"Usually, the first few shifts are the hardest to control, so a werewolf can attack in a crazed state without knowing what they’re doing. The problem is that if they bite someone else, they can infect them, and they, too, become a werewolf," Beth said. "Those first few changes are tough, making the werewolf very dangerous, but it gets easier for them to control themselves after that. They learn to manage the changes."
"Really?" I looked from Beth to Trudy.
Beth nodded. "Yeah. With time, they can almost lead normal lives again."
"Almost." I tasted the word, thinking about what a 'normal' life meant when you had to turn into a werewolf.
"Yes,” Trudy said, emotion in her voice. "But things are never quite the same again.”
Her words hung between all of us. I guess now her husband would need to learn how to manage being a werewolf, so that he didn’t hurt anyone. Someone also needed to get the person who infected him off the streets. There were so many ways we could help Trudy, but I wasn’t sure what she needed specifically from us.
"So… what do you want us to do?” I asked.
Trudy’s dark eyes met mine. "I want you to find out which werewolf attacked him.”
Closing her book, Beth sat up straighter. "We'll do everything we can to help."
Trudy nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly as if relieved by the promise, but she didn’t get up. She sat painfully still, and itfelt like we were all holding our breath as Trudy leaned closer, a look of pain painting her features.
"I can’t believe all of this is happening. My sweet Nam, bitten by a werewolf." Without further warning, Trudy began to sob, her next words coming out broken. "When the next full moon rises, he'll shift into one ofthem."
She reached for a tissue from the box on the coffee table between us, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Gone was the elegant lady from a moment before. In her shoes remained a wife and a person, terrified for someone she loved.
"Hey, hey," Beth said softly, her professional demeanor giving way to concern. She reached between them, placing a comforting hand over Trudy's.
Trudy dabbed at her eyes. "It's all so much to take in. I thought we were safe from such things, living as we do… being good, civilized people in a small town. But I was wrong."
"I completely understand that feeling of being vulnerable and unsafe, but let's focus on what wecando now," Beth said.
"Yes, you’re right. There are things we can do now.” Trudy exhaled shakily. "There's a... a sort of cure. It suppresses the transformation." She clasped her hands together tightly, as if holding onto the last shred of hope. "But he has to take it every single day. Without fail."
"Sounds manageable." Women did it every day with birth control.
"Manageable, yes, but not without its price," Trudy said, a hint of bitterness creeping into her voice. "The cost is astronomical. And it will be needed for the rest of his life."
"Is money an issue?" Beth asked.
"No," Trudy conceded, a weary smile touching her lips. "Thankfully, we have the means. But others might not be so fortunate. That's why I’m here with you instead of at my husband’s bedside. It’s too late for him, but not for others."
Beth leaned forward, intent on Trudy's face. "You want us to find the werewolf responsible to protect other people?"
Some small part of me expected her motivation to be more driven by a desire for vengeance.
"Exactly." Trudy's eyes were resolute now, the tears dried. "I want you to find this creature before it attacks again, before more lives are thrown into chaos. Before more people are infected. Will you do it?"
"Consider us on the case," Beth said firmly, and I nodded my agreement, responsibility settling on my shoulders. We were going to catch a werewolf.
"Three people," Trudy said with a tremble in her hands. "In the last few months, three victims, including my husband."
Oh, wow, so all the recent attacks were werewolf attacks? That was unsettling. I think I could handle a crazy human a lot better than a werewolf.
"There shouldn't be any more. This has to stop," she continued.
"Don’t worry," Beth said. "We’ll figure this out.”
"Thank you," Trudy said, relief washing over her face as she clasped her hands together tightly. "Thank you both so much."
FOUR
