by Brenda Trim
Ryan internally fought the creature, but it was too powerful and ravenous. The Ravin leaned closer, mere inches from the male’s body, and opened its massive jaws. Large canines jutted from its mouth, prepared to strike its prey.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?” blurted a deep voice, and a beam of light shot toward Ryan.
His head jerked toward the sound, and two human males came into view. They were the customers he’d seen inside the restaurant. One was holding up his cell phone, shining a spotlight in his direction.
As soon as they saw his appearance, their eyes widened in horror. The Ravin chuckled at the sight then snarled, hoping to scare them away. He had business to tend to, and the two males were an annoyance he didn’t need or want.
“Look, Jimmy. It’s one of them fucking werewolves they’re talking about on the news. They’re fucking real!” a dark-haired male spouted as he pointed at Ryan.
Ryan recalled the tales circulating through the Tennessee mountains. Campers and hikers reported sightings of hairy animals that walked on hind legs, resembling the beasts from horror movies. Wolf shifters took offense to the comparison, knowing it was Ravins that humans were describing.
“Holy shit, Gary. You’re right. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Jimmy shouted and turned to run.
Gary grabbed Jimmy by the shirt collar and yanked. “No! I’m getting my gun out of the truck. I’d bet my next paycheck there’s a reward for killing them,” he announced.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Jimmy replied as he reached inside his boot and brandished a knife. “I’ll block him if he tries to bolt. Get your gun, dude, but make it quick. I don’t like the way it’s looking at us.”
Gary took off, leaving his friend behind. The Ravin stood and growled at the human. Well, maybe he would give them his attention. The night was getting better by the minute. He thought he would have to settle for an old drunk for dinner, but now two young, vital males were added to the menu.
“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll gut you, werewolf,” the lone male stammered, and the Ravin smelled fear. His bold words belied the frightened expression on his face.
The temptation was too great, and the Ravin stalked toward Jimmy, baring its large canines. The male threw the knife at him but missed. Then the coward turned and fled in the opposite direction. Did the male think he had a chance of escaping? It wasn’t a challenge for the Ravin to catch up to the human. As soon as the creature was close enough, it lunged and landed on the human’s back, forcing the male to the ground.
A loud scream echoed through the night as the Ravin’s sharp claws slashed across the male’s back and face. Blood immediately seeped through his flannel shirt, and the coppery scent filled the air. The creature went berserk and bit into the male’s neck. The warm liquid was like honey to a bee, and the insatiable beast bit deeper, wanting to taste flesh.
A shot rang out, and pain assailed the Ravin. He released the human and roared as a burning sensation spread through his leg. He turned to see Gary pointing a shotgun in his direction.
Another shot fired, but missed, hitting the ground several feet away. The Ravin took off down the street toward the woods. The bullet wound hindered his speed, but the creature managed to escape. Several more shots were fired before the Ravin made it to the safety of the trees.
He dropped to all fours and raced through the woods. It seemed he would have to settle for a deer, after all. Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to kill another being and hoped he could control the savage beast next time.
The Ravin chuckled in his head. It was bone-chilling, and Ryan couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made a grave mistake when he welcomed the creature into his soul.
His wolf howled. Time was running out. Soon they would be lost to the Ravin’s desires.
Chapter 8
Tears spilled down Cassie’s face. She cried for what seemed like forever but couldn’t stop the waterfall. She didn’t know if they wear tears of hurt or rage at this point. Probably a combination of both. She remained shocked and confused over what Ryan did.
“Cassie!” shouted Liv, and Cassie heard footsteps barreling down the hallway. She quickly wiped her face to hide that she was a sobbing mess.
“Liv! Help, I’m in here!” she yelled, pulling the sheet around her nude body. How was she ever going to explain this to her friend?
Liv stormed into the holding room and froze when she spotted Cassie. Lawson appeared in the next second and bumped into Liv in his haste.
“Fuck! Where is he?” Lawson blurted as he looked around the room.
Cassie yanked on the sash, showing them the restraints. “Like I have any fucking clue. Liv, could you untie me, please?” Cassie asked and bit back the tears that threatened to return. She was mortified and could barely look her friend in the eye.
Apparently, Liv sensed she was on the verge of a breakdown because she turned to Lawson. “Hey, babe, could you give us a minute?” she asked, placing a hand on his chest.
Lawson raked a hand through his hair and glanced toward Cassie. Nodding, he replied, “Sure. I’ll clean up the glass and see what I can do about getting a new door. Holler if you need anything.”
“I will, and thank you,” Liv answered and placed a brief kiss to his lips.
When Lawson left the room, Liv rushed to Cassie’s side. “Do I even want to know what happened in here?”
“Oh, you know me. If there’s a major fuck-up within a hundred-mile radius, you can bet your sweet ass I’m smack-dab in the center of it,” Cassie confessed as Liv untied her. She clasped her hands and stretched the second she was freed. It felt good to move her numb arms.
Liv shook her head and sighed. “Start from the beginning.”
Cassie took a deep breath and exhaled. This wasn’t going to be easy. She felt like an idiot for trusting Ryan and wanted to hang her head in shame. For several minutes Ryan was himself which was why she’d believed him.
“Well, after you guys left, I walked back to Ryan’s room, and he had shifted. You can imagine my surprise,” she began.
“Into his wolf?”
“No, he was himself. My gorgeous, sexy Ryan. My heart melted, right along with my panties,” Cassie confessed with a shake of her head. No point in hiding anything. She was naked and tied to the bed. Her friend wasn’t a dumbass.
“I see. So, you willingly went inside his cell?”
“Yep, that’s me. Might as well carve idiot across my forehead,” Cassie declared, regretting her decision. “I even told him that I love him, Liv. Me. The girl that never gets attached spilled her guts, and for what?” she choked out then snatched a pillow from the bed and buried her face in it.
She felt Liv’s hand on her back. “Cass, don’t beat yourself up. If it makes you feel any better, this isn’t the first time Ryan’s pulled a stunt like that.” The words offered no comfort, but the calming circles Liv rubbed across her back made her feel better.
Cassie peeked up at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t want to upset you, but the other day Ryan shifted while Staci was here. Even came on to her. Anyway, it was nothing but a ploy to get her to give him the cell key. Luckily, she didn’t,” Liv explained as she brushed a few strands from Cassie’s face.
“Did he have sex with her?” Cassie blurted as jealousy coursed through her system. “I’ll kill that motherfucker!” Liv’s words replayed in her head and stole her breath and sliced through her heart, making it skip several beats. The pain at the mere thought of Ryan coming onto Staci hurt more than she cared to admit.
“No! God, nothing like that. They kissed, that’s all. And then the Ravin came out and practically strangled her. Thankfully, Staci got away with only a few scratches,” Liv reassured, and Cassie recalled what happened at the end of their tryst.
“Yeah, tell me about it. He turned Ravin on me, as well. Asshole,” she muttered as the truth sunk in.
Ryan used her
, plain and simple. All the flirting, getting her naked, and tying her up was all part of his plan to escape. How could she be such a fool? She believed him when he said he missed her. That he needed her. Cassie’s stupid heart wanted to believe he still wanted her and that was the crux of her stupidity.
“What! When?”
“Right before he took off,” Cassie replied as she hopped off the bed, snatching her strewn clothes from the floor.
“What did he say? I need all the details, Cassie. This could be important,” Liv implored.
Cassie pulled her sweater over her head then slipped into her jeans. She hissed when the fabric rubbed against her hips. Looking down, Cassie noticed bruising and several marks on her outer thighs.
Liv peered closer and gently probed one mark. “What the hell?”
“I didn’t give it much thought at the time because Ryan was working his magic on me, but I think the Ravin came out while he was doing the deed if you get my drift,” she confessed and pinned Liv with a knowing look.
“Oh, I know all right. Go down or go home,” Liv teased, reciting one of Cassie’s infamous sexual quotes. “So, you think the Ravin…”
“Gave me the most intense orgasm of my life? Yeah, pretty sure that’s exactly what happened,” Cassie mumbled in disbelief. It was unimaginable to think that the violent creature performed such an intimate act on her, and she shuddered at the thought.
“So, did something specific happen that could’ve caused the Ravin to take over?” Liv asked.
“Possibly,” she replied as Ryan’s odd question played through her mind. “While he was down there, he suddenly stopped and asked me if I was on my period. I told him it ended yesterday, but that’s when he kind of freaked out,” Cassie explained and looked at her injury again. It looked like claws left the puncture wounds on her skin.
Liv sat there for a few minutes, and Cassie could tell she was in deep thought. Finally, she looked up and blurted, “I bet he tasted faint traces of blood, and that’s what sent him over the edge. Cassie, if that’s the case, you’re lucky he didn’t kill you. Staci said the creature that attacked her was savage, and if he hadn’t been behind bars, she wouldn’t have made it out alive,” Liv divulged then quickly added, “I don’t know what I would’ve done if anything happened to you.”
Her friend’s sincerity warmed her heart. It wasn’t like she and Liv claimed they were besties or anything, but if Cassie had to pick a best friend, Liv would win hands down. They’d been through a great deal together and were thick as thieves. Cassie couldn’t imagine her life without Liv.
“Thank you for not pointing out that I’m a complete idiot. You’re the best,” Cassie said and smiled.
“So are you, Cass. Now tell me, what happened after the Ravin appeared?” Liv asked, getting back to the topic.
Cassie had to think a minute. It happened so fast, and she wanted to make sure her details were accurate. “Nothing, really. I screamed when I saw that thing, and I think I begged for it not to hurt me. It turned and ran out of the room and then I heard glass breaking. That’s it. I’ve been trying to untie the sash until you got here,” she explained.
“Wow, I can’t believe how lucky you are. You know, maybe Ryan was protecting you from the Ravin,” Liv offered.
“Whatever. I’m done with the stand-by-my-man bullshit. Ryan tricked me, used me, and then left. I’m done,” Cassie professed as she grabbed the sash and secured her hair in a messy bun. She made a mental note to burn it when she got home. She didn’t need any reminders of this disaster.
Lawson suddenly appeared in the doorway of the holding room. “Sorry to interrupt, but Bart texted.”
“Really?” asked Liv. “What did he want?”
“Didn’t say. Just asked if we could come to his house,” he replied as he walked toward the cell.
“It’s kind of late. Ask if we can come first thing in the morning,” Liv answered and looked to Cassie. “Let’s get back to the hotel, open a bottle of wine, sit by the fire and get drunk.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll pack up my stuff when we get to Safe Haven. There’s no reason for me to stay at this point,” Cassie announced and reached to the floor, grabbing her tennis shoes.
“It’s late, Cass. Stay tonight and see how you feel in the morning,” Liv implored as they walked out of the cell and holding room.
“No point in putting off until tomorrow what you can do today,” Cassie quipped, reaching for levity she didn’t feel as they exited the building.
It was time to get on with her life, regardless of what her broken heart was screaming. There was only so much pain and suffering she was willing to put herself through.
Ryan raced through the woods until he was certain the males hadn’t followed. Once the coast was clear, he stopped and inspected the wound to his thigh. Fortunately, the bullet went straight through, and now the area was numb. He was certain the injury would heal by morning.
The sound of leaves crunching snagged his attention. Ryan glanced to see a family of deer wandering through the forest. The Ravin growled as hunger replaced any discomfort. It was time to eat.
Ryan bolted toward the small group, and the deer startled. The buck took off, trying to lure Ryan away from the younger doe. It was a protective instinct he knew all too well. Wolves did the same with their pups. Eager for the challenge, Ryan charged after the large buck. The swift, agile animal darted through the trees with the grace of a gazelle but was no match against the powerful Ravin.
He quickly closed the gap, and the animal’s scent filled his nostrils. He could smell the deer’s panic and fear which made the chase more appealing. He lunged through the air, landing on the deer’s back, and forced it to the ground. His massive jaws locked onto its neck, biting through muscle and sinew. The Ravin’s sharp claws shredded the animal’s ribcage with ease.
The deer struggled to no avail. The Ravin felt a snap as the animal’s neck broke, and the deer went limp. He feasted on the creature’s flesh with abandon. By the time he was done, blood covered his face and hands. It was a satisfying victory, and Ryan was relieved the Ravin was sated. Maybe the incident at the café was a lone occurrence. He wanted to believe that Ravins didn’t prefer humans as prey. It was highly possible that the reported attacks on humans were accidental, he told himself. His wolf howled in objection, but Ryan ignored his animal.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ryan acknowledged he needed to find shelter. A cave would be ideal, he concluded when a gust of wind whipped through the woods. He lifted his snout to the air and sniffed. Instinct told him a snowstorm was on the horizon. He didn’t mind sleeping in the woods, but resting on the snow-covered ground didn’t sound pleasant.
He walked away from the deer carcass in search of a new home, and life. He felt renewed after escaping the confines of the cell at S&K. This was where he belonged. In the wide open, free to do as he pleased. No more living in the shadow of his younger brother. Nobody telling him what to do. Damn, he felt alive.
Snowflakes drifted to the ground, and Ryan quickened his pace. If his intuition was correct, he would be covered in the white stuff within the hour. The temperature continued to drop, and he bristled against the freezing winds.
As if the Goddess Gaia heard his plea, a small shack came into view. It looked deserted if its rundown appearance was any indication. Ryan sent a silent prayer of thanks and darted to the dilapidated building. The wood structure looked like it would collapse with the next gust of wind, but it was better than sleeping outside. At least he would be dry for the night.
He walked up the three steps leading to the front door and peered inside a window next to the front door. The place was vacant. Ryan tried the door handle, and the latch opened. He stepped inside and scanned the small home.
The first thing that caught his attention was the skeletal remains on a dirty mattress near the fireplace. He walked over and realized it was a Ravin. He couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the male. Was he injured? Did he die of old ag
e? And, how long had he been here?
Ryan glanced around at what was possibly the smallest cabin ever built. It consisted of one room with an adjoining door that led to a bathroom. The kitchen housed a rusted sink, a stove that looked like it had never been cleaned, and a refrigerator he was certain didn’t work.
There was a small table in the center of the room. The lone chair pushed underneath the table was a depressing sight. Was this really what he wanted? To live in complete solitude? Ryan had never been alone. The mere thought made his wolf wail in his head. It was an eerie howl that sent a chill down his spine.
Ryan shoved the thoughts away as the Ravin growled, drowning out the sounds of his inner wolf. He couldn’t dwell on that right now. He needed to gather firewood, and see if he could find matches anywhere in the shack. He walked over to the fireplace to see if there might be something useful.
There was a small brass spittoon beside the mattress, and Ryan peeked inside, hoping it wasn’t full of used tobacco. If so, his venison might make a return trip. To his relief, the small container was empty, except for a couple books of matches. Again, he thanked Gaia for the blessing bestowed. Glancing down, he couldn’t ignore the coincidence. The matchbook came from The Mic, a restaurant in Huntington that he and Cassie frequented.
Was this another sign? Granted, the place wasn’t far from here, but still. What were the chances? He put the booklet back into the spittoon and gathered the remains of the Ravin. “Well, buddy, hope you don’t mind me crashing a while. Looks like you won’t be needing the place anymore,” he muttered as he carried the skeleton outside and dumped it in the woods.
It was snowing harder now, and Ryan gathered as many branches as he could carry and hauled them to the fireplace. He shoved the sticks in the small opening and struck one of the matches before tossing it on top of the wood. A fire sparked to life the moment the flame touched the stick.
