Tony and the brown wolf charged at each other. Tony gripped him by the shoulders and tried to force him away. The other didn’t give up. Instead, he latched onto Tony’s muzzle. Tony’s good eye rolled in its socket and he whimpered like a pup.
Nicole recalled a nature show about wild wolves. The unseen narrator had intoned that this behavior was a show of dominance.
In a desperate bid for freedom, one of Tony’s paws scratched at his aggressor’s face and ears.
While this happened, Aaron continued to drag himself closer. He’d also begun to change back to human. Now he looked grotesque as his damaged leg turned from fur to flesh. His knee was dislocated, the useless leg dragged behind him. His chest and head were still wolfish in nature, as was one arm.
How the hell could the neighbors sleep through this? Would it have killed them to call for help?
Molly’s attention was on something or someone near the houses. The shimmer of white fur drew her gaze up the hill. Why the hell it just continued to watch, she didn’t know. But it was just as well. She didn’t think she had it in her to fight another one.
She swooped down to pick up the chunk of driftwood. It fit in her hand like a weapon should. She tested its weight and knew just what to do with it.
Aaron looked like some sort of mutant from a horror movie. He was naked, thick dark hair still obscured his shoulders and neck. His face looked malformed with the nose squashed flat. His forehead was high and wide, it gave him the look of a Neanderthal. She swung the chunk of wood at him. He managed to duck but lost his footing.
“No, Nicky, don’t!” His voice came out as a garbled mess.
The driftwood connected with the side of his head, splinters flew in all directions. “Go to hell, asshole.”
Next she turned on the other two. The wolf’s mouth latched onto Tony’s throat, but he didn’t have a good enough hold and was thrust backward.
Tony took that opportunity to pounce on the brown wolf. He lifted him off his feet and gave him a fierce shake, making his limbs flop like a stuffed animal.
Nicole stood aside, the hunk of rotted wood loose in her hand. At the moment, she still wasn’t sure if the other was friend or foe. Even though, he’d helped fight the other wolves off, who was to say he wouldn’t attack her if she took Tony out? She and Molly might escape the beach if they continued to fight.
Molly sunk to her knees in the sand.
Nicole grabbed Molly’s arm and hauled her back to her feet. “Come on, we’ve got to get out of here.”
“Why is that one just watching?” Molly's voice was a shrill whisper.
Nicole spotted the white wolf on the hill, sitting on his haunches. “I don’t know. But let’s get the hell out of here while we can.”
Molly shuddered. “Shouldn’t we help him?”
Behind her, the growls and yelps continued. She managed to get Molly onto her feet and even move a bit, but her friend came to a halt. A pained yelp pierced the night. Nicole twisted her head around to find the brown wolf on the ground. Tony stood above him and raked claws down his body.
Nicole gripped Molly’s hand, her fingers came away slick with blood. She brought Molly’s hand closer to inspect the damage. “Oh my god, were you bitten?”
Molly’s eyes filled with horror. Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out.
Nicole turned toward the creatures and gripped the piece of driftwood. “I’m going to kill them both.”
She moved toward them, stealthy and fast.
"Nicky, wait!" Molly held her injured hand close to her breast. “I fell on a piece of glass."
It was too late. Nicole had reached Tony by now. She hoisted the wood up to her shoulder and swung. It connected with a satisfying crack and splintered in her hands. Chunks of wood fell away. Tony looked dazed for a moment. Blood trickled past his damaged eye. He slumped sideways then fell to the sand. The wolf beneath him scrambled to his feet.
Her would-be rescuer panted. His furry chest rose and fell with each breath. The reddish-brown, honey colored fur was matted with blood and sand. He quivered and Nicole believed his body might attempt to change back to human.
The driftwood was broken and useless now. Rotted bits stuck to her fingers as it fell away from her hand. The wolf turned his expressive eyes toward her and swayed. His eyes fluttered closed and he continued to sink lower until his muzzle lay across the toe of her right tennis shoe.
The one on the hill disappeared into the shadow of the houses. Had he tired of the show or would he be back to pick up where the others had left off?
Molly wrapped her arms around her middle in an effort to console herself. “Are you okay?”
“Go get the car. Leave the motor running and park as close as you can.”
Molly’s eyes widened and she gawked at Nicole. “What are you going to do?”
“I can’t leave him here, can I?” She wiped her hands down the sides of her shorts. “Like you said, he tried to help us.”
“So what are we going do with him? Take him to the vet?”
“He’s in no shape to protect himself if the others wake up.”
Molly trekked up the hill. Only after she was safe inside and the engine started did Nicole look at the wolf lying across her foot. She crouched above him and smoothed fingers across a silken ear. Three thin, silver hoops lined both and glimmered in the moonlight.
“You nearly got yourself killed.” She touched his face with gentle fingers then stroked them across his ribs.
He nuzzled her palm with his leathery nose. His pink tongue caressed her fingers, but he didn’t open his eyes.
Molly brought the car to the edge of the hill.
Nicole extracted her foot from beneath the wolf’s head. With gentle hands, she rolled him over.
Molly ran down the hill. “Do you think it’s a good idea? I mean, he might be hopped up on BST.”
“I don’t know.” Nicole squatted next to him. Getting him to the car was going to be a chore. She gripped him around the chest, just underneath his front legs, and hauled him across the sand.
“Why hasn’t he changed back yet?”
“I don’t know, Molly!” Nicole took a calming breath. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know any more than you do at the moment.”
Molly’s pale face turned toward the houses and scanned the darkness. Nicole figured she was still worried about the voyeuristic wolf. He was nowhere to be seen. She returned her interest to the one Nicole was dragging. “Who do you think it is?”
“Beats me,” Nicole lied. With much effort, she pulled him a few yards.
Molly bent to lift his legs.
“No! Don’t touch him!”
Her friend snatched her hand away.
“He’s bleeding and so are you.” Nicole heaved him closer to the car. She gathered his lean canine body and stuffed him into the backseat.
She cast one last glance at Tony and Aaron, who were still out cold. To hell with them. Seagulls could peck out their eyes for all she cared.
Chapter Fifteen
Nicole awoke to the sound of Molly’s soft knock on her bedroom door. “You’d better come out here, Nicky.”
She threw the sheets off and swung her legs out of bed. “What’s wrong? Did he wake up?”
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. She’d almost convinced herself that their champion wasn’t Brody. By the time she dragged him upstairs, and it was quite a chore to do without waking the neighbors, her belief wavered again. Tony and Aaron’s fur had been the same color as their natural human hair. She only knew one person with hair and eyes the color of sweet honey.
The couch cushions were devoid of an occupant. The blanket Molly had thrown across it to protect the upholstery lay wadded on the floor. It was crusted with dried blood and sand.
“He's changing.” Molly pointed toward the door.
Nicole crouched nearby. She stayed just out of reach in case he reacted badly to the unfamiliar surroundings.
The fur receded to reveal smooth
skin. Ribs cracked and slid back into place. His muscular back tensed. He lay face down on the carpet, arms outstretched in an attempt to reach the door. The wicked, curved claws shrank back into fingers. His legs and buttocks returned to normal. Nicole stared at the curve of his well-shaped ass and experienced mixed emotions about him being naked in her apartment.
Molly paled. “That’s—that’s Brody!”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious, I can see that.” Nicole’s annoyance had little to do with Molly pointing out the apparent.
Molly sent her a scathing glare.
His body was bitten and bruised. Crusted blood darkened his shoulder and neck. Nicole shuddered at the memory of the matted fur of his chest. Was it Aaron and Tony’s blood that stained it or his own?
One eye cracked open to peer up at her. He rolled onto his back then worked his jaw like it wasn’t hinged just right. Though his voice was hoarse, he said, “Are you hurt?”
Nicole was thankful he was alive but hostile at the same time. It was difficult to figure just why hostility was the number one emotion this morning, but it was there all the same.
He turned toward her and searched for any major maladies. He pushed himself onto elbows and searched out Molly as well. His eyes narrowed on her bandaged hand.
“Were you bitten?” He got his legs beneath him then stood.
Molly shuffled backward. “It’s just a cut. I’m okay.”
“Why were you out there, Brody?” Nicole wanted to cross the room, to hold him, kiss away his hurts and put this all behind them. Her attention drifted toward the folder on the coffee table. His being okay didn’t change the fact that he was a liar and a fraud.
“Saving your ass?”
She frowned at the memory of the driftwood in her hand. “That’s debatable.”
He took a step in her direction.
Nicole backed away. “You should leave. Now.”
His mouth opened to argue, but she cut him off. “I don’t trust you. I want you to leave.”
“Why did you bring me here if you don’t trust me?” His hands spread wide to show how harmless he was.
“I thought you were Sean,” she said out of spite.
“No, you didn’t.”
Nicole tried to avoid looking at him. It proved hard to stay focused while he stood naked in the middle of her living room. The well-defined abdominal muscles just begged for her to run fingers across them. His slender waist and the curve of his hip tantalized her. Her gaze settled lower and Brody didn’t seem to mind her gawking.
“So you’re not just dumb animals while in wolf form. Tony and Aaron were able to develop a plan of attack. You knew what you were doing too.” She tore her gaze away from his crotch and focused on his eyes instead.
Brody stood proudly and smirked. He must think she found him irresistible. Nicole chastised herself for looking in the first place.
“Of course we’re capable of thinking. Just because some choose not to control themselves doesn’t mean we can’t.”
Molly cleared her throat and looked away from his nakedness. Nicole envied her willpower. Molly snatched the blanket off the floor and extended it toward him. Either he didn’t notice or he ignored it.
“You still haven’t told me what you were doing out there.”
He cast a wistful glance at the door. “I followed you.”
Her face grew scarlet and radiated her anger. She couldn’t even form words at this point.
“I came to talk to you. I wanted to explain myself, beg for your forgiveness.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why didn’t you?”
“You and Molly were leaving so I followed to make sure you were safe. You’re predictable and I knew you’d run on the beach. Since Sean’s house is there and I knew Aaron was hanging around, I decided to keep an eye on the two of you.”
“To be my knight in shining armor?”
“Someone has to watch your back. Stone is bad news. I don't know what kind of game he's playing with you, but he's dangerous." His voice softened and he took a step in her direction.
“The only one playing games is you.” Nicole winced at the raw pain in her voice.
Molly gave up and dropped the blanket onto the back of the couch. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Brody crossed his arms over his chest. “Did he tell you where the next shipment will be delivered, Nicole?”
Her face scrunched. “Is that the only reason you were ever nice to me? You think I know something to help your bogus case against him?”
“No, I’m trying to keep you safe.” Brody grimaced. His eyes begged her to understand. “Amy knew too much. He got tired of her and you know what happened.”
“Shut up and get out.”
He reached for her and she wasn’t fast enough to dart away this time. His eyes begged her to believe him. “It’s not just about the case anymore, Nicole.”
She tried to jerk her arm away, but he held on. “I can’t believe I ever listened to you. You’ve done nothing but lie to me. You used me. Plus, you’re using Beast.”
“I’m not.”
She was flustered and grasped at any explanation. “You changed too fast.”
“I’m not on Beast. I was born with the virus, Nicole. I’ve had plenty of time to practice. Let me help you. You don't have to face the full moon alone."
Nicole hesitated. He sounded so sincere, so believable. It would be easy to allow herself to fall into his trap again. “Go find someone else to play your mind games with.”
He pretended not to hear her. “Beast is most beneficial to those newly infected or those who just don’t know how to control the change. I don’t use it and never have.”
“Whatever.”
“What’s your excuse?” he shot back.
She cast a surprised expression his way.
“That makes twice your body reacted. How do you explain it?”
“No.” She shook her head. “No, that isn’t true.”
“It is,” he said in a forceful voice that demanded her attention. “Let me help you, Nicole. Are you still taking the wolfsbane?”
Nicole was done with this conversation. Her head hurt and her heart ached with betrayal. She could now admit to herself that even though she’d only known him a short time, she honestly believed there was a connection between them. Or he’d led her to believe so. He’d pretended to be so kind, so caring. She never expected to fall so damn hard for him.
She pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead and sank onto the couch. “I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“Clothes?” Brody turned his attention to Molly, who shielded her eyes. “I think I left them by Nicole’s car.”
Molly shielded her eyes from him and his nakedness. He’d turned to face her and everything was in full view. Her cheeks flamed scarlet. “Um, yeah. I found your jeans and shoes. The shirt was trashed. You just sort of exploded into this furry…”
“Where are they?”
“Right, I put them in the washer. Your wallet is on the table. Could you, um, cover yourself please?”
Brody grabbed the closest thing, a throw pillow.
“That’ll have to be burned,” Nicole snarled.
Molly scuttled down the hallway to retrieve Brody’s jeans from the dryer. Nicole stared at the scarred leather wallet on the table between them. She knew Molly had peeked at its contents.
Brody tried again. If it were any other situation, he might look comical clutching a red throw pillow against his pride. “Please, Nicky, just listen to me. What can I do to prove…”
“No! Only Molly can call me that. You don’t have the privilege.”
Molly hustled back into the room, a pair of folded jeans and his sneakers in her arms. She looked from one of them to the other, worry darkened her face.
“Please just listen,” he begged her.
“Get out!” Nicole sprung up from the couch and lashed out. A solid smack rang throughout the room and Brody winced from th
e force of the slap. Finger-shaped welts arose on his cheek.
The pillow fell to the floor and he gripped her wrist. He pulled her against him. “I’m trying to apologize, Nicole. Please don’t shut me out.”
“Get. Out. Now.” Each word was growled through gritted teeth.
Brody released her, but didn’t look happy about it. He took his clothes from Molly then thrust his legs into the jeans and zipped them. He didn’t bother to put on his shoes. Instead, he tucked them under his arm. On his way to the door, he swiped his wallet and the file folder from the table.
Molly directed a hesitant glance at Nicole. “Brody, wait. I’ll give you a ride.”
Nicole watched them exit and listened to their footsteps descend the stairs. After a few seconds, she crossed to the window and tried to get a leash on her out-of-control emotions.
Chapter Sixteen
Crusty, dried blood made his skin itch. Each time he moved, the new wounds screamed in pain.
Molly had yet to speak. They sat in traffic now, her fingers tapped a rhythm against the steering wheel. The question she asked was unexpected. “What does the F stand for?”
He raised a brow.
“Your name.”
“Franklin.”
Her nose wrinkled. “No wonder you prefer your middle name.”
"That and the asshole I was named after wasn't really my father."
They sat in silence again. He usually sought the comfort of quiet, however, this time it was intolerable.
“What was I supposed to do?” He didn’t quite meet her gaze. Everything he had done was wrong. He realized that now.
“You should have told her the truth from the start.”
“No, I don’t think so. She more or less runs the outfit while he’s gone. I had to assume she knew more than she does. I just didn’t think I’d fall for her.”
“Nicky isn’t the type of person who could do what you’re insinuating.” She gripped the steering wheel. “I know she takes wolfsbane, but that isn’t a bad drug. She helped you, even after you lied and hurt her. What does that say about her?”
He gripped the folder in his lap and sighed. “I don’t know. I didn’t think she gave a damn about me anymore.”
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