Between Two Mates

Chapter One: New Beginnings

I woke up to the sticky feeling of the morning humidity and the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing outside the window screen. The bugs always got an early start in the summer; by midday, it would be too hot for them to be flying around, and they would retreat until sunset. The humidity had seeped into my room, and I instantly regretted opening the window last night before bed. If the Florida panhandle was known for anything, it would be the wall of humidity that found its way to us during the summer months. Today wasn't just any humid day in mid-July; it was July 14th, my 21st birthday. I had plans to go to the local bar with my friends later, knowing damn well I wouldn't have to pay for a drink, but for now I was up early, ready to help my mom bring the cows in from the field for milking. I could already hear her downstairs putting on her muck boots, probably. I finally sat up, leaning over to shut the window. The humidity still hung in the room.

"Susie, are you up, honey? We need to bring the girls in." My mom calls from downstairs, undoubtedly hearing the sound of my window shutting.

"I'm up, Mom," I say, lowering my feet to the ground. I look around for my jeans, grabbing a dirty pair off the ground and pulling them on. I leave my pajama shirt on, not ready to lose the comfort it offers. I pull on a pair of thin socks and hustle downstairs.

"Good morning, Susie Rose." My mom smiles, saying, "Happy birthday, honey."

"Thanks, Mom." I head towards the door, picking up my muck boots and pulling them on, ready to get the cows back in so I can eat breakfast. I open the door to the front porch, feeling the wall of water outside. My mom follows me out, shutting the door behind her. I wait while she listens for the cows, and we make our way behind the house towards the West Field. The milking barn sits behind the house, with wide open doors inviting the cows in. I hear them off in the distance, seeming to be in the forest that walls the back side of the field. The cows don't normally head back there; they typically stay somewhat out in the open fields where the good grass is. Nonetheless, we hike across the field towards them. My mom calls out to them, hoping they will make their way towards us. She holds a grain bucket and shakes it, hoping to bring them in by the sound of food. They look, but don't move. Instead, we move through the tall grass towards the forest.

When we arrive, the cows are staring at us, almost through us. My mom shakes the bucket again, and they completely ignore it, instead continuing to stare right through us. I turn around and see them looking towards the forest on the other side of the house, their eyes glued to the dark shadows surrounding the trees. I hear my mom gasp and whip back around. My eyes widen at the sight. One of the cows lays on the forest floor, dead. Across her stomach, there are three large slash marks that dig deep into the muscle; around her neck are large puncture wounds; and in the center of her chest is a gaping hole where her heart used to be.

"What the hell could have done this?" I gasp, staggering back. My mom turns to me, her gaze serious.

"Susie Rose, there are some things I haven't told you." She takes a deep breath. There is nothing joking in her gaze.

"What are you talking about, Mom?" I say, taking a step back, wary of whatever emotion I see glinting in her eyes. She steps forward, and for the first time in my life, I don't trust her, and suddenly I'm holding my breath, waiting for what she will do next.

"Werewolves." My mom says. The breath I was holding escapes as a laugh.

"I'm not joking, Susie." She held my gaze. "Your father and I have been hunting them for years; we kept it from you for as long as we could. But they are coming after us now, and I can't stand to see you unable to protect yourself anymore." She states, still not a note of a joke in her eyes.

"That's bullshit Mom, it was probably a lone mountain lion or something. Hell, it could have been a black bear for crying out loud." I say, taking another step away, now putting myself in the open field.

"Honey, its not a mountain lion, and its not a black bear. It was werewolves. I need you to believe me." She pleads, and I can see the pain in her eyes. At this point, I am ready to run; something in me is telling me to leave. The pleading in her eyes almost convinces me to stay.

"It's fine, Mom; I'll give you a couple minutes, because what you are saying is crazy. I'll see you tonight after I get home from going out." I say, taking one more step back before turning around and running towards the forest on the other side of the house. I hear my mom yell out behind me, urging me to come back. Something urges me to keep going.

I spent a lot of time in the woods growing up, building forts, and swimming in the springs. My mom never allowed me to swim in the springs because of alligators; even when I saw them, they always steered clear of me. I ran to the hidden springs, tossing my muck boots by one of the trees. I peel the pajama shirt off of my sweat-covered body and take off my pants and embarrassing granny panties, leaving the pile of clothes on the branch of a nearby oak tree. As I submerge into the chilly, crystal water, I feel the cold against my nipples, making them instantly hard as rock. I close my eyes and float on my back. While I am resting and thinking about the bomb my mother just dropped, I feel multiple eyes fixated on my breasts and hear heavy breathing from the shadows surrounding the trees. I immediately turn my body and begin looking around the clearing. I don't see anything, but I have a deep urge to scare the entity off. A sound I didn't know I could make echoes through my chest, a low grumble that reverberates through my body.

The feeling of being watched slowly eases off my chest, but not before I hear two conflicting voices whisper "mine..." like a caress against my ears.