Chasms of Copper

Chapter 20

[EDITED]

Roy

The sound of gravel crunching outside of the house prompted Roy to jump to his feet. A singular sniff told him that it was Chase and Jason returning from their scouting venture. He cast a quick gaze at Morgan's sleeping figure on the couch. She was sprawled on her stomach on the enormous couch with a collection of pillows and blankets---which Roy may or may not have brought downstairs to form a nest around her in order to achieve maximum safety and comfort. Her shoulder-length hair was everywhere. Strands of brown hair clung to cushions and to her face. The fluffy strands had even gotten stuck to her chapped lips and smudged eye makeup.

The sound of the front door being opened and closed drew his attention. He swiftly stood up and locked eyes with the first person to enter the room---Jason.

"Any sign of him?" he asked, tensely.

The Alpha frowned and shook his head. 

Roy didn't know whether to be relieved or worried. He furrowed his brow. "How could the wolf sneak up on me like that? I didn't even know he was there until moments before he tried to attack Mo."

"I don't know either, man," Chase collapsed on the opposite couch in a crumpled heap. "We tried to follow your description, but 'dark brown fur, pointy ears, huge paws, and sharp teeth' isn't much to go on!"

The Gamma dragged a hand down his face in exasperation. "You think I don't already know that? It was dark! I couldn't get a clear view on him and couldn't find a scent!"

"Are you sure it was a man?"

Roy nodded. "The wolf's physique was larger than a female's. It wouldn't matter how muscular a woman could be---they couldn't fake that body type. Plus," he held out his right arm and rolled up his sleeve. "No female has that wide of a jaw."

On his forearm was a scrape that had to be at least a foot long. The indents and parts that had evidently drawn blood had most likely had been made by teeth.

Chase winced. "They bit you?"

"They tried to bite Morgan." His voice was carefully reserved now. "I pulled her out of the way in time but they nicked me."

Silence filled the atmosphere as they let the words sink in. They stayed like that for a few moments in deep thought. At last, Chase verbalized what they all were thinking.

"Why did he try to attack her?"

Jason shrugged. "We don't know. Besides Roy and her friend Jane---she hasn't had any interactions with werewolves. So that means they don't have a family feud with her. She doesn't smell like a hunter and can't possibly have that run in her family tree. And she is also a nice person, so she can't have made many enemies, right?"