Werehuman

Saving Susie Lynn

Ralph stopped the car and we jumped out of the bed of the truck. Brian waited for Keith, looking uncertain.

"Stay here," Keith said. "If any of the wolves try to run, apprehend them."

"Keith," Brian whined.

"No."

With no more discussion than that, Keith changed back to his wolf form and I followed suit, padding quietly after my new pack. Running with wolves again was a welcome familiarity and Keith was excellent at instructing us without words.

Carefully, we split the group to surround the approaching cabin. Several of the pack members were lounging outside. While their posture was casual, their gaze was not. I would have been killed quickly had I come alone.

Casey nudged my side and I found my place in the shadows right beside the door. Keith growled from the other side of the cabin, spooking all the werewolves between us.

"That didn't sound like 'one measly werewolf'," one grumbled. "Heather?"

The woman emerged from the cabin and took a sniff outside. "It's hard to smell anything you two musking up the place," she remarked. "Marcus, you'd better get out here."

That left two in the cabin: Timothy and Katie. Timothy I could handle, but I was restrained by my desire not to hurt Katie.

"Conor," Heather sang out into the night. "You can't take all of us by yourself, dear."

My hackles rose involuntarily, but I managed to suppress the growl in my throat. A branch broke purposefully on the far right of the cabin.

"What's going on?" Timothy inquired, poking his head out of the cabin.

"Go back inside," Heather snapped at him.

"Into a kill box? No thanks," he replied. "And if it's one little wolf, then surely you all can handle him before he tries to save the girl."

They clearly didn't think much of me. No surprise, Keith's pack didn't think much of me either.

"Whoever is out there sounds like more than just one wolf," Marcus noted. "Perhaps my sister wasn't lying about that other pack."

Timothy let the door shut behind him as he peered into the darkness. I heard Keith growl once more, prompting the group to move towards him. As the way became clear, I slipped through the door into the cabin. I saw Katie first, kneeling down next to one of the bunks. Susie Lynn was lying on the cot with her eyes closed. I want to change, but I didn't know how Katie would react. I had to protect Susie Lynn first.

Outside, Keith's growling turned to snarls. I needed to move quickly. I carefully stepped around the trash and the bedding to sit next to Katie. She noted me, but didn't say anything, only stroked my fur. Susie Lynn's shirt was bloody and Katie's arms were covered in dried blood and bruises. I changed, and stole a pair of mostly clean shorts from the cabin floor. Not my first choice, but I needed to get out of this cabin.

"Susie?" I said.

"She hasn't woke up yet," Katie whispered. "Conor, Marcus bit her."

It had been as I feared. Nothing I could do for the girl now, except get Susie Lynn home. Ralph and Mel would be heartbroken.

"I need to get her out of here. Are you going to stop me?"

Katie shook her head. "Marcus just told me to watch her. And I'm coming with you, so that won't change anything. Is your pack here?"

"They are waiting on me," I said, lifting Susie Lynn into my arms. She mumbled something; she was burning up. I didn't know if there was a way to save her, but that would have to wait. I crouched down and Katie opened the door. It squeaked, and the wolves turned to see me.