The Wild Hunt

Part 18 Animal

The sound of his transformation almost echoed through the diner, we looked on in shock, our jaws slack. What could we do, he obviously had to be stopped, but how could we do it without revealing ourselves too. We were snapped out of it by the sound of a woman inhaling sharply. The wolf's head snapped to his left to see a shaking Liz who dropped the coffee pot she had been carrying. When it hit the floor the wolf moved for her with a growl that sounded a little like glee. Scout leapt across the table and went barrelling into the wolf, sending them both crashing into a group of tables. Liz just stood frozen. Scout was on his feet quickly, placing himself between Liz and the wolf. I stood and began to remove my cut when Scout caught my eye, his eyes looked sad, but determined, and I knew what he meant, he was my brother. He dropped his cut on the floor then turned to Liz.

"Run!" he said as he slowly let the wolf out.

Liz didn't react like I had expected, instead she bent down and picked up his cut, then smiled at him before running. Her lack of fear seemed to embolden Scout, and he lunged for the wolf with a ferocity I hadn't ever seen in him.

They tangled like two junk yard dogs, scratching and clawing at each other. I had seen quite a few scraps between wolves since my turning but this was something completely different, they were more animal than I had ever seen, as they tore chunks out of each other's flesh and fur. While they fought the two humans that had entered with the wolf, looked on, distracted by the violence, sick grins spread across their faces. Laynie took the opportunity to knock the one closest to her out with the bottom end of her gun. When the other thug turned to react Bonnie clocked him, and he dropped quicker than if Mike Tyson had hit him with a right hook. I sniggered as he hit the floor, then got up to watch the fight. Scout had a size advantage over the strange wolf but there was something about the way his opponent fought, he was quick and completely savage, yet somehow very deliberate in the way he continually moved just out of reach, then stepped back in for an attack. My blood was boiling, and the beast inside wanted to join the battle, to get blood in its claws and teeth, it took all of my focus not to let it out. I'm sure Bonnie felt the same, I would have normally been able to tell just by her scent, but there was so much blood in the air it was distracting. Just as my thoughts came back into focus the enemy wolf, took Scouts Legs from underneath him, and he slammed hard into the Diner floor cracking the old tiles with the force. He must have hit his head because though I could see him breathing, Scout wasn't moving. The wolf's eyes widened as he saw his opening, the perfect moment to go for the kill, then every thing felt like it was moving in slow motion. I wanted to react, to save my brother as the enemy coiled his legs to pounce! My whole body clenched in preparation for the change when a loud bang, pulled me out of the moment. The enemy wolf flew backwards and crashed through a table and into a booth. There was a gaping wound in his chest, that was oozing out thick, crimson blood. I turned to see what had hit him, and found Liz stood with a double barrel still pointed in his direction, smoke ascending from both barrels. Liz Was breathing deep, her eyes wide and unblinking not moving from the monster that lay slumped on shattered table parts, bleeding all over the floor.

"Liz?" Laynie said moving slowly towards the stiff waitress.

Liz's eyes suddenly fluttered, and she turned her gaze towards Laynie who was smiling at her, her hands raised where they could be seen. She shot Laynie a look that said, 'why are you acting nuts' then she put the gun on the counter and quickly headed for Scout. When she reached him she lifted his head then put it in her lap and stroked his short hair. After a second or two he came around, a smile grew on his lips as he looked up at her.

"Wait, why aren't you freaking out?" Laynie asked.

Liz looked up at her and smiled. There was something in her eyes that I hadn't noticed before, something peaceful.

"You knew, didn't you?" I asked grinning.

She nodded looking back down at Scout.

"How?" Bonnie asked, stepping into the conversation.

"My grandfather was a wolf, on my mothers side, he was almost three hundred years old when he passed. Might have lived another hundred if it wasn't for the silver poisoning." she said calmly.

We all looked at each other, then back at Liz who still hadn't taken her eyes off of Scout.

"You looked shocked when you killed the other one, I saw the look on your face." Laynie said, seemingly more affected by the days events than anyone.

Liz laughed softly,

"I might be descended from wolves but I never shot anyone before, never even fired a gun before today."

"What was in that thing?" I asked, curious how she managed to kill it with just one shot.

"Silver dust mixed in with the buck shot. Grandpa always said to keep it close, never know when the devil might come calling."

"How did you know about us though?" Bonnie asked.

"Well firstly, I don't know any biker club that lets women join, unless their groupies, there typically boys club's. Then there is the name of the bar and the club, honestly it's like your not even trying to hide it. Then there's the way you Follow Michael, only an Alpha can inspire that much loyalty. And of course there is him." she said, looking lovingly down at Scout. Who seemed fine, but happy to stay where he was.

"Something about him felt familiar, almost like we had met before, I felt drawn to him and somehow, the first time we spoke I just knew. After that, the rest of it seemed obvious." she finished.

Bonnie looked at me and I shrugged, Michael didn't like the idea of people in town knowing what we were, but we hadn't told her anything she hadn't already guessed.

We all stood for a moment as it all sank in. it sort of made sense in a way. Liz had always been more than friendly towards the club, though a lot of the town drank at the Den there was always a distance, some of the people in town avoided the club altogether, but not her.

That was when the silence was broken. Stood in the doorway, with his weapon drawn, was a Sheriff.

"What the fuck is going on? Hands up all of you!"