The look on Glen’s face became indescribable. He wet his lips, the color draining from his face. Jason noticed the change and his heart leapt. His stomach did a flip-flop.
“Where’s Rose?” he asked again. He moved a step closer to Glen. “Tell me, Glen. What happened to her?”
Davis swallowed a lump is his throat and it was audible. No one looked at him though. The two werewolves stared each other down. Jason trembled, his hands still balled into tight fists at his side. He knew the answer even before Glen spoke it.
Glen took a deep breath and his brown eyes stared into Jason’s. “They took her, Jason.”
He felt the sudden adrenaline rush. His heart pounded quickly. Jason narrowed his eyes. “What?” He couldn’t believe it. He had to ask again. He hadn’t heard correctly. “Where is she?”
“The hunters wiped out everyone, Jason. They killed all the PRDI members…”
“Where is she?” he growled. His injured hand hurt when he tightened his fist. His eyes burned. Tears started to blur his vision.
“They took her, Jason. They took her and Aidan,” Glen said. “They took her before I got back. She’s gone.”
“No!” he exploded. “No!” Hurt consumed him. Glen held out a hand, to steady Jason, to comfort him, but he pushed it away and stumbled back. His feet were heavy and didn’t want to work. He stumbled again and fell. His knees hit the floor hard. “No.”
“Jason.” Glen stepped closer to him and crouched.
“Get away from me!” Jason screamed. “Get the fuck away from me.” His hands went to his wet hair. Fingernails tore at his scalp. He wanted to rip his hair, to tear himself open. A sob burst from him. He could no longer see Glen in front of him.
It hit him at once. Rose was gone. They had her. She was gone. He couldn’t breath. He panted and gasped for air. He felt the familiar sensation begin in his muscles. A rage shift was beginning.
This time he would welcome it. He would use it. He would find Rose and tear the son of a bitch who took her apart. He would tear all of them apart. He would rip out their fucking throats and feast on their bodies. He would consume them. They would suffer.
He groaned, tears hot on his face. The shift ripped through him. He could no longer hear Glen or Davis. They faded into the background. He growled, he snarled, and he tore from the room without seeing.
Nothing could stop him now as he let the wolf out to kill.
Chapter Nine
“Fuck!” Glen barked, shoving past Davis, nearly bowling the stunned man over. Davis quickly regained his footing and followed Glen out the door. They had to stop him.
“He’s going to hurt someone if we don’t stop him.” There wasn’t much time to pause. Glen grabbed Davis’ upper arm and turned to him with a scared look in his brown eyes. “You have to help me before he does something terrible. He’s going to kill someone, or get himself killed before he even gets out of the house.”
He released his grip on Davis’ arm and broke into a full-out run. Davis stood in a daze and watched Glen turn the corner and out of sight. He heard the sounds of fast-paced running and growling and he tensed. He couldn’t be expected to deal with a raging werewolf. He didn’t know what to do.
But something compelled him forward and he began to run. He turned the corner just in time to see Glen slam the weight of his human form into that of a hideously half-transformed werewolf. Clothing had begun to rip along Jason’s torso and the pants that had once been too long were now too short. Fur and hair had sprouted along his naked arms and his face had begun to take on more wolf-like features. Davis skidded to a stop and stared in horror.
The werewolf slammed into the wall and glass in picture frames shattered as his shoulder crashed into them. He let out an angered and hurt growl and shoved at Glen. The untransformed male stumbled back, but the wolf was quick. He turned and assaulted him with a deadly swipe of his claw-like fingernails. They barely grazed Glen. He was quick too and moved to the side.
“Jason!” Glen called. “I don’t want to hurt you. Don’t make me do this.”
His pleading did no good. Jason growled and set himself up in a position to pounce. His golden eyes locked onto Glen, whose stare matched that of the werewolf.
There was a murmur of voices behind Davis and he half turned. PRDI associates and students, who had moments before been peacefully sleeping in their warm beds, came into the hall. They stood behind Davis, many suppressing their gasps of horror with hands over their mouths. Someone ran for help.
“You leave me with no choice, Jason,” Glen shouted. Jason did not listen. He continued to stare him down and growl. His newly formed jaw was unable to form the words for retaliation. Fangs protruded from his gums. He snarled and then made his move.
Glen anticipated the lunge and when it happened, he ducked. His strong arms locked around Jason’s waist and he propelled himself forward. He used his weight to steer Jason and throw him off balance. Again they crashed into the wall. Picture frames shattered to the floor. Glass crunched underfoot. Blood trickled from cuts on the werewolf’s back.
Glen held him tightly and the werewolf fought to release himself. He shoved again and Jason’s back slammed into the wall.
“I will not let you do this.” Glen said and his words were distorted in the struggle. He groaned as the werewolf pushed against him. He held his ground even as his feet slipped on the hardwood floor. Jason’s growls became louder.
Somewhere behind Davis, a child screamed and was ushered away. The crowd kept their distance, watching in shock and amazement. Davis moved forward, but stopped. The battle was nearing an end.
Glen bent forward and lowered his head. His body began to change, to take on a more animal-like shape. He growled and when Jason pushed at him again with all his immense strength, Glen fought back. His hands encircled Jason’s wrists and forced him back.
“Listen to me!” His voice was a roar, his words slightly garbled. Glen had not undergone as much of shift as Jason and still had use of his mouth and voice.
Drool ran down Jason’s chin and his yellow teeth were clenched in a grimace. Veins bulged in his neck and sweat glistened along his skin. His fur and hair shone with it. He snarled and tried to break the grip Glen had on him.
“Listen!” Glen shouted at him. His eyes bore into Jason’s, fierce and angry. “Listen to me. You are not going to get her back like this. You don’t understand, you don’t realize how serious the situation is.”
Jason roared an angry response and fought again. Glen threw him back and growled, “You won’t get her back like this. You’ll kill her!”
The words, unlike his actions, had an effect on Jason. Immediately, he ceased to struggle and stared at Glen as if he didn’t understand. He blinked his yellow eyes in confusion and pain.
Glen did not release his hold and he continued to stare at him. Both panted heavily for a moment, and then Glen spoke. His voice was low.
“You’ll kill Rose if you do this,” he repeated.
Davis could barely hear his harsh whisper. The people around him began to murmur. He took a step forward in order to hear Glen's words.
“You’ll kill her if you are like this, if you give in. Look at these people.” Glen gave a nod of his head toward the crowed. Jason’s eyes flickered in the direction, and they went wide as he noticed them for the first time. “You’ll hurt them too. You’ll hurt anyone that stands in your way.”
Jason fell limp. Glen finally released the grip he held on him. Slowly, Jason transformed to his human form. Glen stood back. He too changed and stood over him.
Jason sank to the floor. His knees collided with the hardwood. He leaned forward to reveal the horrid and bloody scratches along his back. Bits of glass glittered in the hall light. He let out an anguished cry. Glen supported him by crouching beside him. He rested a hand on his shoulder and spoke again.
“You can get her back.” Glen’s voice was no longer harsh. He whispered, “I’ll help you. Davis will help you.”
Jason lifted his head. His red-rimmed eyes regarded Glen first and then Davis towering over them. There was something indescribable in his wolfen gaze. Davis took a step back, in anticipation of something, anything.
“No…” He growled as he spoke. “It’s my fight…”
“It’s our fight,” Glen reminded him, sternly. “You’re not the only one who lost someone. We all lost friends and loved ones. There is no way in hell you are going alone.”
Jason went silent. His gaze remained hard-fixed on Davis. The eyes narrowed.
“I’ll take you with me, Glen, but the hunter stays.”
“I can’t do that.”
The eyes quickly flashed angrily back to Glen. “Why not?”
“Davis may know where they are.” Glen’s dark eyes switched to Davis momentarily. Davis shook his head. “He can lead us there.”
“Whoa, hey…” Davis spoke up. “I don’t know jack shit about any place. No one told me anything.”
Jason scoffed. “There goes that brilliant plan.” He stared at Glen and waited for him to speak. Glen considered for a few moments.
“No, it’s still a good plan. Davis can come with us, and perhaps something will jog his memory.”
“Doubt it.”
“I agree with him for once,” Davis said. “My memory is no good.”
“Stop making excuses,” Glen snapped. He sounded annoyed. He stood and turned to Davis. “Do you at least know which direction?”
Davis was confused for a moment, but he said nothing. Now that there was nothing much to see, the crowd began to disperse. He watched them leave until the hall was clear.
“That’s what I thought. You don’t know anything.” Jason stood. “Why they fuck are we at the PRDI anyway and not out there getting Rose back?”
“You were nearly dead, man. We had to bring you here first. You think we would’ve risked otherwise?”
“I would’ve rather died than return to the PRDI.”
Glen’s eyes hardened once again. Davis took a step back.
“Don’t get pissed at me for bringing you here and probably saving your life. The PRDI fucked up in the past, but it’s the only home I have, and the only ally you have.”
“Ally?” Jason snapped. “Ally? You think I want to team up with the ones who caused this whole fucking thing?”
“They didn’t send the hunters after you.”
“They might as well have.”
Davis grew silent and uncomfortable. Both men looked ready to tear the other apart. He would stay out of it.
Jason’s fists were clenched at his sides and shook. Glen let out a breath and turned his eyes from Jason. He tried to calm himself.
“Listen. Put aside your differences with the PRDI for now, and accept what help they offer” Glen said. “You may not get the chance again. Use what you can from them.”
“Fine,” Jason said. “If that’s the only choice I’ll have, I think I’ll do things myself. You never should’ve brought me here.”
“No, I shouldn’t have.” Glen’s boots crunched the glass and debris on the floor. He kicked a ruined photograph aside. “You should’ve been dead. No one can survive something like that. Not even a full-blood.”
Davis looked at Jason. “He’s right, I think. I’ve never seen anything like that. You were pretty fucked up.”
“But you healed quickly, much more quickly than I’ve ever seen any half-blood heal.” Glen finished.
Jason stared at both of them, and then shrugged it off.
“So what? I’m special. I always have been…” He was quick to change the topic. “Why the fuck are we still here? Those assholes have Rose. It may be too late.”
“Calm down,” Glen said. Jason began to pace the floor. There was a steady crunching of glass under his boots. “We’ll deal with them soon.”
“Not soon enough for me.”
Davis blinked. He cleared his throat and the others stared at him.
“Simon told us, before we went in there, not to harm her. He said he had plans for her. I don’t know what, but I doubt he would capture her just to kill her a few hours later. It’s not too late. You still have time.”
Jason stopped. The heel of his boot crunched loudly on a piece of a photo frame. “Who the fuck is Simon?” He crossed the floor and stood face-to-face with Davis. He stared down at him. “Who the fuck is he?”
Davis lost his ability to speak as he stared into Jason’s intense eyes. He gulped and moved his lips. No sound came from them. Jason grimly grabbed the collar of his shirt and jerked him forward.
“Who the fuck is Simon?” he demanded for the third time.
“He’s the guy leading the others. He’s the one who tracked you,” Davis finally choked out.
“The tall one with dark hair? The fucker that left me for dead?”
“I don’t know…”
“Was he the fucker that left me for dead?” Jason held Davis tighter and the frightened man could see the rage filling his eyes.
“Let go of him.” Glen appeared at Jason’s side. He gripped Jason’s shoulder tightly. “Let him go. He doesn’t know.”
With a shove, Jason let go of him. Davis tottered, tripped over his own feet and hit the floor. Jason snarled at him and turned to Glen.
“Who’s Simon?”
“He’s the leader. Davis was right about that much. He was the taller guy in black, with the short dark hair and eyes.” There was a pause. “He’s one of us.”
“What?” Jason set his jaw.
Davis blinked and his mouth dropped open in surprise.
Glen nodded. “I ran into him in the hall. I caught the scent, but I thought at first, it had to be Gavin. But I was wrong. He has to be one of us.”
"Wait…you mean Simon is a werewolf?" Davis asked.
“He moved too fast to be just human,” Jason said, remembering. “He didn’t give me a chance to fight. He overpowered me. Fuck!”
“You know I’m right then?” Glen asked.
“Can this get any fucking worse?” Jason's hands moved through his hair and he clawed at his scalp. Davis slowly climbed to his feet, but kept his distance.
“Davis is a fucking were. This Simon prick is a fucking were. What else do I need to know? I don’t believe this.”
“You better believe it. These are not normal hunters.”
“But why? Why the fuck? A werewolf, hunting his own—?”
“I don’t know, Jason. I wish I did.”
“Goddamn it.” Jason turned to Davis. “I suppose you knew all along, you little prick. I should kill you and get it over with.”
“Hey, I didn’t want to be a part of this shit,” Davis retorted. “I wanted nothing to do with Simon and his group. I never knew he was a werewolf. I didn’t even know I was one! I'm just as fucking surprised as you are!”
“Yeah, right. You were in on it. You all were.”
“Fuck you, Jason,” Davis said. His voice trembled as it grew louder. Anger surged through him and gave him a certain confidence. “Fuck you! You don’t know shit about me. I am not a hunter. I never was.”
“And you know nothing about me! I lost my mate tonight after I risked my life to keep her and my friends safe from your pals. So, don’t fucking assume.”
Glen held Jason back with one arm when he took a step toward Davis. “Both of you, fucking stop this. We aren’t getting anywhere arguing and pointing blame. Let it go. You guys can fight it out later, after we get Rose back.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed at Davis and he glared back. His heart pounded. He too clenched his fists and the muscles in his arms tensed. He breathed hard through his nose.
“I’m not going anywhere with him,” Jason said, never breaking eye contact.
“Likewise,” Davis responded.
“You don’t have a choice,” Glen pointed out. “Get over it. I’m not playing mediator here.”
“Let’s go, then.” Jason pushed Glen’s arm away and stepped back. “I don’t like it, but I am getting
her back. You,” he pointed a finger at Davis, “you stay out of my way.”
“No problem,” Davis said.
Glen moved ahead of Jason and down the hall. He ignored the mess behind them. “With a little luck, we can get some supplies ready and head out tonight. Davis, do you know where they were going?”
Glen continued to walk ahead of them. Jason followed close behind, but Davis hesitated a moment. He brought up the rear.
“No. We had been traveling west. He talked about a rendezvous point, but I don’t know where it was. He didn’t tell me that. “
“The odds that they are still heading west might be slim, but we don’t have much choice. We’ll go west and try to track them. My guess is they will try to get as far away as possible. If that doesn’t work, I guess we try something else.”
“I guess,” Davis said. He was confronted with the familiar sadistic smirk spreading across the werewolf’s face. It reminded him of the evil sneer Simon perfected over the course of their adventures. A shiver of terror ran through him before he could stop it.
He tried to ignore it as Glen went on, talking about weapons and supplies they would need. Jason moved with Glen and Davis down a lightless corridor, while Simon’s smirk haunted Davis.
* * *
She awoke again in the darkness. She lifted herself off the floor in fluid movements and blinked to adjust her sight.
Aidan was awake. He hadn’t noticed her yet. She spoke softly.
“Aidan? Are you okay?”
He jumped at the sound of her voice and turned toward her. He shook his head then spoke up.
“No.” His voice cracked. He coughed heavily to clear it. He waited a moment, the continued. “No. They fucked me up.”
“I saw.”
“Are you okay?”
“As far as I know.” There was silence for a few moments as she moved closer to him. She let out a sigh. “Fuck them.”
“Yeah.”
“Let me see.” Her hands touched the side of his head gently. “I can see a lot better than you can. Let me see the wound.”
Blood Moon Page 9