Dark of Night

by T. F. Walsh

  “Today is my two-year anniversary since I left my ex-wife.”

  I tried to hide the excitement inside me. Who cared about his ex? It wasn’t a dumping conversation. I ate two more mititei.

  “My divorce papers were finalized ages ago, but today she reminded me of memories I tried to forget.”

  I sipped water from my glass and told myself to show sympathy. I caressed his arm and nodded my head. At least I wasn’t the only one with a past. Who doesn’t have monsters in their closet? I set the tumbler down, and shuffled closer to him while taking another bite of food.

  Connell fell silent. Sadness captured his expression, and all I wanted to do was take him into my arms and love him until every last bit of sorrow vanished from his body.

  “She called to complain about her misery.”

  “I hope you told her you’re taken?”

  He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him. “I don’t know why she upsets me so much. She cheated on me with a guy from my work, right under my nose.” His gaze locked on the couple in the opposite corner.

  “Do you still love her?” I cringed while voicing my thought.

  He gave me his full attention. “Don’t ever think that.” His hand stroked my back and drew me into his side. “I love only you, even if you drive me nuts sometimes.” He kissed my forehead. “I don’t want any surprises between us, and that’s why I’m telling you this. That’s why I get so upset when you disappear for nights.”

  I tensed as a hysterical laughter bubbled in my throat — I was the queen of secrets, and they had the ability to freak out Connell.

  He finished off his wine. “I do feel better now.”

  I folded my arms around Connell and held him close. “Everyone has a past.” A part of me was relieved by his confession, while another part fretted about holding so many truths from him. Anyway, we were talking about his problem, he wasn’t upset with me, and it would be rude of me to trump him with my own secrets.

  With that thought, the urgency to meet Sandulf and stop the dracwulf steamrolled over me, but it exhausted me at the same time. I needed a bit of time out, and dinner with Connell was ideal.

  Over dessert, he asked, “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Do you have any exes I should know of?”

  Enre was my first boyfriend, but I never loved him the way I did Connell. “Nothing to worry you.” I sat up straight. “Should we go?”

  “Really? You have no past love interests?”

  “Of course I do, but they’re not comparable to what you and I have.”

  He shrugged.

  I stood up to imply I was ready to leave.

  Connell paid. We strolled outside into a feisty wind, which blew hair into my face and ruffled my top. Connell embraced me as we briskly walked along the cobblestone street. The city fell behind us, as did people. Buildings melded into the night, faded streetlights guided our path, and the hint of rain teased my senses.

  Connell guided me toward a closed shop, blackness peering back from the glass. He placed his hand against the wall behind me, leaning in closer. He was stunning — and mine. “Sorry for ruining dinner.”

  “Well, it seems you now owe me two hundred kisses.” My hands crawled higher on his chest to the softness of his neck.

  He nuzzled his lips against my ear and kissed it lightly. “Last time I counted, I owed you fifty. How did we jump to two hundred?”

  “Accumulated interest.”

  His warm breath tingled on my lips, and I brushed my mouth against his. He ran his fingers down my back. “I’ll have to check your calculations.”

  “You’ll have to be extra thorough because — ”

  My words died. Enre’s musky scent hit. I untangled myself from Connell’s embrace and pulled free.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I ignored Connell and scoured the area.

  Enre rounded the far corner of a side street. Crap. Dressed in black, he meandered forward, his arms dangled by his sides, looking directly at me. My pulse accelerated. He seldom entered the city. Considering he wasn’t running toward me with some earth-shattering news, I guessed he wasn’t here for pack business. And that pissed me off.

  “Enre.”

  Connell turned to the wulfkin.

  I held my ground and faked a smile for Connell’s sake. “What brings you here?” I kept my voice steady.

  Enre flashed Connell a menacing grimace. “To see for myself what you’re up to.”

  Connell gave Enre a steely look, uncertain whether he should intervene or wait.

  “Don’t be silly. What are you doing here?” I asked again, my voice lowered.

  “You suggested we patrol tonight. I came to find you. But I see you’ve already got company.”

  My laugh trembled, and I was certain Connell picked up on it, especially when he mouthed the word ‘patrol,’ because his brows lifted.

  I gave a forced smile at Connell. “Just a saying.”

  Enre grabbed my arm, and I snatched it back.

  Connell was at my side. He stood a few inches taller than Enre. “Hey, pal. The lady’s busy. Come back another time.”

  Enre’s lips peeled back, and a snarl droned in his chest.

  “Are you growling?”

  Enre shoved his palm into Connell’s chest, sending him back a few paces. “Watch yourself.”

  I elbowed Enre in the gut and placed myself between him and Connell, who’d already started sliding up his sleeves. Joy. Just what I needed.

  Connell attempted to slide past me, but I stepped in his way. His gaze locked on Enre who looked ready to pounce, and said, “Who do you think you are?”

  “Hey!” My voice snapped them out of their staring rivalry. “Way too much testosterone is being thrown around. Breathe. Both of you.”

  Connell spoke over me. “No one touches her like that. Apologize.”

  Enre’s chest vibrated against my hand.

  Connell glanced my way. “Move out of my way, Daci.”

  “Connell. I can handle this on my own. I know this guy.”

  “Shit, Daci. This guy comes here, shoving you around and you expect me to just sit back and do nothing? Forget it.” He faced Enre, his fists curled into a ball.

  Enre sidestepped me and raised his hands. “Look, I don’t want to hurt you, so calm down.”

  Connell gave a snorted laugh.

  I couldn’t handle it any longer and dragged Enre to a darkened spot by the wall. “Connell, give me a moment.”

  My hushed words rolled with a snarl toward Enre. “What are you doing? Are you trying to expose us?”

  Enre gave Connell a quelling glare. “Who’s he?”

  “A friend.”

  “Is he the reason you won’t get back with me?”

  “Don’t be stupid.” I peeked over my shoulder at Connell who looked ready to intervene. “You said I shouldn’t patrol tonight. Plus, you never come into the city.”

  “I wanted to understand what you loved so much about this place.” He inched closer, forcing me back. “But I never expected to find you with a man.” His expression was pure loathing.

  That ache returned to my stomach and anger hammered forward — the anger I wanted Enre to sense. His timing was out of place. “Is either Sandulf or Radu back home?”

  “Nah.” He shook his head. “I don’t like this guy. He stares at you funny.”

  “Fine, you don’t have to like him. Just go back into the woods.”

  Hurting Connell with more lies was the last thing I intended.

  Something growled out of the lane from which Enre had emerged. We both froze, our gazes darted in that direction.

  Connell’s voice cracked. “What was that?”

/>   I dashed to the street corner.

  Connell tugged my arm. “No, stand back.”

  I shook him off and concentrated. Everything fell still for a second. Food wrappers scratched the concrete road. I inhaled the distinctive wet-sheep-and-dung stench.

  Peering around the corner, a lone black figure the size of a small car crouched low in the darkened lane. It was the dracwulf. Hot wisps floated from her muzzle, and her predatory eyes glowed out of the night. The huge animal didn’t behave like any wild wolf I’d seen, though she stalked her prey in silence. We couldn’t face the monstrous dracwulf while Connell was near. It would reveal too much and place him in peril.

  Quickly, I pulled back and gave Enre two flicks of my hand, then pointed to the alley to signal the target was in sight. Enre moved to my side and slipped into the lane, crouched low to the ground.

  Connell, whose cheeks paled, inched closer to me, his gaze locked on the intruder. I couldn’t live with myself if the animal hurt him. I prepared to defend Connell, even if it meant exposing my real self. I caught his wrist. “Move away from the alley.”

  “Daci, what is your friend doing?”

  I reached inside of me for my wolf, searching for the warm fur that caressed my insides, but sensed nothing. Zilch. Where was she?

  Around the corner, I watched Enre slide along the wall, hidden by shadows, closing the distance between him and the animal. A pool of light sprayed the blackened creature as she inched through it. She lifted her enormous head and roared, fangs shining.

  A tremor gripped me, and the tiny hairs on my neck stood up. I was a moonwulf and had no fear, but my survival instinct told me to back away.

  Connell took hold of my arm. I brushed him off.

  My gaze remained on the dracwulf. A breeze swept my back. She sniffed the air, her ears pointed and her fur bristled, then she leapt straight for us with jaws open, her claws grating against the ground. Enre charged the immense fur ball as his hands snapped into knife-sharp claws.

  I stepped backward, colliding into Connell, causing him to lose his balance, and stumble out of view of the lane. High-pitched snarls, scraping sounds and guttural whimpers fused into an explosive cacophony.

  The dracwulf’s body flung out from the shadowy alley, smacking the asphalt beneath a lamppost. Light sprayed over her brown pelt, exposing a monstrous wolf with knife-sharp fangs. Just as fast, she pounced upright, and threw herself at us.

  Connell stepped in front of me as Enre emerged from the darkness, his arms back in human form. Enre threw his shoulder into the great beast whose body hit the concrete hard, and a gush of air rushed from her flared nostrils.

  Connell dashed forward, but I caught his arm. “Don’t.”

  The dracwulf shot back to her feet, but this time she looped around and slashed a paw at Enre’s neck, throwing the wulfkin onto his back. Blood flowed from his injury. It all happened too fast. The dracwulf hovered on top of Enre. She sniffed his face with bared teeth and growled a territorial, aggressive sound, then set her stare on Connell and me. She started turning toward us.

  Enre punched the beast in the throat. She whimpered a bit before dashing down the dark lane she had come from.

  Connell mumbled, “Dear God!” We ran to Enre, helping him to his feet.

  Enre scrambled closer to the wall, letting the building take his weight as his chest heaved.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  Connell muttered something in the background, but I couldn’t make it out.

  Enre clasped his neck.

  “Take off your shirt.” I helped him tug the top off and folded it, before pressing it against the wound. “Hold this tight to stop the bleeding.”

  “I could have taken it, but … ” his gaze shifted to Connell, “he’s here.”

  Connell’s shoulders bowed forward. “Christ! How did you do that? What was … ?” His voice broke off. “Can’t be.”

  Enre was hurt, but I couldn’t risk the dracwulf hurting Connell. Was she after Connell or me? “Wait, where’s your gun?”

  Connell raised his palms. “I didn’t bring it, figuring it wasn’t needed for dinner.” He marched up the footpath and back. “We need to take your friend to the hospital.” With the phone at his ear, he started phoning in the sighting of a wild animal on the loose, demanding police start searching the streets.

  Enre shrugged his good shoulder. “I’ll be all right. You worry about yourself.”

  “What the hell was that thing?” Connell surveyed the street. “We need to evacuate this area in case it attacks someone else.” He stopped alongside me and mumbled, “Why would he try to attack it?” Scratching his ear, Connell shot a questioning glance at Enre. “How did you do that?”

  I grabbed Connell’s arm, drew him closer, and held onto his hand. His pulse thudded in my ears. It drowned out all other sounds, as a raging river would do, unstoppable and magnificent. “I believe we just found our killer. An oversized wolf.”

  Connell shook his head. “It’s a wolf all right. A goddamned monster-sized one.”

  “I’m pretty sure we scared it for now.”

  He dropped my hand and stepped to the curb, pressing his phone to his ear. He was calling the chief, giving him a summary of the attack and that the wolf was heading east, requesting backup to hunt it down.

  Double shit.

  Enre had protected the wulfkin’s existence at the expense of letting the animal escape. I whispered in his ear, “Do you think the dracwulf followed you here from the woods?”

  I was grasping at straws, not wanting to believe it watched us talking earlier that day outside the pack house. I touched Enre’s arm, noticing the blood dribbling down his chest.

  He shrugged. “Maybe she fancies me.”

  I raised an eyebrow. Great, he was already making jokes.

  Chapter Eight

  The way Connell’s brow creased signaled alarm. “Daci, I’m going after the wolf. Take your friend home and stay there.”

  Connell encountered a creature that should never exist in the human world, and to top that off, I would have to explain my connection to Enre and his behavior. If the cops caught the dracwulf, the Varlac would toast our heads on a spear. Our wulfkin pack might as well count their days, unless I caught the animal first with Enre’s help. No use waiting for Sandulf, who I suspect wouldn’t be a fan of hunting down his child. Otherwise he’d have done it by now. Like he said he would.

  “At least wait until backup arrives,” I said.

  “I think I know where the wolf’s headed,” Enre said, as he leaned against the lamppost. “I saw it coming out of the woods on my way here.”

  I glared in his direction and stopped myself from shoving my fist into his face.

  Connell’s eyes were on Enre. “And you didn’t think to say something before, or that’s it’s strange to see a giant wolf? But then again, you wrestled it with your bare hands.” He joined Enre beneath the light, his arms folded tight. No other people or cars frequented the area; despite the recent fight, only a wind whistled through the shadowy streets.

  Enre shrugged. “Didn’t know it would attack us.”

  I never expected to see Connell in such close proximity with another wulfkin, especially Enre. The possibility of either of them saying the wrong thing, or revealing a bit too much information would make the rest of my life unbearable.

  Enre gave me a quick glance, and the side of his mouth twitched ever so slightly. I knew the look. We’d used it in hunting. Distract the prey. In our case, get Connell and the cops out of the way.

  “I saw it near the farming district,” Enre said.

  While I didn’t know the exact location of the dracwulf’s den, I did know Enre’s directions were on the opposite side of the city where three of the attacks took place, not to mention far from the pack house. I
t would buy us some time.

  Connell’s nose scrunched up. “That’s miles away. What were you doing out there?”

  “I live there.” He adjusted the bloody fabric against his neck, and his face had lost a lot of color. Red marks painted his hand and cheek.

  I gave a slight nod in Enre’s direction. Connell was too savvy to fall for too many more lies.

  Connell looked at me. “He needs to go to the hospital and quick.”

  “Your place is closer,” I said. “I’ll clean him up first to stop the bleeding.”

  “Take a cab to the hospital.” Connell placed hands on his hips.

  “I’ll be fine,” Enre butted in.

  Connell shook his head. “Okay, I’m going to get the car from home anyway, so come to my place if you prefer.” He drew a hasty breath and stared at me for a hard second. Yeah, he wanted answers about Enre all right, but it wasn’t the place for a drawn-out argument. And he was in a rush.

  “Let’s move.” Connell nudged us into a brisk walk.

  We hurried, and I slipped a few steps behind them to avoid any awkward moments. The fear of Connell hugging or kissing me in front of Enre seemed less likely given the frown he wore and the dirty looks he kept throwing my way, but you never know. What a mess everything had become.

  Connell stuck out his hand to the wulfkin. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Connell, an inspector at the local station.”

  Enre gave him a sideways glance. “Enre.”

  Connell dropped his hand. “How do you know Daci?”

  Enre’s cheeks lifted, and he cast me an amused smile. “Daci?” He hummed and nodded his head. “What has Daci told you about me?” His voice strained when he said my name, and joy, now he knew Connell’s nickname for me.

  “Actually, nothing. I’ve never been introduced to any of her friends or family. Sometimes I don’t think I know her at all.”

  That hurt, and I intervened, despite wanting nothing more than to dig a hole and hide in it. “I’ve known Enre for a long time. He’s a family friend.” I forced a smile.

  Enre’s brow bunched. “Yeah, she’s a hard one to figure out.”