by M, Jessie
“It's a tall story Kyle.”
“Look, it was Martha. I was joking with Chris about the wolves. He's got no sense of humour whatsoever, has he? She went a little crazy, scratching at the door, I don't know why. Perhaps it was the full moon rising or something?” he laughed as naturally as he could. “I ticked her off for it, big time.” He felt a bit mean blaming their dog, but he could hardly tell her the truth, could he?
“And she bit you?” his mother asked incredulously.
“No, of course not. Look it's nothing.” He flashed his shoulders, for her inspection. There was literally no trace left of his bite wound now. A few tiny reddened scabs remained. “We had a fun fight later and she caught me with her paw, that's all.”
“Right," his mother replied, staring at his shoulder, and the door, and clearly having trouble believing Martha had wrecked it. “Oh, by the way, Phillip had a good look around in the woods for the wolves yesterday morning. No sign of them of course, they've gone now, so we can all sleep soundly from now on, can't we?”
“I'll see Dad about that later. Be back in five, right?” he said, moving off towards the door.
“Okay, but do be careful, love,” she called after him as he left the house.
He set off at a slow pace until he was out of sight, just in case his mother was watching, then he pushed himself into a hard, fast run downhill, through the field. He flew like the wind into the tree line and the wood, his heart barely registering any exertion. He ran the entire semicircular path through it in just a few minutes, and then straight out and back up the other side of the field, towards the gardens. He stopped and took a breather. Not that he really needed to. His strength and endurance were amazing. He could hardly believe it. He put his hand over his heart, feeling its steady, slow, and strong thud. Perhaps being a werewolf wasn't such a curse after all. He jogged back slowly to the house and in through the back door of the kitchen in a glow of healthy excitement.
His mother was in there chatting to Mrs Higgins at the kitchen table, having a cup of coffee.
“There, not even out of breath. A gentle stroll...” he quipped, with a grin, making for the fridge, aware of their looks in his direction. His eyes were attracted by a big package of ham. And his mouth watered so strongly, he just couldn't resist it. He took a handful of it, and pushed it all into his mouth in one go. He almost couldn't chew it because he'd stuffed his mouth so full of the delicious, thickly carved, pale pink meat.
Mmmm, wonderful... How I love meat... Probably be liking it a lot more in the future. Raw sheep, no doubt...
Then he grabbed an apple, some crackers, and a few tomatoes and cut himself some cheese, putting his snacks on a plate. Then he left, smiling at them both as he passed by and out of the room.
“Such an 'andsome strappin' lad, our Kyle. A real fine man, in fact, ain't 'e?” Mrs Higgins said to his mother, in her broad Yorkshire brogue, as he mounted the stairs. Then his mother laughed and agreed with her.
“He certainly is Edna, very fine looking... I'm very proud of both my boys.”
He smiled again. It seemed he was being noticed by the ladies of the house today. And if he'd grabbed Mrs Higgins' attention, he must be looking pretty damn good, because she couldn't see too well without her glasses on.
He ate and showered and was sitting upstairs at his computer, trying to write an explanation as to his sudden absence from his job that day, when he heard a sound outside. It was a whistling noise, loud and high pitched. So high pitched, in fact, it seemed to reverberate in his head. He stood and made his way over to the window and looked out.
There stood Roxy, at the end of the gravel driveway, with one of the men at her side. He thought it might be the one she'd called Mutt, but he couldn't be sure. He opened the window and shouted at her.
“What the hell do you want, bitch?”
She walked up to the house briskly, with her sexy hip swinging style, and stood below his window.
“And hello to you too...” she said sarcastically.
“What? Oh, do me a favour! Why should I be nice after what you've done to me?” he snarled angrily.
“Can I come in? It's important. About tonight.”
“Stay right where you are. I'm coming down.” There was no way she was coming in his house. Not with his family and their pet in here. He left his room, ran down the stairs, and out the front door.
“How are you, babe?” she purred sweetly, giving him a cute little smile and looking at him seductively from underneath her eyelashes.
As he gave her the once over, reminding himself of how hot she really was, he knew she could melt any man's heart in seconds. Except his. She'd ruined his life, and for what? He still didn't quite understand that.
“I'm not gonna make small talk with you. Make it fast and get out of here.”
“I was wondering if you'd had any pain and all that stuff yet. With the changes. But having taken a look at you, I guess you have.” Her eyes raked him over with open lust and she licked her lips.
“Yeah, fucking tell me about it! I've never felt so ill and been in such agony. But no pain, no gain, huh? Anyway, is that all?” He folded his arms and stared at her coldly.
“I'm sorry. I should have warned you. But all the men have been there, Kyle. It's nowhere near so bad for the women. It's the testosterone kick, you see.”
“But I didn't fucking need to go there, did I? Why did you do it? I didn't want this. You never gave me a choice. I had a life going here Roxy. Things were just starting for me, you know?”
“I saw you in the wood and I knew. You're special and we're meant to be. I sensed it, just here.” She touched her heart with her two hands as she looked at him in open admiration, smiling again.
“Well never mind about me, and what I might want. And I've got news for you Roxy, I don't want you,” he ground out, unmoved by her 'it was fate' revelation.
“Once you become one of us, you'll change your mind,” she said quietly and petulantly, scowling at his open rejection after her carefully worded speech.
“Don't bank on either of those things happening. I might be cursed at full moon, but the last thing I wanna do is hang with a bunch of no goods like you, ripping throats out here, there, and everywhere.”
“Well you'll have to 'hang' with us handsome. Our violent side is out of our control. We do our best to contain it, the only way we know. That's one of the things I wanted to warn you about. You'll turn tonight Kyle. The beast will surface for the first time and you'll run wild. It's a harsh experience and you need us. Your family will be at risk from you. You can't stay here,” she implored, in a soft cajoling tone of voice.
“I'd never hurt a hair on their heads,” he objected, disgusted at the insinuation.
“Ask Mutt what happened to his family. It wrecked his mind, you know,” she revealed. “He's not all the ticket,” she added, lowering her voice.
“I can hear you darlin'. There's nuffin' wrong wiv me ears, remember, or me brain either!” Mutt said, walking towards them and arriving at her side.
“You're a complete headcase Mutt and you damn well know it. You're not called Mutt for nothing,” she said harshly.
“I ain't perfect, but who is, eh?” he replied calmly, with a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth. Kyle got the impression he was very fond of Roxy.
“Come on, we need to get going. You're coming with us babe. Grab whatever you need for a couple of days,” she demanded.
“Go to hell! And for your information, I am not your 'babe',” he replied, and began walking off. But Mutt grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“If you wanna chance it wiv yer folks, then stay. But the things I did to mine, you wouldn't wanna know. And I loved 'em dearly. My own sis... I can't even think about 'er wivout ...” A tear formed in Mutt's eye. The short and very brawny guy was clearly looking distressed about what he'd done and that worried Kyle, a lot.
He wavered, full of doubt. He knew he just couldn't risk it, could he?
Desp
ite the fact he loathed and feared these people, he couldn't stay here. And where the fuck else could he go? He needed their shelter, care, and experience right now.
“Just for a couple of days?” he asked for confirmation.
“Until the full moon passes. It's three nights, two days, that's all,” Roxy replied, a small smile of triumph breaking through on her pretty features.
But if she thought she had him in her clutches she had another thing coming.
“Give me ten minutes. I need to do some urgent stuff.”
“Okay, get your bike, we'll wait for you in the lane.” She turned to leave with Mutt and they walked away, down the driveway. He had the first proper look at their vests as they retreated and their chapter name made him smile, despite himself. 'Night Legends'.
He disappeared back indoors and shot upstairs. He loaded a backpack with spare clothes and various bits and pieces. Then he quickly finished his 'sick note' online and texted Mel.
“Going away, to help someone in need - it's an emergency. I'm still ill, but can't say no. See you when I get back.” He didn't need to tell her that the 'someone' was actually himself. He left it at that and turned his phone off, placing it on his desk. He needed to get through this first full moon and he'd have a serious talk with her, raise his concerns about their very new 'relationship', and then, he'd end it, before they both got in too deep. He shot downstairs and went into the kitchen. He left his parents and Chris a note. His hand was shaking with a mixture of fear and excitement as he wrote.
“Mum, Dad & Chris,
Gone away for a break at a pal's place. Things need to cool down. Sorry about Martha. Put her in kennels if you go to Mauritius. Be back in a few days. Don't worry. Things are fine... K.”
Then he left the house, grabbing his keys and taking his bike, leaving his crash-helmet behind for the very first time. He drove up behind them and they set off. Where to, he had no idea. And even though he didn't think it was too far away, it seemed like a million miles right now.
The lanes he knew so well flew by around him as he trailed in their wake. Roxy on her hotter than hot BMW RT1200, and Mutt astride his beaut of a Norton Commando 961. These people knew their bikes...
Not much more than five minutes later they took a right turn, and rode up the side of a long wheat field, on a wide overgrown path, rumbling over the bumpy tractor tracks which had ploughed it all up. Roxy looked over her shoulder at him and gave him the thumbs up sign, meaning, he presumed, they were nearly there.
They drew in at a small very dilapidated wooden house, literally in the middle of nowhere. It was surrounded and well hidden from general view by a few trees and hedgerows. Perhaps the word 'house' was being overly generous, as it was really a long, low hay barn with windows. This wasn't Kyle's idea of a country retreat. He was a Lord's son after all, and used to the finer things in life. They dismounted, leaving their bikes next to the others, in a neat line outside. He stood at the side of his bike, unsure of himself, and feeling a rising unease. He was about to undergo one of the worst experiences of his life, a full moon one, and worse still, he was amongst people he knew nothing about. He was almost regretting his decision to follow Roxy and Mutt here, but at the same time at a loss as to what else to do.
“Welcome to me humble digs...” Mutt said with a stupid little grin, bowing dramatically before him.
“It's yours?” Kyle asked, curiously.
“It's me ol' grandma's place. She left it to me three years ago when she died. Lived here all alone for twenty six years she did.”
“Right... And this is where you all live, is it?”
“Sometimes. We move about. There's four others,” Mutt added.
“Tank's got money,” Roxy explained. “He buys places that suit us.”
“What suits exactly?” Kyle enquired.
“Location... it's gotta be remote and have access to a lot of food.”
“What kind of food?” he asked nervously.
“The meat kind... Sheep, pigs, turkeys, forest wildlife. What d'you think we eat... people?” she asked, giving him a black look.
“Ha ha... very funny.” But in truth, the thought had crossed his mind, briefly.
“Mutt's place is one of the better ones. But it's a much lower standard than you're used to, m'lord,” she added humorously. “I'll try my best to make you feel at home, though you won't be waited on hand and foot.”
“Don't put yourself out, love. I'm not staying that long,” he replied with an icy cold drip to his voice.
“We'll see, shall we...” she countered, with a knowing look.
Deep down inside he had to admit he was warming to her a little. In fact, if she hadn't sunk her teeth into his neck and ruined his life, he'd be warming to her a helluva lot more.
Mutt entered the house, closely followed by Roxy, and he brought up the rear.
“Hey guys, the new kid's home. How about a little party?” Mutt announced playfully.
Kyle had a good look around the room. They were all there. The pack he'd seen in the lane, lounging on the two sofas and sitting at the table. You could have heard a pin drop in the ensuing silence, as they had a long stare at him, and he had a long stare back. After what seemed like an age, Tank stood up from the table, where he had been playing cards with one of the women, and came over to stand in front of him. Rather too closely for his comfort. He was intimidating, and Kyle had the feeling that it was intentional. His dark eyes penetrated Kyle's head as he stared unblinkingly at him. He began to feel very uncomfortable and most unwelcome. Not that he wanted to be here either. But it seemed he had little choice in the matter at the moment.
“How 'ya doin'... boy?” Tank finally asked in a blatantly condescending tone of voice.
“How d'ya think?” he replied testily.
“Smart mouthed, aren't 'ya?”
“I can be, when I feel the urge.”
“Well shut it, okay. Or I'll shut it for 'ya.”
“Tank!” Roxy protested.
“Just letting him know who's the boss, babe.”
“Oh I do apologise, Mr Tank. I didn't realise I had a new boss.” Kyle knew he was deliberately winding him up, but was quite enjoying it.
“Shut the fuck up, smartass,” Tank snarled in his face, bristling with annoyance.
The tone of voice suggested Kyle really should do just that, and he did.
“Can I introduce us all?” Roxy asked Tank, in a conciliatory tone.
“I suppose so, and then you can teach him a few manners and lay down the law. Straighten him out girl, okay?” Tank replied, giving him a hard look down his nose.
“Sure babe...” she said with a smile at Tank and a glare at Kyle for being so uncooperative and unpleasant. He glared back.
Fuck her! In fact, fuck them all...
He did however feel a little churlish now that he thought about his behaviour, but he couldn't get past the ruined life phase at the moment.
“So...” she began, “Tank is our leader, of course... and this is Tank's mate Kat, that's with a K.” She pointed to the beautiful dark haired woman he was playing cards with before.
“Hey, boy,” Kat said slowly, with a deep sexy purr and a long assessing gaze. Her eyes flashed at his in a strange way, as if she wanted to eat him alive or something.
“Hi Kat,” he replied quickly, and then he diverted his attention back to Roxy.
“Over there eating the cold can of beans, disgusting creature that he is, is Ryder, and sitting next to him is Angel.”
“Hi kid,” Ryder said, raising a spoonful of beans in greeting.
“Well hello cutie...” breathed Angel, with a wink in his direction.
“Hi guys,” he replied, a touch embarrassed at being called a cutie. What was with the women here? They were all a little too friendly for his liking.
“And finally, Max and Saffy.”
“Yeah, cool bro,” Max said with a thumbs up.
“Hiya honey,” Saffy said in a sweet voice, blowing him a k
iss. He noticed the swell in her stomach. Saffy was pregnant. Heavily pregnant. He wondered about that for a second.
Babies, what the hell would they be?
“Right, introductions over, I'll show you our room, shall I?”
“Our room?”
“Yeah, we get our own space to share.”
“Don't I get my own?”
“You're with me, remember?”
“No I'm fucking not!”
“Get used to it kid,” Tank said sternly. “She's your mate. And be fuckin' grateful about that 'cos she's a doll in case you haven't noticed. We're all paired here. Apart from Mutt. And nobody in their right mind would wanna pair with him, crazy fucker....”
“Mutt's mad, Mutt's nuts... Fuckin' loooooneeyyy,” Mutt muttered with a weird little smile on his face. To Kyle's surprise he fell to the floor and started to crawl about like a baby, sniffing at the furniture and the other guys' legs and feet. Then he rolled onto his back and kicked his legs in the air in hard jerks, his arms flailing around him. Kyle raised his eyebrows at his strange display.
Was he putting this on?
“You sure are one helluva crazy, old pal,” Tank affirmed. “Now up you get Mutt. And no licking my feet today, okay?” He held his hand out to him.
“Is it Sunday? I want my Linda...” Mutt said, taking Tank's hand and being pulled strongly to his feet.
“No not today sweetheart,” Roxy interjected, moving forward and giving him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “I'll tell you when it is love, okay?”
She released crazy Mutt, ruffling his wild brown hair, and flashed her eyes at Kyle, beckoning with her head to follow as she left the room and entered a small corridor. She walked to the end and stood between two opposing doors.
“That's the bathroom and this is our room.” She pointed out, as she let him enter first, and then followed him in, closing the door. She stood leaning against it as he looked around, his eyes returning to her after his quick take in. “Linda was his sister by the way. Mutt's... He goes to the graveyard, to pay his respects on a Sunday if we're nearby. It's his way of dealing with... well, you know. It makes me cry sometimes, the whole thing. I can't bear it. It's almost like I did it to mine and God knows I might have well as, considering. Anyway, I go with him, to keep him company and just in case he has one of his funny turns, like that one, just now. He needs looking after, you see. We all help out, as best we can. He's a good guy, so full of heart, he doesn't deserve this...”
