by Jade Alters
“Give me the binoculars, someone's moving over there.”
Granite handed the binoculars to me and I trained them on the figure coming out of the warehouse door. It was McAvoy, in a trench coat. I watched him put a padlock on the warehouse door, and I wondered not for the first time, what he was hiding in there. Before he left, he took a look around him like he was making sure he was alone and then head toward a golf cart that sat near the front of the small parking lot.
“He's getting in the golf cart. You think we should approach on foot or follow him?”
“I say follow him for a bit,” Granite said. “Let's see what he's up to.”
I picked up my phone and text Clay that he was on the move and we were following, handed the binoculars back to Granite and waited for the golf cart to pull out on the narrow frontage road before starting the car. I let him get a good lead and then I began to follow after him.
He drove along the frontage road for a while until he came to a small gravel path that there was no way I'd be able to take the Jeep down. I parked it and as I was getting out, I heard Granite open his door.
“Why don't you stay here?”
“I'm old, boy, not dead.”
I wasn't going to argue with him.
I tucked my gun into my jeans and started up the path when suddenly, I smelled a wolf. I looked behind me and there was Granite, an old brown wolf, trotting up behind me.
I shook my head and kept going.
There were situations that called for shifting but I thought this one called more for carrying a gun. I guess a sharp mouthful of teeth and twenty or so razor claws couldn't hurt as back-up no matter what we encountered out here in the dark.
The taillights on the golf cart had disappeared into the dark countryside but I could see what looked like a storage or guard shack up ahead. I listened closely to the night and stepped lightly on the gravel so as not to make too much noise as we approached. I could see Granite sniffing the air and I knew that although my senses were enhanced even in human form, they were nowhere near as strong as they were when I shifted. I was glad that Granite had, especially as we got closer and I was sure that I could smell more than one human. I looked down at Granite and held up two fingers. The old wolf picked up his front paw and scratched at the ground.
“One, two, three, four…”
Shit.
I slid my phone out of my pocket and trying to hide the light from it underneath my jacket, I sent Clay a text:
“Followed subject from warehouse approximately four miles to another dwelling. Smell multiple humans. Should we go in, or abort?”
I got down on one knee next to Granite to make my shadow less noticeable in case anyone stepped out, and I waited.
A few seconds went by and I got a message from Clay that said,
“On our way. Don't go in until we get there. If subject or anyone else comes out, follow but don't approach.”
The hair on the back of my neck was standing up. Something about this was off, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
We were careful, but there was always the possibility that he'd made us, following him. If they came out now, Granite and I were not only outnumbered, but there was no place to really hide. I looked at the back of the little house and motioned to the wolf. He followed me up to the cabin, him stepping lightly and me practically crawling.
Once there, we crouched close to the edge where we could still see any movement from either side, and again, waited. It seemed like an eternity before I smelled Clay and Manny coming up the path behind me. If not for their smell however, he wouldn't have ever known they were there.
When they reached me and Granite, Clay said, “Any movement?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“Do we know if there's an exit on the other side?” Manny asked, sniffing the air.
“No. We stayed put like we were told,” I told him. “I can still smell them though.”
“Something's off,” Manny said, “About the smell.”
I sniffed the air again, and so did Clay.
I smell humans.
Clay frowned and for a second and I was second guessing my own senses, but then he said, “I smell them. What's off about it?”
I was relieved that he smelled them too, and I wasn't dead wrong. I wanted to gain their respect back, and I was on my way to doing that. I still wasn't sure what to do about my feelings for Cheyenne, but at least I could throw myself into work, and do a great job.
“I smell death,” Manny said. “Human death.”
I closed my eyes and smelled the air. I can always pick up decomposition, it's the worst smell in the world. I was disappointed in myself because I still simply smelled humans. I guess they could be dead, but the bodies had to be fresh. The other strange thing was that there was no smell of blood in the air. In the case of dead humans, shot or stabbed or even in a car accident...it was usually strong. Suddenly the smell was forgotten when I heard movement from the direction of the front of the shed. Everyone did, apparently.
Clay and I were on one side, still crouched low, but now with guns ready. Manny was on the other side with Granite at his knee, the brown hair on his back standing straight up all over. He made eye-contact with me and then looked over at Manny and Granite before standing up slowly and waving his arm for them to advance.
Manny slipped around one side with Granite on his heels and Clay slipped around the other while I followed him.
I'd been involved in many of the security jobs we'd taken on, but none with the possibility of a gunfight.
My adrenaline was surging and my heart was pounding. I had my gun out and I was clutching it so tightly that I could feel my hand tingling as the blood tried to make its way through.
We made it around the side, almost to the center of the wall of the shed when a shadow suddenly appeared from around the front of the house.
Before we could even process that, a volley of shots broke the silence of the night.
Clay and I hit the ground, and returned fire.
The man dove back behind the house, but we heard gunfire from that direction. And then suddenly… nothing.
Manny got him, or he got Manny...but that was doubtful. We heard a low whistle and if there was any doubt, that settled it. We made our way the rest of the way around and there was McAvoy...truly dead now, with a hole in the center of his chest.
Manny was already on the porch and ready to open the door of the cabin.
Granite was standing by, but since he was still in wolf form, I went to help.
Manny and I had our weapons ready as he kicked in the door. Clay was covering us from behind as we stepped into the doorway, guns drawn. My heart was racing, but there was no need to worry. Every one inside was already dead.
Four men lay on the floor in the center of the room, one piled on top of the other in a stack. They were all nude, and now that I was close enough to smell, obviously dead. I didn't smell blood and I didn't see any, and their bodies seemed to be intact, at least what I could see. Maybe they'd been strangled, or poisoned, but whatever happened was recent and that's why Clay and I hadn't yet been able to pick up the smell of death.
We searched the rest of the place. It was only one room with a bathroom, so it didn't take any time at all to realize it was clear, save for the bodies. Counting the one outside, we now had five bodies, and I knew that it was going to be a long ass night.
7
Cheyenne
“You know we love you, Chey, but it's been three weeks and you're as nervous as a cat all the time and only leave the house to go to work. I think something happened to you that night that you're not telling us.”
Marta and Bonnie had ambushed me on Saturday morning, before I'd even had my coffee.
I'd been so jumpy for the past three weeks, scared of my own shadow, that when I stepped out of my room and found them waiting for me in the living room, I actually screamed.
I walked past the both to the little kitchen as I sa
id, “You just startled me is all. You shouldn't sneak up on a person first thing in the morning.”
I got a mug out and began to pour my coffee.
The kitchen and living room are separated only by an island. I was wishing it were a wall when I realized they were both turned backwards on the couch, staring at me.
“This is us, Cheyenne. We only want to help you,” Bonnie said.
“I don't need any help. I got drunk, wandered around lost for a while, woke up in the woods and came home embarrassed as hell. I'll get over it.”
“That story doesn't even make sense. What did you eat, drink? Where did you sleep for two nights? Those woods are full of creepy-crawling creatures. You expect us to believe you just curled up and slept on the ground?”
“Yes, I do. If you love me as much as you say you do, you'll believe me. I already have to deal with the daily calls from my mother, urging me to come home. I feel lucky I was even able to convince her and my father to not come out here. Do me a favor and next time I go missing, please don't call them.”
Bonnie rolled her eyes as I walked back through the living room, trying to make it back to my room. I was surprised when Marta stepped in front of my door.
“Huh uh,” she said, “You've been avoiding this conversation for weeks and things are only getting worse. Bonnie says you're even distracted at work all the time, looking out the window and jumping every time the bells on the door ring. You have to tell us what really happened.”
I sighed. I wanted to growl, or scream even. I just wanted them to leave me alone. I had nightmares about hairy beasts every night. I was scared to death that they were coming to get me...and at the same time, I couldn't get Ridge off my mind. Not the Ridge that kidnapped me, but the man from the bar. The hot, funny, sweet, interesting man that I truly thought liked me. I knew it was crazy to think anything about him, or feel anything toward him other than anger...but those crazy feelings like I belonged with him still ate away at me.
Go figure.
I'd fall for a man who was part animal, and who would rather hold me captive in the woods than take me out on a real date.
I feel like I'm losing my mind some days, and I want to talk about it. But then I picture them...all three of them, turning into wolves in front of my eyes, and Chelsea's veiled threats. What confused me most was when I pictured Chase, or Chelsea with that baby. They were so soft and loving towards him. How could they be both monster and nurturer? None of it made any sense and I longed for the old days when I was simply a chubby, plain girl with a boring life.
“I already did,” I said. “Now if you don't mind, it's my day off and I'd like to spend some time organizing my closet today.”
“No.” Marta said, folding her arms across her chest.
I raised my eyebrows at her. “No?”
“No.” she said. Bonnie came over and stood next to her. Great, my roommate and my co-worker were going to push me around now too. “You're going to tell us the truth, Chey.”
“Please,” Bonnie said, “We love you. We can't let you go on like this.” It was like an intervention. They were telling me, in a way, that I'd have no peace unless I told them “the truth”. My mind was racing as I tried to think of a story to tell them that would satisfy their curiosity, but I was coming up blank until Marta said,
“That guy, Ridge...he hasn't been back to the club since that night. I told the police about him when they finally came out, but because he works for the Pack, I don't think they even looked into it. Did he do something to you, Cheyenne? Please tell us, it's okay.”
“No. I mean,” I turned my back to them and walked toward the couch. I was a terrible liar. I'd told the one about wandering in the woods, drunk, until I almost believed it...but now I had to start all over. It made my stomach hurt. I took a deep breath and said, “He didn't do anything to me, as in, hurt me. But...” I sat down and they practically rushed over and sat in the recliners opposite me. Their eyes were wide, like they were about to hear some racy gossip...so, I decided to give them some. “I left with him that night, and I wasn't drunk.”
Marta and Bonnie exchanged a look and Bonnie said, “Okay...and?”
“I live with a roommate, he lives with a roommate...so, we went looking for a place where we could...be alone.”
Marta's mouth was hanging open. “You had sex? For two days?”
I nodded and I probably looked ashamed. It wasn't about the “sex” however, it was the shame of telling such an outrageous lie. “We went to a place his friend owns in the woods...and we had, amazing, incredible, hot sex. I lost track of time. For two days we only got out of bed to eat, shower and do it all over again. I swear, I was just so caught up in it that I didn't even think about time passing or people being worried about me.”
Bonnie was shaking her head, slowly. I could tell by the look on her face that she didn't believe what I was saying, but she didn't say that outright. Instead, she said, “Why not tell us this before? I mean, you're over 21 and single, and so is he, I assume...so why hide it?”
Again, I went for the lie. “His roommate, is a woman. They have a baby together. He's working on leaving, but it's complicated. I promised him I wouldn't tell, anyone.”
My friends exchanged another glance and then Marta crossed her skinny little arms again and sat back into the chair with her lips pursed. Bonnie looked like she was trying to process it all, or maybe she just didn't believe a hot guy like Ridge would want me.
“So...this creep is married, with a baby?” Marta said, “And he let you tell some bizarre story and be embarrassed in front of the cops, us, your parents...most of the island, to protect him?”
“He didn't ask me to lie, and honestly, I did it as much for me as for him. I knew about the girlfriend before I left with him, he was honest with me. I wanted him, so I did this, and then I was ashamed of myself so I lied.”
“I don't believe you,” Marta said.
“Me neither,” Bonnie chimed in.
I know, since I was a big, fat, liar, it wasn't fair, but I did my best to turn it around on them. “So what don't you believe? That this hot guy wanted me? That any guy wanted me?”
“No! Stop that,” Marta said. “Of course he wanted you. You're gorgeous even though you have no idea. That's not what we're saying. It's just, the idea of you being with a man who is cheating is so out of character for you, and the sneaking around, not answering your phone and making up stories. None of that is in character for you.”
“I know,” I said. “I've always been the good girl. But I have urges like anyone else, and...there was just something about Ridge, I was drawn to him from that first night we met. I've never been that drawn to anyone.” At least this part was true. “I thought about him all the time and the highlight of going out, was seeing him. He was so attentive. He told me I was beautiful...I needed all of that, and I got lost in it. I'm truly sorry that I worried everyone, and that I lied. But haven't either of you ever done anything foolish because you were crazy over a man?” They were quiet for a long time before Bonnie said,
“I have, more than once.”
“Me too,” Marta said. “But I have one more question...two, actually.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Okay?”
“Are you still seeing him?”
“No. I told him I couldn't do it, not unless he takes care of his relationship first. Question two?”
“The jumpiness, nervousness, always looking over your shoulder...what's that about?”
“That has nothing to do with Ridge,” I said, trying to think of a story as I went along. “Or maybe, it does. But I'm not afraid of him, or anyone in particular. I guess my conscience is just stronger than I gave it credit for. The guilt is eating away at me...like the Tell-Tale Heart.” They weren't avid readers like I was and they both looked at me, blankly. “Edgar Allan Poe?” Still nothing. I sighed and said, “It's a book, about a man who commits a grievous sin and then loses his mind over the guilt. Don't worry though, I'm not losing my mind.
I'll be okay. I just need some time to work through it.” I stood up and the girls did too. Bonnie suddenly hugged me and then Marta hugged us both and said,
“Please don't think you can't tell us things. We won't judge you.”
I truly loved them, and I despised lying to them even more because of it. They trusted me and that caused an ache in the center of my chest. I whispered a “Thank you,” and hugged them back and then I went back to wondering just how long I was going to wake up every morning with a knot in the pit of my stomach, and fall asleep every night with the face of a man I simultaneously wanted and feared, seared into my brain.
Grayson
It was Sunday, my day off. I was relaxing at the compound, thinking about going for a run along the beach and just having a peaceful day. Then my phone rang...and the man on the other end did his best to change all that. I listened carefully to what Ridge was saying, reacting silently to a lot of it, but not speaking a word until he wrapped it all up by saying,
“Grayson, before you say no, please remember everything we've been through together...”
“Oh that's low.” Ridge was my hero, my savior, and he knew it. He's a good guy, but he's a self-centered guy and he doesn't hesitate to use what I “owe” him to get what he wants.
“I'm sorry, Gray. You're right, it sucks for me to do that to you. I just can't explain how badly I want this.”
“I know you, Ridge. When you want something, you want it badly and you'll do anything to get what you want, including pulling me into this mess. I'm 19, Ridge. I grew up an orphan wolf so all I know about any of that came from you. I've only lived as a human for a year, so I don't know much about that either. If I get expelled from this pack, I won't make it. I have to wonder how much you value our friendship when I think about you putting me in that position.”
“I'm sorry,” he said, sounding genuinely remorseful.
“Why not ask Chase?”
