The Bad Wolf

by Michelle Clay

  Travis poked at her senses, this was important to him. “Tell him to show your mom. Make her believe.”

  She smoothed fingers over the wolf’s ear then turned her gaze back to Mackie. “My mom is brilliant and an amazing veterinarian, but she doesn’t believe in the supernatural. She has to have science to back everything up. Travis says you should show her then maybe she’ll believe.”

  Karen blushed at Chloe’s compliment, but her brows dipped with worry when Chloe mentioned the supernatural. She gripped Chloe’s arm. “That’s enough, Chloe. There’s no reason to exacerbate the situation.”

  Mackie stood to remove his gun belt. He slung it over a chair in the corner then started on his shirt buttons.

  “What are you doing?” Karen demanded with a shocked gasp.

  “Just watch,” he said with an unsure glance at Chloe. Within seconds, that weird shimmery static engulfed the area around the sheriff before he was replaced by a sandy brown wolf.

  Chloe smiled, seeing the grey fur around his chin. It mimicked the stubble on his human chin.

  Karen stood with her and eyes wide. Her face had gone pale and her mouth hung open. It was clear that this wasn’t quite registering with her brain.

  “Mom?” Chloe reached for her.

  A freaked out scream bounced off the walls as Karen backed away. She pressed herself against the cabinets and shrieked again.

  Jenna appeared in the doorway. “Oh crap.”

  “Mom, stop,” Chloe said in the most soothing voice she could manage. “He’s not going to hurt you.”

  Karen screamed again then clapped a hand over her mouth. When Mackie moved toward her, she drew her feet up and practically sat atop the counter. The big wolf turned to look at Ryan and Amy who stood in the doorway. He made a huffing sound, ordering them to transform as well.

  Karen’s eyes were huge as she shook her head. “No, this can’t be real. It can’t be.”

  All three wolves sat next to Chloe and stared up at Karen. Their ears tilted forward, their eyes gentle and asking Karen to accept what she had just witnessed.

  “Mom, they want you to stop screaming.” She laughed then said, “Travis says you sound like a siren.”

  Karen’s lips pressed tight together and she nodded. Her hands were trembling when she reached for Chloe. She pulled her daughter close and held on for dear life. “How long have you known?”

  “Only for a little while, but it was by accident.” Chloe smiled then hugged her mom. “This has to be our secret. No one else can know.”

  Mackie snatched the pair of pants off the floor then trotted around the corner. Within seconds, he returned in human form. Thankfully, he was wearing the pants. He shrugged the shirt on then buttoned it. Ryan and Amy did the same with their own clothes.

  Karen looked at Jenna. “And you?”

  “No,” Chloe answered for her. There was no need to tell her that Jenna was a witch. It would likely overload her mom’s mind and cause it to snap.

  “How many are like you? Everyone in town?” Karen asked the sheriff. Her voice was as shaky as her hands.

  “No, not everyone, but there’s several. We have done everything we can to keep out outsiders and keep our secret hidden,” Mackie said with a stern, no nonsense grimace. “My son’s life is in your hands, doc. Can I trust you not to go around telling everyone about this? I don’t want to threaten you, but I think you can appreciate how dire the situation is.”

  Karen’s bark of laughter startled Chloe. “Who the hell would believe me? I might tell the wrong person and be gobbled up.” She laughed at that then shook her head.

  Mackie seemed satisfied by her answer.

  “Or be committed. They’d think I was as crazy as Mike.” At the mention of his name, Karen’s hand rose to cover her mouth. Finally, when she’d gained control of her emotions, she said, “While we were working, Chloe told me that he believed he was a wolf. What’s going to happen to him?”

  Mackie buckled the gun belt around his waist then smirked. “Let me worry about that.”

  Amy said, “Dad, he’s an outsider. A human.”

  Chloe was floored. She thought they’d moved past this.

  Mackie looked at his daughter, a silent question on his face.

  Amy looked to Ryan for help in explaining. Ryan gripped Mackie’s arm and led him out of the exam room. “He’s not pack, therefore pack rules don’t apply. We’ll have to use human laws. Besides, who’s going to believe him? He thinks he turns into a werewolf.”

  The sheriff rubbed his chin then nodded. He turned to stare at Karen a moment then said, “He’ll be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Kidnapping, endangerment, murder and whatever else I can think of to pin him with. I’m going to make sure that bastard rots in prison for what he did to Josh and Travis.”

  Karen nodded in relief. Chloe understood what her mom was feeling. She might not be able to read her mind, but she knew that Karen had shared a part of herself with that crazy man. Not to mention she’d just been shown something that had nearly blown her mind. It was a whole lot to process all at once.

  Stepping away from the cabinet where she’d been cowering, Karen said, “Okay, everyone out. Travis needs to rest.”

  As Amy and her dad reached the clinic doors, Mackie laughed. “I just realized, I don’t have a ride into town. They took Mike away in my car.”

  Karen bit her bottom lip while she fished through her pockets. “Take mine. I’m going to stay at the clinic overnight, to keep an eye on him. I don’t want him waking up alone and afraid.”

  “I should stay,” Mackie said, clearly torn on what to do.

  “Get some rest, Sheriff. You can return the keys in the morning when you come check on him.”

  Mackie took the keys then shook Karen’s hand. “Thank you, doc. I appreciate it.”

  Amy wordlessly trudged over to Karen’s car then fell inside. Jenna grinned up at Mackie. “Will you drop me off at my house? I’m sure my mom and dad is worried.”

  “Of course,” Mackie said.

  Chloe turned to go back inside, to make sure her mom hadn’t had a nervous breakdown in her absence. Mackie gripped her arm and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. “I can’t thank you enough, Chloe.”

  He sat her down then hurried to Karen’s car. Within moments, they’d gone down the gravel road and were out of sight.

  “I’m fine,” Karen reassured Chloe. “Go home and get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Ryan gripped Chloe’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Karen’s gaze darted to their clasped hands. “Go home. Alone.”

  “Mom…”

  Before Chloe could get started on an argument, Ryan said, “I’ll walk her to the door, Mrs. Williams, then I’ll be on my way. I have a curfew too.”

  Karen gave him a stern stare before her lips slowly eased into a smile. “That’s a good boy.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Ryan’s fingers linked with Chloe’s as they walked the gravel road. There was nowhere else he’d rather be at that moment. The moon hung in the sky, offering a little ambience. They didn’t say anything for a long while, simply being near each other was enough.

  “I can’t believe you guys did that to my mom. I thought her mind was gonna blow out the back of her head.” Chloe smiled as she said it, indicating she wasn’t really angry.

  “What better way to make her believe?” Ryan asked with a grin. “And maybe she won’t treat you like a pariah now that she’s seen your gift is the real deal.”

  “Maybe,” Chloe said with a melancholy smile. “I would have preferred that no one knew.”

  “Yeah, but they aren’t going to say anything. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Chloe’s feet were dragging and she stifled another yawned. He estimated it was at least eleven by now.

  Finally, she stopped then turned to face him. There was uncertainty in her voice. “Do you think they’ll really give Coach Lewis a fair trial?”

  “He’s not a wolf, they
have to.” The night breeze was warm against his bare shoulders. “We have rules.”

  “But he pretended to be a wolf.”

  “Mackie is a man of his word. He’ll do the right thing.” Ryan smoothed her hair behind her ear then kissed her temple. “Hell, he’ll probably tell his kids to treat you like a princess from now on.”

  Chloe smiled. “Yeah, I can imagine how Amy would respond to that.”

  “Well, you can be my princess,” he said with a chuckle.

  They began walking again. The house was in view now and he worried that his time with her was coming to an end.

  “So what happens now?”

  He cocked his head, unsure how to answer. “What do you mean?”

  “What are you going to do about the pack? Will you join them again?” Worry creased her brow and she avoided looking at him. Was she was scared that he’d go back to Amy?

  “Not a chance.” He walked backward and threw out his arms. “I’m a lone wolf, baby.”

  Chloe laughed, her sweet voice rang out through the trees that surrounded them.

  “With one exception.” He stopped walking so she’d smack into him.

  “Oh? And what’s that?” Chloe grinned as his arms wrapped around her waist and drew her closer.

  “You and me, my beloved.” He pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “We’ll be together and I don’t care who knows.”

  Humor and relief danced in Chloe’s beautiful brown eyes. “Beloved. I like that.”

  That one word sent a shiver through him. He took her in his arms, crushing her against his chest. “I love that.”

  “Me too.” Chloe hurried up the steps then turned to look at him.

  Ryan grew serious as he reached around her to open the door. “You know what else I love?”

  “Hmm?” Chloe asked as he followed her into the dark house.

  “You.” He wasn’t afraid to say it anymore. “I love you.”

  Chloe turned to face him and a beautiful smile lit her features. Placing her hands on both sides of his face, she pulled him down to her level. Before she had a chance to say anything, he pressed his lips against hers. Her smaller body melted against his as she rested her hands against his chest.

  “Can you stay for a little while?”

  There was uncertainty in Chloe’s voice and he wasn’t sure if it she was worried her mom might find out or if it was the idea of being alone with him. At some point, he knew he needed to explain to her that he’d never rush her into anything until she was certain.

  “I can stay as long as you like,” he said with a charming smile.

  Taking his hand, she led him further into the house. “Who’s the bad wolf now?”

  The End