Chasing Seth

by Loveless, J. R.

  When he pulled into the driveway, he smiled when he heard his golden retriever, Bullet, barking at the door. He’d found Bullet as a puppy bleeding to death from a gunshot wound. Even his ability wasn’t able to remove a bullet, but despite all odds saying that the puppy would die, he’d pulled through. Seth had kept him as a constant companion since. That had been three years ago.

  Thinking of Bullet reminded him of the sheriff’s words about white men knowing nothing about animals. It was true. There were so many animals in the world that were on the verge of extinction because of how little respect humans had for the creatures. But it wasn’t just white men. Almost all humans destroyed animals every day, whether by the simple act of killing one by hitting it with their vehicle or the act of clearing a wooded area to make room for more houses or business complexes. It always left him sad when he heard of such things happening again and again. The sheriff couldn’t have been more wrong about him, though.

  He ruthlessly shoved those thoughts from his mind. He would not allow the sheriff’s words to affect him. Blinded by hate, the sheriff couldn’t see that not everyone behaved the same way. Dragging his feet, Seth entered the house, greeting Bullet tiredly. “Hey, boy,” he murmured.

  Bullet whined and shoved his head beneath Seth’s hand. Seth laughed quietly, stroking the big dog behind his ears. “I’m happy to see you too. It’s been a long day, though. I promise I will take you with me to the clinic tomorrow, okay, boy? There’s a big yard in the back that you can run in.”

  The dog let out an excited bark, wagging his tail at him happily. Seth refilled the dog’s bowls with food and water before collapsing on the couch, which was as far as he got. He immediately fell into a dream-filled sleep.

  At first, the sheriff starred in a big way, sending his body into overdrive. Naked bodies twisted together in passion with soft sighs and low moans. Seth shifted in his sleep as his cock pressed uncomfortably against the front of his slacks. But the dream slowly transitioned into the nightmare he’d lived and breathed for months. The one that had haunted him ever since. A whimper cut through the small house at the remembered fear and pain. The sweet scent of blood still stung his nose acridly. There was so much of it, and he couldn’t stop it.

  Seth shot up with a loud gasp, shaky and terrified. Sweat soaked his clothing while shudders ravaged his body. He ran a hand over his face and glanced at the clock. Already four in the morning. He knew he’d never get back to sleep after the nightmare, so he wearily stood up from the couch to get ready to face the day. A shower revived him slightly, but only coffee would truly erase the shadows hiding behind his eyes.

  He dressed swiftly, tugging on a pair of faded blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. Deciding to head to the clinic early, Seth called for Bullet, who immediately started leaping against the front door. Laughing, Seth opened the door, and the dog raced to the car, turning in circles in excitement. “I know it’s been a while since you came with me to work, boy. Now remember to behave yourself, okay?”

  The dog let out a bark like he was actually answering him. Seth gave the dog a pleased smile before opening the driver’s side door and letting him into the vehicle. Seconds later, they were on the road into town.

  Since the clinic didn’t open until eight, he stopped by the local diner to pick up a cup of coffee to go. He left the windows open for Bullet, commanding him to stay inside. The diner only had a handful of people at the moment, thankfully, because when he opened the door, every head in the place swiveled around to stare at him. He smiled, urging his heart to stop pounding. “Good morning,” he greeted the girl behind the counter, quickly eyeing her name tag, “Bridget.”

  “Well, good morning to you, Doc,” Bridget replied, leaning against the counter. Fair skin with light-blonde hair, dark-green eyes, and a large chest made it obvious her lineage wasn’t Cheyenne. If he hadn’t been a gentleman, he might have laughed at how she pushed her breasts up to make them appear more impressive for him. As it was, he had to hide a smile behind a cough. “What can I get for you?”

  “Just a large cup of coffee to go, if you don’t mind,” he requested, taking a seat at the counter.

  “Sure thing, darlin’.” She winked at him before walking away.

  Seth shook his head and ran a hand through his still-damp hair. He could feel the curious gaze of the others in the diner. Though he’d only taken a quick glance around, he’d been able to take in that there were two men at the table in the back nearest the restrooms. Another table held a small Caucasian woman with two children who were obviously still waking up this early in the morning, as they were actually seated at the table without screaming or throwing things. And a single Anglo male sat at the other end of the bar from him. Tension hung in the air around him, and he felt certain his arrival had caused the strain. They obviously didn’t trust him.

  “Here ya go, Doc,” Bridget bubbled, placing a steaming Styrofoam cup in front of him. “That’ll be one dollar and twenty-five cents.”

  Digging his wallet out of his pocket, he pulled out a five. “Don’t worry about the change,” he said as he grabbed up several packets of sugar and a small container of creamer.

  The bell over the door behind him rang out clearly in the nearly empty diner. He stiffened when he became aware of the sudden hostility behind him. He’d been about to prepare his coffee there, but knowing that the sheriff was there made him change his mind. “Thanks, Bridget,” he said, turning to leave.

  The sheriff stood there in civilian clothing. Tight jeans molded to his strong thighs, and a white T-shirt plastered itself to his chest like a second skin. Seth’s breath hitched in his throat, and he had to swallow twice to bid the man, “Good morning, Sheriff.”

  The man glared at him but returned his greeting stiffly. “Morning,” he said as he brushed by Seth, heading toward the other end of the counter. Seth caught a glimpse of a tattoo on the Cheyenne’s upper arm. He couldn’t quite see its entirety, but he could just barely make out a tribal symbol.

  Sighing internally, he shoved his way out of the diner. Bullet hung halfway out of the window eagerly. “Come on, Bullet, move over.” The dog barked loudly, drawing the gaze of the customers in the diner, including the dark eyes that seemed to bore right through him. He started mumbling under his breath, “I really hoped this would be a place that we could stay, Bullet, but now I’m not so sure.”

  Chessie’s car was out in front of the clinic when he arrived, and she greeted him in her usual cheerful manner. “Good morning, Doc. Oh! What do we have here?” She came around the front of her desk and knelt down, laughing as she accepted the slobbery kisses that the golden retriever laid on her. “What’s his name?” She looked up at Seth.

  “His name is Bullet. I usually bring him with me to work so he isn’t cooped up in the house all day long, but in wanting to get the residents comfortable with me, I didn’t have the chance. But he’ll be joining me every day from now on. Right, boy?”

  Bullet barked and rubbed against Seth, who promptly smiled happily. Having the dog near him always boosted his spirits. Perhaps the reason had something to do with his ability, but he couldn’t be certain it wasn’t because the dog had saved his life on more than one occasion.

  “Well, I think he’s just adorable,” Chessie gushed, hugging Bullet once again before standing up. “Your first appointment isn’t until nine, and it’s going to be a little slow today. There are only a handful of appointments.”

  Seth frowned at her. “Is that usual?”

  She tried to hide the flash of chagrin in her eyes, but she wasn’t fast enough. He gave her a look, and she sighed. “No. Usually Doc Redfern was booked most of the day. I’m sorry, Seth, but until you prove yourself to the town, you’ll find that most of them aren’t very trusting. Especially….” She trailed off, but he was pretty sure he knew what she’d been about to say.

  “Especially because I’m white,” he said bitterly. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Don’t worry, Chessie. I’ve already had that hammere
d into my head by the sheriff. He came in with an emergency last night. One of his horses was having a difficult birth. The foal had turned. He almost walked out and didn’t want me to treat the horse because I’m white. Make sure you send him a bill for the emergency call.” He spun on his heel and stomped to his office. Just when he’d thought that maybe things might work out here, it turned out to be a town full of closed-minded bigots.

  The rest of his day went by smoothly. Most of the appointments were for annual shots, and thankfully, none were serious enough to require him using his ability. The last appointment left at just after five, and Seth sank down in his desk chair with relief. Bullet immediately put his head in Seth’s lap, whining to be petted. Seth’s hand dropped down on the large silky head, and he idly stroked the dog behind his ears. The customers who had been in that day were, in fact, wary of him. It left him baffled at how they could all believe that he knew nothing about animals. He’d spent eight years learning about them. He might be young, but he knew his shit.

  The intercom buzzed just then. “Doc, I’m going to be leaving for the day. Is there anything else you need?”

  “No, but thanks, Chessie. Have a good night,” he bid her.

  “You too, Doc.” He could clearly hear the concern in her voice, and maybe he should be worried as well. If all of the clients in the area refused to come into his clinic, he’d go bankrupt for sure. He’d put all of his money into this place. The thought left him more resigned than panicked. Bankruptcy would only add to the weight already on his shoulders.

  Bullet whined again, bringing him from his thoughts, and then the hackles on the back of the dog’s neck stood up. He started growling, crowding close to Seth. Seth’s heart started to pound. The dog would never attack a human, and there had only been one other time that Bullet had reacted like that. Looking around wildly, he looked for a weapon, anything he could use, but there wasn’t really anything in his office. Standing, he peered out into the dim hallway while Bullet kept tugging on his pant leg to try and stop him. “Bullet,” he reprimanded quietly.

  The dog let him go but stuck close to him as he walked toward the front of the clinic. Eerie silence met him in the front lobby. Chessie had locked the door behind her, but Bullet didn’t stop growling. He merely grew fiercer. Seth carefully turned the lock on the door and pulled it open, bracing himself. The parking lot sat empty except for his car. Eyes darting in every direction, he took hold of Bullet’s collar, locked the door, and started toward his vehicle. “It’s okay, Bullet,” he murmured, trying to reassure himself more than the dog.

  His hand had just settled on the door handle of his car when he heard a sound behind him. A small scream lodged itself in his throat as he whirled around. Bullet let out a vicious bark, crouching low beside Seth. Blessed relief flooded Seth when he saw the sheriff. He slumped against his car, shushing Bullet. “Evenin’, Sheriff,” he said, cursing the quaver in his voice.

  The man stopped, frowning. He could see fear lurking in Seth’s eyes. Was he afraid of him, or was something else going on? “Doc,” he replied stiffly. “Something wrong?”

  Seth shook his head quickly, probably too quickly when he saw the dark gaze narrow at the edges. “No, it’s nothing.” Bullet’s hackles were still raised, and his eyes were trained on the sheriff. “You just scared me is all,” he hedged.

  Kasey stared at the man in front of him. He’d long ago learned how to smell a lie, and the vet was lying. Kasey’s eyes scanned the area around them, but nothing stood out. Fear rolled off the other male, tangible and harsh. Kasey scowled mentally at the almost protective feeling that struck through him at the thought of someone hurting the dark-haired doctor. “You certain, Doc? You seem kinda jumpy.”

  “I’m sure,” Seth stated quietly. Bullet was no longer growling, but the dog never once looked away from the sheriff. Seth started to turn but stopped, looking back at the man who’d dominated his thoughts the night before. “Good night, Sheriff.”

  Bullet almost didn’t want to get in the car, and Seth had to force him. “What is wrong with you, Bullet?” he muttered as he started the car, very aware of the sheriff still watching him pull out of the parking lot. What was the sheriff doing there, anyway? It seemed strange for the man to just show up outside his clinic without a reason.

  Chapter Two

  Kasey watched the car’s taillights disappearing down the road. His hands clenched at his sides. He’d unconsciously walked toward the clinic. Something about the other male drew him, but he couldn’t put his finger on what. He was angry about the clinic being taken over by a white man who couldn’t possibly understand the ways of his people, but it pissed him off even more how often Seth Davies entered his mind. Yet the way the man handled the horse the night before had been so gentle, and the horse seemed to calm almost immediately. When he’d seen those small, fragile hands trailing over the heaving sides of his horse, his mind imagined them gliding over his body and touching him. His cock responded to those images in his mind, and that left him angrier still.

  With the night growing later, anxiety nipped at Kasey to head into the forest. He’d found his mate. Three nights ago, he’d been unable to resist the urge to run in his wolf form and had entered the forest at his usual place. Not long after, he’d caught the most delicious scent. A scent that called to him so powerfully his cock swelled and the nerves just underneath his skin twitched in excitement. An underlying sweet scent of cinnamon and blood brought him to a clearing where a beautiful black wolf rested under a tree, a mostly decimated hare lying nearby. He had only observed at first, but the sheer joy of finally finding his mate had sent him cautiously into the clearing.

  His joy turned to dismay when the wolf picked up his scent and immediately bristled in terror. He could clearly see the lithe, muscular body and the black fur quivering nervously in the moonlight flooding the small field. His mate hadn’t recognized him and had bolted, crashing through the bushes into the dense forest. Kasey had given chase, but he had lost the wolf in the overgrown brush.

  Each night since, he had returned to the forest, hoping and praying his mate would return. His heart ached that he might have missed his only opportunity to capture his mate. He tried to imagine what she would look like in human form, but the stubborn image of the new veterinarian in town kept straying into his mind. Impossible! He’d never been overly attracted to another male, and the vet did not smell like his mate. He felt certain of it. Besides, even if his mate did turn out to be a man, there was no way in hell his mate would be white.

  He started back to his truck, intent on getting to the clearing and looking for the black wolf. His mother had told him that she’d taken Samantha to see the doctor, and he’d told her the dog suffered from nothing more than a mere case of upset stomach, but Kasey knew something was wrong with the dog’s heart. His powerful sense of hearing alerted him to the irregularity of her heartbeat. But when he’d smirked at the misdiagnosis on the vet’s part, which reinforced his opinion of how little white men knew about animals, he’d listened to the dog’s heart again. Only this time there was a difference. Her heartbeat sounded steady and even. The smirk had slowly faded to be replaced by disbelief and confusion. Somehow Samantha’s heart defect had disappeared.

  Julian, his pack mate, claimed he was getting senile in his old age and he hadn’t really heard anything wrong with the dog’s heart. He’d promptly walloped the pup on the back of the head. He was positive the dog had a heart murmur, one that would eventually have been fatal. Pride kept him from demanding answers from the dark-haired vet, but he knew something had changed since the visit to the doctor.

  It was close to midnight by the time he reached the forest, and he swiftly shifted to his wolf form, eager to find his mate. Nothing could ever compare to the joy he felt as a wolf. He’d never really questioned why he’d been lucky enough to be born wolf, but he’d spent many hours researching his people. The world’s definition of werewolves was so skewed that Kasey could hardly believe how the legen
ds had changed from life, light, and acceptance to horror, death, and blood. Their kind didn’t mutate and reshape like it was depicted in the movies. The magic caused them to take on another form by mere thought, their clothing hidden along with their human form by the gift of their kind. There was no tearing of cloth, no painful transformation, and certainly no brutal attack on humans. Only the Created ones who lived as animals, by instinct and hunger, were likely to kill a human. His kind didn’t tolerate the Created in their territory. They were either run out of town or, if they refused to leave, tracked and put down by the pack Enforcer.

  The clearing where he’d first come across the wolf wasn’t far from where he’d parked his truck, and it only took a matter of minutes to reach it. He lifted his nose into the air, scenting the sweet cinnamon smell of her dark fur, but his hopes were dashed when he found no fresh trail. Warring with himself internally, he debated whether to stay or go, eventually choosing to wait for just a little while longer in case the black wolf did show. He settled his lean, muscular form beneath a tree to wait.

  Kasey knew that other wolves existed in the world. There were other packs dotted over the United States, all of Native American descent, but another kind of wolf roamed the earth, a kind that was like a disease upon the land. They were the Created. A wolf changed, not born. From time to time one of the Created came to their town and the pack would do whatever necessary to protect themselves and their secret. The Created were an abomination and not to be trusted.