by Maddie Foxx
“Maxwell, you scared me,” she said. “And who is that behind you?”
“It’s my friend, Melody. I wanted to introduce her to you.”
Mira walked into the cabin and Maxwell made the introductions.
“Nice to meet you, Melody. I hope you’ll be able to keep my presence to yourself. I don’t think it’s wise for anyone to know I’m here.”
“Why?” Melody asked with hands on hips.
“I don’t think they’d understand me being here or taking the help from Maxwell.”
“Why are you here, really?”
“I was attacked by an animal and need somewhere to hold out until it’s safe to leave and my injuries have healed.”
“What kind of animal?” Melody asked.
“I don’t know how to describe it. I thought it was a wolf, but not totally. I guess I was trying so hard to get away from it that I didn’t see it correctly. All I know is that it had sharp teeth and claws, with brown fur.”
“That could describe any number of animals from a bear to mountain lions, which Creeksboro has many of.”
“Or a wolf,” Maxwell interjected. “I hope you have enough food for a few days. Palina is noticing food missing and we’ll be gone for a few days.”
“Who will be gone?”
“Melody and me. We’re going to look for the man who hurt her mother.”
“By yourselves?”
“We can take care of ourselves!” Melody shouted. “I hate when adults treat us like children. We’re shifters.”
Mira backed up a few steps. “What?”
“You know, a person who can shift into animal form.”
When Mira’s face paled and her lower lip quivered, Maxwell said, “Don’t be so crude, Melody. I didn’t tell her what I was before.”
“I’m a red-tailed hawk,” Melody announced with pride in her voice.
“And you’re a werewolf?” Mira asked Maxwell.
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I’ve heard quite a few wolves howling around the cabin.”
“Wyoming has plenty of wolves,” Melody stated. “I don’t see why that should be much of a shock to you.”
“Melody, stop.”
“You need to quit believing everything adults say. For all we know, she means the ranch harm.”
“I swear I don’t,” Mira said. “I’ll be gone soon. Maybe I should go along with you so you don’t get yourself into trouble.”
“Oh, are you a shifter, too?” Melody asked.
“No, I’m not, but I could be of some help.”
“You’d just slow us down,” Melody retaliated.
“So you only wanted to tell me you were leaving in case something happened to you?”
“Yes,” Maxwell responded. “It’s important that somebody knows where we’re going in case we don’t come back in a few days.”
“Does the person you’re looking for have a name?”
“Jason Traxler.”
“And how do you plan to find him?”
“He has a cabin,” Melody explained. “He took my mother and me there one time.”
“And there’s nothing I can say to stop you from leaving?”
“No, and unless you want my great-grandmother to know you’re out here, I wouldn’t suggest trying to stop us,” Maxwell said. “I’ve been trying to help you, and I’d like to think I can trust you the same way you have trusted me.”
“You’re right, but please give this more thought. If this Jason hurt your mother, Melody, you should leave it to the sheriff to figure it out. He should be arrested.”
“We’ll give him a chance to come clean and turn himself in,” Melody offered. “But if he refuses, we’ll enact our shifter justice on him.” Melody made way for the door. “I’m going back before Palina gets mad like she does when she can’t find us.”
They hadn’t gotten too far when Melody turned on Maxwell. “Why did you tell that lady we were leaving? If she tells Palina, I’ll never forgive you.”
“She doesn’t even know where we live that I know of. She’s a drifter who needs my help. It’s important that someone knows we’re leaving for a few days. That way, my uncle and your dad can come looking for us if we don’t come back.
“Sounds like you think we can’t do this. I should have never told you my plans and gone alone.”
“That would be stupid. I’m coming with you.”
“Good, then make sure you wake up before Palina does. I’ll pack the bag tonight so we’ll be ready.”
The plans were set into motion and there wasn’t anything Maxwell could do about it. He almost hoped Mira would tell someone, but he couldn’t let Melody go by herself.
When they finally got back to the cabin, Palina scolded them and after dinner, they headed straight to bed. Maxwell’s stomach churned and he hoped he was making the right decision to not tell anyone, but by that point, it was too late to go back.
CHAPTER NINE
Tessa and Raphael had left after the children had eaten their tarts and went out to play. She didn’t care for the way the children looked at her. She felt they might have gotten wind of the sheep killings and probably thought it was her, too. She just wished she could have remembered what happened that night. She had woken up with chains around her limbs, and there just wasn’t any way she could have been the one responsible if she was trussed up. She wished she had told Raphael about what she did remember in that cabin, but he’d ask too many questions, ones she couldn’t answer.
Raphael parallel-parked near the saloon and they ambled inside. After a quick glance around, he said, “Doesn’t look like Seth is here.”
“Nope,” the bartender answered. “The last time I saw Seth, he was with you.”
“Hello, Tessa. Would you like a drink? It’s on the house.”
“No, we’re looking for Seth. Thanks for the information.”
Tessa moved toward the door but two men barred their way. “Did you kill those sheep?”
“No, I didn’t,” Tessa said.
“We’re talking to Raphael. You can’t trust shifters, you know. I just knew it would be only a matter of time before they attacked our livestock.”
“Now, Jacob, that’s not fair. Werewolves would never kill livestock. They know what would happen if they did,” the bartender said.
“That seems strange with all the wolves I heard howling the night of the full moon. It sounded like the woods were full of them.”
“Plenty of wolves in Wyoming and not all of them are shifters, you know.”
“Oh, I know, but if you or your kind head over to my place, you’re goners. I plan to stay close to my sheep tonight with my shotgun in case you’re planning to do more killing tonight,” Jacob said.
“Good to know. Now move aside so I can look for Seth.”
Jacob narrowed his eyes and stared at Tessa. “It’s not a smart move to hang around werewolves. When they get their hands on a human, they use her and toss her aside.”
“Thanks for the warning, but I’d really like to find Seth so if you could step aside, I’d really appreciate it.” Tessa smiled.
Jacob and the man with him moved from the door and Tessa led the way outside, breathing in the fresh night air.
“It’s beginning already,” Raphael muttered. “Just like I thought it would.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for, unless you really did kill those sheep?”
“No, I just hate that any shifter would be to blame. What do you make of all the wolves in the woods that night howling?”
“It could be nothing.”
“And you don’t think a full-blood could be behind the killings?”
“We’ll just stroll by the good doctor’s house so I can ask him a few questions.”
Raphael crossed the street and over to Dr. Evans’s, knocking on the door attached to the garage. He continued to knock until a winded doctor answered it.
“Raphael? What are you doing here at thi
s hour, and who is your friend?”
“This is Tessa.”
“Tessa, are you new in town?”
“I’ve been here about ten months, but I don’t think I’ve met you yet.”
“Can we come in, doctor, or—?”
“Of course, come on in.”
They followed Dr. Evans through the garage and into the kitchen, which was most likely located behind his office.
“Can I get you two anything? Tea—or whisky?”
“No,” Raphael interjected. “Did you happen to hear that thirty sheep were killed at the Hines Ranch?”
“No, when did this happen?”
“The night of the full moon,” Tessa said.
Evans stared at Tessa for a moment. “Who are you again, or what are you?”
“An interested party.”
“Word has it that wolf howls were heard that night, more than normal and not just at Silver Creek. Do you have any ideas about that?” Raphael asked.
Dr. Evans’s face paled. “Not sure what you’re hinting at here. Perhaps you need to just tell me what you mean.”
Raphael opened his mouth several times but snapped it shut. Finally, he said, “Where were you that night?”
Evan’s eyes darkened with anger, boring into Raphael. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“It’s simple: were you here or not?”
Dr. Evans pulled up his sleeves and showed them the abrasions of his wrists, then his ankles. “As you can see, I restrained myself. I never left the basement that night.”
To prove it, he led the way into the basement and Tessa's nose wrinkled at the musty smell. Along one wall was a piece of carpet thrown on the floor with chains attached to steel loops, which were bolted with a steel plate to the wall. Tessa walked over, examining the cuffs and finding gray and brown fur in them, but the cuffs were not all solid. They expanded in her hands when she pushed against them.
“How does this work?”
“There are expanders built into the cuffs. When I'm still in human form I snap them on and as I shift into wolf form they are allowed to expand, but only enough to keep my beast at bay.”
“But if you shift into wolf form, your legs and arms would be smaller, not as big.”
Evans raised a brow at Raphael. “Didn't you explain to her what I am, that I'm much bigger when I shift than a normal werewolf?”
“I told her you were a full-blood.”
“You did?” Dr. Evans sighed, pacing. “I wish you wouldn’t. If anyone in town knows this, it will make it difficult to stay in Creeksboro.”
“Nonsense. To humans, a werewolf is a werewolf. They don’t understand how much more deadly a full-blood can be, or that you’re the only one in Wyoming.”
“That we know of. I heard the howls of the wolves that night and I can’t say they weren’t full-bloods.”
Raphael’s eyes widened. “You’re confused. Full-bloods just can’t be here in Creeksboro or Wyoming.”
“I know you want to believe it and I hope it’s true, but who else would kill thirty sheep, unless they were very hungry.”
“They didn’t eat the sheep, just killed them,” Tessa reminded him.
“Are you a shifter?”
“Nope.”
“You seem not to be all that shocked about any of this. Why?”
“Probably because Raphael told me about you.”
“That still doesn’t answer the question. Who is Tessa, really?”
Tessa took in a breath and bit on her lower lip. “Fine, I might as well tell you.”
“Save it,” Raphael said. “We have more important matters at hand since it’s apparent that Dr. Evans stayed put that night.”
“Have you seen Seth recently?” Tessa asked. “He’s missing.”
“Missing? What do you mean, missing?”
“He was out at Shadow Creek watching over Carrie, but the night of the full moon he disappeared and we don’t know where he is,” Raphael explained.
“That doesn’t sound good. Do you think he went after Jason Traxler?”
“It seems that everyone thinks he was responsible for Carrie’s condition. I bet he’s tracking him as we speak.”
“Thanks, Doc, but I’m just not certain that’s the truth. I’ll check at the boarding house before we head on home. His daughter Melody finally left her mother’s side. She told us she saw her mother twitching.”
“That sounds good. It might not be long now before she wakes up.”
“So you believe Carrie will wake up?” Tessa asked.
“Yes, she’s a shifter and they don’t go down so easily. I’d have had my doubts about Jason being the culprit if it wasn’t for his history with abusing Carrie. If I had treated her I’d have called the sheriff and reported it, but I never treated Carrie. She probably was too afraid to seek medical attention for fear the sheriff would find out and start asking questions.”
“I sure hope she’s one tough shifter,” Tessa said.
Raphael thanked the doctor and Tessa followed him outside. “Thanks, Raphael, but why did you stop me from telling Dr. Evans about who I really am?”
“We don’t know for sure who killed those sheep, and the less people who know you’re a vampire the better.”
They walked to the end of town and Tessa felt relaxed walking next to her alpha. He wasn’t only wise, but insightful. Was it possible that the good doctor knew more than he shared with them, like if full-bloods were really in town, or thereabouts? What would that mean to all of them?
The boarding house was a white two-story building. When they walked inside and up to the counter, a portly woman of fifty greeted them.
“Hello, Raphael. What brings you by? We don’t have any extra rooms, you know. This isn’t a hotel.”
That irritated Tessa. What did this woman think she was anyway? After what she had heard back at the saloon, she wondered if there was any truth to it. Did the werewolves at Silver Creek really take up with female humans only to discard them later? Maybe that was what really happened to Maxwell’s mother. Even if it was true, why not tell the boy? He had a right to know. What really bothered Tessa was if Maxwell’s mother really left under her own steam, or was she pushed to leave? Or worse?
Palina seemed nice enough, but something about her demeanor told Tessa that she’d do anything to conceal the truth if it meant protecting the pack. She couldn’t blame her for that, but it just wouldn’t be fair to Maxwell. Tessa couldn’t help but have a soft place for that boy.
“We’re here to see Seth. Have you seen him around?” Raphael asked.
“Sure haven’t, but I suppose you could go on up to check. I’ll give you the key, but don’t you dare tell anyone. I know you’re friends and you sure seem concerned.”
“Very. We’re worried about him since the mother of his daughter is sick.”
“Go on up then, but lock up when you’re through. I wouldn’t want to get Seth mad if all his stuff goes missing.”
Raphael strode to the stairs and climbed them with Tessa hot on her heels. When he was on the second floor, he glanced at the key and walked to the last room on the right, knocking first. After there wasn’t a response, Raphael unlocked and opened the door. When they were inside with the door shut once again, they noticed the room was in complete disarray. The bed sheets were balled up, dressers turned over, and a closet door hung by one hinge.
“What happened here?” Tessa asked.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t look good.”
The hairs on Tessa’s arms moved as she pushed the curtains back and said, “This window is broken.”
Raphael strode over then and examined the large hole in the glass.
“It almost looks like someone jumped out the window.”
‘That’s exactly what it looks like. I think we need to talk to that woman at the front desk again. There’s no way she couldn’t have known a window was broken. There had to be glass or something on the sidewalk below.”
Tessa opened the
closet door and all the clothes were on the bottom in a pile. Nothing about this made sense. What would make Seth keep his room like this? Had someone done something him?
Tessa was the one who was out the door first, hammering down the steps and ringing the bell insistently until the woman walked over with an irritated look on her face.
“You don’t need to ring that bell like that. I was coming the first time I heard it.”
“What happened up in Seth’s room? The room is a mess and the windows busted like it was broken from the inside,” Tessa inquired at a mile a minute.
“How would I know?”
“You must have had to clean up glass, at least. From where the window was broken, the glass would have landed on the sidewalk outside.”
“Are you sure? I haven’t heard a thing.”
“We ought to know a broken window when we see it,” Tessa stated sarcastically. “There would’ve been broken glass outside. Did anyone report cleaning it up?”
“No need to get cross with me, young lady. We run a clean establishment here, but also give our tenants their privacy.”
“I understand that, but somebody had to have heard something.”
“Sorry, I haven’t received any complaints about noise in his room or breaking of a window.” She smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find Seth soon enough.”
“I’m just worried someone might have done something to him,” Tessa said. “We just need to find Seth and soon.”
“Do you want me to call the sheriff, or….”
“No, that’s the last thing we want. If you see Seth, please tell him to come home,” Raphael said.
Tessa made her way around the boarding house, kicking her feet in the dirt. She fished her keys out of her pocket and used the mini flashlight to search the ground.
“There’s no broken glass here. Weird.”
“It could have been cleaned up, or fell behind that bush,” Raphael suggested.
Tessa went down on her knees to search the back of the bush and sure enough, there was broken glass there. She stood back up and said, “You’re right. I just don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t have heard a window that size breaking or noise from someone busting up the place.”
“The kind of men who stay here are not the type who would be complaining about anyone else. They’re a tight-lipped bunch. It’s basically the man code to not be blabbing about what the other men are doing.”
