The Bad Wolf

by Michelle Clay

  “Tell my dad and sister. They need to know.” Travis trembled beneath her hand. “Tell them that he saw us. There might be others.”

  “You’re gonna be fine.” Chloe didn’t know that for sure, but she would say just about anything to soothe him. “You can tell them yourself.”

  “Am I going to die?” Travis wondered as his eyes fluttered shut. The heartrending pain and terror she felt made her stomach lurch.

  Smoothing her fingers across Travis’s ear, she ignored the tears that slid down her cheeks. This boy had been downright nasty to her and her friends. Still, she couldn’t ignore his agony or fear. When it came down to it, he was still just a boy underneath all that fur.

  Chloe leaned closer and said, “Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”

  “Thank you,” Travis said just before he drifted away.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Coach Lewis swung the branch again and again. Amy staggered, tired of running and dodging the thick chunk of tree. Ryan knew this had to come to an end.

  Mackie had arrived. Not only could he see the red and blue lights reflecting off of everything, but he could hear the man’s frantic footsteps drawing closer. Jenna’s excited voice was shrill as she explained what had led them to search for Travis here.

  Amy yelped in pain then rolled several yards to avoid being struck again. She didn’t get up immediately. Ryan darted to the other side, forcing Coach to focus his attention on him instead.

  Amy got to her feet, but she didn’t lower her right front paw to the ground. This had to end now.

  Casting a quick glance at the hut, he spotted Chloe. She was crouched in the structure next to Travis. She looked scared and he feared the worst. Had they arrived too late? His name might get cleared, but at the cost of losing someone who used to be a friend.

  The branch brushed across his back, just shy of actually striking him. He wasn’t as lucky on the next swing. The thick branch came down just over his right ear. Wood splintered and a shock of intense pain pierced his skull. He stumbled as black dots floated across his vision. Amy limped forward and her frightened whines steeled his resolve.

  He hopped out of the way when Coach swung again. Before the man could turn around, Ryan jumped on his back. Ryan’s claws sank into bare flesh as he pushed the coach to the ground. When he turned his head to cry out, Ryan snapped his jaws close to his face.

  Tears, snot and saliva made the dirt stick to the wailing man’s cheeks. “I just want to be like you!”

  Just through the trees, twin flashlights bobbed as Jenna and Mackie hurried toward them. More footsteps stomped through the grass and weeds behind them. Ryan knew the rest of the pack was coming too. Coach Lewis didn’t stand a chance.

  Coach’s arm crept out, reaching for the fallen branch. Ryan’s powerful jaws clamped down on his hand, snapping the bones. The man wailed in agony. “Your bite doesn’t give me the gift. Why?” he demanded then tried to struggle away.

  Amy stood over the branch, her teeth bared in a ferocious snarl.

  Mackie and the others crashed through the undergrowth. His flashlight swept across the area and fell upon the leaning hut and his son inside. Mackie’s cry of anguished relief rang out as he thundered toward the little hut.

  The rest of the pack, still in human form, descended upon Coach Lewis. Ryan leapt away then scurried toward Chloe and the disgusting, stinking shack.

  The pack grabbed Mike Lewis and dragged him away. He kicked and screamed, but to no avail. The last thing Ryan heard him say was, “Give me your gift! Help me become like you!”

  Ryan watched with anxious dread as Mackie grabbed hold of Chloe beneath the arms and pulled her out of the tiny enclosure. Then he fell to his knees next to his son. Amy pushed her way into the small enclosure as well. Her whines and whimpers told him how grave Travis’s situation was.

  Jenna stood beside Ryan, her hand on top of his head. Her fingers trembled as they mindlessly stroked his fur. “I brought a pair of sweats. Do you want them?”

  His tongue flicked her fingers and he hoped she understood that he did in fact want them. He’d been in wolf form far too long. Plus, he wanted to hold Chloe close and tell her how thankful he was for her.

  Mackie and one of the other pack members were doing their best to get Travis out of the little wooden structure. The blond wolf whimpered and whined each time they jostled him. They used the blanket as a sling and carried him away from the makeshift prison he’d been in.

  Chloe stood next to Jenna, her arms wrapped around her waist as she watched the men maneuver Travis between them. Amy was beside them, dressed now and cradling her right hand. Already, a dark bruise was forming.

  Ryan jogged out of the trees, hitching up the grey sweats he’d borrowed from Jenna. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled Chloe against his chest and kissed her forehead. “You did it,” he whispered. “You found him.”

  Chloe smiled. “We did it.”

  Hugging her tight, Ryan said, “You’re amazing, Chloe Williams.”

  Amy glanced their way, but didn’t say anything. She was more concerned about her brother, just as she should be.

  Chloe’s arms tightened around his waist and she grinned up at him. “I know.”

  Mackie watched as two of his pack carried Travis toward the awaiting cars. Once they were out of earshot, he moved toward them. He clapped Ryan on the shoulder and tried to muster a smile. “I guess I owe you an apology, son.”

  Ryan nodded, but didn’t release Chloe from his arms. Mackie had to understand that they belonged together. He would fight for the right to be with her, if it came to that.

  The sheriff said, “You and Amy did it. I’m so proud of the two of you.”

  “I helped,” Jenna grinned at him.

  Mackie actually gave her a big hug. “Thank you.”

  “Chloe too, dad.” Amy laid her good hand on her dad’s arm. “She’s the one who suspected Coach Lewis was involved. If it hadn’t been for her, we might not have found Travis.” Her voice cracked on her brother’s name and she brushed away the tears that fell onto her cheeks.

  Ryan met Amy’s gaze as she passed, silently thanking her for not tattling on Chloe’s ability to read animal emotions. He took the knowledge with a grain of salt. Amy had a twisted way of using things like this against you. Later, if she decided she didn’t like Chloe after all, she might use the ability as blackmail. He had to hope that she’d been changed by this experience, but he wasn’t betting his life on it.

  “I’m going to go check on my son.” Mackie took a few steps then turned to glance at Ryan and Chloe.

  Ryan held his breath, fearing the sheriff and alpha wolf would still tell him they couldn’t be together. Instead, the sheriff took Chloe’s hand in his. “I’m going to need your mom’s help until Travis can transform. Do you think it’ll be a problem?”

  Chloe nodded. “Probably, but I’ll call and give her the head’s up.”

  He released her hand and took a few steps in the direction they’d carried his son. “Thank you. For everything,” the big man said in a shaky voice then rushed away.

  ***

  Mrs. Williams opened the door wide to allow them inside. She instructed the men to bring the wolf inside and lay him on the rolling table she’d prepared.

  The entire pack, minus Amy and Mackie, shuffled outside. Their faces were full of concern as they waited next to their cars. Mrs. Grimes instructed everyone to go home. She said, “We’ve done all we can. It’s up to Dr. Williams to save my grandson now.”

  Several voiced concerns about Mrs. Williams finding out about their secret. Mrs. Grimes glared at them through her cat-eyed classes and pursed her lips. Placing a liver-spotted hand on her hip, she said, “I think that’s the least of our problems. We have Coach Lewis to deal with. Take him to the sheriff’s office until Mackie can decide what to do with him.”

  Ryan watched as everyone got into their cars. After a few minutes, the only reminder that anyone had been there was d
ust swirling in their wake.

  He moved through the lobby and found Jenna and Amy sitting in the visitor’s chairs. Jenna looked exhausted as she handed the necklace back to Amy.

  Amy’s back was hunched as she held her head in her hands. Soft sobs shook her shoulders.

  Laying a hand on her back, he said, “It’s going to be okay. Mrs. Williams will get him all fixed up.”

  Amy turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were red rimmed and full of tears. “Why would anyone do this to him? What did Coach Lewis hope to accomplish?”

  Ryan sighed then put his arm around her. “I think he is a sick man who saw something he wanted, but didn’t know how to get it. Those things he said, the wanting our gift…” He shrugged then, not really knowing what else to say.

  “He wanted to be a wolf?” Amy swiped at her eyes then laid her head on his shoulder. “But why?”

  Jenna yawned then said, “We might never know. He’s obviously got some major mental health issues.”

  Chloe passed by the open doorway of the exam room, pushing some kind of machine. Her eyes hardened just slightly when she spotted him and Amy together.

  He didn’t have time to focus on that because Mrs. Williams’s voice rang out, sharp and full of concern. “He’s a what?”

  Ryan leapt up and said, “Stay with Amy, Jenna.” Then he moved toward the doorway. He peeked into the room to see Mrs. Williams standing with her hands on her hips. Her face was screwed into a scowl as she assessed Mackie. “I know you’ve been through a lot of stress, but come on! Just listen to yourself, Sheriff.”

  Mackie opened his mouth to defend himself, but thought better of it. He glanced at Chloe then shook his head.

  Mrs. Williams continued, “He’s obviously a domesticated wolf or maybe from the zoo. Same as the black one I patched up.”

  If she truly believed that, Ryan wondered, why her voice was so shaky?

  Chloe moved the machine to the other side of the table. She bent to plug it in then frowned up at her mother. “It’s true, mom. I’ve seen it. Just help me get him treated, okay?”

  Mrs. Williams cast a concerned glance at Mackie then said, “Fine. Go wait in the other room.”

  Mackie looked huge in the small room. The man looked like he was about to burst into tears at any moment. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Just save him, doc. Please.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” Mrs. Williams said in a clinical voice that left no room for argument. “Now, go on. Go see to your daughter. She needs you now.”

  Chloe switched the machine on and said, “We should x-ray him. I think his ribs are cracked or broken. His back leg is broken for sure.”

  Mrs. Williams glanced at her daughter in what looked like fierce pride.

  “I’ll be in the lobby. Tell me if anything…” Mackie couldn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he shuffled out the doorway and collapsed into the seat next to Amy.

  Chloe rounded the table then grabbed the door. Leaning close, she pressed her lips to Ryan’s then smiled up at him. “This may take a while. Don’t leave, okay?”

  His hand cupped the back of her head then he leaned toward her. He kissed her deeply, gently. He didn’t care that her mom was watching even though he could practically feel her eyes boring a hole into his skull. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chloe helped her mom with the portable x-ray machine then readied the gauze, bandages and various medical supplies.

  Karen looked the x-rays over, a dark frown on her face. “You were right. He’s got a broken rib and two cracked ones. I think he might be dehydrated as well.”

  “I’ll get him set up on a drip,” Chloe said as she pulled a saline bag from the cabinets.

  Karen watched her for a moment then looked away. A slight smile quirked at the corner of her mom’s mouth.

  “What?” Chloe asked.

  “For someone who doesn’t like animals, you’ve certainly stepped up. I’m proud of you, Chloe.”

  “This really is Travis Mackie, mom.” Chloe inserted the needle then taped it to the paw she’d just shaved. “I know you don’t believe it, but you’ll see. When he heals enough, he’ll change back.”

  Karen’s face paled with shocked horror. “That’s enough, Chloe. I don’t know what these people have done to make you believe this crap, but it needs to stop.”

  Travis whined softly. Opening her mind, she listened to his emotions. Right now, he was frightened. He was afraid death would claim him. Travis’s body hurt so bad that he couldn’t bear their hands touching him, no matter how gently.

  “He’s in a lot of pain. Can we give him something?”

  Karen nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m going to have to re-set his leg. Look in that drawer over there and get the bottle with the white label.”

  She smoothed her fingers over his uninjured ear then said, “You’re gonna be okay, Travis. My mom’s the best. She’ll take care of you.”

  “Hurry, Chloe,” Karen said with just a hint of anxiety.

  Chloe did as she was asked and filled a syringe with the exact amount Karen called for. She tapped the side of the cylinder to release the air bubbles. Karen took it from her and dosed him.

  She forgot to close the link between them. Almost immediately, Travis felt like he was floating. Pain became a distant memory. It was still there, but it seemed far, far away. Slowly, he succumbed to sleep.

  A good while later, she and Karen had set his broken leg, sewed up his cuts and treated everything else wrong with him. Chloe watched as her mom did a final once over. Nodding to herself, Karen went to the exam room door and motioned for Mackie.

  The sheriff was there in a heartbeat. He wrung his hands together and looked restless. “How is he? Is he going to be okay?”

  Karen stepped back to allow him inside. Mackie hurried over to the table and released a shuddering sigh. He looked bewildered, as if he didn’t know quite what to do with himself.

  Chloe peeked out into the lobby. On one side of Ryan, Jenna’s head rested on Ryan’s shoulder as she dozed. Jealousy made her skin crawl when she looked to his other side. Amy’s head was in his lap and she appeared to be asleep. Instead of confronting them, she returned to the exam room. She was too tired to deal right now.

  “When he changes back, I’ll need to know right away,” Mackie was saying.

  Karen took a calming breath then gestured at Travis. “This is a dog, I mean, wolf. This is not your son.”

  Travis was beginning to wake now. His nose pressed against Chloe’s arm and made her jump. She turned toward him and then leaned closer as if the wolf might tell her a secret.

  He was still a little dopey from the pain medications, but his thoughts came to her loud and clear. She bit her bottom lip then nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell him.”

  Karen glared at her daughter then opened her mouth to say something. Chloe didn’t give her a chance. “Sheriff? Travis thinks you should just show her. She isn’t going to believe otherwise.”

  Mackie looked thunderstruck. He pushed his fingers through the short-cropped hair atop his head. “I don’t know…”

  Karen glared at her. “Stop it, Chloe. Don’t start this speaking to animals crap again. You cannot read their minds. That was just a silly childhood game. I thought you outgrew it.”

  Mackie seemed to bristle at that. “You can read our minds?”

  Karen laughed nervously. “I’m sorry, Sheriff. My daughter has a very vivid imagination.”

  Travis whined. Mackie glanced at him then back at Chloe. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “You can hear me?” Travis asked, sounding slightly awed.

  She nodded then whispered, “Yes, all my life. It helped me find you.”

  Travis licked her hand in thanks. “I thought I was dreaming.”

  Mackie suddenly loomed over Travis and Chloe. He pinned her with a cold stare that hinted that he was done playing games. “Start talking, little girl. Are you able to read our minds?”

 
; Shaking her head, she said, “Ryan said it would be dangerous for any of you to know.”

  “To know what?” Mackie demanded. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Ryan stood in the doorway, his features pinched in a scowl. “Leave her alone, Mackie.”

  Sheriff Mackie gripped Chloe’s shoulders. She sucked in a breath through her teeth when the bruised one throbbed with renewed pain. He said, “Prove it.”

  “I can’t,” Chloe said on a shaky whisper.

  The big man released her then stared at the blond wolf on the table. “Until he heals enough to transform, you might be the only one who can help me understand what he’s going through. What he needs to tell me…”

  Chloe gripped his sleeve, understanding that this father was hurting for his son. Mackie only wanted to be a father, not persecute her. “Fine. Ask me something I wouldn’t know the answer to.”

  “Stop this,” Karen demanded. “Stop this right now. I will not allow you to pull her into this sick fantasy.”

  Her demands went ignored. Instead, Mackie looked at Travis and said, “When you and Amy were born…” He bit his lip, seemingly unable to finish.

  Travis sounded tired inside her head.

  Chloe spoke the words that Travis said in her mind. “There were three. Triplets, but the other baby wasn’t strong enough to survive. It died.”

  Mackie’s face went several shades of pale before he collapsed into a nearby chair. He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. Finally, he lifted his gaze to her then said, “Tell him that I love him, that the man who did this was caught.”

  “He can hear and understand you just fine, Sheriff.”

  Mackie cried out in pained relief.

  But Chloe’s relief was short lived when Mackie said, “I don’t like the idea of you poking around in our heads.”

  Uh oh, maybe Ryan had been right. In retrospect, it probably was a bad idea to reveal her “gift”. Hoping to ease his mind, she told a partial fib. “I can feel the emotions of most animals, but hearing thoughts is different, new. I think I can hear Travis now, because wants me to.” And possibly because he was human, most of the time.