Monster grabbed his arm as he went to pass. “We’ll be back in two days, Cliff, for the balance. Don’t make us chase you down, because you won’t like what happens when we catch you.”
Cliff leaned in, and it seemed like he was smelling Monster. A sinister smile split his face. “Catch me?” Cliff spoke low. “Why, it seems I’m not the one in a trap.”
The arrogant bastard continued his journey through the door, speaking back as he walked away. “Lock up when you’re done, gentlemen.”
“Does that fucker have a split personality or what?” Bulldog asked.
“Yeah, either of you get a bad vibe from him?” Monster was shaken by the night but especially by the shift in Cliff’s entire demeanor.
They continued the discussion as they made their way back to the car.
“Something about his choice of words had Dash clawing at me.”
“I didn’t like it either, but perhaps we’re reading into it. I didn’t smell anything on him. You?” Monster asked his Veep.
“Nothing, but maybe a deeper dive into him couldn’t hurt. We’ll see what Kansas thinks. Maybe he can come for the final payment. He can smell shifters better than any of us. If he knows something, that means he has to know one and that scent should be around.”
“Either way,” Monster added as they parked the car at the clubhouse. “I think we need to vote to nix him permanently, no matter what. His disrespect won’t magically go away. The more we deal with him, the cockier he’ll get. We can’t let it slide. We get paid, and we ban him.”
Monster was still trying to puzzle out what Cliff meant with his trap comment. He would bring it up in church when they discussed banning Cliff.
“Hey, that car outside the gate is gone. Wasn’t that your girl’s, Monster?” Ghoul asked.
He’d been so far in his head he hadn’t noticed.
“Fuck.”
Eating up the distance to his room, he threw open the door to confirm the truth—she was gone.
Ulf howled in rage, as did Monster. “She’s left me.” The silver felt ineffective as Ulf raged inside him, begging to be let out.
“Oh shit.” He heard Ghoul behind him. “He’s in partial. How in the hell is he in a partial shift with the silver on?”
“I don’t fucking know, but we have to talk him down because if Ulf takes over like this, we may never get him back. Especially if he breaks through silver to do it.”
“Hey, Arden. Listen. You need to talk to Ulf. You need to calm him down. If not?—”
Bulldog interrupted, “Here, look. She didn’t leave you, Monster. She left a note explaining everything.” The rage cleared enough for Monster to realize his vice was waving a piece of paper in his face. His vice had sprouted fur and was on the verge of shifting himself. Ready to defend himself and stop Ulf if he broke free.
With considerable strength and concentration, Monster pulled Ulf back.
Calm, so I can read the note.
He breathed a great sigh of relief when he succeeded. All the credit wasn’t his, but Ulf’s too. He gave over to Monster since he couldn’t read without Monster’s eyes.
Ulf whined. She left us.
She didn’t leave us. She left a note.
After a few deep breaths, Monster nodded. “Thanks brothers, I’m good. Well, not good. I need some answers, but I’m in control and Ulf is … compliant.”
Bulldog held the letter to his nose and inhaled deeply. The look on his face was disturbing.
“What is it?” Monster asked nervously. Why would a note Carys wrote put that look on his face?
“I’ve smelled that scent somewhere else.” He handed it to Monster. “But that will keep. We’ll see you in church tomorrow.”
Each brother clapped him on the back as they left his room.
