by Mia Rose
Declan’s mind came back to what he was doing. He ran pushing branches from his path. He looked and brought himself to an abrupt stop. Judy rounded the corner behind him and she collided with him.
“What have you stopped for?” she asked.
Declan nodded his head across the small clearing —three pairs of yellow eyes glared at them from the darkness of the undergrowth. The eyes stepped forward, and they could see three, gray-haired wolves.
“You think they’re normal wolves or werewolves?” he asked.
“There’s one way to find out,” Judy said as she fell on all fours.
Declan watched as Judy flexed her shoulders, bone and sinew twisted and buckled before his eyes. Fur sprang from her skin and filled her back as her bowed head raised, now showing her snarling snout. Judy shook her body like a dog who’d just had a shower, and the droplets of water splashed against his face.
The three wolves never broke their gaze. “I think they’re real wolves,” Declan murmured clasping his hand around the handle of the knife. “I’m not killing them though, a wolf is a wolf, no matter what type.”
Declan and Judy stepped into the clearing, the moon broke from behind the dark clouds. It cast its nightly brightness onto the three who stood between them and to the path leading to the boat. Judy took a step forward and snarled. The wolf pack of three split as two began to circle.
“They’re gonna attack anytime soon,” Declan murmured facing the wolf to his left.
Judy faced the one on the right as the one in the center ran forward and lunged. The wolf glided through the air, its body aimed for Declan as Judy swung her paw. Her claws dug deep into the wolf’s cheek as she sent it crashing to the side of the clearing. Declan pulled the knife stepping toward the second wolf. He could see the other one, cowered under the bush licking its wounds.
“You, get outta here,” he yelled, waving his arms at the wolf.
The wolf sprang and launched itself in Declan’s direction. He switched the knife to his opposite hand and landed his fist right on the jaw of the wolf. It landed on the ground, hard, shaking its head and turning. Its shoulder hunched as it paced closer to Declan.
“I don’t wanna hurt you, but I’ll wound you if you don’t go,” he yelled.
The wolf was oblivious to Declan’s words, and so it pounced, with its paws hitting him in the chest. Declan fell back. His arm pushed against the throat of the wolf as it snarled and snapped pushing closer to his face. Declan tilted his head from the fangs of the wolf and saw Judy pulling the third wolf from her own back. A crimson mark appeared on her shoulder as she threw the wolf against a tree.
Declan raised the knife. He pushed the blade against the animal's shoulder. He felt the sharp blade pierce the skin, and then he pushed harder. The wolf turned its head and snapped at Declan’s hand. He pulled his arm from underneath its throat and punched the wolf in the eye. The animal shook its head and became dazed and confused. It pulled back from Declan and trotted into the undergrowth, glaring over its shoulder.
“Get on,” Judy shouted.
“You’re bleeding,” Declan replied.
“Declan, we don’t have time for any of this, get your ass on, and we can go before they attack again.”
Declan did as he was told and threw his body on the back of Judy. He grabbed her fur away from where she was bleeding. She sped across the clearing and back onto the path. He could feel she was hurting, her speed was limited, and her shoulder dropped when her weight was on it. The path thinned, and Declan could see the boat ahead. Now, it was just a small trip to the jetties and back into the comfort of his car.
Judy clenched at her shoulder as she leaned back in the car seat. Declan glanced over and saw blood trickling between her fingers. “We should take you to the hospital,” he said, concerned. Judy turned her head, and damp strands of hair clung to her mud-covered face, and her lips tightened from the pain.
She shook her head. “No hospital, just get me home.”
Declan stepped on the gas, the lights of Miami appeared, and he hit the city limits. He peered over the ocean as the full moon cast a silvery glow over the ripples of the water. His car spun into the parking space, and he helped Judy from the car. They reached the apartment. Judy sat on a chair and pulled at the buttons of her vest.
“Get this thing off me,” she yelped.
Declan popped the buttons on the leather vest and slipped it from Judy’s shoulders. Her t-shirt was torn and soaked in her blood. “I can’t see properly,” he said, trying to peer through the hole in her shirt.
“Declan! Cut the fucking thing off me, and do it quickly,” she said.
Declan reached for the knife and sliced through her shirt. “Why’s the bleeding not stopping?” he asked as he looked at Judy’s semi-naked body.
Judy clenched her fist. Her knuckles whitened, and she gritted her teeth. “Check the wound, is it clean?”
Declan looked, there was too much blood. He looked around the apartment and saw a vodka bottle. “Hang on, and I’m not sure if this will sting,” he said, uncapping the bottle. Declan poured vodka over the wound. The blood diluted and cleared the wound. He could see something white stuck between the parted flesh. “There's something in there.”
Judy pointed to the cupboard. Declan opened the door and reached for the medical kit. He noticed it wasn’t your typical home medical kit, this was a kit made by a doctor, just in case of emergencies. This, Declan deemed an emergency!
He opened the bag and pulled out the pair of surgical tweezers, then he doused them with vodka and rested his fingers at the side of Judy’s wound. “I’m gonna have to dig a little.”
“Just fucking do it, Declan!”
Declan spread the tweezers and pushed them deep into Judy’s shoulder. She squirmed, and Declan could feel her inner wolf wanting to retaliate and show itself. He twisted the tweezers and clamped his fingers together.
“Got it,” he said jubilantly pulling the tweezers from Judy’s shoulder. “A fang, a big fucking fang,” he said, holding the tweezers in front of Judy’s eyes.
Judy nodded, slumping her shoulders as Declan cleaned her wound. He poured more vodka on and wiped the wound with the remnants of her shirt.
“You’ll be okay in a while, it might ache though, with my digging.”
Judy turned her sweat-covered brow to Declan. “Thanks for that, you’ve saved me.”
Declan sat and patted his backpack. “That’s nothing, it’s you who has helped to save me.”
“Keep your eyes and ears open, anyone can stab you in the back.”
Chapter 14
Breakfast News
“Home is people, not a place.”
Noelle made her way onto the patio. The overnight storm had cleared the air, and she could smell the damp grass that led to the tree line of the forest. Lucas had gone out for his early morning hunt, so she sat and looked deep inside herself and tried to connect to her inner wolf. Noelle knew she had to make a decision before she reached Cripple Creek. Should she go to her parents, the apartments —or try and find Declan? And where would she find him? That was one question she had no answer to.
Noelle sat on the edge of the patio and crossed her legs. The ache throbbed where her leg had been broken, yet she bared it to focus on her inner psyche. Noelle breathed deep and slow. She heard the early morning song of the birds, the rustle of the leaves, and more. Noelle felt at one with nature and began slipping into a trance-like state. Noelle had visions of wolves she didn’t recognize, it was like they were speaking to each other and she was on the sidelines listening.
Declan. Noelle heard his name mentioned so often. The voices washed through her mind in waves, none of it coherent… she had to fill in the missing pieces. Declan was alive, and well, that was what she could decipher… and heading home. Declan’s going home?
Noelle came out of her trance and saw Lucas walking from the line of the trees, his body morphing back to his human form as he strutted through the long grass. Noe
lle pointed to the corner of her mouth to show Lucas he had a trickle of blood by his lower lip.
“Breakfast,” he replied with a satisfied grin.
Noelle took Lucas’ hand as he pulled her from her sitting position. They stepped back into the living room. Noelle sighed as she sat at the dining table.
“What were you thinking of?” Lucas asked. “I was watching you for a good ten minutes.”
Noelle shrugged her shoulders. “I was embracing nature. I was listening to the birds and the wind, and I was remembering what it was like to run free, even though that was very limited. I heard voices as well,” Noelle said, now with a perplexed look on her face.
Lucas leaned across the table. “You must have somehow tapped into an alpha’s conversation. What were the voices saying?” he asked, standing and walking to the kitchen.
Lucas flicked the off switch on the coffee machine. He picked up two mugs and poured the steaming hot liquid, before carrying the tray back to the table. He spooned sugar into Noelle’s cup and then a dash of cream. His own had four sugars, with no cream.
Noelle wrapped her fingers around the handle of the mug and took a sip after blowing on the surface. “They were all about Declan, and from what I can tell, he’s going home.”
Lucas knew that Noelle’s decision to leave that morning was more than a coincidence, and that more significant forces were controlling the situation. Noelle was good to have around the house, and she’d fit in well, wolf or not, but Lucas knew this wasn’t what she was destined for. Noelle had been chosen way before she was born to fulfill a prophecy. The time of her calling was close.
“Have you decided where you’re going?” Lucas asked, giving his coffee another spoonful of sugar and another stir.
Noelle started nodding. She had come to a decision. Her parents were a priority, yet Declan —he was the epicenter of everything. In truth, she had to get back to him, or nothing would be resolved.
“I’m going to Declan’s home, I’m going back to Clifton Towers.”
Lucas smiled, yet behind it wasn’t a happy smile, he was filled with sadness. He was a loner, but Noelle had shown him there was another side to life. A more content side, one that could be shared and enjoyed with another. Lucas had a problem now. Where would he find another like Noelle? He’d hidden himself away from all the prying eyes, and he gained little exposure to hardly any other werewolves in the region.
“I can drive you some of the way, yet not to town. We have to keep a low profile. We never know who is watching. A strange face in town catches a lot of attention,” he said, sipping and emptying his mug. “There’s a gas station a few miles from here. You can get a bus into Denver and then another to Colorado Springs. From there, you should find your way back to Cripple Creek,” Lucas explained. He stood up from the table and walked over to the couch and pulled out a backpack. He handed it to Noelle.
“What’s this?” she asked, opening the zipper.
Lucas smiled through tightened lips, and stood there, choking back the small lump that was forming in his throat —it was his last goodbye to Noelle. Not that he wanted that, in fact, he wanted to see her again. Even if at that time, she remained, only just a friend.
“It’s something to make sure you get home safe.”
Noelle pulled the items out from the bag. A spare pair of jogging bottoms, a sweatshirt, and a t-shirt. Some food and a knife. “What's this for?” Noelle asked, holding up the knife.
Lucas chuckled a little. “Now that’s for your protection. I haven’t forgotten you’re human, even if you have. You never know who you’ll bump into, and that knife’s kinda special,” he said.
Noelle frowned as she spun the knife in her fingers. She'd become an expert at knife handling and fighting during her training to be a hunter. “It feels normal, and it feels a good weight to throw, and I’d test it, but your house is too nice to have a hole in the wall,” Noelle said. “So, what’s special about it?”
“It’s not steel, nor is there any steel in the construction. One-hundred percent ceramic, and it won’t show up on any metal detector,” Lucas explained. “And before you ask about sharpening, it never needs sharpening, either.”
Noelle looked around for something to cut. She saw the envelope full of cash that Lucas had slipped into the bag. After casting a glance at Lucas, Noelle picked up the envelope and pushed the knife blade on the edge of the paper. The paper fell apart as if she was cutting through butter.
“Wowsers, you're telling me it’s sharp.” She beamed a smile at Lucas. “I’m not sure I’m gonna need it, but I’ll feel safer having it with me. And what’s all this?” She was waving the bundle of notes at Lucas.
“You’ll need it. It’s a long trip back home from here, and you’ve got a stopover in Denver,” Lucas explained.
Noelle shook her head, and she was grateful. If it weren't for that, she’d be back at square one and stranded in the middle of nowhere. “I suppose you're right, and I appreciate it, I appreciate it a lot,” she said, zipping the backpack closed.
Lucas reached for the keys to his truck and signaled it was time for them to make a move. “We don’t want you stuck at the gas station when it gets dark, the buses are few and far between.” He opened the front door. Noelle followed him to his truck and climbed onto the back. “You can sit in the front.”
Noelle pulled the jacket tight around her neck and her hat over her ears. I want to go this way, it’s safer for you, and I want to think while the wind’s blowing all around me,” she said, huddling against the back of the cab.
Lucas pulled on the door handle then climbed into the truck. The engine turned over and sprang into life. He pushed the shifter into gear and made his way up the long gravel track leading to the main road.
Noelle stared at the house as it grew smaller, the track appeared to close as they made their way through the trees. Lucas’ house vanished, and Noelle wondered if it would be the last time she laid eyes on it. As the truck climbed the final part of the track, Noelle’s eyes saw the expanse of the forest she'd spent so many months in. Anyone would’ve been lost, the undulations of the land, the darkness of the areas… it all made you walk in circles. Have there been any more like me in there?
Lucas pulled his truck out and onto the road. Noelle stared at the white road markings as they appeared from under the vehicle. She stared her eyes and fixed them, as the dashed lines all blurred into one. Noelle found herself mumbling inside her head. She had no thoughts of the towering pine trees that lined both sides of the road, or the wide eyes that peered toward the truck from the undergrowth.
Declan, I’m coming home… I’m coming home to you.
Edmund walked from the room where he'd been replicating the elixir. He'd worked all night (again) and emerged bleary-eyed. Sanders was sat eating breakfast, and Edmund could smell the bacon and toast. He was hungry, yet his body screamed for sleep, more than food.
He sat at the table and began rubbing his eyes. He saw stars flying, and his vision blurred until his eyes focused again. “Coffee or tea?” Sanders asked.
Edmund let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “It should be tea, but I hate tea, so I’ll have coffee.”
Sanders lifted the thermal coffee pot and pushed his thumb on the catch. The coffee dribbled into the mug as Edmund struggled to keep his eyes open.
“Cream and Sugar?” Sanders asked, reaching for the spoon. Edmund raised his hand waving.
“Black’s good enough, I need something to keep me awake. It was a long night.”
Sanders placed his teacup on the saucer as the clank of China on China rang through Edmund’s ears. “I've heard the ritual is on Saturday, will you be ready?” Sanders asked. “Will you have enough elixir to change all the pack back to humans?”
Edmund sipped on the bittersweet coffee and looked at Sanders through his bleary eyes. Sanders, your eyes look as bloodshot as mine feel. Edmund nodded, placing his cup on the table.
“I’ll have enough. One more night of product
ion then I can sneak it into the apartments. I have a way in, and a way out,” Edmund explained.
Sanders pulled the sleeves of his dark-blue-and-silver, trimmed housecoat up his arms and then he leaned forward. “Tell me, Edmund. How do you plan on administering this quantity of elixir to a full pack of werewolves in one go —and without drawing attention to yourself?”
Edmund cupped the back of his neck with his hands and stretched. “I have a plan. They have freezers full of meat. If they use this, they’ll have to turn the freezers off well before Saturday night for the meat to thaw. I'll inject elixir into all the plastic, and it’ll soak into the meat. When they feed, they’ll be unaware of what they’re consuming,” he said in a proud tone.
Sanders leaned back in his chair. He thought for a moment as he ran his tongue over his yellow teeth and smacked his lips together. “And you think this will work? If it doesn’t, you do know we probably won’t have another chance.”
Edmund glanced over the table back to Sanders. He nodded confidently. “I've made it double strength, it will work,” he said. “I’ll stake my life on it.”
Sanders huffed. “You might actually be doing that, already.”
“Doing what?” Edmund asked.
“Staking your life.”
Edmund looked around the oak-panel-lined dining room. His bleary eyes looked at all the oil paintings of his ancestors. And then his gaze fell back to Sanders. “What makes you say that?”
Sanders gazed through his old eyes to Edmund. He saw the tiredness on Edmund’s face. He'd been through the same during his own life. Nights of no sleep and trying to do the right thing. Now, it was a little different.
“Edmund, there’s a war coming much sooner than we think. The council might be quiet at the moment, and just because they’re quiet doesn't mean they’re doing nothing. You don’t want to be caught up in any of that,” Sanders explained in detail. “If the council’s hunters point and shoot, they aren’t concerned with who’s in their sights at the time.”
