I eject from the vehicle, vomit rocketing out of my throat in waves. When my stomach gives its final heave, it dawns on me that the storm has vanquished. That it isn't rain soaking my dress. Nor is it only my blood. With blurry eyes, I look up. Four long, shaggy legs stalk closer. Whatever this animal is, its low rumble provokes a caliber of fear within me that could paralyze my entire body.
Gunshots ring out, plucking a gasp from my lungs. The pale grasses part, a man clad in all black making a mad dash for the car. Across the hood, a bushy tail flicks up, launching the animal towards the shooter. Luckily, the man rolls out of the way, quickly regains his footing, and sprints towards me.
My mouth drops at the sight of him—ruggedly handsome and over six feet of sculpted muscle. In the grass beside me, hecrouches low and reloads his pistol before thrusting it into my trembling hands.
Strange that he’s not in the customary hunter green uniform. “Are you an enforcement officer?”
His voice is gruff and twangy, not akin to what one typically hears in the upper Heartlands. “Not the time for questions. Listen, if I don’t return, you fully unload on that lycan. Do not hesitate.”
The gun is heavy in my right hand. How the hell does he even have one of these? Civilians of Agathora aren’t authorized to carry firearms. Holy gods, is thisstolen?
“I don’t even know how to use this thing. W-What’s a lycan?”
He ignores me. "Stay down, you hear me?"
I can only bring myself to nod. With that, a grunt sounds from the man's throat, deep and primal. Dark brown locks and a scruffy jaw are peppered with grey, making the green of his eyes extraordinarily vibrant. Practically glowing. He pulls his shirt over his head and drops to all fours, tossing his head back.
A bloodcurdling scream retches out of me, yet I still make out the macabre snap of bones and ligaments. Long grey fur rapidly spreads all over his muscled body. Two arms are replaced with the addition of two more legs, each armed with sharp claws. The gargantuan beast has a coarse tail and pronounced ears that frame its face—the face of a bloodthirsty wolf. A werewolf.
Launching itself right at him is another. He tackles the umber beast, backside slamming against the crumpled hood. The assailant snaps at his muzzle, bucking the grey male off. Through the windshield, I can hardly believe my eyes. Two wolves, much larger than the typical wilderness prowlers, are rolling in the grass, swiping to kill.
As they fight for dominance, I find myself completely enthralled by the two creatures I have always believed to bemerely subjects of dark fables. Maybe I had a few too many drinks at the party earlier.
I can't bring myself to look at Mom again. The ache in my chest . . . gods, it’s too raw. Every fiber of my being trembles as I make a split-second decision. I start running.
Tears line my vision as I sprint through the cornfields, making for the overpass I spot a few hundred meters away. Roars echo behind me as I clutch the pistol, blazing so fast I wonder if my lungs might combust. When I reach the clearing, I run straight into another body. A freckled woman with long orange ringlets catches me, lowering me to the ground.
"Easy, now, honey."
I look up at her, heaving a breathless, delirious sob. She brings a finger to my lips, hushing me. Then, she hands me a bundle of clothing with a stack of jewelry. My adrenaline is pumping too wildly to refuse.
"What is this? Why is this happening?”
“Deep breaths, Vessa," she says gently. "Give me your dress. We need to cover your scent."
Does she not realize that there are two werewolves fighting to the death just on the other side of this field? Wait?—
“How do you know my name?" I whisper, pulling the oversized sweatshirt over my undergarments. My nose scrunches. The fabric smells like it was washed with an entire gallon of lavender detergent.
The woman doesn't answer until I clamp the silver bangles on each of my wrists, sliding the rings connected to a thin chain onto each middle finger. I scrunch my brows. They're beautiful. But what the hell are they good for?
"Now isn't the time to explain." She steps forward and attempts to loop her arm through mine. But I jerk away, raising the pistol.
"No—stay back. I don't know you. I don't know why any of you wolf freaks are after me, but I need to call enforcers. I need to get my mom to a hospitalright now."
The two of us flinch at the sound of a large body being slammed against steel, shattering glass. The snarl is cut short by a defeated whimper.
Her lips pull back into a straight line. "I'm afraid it's too late for that. Besides, there's another fella like him waiting to intercept you there. These lycans work in teams. They've had eyes on your family for days now. Your daddy and your brother, too. It won’t be long before he catches wind of all the blood.”
The realization threatens to buckle my knees.
“Please tell me you sent someone to protect Benjamin,” I croak. “My dad’s out of town. Oh gods, he’s home alone.”
"Leave your phone right here. Dress and shoes, too. If you want answers, follow me."
Panic mounts inside of me as the two of us make our way back to the main road where a van is parked. There, the bare-chested shooter hauls a bloody man over his shoulder and stuffs him into the driver's seat. I gag as I note the shredded side of the stranger’s muscled torso. In the seat next to him is another naked corpse. A female with a spray of bullet holes down her chest.
"That's the one who got to your momma," the redhead says sullenly.
