Big Bad Bite

by Lane, Jessie

  Except maybe for Adam naked in her bed. Ready for Jenna to lick him up one side and down the other.

  But she wasn’t going to think about that now.

  Right.

  Chapter Six

  Ring.

  Ring. Ring.

  Jenna moaned into her pillow. She was sure she wasn’t actually being awakened by the damn phone. It was probably just a dream. If she ignored it, it would all go away.

  Ring. Ring. RING.

  Or not.

  Rolling over, her hand palmed the top of the nightstand until it found the obnoxious device that was interrupting her slumber. With eyes still closed, she answered it with a gruff “What?”

  A somewhat familiar, feminine voice answered, “Jenna? Is that you? Are you okay?”

  With her head still foggy from sleep, she struggled to identify the caller. “That depends. Who’s asking?”

  Laughter chimed from the other end. Who the hell laughed like that when they should still be sleeping? “It’s Amy. I stole your number from Adam’s phone after I saw the newspaper this morning. So you’re alright?”

  Huh? Newspaper? At least her sleep addled brain remembered who Amy was. “What time is it? And what newspaper?”

  A God’s honest growl came through the phone. The girl actually growled at her! “It’s nine ‘o’ clock in the morning, Jenna. The newspaper is the Wilmington Daily which I happen to get delivered, and it has your picture on the front of it with a title that reads ‘Heroic Cops Save Senators from Death’. Now, will you tell me if you’re alright or not? This damn picture shows you sitting without your shirt on, your ribs bandaged, and on the back of an ambulance! I swear if you don’t tell me right now if you’re okay I’m going to come hunt your ass down so I can see for myself!”

  Once Amy had snarled the words ‘without your shirt’, Jenna was up off the bed and headed towards the coffeepot. At the same time she felt a chink give in the armor that normally surrounded her vulnerable heart. So this was what it felt like to have a real friend. “Yes Amy, I’m OK. I swear. But thanks for telling me about the picture. Now I know I’ll have to call my Mama before she sees it and freaks out.” Her phone beeped indicating that she had another person calling. Glancing down at the caller I.D. made her want to kick herself in the ass. Mama. “Grrrrr… too late, Amy. That’s my Mama beeping in now. I better take it before she has a stroke.”

  “Wait! I wanted to ask if you wanted to come running with me today. After all of your excitement last night you’re bound to have a shit load of energy that you need to burn off. Adam and Clay have pack business so I thought you and I could go out alone. Just us girls in the woods.”

  “Just us girls, huh? That sounds nice. Where at?”

  “We have some land in Bolton, so we’re not that far from you. I can meet you at a gas station; lead you in so you don’t get lost.”

  “Pack lands? I don’t know, Amy…” The phone beeped again. Mama was still trying to reach her. Lord, if she didn’t pick up soon the woman would seriously stroke out. Or blow something up.

  “Come on, Jenna. It’s just a run. No commitments, I promise.”

  As her phone beeped again, she felt her uncertainty waver. “Okay. What time and what gas station?”

  Amy squealed in delight. “There’s a Save-A-Lot gas station just off of I-16 where it intersects with Old River Road. Meet me there at eleven. That gives you a little time to wake up. See you then!”

  Hanging up with Amy, she dialed Mama’s number. It was going to take her at least half an hour to reassure her Mama that she was perfectly fine. Damn, she wished that coffeepot would brew a little faster.

  It ended up taking her forty-five minutes, coupled with two cups of strong coffee, to tell Mama more times than she could count, that she was perfectly fine. In that time, she managed to give Jenna a rundown of what the newspaper article said. In short, it gave a brief description of the situation at the restaurant last night being overrun by madmen with guns, trying to ransom off the Senators and their families.

  Mama said that the article was calling her, Kent, Walters and Dubinski heroes. Speculating that the four would receive awards from the city of Wilmington, and the Senators of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia for taking out the pack of criminals so that everyone got out alive. Everyone except for the two Officers who had died in the line of duty that is. Her chest tightened at the thought, for the families of those two officers who would never return home again. It was a very real risk they lived with every day they went on duty. The paper also stated that their funeral services would be announced later. Arrangements were being made so that the city of Wilmington could honor them properly.

  Capt. Nelson called after she got off the phone with Mama to inform her that Dubinski and the other Officers injured the night before were going to be alright. He was also wanted to make sure that Jenna wasn’t planning to come in to file any reports today, because they could wait for Monday. By the way, had he mentioned lately that she was a damn impressive shot? Oh, and Jenna should try and lay low today because every reporter in town was trying to get a hold of the ‘four hero cops’ from last night’s rescue. It looked like her little trip out of town was going to be exactly what she needed to make sure her picture didn’t end up on the front of another newspaper tomorrow.

  With a satisfied grin, she hung up with her Captain to haul butt to the shower and get ready to leave for Bolton. Life seemed suddenly seemed to be looking up. She had an awesome new job. Her Captain and partner were exceeding her expectations. And she finally seemed to have made a friend, now that she wasn’t hiding from the world. It was bright and sunny outside and a perfect day for a run on four legs. Nothing in the world seemed wrong at the moment.

  She should have known it would never last.

  It was ten fifty-five, and she was sitting propped up on her bike reading the Wilmington Daily. After seeing it in the newsstand when she pulled up to park, she couldn’t help but buy it. The urge to take a peek at the article was too much to resist. After giving the paper a glance, it was no wonder Amy and Mama had freaked out. There in black and white, was a zoomed in picture of her sitting on the back of the ambulance in her sports bra talking to Kent while the paramedic bandaged up the graze on her ribs. Damn reporters! Couldn’t they have pulled her uniformed service picture, like they did for the other Officers pictured in the article? No. They had to splash her half naked picture across the city instead. How’s a girl supposed to walk around without a permanent blush when afraid everyone looking at you was picturing you in a bra? Good grief.

  A black crew cab truck pulled up and parked next to Jenna while she was still skimming the article. The door opened and the motor was still running when a familiar scent hit the air. Amy. Looking up, Jenna smiled at the wide grin lighting her face. Was she always this perky?

  “Ready to go, girl?”

  “You bet. Here, can I put my paper in your truck?”

  “Go right ahead. You’ll have to give me all the fun details of your little adventure later.”

  Throwing the paper onto Amy’s passenger seat, she slammed the door shut and took off down the road towards Bolton on her bike. Twenty minutes of serious back roads later, they pulled up to a small shack that apparently served as a guard house. Amy stopped her truck and spoke briefly to the guard who looked at her before waving them both through. Jenna wasn’t sure what to expect her first time on pack lands. A Dracula style mansion? Caves with dens to hide in? What she found instead was kind of homey. It was like a little community. Very similar to your standard residential neighborhood except instead of paved roads, they had dirt roads that left much of nature untouched around the houses.

  The houses were of varying sizes, some single story ranches and other’s two stories. Probably to accommodate different sized families. Amy kept driving through the winding dirt roads that led further back into the woods until she had put a slight distance between them and the houses, before pulling into the driveway of a large tw
o story cabin style home. There was a small cabin tucked off to the side of the larger house that looked as if it might have two rooms to it, with a black GMC Yukon parked in front. Jumping out of her truck, Amy hopped over to her like a little bunny, her arms thrown wide. Excitement glittered in her brown eyes as if the whole world was her buffet, and she was the hungry wolf come to gobble it up. It was a voraciousness for life that Jenna could respect. Envy even, since she was starting to come to terms with the fact that despite her best efforts, she had been hiding from the world her entire life.

  “This is home sweet home, Jenna. Isn’t it beautiful? I love it here.”

  Jenna stood and turned in a circle, admiring the peace and quiet of nature surrounding Amy’s home. It reminded her of the woods in the state protected forest behind her Mama’s home. Her wolf was already begging to be released so they could run uninhibited through the new land. Turning back to Amy, she rubbed her hands together in excitement.

  “Come on, let’s go running. It’s been forever since I’ve been somewhere new.”

  Grabbing her by the hand, Amy dragged her behind the house to the edge of the woods. “We can strip here and go.” Starting to lift the hem of her shirt up from her stomach, she saw Jenna’s hesitation. “What’s wrong?” Her bright red brows furrowed in confusion.

  Glancing around to the back of the house, Jenna felt stupid for the overwhelming sense of shyness. “The guys won’t see, will they?”

  Giving an understanding grin, Amy took her shirt off and laid it on the ground. “Adam and Clay are in meetings in the house for pack business. They have been all morning. We’ve still got hours before they even come up for air. I know you’re used to being alone, but I swear it’s just us right now. No biggie. And I promise not to take any naked pictures of you for my photo album.”

  Throwing a swat at her shoulder, Amy dodged out of the way before Jenna could hit her back for the sarcastic comment. “Smartass. Alright, I get it. I’m being stupid. Let’s go.”

  As Amy finished pulling off her shorts and underwear, Jenna walked to the back side of the closest tree for a smidgen of privacy. Not to mention she needed to hide the fact that her shift would be a little different from Amy’s shift. No need for any awkward questions to come up. Peeling off her jeans, tank top, and undies, she left her bandages for last, ripping the annoying medical tape off of her skin. Amy had already dropped to her hands and knees, beginning to shift. Much like the memories of Uncle Owen’s shifts, she knew Amy’s bones and muscles would crack and strain in gruesome angles before settling into her wolf form. It would also take her more than twice the time it did Jenna to shift. Her body melted with fluidity into a sudden rush of muscle and bone rearrangement, until she was on four paws, peeking through a small hole in the bush to watch as Amy finished her transformation.

  Amy lifted her head over the brush to peer at Jenna. She was as stunning on four legs as she was on two. While in human form she sported a cap of bright red hair, in her animal form she showcased the marking of your typical grey wolf. The majority of her fur was covered in differing grey tones, but she had white markings under her eyes, cheeks, and muzzle. Her chest, underbelly, and legs were white as well. Amber eyes shimmered with mischievousness as she padded over to Jenna.

  Looking her over, it was easy to see that Amy was almost a head taller than she was in this form. With at least thirty more pounds of muscle than Jenna had. They were polar opposites in the looks department. Jenna knew from staring in the reflective waters of a river near Mama’s house that her eyes were the same ice blue that they were in her human form. Her coat translated to the same jet black hair that her human form had, as well. At nighttime, she could easily blend into the background as a mere shadow, she was so dark. They gave each other the curious sniffs that all canines indulged in on their first meeting and then Amy did something that positively floored her. She nuzzled Jenna’s face and neck with her head in a sign of affection.

  For the first time ever, her wolf’s soul felt accepted by another of her kind. As Jenna stood there basking in the emotions that acceptance arose, she totally missed the paw Amy used to jokingly smack her muzzle with. They tore off into the trees seconds later for a game of wolf tag. The feel of the unfamiliar dirt beneath her paws was heaven. Jenna chased Amy as they zigzagged around trees, over fallen logs, and then eventually to a small stream where she barreled her into the gray wolf, yelping as she bumped the wound from where the bullet had grazed her.

  Amy nudged at her ribs where the six inch wound was before licking it tenderly. Jenna thought it was a gentle reminder for her to take care of herself. Walking into the small stream, she plopped to her belly and let the water flow around her to cool off her overheated fur. It was so peaceful here, basking in the glory of nature with all of its gifts. Rustling a few yards away caught her attention. Scenting the air had her mouth watering in anticipation. Deer. Amy caught the scent of her interest and they quickly got up to follow their noses to the prey. The two of them separated to circle around the unsuspecting animal as it stood grazing on the grass. As Jenna crouched to the ground readying herself for the attack, a strong breeze blew by giving their scents away to the doe.

  The doe leapt away and Amy gave chase. Following directly on her heels, they both chased the doe for miles as it frantically zigzagged away from the two wolves pursuing it. The prey was trying to outrun the predator. In its hysterical confusion though, it made the mistake of turning sharply and almost directly into Jenna’s path. Thrusting her body into an enormous leap, she landed heavily on the deer’s back, throwing its body to the ground. Amy circled around and latched onto its throat, shaking savagely until its windpipe was crushed beneath her strong jaws and the doe’s body lay unmoving on the ground. In quiet content, the two of them lay there sharing their meal. Only leaving after they were sated and their bellies were full from the kill. After a quick clean up by the stream, they dozed in the midday sun under the shade of the forest’s tree line. As their two furry bodies lay overlapping each other, the wonderfully new sense of belonging continued for Jenna. Whether she chose this pack or not, she sincerely hoped she got to keep Amy as a friend. Somehow, she had managed to wiggle her energetic little self inside Jenna’s long-time impenetrable defenses, which seemed to make sense to both the human and the wolf.

  Sometime later, Amy’s cold nose nudged Jenna awake. Slightly groggy from her nap, she blindly shoved herself bodily to four paws and went to follow the gray colored wolf as she lead the way back towards the cabin. The trees started to become familiar shortly before they trotted back to where they had left their clothes piled on the ground. The only problem was, their clothes were no longer there. Amy shifted back to her human form, while Jenna circled the area looking for her things.

  In a frustrated huff, Amy yelled, “Clay! Damn you, bring us back our clothes! This is not funny!”

  Booming laughter came from somewhere in the house as Amy started muttering curses. Pushing her hair out of her face in clear frustration, she turned to look back at Jenna’s pitch black wolf form, “Come on, Jenna. You can shift back in the house once we get to my room. I’ll find what Clay did with your clothes and bring them to you. He’s a damn annoying prankster. You’d think after pulling off the same joke since we were teenagers he’d be over it already.”

  Amy stomped across the yard to the back of the house giving small frustrated whines as Jenna padded along behind her aggravated companion up the stairs and through the back door. Once inside the open and airy home, they found their clothes dumped unceremoniously in the middle of the living room floor. She picked hers up with her mouth as Amy pointed out the small bathroom that she could change in, off of the living room and near the front door. Amy was already halfway dressed and told Jenna that she would grab some fresh bandages by the time she reached the door.

  Entering the small half bathroom that held only a sink and a toilet, Jenna nudged the door closed with her nose. Shifting back, she used the hand towel hanging next to the s
ink to quickly clean herself off so that she was at least a little presentable to the rest of the world. Feeling a fresher, she bent over to pull her clothes on only to stop short when she realized her shirt was missing. Shit. It must still be in the living room. Cracking the door, she called out Amy’s name. After waiting a minute and getting no response, she stuck her head out the door and looked around.

  There, still in the middle of the floor, was her charcoal grey tank top. She looked down at her half-dressed self in a black lace bra and jeans, then back to the tank top in the middle of the floor. Taking another quick peek around, she made the decision to scoot out quickly and grab the top. What were the chances of anyone seeing her anyhow?

  She really should have recalculated those chances.

  Halfway to her shirt, she heard steps thudding down the stairs. It sounded as if it might be several different people, because it was almost as loud as an elephant stomping down towards her. Leaping over to the shirt, her fingers had just grasped it enough to yank up and clutch in front of her, when a growl cut through the room. Jerking her head up at the sound, she saw the last person she had ever expected to see.

  Uncle Owen.

  Holy shit, Uncle Owen was alive. And here!

  Bristling and angry, with the same windblown shoulder-length black hair and grass green eyes, he stood on the third step from the bottom, staring at her. She stood frozen to the spot; slack jawed, and then glanced from Uncle Owen to Adam, with Clay directly behind him. They were followed by three other men she didn’t know directly behind them, stacked up on the stairs like dominoes. Before her mind was able to form the multitude of questions barreling through her brain of the whys, or how’s he was here, Uncle Owen launched himself across the living room. Not stopping for a second, as he scooped her up by the waist, clenching Jenna tightly to his side. In a burst of speed and strength like she’d never before witnessed, the front door shattered into pieces of large splinters as he kicked it open and raced the two of them to the cabin across the yard.