The scent was unmistakable, sharp with fear and sweat that had gone sour in the cold. The wind carried it straight to him, tangling with exhaust from the truck and the clean bite of snow. The enforcers reached up and yanked the hoods off in one rough motion, then stepped back, leaving the three men standing there exposed, blinking and swaying slightly on the frozen track.
“What is going on?” the man in the middle spat. His voice cut sharp and angry through the field. “This is kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault.” He stood at about six foot four with his blond hair whipping loose around his face. He wore jeans, a button-down shirt, and a white lab coat that looked absurd against the snow and wind, the hem snapping hard against his legs. He twisted his head toward the men flanking him. “Are you two okay, brothers?”
“I guess,” the one on his right said, shoulders hunched as he flexed his numb hands.
The other guy nodded.
The blond in the lab coat faced the crowd again. “I am Brother Jeremiah of the Flock,” he said. “I’m also Dr. Bankston from the next county. I have no idea what you think you’re doing, but this will not stand.”
Caidrik felt something tight and unpleasant settle in his chest. He’d heard of Brother Jeremiah. The Flock. A commune tucked several mountain ranges away, often having protests in Silver Pack territory. Caidrik had never bothered to figure out what they protested. “What is going on?” he demanded, shooting a look at Solomon.
“I have the three humans,” Solomon said calmly.
Caidrik’s jaw clenched. “Stop this right now.”
Brother Jeremiah straightened. “Where are we?”
“You’re in Slate Pack territory,” Solomon said.
Caidrik cut him a look.
Brother Jeremiah frowned. “Slate Pack territory?” He tilted his head. “I don’t know what that is. Is that a mountain range?” He looked to the shorter, dark-haired guy on his right, who just shrugged.
A bad feeling crawled deeper into Caidrik’s gut. “This is a bad idea, Solomon.”
“It’s one of the requirements.” Solomon looked on dispassionately.
“What the hell is happening here?” Brother Jeremiah winced. “I mean, heck.” His eyes kept moving, tracking the crowd, which had to be so weird. “Are you all looking to join our commune?”
“No,” Caidrik said flatly. “I don’t know why you were taken, but I will find out.”
“Well,” Solomon said, “this is why.” He nodded toward two of the high school football players stepping forward from the edge of the field. Danny Jordan and Freddie Spruce. They looked pale and tense, breath coming fast in the cold. Both glanced at Caidrik, then back to Solomon.
“Now,” Solomon said.
Caidrik stared at him. “Now what? Don’t touch them. They’re human.”
Brother Jeremiah stiffened. “Of course we’re human.”
“What is happening?” the guy on his left asked, his voice thin and cracking. He was shorter than Jeremiah and had bright red hair. Seemed to be in his early twenties at the latest.
“Now,” Solomon said again, louder.
Both boys turned and leaped forward. Midair, their bones snapped and shifted, and their jackets tore and dropped to the ground as fur burst through their skin. Wolves hit the track where human-looking teenagers had stood a second earlier, claws scraping against frozen ground.
The guys flanking Jeremiah both gasped and backpedaled toward the truck.
Brother Jeremiah spun and thrust out a hand, palm forward, his voice rising. “Devils or demons, go to hell. God, give me the strength to fight this evil,” he yelled.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Caidrik snapped, standing. “What are you doing, Solomon? You just broke about fifty laws.”
“Sorry,” Solomon said evenly. “It’s part of it.” He motioned to the enforcers stationed near the truck. They moved in close, boots crunching against ice, and gently but firmly guided the two humans back toward Brother Jeremiah.
Jeremiah had gone pale enough to blend into the snow and seemed to be praying under his breath, lips moving fast, fingers twitching like he wanted something solid to grab onto.
Caidrik shook his head slowly. “What now?”
“Well, that’s your problem,” Solomon said. “These are humans. Rather public ones. They have no issue organizing protests. Also, they’ve recently developed a new and fairly impressive social media presence.”
