The Bad Wolf

by Michelle Clay

  Chloe glanced at the alarm clock on the table beside the bed then got out of bed. Her mom would probably be gone for a couple hours at the very least.

  Picking up her phone, she dialed Jenna’s number. “Meet me at the clearing in ten minutes.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ryan’s right eye was swollen shut and his body ached. His gaze danced around the room. He was in someone’s cellar, not the jail. Judging by the canned fruit and veggies lined on the shelving, he was in Mrs. Grimes’s cellar. He’d helped her put the shelves up last summer.

  This morning, the alpha had been so distraught that he’d nearly lost control of the situation. Mackie allowed several of the pack members to drag Ryan out of his aunt and uncle’s home. They’d struck him with something, possibly Mackie’s baton then threw him in the back of the cruiser. When they dumped him here in the cellar, those same pack members took turns hitting and kicking him. Eventually, they weren’t even asking questions. Their animal side had taken over and they’d attacked like wild dogs. Even though Ryan had fought back, there was no way he could stave off so many by himself. Before long, he was a bloody mess on the cellar floor.

  It took Mrs. Grimes coming downstairs and yelling at them to break it up. She’d said, “You will not kill that boy! Not on my property.”

  They’d backed off then, murmuring their half-assed apologies. Mrs. Grimes was one of the elder pack members and she demanded respect.

  The old gal had stood next to Ryan, arms crossed over her large, sagging chest. The angry look in her eyes dared the pack to argue. No one did. Instead, they slunk upstairs. Mrs. Grimes did her best to comfort him before Mackie returned and tied him to the chair sitting in the middle of the room.

  “Last chance, Ryan. Where is Travis?” he’d asked, still convinced that Ryan had something to do with his son’s disappearance.

  “Why don’t you track him in wolf form? I haven’t been to your house in forever.” Ryan said, hanging his head. His brain throbbed in time with his pulse. “Sniff around and you’ll see that I’m telling the truth.”

  Mackie stared at him a moment, worry evident in his brown eyes. Maybe he was having second thoughts about holding Ryan as a suspect. Instead, he said, “The two of you fought at the beach. That’s the same night he went missing.”

  “Let me go and I’ll help you find him.”

  Without a word, Mackie whirled then stomped back upstairs.

  Josh’s dad was the last to come. He stood against the wall for a while, simply staring at Ryan. When he tired of that, he tried other tactics. His fists hadn’t gotten him any answers either. “Where is Travis?” He asked between slaps. “It’s bad enough you took my Josh from me. I won’t allow you to do that to Travis. Tell me where he is!”

  Ryan spat blood onto the floor then groaned. “I told you, I don’t know.”

  Mackie’s tired voice said, “Maybe he really doesn’t know.”

  The other man’s face was pale as he picked Ryan and the chair up off the floor then gave it a good shake. He sat the chair down so hard, it rattled Ryan’s teeth. “It’s no secret you and Travis didn’t get along.”

  “Doesn’t mean I did anything to him.” Ryan winced as his split lip continued to bleed and pulse with pain.

  “Where were you last night?” Mackie asked from the where he stood against the wall.

  “None of your business.”

  “You’re protecting that girl again, aren’t you?” Mackie stepped forward, peering into Ryan’s face. “Were you with her?”

  Ryan turned his face away, fear clutching at his heart. If they thought he was involved, they might believe Chloe had been a part of it too. He had to get the hell out of here before they hurt her.

  Unable to receive the answers they were looking for, the men left with the promise of returning soon.

  It seemed like hours had passed before anyone else came to “visit” him. This gave him time to work at the knots of the rope they had tied his wrists to the chair with. He thought he might have loosened it a bit when he heard soft footfalls outside the door. All activity froze as he watched the door. Who would come next, demanding answers he didn’t have?

  Amy slunk into the room. Her eyes were red from crying and she wouldn’t look him in the eyes. She squatted next to him and placed a hand on his thigh for balance. “Where is Travis, Ryan?”

  He licked his lips, tasting the coppery tang of blood. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him.”

  She stared at him a moment, presumably trying to gauge whether he was telling the truth.

  Cutting his gaze back to Amy, he said, “Where’s your dad?”

  “Looking for Travis.” Tears swam in Amy’s eyes as worry for her brother became evident. He really was missing? For a minute, he’d thought maybe this was Mackie’s sick way of forcing him to be with his daughter.

  In hopes that Amy would be reasonable, he said, “Let me go, Amy. I’ll help you look for him.”

  She pressed her forehead against his leg. “I can’t.”

  “You know I didn’t do this.”

  A tear trailed down her cheek. It dripped onto his jeans, leaving a circular dark spot.

  “I don’t know that. You’ve changed,” Amy’s eyes flicked toward the door at the other side of the room. “You turned on him when he messed with that stupid girl.”

  He really didn’t owe her an explanation, so he didn’t give her one. Instead, he said, “We can hunt for Travis together. You and me, we can hunt together again.”

  She bit her bottom lip and stared at him a moment. Casting another wary glance at the door, she said, “My dad doesn’t know I’m here.”

  “Who else is here?”

  Amy shook her head. “I shouldn’t have come down here.”

  Ryan suspected there was no one else in the house. He was willing to bet on it. “Have them come down here. Let me speak to them.”

  Retreating to the door, Amy jerked it open then glanced up the stairs. Within seconds, she returned to him then dropped to her knees behind him. Her fingers worked on the knot of rope around his wrists. “Grandma is the only one in the house. I don’t want her to get in trouble, so let’s be really quiet.”

  Ryan nodded as she glanced at the door again. Amy said, “There may be someone outside, I don’t know.”

  Amy’s nimble fingers paused over the rope. She glanced up at him, her emotions played across her face. “Why can’t you feel the same way about me? What’s so special about Chloe Williams?”

  Twisting his hands and jerking the loosened rope, it slid from his wrists to the floor. He bent to work on the ones around his ankles. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

  “Dad said…” She lowered her gaze. “He said she might be the one for you, your beloved. Is that true?”

  Ryan stood, pulling Amy up as well. Holding her by the shoulders, he kissed her on the forehead and said, “I tried to be what you wanted. I really did.”

  “I know you did.” A single tear trailed down her cheek. “I really thought you were the one, Ryan. I want you to be mine.”

  “I know, Amy, but it’s not fair to you. It would be a lie.” He cupped her cheek and brushed a tear away. “I’m sorry.”

  She nodded, seeming to understand that it was true.

  He knew he was risking his freedom here, but he had to say it. He had to make her understand that even if she helped him now, he’d never change his mind. “Chloe and I have a connection. I know it shouldn’t be possible, but she’s the one.”

  She gripped his hand as more tears poured down her cheeks. “Tell me what it’s like?”

  He licked his lips then immediately regretted it when the sting of pain reminded him that they were split and bloody. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s frightening and exhilarating all at the same time. It’s like two magnets being drawn together and it just feels natural, like breathing.”

  She pursed her lips and nodded. “What we had was just a fling. Two people attracted to
each other, experimenting.”

  Ryan nodded. “I’m sorry, Amy.”

  “You’d better get out of here before everyone comes back. I’ll keep grandma busy while you escape. Dad has people at our house in case someone calls with information.”

  “Around my house too?” Ryan asked.

  Amy nodded slowly. “They’re searching the woods around your house for a body.” Her voice trembled on the last word.

  He kissed her on the cheek. “I owe you one.”

  Her smile was melancholy. “Just hurry, before I change my mind.”

  Ryan gave her a moment to ensnare Mrs. Grimes in conversation then crept out of the cellar. Navigating the creaky old stairs without making noise was tricky, but he managed.

  Somewhere in the house, he heard Mrs. Grimes telling Amy that Travis hadn’t been found yet. She said, “Your dad lost the trail outside the house. Looks like whoever took him loaded him in a car then drove away.”

  “I don’t think Ryan did it,” Amy said. “Has dad checked out his Jeep?”

  “They impounded it,” Mrs. Grimes said, followed by the squeak of a chair. “They’ll probably go over it with a fine tooth comb. Between you and me, I don’t think Ryan is guilty either. I hate that they’re keeping him in the cellar and trying to beat a confession out of him.”

  Ryan peeked out the kitchen window. No one was in the backyard. Easing toward the door, he reached for the knob and closed two fingers over it. He twisted it slowly, careful not to make a sound as he pulled it open.

  Once he was outside, the transformation was upon him. He leapt off the back porch and landed on four legs. In moments, he was in the woods.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Within minutes, Chloe reached the clearing in the woods. Jenna was already there waiting. She paced beneath a huge tree, twisting the hem of her shirt until it was ragged.

  Chloe ran to her friend and enveloped her in a hug. “Ryan was with me last night.”

  Jenna jerked her gaze up to Chloe’s in surprise. “We have to tell Mackie.”

  Chloe bit her bottom lip and twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “But my mom…”

  Her friend’s face flushed and she gripped Chloe’s arm. Pain zinged up to her shoulder. “Whatever the pack has planned can’t be good. We have to tell them.”

  She’d do anything to help Ryan. Nodding she gripped Jenna’s hand and started toward her friend’s house. “Where’s the Jeep?”

  “They took it. Probably to see if Travis’s blood is in it.”

  Chloe stood staring at the empty space where Ryan usually parked. “I’ll run.”

  “We could ask your mom to take us,” Jenna said.

  Sucking in a long breath, Chloe shook her head. “I’m on restriction. I’m not even supposed to leave the house or see you.”

  Jenna’s eyes widened momentarily. “We’re on our own then?”

  Chloe nodded glumly. “What about your parents?”

  “They’re working at the diner. Plus, they’re human so they’d be unwelcome. They’re so torn up about this.”

  “So am I,” Chloe said. “But that’s not going to stop me. I may be human, but I’m not going to sit idly by while they do god knows what to him.”

  “Come with me,” Jenna said then ran toward the back of the property. She jerked open the storage shed’s door then went inside. Shoving things aside, she uncovered two bicycles. “I’m bigger than you, I’ll ride Ryan’s old bike. You take mine.”

  Chloe hopped on then headed toward town. She prayed no one saw her and reported her absence back to Karen.

  Several minutes later, Chloe navigated the bike down the sidewalk in front of the sheriff’s office. Jenna had fallen behind, but Chloe didn’t care at this point.

  She jerked the door open and startled the dispatcher. “I need to see Sheriff Mackie.”

  The woman behind the desk narrowed her eyes then picked up the phone. “Jenna Sparks and the outsider are here to see you.”

  Chloe stared at her, wondering if she was a pack member. The woman pointed to a plastic chair by the window. “Sit.”

  Jenna came inside moments later, huffing from the effort of keeping up with Chloe. She glanced at the woman behind the desk before sitting down.

  It seemed like forever, but Mackie finally made his way down the dark carpeted hallway. He did not look pleased to see her and Jenna waiting in the lobby. “Come on back,” he said then motioned for them to follow.

  Chloe’s movement was jerky. Her legs were tired from the bike ride, but she was on a mission. “Can I see him? Please?”

  Mackie didn’t answer, but pointed her toward an office. His office. “Sit down.”

  The girls shuffled inside the cramped room then sat perched on the edge of their seats.

  Mackie took his time getting situated behind the desk. He shuffled through a few papers then glanced up at them. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was a mess.

  To Jenna, he said, “You know better than to bring her here. This is pack business.”

  “Don’t talk about me like I’m not sitting right here,” Chloe said with as much patience as she could muster. “I came down here to tell you something. The least you could do is hear me out.”

  Instead, Mackie rested his chin on his fist and stared at her. “Where were you last night?”

  Chloe frowned. This wasn’t going anything like she’d imagined. “At home.”

  The sheriff picked up the phone. “Sheila, get Mrs. Williams down here.”

  “No!” Chloe yelped. Crap, she was going to be in so much trouble! “Wait, please?”

  Mackie’s stern gaze fell onto Chloe as he dropped the phone back to its cradle. “Something you need to tell me?”

  Chloe inched forward in the chair then looked at Mackie with pleading eyes. “Ryan was with me last night. He…” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “He stayed at my house until this morning.”

  Mackie studied her for a moment. “He spent the night? All night?”

  Chloe nodded miserably.

  “What time did he come over?” Mackie asked as he pulled a notepad from a desk drawer.

  Fingers twined in her hair as she thought. “It was around ten thirty. Only, that isn’t when he came inside.”

  “What do you mean?” Mackie asked, pencil pausing over the paper.

  “He sat outside, watching the house for a while. In wolf form.” Chloe watched Mackie write her words onto the pad. “I saw him, but ignored him. After a while, he came to the window and wanted to talk.”

  Jenna said, “See, he must have gone to Chloe’s after leaving the house last night.”

  The sheriff ignored her. “What did he want to talk about?”

  Chloe’s fingers gripped the sides of the chair. This could either get Ryan out of trouble or into a whole lot more. “What the two of you were talking about at the clinic. He came to apologize for hurting my feelings and to explain why we couldn’t be together.”

  Sheriff Mackie stood and that made Chloe uncomfortable so she stood too. Jenna scooted to the edge of her seat, but didn’t get up. She looked worried as her gaze darted from Chloe to Mackie then back again.

  “Let me guess,” Mackie said with a sneer. His eyes flicked toward the doorway then back to Chloe. “His apology was so heartfelt, you allowed him into the house. What happened after that?”

  “We talked,” Chloe said, willing the sheriff to believe her.

  “That’s all?” he asked with a quirk of a brow.

  Jenna said her name in warning, but Chloe didn’t glance back to see what the problem was. Instead she gripped the edge of the desk and leaned in so Mackie could understand how serious she was. “Yes, that’s all. We talked until really late then we both fell asleep. End of story.”

  Mackie sat back down, a smug look on his face. “Nothing else happened?”

  “No, and I don’t see how that’s any of your business anyway!” Chloe growled. “Ryan didn’t mean to spend the night. He fell asleep too. So you
see, he couldn’t have done anything to Travis because he was with me.”

  “Maybe you were both involved. Were you his accomplice?” Mackie rubbed his chin. “Anything else you want to tell me?”

  A sharp gasp escaped someone who had just approached the doorway. Chloe whirled to find her mother’s shocked, pale face staring back at her.

  “Mom?” Chloe’s voice cracked. Her legs felt wooden as if they’d rooted themselves to the floor. Her entire body went hot then cold and her mind swam. She’d be lucky if the only punishment she received was restriction for life.

  Karen’s gaze rested solely on Chloe. She was convinced that even if the building burned down around them, her mom wouldn’t notice.

  Her mother’s chin quivered and her lips pulled back in a sort of snarl. “Get in the car.”

  “I can explain,” Chloe said then glared at Mackie. “Just hear me out.”

  “Car. Now,” Karen said through clenched teeth.

  Ignoring her mother, she turned back to the sheriff. “I need to see him.”

  Mackie looked uncomfortable for a split second. Pretending not to hear her, he looked at Karen instead. “You can take her home now, Mrs. Williams. If I have any questions for her, I’ll give you a call.”

  Karen gripped Chloe’s arm and practically dragged her out of the office. Her fingers were clenched so tight, Chloe suspected it might bruise. “Mom, please, just let me explain.”

  Behind them, she heard Jenna plead with Mackie. “Can I see him? Is he okay?”

  Mackie’s clipped answer sent shivers down Chloe’s spine. He said, “He’s not being kept here. Go home Jenna, this is pack business.”

  Too soon, she and her mom had pushed through the doors that led outside.

  “Mom…” Chloe’s fingers brushed against the Outback’s door handle.

  “Get in. Now.”

  She jerked the door open then dropped into the seat. “It isn’t what you think.”

  “Not what I think?” Karen yelled as she got in and strapped the safety belt across her upper torso. She twisted the key with so much force that Chloe thought she might break it off in the ignition. In a clipped voice, Karen said, “What I think is you snuck a boy into your bedroom last night. What were you thinking?”