Several cars swerved to avoid a crash, tossing Richard to the floor.
“He’s at the house.” Devon placed a portable light on the dash and hit a switch. Sirens blared and oncoming traffic moved to the side giving them room.
At over 90 mph, they raced back to Max’s home.
All the while, Richard cursed himself for leaving.
****
“Lady, back away from the dog.” “I’m trying.”
The wolf moved between her and the cop with one pounce. The cop could miss him and hit her if he fired his weapon.
The growl from behind grew louder. She tilted her head in the direction of the noise. A shadow
figure of another wolf appeared, its coat covered by darkness. Was it friend or foe?
The cop aimed his gun toward the other animal.
His eyes twitched between the two.
“Shit,” the cop cursed.
Just then, a light from a window above illuminated the outside. The squeal of a baby crying grabbed everyone’s attention.
Kate took her chance and leapt for the door.
The wolf turned and ran at her.
Her foot tripped over the welcome mat and landed her face first on the planks of the deck. The wolf from behind attacked.
Flashing lights indicated that more officers were on their way.
Kate tried to roll away from the fighting animals, but something caught her pants and kept her from moving far.
One of the wolves had her by the leg. They blurred together.
She kicked with all her might. One shoe caught the animal’s leg. He let go. She crawled to the door, panting. Terror overtook every cell of her body.
Janet appeared in the window. She yelled from beyond the plane of glass, “Don’t shoot!” Kate scrambled to her feet. Barks and growls saturated the night. A car sped up the driveway.
Once stopped, the driver side door opened, Officer Moore and another wolf jumped out.
****
Max! Richard yelled, if screaming in your head counted, he thought. Over here!
His speed was massive, his strength enhanced by the light of the moon.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kate slip between the folds of the front door. Momentarily startled, Richard stopped and stared. What is she doing outside? He thought.
Behind him Devon yelled, “What the f**k are you waiting for. Get him!”
In an instant, Richard knew Devon had used Kate to lure their prey. His first desire was to pounce on the man, his hair rose and bile flowed in the back of his throat.
His friend. His colleague. What right did he have to go behind his back?
Then a howl from Max brought his attention to the fight at hand.
Richard’s sight leveled on the wolf who had Max pinned to the ground.
Animal hate burned from the pit of his being and emerged in a threatening growl.
He leapt. All fours caught his enemy moments before the bastard could sink his teeth into his bother’s neck.
Within seconds, the two wolves converged on the one. He managed to get free and bound off the steps.
Kate ran to the door, Janet opened it then slammed it again once she was safely inside.
Without words, they both watched through the window. Moore yelled at his men to hold their fire while the animals fought.
The unmistakable sound of a wounded dog screamed in the night sent horror through her body.
Janet grabbed Kate’s arm, her expression pained.
Was it Richard or Max who yelped?
Dear god, what was she thinking? Two men turned into animals before her eyes and were now fighting for their lives with another of their kind.
Moore’s flashlight flickered on the beasts. As if on cue, the light went out. He shook the maglite, cursed and tried again.
Two against one? L.J. managed between bites and yelps. Chicken shit of you.
Richard caught his leg in a death grip.
Is that all you’ve got? L.J.’s mental words started to waver. His partner in crime had left, and he knew he was on his own. He blocked the thoughts from his mind, trying his best to make the werewolves around him fear for their lives.
You’ve pissed off the wrong pack.
And threatened our women. No one gets away with that and lives.
L.J. sunk his teeth into Richard side. He recoiled in pain.
Once I’m done with you. I’m going to sink my bone into that bitch of yours. And she’s going to love it. She’ll beg for more.
Richard stood up, teeth bared. Over my dead body!
If you insist.
The officer outside managed to turn on the light.
This time when he aimed toward the fighting wolves, only the figure of a man, naked and seemingly dead, lay on the lawn.
Kate peered into the darkness.
The thin man, in no way resembled the Ritter brothers. And they were nowhere to be seen.
Relief poured from her limbs. Janet slumped against her.
“It’s over.”
Kate heard Janet’s words from a distance.
James came up from behind them and opened the door when one of the officers knocked.
Uniformed officers crowded the house.
Moore pulled Janet and Kate aside, away from ears. “They aren’t harmed. Animal control will make a sweep and ask for descriptions. Be vague.” Janet searched Kate’s eyes. Kate said nothing.
Questions came from several officers. “Do you own a dog?”
“No,” Janet told him.
“Have you seen these dogs before?”
“Only the one from the hold up at The Eatery,” Kate said.
“Do you recognize the man in the yard?”
“No.”
All the answers were honest. None indicated that Richard or Max had morphed into animals.
Why would they? Saying she saw such a thing would land her in the nut house and Joey in a foster home.
She sat back, followed Janet’s lead, and waited for the cops to leave. Joey woke at some point scared and confused. Kate did her best to ease his fears and put him back to bed.
It was after two in the morning before the majority of officers left. Moore stayed behind with two set of ears who obviously didn’t know the truth.
Kate excused herself to bed, Janet followed.
Alone in her room Janet eyed the packed suitcase. “You’re leaving.” It wasn’t a question. “I can’t blame you. I ran too when I first found out.
Max scared the hell out of me.”
Kate sat down and let her talk.
“You did see, didn’t you?”
“I accidentally turned on the monitors in the den when I was trying to change the channel of the set.
Richard and Max were in the garage.”
“Then the moon came up.”
“I don’t understand, Janet. What are they?
Why…”