Meat

Chapter Sixteen

Kaleb watched as the small black wolf raced across the field. Light rippled across the shining onyx fur with each bound until she shone even in the gloom of the predawn. Zeke was right on Priya's tail, yapping at her back legs. The black wolf spun in a circle in two bounds, the snap of her jaws sending the younger male jumping away from her.

Prowling before the cages, his paws soft against the cool earth, Kaleb watched his pack enjoy the last few minutes of the moon. The heat was already clawing at his chest, warning the coming sun, and no doubt the others felt it. One more night and they would return to their lives for another month.

Priya slumped into the grass and rolled the dew into her fur. It was hard to think that she wasn't a pup anymore. She was fully grown, would be having pups of her own. Kaleb padded closer until the sun took its hold, clutching at his heart and wringing his bones. In the shade of the large beech tree, Priya yelped, her playing rolls melting into writhing pain.

Fire licked at his fur and burned it away, ash and smoke settling across his skin. Acid melted his bones and bubbled in his organs. He growled and growled alongside Priya's whining cries. Her dark eyes were becoming more prominent as the dark fur slowly disappeared. Claws turned to fingers that raked into the soil, clinging to anything she could reach to control the pain. Kaleb braced himself against the tree as the last of the smoke left his lungs, taking the pain with it.

He straightened up and shook his limbs out in a careful test before taking his first steps. Wobbly and uncertain, he planted each foot carefully, making his way back to his clothes. Priya was at his side in moments, picking up a shift dress and pulling it over her body. He glanced at her as he shook out his jeans and stepped in.

"I need you to call Matthew," he said.

She blinked and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling the tangled mess away from her face.

"No 'how was your night, Priya'?" she asked. "No 'congratulations on a great catch'?"

"You caught?"

Huffing, she grabbed his shirt from the box and tossed it at him.

"You didn't see? I caught the twin's hipster. Managed to bite straight through his femoral. He limped for a good quarter mile before I finished it. Made sure the boys got a good slice though."

Kaleb snorted and shook his head.

"Well, congratulations," he said. "Now, about Matthew."

She glared at him for at least ten seconds before rolling her eyes and digging into her pocket.

"Why do you need me to call him?" she asked. "He's your employee."

"True, but I don't want Vince thinking I'm checking up on him."

"So why don't I just call Vince?"

"Trust me."

Turning over her phone, she swiped it open and began searching through the contacts.

"You know, he's probably still asleep. Don't usually get out of the club until four."

"Just do it, Priya."

She raised an eyebrow, but hit dial just the same. Lifting the phone to her ear, she rocked her head back and forth, listening to the buzzing of the rings. So close to the moon, Kaleb could feel every vibrating ring across his chest and down his arm. When it cut off to be replaced by a static silence, Kaleb was about to turn away. He huffed and rubbed his hands over his face, but soon enough a mumbled 'hello' came down the line.

"Hey, Matt, it's me."

"Hey you," the murmur came. "You miss—"

"Matt, is Vince there?"