry.” She had this thing against the way I dressed. I liked my T-shirts and jeans… She felt I should dress up more often.
“No you don’t! The most you ever wear are earrings. Have you ever considered spicing up a cute V-neck with a necklace maybe? Wear a skirt?”
“Mom!” I complained.
I heard someone walking up the stairs and my dad appeared in the doorway. Brown hair falling into gray eyes framed by black wire rimmed glasses, my father was a striking man of six feet.
“Dad! Have you seen Mom’s earrings?” I asked, already knowing that answer.
He gave me a rather priceless look of confusion. I had to stifle a laugh. “No. Why would I have seen them?” I simply shook my head.
He frowned, but didn’t say anything more about the matter. “Could you come help me with something, Nola?
My mother left with a sigh. I flopped onto my bed as soon as they left, only to be interrupted immediately after. “Want to come into town with me, Karma?”
I looked over at Keegan, at eyes the same color as mine. He had my dad’s looks, minus the nerdy glasses. “Sure. Why not?”
“Well, let’s go, Karma.” He immediately turned and disappeared. Rolling my eyes, I skipped down the stairs after him.

Bo
Bo!

Namiko called to me urgently.
With a growl, I continued to run in the direction I was heading, but didn’t turn around to find the smaller wolf. What is it this time?
Probably another mountain lion that he failed to realize was near by

, Mocha said.
I sniffed. It wouldn’t surprise me… the wolf had a tendency to let his mind drift.
No! It’s another wolf!

Namiko howled.
I skidded to a stop and whirled instantly in the direction for Namiko. What do you mean it’s another wolf?! I snapped.
Is it…?

Tommy started but trailed off.
No. I don’t know who this is…

Namiko trailed off.
I was running at top speed towards Miko, my mind flying through who it could be this time. I knew that the Morningstar pack had increased its numbers… was this a new wolf to their pack? I had to stop abruptly so that I wouldn’t crash into Tommy. I snarled and snapped at the gray wolf for being in my way. Sorry, sorry

! He whimpered, scampering out of my reach.
I could smell the wolf… a rich chocolaty scent with a floral mix… almost like jasmine. Ears flicking, Aislinn stepped forward, her lips curled over her teeth. You don’t think the alpha Moonshade would be stupid enough to send one of his own into our territory?

She asked.
I chose not to answer, following the trail, my pack on my heels. This wolf didn’t smell like a Morningstar. What is a lone wolf doing around here?
Maybe it’s just a lone wolf… wolves do live around here, you know. It may not be one of us at all

, mused Mocha.
It was a possibility, but I was going to make sure that was exactly what it was. The trail took me straight into civilization… not many wolves are stupid enough to waltz into human habitation in broad daylight. It had to be a lycanthrope. There was no other logical explanation. The trail took me right to the edge of the old Smith home. I observed the decrepit looking house, seeing someone now claimed the place as home. My ears and tail twitched in agitation.
As I stood there in the brush, I saw a girl and a boy walk out of the house. The girl was a platinum blonde, everything about her white. I looked her over, appreciating her curvaceous build. The boy couldn’t be much younger than she was, with brown hair and matching eyes. Siblings, perhaps? So how lone wolf was a werewolf after all. I was going to have to keep an eye on her. I took a step back carelessly, causing a branch to snap.
The girl’s gray eyes found me instantly, fear flashing in their pale depths. Immediately I drew back into the trees and out of sight.
Wow, she’s gorgeous,

Shade said.
I could feel Aislinn bristling at the knowledge of another she-wolf nearby. She had an alpha ego, something I often had to remind her she wasn’t. Aislinn and Mocha had no dominancy issues, but when it came to others Aislinn felt she had to make it clear she was better. My pack had no alpha female, something that made it a little unstable, but we managed.
I barely paid my pack any attention as my mind considered the newcomer.

Karma
Walking down my driveway with Keegan, the snapping of a tree branch caught my attention. My eyes found a dark wolf staring out at me through the ferns at the edge of our yard. Fear coiled in my stomach like a disgusting snake. I watched the wolf back into the trees, the sunlight catching its black fur giving it brownish hues.
“What is it, Karma?” Keegan asked, eyebrows coming together curiously.
I shook my head. “Nothing. I just thought I heard something is all.”
Keegan rolled his eyes. “Sweet Karma, always hearing and smelling things that aren’t there.” I scowled at him, making him grin.
“So where exactly are we going,” I asked when we finally reached the little town.
Keegan shrugged. “No where in particular,” he said. “I just wanted something to do. I figured we could come check it out.”
I shrugged as well. Sounded like a nice enough plan to me. My eyes scanned the streets, searching for any signs of the wolves that I kept smelling.
Keegan glanced over at me, giving me a funny look. It must have been obvious that I was on edge, but I couldn’t help it. I really didn’t want to get into a fight my first week there. I forced my face into a smile for Keegan’s sake.
His grey eyes suddenly got large. “Karma, look!” I watched my little brother run across the street. Rolling my eyes and sighing, I followed like the good sister that I was.
“Laser tag!” he crowed.
“Really, Keegan? You’re sixteen.” I gave him a disbelieving look.
“What? All because I’m sixteen doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a game of laser tag. You like it too, you know.” He jutted out his chin, his mouth coming together in a thin line, fighting a smile.
“I wasn’t saying anything against you playing laser tag, just that you don’t need to act like a five year old about it.” I smirked at him.
He scowled at me playfully. “You want to play?”
I