"That’s her," Joe said, just above a whisper.
"Yes," Nate agreed, and pure hatred surged inside of him, making his wolf respond. Nate's eyes turned yellow, and he felt the hairs hum along his skin. Again, he pushed it back. First, he had to deal with this wolf. As both men took a step forward, they heard a moan from inside the cottage. Joe's eyes glazed over, and his arms began to shake. "Go on, I can handle this," Nate mumbled, focused on the animal in front of him.
Joe rushed into the cabin leaving Nate with the wolf. It growled again and then spun around, taking off into the woods, its bushy tail swinging side to side.
Nate raced after it, his feet pounding into the frozen ground, fully aware that he was not fast enough. He was in human form and no match for a wolf.
He was not entirely at a disadvantage though. With his enhanced abilities, he was faster and more agile. He could make his limbs move at incredible speeds. He saw the wolf heading down a straight path that curved up ahead. He took a sharp turn and raced through the shrubbery, over the undergrowth, and up a grassy mound. He could see the wolf round the bend, its paws eating up the terrain. Just as it moved below him, he pounced, landing on the ground right behind it. He wasn’t even close enough to grab the tail.
Feeling frustrated, but not giving up, he focused on all the rage he had for Charlotte. Letting the adrenaline kick in, he pushed forward. Not letting the fact that he was a few feet behind the wolf get him down. He was determined to catch it and refused to give up. He was so focused on his fast pace that he wasn’t looking ahead of him and he tripped on a root. It was sticking out of the ground. He stopped himself from going all the way down with his hands as they dug into the rough ground. He barely noticed the jagged cuts on his hands as he got his footing back.
He winced as he realized he had fallen even more behind. There was no use; the animal in front of him was just too fast.
Right when his legs began to slow, the light from the moon shone on a large tree lying across the path in front of the wolf. Nate pushed forward, hoping to catch it when it slowed to make the jump. As the wolf leaped into the air, Nate pounced, trying to grab hold, anything to slow the animal down. But it was too fast, and his feet landed on the bare dead maple instead, his feet getting caught in the branches. He paused taking a deep breath but continued on.
Exhaustion began to seep into his body, and a wave of anxiety set in just as he saw another bend in the path. The terrain in the center morphed into a hill, and he knew that if he could climb it, he might be able to jump down and stop the wolf. Since he was running out of options, he took a hard right and dove up onto a tree stump. He leapt up the terrain, scaling tree stumps, bushes and rocks until he reached the top.
From up there he could see the rust colored coat of the wolf as it rounded the bend, racing toward him. He waited seconds before its approach before he jumped, falling through the air as wind whipped around him. He hardly noticed the wet drizzle that wet his cheeks as he landed on the wolf. He clutched onto its fur and held on, rolling over the ground. The wolf howled and pawed, scratching its claws over Nate's arms, shredding the sleeves of his shirt. He tightened his grip as the wolf struggled to get away.
"Megan, stop!" he yelled over her growls. "Calm down, it's me, Nate,” he rasped. “I love you.”
She slowed in her struggles, but didn't cease in them. She was panicking, tossing her head around, growling, and flailing her paws. A mewing sound came out of her as she struggled with him.
Nate held her tighter and rubbed her rust colored fur that was just a bit darker than her strawberry blond hair he loved so much. He moved his hand gently along her silky coat.
"It's okay," he soothed. "You're safe, we found you. You have to turn back."
The only response was a whine.
He moved slightly so that he was gazing into the wolf's yellow eyes. They were filled with panic and fear. It tore at his heart to see her in this form. He would kill Charlotte for this.
"You can do it. Just think of your smooth creamy skin. Your beautiful green eyes and those cute freckles along your cheeks. Picture your legs, your fingers and toes. Think human and breathe deeply." Again he stroked her soft coat until she began to still. "Relax, and call to your human side. You can do this." His voice was smooth, calming. She was no longer alone. He was there and he would make everything better.
Slowly, the fur began to recede, paws morphed into hands, bones cracked, and limbs reshaped. The wolf's whines turned into cries, until Megan lay in Nate's arms, naked, covered in dirt, and sobbing uncontrollably.
His heart ached with every sob that escaped her beautiful lips. It felt like a knife piercing his soul at the sound of the one he loved in so much pain. "It's okay baby, it's okay," he soothed gently, stroking her face, her strawberry-blond hair, the smooth skin on her arms.
"It's not okay," she cried, her voice ragged and cracking. "She took us and put us in a trunk...and then left us in a cabin to die. The wolves attacked and tried to get in, but we stopped them." She sniveled, gasping for breath. "We didn't even know we were werewolves! She never said anything. We just started to change. It hurt so bad. I felt like I was dying—I wanted to die, the pain was unbearable...And Lauren's cries were torture to hear,” she sobbed, shoving her face into Nate’s neck.
"It's okay, Meg. I'm here, and I'll help you."
The sobbing continued, making her body shake. "Lauren...can't change.” More sobs. "She’s...in pain."
"It's okay, Joe’s with her."
Megan lifted her head and gazed into Nate’s vivid blue eyes, her face pleading with him to understand. "No, there’s something wrong. Her body grows hair and then it goes back to human—but it’s painful! It hurts her every time!”
Nate pulled back, gazing into her tortured green eyes. He hadn't known many werewolves, but this didn't seem normal. "Come on; let’s go see how she is." He stood up and pulled her with him. He averted his eyes and tugged his ripped shirt over his head. "Put this on, it’s cold."
Once she pulled the garment over her head, she sniffed the material and frowned, her eyes a mixture of pain and confusion. He understood her expression. Becoming a werewolf and getting used to the extra senses was difficult. He hadn’t taken the change well, but he would help her in any way he could.
He lifted her up into his arms despite her protests. She wasn't wearing shoes, and the terrain was a bit rocky. He couldn't help relish the feel of her in his arms after frantically searching for her, but he hated the extra werewolf scent she carried. He never wanted that for her, and he would punish Charlotte for doing this. No matter what Joseph said, she needed to die.
Chapter Nine
Werewolves
As Nate carried me in his strong arms toward the cabin, I wanted to feel safe and finally free. But that was just a dream. This horrible ordeal was over, but another was just beginning. Charlotte wanted to torture the men in her life that had rejected her, and in doing so turned Lauren and me into werewolves. To Charlotte, we were just pawns in her stupid game of revenge. I hated her for what she had done to us.
But at the same time… I can’t deny that I had wondered what it would be like to be a werewolf. After all, I wouldn’t be young forever. And it only made sense to be the same species as Nate. How could we be together forever if I died of old age? Despite my thoughts, I never voiced them because I knew how Nate felt. He hated what he was and would never want it for me, no matter the reason. And now that I had become a werewolf, I hated it too.
When I first became sick this afternoon with a high fever, I wanted to go to sleep and stay asleep until it was over. When my body started to turn, the pain was so excruciating that I begged for death. But instead, I became something different, an animal—a savage beast. With that change, an incredible hunger burned inside me. I wanted to taste blood and rip into anything that came my way.
I felt rage when I smelled the two men in my hunting territory, and more werewolves meant less prey for me. As soon as Nate took me down and
began talking, glimpses of my humanity began to come back. This was the man I loved, and I had wanted to hurt him.
"Meg, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Nate's voice was soft and filled with pain and guilt. He blamed himself for what happened, and while I wanted to comfort him, I couldn't. I wasn’t me anymore, I felt detached from who I had once been.
I leaned my head on his shoulders, taking comfort in his warmth, and his scent that was so much stronger now that my senses were heightened. "I'm fine, just worried about Lauren."
When we emerged through the trees, a stray branch scratched my bare leg, but I hardly noticed it as Nate moved quickly to the cabin. As he moved closer, we could hear growls and moans from Lauren. Nate sped up, running up the steps where he set me down. Since my feet were bare, I could feel the dirt and coldness from the rough porch wood.
Inside the cabin, Lauren was where I had left her. She was lying on the floor with her clothes ripped and torn all around her. A throw blanket covered her intimate parts. I glanced at Joe, thanking him silently, for doing what I couldn’t when I was a wolf. A sheen of sweat covered her now human body. Her hands were balled into fists, and she was writhing in pain.
Joe was leaning over her, gazing at her with his yellow eyes. His fingernails were long and claw-like; he was fighting the call of the moon. “You’ll be okay, love, I promise,” he murmured softly, rubbing her forehead with his deformed hand. He glanced up helplessly up at us, not knowing if what he said was true, but she needed the comforting words.
As we watched, tiny hairs began to grow all over her skin, her bones began to bend and crack and her teeth grew into fangs. Her agonizing howls pierced through the cabin making me cringe. I clung to Nate, feeling helpless. Just as quickly as the change had begun, the hair receded and the bones reshaped. Her cries rang out again, making my heart ache.
"What's wrong with her?" Joe yelled out. "Why can't she change?"
I glanced at the man I loved, hoping he could help. But the hopelessness on his face made my stomach drop.
"I don't know. I’ve never seen this before."
Joe turned to me. "What happened? Where did Charlotte bite you guys?" Joe asked, his voice laced with desperation.
My mind went blank. Nothing in our experience could explain this. "She didn't."
His brows furrowed. "She must have." He stood up to face me, stepping over Lauren, careful not to hurt her. "Think!" he yelled, red-faced, leaning toward me. He was so close I could smell meat on his breath.
I winced, knowing not to take his aggressive behavior personally, but I had no answers for him.
"I'm telling you the truth; she didn't bite us. We woke up here alone, and then wandered around the island looking for neighbors. When we returned, there were five wolves waiting. They chased us, but we got to the cabin first. They tried to get in, so we pushed the shelf in front of the door. We watched it all night.” I paused glancing from Nate to Joe. They gazed at me, engrossed in my explanation. “The wolves eventually gave up, and we went back to sleep this morning. When we woke up, the shelf was still in place. It was easier to move today than when we put it there last night. But then we started feeling sick." I gulped. "I changed into a wolf when it got dark, and crashed into the door to get out. Lauren didn't.”
"That doesn't make sense. You wouldn't have changed if you hadn't been bitten," Nate said more to himself then to us. "Check Lauren for marks. Maybe it happened when you were unconscious."
Nate and Joe stepped aside to allow Lauren privacy while I looked for bites on her body. I lifted the blanket and searched her front, and then I lifted her to her side, trying not to cause her any more pain. She panted, and moaned as another wave hit. Hair began to grow again, and I had to wait until it receded listening to her screams so I could look at her back. Tears flooded my eyes as I watched the agony on her face. Finally, she turned back into a human, and I was able to continue my search.
"There's nothing," I said finally, rubbing her arm softly. "I told you, she didn’t bite us." I turned to face the men and spotted something out of the corner of my eye. "Wait—what's that?" I placed the blanket back over her and pointed to her upper thigh. There was a pinprick that was red and irritated.
"That's not a bite," Joe observed as he leaned forward to inspect the wound. “The hole is too small and there’s only one.”
Lauren howled in pain, making Joe jump to comfort her. Nate joined him, talking lowly to Joe about what to do. Their voices were dull background noise as I remembered what Lauren told me when we woke up in the cabin. "We were drugged," I blurted out loud, voicing my thoughts. Both Nate and Joe spun around to face me. "Lauren told me that after Charlotte knocked me out the second time, she gave me a shot with a syringe to keep me out. I assumed it was a sleeping drug."
Nate stood up. "It must have been her saliva. But that doesn't explain Lauren's condition. And it wouldn't have made you sleep." He paused, deep in thought. "Unless her saliva was mixed with a drug. By adding the drug to the werewolf saliva, she could have weakened its effects, preventing Lauren from changing."
Both Joe and I stared at Nate. "Well, what do we do?" Joe asked, his voice weak with worry.
Nate turned to face Joe with his shoulders set. "Bite her."
Joe's eyes went round with horror. "What? I can't do that. I love her."
"If the drug diluted Charlotte's saliva, then she needs stronger werewolf DNA in her system to stop her from changing back and forth."
Joe looked torn; he obviously didn't want to hurt Lauren. "No." His voice was a whisper as he shook his head.
Lauren cried out as her bones began to reshape, yet again. Nate stepped toward Joe. "I would do it if I didn't think your wolf would attack me. She’s your mate, and she’s in pain. It's the only way to stop what's happening. She’s suffering, and if it goes on much longer, she could die."
"You don't know that. We've never seen this before." Joe’s accent was so thick, I hardly understood him.
"No, I don't, but this constant changing is causing a terrible strain on her body. Nobody could handle that for long. She's already a werewolf; you can't hurt her any more. Do it." His voice came out in a command, making Joe wince.
He nodded and then disappeared outside.
Nate crouched in front of Lauren, placing his hand on her arm. "Lauren," he said softly. Her only response was a cry. "Joseph is going to change into a wolf, and then he's going to bite you. That should stop what is happening, but you will turn fully. You will know Joe by his scent. Go with him and let him show you what to do. We will join you when we can. Okay?" he asked with a warm smile.
She nodded, fear shining in her glassy eyes. Her hair was damp with sweat and plastered to her head.
The clicking of nails on the wood floor had me turn around to see a russet brown wolf. He slunk toward Lauren and Nate. Nate moved a little to let Joe get closer but stayed with Lauren, holding her hand. A week ago, this action would have warmed my heart; today, I was too numb to acknowledge it. Nate pointed to Lauren's thigh where the needle had entered, and Joe leaned forward hesitantly. The wolf whined before he opened his mouth, showing his long pointed teeth. He bent down and quickly pierced her skin and afterwards, licked the puncture wounds. A few moments later, Lauren started to shake. Hair grew along her body, and her bones started to reform. Nate urged her to get on all fours to make the process of change easier. Lauren wailed as the last of her limbs cracked. Then, all too quickly, she was a tan wolf with a similar coloring to Nate’s.
Joe stepped toward her, whining, his nose touching hers, and then his tongue shot out licking her muzzle. With a commanding grunt, he spun around and ran out of the cabin. Lauren glanced at us hesitantly before following.
Despite my overall numbness, I was relieved that Lauren was no longer suffering.
Nate made his way toward me, his arms shaking, and his eyes yellow. "Megan, I have to turn. I've held off as long as I can. Do you want to change, and I'll show you how to hunt?"
"No." My stance w
as unmoving, my shoulders stiff and my arms at my side.
He sighed, reaching out to brush a lock of hair from my face. His touch would normally send a tingle through my skin, but again, I was too numb to feel it. "When is the last time you ate?" he asked me.
"When I made you dinner."
"She didn't give you food for a day and a half?" he asked with a mix of shock and anger in his voice. "You know what can happen if you’re starving when you change. You have to eat. I’ll show you how to hunt."
"Who am I going to kill? I'm on an island filled with werewolves. Get me a burger on the mainland when you guys change back. I don't want to be a wolf ever again." I folded my arms in front of me and pouted. I couldn't help it. I had only been a wolf for an hour, and I hadn't even known what was happening. I was having a difficult time processing it all.
Nate frowned but not without compassion. "I know this is a shock to you, but you have to deal with it. I can help you with this, but ignoring your new wild side is not the answer. I tried that and killed people." He stepped toward me, closing the distance between us, and on instinct, I stepped back.
His face fell, but he continued. "Come; let me show you that it's not all bad. That's the only way to survive this. I won't give up until you let me help you. So you might as well give into me now." The corner of his lips turned up into an almost smile, his vivid blue eyes were determined, and held a spark of playfulness. He held out his hand, and despite my hesitation, I took it.
"Fine," I sighed, letting him lead me out of the cabin. The cool breeze kissed my warm face. His hand was wrapped around mine, making me feel safe, even though I knew I wasn't. My world had changed into the unknown, and I felt lost.
"Are you sure Charlotte is gone?" he asked as we crossed through the door and onto the small, rickety porch.
"As far as I can tell. The wolves gave up trying to get in, in the middle of the night. We haven't seen or heard of them since. Besides, the boat is gone."
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