Blood Lust

The Latter

Atlas was at home, feeding Stella when his phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey Atlas." Rudy said, concern laced in his voice. "We have a problem."

"What's wrong?" Atlas said, putting the cat food back into the cupboard.

"Um, you need to come over."

"Rudy. You know that I cannot do that."

"Please, it's important and your safety is involved."

"What am I gonna do about the cat?"

"Leave. The. Cat. There. Have your parents watch it."

"I can't, according to my mom, 'the cat is my responsibility, and I cannot ask them to watch it.'"

"That makes no sense. It's like they're watching a child for you."

"Exactly. I'll be over in about 10."

"With the cat?"

"Yep, with the cat."

"Okay."

====

Atlas had a pet carrier in his hand and a leash in the other.

"So Stella. Where are we off to?"

The grey tabby let out a small meow, looking at the dark brown haired boy.

"Amena's? Let's go to Amena's yeah?"

Atlas picked up the cat and a rustle could be heard from behind him. He looked over his shoulder, cat in hand and was face to face with someone he hadn't seen in a couple of weeks.

"Mr. Gray. So nice to see you again." Devin looked from Atlas to the cat. "Ah, a friend I see. Maybe I could take care of her for you?"

Atlas's grip on Stella grew stronger, but he was careful not to crush the small kitten in his hand.

"Oh come on Atlas. Give her here. I'll be sure she makes a nice meal for one of my own."

Atlas gulped hard. He stood frozen in his tracks, not saying a word. He knew that now, there was no way he could outrun Devin, especially not with a kitten in his arms.

Another rustle could be heard, and then a loud snarl. Atlas held back a grin, waiting for Amena to pop out of a bush, but it wasn't who he was expecting.

This wolf was different, and it crept up behind Devin. It was a dark brown color with blue eyes. The second Atlas looked at it, he realized who it was. "Damien."

Devin turned, with wide eyes, and looked at the beast that stood towering above him. He turned to look at Atlas and mumbled something under his breath. Then he sped off, leaving Atlas and the giant wolf alone.

"Thank you." Atlas said, looking at the beast.

A small grunt could be heard and then someone around Atlas's height popped out of the bush.

"Jett!"

"Hey Atlas. That's who we were gonna warn you about but it seems he got to you first."

"Yeah, I realized that. So, are we headed to your place?"

"Yep." Jett said, leading Atlas and Damien to the Wolfe household.

====

The front door swung open and Darcy stood smiling.

"Atlas is here!" She screamed.

"Hey Darcy." Atlas said, grinning.

"Oh my gosh! Is that a cat?"

"Yeah. You wanna hold her?"

"Yes!" Darcy squealed, softly taking the cat from Atlas.

"Atlas!" Rudy shouted, running down the stairs that led to the second story of the house.

"Rudy! How've you been?"

"I've been great. I heard about your encounter with-"

"Yep, but Damien saved me."

"Heard that you needed help." Damien chimed in.

"You're a werewolf?" Atlas asked.

"Yeah, I would've expected you to know that when we met and I flashed my teeth at you but I guess you never caught on."

"No, I didn't even realize." Atlas said, shaking his head.

"Well that's new."

"Everyone realizes?"

"Yep. Vamps, Wolves and Humans alike all notice.

"I guess I wasn't paying very much attention." Atlas said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Damien grinned, "don't feel embarrassed. We all don't realize things immediately."

"Okay, well come inside and don't chat outside before a vamp comes and gets you." Amena chimed in.

Atlas and Damien walked inside. Damien plopped down on a couch and sighed. "Taking care of him is getting exhausting."

"He can hear you, ya know?" Jane said, coming in from the back deck.

"I never said that he couldn't."

"Yeah, but it's still kinda rude." Jane said. "Atlas, come. Someone wants to see you."

Atlas followed Jane to the back deck and saw Carter sitting on a lounge chair.

"So, I heard that you ran into an old friend."

"Yeah. I did." Atlas responded, picking the cat that just waltzed over to him, up off the floor.

"Well, I'm here to let you know to stay here for a few nights."

"Why?"

"We can't have you walking around the woods in the middle of the night, waiting to be attacked."

"I'll be fine Carter."

"You were almost killed." Carter gestured to Stella. "He threatened to cook Stella! And you just wanna go back out there."

"I'll leave the cat here. I can't just stay here without my parents knowing."

"Call them."

"What?"

"Call them."

Atlas pulled out his phone from his back pocket and found his mom's contact. Putting the phone up to his ear, it rang three times before it was answered.

"Hello Atlas." A voice said on the other line.

The boy gulped hard, "where is she?"

"She's here. Don't you worry. But now, you have two options. One, we could easily kill them here. Or two, you come to the woods at midnight, and we finish what was started."

"Don't touch my parents. You can take me."

"Remember, midnight, and come alone or else someone's life is on the line."

Three small beeps rang from the phone. The line was disconnected, causing immediate silence.

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna do what he said. I'm gonna go. Alone."